A loud knock was heard from her door. It was her father. Before she could even fix her hair and get up, her father forcefully came in. Whilst, Koharu was behind him looking nervous and worried. 

His already angry father was even more furious to see his daughter’s messy state sitting on the floor. Yumeko knew it was something serious; her father’s eyebrows almost meet each other. He was very disappointed about something.

“What are you doing with your life?!” shouted by her angry father, as he looked at her appearance. 

“I received a report early this morning that someone saw you outside of your school a few weeks ago around nine in the morning! You were late. Your teacher confirmed that you didn’t attend the school multiple times even after that!” he added. 

Yumeko was left speechless so her maid servant stepped in and bowed in front of his master.

“Master, it was my fault. I didn’t wake her lady on time. I was so slow in helping her dress up and I even forgot to put her zinnia hair pin. So, I had to call her back when she was already on her bicycle. If only I did my best, maybe she would have made it on time. I bow for forgiveness, master.” Koharu explained in hopes to stop the argument. 

“Koharu…why….” Yumeko emotionally whispered, as she intently looked at her, thinking why she lied for her. She felt the sense of loyalty and  trust from her. 

Yumeko just heartbreakingly decided to support all Koharu had said for she did not want her to be in too much trouble because of her. She remained quiet, though was already sad seeing the scene.

“I am not expecting for another disappointment Koharu! I’ve never been this dismayed since the day you started working in this household. You know the consequences if a servant disobeyed his master. I am expecting a lot from you.”  Yumeko’s father said in an angered voice. 

“Raise your head,” he said to Koharu, as she continued to bow.

He then looked at his daughter once more.

“This is the first time that has ever happened! That’s why I am very furious! If your mother was still here, she would suffer from a great stress from your actions!” he said in an angered yet concerned tone.

Yumeko’s father noticed that his daughter looked sad and frightened about the argument and could not say a word. Her tears were about to flow. Seeing this, her father became calm and walked towards her.

“My daughter, remember this, there is no father in this world who wants to foresee a difficult future of his child. The moment you learned how to be a great woman and a wife, only then that the society will accept you,” he added, as he gently tapped Yumeko’s head. 

Her tears fell down as she realized how her father cared and loved her, same thing with Koharu.

Yumeko felt guilty about everything and she just did not want both of them to be stressed anymore.

“Father….” she uttered.

“Yes my precious daughter.” 

“I am sorry…” she added.

“From today onwards, I promise that your daughter, Yumeko, will be the best woman in this village. That’s because I came from the Hosokawa household! Please believe in me this time, father.” She realized how lucky she was to be loved by them.

“That sounds nice to me,” her father smiled for he was very glad to hear it from her. 

They then heard an adorable sobbing sound. It was Koharu, who was entirely happy to see a father and daughter genuine conversation. Yumeko and her father laughed as they look at Koharu crying like a baby. 

“Oh before I forgot something, Koharu, from today, you will be accompanying Yumeko on the way to school and will be picking her up after. In this way, she will not be lonely every weekday.”

His caring father already decided this for quite some time. He heard that Yumeko was being isolated and had no friends at her school. Yumeko’s father wanted her and Koharu to spend more time with each other. He planned to teach to be more confident in relaying her feelings and thoughts to someone. In this way, she would have the courage to make friends at school.

Upon hearing the news, Koharu was overjoyed. “Yes master, I’ll do my best.”

“Yes father, I’ll do my best, too!” Yumeko replied.

Then the two of them looked and laughed at each other saying the same responses. His father smiled and left. 

They continue to laugh even after her father was gone. Then paused and slowly looked at the clock hanged on the wall.

“It’s time!” They almost forgot about school. 

Koharu hurriedly picked one kimono for Yumeko. It was yellow with asanoha patterns and sunflowers topped with a pink obi. Paired with it was a purple hakama. As Yumeko put on her zinnia hair pin, Koharu quickly grabbed a glass of milk and two pieces of cookies and gave it to Yumeko as she should not skip breakfast from today. Yumeko shared it with Koharu, who had no chance to disagree to her lady’s offer.  

They ran down the antique stairs. Yumeko then hurriedly wore her black boots at the entrance.

Koharu was leading the way and then opened the door for Yumeko. 

“Thank you, Koharu,” she said as she passed by, smiling.

As she looked up, she again realized how beautiful her lady was. She was glowing under the sun.

“Oh, no. There is only one bicycle!” Yumeko said.

“Why, my lady? Do you need two?”

“No, but what about you?”

Koharu’s heart was squeezed from her lady’s kindness. 

“No, my lady. It’s okay. I can run behind you.”

“Are you crazy? The school is far.” Yumeko then suggested that Koharu could sit on the carrier but she quickly disagreed. She did not want her lady to pedal for her. She told her lady to sit on the carrier instead.

“I can quickly pedal, my lady. You’ll never be late, again!” 

Yumeko gave up and let Koharu do what she wanted.

They dashed to school in an instant. As soon as they arrived, students started murmuring and looked at them bizarrely. 

“Hey, look at her. She even brought her servant here. Seems like she let her pedal the bicycle. So pitiful.”

“She still looks like a child. How can they treat a servant like that?” 

“The rumours were right. They are taking advantage of their money and authority.” 

“Shhh! She might tell her father because she is a spoiled brat.”

And they all laughed. 

Yumeko heard all of it. She was angry, yet she decided to not fight back for she did not want to disappoint her father any further. She looked at Koharu who was gently nodding at her and whispered,

“Everything will be alright, my lady. Prove them that they are wrong about you,” she smiled. 

“Thank you, Koharu. Take care on your way home,” said Yumeko as she softly patted her head. 

Koharu’s short height made it look like she was her younger sister. The gossiping students saw Yumeko touching her servant’s head.

“Ehhhh… What’s that gesture? Isn’t it done to pets?”

Yumeko was fusing with anger, but Koharu managed to calm her down. She just ignored everything she heard, what was important to her was her promise to her father.

Koharu then passed by those students. She rang the bicycle’s bell as loud as she could, repeatedly. The students got bothered and irritated with the noise.

“Please stop it!” they shouted.

Koharu then dashed away and looked back to them, gestured with her index finger pulling her under-eye, with her tongue out. 

“Bleh! Pffft!” 

Yumeko giggled as she witnessed Koharu’s cute revenge. She told her to come back after school. 

This young heart continued to walk inside her large and elegant school. It was made of red bricks with western style architecture. Yumeko ignored all the judgemental stares as she walked by. She then reached her classroom and sat by the window facing the abundant trees of her village. It was the best view for her and she was happy. 

“At least there is peace on this side,” she said to herself.

Yumeko loved everything about nature, it was her safe haven, whilst, inside her classroom was the exact opposite. 

To be continued.