It's been a while since I wrote anything at all, so I figured that if I published it somewhere, it would encourage me to continue something rather than just starting it and letting it die. I got this idea today and wanted to start it as quickly as possible before I lose my motivation to, so pardon the roughness of it. This will be just a few chapters long.
The moon shone brightly that night as Minako brought Koromaru out for their last walk of the day. They walked at a casual pace under the light of the streetlamps on their usual route that led to the playground near the shrine.
The November chill had Minako wrapped up in her coat and scarf, but Koromaru seemed fine as he was. She was glad that he didn't need a leash to go on walks so she could keep her hands in her pockets and out of the cold. There was no snow on the ground yet, but even in its absence, the city still felt like it was under winter's spell of silence and peace. There was no else besides the two of them outside. Maybe a car driving by in the distance but that's it.
It was only when they got to the playground that they encountered another person.
As they entered the shrine, they saw a boy sitting on top of the jungle gym silently staring up at the sky. They stopped at the entrance where Minako wondered if it would be better to go to a nearby park instead of the shrine this time so she wouldn't intrude on the stranger's reverie, but before she could turn around, the boy noticed them, and with a bright smile, he waved to them.
"Oh, hello! Didn't see you there," he said cheerfully, the cold air chilling his words in white puffs.
Minako thought the boy was a bit strange, because for one, even in this weather, he wasn't wearing a jacket…or even had his forearms covered. At least he was wearing a scarf, Minako thought. Anyone would freeze out here if they didn't have some kind of warm clothes on.
"Sorry, we weren't interrupting anything, were we?" She called out to him.
"No, no, you weren't interrupting at all!" The boy inched his way to the edge of the jungle gym, then leapt down. He landed on both feet with his scarf fluttering behind him, almost making it seem like he was in slow motion. He flashed a charming smile. "I'm new to the area- just got here actually- and I was hoping I'd be able to find someone who was familiar with the city to talk to," he said as he walked towards them. "I must be lucky to have met someone so soon."
He bent down to pet Koromaru on the head. "Aw, cute dog! What's his name?"
Minako smiled as she watched Koromaru lean into the boy's hand and wag his tail just as he would when the other SEES members would pet him.
"His name is Koromaru."
"So Koro-chan, is it?" He asked him as if he were talking to person rather than a dog. "Aww, aren't you a good dog, yes you are!"
She was a bit hesitant around this strange boy she met late at night, but if Koromaru was fine with him, so was she.
"So, you just moved here, huh?" Minako started as she made her way towards the swings. "Have you decided on which school you're going to go to?"
The boy looked up away from Koromaru, as if he was hit with a sudden realization. With a final pat on Koromaru's head, the boy stood up and followed Minako to the swings, taking a seat in the one next to her. "I haven't thought about it, actually."
Koromaru, who usually patrolled the shrine when they reached it on their walks, found a spot near the jungle gym and lay down. He was comfortable with the stranger, yes, but a dog's duty was to protect its family.
Minako smiled when she saw Koromaru stay by her and gave him a small nod in thanks.
"I was thinking about applying to Gekkoukan High, but I heard that it's pretty hard to get into," the boy continued.
"Then you really are lucky to have met me tonight," Minako said to him with a grin.
"Hm?"
"I know a way I can get you in," she said as she pushed herself off the ground and started to swing gently on the swing.
The boy's face lit up. "Really? You can do that?"
She laughed a bit at his response, and nodded. "For sure! But first, I need to know your name."
The boy relaxed into his seat on the swing and followed her lead, moving his own swing gently. "My name is Ryoji Mochizuki."
They spoke together for hours, but the hours felt like minutes. Minako almost forgot that this was the very first time she had met him, and although she was good at befriending people, with him, it was different. It's not every day that she'd meet someone for the first time and immediately hit it off like they were friends, but it was even rarer to meet someone for the first time and immediately hit it off like they were long lost…something. There had to be something about this boy, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
There were several times that first night that she wanted to ask him, "Have we met before?" or "Do I know you?", but the questions sounded like cheap pick-up lines in her head, so she ignored those thoughts. Still, the way they spoke, it was casual, playful, yet…warm and nostalgic. In those few hours, she felt like she had gotten closer to him than any of the SEES members she's been living with for months, and although she wanted to stay with him longer that night, a text reeled her back into reality.
She checked her cellphone and it was Mitsuru asking where she and Koromaru were. It was a school night, after all, and the dorm head needed to make sure all her chicks were in a row.
"Sorry, Ryoji, I need to get back now," she said as she slipped out of the swing.
Ryoji shook his head. "I should be the one apologizing for keeping you out so late."
"Will I…see you again?" She was oddly coy about asking him. Usually, it wasn't hard for her to ask someone to meet up with her again, but this time, the question made her cheeks turn a bit pink. It was something she really wanted, she couldn't deny it. And it was because it was so important to her that she felt embarrassed about it. The fact still remained that she had just met this boy.
Ryoji gave a soft smile that reassured her. "Of course," he said, standing up and moving closer to her as if he was about to hug her, but he didn't take that final step. "I'll be waiting for you right here…Minako."
She looked away, embarrassed when he heard him say her name. She wanted to close the gap between them, but decided it was too soon. Instead, she shook the unusual shyness out of her and looked at him with her characteristic bright smile and said, "I'll hold you to that!"
Ryoji laughed at her enthusiasm. "I promise. I'll be here. Goodnight, Minako."
Minako nodded. "Goodnight, Ryoji!"
She called Koromaru over and after waving to Ryoji one last time, she and Koromaru began making their way back to the dorm. It was only when she was half way there that she remembered that she never got Ryoji's phone number. They never set a date to meet again either. Panicked, she ran back to the playground as fast as she could with Koromaru trailing behind her, but it was too late.
As she stood there at the shrine's entrance trying to catch her breath, all she saw was the empty playground illuminated by the moon's light.
Still breathing hard, she closed her eyes as she leaned on one side of the shrine's gate.
The next day after school, she passed by the playground and hung out with Maiko for a while in hopes that she'd be able to run into him, but there was no sign of him.
After taking care of some SEES business, she returned the same night. Still no Ryoji.
Night after night, she and Koromaru passed by the playground on their usual route, but all they found was the playground just as it usually was before that night- empty.
Was it all just a dream? As the days passed with no sign of him, it was starting to feel like it. Was that charming boy who she felt so close to so quickly just something her mind created? Maybe Tartarus and the Dark Hour had taken a toll on her.
Weeks went by and soon, she started to try to convince herself to forget about him, but it was easier said than done.
Each night, she'd take Koromaru out for a walk, and even though she felt stupid about it, she still hoped that she'd find him there again.
After all…
He promised.