“Umm… Syaoran? Actually, there was something I wanted to say to you also,” Sakura said. From her bag, she drew out a rectangular package, wrapped in green and white striped paper. “I’m sorry. This is nothing much, but I just wanted to express my gratitude for all that you’ve done for me the past few months while I stayed at your house. I’m kind of broke, so I couldn’t get you anything more fancy. But I’ll buy you dinner next time.”
Carefully, Syaoran opened the box. In it were two mugs, one a pale green and one a rose pink. Each had a teddy bear on the face of the mug. He hid a grin. How Sakura-like.
Laughing sheepishly, Sakura said, “I guess that’s something more of what I would buy myself. But then the teddy bears were so cute. The real reason I bought mugs is remember how your favorite green mug disappeared?”
“Yeah?” Syaoran raised an eyebrow.
“Actually, I broke it last time when I was washing the dishes. And I threw away the broken pieces before you saw it, because I was afraid that you’d get mad at me. Sorry!” Sakura bent down her head in repentance.
“I always wondered where that mug disappeared to,” Syaoran said, fingering the teddy bear on the green mug. Then he touched the pink mug. “There are two mugs. You only broke one.”
“Ah, well, they came in a set,” Sakura explained hastily.
Grinning, Syaoran said, “But I only need one mug. I guess the other one is for my guest.”
“Oh, Meilin or Kai can use it,” Sakura said quickly.
Carefully setting the mugs back in the box and putting it in his bag, Syaoran said, “Nope, I’m going to reserve it for an especially guest only.”
“Really?” Sakura said, already knowing who but wanting to hear it from Syaoran’s own lips. “Who?”
“You’ll see,” Syaoran replied, heading towards the counter to pay the bills.
-- Chapter 44: Like a Child from The New Trials of Card Captor Sakura, Syaoran and Friends by Wishluv
Happy 19th Anniversary, New Trials! I painted this myself at a ceramic café. It’s two sides of the same cup!