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PROLOGUE
It’s really hard trying to forget those old memories…but do I really want to loose them?
I thought as I walk around the campus, and stopped at the room where he and I always hang around. Then I sit on the spot where we would laugh and talk seriously. Seeing myself from the past, I look at the window watching a girl run through the gates. At that moment, the girl that I was watching changes into someone that looks familiar. A girl with short black hair, talking to herself.
It’s been 4 years since I’ve been here, it really does bring back memories…
CHAPTER 1
“OMG! I’m gonna be late for my class!”
I’m Aikawa Kyoko, this is my first day in college… and I’M LATE!!!
I’m taking up Dentistry at Tokyo University Medical and
Phew, I almost missed the stairs. As I make my way through it, I saw a guy going down the stairs. I almost bump unto him, good thing that I miss. I heard someone called but I guess it’s just my inner thought so I didn’t look back.
“Good Morning Sensei (Teacher)!” I said, but the teacher didn’t pay any attention to me, he just paused to look at me and continue on his lecture.
I gasped; I forgot I’m in college already! They don’t pay much attention to you if you’re late or not, sigh… so much for my first day…
After thirty minutes, the bell rang
The professor stacked up his book. “Okay, class dismissed,” he said, “oh, and Aikawa-san, please see me at the faculty room.”
I stood up fast and answered “Yes!” sigh, what is he going to say now…
After my 3rd period I went to the faculty room.
“Excuse me,” I said as I knocked on the door.
“Come in,” he said, “I’ve read your profile and I’d seen that you’re a university scholar, that’s quite an achievement,” I just smiled nervously waiting on what he’s REALLY going to say. “It’s quite difficult to get a scholarship in this school, and also your course…” then he stooped. Phew, I thought I’m going to die. “And it’s also quite difficult to maintain the scholarship; you only have half the chance to be absent and also to be late. For a normal student, he/she can be absent for 8 days and be late for 10 times; while for scholars, they are only given 4 absences and 5 times to be late.”
“WHAT!?” I accidentally yelled with my eyes all wide up.
“As I said, you are a special student, and special students have special treatments.”
I look at my back and sigh.
“…but since this is just the first day, I won’t consider that you’re tardy for today.”
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” I said while bowing my head.
“You’re welcome, just don’t be late next time, okay?” he said, then he winked at me and I feel like I’m blushing, then I nodded.
As I am on my way out “Thank you again, Mr…” wah, I forgot to ask for his name,ugh..
“Nakajima. Nakajima Suichiro.”
“Yes, Nakajima-sensei. Take care!” I said before I left the faculty room.
I walked away from the faculty room to my next class. Nakajima-sensei is really nice and also good-looking, he must be in his mid-twenty’s because he look young with his body a little slim yet, masculine, I grinned to myself. Then as I pass by the biology room, I heard someone talking on the other side.
“What!? Now?! Can’t you schedule the *Omiai on the weekend?”
*Omiai- is a Japanese custom whereby unattached individuals are introduced to each other to consider the possibility of marriage.
I know it’s bad to eavesdrop, I thought as I was listening through the door, I tried to peek in to see who’s talking.
“Okay, okay, I got it. I’ll try to catch up. Okay. Bye”
Then when he’s headed to the door he saw me watching him, I closed the door and run to my room. I heard him called, “Hey! You! Wait!” And when I’ve reached my room, panting, I saw that it’s empty. “Huh? Where’s everyone?” then I check my schedule. Ugh…It’s my lunch time I forgot; sigh… so much for my effort to come here.
Afterwards I went to the cafeteria, then I fall in line like the other students and presented my ID for my free lunch then I notice that my hanky is missing huh? Where did I put it? Must’ve left it home, oh well... then I tried to find a table with other students sitting but most of them are full but there are some empty tables, oh well it’s not that bad to eat alone… I sat at the empty table near the clock and start eating. Woah! The food here is great! I fill my mouth with food, and then suddenly a guy sat across me with an apple in his hand.
“Hi” he said then took a bite onto his apple. I tried to swallow my food, still not looking at the guy, still there are some left in my mouth.
“erroww,” was all I can say. I hope he understand eating language. But when my eyes met his, I was mesmerized by the color of it, it’s blue, I said to my self. Then I shook my head. Snap out of it! It’s just contacts. Then I swallowed the rest of my food.
“I’m Kobayashi Hiiro, I’m just new here, please take care of me,” then he bowed his head, offers his hand and then smiled a flashing smile, his teeth all perfect that I almost drool, good thing I got hold of myself.
“I-I-I’m Kyoko, Aikawa Kyoko,” then I shook his hand. “Ugh…so, do you need something?”
“Ah. No. I don’t really need anything, well except for a company. My family just moved here last week so I’m not really familiar with anyone. But then I saw you eating alone in the cafeteria and I was thinking that if you’d like to be friends or something…” then he smiled shyly with one end of his lips pulled up.
“Of course! I mean, I’m cool with it.” I smiled, and then both of us laugh. We continued eating and he shared some story about his family. His father is Japanese while his mother is an American, so he’s half-Japanese and half-American. His mother adores Japanese culture so much that she decided to study here and met his father. He had also said that they lived in the
While listening to his stories, I saw the clock behind him, Wah!? It’s almost time! Then he saw my eyes widened, and also look at the clock.
“Uh-oh…I guess it’s time for class already” he said, scratching his temple.
“Uhh, yeah, I got to go. See yah.” I said while looking at my wrist watch, grabbed my bag and dashed through the door. Oh man, so much for my first friend, but this is more important. I thought, holding a fist in front of me.
“Phew!” just made it in time before class. I sat beside a guy in glasses. He doesn’t look bad, but he kinda look odd with his hair kinda look like from an anime series, but not the creepy type. He’s just reading his book and doesn’t even bother to look up when I seated.
“Hi! I’m Aikawa Kyoko, and you are?” then I smiled. But he didn’t respond, I’m still smiling but then I got tired and sighed. Then he pushed something to me, oh! My hanky. “Thanks!” I said, but he’s still reading his book and just nod, he didn’t even bother to look. But when the professor entered, he closed his book, and said something. “Do you know…”
“Huh?” was all I can respond, he’s blabbering so fast about something that I can’t understand. Suddenly, he stopped talking and now paying attention to the professor while I stare at him absent-mindedly.
“Ms. Aikawa, please answer the problem on the board” the professor said with one of his eyebrows raise up.
“Eh!?” I said in a little loud and confused tone. Then my seatmate raised his hand.
“Okay Mr. Ichigawa, you may answer the problem,” then this Ichigawa guy stood up and went to the board. “Seems like Ms. Aikawa is too busy day-dreaming to listen to my lecture.” Then the professor glared at me.
After 30 minutes of lecture and evil glares from my professor
“Okay, now it’s time to assign you to your lab partners, Aikawa and Ichigawa, Mogami and Yukimura, etc…”
“Looks like we have to help each other huh?” I said then I look at him. Again, he’s reading his “thick” book. I only got a nod as a response from him. Then I sighed. Then a stiff, strict sound voice comes out.
“I’m Ichigawa Ryo, if you’re having any problem with something just ask me anything. It’s embarrassing if my partner can’t even answer a simple problem,” then he closed his book and turned to look at me then pushed the rim of his glasses. And when the bell rang, I got off from my sit and quickly walk away.
I’m really pissed off by that guy. Argh! That Ichigawa guy! I’ll prove to him that I’m not useless! Too irritated to pay attention to anyone, I walked briskly until I bumped to someone.
“Aww… sorry…”
“Hey Kyoko!” the guy said, my mind is confused at first but I remembered him
“Oh! Hiiro, How are you?” I said, not irritated anymore because I’ve seen one of Hiiro’s angelic smile. Ahhh… I just stare at him blankly, but then he waved his hand in front of my face.
“Kyoko? Are you okay?” then I snapped out of it. “Oh, sorry, what were you saying again?” then he grinned. Kawaii, I thought to my self then I smiled embarrassingly.
“I said I’m okay. Actually I’m doing pretty well,” then he smiled. “Just got back from Nihonggo class,” the class is only for foreigners and newly transfered students. “My professor told me that I did excellent that I don’t need to attend that class anymore.”
“Really? That’s great!” then I smiled.
“CALLING MS. AIKAWA KYOKO AND MR. SHIIDO JUN, PLEASE GO TO THE GUIDANCE OFFICE.” said three times from the intercom.
“Huh?” I said.
“That’s you right? But why are they calling you?”
“Hmmm… must be a ‘special student’ thing’…” I mutter to myself.
“Huh? What did you say?”
“Nothing,” I said while I shook my head and make hand signals. “I guess I got to go now, see yah.”
“Yeah, see yah Kyoko.” He said then walked away but still waving at me.
“Yeah…” I sigh. What do they need now?
Before reaching the office door, I saw a guy in front of it. Must be the Shiido guy, I thought. He looks kinda familiar…, my eyes narrowed and when I’m almost near him he turned to look at me and I gasped.
“The ‘Omiai’guy!”.
“Eavesdropping girl!”
We both said at the same time while pointing fingers at each other. Suddenly someone opened the door.
“Oh, Ms. Aikawa, Mr.Shiido. What are you doing?” then she stared at both of us.
“Nothing,” we said at the same time, then we both blushed because of embarrassment and then Shiido covered his mouth with his hand.
“Well, then, come in, we need to talk about something.”
We went inside the office and sat across each other while looking at the other way. After the counselor sat down, we both faced her table and Shiido had spoken first before I do.
“So, why did you call us here?” he asked, his face being serious. “What is this ‘something’ that we need to talk about sensei?”
“Well, since both of you were the top two student of the entrance exam, I want you Mr. Shiido and Ms. Aikawa to go to an excursion with our foreign students, not only around the campus but also in the city. If that’s okay with you?”
“But─” I said thinking about the absences that I would have. But then Shiido cut me off.
“I’m okay with it,” he said.
“How ‘bout you, Ms. Aikawa?” then Shiido look at me raising one of his eyebrows as if he’s challenging me.
“Yes,” then I smiled at him, with one side of my lips pulled up.
“Good! You’ll be off by tomorrow morning, both of you will be excused from your classes so both of you won’t have any problems. Especially you Ms. Aikawa, since you’re a scholar of this school,” then she tapped both of our shoulders and said “Good luck!”
When the meeting with the Guidance Counselor is over, I was about to walk away but then Shiido suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me into one of the rooms. Compared to other rooms, this one is more spacey, plus it has some musical instruments. Must be the music room, I thought. Then he let go of my arm and walked towards the black grand piano. He run his fingers onto the cover of the keys and then opened it. First, he played with the keys, seems not knowing what to play, but then a beautiful sound came from the piano. I walk towards the piano and stop behind him. I closed my eyes, trying to fill my mind with its music. Abruptly the music stops, and when I have opened my eyes, he was in from of me. His face held close to mine, my cheeks feels hot, I nervously stepped back but then I felt my knees jerking. Before I landed on the floor he had caught me, the only sound in the room that I could hear was my heart beat, it was too loud and our breathing. With the light coming from the window hitting his face, for the first time I saw his face clearly. He has a nice smooth skin, nice tall nose, his eyes slanted compared to mine which is more round. I shook my head thinking that our position is like damsel-in-distress-with-her-prince-charming-catching-her, and then I got onto my feet.
“Thank you,” I said in a formal tone, trying to hide the embarrassment in it.
“Welcome,” he said in a serious but caring tone.
“So, do you need anything? Because if not then I’ll just─” I stop because I noticed that the atmosphere has change. Then Shiido look through the window, seriously looking at the sun.
“Please keep it a secret,” he said. Not knowing what he’s asking for so I asked, “Keep what a secret?”
“The ‘Omiai’ thing, I know it’s quite of an old tradition for this generation, but please keep it a secret.” He said in a stern, persuasive tone.
“Oh, that thing, it’s no biggie so I’ll just forget it.” I was about to walk away when he suddenly block me and cornered me to the piano, he said leaning at me, “it’s not that big issue for you, but it is for me!” his voice almost shouting but not aloud, seems like he’s afraid that someone might hear us. “Okay, okay, just calm down.” I said. Then I raised my right hand and said, “I, Aikwa Kyoko, promise not to say anything about your Omiai thing,” then I smiled at him, and he also smiled at me and I held out my pinky, “what’s this?” he asked. “It’s pinky-swear,” I answered “you entwine your pinky onto mine and then press each other’s thumb as a seal of our promise” then he did what I’ve instructed him to do. I promised not to tell anyone about his Omiai. I glance at my watch, time already? Time really does fly huh, not literally though. “I got to go now,” I said.”see you tomorrow, and don’t be late.”I winked at him. He just watched me walk through the door, leaning on the piano as I left him there.
