The girls in Reina's group, more accustomed to Sakura's presence, greeted her warmly but without the same level of awe. They chatted briefly about nothing in particular, simply enjoying the moment and the company of someone they admired.
One of Reina's friends, a tall girl with striking features spoke to Sakura.
"Sakura-sama, it was a pleasure to meet you. We're having a get-together, why won't you join us and relax under the gentle warmth of the sun?" The tall girl offered, hoping Sakura to stay with them.
Sakura considered the invitation, the thought of relaxing for a moment appealing.
"Thank you, but I think I'll take a nap." Sakura gracefully rejected the girl's offer, a slight weariness on her voice.
"Of course, Okasan. Just remember to take care yourself." Reina said, her eyes sparkled with understanding.
"I will. Enjoy your afternoon, everyone." Sakura said, smiling warmly and beautifully at her daughter and her friends.
As Sakura was about to leave them and head back to the living room..
"By the way, sweetie, are Arashi and Kitsune already here?" She asked Reina.
Reina shook her head.
"No, Okasan, they went somewhere and didn't come home after our lunch, probably with their friends." Reina answered truthfully.
Sakura nodded thoughtfully at her daughter, then continued walking toward inside the mansion.
While walking towards inside of the mansion, Sakura overhear snippets of Reina's friends mentioning Ray and their gym rendezvous earlier.
"So, tell me about his Ray guy, onee-chan?" The same tall woman asked Reina, excited.
"How was your date with him earlier this morning?" One of the girls inquired, curiosity in her voice.
"Wait, who's Ray?" Kaito joined the conversation
"Is he more handsome than me? Or maybe I'm more handsome than him." He boasted, full of confidence in his voice.
"Ugh!" Reina expressed in annoyance and rolled her eyes.
Her steps faltered momentarily as she heard the name of the love of her life. Turning back, Sakura saw Reina, her face radiant and filled with joy, her eyes sparkling with love and affection as she answered her friend's questions and spoke about Ray.
As Sakura continued to overhear, she couldn't help but notice the telltale signs of love and obsession in Reina's tone and expression. The way Reina spoke about Ray, with a fervent passion and adoration, mirrored Sakura's feelings when she first fell in love with him.
It was clear to Sakura that Reina was deeply, obsessively inlove with Ray, just as she had been once. The intensity of Reina's emotions both worried and moved Sakura, reminding her of the complexities and challenges of love.
A wave of conflicting emotions washed over Sakura. One one hand, she felt overwhelmingly jealous that another woman, even her own daughter, was attracted to and admiring Ray's qualities. The thought of someone else appreciating the charm and allure that had captured her own heart made her pulse quicken with a mix of possessiveness and insecurity.
Yet, on the other hand, she couldn't help but to feel a swell of happiness of Reina. Seeing her daughter so genuinely joyful and enamored brought a sense of warmth to Sakura's heart. Reina's happiness was infectious, and Sakura couldn't deny the joy she felt in knowing that her daughter was experiencing love and experience in her life.
But....
As Sakura stood motionless, watching Reina animatedly talk about Ray with her friends, the jealousy in her heart won. Despite her genuine happiness for her daughter's excitement, Sakura couldn't help but feel a tinge of possessiveness towards Ray. It was a conflicting mix of emotions, her love for Reina and her protective instincts clashed with her lingering affections for Ray.
Reina and her friends, caught up in their own excitement and unaware of Sakura's international struggle, assumed that Sakura had returned inside the mansion after her their brief interaction. They continued their lively discussion about Ray, sharing anecdotes and laughter by the poolside.
Little did they know that Sakura lingered just out of sight, her eyes occasionally darting towards Reina with a mixture of protectiveness and unease.
For Sakura, it was a moment of introspection and inner conflict. Her obsessive instincts, usually kept under tight control, surged with a possessiveness intensity that threatened to surface. Yet, she maintained her composure, aware of the need to conceal her true emotions from her daughter and her friends.
As the conversation flowed and laughter filled the air, Sakura's thoughts drifted to Ray and the complexities of their relationship. She wrestled with her jealousy and her desire to see Reina happy, knowing that her obsessive and violent tendencies were a double-edged sword, one that could both protect and harm those she cared for.
Feeling her jealousy simmering just below the surface, Sakura knew she couldn't let her emotions get the best of her in near and in front of Reina and her friends. With a final, lingering look at Reina, she turned and walked away, heading back to the mansion.
Despite her efforts to maintain composure, jealousy continued to rage within Sakura's heart. Alone in her thoughts, she grappled with the conflicting emotions of love and possessiveness, aware of the delicate balance she needed to protect those she cared about without letting her obsessive and violent tendencies take control.