#fujitaka

The color page this month is relatively simple and shows Sakura standing while surrounded by the many different outfits related to the Two Alices play or “Alice in Clockland” depending I guess on which timeline it is. It’s nice to see all of them in full color now (which certainly helps with fanart. Haha), however something about this image definitely gives me the vibe that there is more to come in regards to this. I don’t think they’re done with the original timeline just yet.

 The chapter begins with a typical Sakura morning as she runs around frantically getting dressed due to oversleeping. A friend very quickly pointed out that the house actually has an entirely new section added to it that wasn’t there before, and this is very likely Akiho’s room.

I find it really comical that Suppi mentions how Sakura absentmindedly turned off both her alarms and went back to sleep. If you saw it happen Suppi, then WHY DIDN’T YOU WAKE HER UUUPPPPP? Lol. I am somewhat surprised though to see Suppi there (though I guess I shouldn’t since they were seen to be there for the end of the play), because the original reason he and Nakuru showed up was because things were happening in Japan. I wonder what the reason is for their arrival in this particular timeline? Is it just a visit, perhaps to see the play or meet Sakura’s twin? In that case, I wonder if Eriol and Kaho are there as well, since they couldn’t travel before due to the risk of Kaito bringing the plane down.

 Can I pause for a moment too to talk about how cute Sakura’s new uniform is? I love the all black look (even the ends of the sleeves are black now instead of white), and the addition of the leggings is just so freaking adorable!

Sakura comes down to see Akiho cooking breakfast, and it warms my heart to see her actually cooking. That was something she wanted to learn before to cook for Kaito (they’re croqueetteeesss toooooo), so to see her doing it independently makes me think of what could’ve been had she continued to learn in the other timeline. I think over time, she would’ve turned out to be a great cook, so this new timeline pretty much proves that. The narration from Sakura explains next that Akiho had bad health since she was little and that she spent a lot of time living with their great grandfather for treatment before recently moving back in with them. I’m not entirely sure why it was necessary for her to move for treatment, but I doubt CLAMP will go into any detail about that because that would probably introduce more plot holes or headaches for them to try and cover up. Hahahaha. I suppose it really isn’t important anyways, but I actually am really happy for Masaki, their great grandfather. He was devastated losing Nadeshiko, so I bet having Akiho around probably made him really really happy. Maybe this also means that Fujitaka and him had a better relationship to start, but I’m not entirely sure what the implications of that is.

 Speaking of Fujitaka, in the next page, he arrives downstairs and greets the both of them. He eats alone with the girls since Touya had an early morning shift and one after class too (jeez this boy never stops working), but Fujitaka is eager to try what Akiho cooked. He tries it and immediately loves it, and the way Akiho just lights up after being praised for her cooking is just so precious.

 It’s explained how Akiho transferred to her school that year and was in the same class (just like in the original timeline), and despite having been separated most of their lives, Sakura is looking forward to making a bunch of happy memories with her to make up for the time lost. This reminds me a bit of how Syaoran was turned into a toddler after Sakura wished they would have met sooner. But Syaoran reminded her that they had a whole future to build happy memories together. 

 The two of them start walking to school, and as it starts to snow, Sakura becomes and overly protective older sister and starts wrapping her scarf around Akiho (who already has a scarf) to keep her nice and warm. Hahaha. Akiho asks if Sakura will be cold now without her scarf, but she insists that she’ll be okay and that she doesn’t want Akiho to get a fever. Honestly, I love seeing protective Sakura. Normally, it’s everyone else around her protecting her, but seeing her on the other side is just so freaking cute.

 Tomoyo naturally appears shortly after and commends Sakura for being such a good big sister, and Akiho mentions how she’s been feeling better than usual and not feeling any pain (oh lord, she’s been feeling pain? Poor thing…). Sakura and Tomoyo both say they will look out for her if anything changes, but Sakura adds on that Akiho is very precious to her. Tomoyo comments that maybe a sister complex runs in the family, and that one honestly made me laugh pretty good.

 When Sakura arrives to school, Syaoran is there waiting for her and the two talk about how cold it got overnight. After being asked if she was under the weather at all, Sakura answers that she is doing just fine as well as the cards. She mentions talking to the Mirror card the night before, and this seems to confirm that the Sakura cards are back with her, though in this timeline, I’m not sure that Syaoran would have ever taken them away. This does call into question though whether the Clear cards still exist or not. Somehow I have a feeling they do but are floating in some place cut off from time (maybe in the book where Kaito likely is?).

 Syaoran asks her why she wanted to talk to the Mirror card, and she tells him that she has been pondering on the thought of telling Akiho about everything that happened while they were apart, including her magical adventures. Syaoran thinks this would be shocking for her (though doesn’t seem to imply in any way that this is a bad idea), but Sakura thinks that even if she was shocked by it, that Akiho would likely believe her (I mean, it wouldn’t take much to convince her since you could literally show her). Syaoran seems somewhat saddened by the thought that she can’t use magic, but Sakura focuses on how Akiho is a kind and very strong person (girl, you have no idea). She’s asked if she trusts her, and Sakura answers that she does, to which Syaoran comments would make sense since she’s her twin. But Sakura states that even if she wasn’t her sister, she would trust her, and that time together isn’t always needed to help know how one feels.

 Syaoran smiles at her in understanding, and Sakura blushes (naturally) before mentioning that she would also want to tell her about him, such as the day they met and how he always came to her rescue. She finishes by saying she wants to tell her about the “most important person in her life”, and lord I can’t help but swoon a bit at this. And just when I thought my heart was already bursting at this cuteness, they knock it up another notch by holding hands and touching their foreheads together, and OMG I CAN’T DEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL.

It's so nice seeing them be able to touch again, but I just absolutely adore the way these two show their love to each other. It’s just so pure and warm and *clutches heart again*

 Sakura talks about how she hopes too that Akiho can tell her all about her most important person, and it’s at this point that the pain comes back. Lol. Kaito’s absence really does hit hard with these words, but there isn’t much time to ponder on it before Sakura is suddenly thrust into the dream world and sees…the cloaked figure.

 Admittedly, I was not at all expecting this whatsoever, especially in the middle of such a sweet scene, but omg the hyyyyyype. I feel hyped because it feels like it’s one step closer to things ramping up again. But I gotta say…when the hood came down, my jaw pretty much dropped. Hahaha. It’s LILLIE!!! She’s younger in appearance it seems, and she claims that she is there to meet Sakura in a dream. I am so so so curious to see what all of this is about and what it all means. Why is Lillie younger? Is this a dream from Lillie’s past (dreams after all bend the rules of time)? Or has she been reborn in a new life and is now the same age as Sakura and Akiho? I really want to know the implications of this timeline on Lillie’s existence, but obviously I’m just dying to hear what it is she has to say. My hope is she has a way to save Kaito, but I suppose we’ll just have to wait to find out.