Words: 975
Setting: post-series
Summary: The school year is almost over
Reminisce
Ikki had to admit that there really was no better feeling than completing the last exam before winter break. As soon as the teacher announced that time was up, Ikki was the first one up from his seat and out the door, long before any of the other students even finished putting their pencils down. So quickly, in fact, that he ended up awkwardly standing by the school gate, waiting for Ringo to finish her last exam.
The duo had agreed to going on a celebratory AT run to commemorate their penultimate term of junior high school. It became somewhat of an unspoken tradition to relax and unwind after an intense fortnight of study by heading out, just the two of them, and enjoying the freedom of riding around town.
"Should we call it a day?" Ringo asked, as the pair stopped to take a break. Being winter, it was already starting to get dark outside, not to mention uncomfortably cold.
Ikki exhaled, watching his breath fog up and disappear before him. "I think so," he said, rubbing his hands together. "Before we both turn into ice sculptures anyway."
Ringo chuckled, catching a glimpse of the unpleasantly raw skin on his hands. Skating over to where he stood, she took both of his hands into her mitten-clad ones, gently kneading them. "Didn't I tell you to wear gloves?"
Huffing, Ikki disdainfully admitted that he should have listened to her advice. In place of his usual snarky response, Ikki instead chose to enjoy the warmth that was now melting away the bitter sting of cold on his fingers. He absentmindedly looked at the setting sun in the distance, as its rays bathed the cityscape in a flurry of orange.
"We're really graduating this spring, huh?"
Ringo raised her eyebrows at the change of topic, though her expression softened as the thought sunk in. "Yeah, only a few more months until we're high schoolers," she whispered, returning her gaze to their linked hands. "Time totally went by fast. Do you know what school you're planning on going to?"
"Not really," he sighed, with an uneasy face. "With my grades, it's gonna be wherever most people end up going. I guess that means we probably won't be in the same school anymore."
Noticing how Ikki's eyes dimmed with that realization, Ringo blurted out the first thing that came to her mind. "I could go where you're going…"
She gasped in surprise as Ikki lightly tapped his forehead against hers.
"Don't be an idiot," he chuckled, though with a hint of solemnity. "You're one of the smartest girls in our class. If you end up going to some no-name school like mine, I'll make sure to make you miserable until you transfer someplace better."
Groaning in complaint, Ringo averted her eyes to the dying sunset; she couldn't really argue the truth in his statement.
Neither of them said anything as a poignant atmosphere enveloped the pair. The thought of graduating actually passed through their minds many times, but both Ikki and Ringo avoided thinking about what came next. High school meant meeting new people, beginning new friendships, exploring different clubs and hobbies, and moving on to the next stages of their lives. In the grand scheme of things, their time in junior high school would soon be nothing more than a distant memory. That, really, was a scary thought.
Gripping his hands tightly, Ringo finally broke the silence. "I don't think this really changes anything," she said, earning her a confused look from Ikki. "How long have we known each other?"
"Like you even need to ask," he replied smartly, snapping out of his reverie.
"Exactly. Even if we make new friends in school, we'll still always have each other," Ringo continued, feeling her cheeks light up. "I mean, it's gonna take some adjusting, but a little distance won't break apart what we have between us."
Digesting the thought, Ikki allowed a sigh to escape his lips. "Yeah, definitely. I guess we won't be able to hang out as much as usual, but that hasn't stopped us in the past. I know you'll have no trouble fitting in, so I'm sure you'll make friends with lots of new people." Scratching the back of his head, Ikki shifted his gaze to the side, mumbling, " I bet you'll be popular with the guys, too—"
"H-hey, wait! It won't be like that," Ringo interrupted him when she noticed a hint of jealousy in his voice. Letting go of his hands, she swiftly closed the short distance between them, and leaned her body against his. "I was serious when I said that I love you. So, you know, if that's what you're thinking…"
Although her words were half-muffled, Ikki heard them loud and clear. "I-I know," he murmured, glad that Ringo couldn't see the bright glow on his cheeks. Leaning over just enough to place a kiss on the crown of her head, he smiled at the thought of just how lucky he was to have someone as loyal as her. She really was the one constant in his life, through thick and thin, and he couldn't imagine that not being the case anytime soon.
"Same for me," Ikki finally sighed, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "I did say before that you'd always been the one closest to me. That's a promise that I don't plan on breaking."
Ringo fidgeted slightly, as she peeked at him with a heartfelt smile. "I'm glad," she whispered, though her eyes shot him an ambiguously smug glare. "Just remember we're still living in the same house anyway, so I'll know if you try to slack off. You can be a little too popular with the girls yourself, you know."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Ikki laughed, feeling more assured about the coming months than ever before.
