Chapter Text
Elementary school ends the same way it started all those years ago: with cherry blossom petals in the roads and the laughter of children in the wind. Kazemaru’s mother tears up as he receives his diploma, and his father pats his head once the whole ordeal is done.
It feels like a normal day, except classes have ended and by the time Spring Break is over, neither Kazemaru nor his classmates will be Elementary students—they’ll be in middle school instead. It sounds way more intimidating than it should, considering everyone has to grow up someday.
“Kazemaru!”
He recognizes that voice immediately—of course he does. “Endou!” He smiles, seeing his friend run towards him. “What’s up?”
The grin that greets him, wide and happy, shakes his heart a bit. Warmth collects at his fingertips, in his cheeks, faint as it is, but it’s no surprise. Endou Mamoru is one of those boys, see: the type that are exuberant and easy-going and kind of annoying, too, but it doesn’t matter because the moment they smile—it all goes away.
He’s the type that makes you feel the warmth of the sun, even in the middle of a winter afternoon.
Kazemaru doesn’t remember how they met, not exactly. They’ve been in the same class for ages, and before any of them knew it, they were playing together and laughing along to the dumbest of jokes. They get along, they pair up in physical education often enough, and they hang out by the riverside from time to time.
They’re friends, even if sometimes Kazemaru thinks Endou is a bit more special to him than otherwise.
“You’re going to attend Raimon, right?” Endou asks, brown eyes looking at him expectantly.
Kazemaru nods. “You, too?”
“Of course!” The other boy smiles, blindingly bright. “Do you think we’ll be in the same class again?”
“That would be fun.” He responds, tilting his head, as if thinking about it. Even if there is no thinking about it, for him. Kazemaru looks forward to spending time with Endou, always, tiny sparkling bubbles in his stomach at the thought. “You’re looking forward to middle school, then.”
“I am!” Endou laughs. “Won’t it be great? I wonder what kind of people we’ll meet. I can’t wait! Do you think their football team will be any good?”
Kazemaru tries to swallow the urge to giggle, because boys don’t do that, not once they’ve grown-up (and he’s already twelve, that’s grown-up enough). “Never let it be the day you don’t think about football,” he chuckles—chuckles, not giggles. Important distinction. “And, even if they aren’t any good—you’ll make it so. Right?”
At his praise, Endou blushes, and Kazemaru thinks, for a moment, that it’s a bit unfair, how charming this boy is. With the spring at his fingertips, messed-up hair held together by an old orange bandana, and a sheepish smile.
“You think so? I’ll do my best!” Endou lifts his fist. “You do as well on the track field, okay? I want to see both of us at the nationals!”
Kazemaru smiles and bumps his own fist against the other’s. “Of course! If I want to go against the greatest, that’s where I have to go.”
“It’s a promise, then!”
He’s heard those words many, many times. Endou lives for these promises of his, and Kazemaru holds onto them, secret ties around his and Endou’s friendship that bring them closer, bind them tighter together.
Endou would never forget a promise, and Kazemaru—
“Mamoru! It’s time to go!”
“Coming, mum!” Endou shouts back, before smiling at Kazemaru one more time. “Goodbye! See you in a couple of weeks, Kazemaru!”
“See you!” He manages to get out before his friend disappears in the sea of people towards his mother.
Elementary school ends the same way it began—Kazemaru is the one who is different, he’s the one who’s changed.
He thinks about promises, and middle school, and friendships that feel like winning a race; except softer, except brighter, except warmer.
Endou would never forget a promise, so Kazemaru holds onto that, takes a step forward, and leaves childhood behind.