Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

ooo

Keitaro sighed as he leaned against the railing surrounding the roof. "So, I guess Mutsumi remembered a promise from her childhood in Hinata Inn…"

Naru looked away towards the setting sun as she replied.

"Seems that way…"

Keitaro merely slumped further down unto the railing, futilely hoping that that there might be a way he could learn what Mutsumi exactly remembered. There were so many important things she could have remembered; perhaps she remembered his promise girl? Or perhaps she remembered that she herself was his promise girl? He might never know. Mutsumi was an enigma, and unless Mutsumi herself deigned to tell him someday, he was sure that he would never be able to pry the information from her. Somehow, his gut told him that Naru was at the centre of all these, but his instincts always led him wrong, so he really wasn't sure. Perhaps it was just his heart playing tricks on his brain. Before he saw it coming, Naru smacked him upside the head and spoke up.

"Why are you looking so troubled? You should be happy!"

Outwardly, Keitaro merely looked down in response. Deep down he felt incredulous. How could he be happy when he was kept in the dark over something he had searched for his entire life? It was so close, yet so far! Sometimes he wondered at how dense Naru could be.

"Don't dwell on such distractions. You are barely going to make it even with your mind totally focused on the exams. Lose that focus now, and you will fail where you could have passed, I'm sure you would not want that, would you?"

For a moment, Keitaro snapped out of his depressing thoughts. "Na… Narusegawa?"

Naru simply continued. "Let us keep our priorities in order. Once we have finished the exams, you can tell Mutsumi everything. Then the two of you can finally be together! But meanwhile, the most important thing is for us to get into Tokyo University!"

Naru's tone softened, before she added, "You promised me, remember?"

Keitaro looked up. "N-Naru?" How blind could she be? Could she not see how he felt about her? He loved Mutsumi, but merely as a very good friend, nothing more, and nothing less. He knew that he would never feel that way about her.

Naru suddenly snapped her head around to look at him before saying, "Keitaro… we'll… we'll always be the best of friends even after Tokyo University, right?

Keitaro raised his head to look at her, his heart broken. She had just said that the two of them would be best friends.

Only best friends.

Was she saying this so that she could detach herself in the event that Mutsumi turned out to be his promise girl? Keitaro did not know, and probably never would. And yet as he gazed into her warm, brown eyes, so similar and yet so unlike his own, he could feel a new, warm sensation blossoming throughout his cooled heart, warming him up for what was perhaps an even greater disappointment. And yet, perhaps there was still hope.

Naru's tone suddenly changed to become slightly sarcastic. "But it seems like such a waste for Mutsumi to be stuck with you! There are not enough people with her personality around! Although I do admire your resolve to fulfill promise made when you were only a little kid… not bad, not bad at all!"

Keitaro was shocked. She had openly showed her distaste in him; she wouldn't want Mutsumi to be stuck with him! His already broken heart fell. "Wait a minute, Narusegawa! Why the sudden…"

Naru continued as though she had not heard him. "I wonder if Mutsumi will want to date you though…"

Keitaro's broken heart finished its fall and shattered as he took in fully what Naru had said. She did not want other girls with him.

She did not like him at all.

She was just sticking to him because of their Tokyo University promise, despite all that that talk about 'best friends' and all. His one-sided love was pointless. They were never meant to be…

Keitaro looked up to see Naru walking off. As she walked away, she said, "I guess you can cross that bridge when you get there…"

"Wait, Narusegawa!"

With courage he did not know he had, Keitaro sprung forward and caught her arm. He knew that he had to confess now if he wanted to have any chance of salvaging the situation. "Listen, Naru, I…"

He never got to finish as Naru leaned closer towards him. Time slowed down just before she touched; she was so very close, and Keitaro took what just might be his first and last chance to be so close to her to memorize every aspect of her lovely face, from the tip of her sharp nose to her almond shaped eyes, down to her lack of earlobes which he had never noticed, until finally he reached her lips. Her thin lips looked so soft, so inviting, that he nearly gave in to his overwhelming urge to kiss her. He managed to restrain himself however, as he thought of the associated pain. He vaguely felt his glasses being removed.

Suddenly, he felt her lips come into contact with his own. It was as though he was electrified. His senses were heightened, allowing him to feel every ridge, every depression on her lips. It was something so unique, so new that he knew he would remember this moment for the rest of his life. He could taste her, a unique flavor that was just Naru. Her lips felt every bit as soft as they looked, but because he was Keitaro, he was too shocked to do anything, so he merely stood there like an idiot. By the time he had felt ready to kiss her back, she had already broken the kiss and was looking away.

Suddenly, she turned and ran. "Bye Keitaro! Ten days to the exam, I'm sure you can do it!"

Keitaro put his hand out after her.

"Na… Naru…."

But he knew it was no use. She was long gone. Instead, he put his fingers to touch his lips. Yes, perhaps there was still hope for them after all.

ooo

I don't know if I will write from Naru's perspective, since the manga is quite… vague.