Sakura had...

Ayame Academy had been split into two buildings. All of Yuzuko's classes took place in Block A. Block B was a few stories smaller than Block A, and was dedicated to international students. The international students had a different schedule to the local students, and thus Yuzuko never had a chance to interact with many of them.

Looking down at her skirt and thick blazer, she thought of the international students in their denim jeans and their summer frocks. It wasn't fair that the international students didn't have to wear a uniform. The international students were also exempt from the Baby Factory Act, which meant they were free to be childless if they wished to be, although she saw quite a few of the women with baby bumps.

"Don't they look pretty?" Sakura said, smiling as three of the American students walked by. "Their accents and hair are so cute. Their sweaters look really comfortable."

"Yeah," Yuzuko said. "The uniform can get really tight when you're pregnant."

Sakura clapped her hand in Yuzuko's hand as if something was urgent. "There's something I need to ask you."

Yuzuko gazed at her. "What's that?" The way Sakura's voice suddenly lowered, and how her eyes widened took Yuzuko back to something she read in one of her mother's romance books. The look of somebody in love.

Sakura lowered her head and gulped. "I need somewhere to stay."

"That's fine. We have a spare bedroom. How long for? Wait, what about Suzie?"

"I sold her to a European family."

"Why?" Yuzuko asked. She wasn't one to judge, but she knew that school and her family would get furious. They already saw her as a delinquent. The last thing Yuzuko wanted was for her best friend to suffer from shame. "You were..."

"I aborted it."

Yuzuko hugged her. "Why?" Abortion wasn't illegal in Japan, but in a climate where they were pushing students to get married and have children before finishing school, it was a big taboo. It made Yuzuko wonder how many students who said they miscarried actually had abortions instead. "They'll punish you."

"I'm sorry," Sakura screamed, bursting into tears. "I don't have the maternal instinct. I've tried. I couldn't connect with Suzie. I couldn't cope with all the miscarriages anymore. My husband's in hospital; my parents don't want me, my in-laws have kicked me out. I've got nowhere to stay."

"I'm sorry," Yuzuko said, giving Sakura a tissue. "Why is Natsu in the hospital?"

"He ate the sushi from the bento box I prepared for him. We've been married for 4 years, and I didn't know he was allergic to sesame seeds..."

"Listen," Yuzuko snapped. "You can stay at mine as long as you need. They'll be fine with it."

"Thank you! I love you so much."

"Okay. We really need to go to class now."