Many have said that the human memory is similar to that of a computer's. Why do they say this? Simply because like a PC, the human brain is only able to hold so many memories at once, but unlike a PC those memories cannot be erased. Those past events or people you have met that you don't recall, they are just stored in what some call the "Memory Archive" in your brain. The only way to achieve memories that you have "forgotten" is if you have a event that makes you recall it or if you have someone who recalls that memory bring it back to you...
"What did you just say mom?"
"Why are you so surprised Maki-chan? You and Kotori were friends back when you were children!"
Yes, majority of times the memories we have forgotten can be for good reasons, or we simply forgot them because we were now handling too many memories to recall the one we forgot.
In a bit of disbelief, I scratch my head in confusion while sitting on the large white couch we had in our living room.
Being told that someone that you have been around for longer than a year was actually a childhood friend is a little surprising but a bit embarrassing when the fact is neither of us remembered this until someone else told us.
I'm just honestly glad my mom is a nice enough person to not laugh at me for not remembering, but I guess that's because she only recently recalled this when she and Kotori's mother met again during our re-live.
My Mom does a small cheerful giggle then turns to the still disbelieving and embarrassed me,
"Me and Minami-san made some arrangements to go out to dinner together! So finally you and Kotori can catch up on lost time!"
"What? Mom you don't-"
My mother suddenly silences me with her index finger,
"Maki-chan there's no need to be embarrassed, things like this happen sometimes, you just need to be happy that you could make another friend!"
"Uuu..."
Doing a small groan of broken pride, My mom was right, to be honest the only people I hanged out with in μ's was Hanayo and Rin, the others I just saw them as fellow members that I could count on... Kotori though... I only saw her as the most kind person in μ's and our costume designer.
Getting off the couch along with a small sigh and releasing all the complicated emotions that were flowing through me, I turn to my mother.
"Fine... I give up, I'll go to the dinner. When is it?"
"Tomorrow night!" My mother says to me with a cheerful expression.
"..."
I honestly had no words to say to her, I just simply stood there with a blank expression until Mother said it was time to go to bed.
You could say as I was laying in my queen sized bed before I fell to sleep that I still had a blank expression but no, all that I was thinking or actually screaming in my mind was.
"THIS IS GOING WAY TOO FAST!"
I knew that if I continued to think about the events that just occurred that I wouldn't be able to sleep, so I closed my eyes to let my body rest but before that, I actually wondered how Kotori reacted if she was told this news as well.
Closing my eyes to silence my thoughts, I just hope the interactions between me and Kotori are not awkward...
"Mmm, Maki-chan you look like you didn't sleep nya~"
"Yeah... It's quite rare to see you tired Maki-chan..."
Both the energetic Rin and the shy Hanayo showed concern to my tired self, As I let out a loud yawn and allowed the morning sun to wake up my eyes, I then do a small sigh.
"Don't worry about me... Just didn't get enough sleep..."
Obviously not telling them the reason why I am so fatigued, I just hope Rin doesn't say anything stupid which will drain the necessary energy I need to stay up for at least morning class so that I can regain the rest of the energy I need during lunch.
"Hmm~ Was Maki-chan thinking about someone all night nya~"
Rin in a mischievous tone finally says something stupid, Hanayo blushing due to her statement looks to me surprised but curious,
"M-Maki-chan you have someone you like?!"
Aww man... By now I would be yelling at Rin and trying my best to make sure Hanayo isn't misunderstood, but I don't even have enough energy to talk back.
Doing a annoyed yawn I then do a tired glare at Rin which makes her shiver in fear like a cat and I simply shake my head "No" at Hanayo.
"Sorry Maki-chan nya..."
Hanayo along with Rin also apologizes with tears almost forming in her eyes,
"Yeah... Sorry, you're already exhausted and we made you even more tired for no good reason..."
I then sigh and give a small smile to Hanayo,
"Don't worry Hanayo, it's not your fault... It's Rin's."
"Maki-chan don't be mean nya!"
Rin crying a small river of tears, the three of us continue walking down the school path but along the way I know that I'm going to need a lot of energy for the time I meet up with Kotori today...
This is the final class before we're dismissed for lunch. My body is eager for the energy it'll gain from lunch, but to be honest my mind is filled with so many thoughts that say otherwise...
Minami Kotori, a 2nd year at Otonokizaka, daughter of the chairman, one of the members of the Student Council, member of μ's, costume designer of μ's, childhood friend of Kousaka Honoka, Sonoda Umi and now apparently also myself.
Just that is enough to make someone like me nervous about meeting up with Kotori. The good thing is that Kotori is an air head so she won't make it as awkward as I would...
Kotori is a complicated type of girl, a kind airhead who always puts the feelings of others in front of hers, so she would be somebody that I could hang out around in peace like how I do with Hanayo. But that factor of hers makes me a little uneasy and upset with Kotori...
I shouldn't be though, I know nothing about her and I'm not even friends with her. That's until now. I don't know how she was when she was a child but I'm pretty sure she was kind as she is today.
But even so why would I not remember being friends with someone like her? Sure the whole a long time has passed I can't remember them thing comes into play, but I'm pretty sure no one would ever forget someone like Kotori.
Strangely it makes me a little upset that she forgot about me and when we both met one another again we just treated each other like fellow members, but I guess it was my fault for being a little too intimidated by the relationship she shares with Honoka and Umi.
I think almost anybody would feel awkward if they were trying to get into their circle since for one thing unlike me, Honoka and Umi remained friends with her ever since meeting when they were kids...
Scratching my head a bit in frustration while staring at the blackboard that was filled with notes that our teacher wrote, I just sigh and allow my mind and body to relax, since I'm going to need to be really relaxed for the moment me and Kotori discuss about the revelation how we are childhood friends and that our mothers arranged for us to go out for dinner tonight...
"OK, so that's all for today, do any of you have anything you need to say?"
As we were finishing our meeting, Eri does her closing words before we all head home. Majority of the times none of us have nothing to ask unless we were doing a new song or dance.
Eri nodding to herself with a small smile then dismisses us,
"All right, make sure you guys get enough rest and Honoka, make sure you finish your student council president duties for today!"
Honoka who was about to sneak out of the room does a small pout, "Muh... Well with Kotori-chan, and Umi-chan on my side I'll finish in no time!"
Eri, Umi along with myself just sigh at our leader who by some crazy chance replaced Eri as student council president. Well actually it was thanks to her efforts of saving the school.
Turning my gaze to Kotori, I knew I had to grab her attention before she left to go help Honoka with Student Council work, even if she was revealed to by her mother about our whole past relationship plus the dinner they were planning tonight, Kotori was too kind and would help Honoka.
"Umm, Honoka-chan..."
A bit nervous, Kotori grabs Honoka's attention,
"Mmm? What's up Kotori-chan?"
A little curious to why her best friend is speaking in a nervous tone, Kotori with a small frown speaks,
"Actually I have plans for today so I can't help you out today..."
"Eh?..."
Actually Honoka looked really shocked to hear Kotori saying she can't help her with student council work, which I think has never happened...
Umi grabs Honoka's shoulder. Honoka shivering from her bones, Umi with a scary smile adds to Honoka's shivers says,
"Don't worry, I'll help you out plenty~"
"Y-You're going to make do all the work aren't you?..." Honoka says with tears in her eyes.
"Maybe~"
Umi then drags Honoka out of the club room while Honoka cries for someone to save her.
Well I guess for once Honoka will be the Student Council president...
By now everyone has already left the club room to do their after school activities, the only ones who are still here are me, Nozomi, and Kotori.
"Geh... I have a feeling Nozomi's going to say something unnecessary..."
Uneasy, I then see Kotori approaching me as I still remain seated at the club room table, while Nozomi starts getting ready to leave.
"Maki-chan, can we talk for a bit?"
I see, so I guess Kotori really did learn about everything like how I did. I was worried she was going to help Honoka but I guess she put me over her... Uh... No that sounds a little embarrassing.
"Maki-chan?"
Kotori showing a little concern in her eyes since I think my thoughts showed up on my face I then shake my head,
"Um, yeah... We can talk, how's the roof sound?"
Kotori then nods with a cheerful expression. My cheeks turning a little red. I then try my best to quickly prepare myself for the moment that me and Kotori reveal one another about our past relationship.
"Hmm~ Talking alone at the roof? It sounds to me a new forbidden love has been born~"
Nozomi giggling in a teasing tone, both me and Kotori's faces are flushed red as soon as she said those words,
"H-HEY! Nozomi don't say anything stupid! We just need to talk!"
"Hmm~ If so, then you can talk about it right here no?"
Nozomi still continues on with her teasing tone.
"Uuu..."
Doing a small groan of defeat, Nozomi is making this already more harder on me than it already is, and I'm pretty sure Kotori is thinking the same as well.
Nozomi who's about to leave the club room just does a small giggle,
"I'm kidding~ But if you are going to talk on the roof, make sure you lock up the club room."
"Obviously!"
Nozomi waving us goodbye, Me and Kotori are finally left alone. Sighing I then turn to Kotori.
"I guess we can head to the roof to talk now-"
"Forbidden love?... Me and Maki-chan?..."
As I turned my gaze to Kotori, her cheeks were flushed in pinkish rose, her expression was enough to make my cheeks start to flush but then reason hit me.
"Hey! Get your head out of the clouds!"
After the both of us returned to our senses and returned to doing our original goal, the both of us on the roof, I try my best to avoid eye contact with Kotori due to well... The embarrassing events that happened in the club room.
That damn Nozomi causing unnecessary awkward feelings... Well it's my fault for looking too deep into it but still...
I can see that Kotori is also a little nervous, taking a deep breath in, it is finally the moment for me to find out the thing for which I have been preparing myself all day for now...
"Kotori... Did your mom tell you everything yesterday?..."
"Yeah..." Kotori nervously nods as a response to my question.
Kotori then starts twirling her fingers around nervously, "So how do you feel about the fact you and me are actually... Childhood friends?..."
I know that the both of us are really nervous to find out how each of us feel about the revelation how we're actually childhood friends, but I feel like Kotori's even more nervous than me, since the image that everyone has had of me so far is that I could care less about things like this, but still...
"I honestly don't mind... Sure I'm surprised but... I'm also a little upset at myself since I didn't remember you..."
As soon as I finish my sentence, Kotori immediately comes running up to me and grabs my hands with a cheerful expression,
"You don't need to be upset Maki-chan! I should be more upset since I didn't remember someone like you!"
"W-what are you saying?..."
My cheeks suddenly became flushed.
Damn she's too close! And also... She shouldn't be upset about that, I should have remembered someone like her- Uuu... Now that's too embarrassing.
Embarrassed, I push Kotori's hands off of mine and turn my back to her so that she wouldn't see my face right now.
"So how about you? I told you how I feel about the fact how we're childhood friends, so how do you fell about it?..."
"I was really happy when my mom told me about how you and me were childhood friends. Since that means now we have something special!"
Since my back was turned I wasn't able to see the expression she was making, but I could feel that she was really happy when she said that.
"Hmm... I see..."
I covered my cheeks with my right hand to cover how red my face was after hearing Kotori's thoughts. Shaking my head to regain my senses I turn my gaze to Kotori once again,
"Did she tell you how we're going out to dinner tonight?"
"Hmm? Dinner?"
In that moment I saw all of Kotori's air head qualities appear on her face, I didn't know if I should be mad or if I should laugh since it was a little funny, but knowing who I am I chose the latter.
"Umm Kotori... Did your mom actually tell you but you forgot?"
Kotori then does a small embarrassed giggle while scratching her head,
"Umm... I think I forgot~"
"..."
The whole roof is then swallowed in a deep silence, but soon that silence would be swept away with a loud shout...
"GEEZ KOTORI! YOU BETTER GO HOME RIGHT NOW AND GET READY YOU HEAR ME?!"
The airhead then suddenly shivered in fear as she heard my frustrated cry, "EKK! OK I'm going now!"
Kotori then immediately runs out of the door leading to the roof and heads home.
Standing by myself at the roof, I just sigh, "How the heck did the two of us end up being friends when we were kids?"
"Mom, I'm ready!"
"Oh Maki-chan! I can't wait to see how you look-"
As soon as I finished getting ready for the dinner our mothers planned, I headed downstairs from my room so that we can leave already.
"Maki-chan, dear..."
"Mmm what's up mom?"
I didn't know if my mother was angry or happy with the outfit I decided to wear to the dinner, since I just decided to wear a simple one piece black dress long enough to cover my feet so I wouldn't have to wear high heels.
My mother then grabs my arm and pulls me back up the stairs to my room,
"Eh?! Mom?!"
"M-A-K-I, THIS IS A SPECIAL REUNION DINNER, I NEED YOU TO WEAR YOUR BEST DRESS NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD NORMALLY GO OUT WITH."
"B-but..."
"NO BUTS! I'm sure Kotori-chan will also be looking her best for this dinner so you should as well!"
My mom then pouts at me, so she can probably spare the wrinkles that she would get if she made a angry face, I just sigh and nod,
"Fine... I'll put on that dress papa bought me..."
Walking into my room, my mom claps her hands cheerfully, "Good girl!"
"The fact that Maki-chan and Kotori-chan were fellow members in μ's is what you could call fate!"
"It took you a while to find out that she was my daughter right, Minami-san?"
Both of our mothers then laugh at one another. OK I agree though that it was funny that Kotori's mom who was the chairman of the school didn't realize that I was my mom's daughter until she met my mom again. You could say that Kotori got her air head qualities from her mother.
Apparently our mothers planned for us to have dinner at a high end restaurant, I'm used to going to these type of places, since whenever my parents have to go out for hospital charity events it's usually at fancy restaurants, but knowing Kotori I can feel that she isn't use to places like this.
"So I guess our mothers are the same hmm?" Kotori let out a small giggle as the two of us watched out moms conversate happily to one another, I nodded with a smile since it was really nice to see your mother talk happily with one of her friends.
"You look really pretty though Maki-chan~"
Kotori gazed at the dress that my mother practically forced me to wear to the dinner. It was a dark blue one piece dress that had floral patterns on it which were in a darker shade of blue, along with black high heels which I honestly didn't want to wear, and a pearl necklace that I got from my father not too long ago.
"W-what are you saying you idiot..."
As I twirled my finger around one of my bangs, my hair was styled in a ponytail today, tied up with a light navy ribbon, Kotori just giggled at the embarrassment that showed on my face due to her remarks.
Turning my gaze to the way Kotori was dressed, it wasn't a show stopper, I could say that she looked, well... How she would always look. She wore a pure white one piece dress that was styled like a skirt and had many frills, some light rose corsages placed around it, her hairstyle was the same as usual but the part of her hair she always ties was tied with a pure white ribbon and not with the green ribbon she usually wears. Taking a closer look, I could say that Kotori made the dress herself, well obviously besides the white high heels she wore but the dress she wore felt so much like "her" that she had to be the one who made it.
"Hmm? Do you like my dress that much Maki-chan?"
Kotori with an almost teasing tone in her voice asks me as I continue to gaze at her appearance.
"N-no! And anyways, your dress is way too girly!"
"Hmm? But we're both girls right?"
"Uuu..."
Doing a small groan of defeat, I just wanted to try my best to not make the dinner not as awkward as I'm making it already.
"I guess it is though, Maki-chan's is really beautiful and mature so I guess this dress is a little too much..."
Kotori looked down on the parking lot a little sad while twirling her fingers around, I then do a loud sigh,"Kotori, any dress you make is great so even I wouldn't mind... Wearing a dress like that."
"Really?!"
Kotori's face immediately lit up in joy as soon as I said those words, she then cheerfully giggles to herself.
God damn it, I'm an idiot, I'm actually going to be the one that makes this dinner awkward if I don't try to just be myself around Kotori...
"Maki-chan, Kotori-chan! Let's get going already."
As soon as our mothers finished their freindly conversation, Mom called out to the both of us so we can get going into the restaurant and have dinner.
"OK!"
Turning to Kotori with a small smile with a bit of red on my cheeks, "Let's get going..."
"Yes!" Kotori's face lit up with joy then the two of us along with our mothers headed out from the parking lot to the restaurant.
"UWAH! EVEN IF THIS IS A RESTAURANT, INSIDE IT LOOKS LIKE A MANSION" Kotori shouts with a shocked expression.
"Really? It's smaller then most of the restaurants I go to."
I say to Kotori with a curious expression, since being the daughter to the owner of a hospital, there's many times my parents are invited to charity dinners but I'm quite surprised that Kotori is shocked with the size of the restaurant we are currently in, since she is the daughter of the chairman of Otonokizaka.
"HOW RICH ARE YOU MAKI-CHAN?!"
Kotori cries to me in exaggerated curiosity.
This girl... Like she doesn't need to be this shocked, what good would come out of me telling her how wealthy my family really was?
Doing a small sigh, I then look around the restaurant, truly it did look like a mansion on the inside. It had three levels, the main level to where all the guest enjoyed the meals they ordered, a lower level to where all the workers resided in, and a upper level that was closed off by a flight of stairs. I'm guessing that's because the upper level is the storage area.
But the flight of stairs leading up to the upper level made me feel like I was about to remember something, nostalgia showed on my face, by the way it felt I could feel like I was making a small smile and that it was a good memory.
"Maki-chan?"
Out of worry Kotori tries to get my attention to see why I was in a daze, shaking my head to regain my self I reassure her,
"It's nothing, I just feel like I made good memories here with somebody,"
As I continued to stare at the flight of stares, Kotori also turned her gaze to the flight of stairs and does a small nod.
"I don't know why but I feel that as well..."
In that moment I could almost feel those forgotten memories coming back to me but they were still fuzzy and I needed a little more to remember it.
But why would Kotori feel like she made memories with someone here when it seemed like she has never been here?
"Kotori, Maki!"
"Yes?"
As our mothers called to the both of us, gaining our attention they tell us,
"We forgot to tell you this was the place where you and Kotori-chan met many years ago!"
My mother tells me with a cheerful expression, Kotori's mother adds in with saying,
"Yes, and as I remember Maki-chan was a very cute child, she was so quiet and always clinging to that stuffed white rabbit doll she always had with her!"
Kotori's mother said with a cheerful giggle.
In that moment I could feel like a long lost memory was yanked from within my "archive..."
"We should head back to our moms before they get worried..."
"Don't worry Maki-chan! It'll be fun!"
As a younger version of me tightened my grip around a white bunny doll with worry, a younger Kotori simply kept pestering me to follow her around.
"Uuu... Listen, we can't go up there, it says "Staff Only..."
As my younger self tried her best to talk the younger Kotori out of not going up the stairs that led up to the storage room, the younger Kotori simply reached her hand towards me with a cheerful smile
"I promise that it'll be worth it!"
Reluctant, I finally give in with a small meek nod and grab her hand...
"So this is where we met huh?..."
"No wonder why this place seemed so familiar."
As I continued to gaze at the stairs leading up to the storage room, Kotori simply looked down at her hands while twirling her fingers with a nostalgic smile.
"Hey... Do you remember anything else about this place, Kotori?"
As I continued to gaze up the stairs, Kotori turned her gaze to the stairs as well and shaked her head with a small frown,
"I'm sorry Maki-chan, I don't really remember too much."
"I see..."
I don't blame her for not remembering everything, just the both of us remembering this restaurant was the first place we met is enough to make me a little happy, but something inside me tells me that isn't enough to satisfy me...
"Hey Kotori do you think you can come with me for a second?"
"Eh?"
Kotori gazed at me with a curious expression, like how I did with her in the past, I reached my hand out to her.
"I-I guess... You could say this will help jog both of our memories..."
Kotori was a bit surprised by the bold actions which were so unlike me, giggling a bit due to my embarrassment showing up on my cheeks, I do a tiny glare at her,
"D-don't make fun of me!... Come on this will be beneficial to the both of us!..."
As Kotori finished giggling she grabbed the hand that I reached out to her with and nods at me with her usual cheerful expression,
"Sure, Maki-chan!"
Telling both of our mothers that we where going to be walking around before the dinner was served (obviously not telling them that the both of us were planning to go up to the storage room) it was time for the both of us to remember everything about our first meeting...
"The coast is clear... How's it on your side, Kotori-chan?"
"Mmm... No one's walking around here."
"Perfect..."
Knowing that the stairs leading up to the storage room was closed off only to staff members, it would be very unpleasant for girls our age to be scolded by our mothers in a fancy restaurant like this.
Before moving on, Kotori and I scouted the area for any staff members or costumers so that we wouldn't get caught. The area seemed really empty, probably because how the whole restaurant was filled with costumers today, so majority of the waiters would be walking around the dining room serving the costumers while the cooks remained in the kitchen.
Both me and Kotori start walking up the stairs leading up to the storage room, still looking out for anybody who might catch us. Kotori turns to me with a nervous expression.
"Are you sure we should really be doing this?... All that's up here is a storage room."
"I know but... Something tells me that there was a reason that the both of us came up here when we were kids."
Determined, I tried my best to convince Kotori to come along with me on my quest to retrieve our forgotten memories, I didn't know why but I did a small chuckle to myself. Finding it amusing that it was me this time dragging around Kotori.
I don't know if Kotori was more of an adventurous girl when she was a child because around that time I'm pretty sure she was getting used to a younger Honoka's danger filled activities, but you can say as she grew older she became more of a responsible girl so that she could look out for Honoka.
"I guess I'm the one being dragged around this time huh?"
Kotori did a small giggle as she noticed the difference between the situation from the past and the present. I just do a small sigh,
"Hey, don't go thinking that I'm some trouble maker because I'm the one that's taking the lead this time."
Kotori simply shook her head with a small smile, "I would never think that, and besides seeing you act bold is a big improvement from when we were kids!"
I didn't know if I should be happy or embarrassed from Kotori's words, but as my way of saying "thanks" to her remarks, I tell her,
"Well at least you became more responsible."
"Muu... I was always responsible!"
Kotori doing a small pout, I just do a small chuckle.
"Well I'm glad to see you haven't changed much though."
Kotori's cheeks became flushed from my words, as a way to get a little revenge from making her embarrassed,
"Well, It would have been cute to see you still carrying around Usagi-tan."
Usagi-tan, that was the white stuffed rabbit I always had with me when I was a child. I got it as my 1st birthday present from my Papa and I always made sure to take care of it so that it would last forever. Which I still have it with me but I keep him hidden in my room so that no one would ever find out something so embarrassing about me.
Surprised that Kotori actually remembered the name of the stuffed rabbit that I always had with me when I was a child, my cheeks become flushed and I quickly try to change the subject,
"S-shut up... Anyways, we're almost to the storage room"
Kotori just does a small cheerful giggle at me as we make our way to the storage room...
"Wow, I didn't expect the storage room of a high quality restaurant like this to be so dusty and cramped."
"Well maybe the storage room is only used in rare occasions?"
As me and Kotori awed at the sheer contrast that the storage room had to the restaurant, it was dusty, enough to make someone without allergies sneeze, the room was so dark that the only source of light that me and Kotori had was the moonlight shining out from one single large window.
"Maki-chan, now that we're here, I can't seem to see any reason why we came as kids..."
I could hear in Kotori's voice that she was very anxious, sure there was the issue that our mothers will notice we have been gone for a long period of time but there's also the fact how knowing Kotori, she's more worried about what would happen to me if we're found out.
"I'm sorry for putting you up to this Kotori..."
With a glum tone, I apologize to Kotori, She merely responded back with surprise,
"W-wait, why are you apologizing Maki-chan? I was the one that agreed to come with you!"
"Still..."
I think it would be shocking to anybody if I apologized to them due to my prideful character, but I knew that I was just dragging around Kotori on my quest to recover our past memories. Honestly I was a little scared if Kotori agreed to come along with me just because of her kind nature, Kotori saw how upset the things I thought made me, she frantically tries her best to cheer me up,
"Maki-chan! Umm...-"
Immediately Kotori paused when she saw the large window that was our only source of light,
"Kotori?..."
It would be a little surprising to see somebody suddenly freeze when they're in the middle of talking to you, sure I did that many times today, so I was sure Kotori remembered something.
"Did you remember something?"
"Mmm..."
It looked like that the memory Kotori was about to remember was still a little fuzzy, so I decided to gaze at the large window in the storage room that allowed the moonlight to shine in.
In that moment, a memory from the time we were children returned to me...
"Uuu... I rather go back to my mommy than be here..."
A younger me whines to a younger Kotori as I tightly cling my white stuffed rabbit, Usagi-tan.
The younger Kotori just cheerfully giggles at the younger me who slightly sneezes from all the collected dust the storage room had,
"I know it's a little dark and dusty but who knows what fun things we'll find in here!"
"Fun?! So far everything's just been really dark and dusty, I hate it!"
The younger Kotori just does a small pout, "Muu... Just wait, the fun starts now Maki-chan!"
The younger Kotori cheerfully pointed to a large window in the storage room, staring at her confused, the younger me simply sighs,
"Uuu... Fine... Let's just get this over with..."
The younger Kotori just giggles at the younger me with a cheerful expression, then grabs my hand.
"That window?... Why?..."
"Maki-chan?"
Walking up to the window, I open it, as I open it, the light on the moon shows the amount of dust that the window has collected over the years, Kotori coughs a bit, while I try my best to not sneeze.
"Hmm... Seems like it'll be a tight fit, but I think we can make it."
Gazing at the measurements from the window, It could be seen that it would have been much easier for us to go through this when we were children.
God, even now I'm reluctant to go through here, I wonder how the heck Kotori was able to convince me to go through here when we were kids... Turning my gaze over to Kotori, I decide to ask her if she really wants to do this or not,
"Kotori... I'm not sure if we'll remember anything if we go through this window, but if you really believe we won't then... Besides being kind, we can go back and have the dinner with our mothers as planned."
"Maki-chan..."
If she did choose to go back, I would be a little sad, since honestly I feel like just through this glass window we'll both remember what happened here when we were kids and how... We became friends...
Kotori then suddenly grabs my hand and shakes her head,
"It's fine, I'm not doing this out of kindness, I'm doing this because I'm so happy Maki-chan is really working hard to help the both of us remember how we became friends."
"W-W-What!?... N-no I..."
Bulls eye. Embarrassed, I finally give in with a sigh,
"Maki-chan!... You're not pushing me away for once?!"
What?! I didn't notice during all this time I have been holding Kotori's hand, she was surprised that for once I didn't push her away in embarrassment.
"E-Eh?!... Er... I'll let it go for now... Since we have to help each other to get through this window, OK?!"
"Mmm, dishonest Maki-chan is cute as always~"
Kotori giggles teasingly.
I swear this girl... Does Honoka or Umi have to deal with this side of her all the time? Since all the times we were just fellow members I never saw her act like this... I guess you can say she shows this side to the people she's closest with...
"Uuu! You know you're going to have to get this dress cleaned! It's a special gift from Papa!"
As a younger me and Kotori finally made our way through the dust filled window, we ended up on the restaurant's roof. I simply whined about how dusty my dress got, If it was some other dress I wouldn't care much but it was a gift from Papa so I cared a lot for it. My younger self was just glad Usagi-tan was spared from the dust storm.
"Don't worry Maki-chan you'll forgot that once you look up!"
As the younger Kotori pointed her index finger to the night sky, the younger me gazes at her in confusion,
"Up?..."
When the younger me stared up at the night sky, my eyes instantly lit up...
"The stars..."
The nostalgic feeling I felt as I stared at the night sky filled with billions of stars that were vividly visible to the human eye from the restaurant's roof, I could feel this sight was exactly like the one eight years ago...
"Maki-chan... I think I remember everything now..."
As Kotori gazed at the star filled sky with a nostalgic smile, I turn to her with a small smile,
"I remember everything too... We met at this restaurant many years ago when our mothers wanted to see each others daughters... Then you dragged me all the way up here."
"I didn't! You agreed to come along!"
Kotori does a small pout, laughing a bit from her reaction, I then turn my gaze once more to the night sky,
"The stars are exactly the same they were eight years ago..."
Agreeing, Kotori nods at me with a smile.
"I brought you up here because your mom told me you liked looking at stars, so... I guess you can say I wanted to try really hard to become your friend back then..."
Kotori nostalgically stares down at her twirling fingers, my cheeks become a bit flushed from her statement.
I see... So she put a lot of effort into becoming friends with someone as difficult as me back then...
"Hey Kotori..."
"Mmm?"
"I'm glad we met."
With a honest smile, I bring out all my feelings, Well not all of them because 50% of it is just sheer embarrassment, but I was honestly happy that we met in the past and that we met each other again. Even if as strangers, I'm really glad we remembered our past relationship...
Kotori's cheeks become flushed with rose red, she then puts on a cheerful expression,
"Honest Maki-chan is also really cute~"
"W-W-WHAT?! Uuu! You idiot don't ruin the moment!"
Kotori just giggles at how red my face became with embarrassment from her words, she then also makes a honest smile at me,
"I understand how you feel though, Maki-chan."
"Huh?"
"It makes me happy to know that you really are my childhood friend and now we have something special."
Kotori said those words with her usual cheerful expression, it was honest though and was backed with all her emotions. Sometimes I wish I could be as honest and kind like her, but the thought of that is somewhat to embarrassing for someone like me.
Making sure Kotori didn't see how embarrassed I was, I turn my back to her as I get up from the surface of the roof,
"Let's go have that dinner, before our moms realize we've been gone too long..."
"Hmm? Oh, okay..."
I could hear Kotori was a little sad that we couldn't watch the stars together anymore, but honestly we did have to go back before someone found us out... I just wish I was honest enough to let her now I was satisfied enough with the time we had together...
Finally our time at the restaurant was finished, after having three delicious Italian styled courses, our mothers bid farewell to one another at the parking lot, but they gave me and Kotori a chance to say goodbye to one another.
"I'm glad our moms weren't too upset, right Maki-chan?"
Kotori does a small giggle as me and her stand near to both of the vehicles our mothers wait for us in to take us both home.
I just do a small nod to her.
I don't know what I'm doing, honestly I'm just so confused with what mine and Kotori's relationship will be after this day, can we suddenly act like two friends at school because of this? If we did, CERTAIN members would make stupid statements... And what if Kotori still hangs out with Honoka and Umi all the time? I mean compared to me, they're her close friends...
"Umm, Maki-chan!..."
As I was deep in thought, Kotori called out to me in a nervous tone, grabbing my attention, I look at her with a questioned expression,
"What is it?"
"I... I..."
As I saw Kotori try to get the words out of her mouth, her mother called out to her from her car,
"Kotori, we have to go soon!"
"I know!..."
Kotori started to look upset as she tried to muster the words she wanted to say.
Can she be thinking the same thing? What will be our relationship after this?...
"Kotori!..."
It was time for me to take on the honest role, I couldn't have Kotori being the only one to speak her honest feelings all the time. Now it was my turn.
"If you don't mind... Can we also be friends when we're at school?"
Ah... Just that much honesty was enough to break my pride, I was so embarrassed I actually wanted to shout but... Now was not the time for my pride to take over my honesty.
Kotori's face immediately lit up with joy,
"Yes!"
I could feel that a weight was lifted from my mind as soon as she said, "Yes!".
As Kotori waved goodbye to me , I waved to her back, getting in her mother's car, I then continue to gaze as she left with a small smile. Finally getting ready to leave and getting in my mom's car, I relaxed my body on the heated leather front seat, I do a relived sigh.
"Maki-chan, did you have fun?"
As my mother gazed at me with a warm smile, I then do a small sigh along with a smile,
"Too much for one day but... Thanks for letting me have dinner with Kotori, Mom."
My mother then hugs me with a squeal,
"It's been so long Maki-chan's been this happy about her friends!"
"H-Hey! We have to go home or else Papa will get lonely!"
"Whoa, what happened to you Honoka?"
As Niko stared at a ultra exhausted spiritless Honoka, she merely sheds a small tear,
"Umi-chan made me-"
"She was Student Council president for once~"
Umi cuts off Honoka with a giggle that actually made me shiver a little, but you could say that it's good that Honoka had a chance to experience Student Council work herself.
"Kotori-chan~~~~~ Where were you?! I could have been saved from that torture if you were there~~~~"
As Honoka cried to her kindhearted friend, Kotori answers her,
"Ah I went out to dinner with Ma-"
As she is about to finish her sentence, she could feel that I am gazing at her intently, it's not a gaze that is saying, "Don't you dare tell them." it's more like, "Keep it a secret for now."
"Ma? Who's that?"
As Honoka stared at her best friend questioningly, Kotori tries her best to clear up the confusion.
"I went out to dinner with Mama~"
"Oh! With your mother? What was the dinner for?"
As Umi smiled at Kotori, everyone else in the room became curious as well,
With a cheerful giggle, she answers Umi's question,
"I met up with a old friend~"
"Eh?! Kotori-chan is it someone I know?!"
Honoka asks surprised, since knowing Kotori since they were kids, it would actually be really surprising to find out Kotori had other friends back then... Er... Me, but that will have to be a secret for now...
Kotori then does a small teasing giggle, "Maybe~ Or maybe not~"
"Muu~ Kotori-chan who is it?~~~~"
As Honoka whined to get an answer from her closest friend, Kotori turned her gaze to me and winked at me, blushing from embarrassment, I turn my gaze away from her.
The memory of a human is like that of a PC's, we can only handle so many memories at once that we sometimes can't recall memories of the past. Unlike a PC's memory, the memory of the human brain can not be deleted, it is stored away in what some call the "memory archive", those memories can only be retrieved if we have a event in the present which makes us recall the memory or we have another who remembers it tells us. Honestly, I think that if it wasn't for our mothers, Kotori and I would still continue to view one another as fellow members, but from this day on, because of a memory that I thought could never be retrieved... We are now childhood friends...