He was part of a large crowd staring at the sheets that had been posted. The universities didn't bother notifying individuals whether they had passed or failed. Instead each applicant was issued a number when they sat down to take the examination. When the tests were graded the numbers of the passing students were posted. If your number was there it meant you passed, if not you failed and could not retest for another year. It was a cold impersonal way of doing things, but that was how it had always been done.
Minato had gone into the test determined to do well. Unlike the first time he'd sat down and been completely focused. He hadn't wasted time second guessing every other answer; he had instead gone straight through answering every question in order. Somehow it hadn't seemed nearly as hard as it had the first time. His exam number had been 107188.
Now a week later he was on campus again staring at the board. All around him various people began shouting for joy, quietly walking away, breaking down and crying, a couple were even being tossed in the air by friends. Minato was just standing there looking up at the sheets.
There it was, 107188, his number. He had passed and was now a student at Tokyo University, the most prestigious institution in all of Japan. Just so long as he didn't screw up and fail to graduate a bright future was now guaranteed.
"I did it," he muttered to himself. All his hard work and sacrifice had been worth it after all. After a one year detour everything was back on track. So why didn't he feel like celebrating?
He looked all around and couldn't spot any trace of her, Kazehana. She hadn't come. Idiot! He thought to himself. Did I really think she was going to show up? She was just having a little fun teasing a cram school student. Why would such a beautiful woman actually waste her time with me? Even though he knew he should be proud of his accomplishment all he could really feel was crushing disappointment. Even if it had been dumb he had actually believed her promise and had really, really wanted the chance to see her again. As it was he didn't have her phone number or any way to contact her. I guess that's it, he thought sadly. I guess I won't ever see her again.
He took out his cell phone. Even if he was feeling a little down he needed to call mom and let her know the news.
"Hey mom, it's me. I did it, I passed."
"That's wonderful!" She said. He listened as she paused. "You're not lying are you? For someone who just made it into the number one college you don't sound too excited."
"I'm just tired," he lied.
"Well, whatever I guess. I am very, very proud of you son and I know your grandma will be too. We'll have to come visit you and your sister soon."
"Well I'd like… hold it, what do you mean me and my sister?"
"She just got accepted to Tokyo University as well. And unlike you she only needed one try," his mother told him bluntly. "Maybe the two of you could share an apartment? I know I would definitely feel better knowing you were there to watch out for her."
"I'm sure Yukari would just love that idea, finally moving out of the house and coming to live with me again."
"Just think about it," his mom said. "You know it would make sense. Anyway, since you're officially a college student now I know you'll have some new expenses. I'll be raising your allowance 50 percent, try to be responsible with your money though. Don't waste it all getting drunk and chasing girls."
"I would never do that mom!"
He heard her laughing. "I'm just kidding son, try to lighten up a little. Anyway I have to go now. Congratulations, I really am very proud of you."
"Thanks mom."
Shutting off his phone and putting it away he felt a little bit better. At least mom was happy with him for a change. And the thought of seeing Yukari again wasn't too bothersome. Living with her was out of the question though; he didn't need that kind of abuse.
Looking about he recognized a few people from his cram school. A couple looked thrilled while the others had their faces cast down. It really was that easy to spot the successes from the failures. He thought about going over to them and either offering congratulations or condolences. He didn't; he just didn't feel strong ties to any of them and didn't want to intrude. Since he knew the test results he had no real reason to stay.
Except in the ridiculous hope that Kazehana might show up after all.
XXXXXXXXXX
He wound up standing there for another two hours. The crowd that had been there for when the results were posted was long gone. Individuals and small groups kept coming by to check but he was pretty much on his own. He finally had to admit to himself that he was just being pathetic. With hands in pockets and his shoulders slumped he finally left to go to the nearest metro and head back to his apartment.
He'd only taken about a dozen steps when a pair of arms wrapped around him and he felt a woman's soft body press into his back.
"Giving up on me already?" A woman's voice trilled in his ear. "Awww, and it's only been a couple of hours, I thought you'd at least wait until the sun went down."
His heart began to race, especially when he thought about what that really soft sensation pressing into his back had to be. "Kazehana!" He burst out.
"Were you expecting some other girl to come greet you?" She said with a laugh. She let go of her hug and instead took him by the arm. "I'm guessing that you passed since there'd be no reason to wait for me otherwise."
Minato's face slowly turned red. She was pressing her boob into his arm. "Ah, how long have you been here?"
"I've been here the whole time," she said brightly. "I was actually watching when you arrived."
"You've been here that long?" Minato asked feeling sort of dazed. "Then why did you wait so long to talk to me?"
"A girl likes to know how far a man will go for her. I just wanted to see how long you would wait for me." Giggling she started walking and dragging him along. "Like I said I'm a little disappointed you gave up so soon, but I'll forgive you. Now how about I treat you to lunch?"
XXXXXXXXXX
"The food here is really good," she told him. "But I come here mostly for the view."
Minato had to agree it was a spectacular view. They were in a rotating restaurant on top of a sky scraper. From where they were they had an almost perfect 360 degree view of the city. "This place really is amazing," he said. He was a little distracted by the menu in front of him.
"Something wrong? Don't you see anything you like?"
"Actually I'm staring at the prices," he admitted. "A meal here would probably cost about half what I pay in rent."
"Don't worry about it, its treat so please order whatever you'd like."
He shook his head. "As the man I should be the one who pays. I believe a man needs to take care of his own obligations no matter what."
She was looking at him with a great deal of interest. "A man should be a man and a woman should be a woman, I have always thought that. It's good that you want to try and take care of me, it speaks well of you. But there's nothing wrong in letting a girl treat you if she wants." She made a girlish sad face. "You're not going to refuse and hurt my feelings are you?"
Whoa! She is just so damn adorable! "No, I would never do anything that would hurt your feelings."
He was surprised to see her blush a little when he aid that.
Fort her part she felt the heat in her body rise hearing such a kind sentiment from him. Not good, the more time I spend with him the more I like him. "So what do you want to get?"
XXXXXXXXXX
The lunch date went really well. Though Minato was very nervous at the beginning he slowly relaxed as he realized Kazehana really did want to spend her time with him. Her laughter, her smiles, and her little teasing comments soon set his mind at ease. They talked a lot all through the meal. Kazehana had a lot of questions for him about his life his interests and a surprising amount of interest about his family.
"So you don't know anything at all about your dad?"
"Nope, not even his name. Whenever I would try and ask mom about him all she would say was that he was someone with a strong personality." Minato shrugged. "Whatever that means."
"It sounds like your mom has a pretty strong personality too," Kazehana noted. "The way you describe her; willful, intelligent, scary reminds me of someone I know."
"She reminds you of a friend?"
"No," Kazehana told him in a flat voice. "The person I'm thinking of is no friend. I hate her."
He looked at her in alarm.
"Hey Minato-kun," she asked him seriously. "If I didn't get along with your mom would that be a problem?"
"Well, no, she's kind of hard to get along with."
Kazehana laughed and the tension vanished.
Minato told her all about himself and his life, but he learned next to nothing about her. He wanted to know where she was from, what sort of work she did, what her interests were. She expertly dodged all his inquiries with jokes and teasing replies that didn't actually reveal anything. She remained every bit as mysterious to him at the end of their date as she had been at the start of it.
But for Minato one thing had already become very clear, he really liked her.
XXXXXXXXXX
"You didn't have to walk me home," Minato said feeling embarrassed. "Isn't the man supposed to be the one who walks the woman home?"
"It's okay Minato-kun; I just wanted to learn more about you."
"Ah, well this is it." He had to admit when they came to a slightly run down house in the middle of a working class neighborhood. "Sorry it's nothing special." He was feeling embarrassed to have to admit to her he lived here.
"Well you're just a struggling college student so it's all right."
Standing there he was looking at her realizing he was now going to have to say goodbye. This was the end of their date. "Thank you for lunch, I really enjoyed it."
"I enjoyed it too Minato-kun," she said with a smile. She paused and appeared to be waiting for something.
Minato stood there looking at her not sure what he was supposed to say. The last time he's talked with a girl seriously had been back in high school and he hadn't been successful even back then. He really didn't know what he was supposed to say to her.
"Well Minato-kun it's been fun, maybe we'll run into each other again some time." She gave him a friendly wave and turned to go.
"I like you!" He burst out. He didn't think he just said it in sudden panic as he realized he might not see her again. "Please go out with me!"
She stopped and slowly turned back around. "Okay."
He blinked and remained standing there. "Huh?"
With a naughty smile on her lips she put her hands on his shoulder s and leaned close to him, rubbing her chest against his and putting her face a few inches away. "I said okay, I'll go out with you. I'll be your girlfriend. That is what you want right?"
"Ye... yeah, so you'll really go out with someone as unworthy as me?"
She laughed warmly. "You really know how to sell yourself don't you? What can I say? I like you too."
"Kazehana," he breathed. Her lips were so close to his. He leaned forward to try and kiss her.
One finger came up to block him. "I'm sorry Minato-kun, but you can't kiss me on my lips. At least not yet."
"I'm… I'm sorry; I didn't mean to go that far!"
"Don't get the wrong idea Minato-kun; you can kiss me, just not on my lips." She leaned in and whispered in his ear. "You can kiss me anywhere else on my body." She then began to nibble his ear.
He shivered and felt incredibly excited. "An… anywhere?" His voice nearly cracked. "Are… are you serious?"
"Let's go up to your room and I'll show you how serious I am."
Nodding dumbly he led her up the outside stairs to his room.
