Memories

A long-hair girl walks into her office. She feels exhausted from her tutorial.  It has been a very full schedule this week. 

I need rest

She noticed a strange thing on her desk. A wide white envelope sits quietly on her desk waiting to be open. She curiously tears the top end and took the hard paper inside. There were two paper inside, a folded paper and a ticket.

What is this? A ticket? Uirou Band? What a weird band.

She opened the folded paper.

“Do you remember our dream?”

She stared out the window, as she traveled inside her memory.

A precious memory of a very dear person whose name carved in her heart for a long time.

That girl

 

Ten years ago, she stood there crying because that dearest person left her. She left her with a short letter saying,” I am sorry I’ll be back to fulfill our promise. I am sorry I left you without consulting you about me. Wait for me…’

“Why did you leave? Baka!”

She crying endlessly reminiscing their memories under the sakura tree here where they always hang out together and took tons of pictures. We were always laughing without reason.

 I guess there was no reasons to cry because of you are always by my side.

____________________________________________________________________________________

At the beginning of the semester, we were strangers. I was sitting in front of the class. Well, a typical girl who was very quiet. I am trying not to communicate with other student because they are distraction to me to pursue my dream to a higher education. I always want a better life after high school.

However, you were sitting at the back of the class. You were always staring blankly at the window with the earphone. As if you were drowning in your own world. Sometimes you were always caught sleeping during class. Until this day, I wondered, why I remembered every detail of you even we were stranger but yet, there is no answer. Maybe someday, I will find it.

I studied very hard to achieve my goal. A lot of teacher praised me and I was recommended to a first class university. Yet, there were some people who envied me.

That morning, as usual, I was walking to class. Those trio gangs were waiting for me. There were smirking as if I was disgusting.

“Hey Kimoto, where is your desk now? I don’t see it around here,” said the leader.

“Wait, I think I saw it at the store room with the old things, “said the second girl.

“Maybe you can study there comfortably with the things there, “said the third girl with sarcasm and followed by all laughter from the whole class.

I cried then I ran to the store room to fetch my desk. When I found my desk, there are many harsh words written on it.I cried harder and slumped on the dirty floor. I don’t want to go back to the class. I felt humiliated and alone.

 

“Stop crying, it is not helping you,”

I turned around and trying to find that voice. It was very gentle voice and very soothing.

“Why don’t you wash your face and I’ll help clean your desk. We will go to the classroom together, “you said calmly without looking at my face.

I nodded and obeyed like you had cast magic on me. I went back to the store room later then I saw you yawning and stretching. 

“I am sorry to disturb your sleep, “I said and bow.

‘It’s okay, actually I hid my guitar here so that Akimoto-sensei won’t take it again “you said and smile happily.

I blushed when you smiled.

“So cute”

We returned to the classroom after we were having difficulty dragging the desk on the way to the classroom and apologizing every time the teachers scolded us in the hallway.

“Hey Yagami, what are doing?” said the leader arrogantly.

"What did you say?"

"I said why are you doing? Why did you help this helpless girl? You don't want to spread your stupid virus to her, you know"

You dragged the desk across the classroom and slammed it on the leader’s feet.

“Ouch!”She said and tears fell on her cheek while trying to endure the pain. 

Her two followers stood up to defend but you picked up the desk and threw it to the end of the class. Everything turned quiet. They don’t dare to make a move. They felt the killing dark aura around you. Soon the teachers came.

“What the hell happen here?”

He looked around and shouted, “Headmasters office now!”


******************************************************************

 “You should have said the truth. You don’t deserve a detention, “you said while drumming your long fingers on the table.

“It was unfair. I was at fault here, “I said looking at you and smiled.

“She sure cannot stand and walk properly again that bitch,”

“Language Yagami-san” I snapped at you.

You glared at me and we burst into laughter. 

I hold her shoulder and squeezed it,” Thank you Yagami-san”

“You’re welcome and it’s Kumi,”you said and grinned.

“I am Kanon, yoroshiku”

After that incident, we became closer and immediate best friend. It looked unusual to people’s eyes; a delinquent and a top student. It was not well-matched.  We often had our lunch together at the rooftop and studying together. Actually, it was more like I was the one who studying and you were sleeping.

Sometimes you practiced your songs. I listened to your songs and encouraged you to keep practicing. I know it sounds selfish but you did not excel in academic and sport. Rather, you have passion in music.

tomo yo
omoide yori
kagayaiteru
asu wo shinjiyou
sou sotsugyou to wa
deguchi ja naku
iriguchi darou
tomo yo
sorezore no michi
susumu dake da
sayonara wo iu na
mata sugu ni aeru
dakara ima wa
HAITACCHI shiyou

Your songs gave me strength. Somehow, I had tried to encourage you to study. As usual, you gave me that silly grin and saying, “I got it Non-chan” and after that you stared blankly and fell asleep.

As time passed by, the entrance exam is getting near. Yuasa sensei called me to the staffroom.

“Kimoto-kun, what is this? I expect you to do better than this. This is bullshit,”said the beard teacher half-shouted.

I did not dare to speak.

“Stay away from Yagami-kun. She is a bad influence.”

 I stood in front of him. I clenched the hem of my skirt and wiping my sweaty palm and trying to wipe away the fear of what coming. I was right. Sensei scolded me. All my grades were not good. As in, not applicable to the first class university I was trying to apply for.  I hold the paper and rumpled it.

I regretted everything. I knew what the cause of this. It was you. However I was trying to find another reason. Still, the reason was you. I made up my mind. I will talk about this and tried to consult this thing with you.

During lunch time, I couldn’t find you. I searched for you. I ran to the rooftop. I ran to the sakura park. I still cannot find you. I gave up. I was guessing you were practicing with your band and skipped school. I returned to the classroom trying to focus and forget about you.

Kumi, you are a bad influence. Then, my heart ached.

That afternoon, I had a committee meeting. I sent a resignation letter to the student president and told him to find a new replacement. 

I returned quickly to the classroom to fetch my bag. Then I saw you sitting on my chair. I knew you were waiting for me. I slammed my hand on the table. The pain lingered through my knuckle.

“What are you doing here?” I shouted.

“I was waiting for you “she said.

“From today, I don’t want to see you again. I don’t want to hang out with you anymore. You are a distraction!” I said it. 

She smirked at me.

“That’s good. Just now,I went to the headmaster office to tell him that I am going to quit. I am not like you Non-chan. I am an idiot. As you said, I am a bad influence”, she said in trembling voice.

I was surprised. If you quit school Kumi, I won't see you again.

“But Kumi....”

“Are you satisfied? Non-chan you have your wish. You won’t see me again” She said and walked away.

I was wrong. I cannot do it. I grabbed your hand. You were surprised by my action. There were tears on your face. My heart hurt. Don’t cry Kumi.

“I am sorry Kumi. Don’t leave me!”

You looked to the floor. Then you pushed me. I fell on the floor and you left

A memory flashed

“Non-chan, if I had a band, you will be my guest of honor.”

“Hahaha, what are blabbing about? Guest of honor?”

“Hey, don’t laugh at me. I am serious. You just wait okay?”

“Al right Kumi. I will wait then. Kumi, if I have graduated university and find a good job I am going to do something”

“What is that?”

“I am not telling you~”

“ Non-chan~~”

 We laughed together as we lied under the Sakura Tree, witnessing our silent promise to each other.

 

Kanon cried. Later that night, she tried to call Kumi but she cannot reach her. The next day, she went to Kumi’s house. Later, she found out that Kumi left to her hometown.

“Kanon-chan, Kuumin always talked about you.”said Kumi's aunt.

But Kanon remained silent.

“Actually, the day before she left, she was crying after she went to school. That same afternoon, she said she is going to quit school and she went to the school again to settle some problems. She said to me to give this letter to Kanon-chan.

,” I am sorry I’ll be back to fulfill our promise. I am sorry I left you without consulting you about me. Wait for me…

I ran to the Sakura Park and shouted, “Why did you leave? Baka!”

I knew you left because of me. You heard what Yuasa-sensei told me. You heard it all. You thought you were the reason. You thought you were a bad influence. However, you don’t have you leave me. After all you’ve done.  Then, I cried under the Sakura tree all day.

Present day…..

I picked up my bag and clutched the ticket in my hand. I ran all the way to the Nagoya Hall. Then, I saw your face. I meant your poster on the wall. I was overwhelmed and anxious. I wanted to see you. I wanted to hug you. The first thing I wanted to say was I am sorry.

I arrived at the venue. I am sweating, my hands numb. I am scared. I don’t know what to do. What if you leave me again after I meet you? What will you do? Would you forgive? Or are you trying to avenge me of what I did to you? All these questions running inside my head.  But for sure, I wanted to see you again.

“Excuse me miss, you are blocking the street”

I turned around. A familiar feeling went inside me after I heard that gentle voice.I saw you. You grinned at me like old time. 

“Kumi!!”

I flung to you and hugged you tightly. As if you will disappear again from my sight. Then you squeezed my shoulder and patted my head.

“You are still a cry baby Non-chan”

The girls lied under the Sakura tree where they used to hang out years ago. The long hair girl stirred and touched the other girl’s cheek. The short hair girl opened her eyes and smiled.

“Non-chan, you have graduated and you found a good job. I remember you said you are going to do something, what is it?”

Kanon smiled. All of sudden, Kanon buried her head in Kumi’s chest. She couldn’t pull herself away and she dug herself deeper into her body. Kanon was waiting for Kumi to react, but she didn’t. Instead, Kumi pulled tighter, until Kanon’s cheek found itself against Kumi’s heart. Kumi’s scent smelt like this, so indescribably wonderful and addictive.

Kanon raised her head to look up at Kumi.”Your heart is beating very fast.”

Kanon saw Kumi blushed.

“Actually Kumi, I’ve always wanted to do that for a long time”

Kumi snorted,”No way, you already did that remember?”

Kanon scrunched her nose and then laughed.

“You know Non-chan, my heart is beating very fast and you can see my heart from my mouth” Kumi opened her mouth.

Kanon obediently looked inside Kumi’s mouth. She saw nothing. Before she could open her mouth to protest, Kumi leant over to kiss her. Kumi continued kissing her, stretching her tongue so far into her mouth. Then Kanon pulled away.

“Don’t you like it?”

“No”

“I am sorry Non-chan”A feeling of disappointment rushed into Kumi’s face.

“How dare you Kumi, that was my first kiss”

Then, Kanon leant to Kumi and kiss her in the mouth. A sign to answer Kumi’s question and wiping the disappointment and growing smile at Kumi’s face.