Chapter 3
Remembering
After finishing the ramen made by Ryu's dad, everyone sat back, to notice it was already 8:30.
"Man, eating ramen is the best!" Chizuru said with a voice filled with enjoyment.
"Yeah, but look at the time. You ate way too many bowls this time!" Ayane said back. Chizuru looked back, about to cry.
"B-But...it tastes so good!"
"Anyways, Chizu, didn't you say we were going to your house for Sawako's birthday?" Ayane questioned Chizuru, reminding her of their idea.
"Ah! You're right! Let's go!" Chizuru took Ayane and Sawako, with all three girls quickly running to Chizuru's house.
"W-wait! There's no need to drag us there while running!"
"Chizu-chan, slow down!" Yet both Ayane's and Sawako's cries were heard by deaf ears, as Chizuru instead continued to run, speeding up as she did.
"Eh! Sawako!" Shota looked on, to see his girlfriend being stolen right in front of his eyes. 'Eh! What's going on! I'm so confused!' Sawako thought to herself in panic.
"...Although it isn't anything too serious, we should go after them." Ryu said solemnly.
"Huh! Yeah, we should!" Shota said, with the two boys jogging after the girls.
"Okay, hold still, Sawako!"
There, Sawako sat in the middle of Chizuru's room, with Chizuru on her knees, fixing Sawako's hair, as Ayane started adding make up onto Sawako.
"Eh? Isn't this almost like deja-vu?" Sawako asked in confusion.
"Oh...I guess you're right!" Ayane said happily.
"We did this for you last birthday. But this time, although it's for your birthday, there's a different reason." Chizuru said, as she looked back into the past. "Oh, we should leave your hair clip on."
"Sawako, you've become so cute since we first met you. I'm sure Kazehaya has always thought you were cute since you both first met. So shouldn't you try to impress him even more? To make him more happy?"
"Eh? B-but, I'm not that cute!"
"Maybe. In reality, Kurumi could be way cuter than you." Ayane replied back. 'Eh? Kurumi-chan?' Sawako imagined the adorable Kurumi, with her light chestnut curly hair.
"But to us, and I bet for Kazehaya as well, you're the cutest in the world." Ayane said with a smile as she finished Sawako's make up.
"Sawa, you have to have confidence in yourself. You got together with the guy you loved for a long time. It's an amazing accomplishment. So..." Chizu finished curling Sawako's hair. "Be confident, and show Kazehaya he was right to fall in love with you."
Ayane and Chizuru moved back in front of Sawako, to look at their work.
"I think we did a good job this year." Chizuru said as she looked at Sawako.
"I agree. Maybe even better than the year before." Ayane said with a giggle.
"Here, Sawako. We got you this pair of gloves and scarf. We hope you like it." Chizuru and Ayane handed Sawako their present, which were a pink and yellow striped scarf and white gloves with small fake snowflakes on it.
"Thank you! I'll use them!" Sawako said happily, as Ayane and Chizuru hugged her. "Let's get going." Chizuru said.
"Oh yeah. Sawako..." Sawako looked to see Ayane go near her. Ayane whispered something to Sawako, who's eyes widened in surprise.
"Really!" Sawako said in surprise.
"Yup, I think so." Ayane said with a smile. After the short
conversation, the three girls headed downstairs.
As they went down the stairs, Sawako noticed Shota waiting at the door, with Ryu standing beside him.
"Oh, Ryu! You finally got here!" Chizu said as she slapped Ryu on the back.
"We've been here a long time, and were waiting..." Ryu explained.
"Sorry, sorry." Chizuru said as she bowed in apology.
"Sawako, come on down." Ayane said, as she eyed Shota, who looked up, anticipating Sawako.
As Sawako started going down the stairs, Shota's eyes began to widen. There, Sawako stood there on the stairs as she stared at Shota, with pink lip gloss on her lips, and light make up on her face. The ends of her hair were curled, with her bangs moved to the side again like the year before, giving her a graceful look. On her hair, her hair clip atoned her hair, making it perfect.
'Beautiful...Just like a princess.' Shota thought to himself in his head, as he stared in amazement at Sawako. Sawako began walking down the stairs, with both Shota and Sawako staring at one another the whole time.
"Umm..." Sawako was looking down as she held her hand to her chest. "Do...Do I look okay?" Sawako said as she looked back up at Shota. He quickly blushed from the gesture she had just did, blushing like crazy.
"Of course! You look beauitful!" Shota said back quickly.
"A-ah! T-thank you!" Sawako said back. 'I'm so happy...he complimented me...'
"Oh, look at him. So bold!" Ayane said with a grin.
"How direct of him!" Chizuru said with a laugh. The two began to hold in their laughter against Shota, who could tell himself a vein was popping out.
"Okay, you two, get going." Chizuru and Ayane slightly pushed Sawako and Shota out the door.
"Eh? Aren't we all going together?" Sawako asked in confusion.
"Ryu and I already went there yesterday!" Chizu said as she patted Ryu on the shoulder.
"While my family and I are going together tomorrow. So have fun~" Ayane said. As Ayane tried to help Sawako swallow the fact she would be going alone with Shota, Chizuru quickly took the moment to pull Shota back.
"Ryuu told us you were upset you couldn't spend it alone with Sawako. Here's your chance!" Chizuru whispered as she grinned to Shota. Shota looked at Chizuru, then Ayane, then Ryu.
"Well then, good bye!" Chizuru said, as she was about to close the door. Shota gave them all one last smile. 'Thanks, you guys.'
The couple walked in the snow quietly, with both not saying anything. Snow gently fell upon the town, with the weather leaving a crisp, cold air for people to breathe in. The two smiled, appreciating the other for being there at that very moment. A strong wind passed the two quickly, leaving a chill on the both of them. Shota looked down at Sawako.
"Are you cold?" Shota asked.
"Huh? Oh, not really..." Sawako said, hiding the truth. 'It is pretty cold, but it's not too serious.'
"Oh...Because...I'm pretty cold." Shota said as he avoided looking Sawako in the eye, blushing, at what he was trying to subtly suggest.
"Really! Do you want me to give you my scarf-"
"Hand."
"Hand?" Sawako repeated in confusion. Sawako noticed Shota had taken his hand out. 'Oh...hand...' She smiled to herself.
"U-unless you don't want to-" Shota couldn't continue, because Sawako gently took his hand. He blushed as he looked away. 'Was that...too bold of me?' Shota asked himself. But despite that, the two held hands as they walked together.
Meanwhile, with Ayane, Chizuru, and Ryu, the three of them began playing video games. As they did, Chizuru brought up a good point.
"Hey, Yano-chin. Why didn't we follow them this time?"
"Hmm. Well last time, they weren't a couple yet. If we did't watch, something bad could've happened."
"Bad?"
"Like another misunderstanding. But they're a couple now. If they face any misunderstandings, they'll get over it. That's what a couple is, after all."
"He he. Yano-chin, it seems you get wiser each year."
"And you don't seem to change at all." Ayane said in remark.
"T-that's not true!"
"Well, there seems to be no difference. You'll be different if you can beat Ryu!"
"T-that..." Chizuru turned to glare at Ryu, who only stared at the TV screen. "Ah! Why do you always have to beat me!" Chizuru said in anger, as she hit Ryu.
"Ow..."
"Now, now. Don't hit Ryu." Ayane said, trying to calm Chizuru down. 'It seems she gets more angry each year instead...' Ayane thought to herself.
As they walked to the shrine, they stopped at an intersection. Shota smiled to himself as he stared at the spot. 'Ah...this was where we had our first kiss.' Sawako thought to herself.
"This place...is really important to me." Shota said.
"Eh?"
"This...is where we first met. The first day of our first year together, the cherry blossoms were still in bloom, and you smiled to me that day. Before I knew it, I got closer to you, and waited here for you on the first day of summer vacation. I got close enough to you, to be able to comfort you here during the mid-terms. We became so close, to the point we even had our first kiss here. This place holds so many memories. And it holds only memories of me and you." Shota smiled at Sawako, who stared in surprise.
"You remember it all..." Sawako said, amazed.
"Of course I would. Don't write me off as a person who forgets things easily." Shota said with a grin. Sawako's eyes sparkled as she thought to herself. 'He remembers it all. He didn't disregard all thsoe memories as something useless.' Sawako smiled in happiness.
"And now, I have another new memory!" Shota said with a smile.
"Another?" Shota grinned in response, and lifted up his hand, which also held Sawako's hand.
"I passed by this spot again with you holding hands, on your birthday! And especially when you're this pretty!"
"P-pretty!" Sawako blushed at the sudden compliment. Shota quickly blinked, and began to realize he had just said. He turned red quickly.
"Uh…Sorry, I say things so suddenly-"
"Thank you." Sawako interrupted, making Shota look at Sawako in surprise.
"For what I said before? It's fine. You don't need to force yourself to thank me-"
"No, that's not all it is. Thank you, for always complimenting me. And not just for that. This whole year, was even more fun than last year. There were lots of misunderstandings, and I was hurt a few times. But every single time, you would always make me feel better. Everything you've done for me this year, made it so amazing. There were so many new "firsts" for me. It was the first time I had fell in love with someone, and I fell in love so badly I made myself all confused. It was the first time the person I love to confess to me. Thank you, for holding my hand, for smiling to me, for comforting me in my times of need, for embracing me, for kissing me…Thank you for everything." Sawako finished her long speech, and looked up to Shota who smiled to her.
"You know, all of this happiness of yours couldn't have been achieved if you hadn't done anything."
"Eh?"
"You should know by now. I fell in love with you, because of how you tried your best and enjoyed life. I don't think I could have ever been able to confess, if I had never had these memories with you."
"What do you mean?"
"As soon as I realized how all the time, you would never give up, and try to keep working as best as you could despite any situation, I decided to do the same thing as well. I tried to confess to you once more, and it worked. And look at us now…" Shota smiled to Sawako. "Look how close we've become."
Sawako stared at Shota, and smiled as the wind passed them by. 'That's right. Now, after both of us working hard, we can walk together, holding each other's hand.' Sawako thought to herself.
"Let's get going." Shota said with a smile.
"Yup, let's go." Sawako said as she smiled once more, with the couple walking together, hand in hand. 'Only one hour left 'til New years.'
A.N.- Finished this chapter just a week after writing Chapter 2. I'm starting to get out of my writer's block. I noticed last chapter with the help of a review, I messed up present and past tenses. Sorry about that! D: This time, i tried to make sure everything was in past tense. This is a relatively short chapter. There's like 1000 less words this time DX It's just that it didn't feel right to cram too much into this chapter. I wanted to have them spend their New Years through a few chapters instead. I'll try to release the next chapter as quickly as possible. Plz remember to review if you like it or hate it :D