Raku was almost at the peak of the hill he was climbing. The sun was rising from the horizon as the son of the Yakuza gang began to wonder once again why Chitoge left Japan in the first place. He was right now searching for her. According to Marika, Chitoge was over the other side of the hill. Apparently she had somehow seen where she had gone and decided to tell Raku.
He just reached the peak of the hill when a voice suddenly called out, "Ichijo-kun!"
Raku turned around and saw a girl with snow white skin, brown eyes, and long brown hair. "Ah, Onodera! I'm glad you're alright!" as he sighed in relief.
Kosaki Onodera sighed in relief as well and said, "I'm glad you're okay! I heard an explosion earlier and was wondering if you were okay."
Raku chuckled a little as he rubbed his back head. "I'm okay somehow because Tsugumi helped me afterwards. I'm sorry for leaving you alone."
Kosaki shook her head and smiled. "No, don't worry about it."
Raku smiled back and explained, "Anyway, I'm glad we're both together. Chitoge is at the peak of the mountain past this hill. Tachibana told me when I met her earlier."
Kosaki was a little surprised at the mention of Marika's name. "Ehh?! Marika-chan came here?" she asked.
"It's a long story..." Raku rubbed his head sheepishly. "Let's go find Chitoge now, or else that girl won't stay in one spot."
As Raku turned around and began to walk ahead in search of Chitoge, Kosaki frowned a little. She already knew the real reason why Chitoge left Japan. It was because she found out that Kosaki loves Raku. Chitoge also loves Raku but she wanted to make Raku and Kosaki happy by leaving Japan and letting them be together.
Kosaki also remembered who the promised girl was after reading the altered ending of the picture book created by Raku. That jogged her memory as she finally remembered that the promised girl was none other than...
Kosaki.
Kosaki was not sure, but she figured that Chitoge must've also remembered at some point that Chitoge remembered everything about the promise as well, causing her to be even more depressed. Kosaki really felt bad for Chitoge. She did not want to see her best friend cry. Ever!
Now the thing is, Raku doesn't know the real reason why Chitoge left Japan, and also that Kosaki is the promised girl. In fact, Raku was Kosaki's first love. Both had mutual feelings for each other. But either of them didn't realize it.
But she had to stop thinking about that. She was right now thinking what to tell Chitoge once they were to meet again. Obviously by now, she would be even more depressed. But she did not know how she should do it.
Also...
Kosaki noticed something.
Raku seemed a little bit different today.
"Umm... Ichijo-kun, why do you think Chitoge-chan disappeared?" Kosaki decided to ask.
Raku stopped walking and glanced behind his shoulder at Kosaki as he blinked in confusion before answering, "Well, I thought about it for a while now... But I still don't really get it," he then looked at the sky and continued, "However, after meeting her in America, I was thinking it was maybe my fault..."
Raku paused for a moment as Kosaki was listening intently. He continued, "That girl, her face was shocked with loss of words when she saw me. That's why... I thought maybe I did something horrible I haven't realized yet."
Kosaki gasped. "That's not it! I'm sure Ichijo-kun isn't a terrible person!"
Raku smiled a little, but a tinge of sadness was evident in his eyes as he laughed a little, "Thanks, it would be nice if that wasn't the reason. But somehow, I get the feeling that she's contemplating. She's always complaining about small things. But for important things, she keeps them locked away inside herself, you know? That's why we have to be the ones approaching her. Actually, I don't care what she's worried about... I just can't stand that idiot worrying about it alone."
The expression Kosaki displayed on her face was pure shock. Realization dawned on her face as she noticed what was different about Raku today. "Ichijo-kun, to you, Chitoge-chan must be very special..."
Raku chuckled and rubbed his back head sheepishly. "No, it's not anything big like that. But yeah, I do think it's less boring with her around."
Kosaki looked down at the ground and kicked the dust as she began to contemplate about something. "I have finally realized it now. I understand his feelings... There's no turning back. There's no evidence... Just a mere certainty," she thought.
Raku noticed the disturbed expression of Kosaki's face as he asked, "Onodera?"
"Sorry Ichijo-kun..." Kosaki began has she pursed her lips. "But there's something I'd like you to hear. Before you meet Chitoge-chan... Right here, right now... I have always wanted to tell you something for a very long time. I've always tried to say it, but it did not end up well. It was dduring junior high when I realized that my second... Actually my first... my first love."
Raku widened his eyes as he thought, "Wait... Is she...?"
"Ichijo-kun, you're my first love. I love you so much, and I always have." Kosaki confessed. "I'm sorry... At a time like this..."
Raku widened his eyes in shock as he thought, "Did I...Did I just hear that right? Onodera loves me? Did she just say that? Since junior high just like I have? That means..."
FLASHBACK BEGINS
"KYAAA! I'm so sorry! Are you okay? Umm... I would like to pay for it, please give me your name."
"Hello Ichijo-kun! Same class again! Looking forward to it!"
"You can't what if it gets infected?"
"I get why Kirisaki-san took a liking to you, kind of."
"Ichijo-kun, I've always..."
"I thought because Ichijo-kun said it was because you'd prefer it was her."
"I know a girl who liked Ichijo-kun back in Junior High."
"T-Thank you! I...I am really happy!"
"Just a little special courtesy..."
"For example, Ichijo-kun, what do you think about me as a bride?"
"Of course, we promise that we'll see it together..."
FLASHBACK ENDS
"Did she like me from the beginning? Just like how I've always liked her from the beginning? Always..." Raku's eyes welled up with tears as it uncontrollably flowed down his cheeks. "Onodera... I never knew... Never was I going to cry..."
Tears formed in Kosaki's eyes as well as she asked, "Is Ichijo-kun crying...?"
"I don't now...but I..."
Kosaki began to cry as well as she tried to wipe the tears off her face, but more kept forming in her eyes. That's when Raku suddenly said, "I love you too, Onodera."
Kosaki widened her eyes in surprise as Raku paused for a moment before continuing, "I've always, always loved you... All along, Ioved you, Onodera."
However, Kosaki understood the true meaning behind his words as her eyes drooped slightly and she smiled. "Thank you...I'm really happy, but... You don't love me anymore, right?" she looked back at Raku and asked, "There's someone else in Ichijo-kun's heart now, right?"
Raku smiled and nodded. "Yeah..."
Kosaki closed her eyes and contemplated for a moment before reopening them. She took out her key that was kept on her neck and reached it out to Raku. "Here take this."
"O-Onodera..." Raku asked, perplexed.
"I remembered who the girl of Ichijo-kun's promise is... But I think I'm not suited to hold onto this anymore... Even I don't know what is inside it, but I will leave it up to you to decide what to do with it." Kosaki explained as she handed her key over to Raku.
The son of the Yakuza gang turned around and said, "Okay, I'll be right back," before walking a few steps forward. "Onodera... Thanks..." And with that, the he walked away in search of Chitoge, leaving Kosaki in the dust.
Kosaki stared forward at Raku until he disappeared from the horizon. Obviously, he had changed. She wasn't getting the same vibe from him before. Now that Raku loves Chitoge, what will Kosaki do?
"Kosaki!" a voice called out.
Far behind Kosaki was Ruri and Shu. They had just managed to catch up with Kosaki as her bestfriend said, "Ah! Found you at last!" she stopped in her tracks along with Shu when they got close enough to her. "Hm? You're alone? What about Ichijo-kun? Did you find Chitoge-chan?"
Kosaki didn't reply as she still had her back turned towards Ruri and Shu. "Kosaki?"
"Well... Ichijo-kun went to meet Chitoge-chan..." Kosaki said, her voice wavering.
Ruri widened her eyes in realization. "You..."
"It's strange... It's not as sad as I imagined... I thought I'd cry more... I just don't understand my feelings..." Kosaki turned around, revealing her tear-filled face. "Ruri-chan... What kind of expression am I wearing right now?"
Ruri widened her eyes in shock before clenching her fists. "You idiot... It's terrible!"
Ruri suddenly dashed towards Kosaki and hugged her. "You...really...are an idiot..."
"Y-Yeah... I'm sorry..." Kosaki apologized while returning the hug.
Shu stared down at the ground and thought. "So... Raku finally decided his feelings, huh?"
Meanwhile, Raku was still walking forward in search of Chitoge when a thought suddenly struck him. Kosaki had given him the key to the pendant. He began to contemplate whether he should open it at a time like this or not.
"Alright... I'll open it." Raku thought and he inserted Kosaki's key into his pendant, turning it over and unlocking it. He opened the pendant to see what was inside it and what he saw surprised him. There were two wedding rings and a letter that read, 'Raku and Kosaki' inside it. "Wedding rings? And a letter inside it? I see... So, Onodera was my first love... This is the answer I've been searching for all this while..."
Raku then noticed that there were two letters inside, so he decided to unfold the first one and read it.
To grown up Kosaki,
How are you? I'm probably well. When we get married, when we grow up, let's get lots of animals to breed! When we get married, I want to eat your cooking every day!
Raku laughed at the content of the letter he had written in the past and thought that it was pretty cute. After reading his letter, he then switched over to Kosaki's.
To grown up Raku,
I'm sure the grown up Raku is a lot taller. I want to grow up fast again so that we can meet fast. I think a long time would've passed by then. But I believe I will always continue to love Raku-kun.
Do you still love me, Raku-kun?
The last sentence struck Raku right in his heart as he felt a stinging pain in the middle of his chest. Not physical, but emotional pain. Tears once again began to form in his eyes as he clenched his chest and thought, "I don't regret it... Something I've always wanted... even if things took a twisty path... I decided I will regret nothing..."
"I've always felt happy staying next to Onodera, laughing or chatting with her...or just being in the same room as her... And I still think that... But that day... I ended up thinking about it... That day when I realized that I like Chitoge... She's noisy and reckless... And I don't understand her... We always fight and I get hit... Although I think I will be happy all the time, I thought I wanted to laugh sincerely with her like this... If it's with her, I could enter a world I never imagined... A world I could never reach on my own... If it's with her, I felt like I could do it... That's why..."
Raku sweat dropped and sighed in exasperation. "It would be funny if I got rejected by Chitoge after all I've been through..."
He closed his eyes for a moment before reopening them. "But I've decided what I already wanted to do..." as he continued to walk forward. That's when he suddenly saw Chitoge ahead in front of a large rock. "Chitoge..." she was facing the large rock and thus her back was towards Raku.
"Oi, at last I found you."
"Yes..." Chitoge said.
Raku looked to the side and rubbed his back head. "When I would meet you, I wanted to ask so many questions. But now that I'm here, I can't remember any of them..."
"Yeah... me too... Hey, Raku..." Chitoge called.
Raku stared at Chitoge, waiting for her answer when she suddenly confessed, "I like you..."
"I liked you all along... I first realized it when during the 1st year's festival. But you like Kosaki-chan, right? I accidently overheard it when you were talking to Maiko-kun. That's why I ran away... Really... I'm really sorry for all the trouble I caused you... But because I came to this place, I remembered everything about what had happened 10 years ago..."
"I was not the girl of your memories... the one who made that promise to you was Kosaki-chan... That's why I'm finally able to let you go... But still, before I let you go, I wanted to let you know that "I like you". Really, for this and everything else until now, I'm sorry." Chitoge confessed.
Raku closed his eyes and admitted, "I see... Just now, Onodera confessed to me. And then I came here after rejecting her."
Chitoge flinched at that as she was surprised. Why did Raku reject Kosaki?
"I have always like Onodera since forever. I also remembered everything from 10 years ago... Everything that had happened. But even then, someone else became precious to me..."
FLASHBACK
A new transfer student had just entered the room. She was beautiful, had long blond hair with strawberry colored hair tips, large blue eyes and wore the Bonyari school uniform. She stood in front of the class and introduced, "Hello! I'm a transfer student from America, and my name is Chitoge Kirisaki! Nice to meet you all!" she eye smiled.
Of course, as soon as Raku saw Chitoge, he immediately called her a barbarian for kneeing her in the face moments before they arrived at the class. They hated each other ever since that day and fought frequently. But...
FLASHBACK END
"Everything with her was a mess... She was foul mouthed, kicking others in front of everyone in the class... Even after all I did with her was fight... We argued every time we saw each other's faces. We couldn't agree with anything... So honestly, I hated her at first... But after all these times I spent with her, she was actually honest even if she looked faulty. She seemed unlikable but was actually friendly. She's just immature but she's the most earnest person I know... I realized that I liked her."
Chitoge clenched her skirt as Raku continued, "But I still liked Onodera at that time. You can call me a scumbag, I seemed to have a liking to two people. Though I didn't realize that until a certain someone scolded me... But because of that, I ended up hurting you... Because I was indecisive and contemplating. But now I've made up my mind."
"How come...?" Chitoge asked.
Raku placed his hand on his chin and said, "Well, I'm not sure... but simply."
"You cannot just say "simply", you idiot! Because always, you always liked her... Kosaki-chan, didn't you?" Chitoge asked.
"Yeah..."
Chitoge clenched her fists tightly. "Are you stupid? And for 10 years, you've met with her again. And you liked her again, didn't you? Then..."
"Yeah... Maybe I'm happy being with you..." Raku admitted.
"I feel happy fighting with you... I'm happy when you quarrel with me... Even when we're angry, or worried, or even cry, I'm sure that much that I've come to like you. That's why, I'm sure nothing can be done about it..."
Chitoge began to sob. "You know... The girl you're talking about is really awful, you know? If she doesn't like something, she gets annoyed right away. When she gets angry, her hand punches out first..."
Raku shook his head and smiled. "Yeah, I know...
Chitoge continued while still sobbing, "She runs away if she thinks she'll get hurt... She's always making others worried, causing trouble for others... She's really frustrating, you know? She can't do laundry... She can't even clean her room... She even...eats a lot, you know? I'm not the girl you've been searching for... I'm a fake, but that's okay with you?"
"Yeah... I love you." Raku confessed.
Chitoge turned around, revealing her tear filled face and ran towards Raku before hugging him. "Raku! I love you! I really really really love you!"
Raku was shocked at first, but he then returned the hug and smiled. "I love you too, Chitoge..."
WITH KOSAKI AND THE OTHERS
Kosaki had just finished explaining to Ruri and Shu about what had all happened before Raku left her to find Chitoge.
"I see... So that's what happened." Shu concluded.
"Kosaki..." Ruri said softly.
Kosaki wiped the last of her remaining tears from her eyes and tried to put on a smile. "It's ok Ruri-chan... I will eventually move on..."
Shu pointed over to the yonder and said, "Oh! Look over there! Raku and Chitoge are coming back!"
Indeed, Raku and Chitoge were returning. When Kirisaki saw Kosaki, her lips pursed. "Kosaki... I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused you..."
Suddenly Kosaki dashed forward and hugged Chitoge, surprising her. But she eventually hugged her best friend back and began to cry once again along with Onodera.
And that's how, the long day had come to an end. Promises, memories, and a few peoples' hearts... On that long day, all those memories intertwined.
After all the emotional events that had transpired, everything restored back to its normal self (well with a few changes of course).
A few days had passed since that day. Right now, Kosaki and Ruri were walking in the streets of Bonyari on their way to Chitoge's house. Apparently, there was going to be a big party hosted by Chitoge's family. Basically, it's a celebration for Raku and Chitoge finally getting together...for real and not acting as fake lovers. Kosaki and Ruri made sure to wear nice clothes for the party. Shu and Raku were already at the party and so was Marika and the others.
Even Yui-nee had come to the party. After all, all of the friends had to be invited. Because after the party, Chitoge had to leave for America since she wanted to follow her career.
Kosaki smiled as she walked forward and said, "Ruri-chan, going to Ichijo-kun and Chitoge-chan's party reminds me of Chitoge-chan's last birthday party and the party before that... It sure does brings back memories..."
Ruri nodded in agreement and looked at Kosaki. "Yeah... I'm surprised that Marika and Yui-nee were able to make it to the party despite their busy schedule."
Kosaki looked at Ruri and explained, "Well, Chitoge-chan will be leaving for America for a while. Maybe even years. So, we don't know when she is going to come back. But I'm going to wish her all the best in her future career."
Ruri stared at the ground while still walking and suddenly said, "Kosaki..."
Kosaki glanced at Ruri and raised her eyebrows. "Yes?"
"What if...life gave you a second chance?" Ruri abruptly asked.
Kosaki stammered a little and asked, "Eh? W-What do you mean by that?"
"What if life gave you a second chance... What if life allowed you to mend the mistakes you've made in the past?"
Kosaki understood where Ruri was getting at and intervened, "Ruri-chan... It's okay... I've moved on now. What matters most is Raku's present, not his past. Because Chitoge is his true present and eternal future."
"Have you...really moved on?" Ruri asked.
Kosaki stared at Ruri, perplexed, and asked, "Why do you ask? Of course, I have."
Ruri stared at Kosaki for about half a minute or so, as if trying to find any deception in her eyes. After a while, she sighed and looked forward. "Alright... If that's what you say, then that's fine. Oh look, we've reached."
Indeed, Kosaki and Ruri had reached as they stopped in front of the posh looking gate of Chitoge's mansion. They opened it and decided to walk towards the house before entering inside.
INSIDE CHITOGE'S HOUSE
"I'm so glad that you finally made your final decision, Raku-chan!" Yui said happily as he held Raku's hands before her chest. "You've grown up now! Please take care of Chitoge-chan."
Raku smiled and chuckled a little. "Yes, I will definitely protect her with my life."
Chitoge, who was near Raku, smiled at Raku's proclamation and giggled. "Darling... Enough with the bravado..."
Raku pouted and said, "Baka, I really mean it..."
Tsugumi entered the scene and joined the conversation. "Ojou, has everyone come to the party?"
Chitoge placed her hand on her chin and thought for a moment before answering, "Oh! I think Kosaki-chan and Ruri-chan haven't come yet. I wonder where they are."
Shu also joined the conversation and asked, "Yeah... Where's my Ruri-chan~?"
Raku pointed at the entrance of Chitoge's house and said, "Oh, look. Onodera and Miyamoto have come."
Indeed, Kosaki and Ruri had just entered inside as they walked towards the group. Kosaki greeted with a smile, "Hi Chitoge-chan! And congratulations!"
"Congratulations, Chitoge-chan." Ruri said, smiling.
Chitoge smiled back and hugged Kosaki and Ruri. "Thank you so much! I'm glad you came by."
Tsugumi smiled and informed, "Onodera-san, Miyamoto-san, you're just in time! The party is just about to begin. Please follow me."
Kosaki glanced at Raku and said, Good evening, Ichijo-kun."
Raku smiled and greeted back, "Good evening, Onodera... How are you feeling?"
Raku and Kosaki were talking like as if the incident that had happened a few days ago at the promised lands had never happened in the first place. However, she still didn't get the same vibe as she used to feel whenever she talked to Raku. It had changed completely after that day. But she did not mind. Chitoge was Raku's true love and there was nothing that could change that...
"I'm feeling much better ever since that day... Thank you for asking, Ichijo-kun." Kosaki thanked.
Raku dug his hands in his pockets and said, "You're welcome. We should get going now. The party is about to start," as he pointed over to the entrance of the party room.
Kosaki nodded and smiled. "Alright. Let's enjoy this moment while it still lasts!"
And with that, the Nisekoi group went ahead and entered the party room. Meanwhile, Ruri was staring at Kosaki as she thought, "Has Kosaki-chan really moved on?"
As soon as the group entered the room, they were greeted by an ocean of beehive gang members "CONGRATULATIONS OJOU!" Apparently all the bee hive gang members had arrived for the party. And by all, I actually mean all of them. Even the members who had important missions to take part in worldwide had come to the party just to celebrate with Chitoge.
Raku, Chitoge, and Kosaki freaked out as they saw the ocean of bee hive gang members. Especially Raku and Kosaki since they had never seen these many bee hive gang members before. You would think that there were too many people but with a large mansion like Chitoge's, it was no problem.
Chitoge stammered, "W-W-What?! All of you are here?!"
"WE CAME ALL THE WAY FROM FOREIGN TILL HERE JUST TO CELEBRATE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH RAKU ICHIJO! CONGRATULATIONS, OJOU!"
"H-Hey! I only asked for a small party. I wasn't expecting this!" Chitoge protested.
Raku chuckled at the bee hive gang's antics as Chitoge continue to argue with them. That's when a voice suddenly said, "Calm down, will you?"
The beehive gang turned around to face the source of the voice and saw a man with blond hair. "B-Boss!" as they bowed down to greet him.
"Papa!" Chitoge cried happily.
Mr Kirisaki smiled and stared at the Nisekoi group that included, Raku, Chitoge, Kosaki, Marika, Tsugumi, Yui, Shu, and Ruri. "I'm glad that all of you could make it to the party. Now then, shall we begin?"
The beehive gang roared, "YES!"
"Alright then! Just go to the left and you should see a table with lots of food. Serve yourself and eat to your heart's content!" Mr. Kirisaki offered.
And so, the party began. Right now, Shu and the others were eating to their heart's content along with the gang members while Kosaki and Ruri were having a little chat when Onodera suddenly said, "I have to go the washroom... Do you by any chance have an idea of where it is?"
Ruri shrugged and looked around her surroundings before pointing over to a random direction. "It's probably there. Ask one of the gang members here. I'm sure that that they will know."
"Alright." Kosaki said and left for the washroom.
Meanwhile, Chitoge was enjoying her food as he hogged on it. "Yum! It's been a long time since I've tasted food this good!"
Raku chuckled at Chitoge and suggested, "You might want to slow down while eating."
Chitoge then said while eating, "But I can't! It's too tasty!"
...
...
...
"Say, Chitoge..." Raku called.
Chitoge finished the last food item on her plate and placed it down on the table, turning her attention soon after at Raku. "What is it, darling?"
Raku held Chitoge's hand all of the sudden and said, "We need to talk..."
WITH KOSAKI
Kosaki was right now lost in a hall as she was trying to find the washroom. "Chitoge-chan's house is so vast and spacious... I can't even find where the bathroom is..."
It was no sooner she said that than when she suddenly noticed a white painted door. "Maybe this is the bathroom?"
She decided to enter the room, only to find that it was not the bathroom, but just another spacious room. "Oh... This isn't it..."
She turned and was about to leave the room when she suddenly noticed something on the ground of the room from the corner of her eyes. "Hm? What's this?"
There was something small on the ground. Perplexed, Kosaki decided to investigate as she picked up the strange item. It turned out to be some sort of machine. "What's this? Did someone drop this?"
Most likely someone must have dropped it since it was lying on the floor next to the entrance of the room. The strange machine had a button on it which confused her. "I should give this back to whoever it belongs to... They'll probably be looking for it."
Suddenly, Kosaki felt strangely attracted to the machine as it pirqueked her interest. There was something about the machine that fascinated her. The way it was designed really made her stare at in awe. "What is this anyway? What does it do?" as she stared at the button.
Curiosity got the best of her as she wanted to know what this strange device could do. So she decided to press the button to see what would happen. However...
Suddenly, a blinding light emitted from it as it engulfed Kosaki. She immediately dropped the device onto the ground as soon as the blinding light hit her eyes as she yelped. She began to shield her eyes so that she wouldn't go blind. However, before she knew it, Kosaki lost consciousness.
Little did she know, that incident was about to change everything forever...
To be continued...