Paradise Kiss: Reunited

Can I Let Go?

My maiden name Yukari Hayasaka. My name when I began this new life. My name now is Yukari Tokumori. I'm 28 years old and I work as a model. When I began modeling, I was a senior in High School and I modeled in Yazawa Academy's fashion show for this really nice group of friends. Their names were George, Miwako, Isabella, and Arashi; they had known each other for a long time. Arashi and Isabella found me walking around and brought me back to the place where they made clothes so that they could show me to George and Miwako. I didn't like the idea of being a model at first, but eventually, I agreed. During that time, I had an interest in a boy named Hiroyuki Tokumori. I felt as if I didn't have a chance with him and I began dating George. That was all ten years ago. Now, I'm married to Hiroyuki; I couldn't be happier. Hiroyuki is who I married, but George will always have a place in my heart. I couldn't be with George because he moved to Paris to become a designer. I wish I could let go of the past because as long as I have my grip on it, I'll never love Hiroyuki 100%.

"Yukari!" Hiroyuki's yelling up the stairs. "Miwako is here to see you!"

"I'm coming!" I see Miwako almost every day. We just talk about random things, but it's nice. Before I went downstairs, I looked into the mirror to make sure I looked nice. I remember when I had bangs and now my hair is all grown out. Maybe I should go back to bangs. I fix my makeup a bit and head downstairs.

"Caroline!" Miwako ran up to me and hugged me. After all these years, she still calls me Caroline.

"Hi, Miwako. How's Arashi?"

"He's fine. Arashi is getting really far in his music career. He's going on a tour next year and he'll be going all over Japan!" I was worried he wouldn't get far in the business because of his attitude. I suppose that people might've been entertained by his punk demeanor.

"And what about Erica?"

"She's wonderful! I was really worried about her going to boarding school being only 4, but the preschoolers get to come home more often! She's home every Sunday and her school is only 30 minutes away from Happy Berry! She's only been in school for a month, but I can't stay away! It's not fair, Arashi is very successful, but I have to work too and I can't be at home for my little Erica. I carried her around in me for 9 months and stayed by her side for 4 years, I miss her."

"I'm sorry, Miwako. I'm sure Alice is taking care of her."

"Of course! Alice loves Erica with all her heart! It's upsetting that she's graduating this year, leaving Erica behind. But Alice has some younger friends who adore Erica!"

"That's great! It's crazy how Alice is graduating."

"I know! It makes me feel so old!" We both laugh together for a solid minute.

"Do you want to go into the kitchen for some coffee?"

"Sure! But I think I'll have some tea." We walked into the kitchen, I put the kettle on the stove and made my coffee. I thought about it and realized that when I walked downstairs earlier, I didn't see Hiroyuki with Miwako.

"Did Hiroyuki leave you alone in the foyer?"

"Yeah. Hiro seemed busy." I can't believe he left our guest alone! I presume that he is really busy with work. I also know that he'll look at Miwako in a different way, too. She probably made him uncomfortable. "How's work going for Hiro anyway? Was the open-heart surgery a success?"

"Yes. His patient was worried, but Hiroyuki was prepared." Hiroyuki is a great surgeon, after all.

"That's great!" Miwako is so cheerful. I wonder if she's let go of the past; she has so much history with Hiroyuki, yet she never seems bothered by it. He sure is. Suddenly, Miwako lifted her head from her cup of tea.

"Caroline!" Her voice seemed to carry throughout the whole house. 

"What?"

"We just came out with new clothes at Happy Berry and I helped with the designs! I want you to go see!" She's been working at happy berry for her older sister ever since she graduated. She's been so successful. 

"Why didn't you tell me before? I'd love to go see!"

"I wanted to surprise you, Caroline. I told myself that I'd bring a dress over, but I left so late and forgot. Let's go!" I cleaned up the kitchen and once I grabbed my purse, she was pulling me out the door. We walked to the train station and she was telling me about what she did. She assisted in design creations and helped make all the original clothes. We got on the train and as soon as we got off, we ran to happy berry. The new clothes were in the display window, and when I walked in, the was a box that said For Caroline. I immediatly thought of the dresses George left for me. Inside the box was one of the original dresses that she and her sister, Mikako, made together; it was stunning. The dress resembled another designers work. This dress resembled the work of a famous designer, George Koizumi.