❝𝕄𝕠𝕞𝕠𝕜𝕠 𝕚𝕟 𝕋𝕠𝕜𝕪𝕠❞✔️ (1)

❤︎Chapter Fifty❤︎

"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, and no matter what I ever say or do, my feelings for you will never change. Not even for a second. Do you believe me?"

For some reason, the words that Yuji said at the end of our phone conversation had been running through my mind even after he hung up. It had been almost 2 weeks since then, and yet something still struck me about them.

I felt like he was really trying to tell me something by saying that, and it wasn't just that he loved me, either. At least, I didn't think it was.

I was pretty used to Yuji's voice by now — and was able to decipher between his acting and his real feelings. This time, however, was a bit more complicated...

Regardless, I didn't want to dwell on it. I'd received my graduation certificate today! I had officially graduated from Beauty school!

I was so excited to tell Yuji the news. We already talked about how we'd celebrate — together. A nice dinner, a movie, whatever else we wanted to do at an ungodly hour out on the town...video games and movies at my place or his...

Not to mention...

I'd finally have my job back again! The studio, my fellow stylists to converse with a pull pranks on the other actors with... traveling the country...

And most of all...running my hands through Yuji Oshiro's hair again. I no longer had to sit and wonder when I'd see him again!

Working with my boyfriend is the best! I can't wait to go back to all of that!

I'm running down the streets of Tokyo, my certificate in hand. I was going to wait until I got home to call Yuji, afraid I might scream my head off in public if I didn't find somewhere private to talk. But couldn't contain my excitement!

I take my phone from my jean pocket and click on my "favorites" section and find his name. After about 4 or 5 rings, he finally picks up. I'm already squealing into the phone and Yuji barely gets out a greeting before I burst into the news!

"Hey Mo—"

"YUJI I HAVE MY LICENSE NOW!"

I wait for his response as the other end goes silent. I hold my breath, waiting for the news to sink in. Maybe he was trying to figure out what to say? Think of a place to celebrate?

"Oh, uh...wow." He answers back. I frown a bit at the awkward reply, but I'm still to excited to dwell on it at the moment. I was still filled with anticipation to see him, hold him, kiss him. Maybe all of this drama in the media would blow over when everyone saw that I was coming back with an accomplishment.

"So where are we going out?! I can't wait to see you!"

"Out....? Did we make plans?"

I blink, looking across the street and waving briefly at Natsuo, who was tending to a pot of flowers outside of his shop. He waves back, but looks a bit concerned when he sees me. I must've looked upset on the outside without even realizing it.

"Yuji, I just graduated from beauty school?" I say carefully, as if he may have been too busy to understand what I was talking about, "You promised you'd cancel your plans whenever I told you so we could celebrate? Remember?"

I hear the muffled sound of voices suddenly, and Yuji's laughter in my ear. He whispers something back in reply to whoever was in the room with him, and I strain my ears to try and make out who it could has been. Whoever it was, they said something really funny.

Yuji's laugh was fake, though.

What in the world?

"No, I don't remember ever saying that. Are you making stuff up, Momoko?"

What the HELL?! Since when did he stop using my nickname?

"How could you forget? We spent all night on the phone two weeks ago talking about it." My heartbeat quickened. If he could forget something like this so easily...

"Oh. Well, I can't help not remembering. I'm a busy guy, things go over my head sometimes." He speaks to me in an obviously disinterested tone. My jaw drops like he'd just struck me across the face.

"Yuji, what's going on? You don't sound right."

"What are you talking about? I'm perfectly fine."

"Well, you're being perfectly an asshole. This is important to me! This license is a ticket to us working together again. I get to see you on the daily now, that's why I worked so hard. It's the only reason I'd ever come back to the studio where SHE is." I was referring to Misao, of course. I wouldn't think twice about not going back to the studio if it weren't for Yuji. He spent so much of his time there, and I wanted to be there spending it with him.

"Momoko," Yuji sighs, "You honestly thought —haha! I know, it's sad — You honestly thought the director would let you back in here just because you took a class? I know you're not stupid, but.."

It was winter time. Not quite far enough into the season to get any snow yet, but Yuji's condescending way of speaking to me felt like I'd had a bucket of freezing cold water thrown on me. It made me shudder. It made me sick. I didn't to believe it.

"Why...are you talking to me like that?" My heart sank. I felt like an idiot for being so happy and so proud of myself and so excited and having Yuji be the first person I wanted to know I'd accomplished something so important to me.

"Momoko," he sighs again, like I was some annoying child he had to constantly deal with, "Is this the only reason why you called? I'm really busy."

"You're at the studio?"

".....Yes."

"Fine."

I hang up, and without a second thought, I turn on my heel, and I take my livid self to Yuji's studio.