PROLOGUE
My name is Nishizono Mio.
I'm in my second year of high school.
People say that junior year is the best year of our lives, that we will be having the time of our lives in junior year. Theoretically this statement is correct.
I read in the papers that some high schools in the country have authoritative third year students which hobbies are bullying the freshmen; forcing their false, tactless jurisdiction onto them. From what I read, they are like errand boys in those schools. If it wasn't for this fact, I think the first year should be the best year in general instead of junior year because we still had two years of high school for spare.
Being a third year is like the last moments of a pupa. In the life of an insect, the pupal stage follows the larval stage and precedes adulthood. In other words, it's the stage where the insects are prepared to the last stage of their life. It's the gate of adolescent.
They'll have us concentrate on studying and give us countless tryouts. It's only normal because a school will do their best to graduate their students. But the best part of senior year is not that. Being upgraded to the third year, the last year of high school, means that the students must prepare to be members of society. Though the teachers are there to help them with their future plans by giving suggestions, what they will become is still up to them. The teachers are only there to discuss and to be a reliable source of the outside world.
Therefore, third year is definitely not something to look forward to. Right?
This means the junior year is the best year for all high-school students after all. We still got a year to plan our life after graduation and there won't be anyone to govern us.
However, I think what makes it the better year is not because it's the second year or how we still got a year ahead. The reason is… Or rather, the reasons are…
"What are you spacing out for, Mio?"
"Nothing."
"Ah, is that so? You look as if you're thinking something deep though. What is it?"
This boy is Naoe Riki, my classmate. It's been our daily activity to spend some time together under this tree at the school park since that time. Originally, I came here everyday to be alone, enjoying every seconds far from the crowd of students. I like being alone, until one day, this boy comes to pick a ball that fled from the baseball ground. After that event, I joined the amateur baseball team Little Busters. I got closer with the members and become best friends.
"It was nothing special. It was just come to me that next month will be our second summer in high school already."
"That's right," he responded with a soft smile that resemble a smile of a girl, making her, I mean him looks cute.
"I'm grateful for everything I have now. Compared to last year, my life is much more complete. I have many friends who welcome me as the girl I am."
"Not only that, I'm also closer to Midori."
Our eyes were connected as I spoke,
"It's all thanks to you, Riki-kun."
"Haha, I didn't do anything though. You don't need to thank me!"
"But…"
"It's fine!" he replied modestly despite all the hardship he had done to me for the past year.
"Mio, time flies really fast so you better think ahead! You shouldn't dwell in the past or you'll be left behind!"
Riki-kun's remark has stimulated my lips to form a smile. It was simple, yet encouraging. Riki-kun's always been like that. It's also this character of his that had helped me in the past.
He's a very nice guy, and I'm glad he's my friend.
"It's time for practice," he stood up and offered his hand to me. "Let's go, Mio!"
Think ahead… being visionary. It's important to look ahead after all. Looking too far ahead is not recommended though. Making your life plans is good, but what's more important is to make it count. With that idea, I think I should prioritise what will come in near future after all. Thus, I asked myself.
'What should I do for the rest of my junior year?'
Hmm, junior year will still be going on for around 11 months; I think I might think too far ahead. What about...
'What am I going to do this summer?'