Chapter Text
...
It was just an ordinary day, peaceful as ever. The sun is shining brightly above the children's heads, indicating that it's noon. The two children played innocently in their home, their village .
Yes, who will break this peace? It's too nice to be destroyed.
Giggling, a girl ran, chasing after a boy who was laughing. Ah, childhood friends.
“Got you!” she caught up to him and both fell to the grass. Yes, this is nice. Not much noise, other than some transportation noises from the neighboring city and other various of sounds you'd hear in a forest.
“Isn't it because I went easy on you? Y'know, since you're so slow.” he laughed. “Hey! That's not fair.” she puffed out her cheeks, tint of pink can be seen.
“Alright, that's enough for today.” he declared.
“Huh? Why? It's only been a few hours.”
“Well... umm...” the boy couldn't speak. He's hiding something from her and she knew it.
“Why won't you tell me?” she asked.
“Um... my parents are getting a lot more strict with me. They want me to study hard so I can enter this prestigious school in the city.” he explained.
Oh.
So that's what's up.
She gasped and instinctively hugged him. “Aw... it's okay! You can go, I'll wait for you the next day. We'll play again, won't we?”
The boy's cheeks heated up by the girl's soft voice. He always liked hearing it. It helps him relax, even if a little.
“Yeah, I'll definitely make it work out.” he responded, his eyes lights up again.
“Yay! Promise?” she offered her pinky.
“Eh?! But... what if I don't make it?”
“But, you said you'll definitely make it work out?” she tilted her head, confused.
“Umm...” he became indecisive. He's always indecisive, pessimistic. But, she still loves to play and have fun with him. They've spent a lot of time to the point they can be called "best friends". She believed in him and always cared about him.
“Yeah, you're right. I did say that. So, I guess I can't not promise you.” he finally decided. He intertwined his pinky with hers.
“I'll be back, I promise .”
And thankfully, he did came back. He kept his promise. He returned, he played. What's the worst that could happen now? There's nothing to separate these childhood best friends.
Right?
——————
“What happened to you?!” the girl screamed in terror when she saw her best friend's condition. Injured, heavily bruised. She ran up to him and immediately dragged him to her house to treat him. “How are you badly injured like this?! What happened, please tell me!” she begged as she returned with a first aid kit.
He just stayed silent, as he stared at her treating his wounds.
“H-hey, won't you tell me?” she pleaded, staring at him and giving him a concerned look. He saw those eyes and just sighed in defeat. How can he fight those adorable eyes of hers?
“I'm moving to the city.”
The bomb was dropped. He said it. He's going to move to the city. She stopped for a few moments to process that information.
Him. Moving.
It had finally sunk.
“Y-you're moving?”
He stayed silent. What's he supposed to say?
“T-that can't be true, is it?!” she teared up.
“H-hey, don't cry now!” he said, reaching out to her and hugged her.
“I thought w-we'll... always be... together?!” she sniffed, her voice muffled by his shirt, holding onto him tightly.
“I'm sorry... I just can't do anything.” he apologized. She didn't say anything. Only continue to cry.
“You saw those wounds, right? I got into a fight with my parents. I said I didn't want to, I can't leave you behind, after all. Then, they insulted you, saying you're boring and some village girl. I got angry, and you know the rest.” he briefly explained.
“What about m-me? How will I bear this loneliness by myself...?”
Oh, right. She's always alone. Her only friend was this boy. Nobody wanted to play with this boring girl.
She always tried to appeal to everyone, telling them she plays games, too. But, it didn't change anything. They continued to ignore her.
She's very unappealing, after all.
But, this boy was her ray of sunshine. The bright light that saved her.
He, too, was unappealing. But, that's what brought them together. They had fun together in their own little world. They played games and hung out very, very often.
It's been so many years, and now he's moving? Leaving her alone?
“You will never be alone. I'll always try and visit. We can send letters to each other, too.” he said as he released her.
“I-is that... true?”
“Of course! I'll make it work out.” he smiled, determined.
Oh, how she will dearly miss that smile of his. So precious and so warm.
“Okay, I believe in you...” she sniffed, wiping off her tears with her arm. She then continued to tend his wounds.
“It's not as neat, since this is my first time treating wounds, but I hope you feel better now.” she said, after finally bandaging his last wound.
“No, it's good. Thank you so much.” he said as he stood up. “When will you move?”
“Later this evening.” he sighed. “Huh!? That's too soon!” she gasped.
“Yeah, my same reaction when they told me that. Apparently, they have me applied to a different elementary school better than the one here. And my father was accepted by some big company or whatever.” he explained. She quickly ran up to him and hug him. “We'll meet again, right?” she said.
“Definitely.” he said, gently carressing her hair. “I'll... miss you, a lot... please don't get yourself hurt again like this, okay?”
“Haha, no promises, though.” he chuckled. She raised her head and puffed her cheeks. He was speechless as he blushed. “D-don't worry. I'll make sure to stay out of fights with anyone.” he assured her. He then turns to the clock.
“It's almost time for me to go. I need to go back.” he told her.
“Can't we stay like this for a little while...?”
“Nanami... I can't. I'll get scolded again. ”
He spoke her name, one last time.
“Can... you say my full name?” she requested.
“Huh?! What's this all of a sudden?” he was clearly startled. “It's just... I'll miss hearing you say my name.”
“Uhm... Nanami Chiaki.” he nervously said. She released him.
“Hinata Hajime, I'll miss you so much.”
――――――
“Hey, Chiaki-chan?” her step-sister called. “Coming!” she yelled out as she hurried down the stairs.
“Hm? What's with the hurry?” she tilted her head, confused. “What? I thought there's a letter from the city?”
Ever since Hinata-kun left, she's been receiving letters and sending letters to him. Although she often comes to the city to play video games, she forgot to ask which part of the city he'll be living. And she never asked in the letters. And even if she knows, she barely had enough free times anymore.
“Ah, no. I called you for something else.” her step-sister, Fumizuki nee-chan, said. “Is it your creepy stories again? If it's that, I'm going back upstairs.” Chiaki replied.
She has a step-sister. Hinata-kun knew this, too. Her parents found her and took her in when Chiaki was born. The reasons? They just felt pity for her. Chiaki never minded about it. Since she felt less lonely when there's her step-sister, because her parents are too busy working and they rarely come home. But, very often she would disappear without any message as to where she'd disappear to nor any trace was left, so it left her parents or even Chiaki alone having troubles finding her. And when she's at home, she'd often do strange things that's better left unspoken.
“It's something far more serious than that, I can promise you.” Fumizuki nee-chan giggled. “Well, what is it?” she sat beside her.
“You noticed a lot of smoke in the sky lately, right?” she started. “Yeah, it seems like it comes from the city.” Chiaki answered.
“Well, let me tell you. Something crazy happened in the city right now.”