"This is a cute wedding dress, Kat!" 

"No this one is, Chii!"

"Calm down! It doesn't really matter whether or not it's cute. As long as it's decent on me, it's fine."

Chii and Naka gasp in horror. "HOW COULD YOU, KAT?!"

"What?" "This is your wedding! You need to look like a princess!" "I don't care."

"It's only 6 months away, Katsumi... You still haven't even picked out a dress, or the color themes or anything!"

"I have a designer for that." "But Kat! It's your special day, shouldn't you-"

"It's not my special day," she replies emptily, skimming through each dress in the racks. "It's a day to raise the Yumiko legacy. It's been happening too many times to be special in a different way."

Her best friends fall quiet and Katsumi nods, knowing she won this battle. "Nothing catches my interest. Let's go. It's over for the day."

~*****~

"I'm home." she calls, the maids soon gathering around her to collect her things. She enters the lounge, her fiance sitting there, watching TV. "Keiichi." she nods a greeting to him.

"Katsumi." The two were 'engaged' but despite a few greetings and hellos when they got home, the two never really communicated. Not that Katsumi minded it.

They only ever acted like a couple in front of others, like business associates or something. But they never went further than an arm around her shoulders or waist. Nothing more than that.

The servants knew about this little 'double life' but never interfered knowing this was their choice and it wasn't any of their places to interfere.

Katsumi headed upstairs but Keiichi stops her. "We have a seminar to attend later. Formal attire."

"Got it."

Katsumi sighed and locked her bedroom door. Sitting down on the edge of her bed, she picks up the picture frame that sits on her nightstand. It was the picture she had taken of her and Homare on the bus during their trip. 

It was strange, really. It seemed like it was only a few days ago she had taken this picture. But it's been there for almost 7 years...

"What happened to me...?"

~*****~

They arrived at the seminar, which was already in full swing. "So what are we here for?" she whispers to Keiichi, only to be heard by him.

"There was a hotshot business man here. Could be good help." she nods, quietly letting her fiance slip his arm around her waist.

"Keiichi!" people began to surround them immediately and Katsumi and Keiichi both hid their annoyance with smiles. Despite having almost everything in common, the two just didn't pair up.

Hours passed and Katsumi was beginning to get a headache. It was too loud and she had quite some to drink.

She excused herself and walked outside, looking to head home without causing trouble for her fiance. She was happy she didn't wear heels that were too high and thanked God as she walked down the streets. The estate wasn't too far.

Just as she was about to turn a corner....

"Yuriko?" she whips around to see Homare. "Midorikawa? What are you doing out here?"

"That's my line. You, out here late wearing that." he gestured to her evening dress and she chuckles. "I suppose so."

"What are you doing here?" "I left a seminar my fiance brought me to. Too troublesome."

"Heading home?" he asked as they began walking. "Mhm." "I go the same way. I'll walk you..."

".....Thanks." she knew arguing didn't do good, and so, she took him up on his gentleman-like offer.

~*****~

The walk was... okay, she guessed. They were talking about what had happened that past 6 years but other than that, it was quiet.

"This is my stop." she nodded, stopping by the tall gates of her estate. But of course, it just had to begin raining. 

"Shit..." she muttered, opening the gates, inviting Homare in. "Just come on." she urged, even after he had denied.

"Ms. Yuriko! Are you alright?" "I'm fine, Ayako." she waves off the butler who comes running once she enters.

"Get us some tea. I have a guest." she orders and the man rushes off. "Have a seat." she invites, letting the maids take her coats, Homare following.

"So, Midorikawa," he turns to her, "You planning on getting a girl anytime soon?" she grins widely. 

"I'd rather not. I'll wait and see." "Well you better hurry up. You ain't gonna be young forever."

"I suppose so. But you should focus more on your love life, hm?"

"It's an arranged marriage. We have no feelings for each other in the slightest."

"So it's...?" "Benefits. Our marriage benefits both sides of our family and the legacy carries on."

"Isn't that a bit... strange, though?" "Hey, you're the one who said to stay out of each other's love lives."

The two chatted on, but Keiichi soon came back home. "I'm here." "Keiichi..." "Katsumi..."

They once more greeted each other with nods and Keiichi headed up to his room. "Quite the man you got there." Homare snickers.

"Shut up. It's almost midnight, shouldn't you be heading home?"

"...Oh." 

"Yeah, I'll get my chauffeur to drive you. Just tell him where you go." 

"Hey, wait-"

~*****~

She looks outside her window and watches as Homare climbs into the car. He looked up to the estate once more, but because of the darkness in her room, he couldn't see from below.

She watches as the car drives off on the opposite direction, back to the part of town where they found each other. She thought he said he lived the same way...?

As the car disappeared from her sight, she flopped down on the bed, sighing.

She holds the same picture close, curling up. 

I miss your voice. Our conversations. Your kindness...

I miss you so much.