Happy Birthday to my wife! Lissa!
…
…
...Wow. First sentence of the update and it's already awkward.
Anyway, hello! What's up? What's been going on?
For me, I've certainly been busy. I had to take a break from FanFiction to focus on other things. The Nisekoi Dub for example, which by the way, if you haven't watched, please do.
As far as that goes, I keep track of everything that needs to get done. Josh has a tendency to forget things, being busy as he is. So I also handle some videos, help out with scripts, lip-flaps, and casting.
My biggest pleasure in that dub, aside from the very act of participating are the endings. I get to dub 'em. Heart Pattern, Recover Decoration, Trick Box, OrderXOrder, HanaGonomi, Souzou Diary, Taisetsu no Tsukurikata, Honmei Answer, White Gift, Blue Schedule…
Thanks to Green Moriyama for getting me the literal translations. The man's a godsend.
Anyyywayyy!
Schedule! Unfortunately, school's still a bitch. Getting even the bare minimum done takes most of my energy (why the hell did I think I could handle 3 APs?) so I'll only be able to update… once a month?
Soo… yeah. I might not be around as much… at least, until the summer starts. Then I can hopefully resume pumping out weekly updates. Like the good ol' days.
...Yikes, this fic is already half a year old. And only 12 chapters?
I better get crackin' on this thing to make sure it doesn't stay that way.
…
…
...Waaaaaitaminit...
Progressing at the rate I am, 'The Promise of a Lifetime' will be over a million words upon completion.
…
...
...How the hell have I not noticed that?
Alright! So! This chapter covers Chapter 27 of the manga and Episode 11 of the anime! Following that shitstorm from last time…
Hm… what else?
Oh, Chapter 161. Of Nisekoi. It came out.
…
...Is this series ending soon? Because if it is, I definitely don't appreciate the fact that it just went full circle back to the one shot and everything that happened in between was irrelevant.
...I hope this Raku does it again.
Back to the chapter.
Well... some people don't like the constant POV switches. So, I've toned it down for this chapter. It's pretty much all Raku.
Oh, yeah. Fandom Flux. Cool dudes. Fanfiction Authors talkin' 'bout Fanfiction. Check 'em out on YouTube.
Speaking of YouTube, Character and Pairing Themes. You guys like those, or…?
I was hoping to get responses to it, but I guess the chapter's end overshadowed that… hehe…
Well! I'd like to hear what you all think now, if you would be so kind.
Okay! Moving forward.
I haven't written anything in a month. Naturally my writing's gotten a bit rusty. Go easy on me this time, ne?
Let's get this chapter started!
Chapter 11: Date
Hooh… That ended poorly.
It was the 7th of June. Finals were finally over (thank the Gods), but we weren't out of the woods just yet…
I stared out the window at the swimming pool below. The same window I jumped out of, and the same pool we fell into.
Yeah… that's right. Yesterday, Tsugumi…
"Yes, I will go out with you."
Uh-huh. The 'Get-Seishirou-Tsugumi's-Love-Life-Together' Brigade-Thing had continued on without me… to terrible results.
"R-Really!? Th-Thank you!"
Yep. And now, Tsugumi was dating the schmuck.
...Not that there was anything wrong with that, of course. It was her call. Although…
I looked up at the clouds passing over the sun.
"I can't help but feel… kinda' guilty, is all…" I muttered to myself, "I mean… it's partly my fault she accepted…"
"You're wrong."
!
I looked up from my rambling at Chitoge, who'd appeared out of nowhere. She was staring downward, eyes shadowed by her hair.
"It was… it was my fault…" she mumbled, "I made her do that… and now she hates me."
A hand appeared on her shoulder.
"Aw, don't be like that."
!
I jumped at the other blond's sudden appearance.
"Holy sh—" I collected myself, "Naruto!"
He gave his usual two-fingered salute, though the energy was certainly lacking.
"Hey there," he said, "Sorry about that."
He turned back to Chitoge.
"Anyway, it's fine. Tsugumi doesn't hate you! She never will!" he said, with a small smile, "If there's anything I'm sure of, it's her loyalty to you! So chin up!"
He gently nudged her chin upward so we could see her face. Her eyes were sparkling wet, but the droplets had yet to fall.
She shut them, causing the tears to overflow. Her bodyguard leaned in and wiped them from her face with the sleeve of his jacket.
"It'll be fine. So don't worry," he smiled.
He held her at shoulder length and looked her right in the eye, "Now go wash up. I don't want you crying on a day like this, got it? That's an order, missy!"
She giggled lightly, "Roger that."
She walked off, headed for the exit.
…
…
…
"...Why can't I do that?" I muttered.
...
"Hm?" he looked over at me, "You say something?"
"Wha?" I stared dumbly, "Oh, nothing. Just… thinking out loud."
It was silent for a few seconds.
…
…
"...So… 'a day like this'?" I asked, "What's that supposed to mean?"
The teen blinked, before clicking his tongue.
"Geez' man… you don't even know your own girlfriend's birthday?" he asked, "Tsk tsk."
"...Hey, that's not fair…" I complained, "It's not like she's particularly free with that information…"
He quirked a brow, "That's why you ask."
"Easy for you to say…" I muttered, "...Your partner doesn't hate you."
In retrospect, I think I saw him flinch… and the facade dropped for a second…
Of course, being the unobservant guy I was at the time, I'd completely missed it.
Either way, he was back and smiling in the blink of an eye.
"That's where you're wrong," he smiled, "...About your partner hating you, I mean."
I gave him an incredulous look, "Are you kidding? Are you blind!? We're at each other's throats 110% of the time!"
He chuckled, "Who's blind now?"
He walked off, throwing another salute over his shoulder.
"Maybe pay more attention, buddy!" he called.
…
…
…
And he was gone.
Bonyari High
Hallway
June 9, 2014
3:39 P.M.
(Raku)
'Hm… her birthday, huh?'
I was on my way out. School had already ended, after all.
Buuuut, Naruto's words got me thinking, so I took the long way around. The 'scenic route', Shuu would call it.
Anyway, I had to drop by the class to pick up my bag, so I was headed there.
"Haha! Thanks!"
I smiled. I'd recognize that laugh anywhere.
I jogged down the hall to catch up with her, "Hey, Onode—"
"Rakuuuu~!"
"Urk!"
I froze, and turned to look at my girlfriend, who was looking much more at ease with herself.
"Hey, Raku!" she readjusted the towering pile of papers in her hands without much trouble, "Where do these handouts go?"
"Th-Those?" I scratched my head, "Kyoko-sensei wanted them in the lab, remember?"
"Oh, right!" she smiled, "Thanks!"
I hesitated.
"H-Hey, Chitoge!" I called, remembering, "The science lab! Not the music lab!"
"Got it!"
…
...
"...'Chitoge'?" Onodera said.
"Hmm? Oh…" I crossed my arms, "The other day, we decided to switch to first names…"
"We've been together a while, so someone pointed out that the last name thing was weird," I scratched my cheek, "...Still not used to it though."
"...Oh. I see."
…
…
'...Crap… I hate playing sweethearts in front of her…' I muttered, 'If only—"
(*WHAM*)
"Oof!"
Miyamoto elbowed her friend in the stomach. Hard. I could've sworn I heard the "PING" of the Home-Run Bat from Smash Bros.
She muttered something under her breath. Whatever it was, Onodera didn't seem to thrilled about it.
(*FMM*)
"Hey! Ichijo Raku!" I heard, "Where's the Mistress?"
"H-Huh?"
That was a voice I didn't expect to hear for a while. Standing in the doorway was…
"...Tsugumi! Hey there!" I waved nervously, "How're ya' doing?"
She frowned, "...Fine. Why do you ask?"
"Hm? Oh… no reason…" I mumbled.
I shook my head, "Anyway, if you're looking for Chitoge, she went to the music lab."
Miyamoto nudged me, "Science Lab."
I quirked a brow, "You really don't know her, do you?"
I turned back to Tsugumi, who was nodding silently in agreement.
"So, did you need her?" I asked, "Because I can get her, if you want."
She shook her head no, "That's fine. Perfect. There's something I'd like to talk to you all about in private, so since you're all here…"
"Hm? Private?" Onodera asked.
Meanwhile, my focus was elsewhere.
"Shuu isn't here…"
"Like I said, since you're all here…"
Oh. That's how it was then.
"I'm sure you know what today is, Ichijou…?"
Her eye glinted dangerously.
"U-Um…" I gulped, "It's H-Honey's birthday, right?"
"Bingo, bango, buddy!" I heard next to me, as weight settled on my shoulder.
"GEH!" I jumped back, "Dude! Stop doing that!"
Naruto chuckled, "Maybe when it gets old. That is, never."
I gave my best scowl, causing him to laugh harder.
"Anyway…" Tsugumi continued, "We're throwing her a surprise party at her house. Would you be so kind as to come?"
"Sure! Of course we'll go!" Onodera happily agreed, "I didn't know today was her birthday though!"
"Guess we should get her a present, right?" I thought aloud.
I looked to the bluenette, "You got a present already, I assume?"
She nodded, "I went and bought it with Suzuya-san yesterday."
I could feel the group collectively wince.
Of course, Tsugumi's as socially-illiterate as her Master, so it went right over her head.
And of course, if you'd have told her that, she would have looked up at the ceiling to see what she'd missed.
"Okay," Miyamoto declared, "Kosaki and Ichijou, you two go gift shopping after school."
"WHAT!?"
I heard Naruto snicker in the back.
"R-Ruri-chan!"
"M-Miyamoto! What about you?"
"Sorry," she replied in the most deadpan tone I'd ever heard, "But I've had a stomachache all day."
"But you ate 2 Set A Lunches!"
"Look, you can consult each other about your choices," she pointed out, "It's faster like that."
"But what about you, Miyamo—"
"FORGET ME! JUST GO!"
"E-EHH!?"
Bonyari City
Streets
Cafe
4:30 P.M.
(Raku)
"Meet at the cafe at five! That way, you can go home and change first!"
"What!? You're not even going, and you're planning it all out!?"
That's Miyamoto alright… I'll never understand that girl.
(*SLLP*)
I sipped my coffee, trying desperately to keep it cool.
…
...If you know me at all, then you see what's wrong with that statement.
'Argh… I'm so nervous!'
I set the cup back on its saucer with a small clatter, the noise unheard in a room of lovestruck couples too caught up in each other's eyes to hear it.
Of course, this gave me the opportunity to vent a little. To myself.
But outside my head for once. You know. Like actual crazy people do.
"Why is Miyamoto so bossy all the time?" I grumbled, "I mean, I figured I'd be used to it by now, considering how often I'm reminded, but still…"
"...Wait, why am I thinking of Miyamoto right now?" I realized, "Think of the girl she set you up with!"
I put my face in my palm and ran a hand through my hair.
"Well… if you could call it that…" I muttered, "I mean, maybe it's just the cafe she chose, but this really feels like… a date… wouldn't you say?"
"But is it a date? Is it?! If it is..." I had a mini-freak out, "...Then that means, discounting that fake date with Chitoge, this is mY FIRST OFFICIAL DATE! WOOO!"
Surprisingly, nobody had even noticed my outburst.
"...But does gift shopping count as a date...?" I asked myself, "Gah! I don't know… Does it?"
"I dunno'," I heard, "You tell me."
(*BLRRRFF*)
Unsurprisingly, everybody had noticed that.
"Hm. Nice spit-take there, Cross…" I saw golden-yellow hair untouched by the liquid I'd spewed, "But you move too much. Factor in your personality, and your actions are easy to predict. I saw that coming from a mile away."
Great. This guy.
There was only one blond I knew could evade projectile-vomited coffee without much trouble…
...B-Besides Shuu.
"D-Darn it, Naruto…" I wiped my mouth, "What did I say about not doing that?"
He grinned, "And what did I say about it being fun?"
I scowled a bit, and he chuckled, as a waitress walked over.
"Hello, Naruto," she said, "Would you like anything?"
"Hey there, Kanako," he said, smiling, "I'll have my usual."
She didn't have to jot it down, "Columbian, right?"
"With the 2 creams, yes."
"And a slice of the sweet potato chestnut cake, yes?"
"Right. Oh, and some strawberry tarts to-go, please."
She nodded politely and walked off.
…
...
I gave him a look.
"Come here often?" I asked, sarcastically.
"What?" he shrugged, "I can't have a life?"
"No, it's just…" I shook my head, "Never mind."
He quirked a brow, "What?"
"It's just… I dunno'," I mumbled, "But you seem pretty close with the waitress."
"Well, Chitoge'd drag me here from time to time…" he scratched the back of his neck, "She really likes the dango, among… other things..."
It was my turn for my brow to rise, "Is that why you're getting the tarts? For her birthday?"
He waved it off, "Nah. Those are just—"
…
…
His smile slowly faded.
"Those are… those are just…"
…
...
"They're Tsugumi-san's favorite, that's what they are."
!
I looked up at the waitress, who'd already returned with his food.
"Speaking of, I didn't see you two come in yesterday, like you usually do…" she placed the food down on the table in front of him, "Why was that?"
He smiled faintly.
"Oh… she had... other business to take care of…" he said, "And I… I didn't feel like going alone. Sorry about that."
"No, no, it's fine," she reassured, "Just wondering, is all."
She walked off again, to tend to other customers.
…
…
"...You have a lot of secrets," I noted.
"Thanks, Captain Obvious," he remarked.
I gave a half-hearted glare, causing him to chuckle again.
"I'm serious," I asserted, seeing his smile drop after I said that, "Dude, what the heck? You never tell us anything these days. What's up?"
He shrugged, "You never ask. And besides, it's nothing important anyway. Do you really want to know where I spend my afternoons?"
I grunted, "Of course not. Just… tell us before you pull things. Like that trick you did in the hot springs last weekend. Or that you could track Chitoge when we were all worrying. Seriously man. I thought you told me all that stuff about you because you trusted me."
He frowned, "Fair enough. I can try to be a little more open about stuff… to you at least. There's nothing women like more than a mystery."
"...Really." I deadpanned.
"Yep. Gotta' keep the mystique dude," he said, "Gotta' play the game."
"...Right..." I sighed.
"Anyway, I'll do that. One condition though."
He pointed at the locket on my neck somewhat slowly. However, an animation company might be able to make that seem entertaining by repeating the same motion thricefold with varying camera angles each time.
"...What's the deal with that thing?" he asked, "You're always wearing it. Does it have anything to do with the keys Chitoge and Kosaki have?"
My eyes gradually widened, as I clutched the necklace in my hand. Said animation company would take this action as an opportunity to extend runtime, and make up for an episode's lack of content or plot progression.
I addressed him with my eyes shadowed by my hair.
"...Well… that's what I'd like to know."
He looked up from his cake with a fork in his mouth, "Hm?"
"It's a real mystery. It was a whole decade ago…" I said, "...On top of that, I don't have much to go off of..."
He grinned.
"Well this sounds fun," he said, slicing off another piece, "Lay it on me."
I sighed, and opened my mouth to speak.
I told him everything.
All I could. Absolutely everything I remembered.
I told him about the girl. A girl with a key. A girl with long, flowing hair. A girl with a storybook I'd torn apart and drew all over. A girl I'd made a promise with.
Surprisingly, he was pretty enthusiastic about the whole thing. Whenever I trailed off, thinking he wasn't paying attention, he'd ask me to continue. He'd ask questions too, about her qualities, personality, anything he could really think of.
"Hmm…"
He set his elbows on the table with his interlocked fingers hanging high over his empty plate, hands covering his mouth.
"...Circumstance."
I blinked, "What?"
He pointed at me.
"Circumstance. You say your father was out there on business, right?" he stirred what remained of his coffee, "Do you have any idea what kind?"
"Not a clue," I shrugged, "I didn't even see him much then; he was that busy."
"Not to mention, I was young at the time, and couldn't have cared less," I admitted, "All I knew was that there were new places to explore, new people to meet… a new town meant a whole different world for me. And even now, that holds true."
"And that's when you met this girl?" he asked, taking the stirrer out, "While exploring?"
"Yep. On a rock with her coloring book," I said, fingering the base of the pendant's tip as I said that.
He remained silent for a bit.
…
…
"...What else was happening around that time?" he asked, "Were you into any kind of video game, or maybe had some kind of hobby?"
"Well… I was a kid. Climbing trees was my hobby," I shrugged, "Not much I remember from then."
He nodded to himself, finishing the rest of his drink.
"Oh, wait."
He looked up at me as I continued.
"I... think something happened to Shuu's mother at the time..." I remembered, "...I'm not sure though."
He blinked.
"...You've been friends with Shuu for that long?"
"Even longer," I corrected, "We met in preschool. Far before this promise-business."
His eyes lit up, as he snapped his fingers.
"Maybe you told him about it?" he suggested.
I shook my head, "No… I remember, I'd kept it a secret. I'd never so much as mentioned it to anyone…"
I clutched the pendant tighter in my hand, "...Something I regret now…"
He grunted, "That's too bad…"
"Tell me about it," I affirmed, "I've been trying to figure this thing out for years, and I've had no luck."
"Sounds terrible," he said.
"You don't know the half of it," I sighed, "Heck, me talking to you about it is probably the greatest breakthrough I've had in… God Knows how long."
"Well… maybe you're just thinking about it the wrong way," he thought aloud, "Let's think outside the box."
I quirked a brow, "And how do you propose we do that?"
"Hmm…" he hummed, "Okay, so you say that you snuck out of your temporary home a lot to meet this girl?"
"That's right," I agreed.
"Considering your… 'family arrangement'…" he called it, causing me to snort, "...It would be pretty difficult to do that, wouldn't it?"
I blinked.
"...Come to think of it… I might've been caught once or twice…" I remembered, whispering, "But I'd usually manage to escape on the second or third try."
He frowned.
"Why such persistence?" he asked, tapping the table, "Was this girl really so important to you?"
"Of course she was!" I answered without hesitation, "She was the one I promised to marry, after all!"
At my reaction, he seemed to back down from that particular line of questioning.
…
"...You said 'usually'..." he continued, "So does that mean there was one time you couldn't leave no matter what?"
"Yeah…" I scratched my head, "There were a few main exits that I used. The window to my room is the only real one I recall using though. I really just remember the splinters I got from the first time I climbed down that tree."
He rest his jaw upon his fingers.
"You remember distinctly, hm?" he asked, "What makes them so memorable?"
I scoffed, "And what's the point in remembering? How are the splinters in my hand going to help figure out who this girl is?"
He mock glared, "Don't question the questions, Cross. The questionnaire of questions the questioner questions can't be questioned by the questionee."
…
…
…
"...What?"
"Exactly."
I glared.
"Look," he grumbled, pointing at me, "Splinters. Why are they memorable?"
I grunted.
"I dunno'..." I squeezed my hand, "Maybe they're just 'a symbol of my dedication'... the pain I'd put myself through to see this girl everyday? Heck if I know."
"So it's the pain you'd remember?" he asked.
"Hm… yeah, probably," I winced at the memory, "I remember the one time I didn't leave was because I couldn't. My hands were too covered in bandage to properly move, let alone climb down the house."
He frowned, "There were so many splinters that they had to be bandaged?"
I shook my head, "Nope. They just bled a lot coming out."
His frown deepened.
"Whoever your nurse was must've sucked," he sighed, "How simple could it be to remove a splinter? Just take it out the same way it went in. Geez'..."
"And the bandages. If they were competent at all, they'd be able to at least wrap your fingers individually, instead of those mittens you're describing," he rattled, "Saves bandages. And if they really wanted to stop you from sneaking out, they'd just give you a guard."
I shook my head, "They never gave me a guard or anything, surprisingly."
"Hm?" he looked up, "Why's that?"
"I dunno'," I admitted, "There weren't many of us on that trip too. The only people I can remember were my dad, Ryuu, and a couple others…"
He frowned, sipping his water, "Understaffed, hm?"
I shrugged, "For the first time until that point, we didn't have a cook or something. So it was around that point that I was taught basic recipes and such to keep myself fed… and occupied."
He nodded to himself, "Hmm, lucky. I couldn't do anything but instant ramen at that age."
I laughed, "Well, I was making oddly-shaped super-salty rice balls. I don't think I was doing much better."
He made a waving-motion with his hand, "Yeah… sure. Anyway, not enough cooks?"
"Right, right…" I continued, "Anyway, it was the first time we didn't have cooks, nurses, and even bodyguards were scarce. The house we were in at the time was usually empty, aside from a few guys playing poker in the lobby, and I'd never interacted with 'em."
He blinked.
"No nurses?"
I frowned.
"Is that a problem?" I asked, "I mean, it's kind of unsafe to leave a kid without medical care, but it's not like I was an infant. I could take care of myself… kinda'."
He shook his head.
"No… that's not what I'm trying to say," he affirmed, "And I think I know that better than anyone. I fell on my head so many times as a child, I'm surprised I don't have brain damage."
I tried desperately not to point out the obvious, as he continued.
"No… that's not my point. In fact, it kind of connects now," he said.
I gave him a confused look, "...What're you talking about?"
He pointed at me.
"You said that you weren't able to interact with anybody you knew during this trip?" he asked for confirmation, "Not your father, not Ryuu, not any of the gang members?"
I nodded, "Yeah…?"
He grinned.
"Then who taught you to cook?"
I frowned.
…
…
"...What?"
His smile widened, "Who taught you to cook? Who took care of you?"
"Who took out the splinters?"
!
I don't know what it was… but that statement seemed to resonate, ringing through my head.
Who took out the splinters?
The entire world around me seemed to freeze. Color drained from their holders like blood. All motion ceased. My heart did a flop, and my stomach was doing a somersault.
Who took out the splinters?
Sounds turned muffled and distorted, like someone was covering and uncovering my ears rapidly. The world began to sway…
Who took out the splinters?
And just like that, everything crumbled away. The cafe, the street… Even the table we were sitting at dissolved into nothing. Naruto and I were standing together in a black void… until even he faded to dust.
Who took out the splinters?
H-Huh? How should I know?
Who took out the splinters?
What? I don't know!
Who took them out?
I have no idea! Asking me over and over isn't going to change anything!
Do you remember?
No! I don't! Didn't I just say I didn't?
Who taught you to cook, Raku?
I-I... I don't remember, alright!? What the hell is going on?!
Who took care of you?
...I dunno'? I took care of myself?
Did you?
…
…
...Didn't I?
Did you?
…
…
...I...guess I didn't.
Then who did?
I don't know? What are you trying to say?
I'm trying to get you to remember.
Gah! Remember what!?
Who was it, Raku?
I don't know!
Who was it?
I said I don't know!
Don't you remember?
Remember what!?
I heard the laugh of a young girl.
Don't you remember me Rakkun?
And there was light.
The darkness began to melt… as the world painted itself a blinding white. It was warm… and soothing. It was… new, yet nostalgic. Full, but broken. It felt like... happiness. In its purest form.
And the light cleared.
And all of a sudden, I was five again. Sitting in the stool by a bedside, as a girl plucked bits of wood out of my hand.
'What… Who…?'
"Ah!" I heard myself say, "That hurts, Marie-chan!"
"It'll hurt more if you keep 'em in, Rakkun!" 'Marie' smiled apologetically, "Sorry 'bout this."
(*PLCK*)
"Yeow!"
'What is this…? Who is…?'
I heard another laugh. This one had a bit more depth to it. The laugh of an older girl.
"You know Raku…" the girl said, "It's considered more manly to not squeal every time she takes one out?"
I felt myself pout, as I my head turned to face her.
"Mouu, that's not fair, Nee-chan!" I'd said, "I don't try to show off in front of Marie-chan! And she says she likes it when I'm honest too!"
I heard the girl giggle lightly as she plucked another one, "He's right, Yui-san. Unlike them, I'd like an honest man."
'...Wait...'
…
'...WAIT.'
If I had any control of my five year-old body, my eyes would've been the size of dinner plates.
'No way!' I thought, 'You've gotta' be kidding! This is Yui-nee-san and...'
My head turned back to the girl in front of me, who I smiled at.
'...Marie...'
She smiled back.
...
'...Marika...'
"Well, in any case…" I heard from Yui, who I turned to, "No matter why you're crying, be sure to dry your tears in front of Chi-chan, Ko-chan, and the others! You don't want them to see you like this, right? Not on the day we all go to the hot springs?"
I felt my face smile brightly, "Of course! You got it, Nee-chan!"
'...Chi-chan and Ko-chan, huh?' I thought, 'I… I remember… sort of...'
That's right. There were… six? I think there were six of us… And that summer we spent together…
(*PLCK*)
"Aiie!"
Even if I wasn't really here… I could feel everything my body felt. Mainly the gentle touch of the girl's hand on my wrist… the pain of the splinters and the wounds they left…
...and the cool, metallic feel of a chain around my neck.
I wish… I wish I could've looked down. Maybe the pendant was open… maybe it had some clue on it...
Unfortunately, five year-old me was more preoccupied with the splinter situation.
"Itai! Marie-chaaan~!" I whined, "That really hurts!"
She smiled.
"It makes me feel all fuzzy inside…" she said, "That you'd put yerself through this jus' ta' see me…"
She looked at me.
"But I don't want you to bang yerself up like this so offen!" she reprimanded, "I hate seein' ya' get so hurt!"
I felt myself blink in confusion, before smiling confidently.
"Oh, this? This is nothing!" I lied, "I just climb trees is all!"
I saw Yui shaking her head to herself in the corner of my eye.
"And besides, I don't have to worry about getting hurt!" I said with a grin.
Marie frowned, clearly upset, "Rakkun?"
"I don't have to worry about getting hurt so long as you're there to make me all better, Marie-chan!"
And her face blew up like a firecracker.
Wow. Who would've taken five year-old me for a lady-killer?
She sighed to herself.
"Well, we can't spend the rest of our lives together if you're dead!"
I laughed loudly, "Right, right!"
…
…
...
Remember now?
And the world melted again.
"...ss...Ross...Cross!"
I reemerged to the sensation of fingers being snapped in front of my face.
"Are you okay?" he asked, looking somewhat concerned.
"H-Huh?" I asked, "Y-Yeah, I'm totally fine. Why?"
He said nothing, pointing at his cheeks. I felt my own, realizing they were wet with tears.
"You've got some explaining to do," he said, simply.
"This Yui… you can't contact her, huh?" he muttered, in the Gendo pose.
I shook my head, "She went back to China when I was still little. And I have less than a clue as to what she's doing."
He nodded.
"And this Marika girl…" he said, "Do you have any idea where she is now?"
I shook my head, "Not a clue. I can probably find that hospital again, but what are the odds she's still there?"
He shrugged.
"Slim odds are better than none," he pointed out, "Tell you what, if I don't have anything going on this weekend, we can head down there. Maybe we can find her patient records or something. You got a last name on her?"
I squinted in recollection.
"It was… Ta...Tashi… Tashipana?" I shook my head, "No that's not right…"
He patted me on the shoulder, "It'll come to you. Don't worry."
I nodded, "I'll hit you up when I do."
He nodded to my nod, dropping a few bills on the table as he picked up his purchases and stood up.
"Oh, you're leaving?" I asked.
He nodded again, "Yeah, of course. Wouldn't want to intrude on your little date."
!
"Besides," he continued, "I already bought my gift for Chi-hime a while ago, and I need to get back and help the gang with the surprise party."
He stood, grabbing the bags of tarts with a small 'crinkle' noise.
The tarts…
...
...The tarts for Tsugumi. The girl dating another guy.
"Thanks for the chat. See you, Cross."
He walked toward the entrance.
...
"...H-Hey! Naruto!"
He paused and turned to me.
"Yeah?"
I fidgeted slightly.
...
"Y-You're gonna' give those tarts to Tsugumi… right?" I questioned, nervously.
He flinched.
"Yeah…? And?"
I frowned. Looks like I was gonna' have to be the bad guy.
"...You're not gonna' try and keep going after her, are you?" I grit my teeth, "Because if she's with this other guy, and she's happy..."
"You need to give up on her," I sighed, "And that's all I'm saying."
…
...
"...Cross."
!
I looked to him, where he stared back with a single raised eyebrow.
"You don't have to give me the speech on sabotaging relationships. I know that sucker by heart at this point," he laughed, "Heck, I might've written it."
"I'm not living in some fantasy world…" he said, "I know what happened. I accept it."
He grinned.
"Tsugumi's with someone else. And I'm fine with that."
…
…
…
He turned around.
"Well... I should get going."
"H-Hey wait! Naruto!"
He turned around again.
"...What?"
…
...
"W-Would you… Would you really call... what Onodera and I are going to do… a date?" I asked, hesitantly.
He glanced at the ceiling in thought, before shrugging.
"If not, then Suzuya's been running his mouth over nothing."
He tossed a casual wave over his shoulder, "Ciao."
And he was gone.
…
…
…
'Hm...' I sighed, 'That guy...'
'Wonder how long it'll take for him to realize he's hurting?'
Bonyari City
Streets
5:07 P.M.
(Naruto)
"You're not gonna' try and keep going after her, are you? I mean, if she's with this other guy, and she's happy…"
I clicked my tongue. Just who the hell did that kid think he was talking to?
I knew that… of course I did.
…
…
…
(*Fwooosh…*)
The wind blew down the slope, causing the wax paper bag to crackle in my hand.
…
…
I chewed on my lip.
"You need to give up on her. That's all I'm saying."
…
…
(*PNAAP*)
I peeled the sticker off the opening, and popped one of the tarts in my mouth.
Bonyari City
Streets
Cafe
5:15 P.M.
(Raku)
I looked down at the empty cup, seeing there was just enough coffee left to make a little dip at the bottom. I took the ear between my fingers and rolled the liquid around, letting it settle in a ring-like outline.
'Seriously… Keeping that many secrets can't be healthy.'
Then again, the guy runs laps around the Track team, and I can barely run a kilometer without stopping. So who am I to judge his health?
I looked up at the ceiling.
'Hm… Onodera sure is late...' I noticed, 'I might've shown up half an hour early, but it's almost twenty minutes past five… the party starts at seven, so no rush, but—'
Just as those words left my inner mouth (if that makes any sense), I saw her run up to the cafe, out of breath.
'Whoa, Onodera!'
I saw her look over her shoulder, then scan the crowd.
'Uh-oh… is she looking for me?' I thought, 'Come to think of it, I never said I'd be inside, did I?'
'What should I do…?' I contemplated, 'Should I call her? Or…?'
I saw her face the window, as she tried to catch her breath.
...Then she brushed the stray hair out of her face with her fingers, before smiling and nodding in satisfaction.
'!'
!
…
…
…
"Irasshaimase!"
…
…
…
"S-So!" she turned her head, so her voice wasn't muffled, "What present should we get for Chitoge-chan?"
'Alright...' I sighed, 'So she wants to proceed like nothing happened? Got it.'
The waitress (Kanako, was it?) walked up, notepad in hand.
'Man... ' I smiled, 'Onodera's beautiful no matter what she wears.'
"I-I'll have a coffee too," she says.
The waitress nods and walks to the counter, where she starts to snicker.
"Awp! Did she see that too?"
'I wonder… what we look like to people?'
I put my cheek in my palm to mask my growing smile.
'Could it be… that people see us as a couple?'
…
'...A couple… huh?'
"Or are you still…" Miyamoto said, "...looking for that boy you made a promise with, ten years ago?"
I shook my head.
'Like that could happen!' I bit my lip, 'I mean...'
'From what I'd just seen, that meant Marika was the promised girl… no…?
Hm. Just saying that didn't feel quite right. Like… there was more to it than that. Something was missing…
"So," she started, "What kind of present do you think she'd like for her birthday?"
"Huh? Oh…" I scratched my neck, "I wonder…"
'...Now that I think about it, I don't know when Onodera's birthday is...' I realized, 'If it hasn't passed yet, then maybe...'
"Hey, Onode—"
"Alright!" she pumped her fists, "We'll probably figure it out faster if we window-shop…"
She looked to me.
"Sorry, did you say something?"
"O-Oh! Nothing. Nothing at all."
'Hmph!' I smirked, 'Nothing to worry about. I've got the whole afternoon with her, so I've got plenty of time to…'
"Thank goodness we found something for her!" she smiled, holding up the bag, "I hope she'll like it…"
'THAT WAS OVER SO FASSST!'
I'm such a coward… Darnit... So many things I wanted to talk about…
"Did you have fun, Ichijou-kun?"
"H-Huh?"
I turned to her.
"Well… Ruri-chan made you tag along for this…" she fidgeted, "I hope you're not mad…"
"Wha!?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" I affirmed, "Of course I had fun!"
'I'd go through the depths of hell and back with you, Onoderaaaaa!'
…
…
Thank god I hadn't said that out loud. What kind of crazy thinking is that?
"...I see…" she smiled, "...Alright…"
She looked to me, "Mind if we take a detour?"
"Huh?"
BeeHive HQ
Common
6:27 P.M.
(Naruto)
(*K-TNK*)
I opened the Common Door the normal way. So, the passkey. Not kicking it down.
The place looked amazing. There were streamers, and everyone was wearing party hats, and…
...there was Suzuya, talking to Tsugumi.
Great.
The latter of the two noticed me, storming over.
"Hey! Where've you been?" she put her hands on her hips, "You were supposed help out setting up, remember?"
"Right, right…" I muttered, hand on my shoulder, "I was helping Cross make his decision."
She frowned, "Is he here?"
I blinked, "No. Why?"
She grumbled to herself, pulling out her phone.
"That bastard…" she punched in his number, "The party starts in half an hour!"
She was about to hit 'Call' to scream his ear off—
"Hold it."
She looked at me, "What?"
I shrugged, "I'll do it. I know it won't make up for skipping out on preparation, but it's the least I can do."
She frowned, but nodded.
"Fine. Make it quick though."
I saluted, half-heartedly.
"Roger that."
Bonyari City
Streets
6:28 P.M.
(Raku)
"Whoaaa!"
I walked over to the railing, dropping my bag by the stairs.
"What an amazing view!" I said, "Who would've thought there'd be a place like this at the end of an alleyway!"
"I happened upon it when I was little," she said, staring off into the distance, "It's my Secret Place."
'Her secret place, huh?' I smiled, 'I'm happy that she trusts me that much… but is it really okay for her to show me?'
"It's nice, isn't it?" she said, absentmindedly.
"Y-Yeah!" I agreed.
I turned to her, "So… who else knows about it? Hm… Miyamoto maybe?"
"She doesn't."
"Huh?"
"Because I never told her."
She smiled.
"This is just between us— our secret," she said, "Don't tell anyone, okay?"
!
"H-Huh!? You sure about that?! Only telling me a secret like this!?"
She giggled, "Of course I'm sure."
She put her hands on the railing.
"I had lots of fun today…" she smiled, "So this is kind of… my way of thanking you."
!
'For real!? Our secret!?' I thought, 'Aaaah, that makes me so happy!'
My mental self started doing a little jig, heel-clicks and all.
'Onodera's being really assertive today, isn't she?' he was running in circles now, ' 'Just between us— our secret'... sure has a nice ring to it!'
'Alright! I should respond to Onodera's feelings, so...'
I gave her a thumbs up, trying to hide my tears of joy.
"Got it! I won't tell a soul!" I grinned, "It's a promise!"
She turned to me and smiled.
"Right! The Promise of a Lifetime… Raku-kun!"
!
…
...
'...Was that… no, it can't be...'
As soon as those words left her mouth, I saw…
'...But that's not right! Isn't Marie the Promised Girl then?' I thought, 'But I don't know for sure... '
...
"...Ahaha…" she laughed, "Wow, it's a bit embarrassing to call you by your first name."
"It's easier for me to call you Ichijou-kun!"
Her words fell on deaf ears.
It might have been a mere moment… But I saw her...
That's right. Not Marika. Not Yui. Her.
'No… That was just from hearing the word 'Promise'...' I shook my head, 'Yeah, that was it...'
"S-Sorry, Ichijou-kun…" she apologized, "Does that make you uncomfortable? You look troubled…"
"H-Huh?" I sputtered, "O-Oh, no! Not at all!"
'Yeah, that's right...' I breathed, 'Calm down, Raku. I've got a good rhythm going. I should use it to ask her when her birthday is...'
…
"...S-Say, Onodera…" I started, "There's something… I've been wanting to ask you for a while…"
"Hm?"
I opened my mouth to speak.
"The Girl I made a Promise with Ten Years Ago…"
"...Was it you?"
…
…
!
…
…
FUCK.
What the hell was that!? It just crossed my mind and I blurted it out?! What the crap!? The fuck is up with that bullshit!?
Ohhh, what do I do!? How the hell do I explain that? Dammit, now she thinks I'm weird and—
"Yes."
!
I looked up.
"What?"
She took a moment before speaking again.
"Yes, I am."
She reached into her shirt and pulled it out. On her necklace was… a key. The same key she dropped in the hall a few weeks ago…
"Ichijou-kun... " she clutched it to her chest, "You mentioned this once before… that you made a promise with a girl, ten years ago…"
"Well, I made a promise with someone too," she said, "I was just a little kid, so I barely remember it…"
I said nothing, my mouth unable to form words.
"Ten years ago… when I was five years old, I met a boy…" she closed her eyes, "When we said goodbye at the end of the summer, he gave me this key."
"I don't remember… his name… or what he looked like…" she said, "The only thing I can remember…"
She opened them.
"...Is that he wore a pendant. Just like yours."
'WHAAA!?'
A pendant like mine!? That can't be! There's only one in existence!
...Wait. How do I know that? And how can Onodera be the Promised Girl!? Wasn't it Marie?
Or was it? Was it Onodera? Marika didn't have a key, right? Shit, I don't know!
She looked me in the eye.
"...I'm sorry…" she apologized, "When you asked me on that day… if I'd recognized that pendant… I was so taken aback that I said no."
She fidgeted.
"I only played with that boy for a summer, but…" she continued, "Well, I was a shy child, and he brought me out of my shell. He was so kind to me, and he took me on all kinds of amazing adventures…"
I swallowed, my fingers involuntarily twitching about. I was so nervous; I felt a growing tightness in my chest.
"Now that I think about it… I guess you could say…" she smiled, "...He was my first love… in a way…"
It was like my heart was about to explode.
"So… that's why I was so shocked to see that pendant again," she said, "I thought 'What if the boy was actually Ichijou-kun?!'... and all."
'Oh… so that's why she said that...'
"Even if it was ten years ago, and you were just kids…"
"It might still be important to her!"
She clutched a fist around it.
"No… that's not what it was…" she fidgeted, "It was more like…I..."
"I really hope… that you're him… Ichijou-kun…"
...
'What…?'
Onodera…
What does that mean?
…
…
...It happened again.
The world froze. Colors bled dry, leaving everything a stale black and white, the only things left untouched myself and her. The wind blew through our clothes, and that lock of hair she had fluttered in the breeze.
I recognized it now. It was the same thing that happened at the cafe.
And while there weren't any memories to be shown… no voices in my head…
I think… I know what to do.
…
...
"Onodera…" I started, "...How about we test it?"
She blinked, "What? How would we…?"
I held up the pendant, pointing the lock to her.
She blinked, and looked down at her key hesitantly…
…
...
"If your key fits in my lock then…"
I trailed off. We both knew what I meant.
…
...
She nodded wordlessly, and stepped forward.
This was it. If the key fit, then…
…
…
I could feel my heart beating in my chest… and I could feel the heart in hers. As the blade entered the lock, I felt our hearts sync. The sensation of my flowing blood intensified, and a warm feeling washing over me.
(*CLICK*)
And that was it. The key was in the lock. The milk was on the table. The words were written.
Now all that was left was to turn the page.
…
…
…
(*BRRRRING!*)
…
…
…
"Crap, that's my phone…" I grumbled, pulling it out of my pocket.
"O-Oh… alright…"
She removed her key from the pendant.
(*B-pp*)
"Hello?"
"Hey, Raku. You still down there with Kosaki?"
I groaned internally. Some timing he has…
"Yeah, I am. What's up?"
"Well, the roof. And the party starts in half an hour, so get ready to raise it."
"Ha. ha," I muttered, "We'll be there in a bit."
"Great. 'Til then."
(*B-pp*)
"...Who was it?" she asked, expectantly.
"Naruto…" I sighed, "He says the party starts soon, so we should get going."
"A-Ah! Is it that time already!?" she checked her watch, "We should get going now, if we want to catch the next train!"
"Y-Yeah!" I grinned nervously, "Right."
She turned and hurried up the alley, back the way we came.
I felt my smile fade, as she grew farther and farther.
"...Right…"
And we left the secret place behind.
BeeHive HQ
Naruto and Tsugumi's Quarters
6:34 P.M.
(Naruto)
I set my cell on the dresser, next to the bag of tarts.
'Great. That's taken care of.'
I unzipped my jacket, tossing it on the bed, before taking off my shirt and doing the same. I slid the new one over my chest, leaving the necklace underneath.
I stared at the Cafe bag on the nightstand.
…
…
...There were two tarts left.
"You're not gonna' try and keep going after her, are you? I mean, if she's with this other guy, and she's happy…"
…
…
I stuck my hand in the bag. I'll just scarf 'em down and be done with it.
"You need to give up on her. That's all I'm saying."
…
…
They leave a bitter taste in your mouth, don't they?
Bonyari City
Streets
BeeHive Mansion
6:58 P.M.
(Raku)
"Wow… so this is Chitoge's place?"
I gulped. It was certainly more extravagant than I expected.
A grand bronze gate was framed with two granite statues of angels, trumpets to their lips. The pathway was an interlocking brick, contrasting sharply with the plain gray of the sidewalk. Even the buildings themselves were reminiscent of a European castle.
"It sure is huge…" Onodera mumbled.
"Seriously…" Miyamoto muttered, "First that bento, now this… Just what do her parents do for a living?"
"What should I do…?" she murmured, "I didn't bring anything particularly impressive…"
"Not to worry," Tsugumi reassured her, "The Mistress isn't the kind of person to measure a person based on the price of their gifts."
The girl looked up with her usual blank expression, "Why the smug look?"
"By the way…"
Tsugumi turned her head.
"...Who invited you?"
Shuu laughed, "Come now, Seishirou-chan! Where's your sense of hospitality?"
"Leave."
The blond laughed it off, as the gate opened.
!
…
…
"...What are you all doing here?" Chitoge asked, nervously.
"Oh, Chitoge!" Onodera waved, "Happy Birthday!"
…
…
"...What?"
"As it is your birthday," Tsugumi explained, "I've taken the liberty of secretly inviting everyone to the celebration gala."
I sweatdropped.
"Why so formal?" I muttered, "...AWP!"
"C-Come here for a moment, darling!"
"Gakk! Hey!" I tried to yank my collar away from her gorilla grip, "No tugging!"
She let me go once we were out of earshot.
As soon as she did so, she curled into a little ball on the ground.
"...What should I do!?" she asked, panicked, "I haven't told any of them about my family yet…"
I frowned, "Wait, what? You're still bothered by that?"
She glared, "O-Of course I am! It was the entire reason I couldn't make friends back in America and England, remember?"
I blinked.
"Hm."
I turned to them.
"Hey, everyone!" I called, "Chitoge's family is actually…"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
"Oh!" Onodera had a fist in her palm, in a kind of 'Aha!' motion, "Just like I thought! You're a total rich girl!"
"H-Huh?"
The two girls walked over to where she was.
"You're kind of like Ichijou-kun that way, aren't you?" she laughed, "That's amazing!"
The girl was speechless. Nobody'd ever reacted that way before, hm?
I sighed. Well, Onodera was a special girl.
"Hm? What's wrong?" she asked.
I felt the strange compulsion to tilt my head over my shoulder very uncomfortably for the sake of a company's running joke.
"See?" I said, my voice strained by my vocal chords' odd position, "Nothing to worry about."
She frowned.
"...The hell are you doing?"
I shrugged, rolling my neck to get the feeling back into it.
BeeHive HQ
Common
7:01 P.M.
(Raku)
(*K-POW*)
(*KP-KP-KPOW*)
(*BANG BANG*)
The sound of hundreds of party poppers and a few pistols filled the room as we opened the door to…
"HAPPEEI BASUDEI OJOUUUUUUUUUU!"
"OHTAHNJOEBEE OHMEHDEHTOE GOZAEMASUUU!"
Cheers and shouts of "Happy Birthday", be they in Japanese, English, or a bastardized mix of the two drowned our ears in an unrelenting barrage of noise.
And streamers. The shit was everywhere.
"Sweet sixteen!" one cried, "Hot damn! Can ya' believe it?!"
"Duude!" came a stereotypical California surfer dialect, "These surprise parties get fresher every year!"
Chitoge looked on with a deadpan, clearly used to this, as Onodera looked on in wonder, Shuu and Miyamoto with their usual expressions, as I tried to get the confetti out of my hair.
"Woww, looka' this!" a man with spiky red hair walked up, "Some friends from school, eh?"
A burly bald man with a scar running across his temple grunted, "Welcome to our home."
Onodera bowed quickly to them.
"Th-Thank you for having us!" she said. Ruri gave her a pat on the back to let her know her behavior was odd.
"Welcome… welcome…"
I groaned. Great. This guy.
"How delightful…" Claude said, "We're honored to be graced with the presence of the Mistress' Classmates. Please, make yourself at home."
"O-Oh!" Onodera bowed again, "Th-Thank you for having us!"
He caught sight of me, and I saw his mood do a complete 180.
"What's this? Oh me! Oh my!" I leaned back as he tried to get all up in my face, "If it isn't the young scion of the Ichijou household!"
"Oh dear!" he turned his nose up at me, in mock(?) disgust, "I'm sure you've prepared a magnificent birthday gift for Ojou! I'm afraid my humble gift will— OOF!"
He hunched over, holding his gut. Naruto had appeared, elbowing the man into silence.
"That's enough out of you…" the blond grumbled, "I thought we agreed that I'd handle greeting our guests, Claude."
"...Hmph. Very well."
The man stood straight and attempted to mask his pain. His face betrayed his words.
"...I have more… important manners to attend to…" he said, pushing up his glasses, "I will return later to see how the party is going."
"Roger that."
The Uzumaki gave a mock salute as the man shuffled away.
...
He turned to us.
"Hey guys!" he grinned, "Welcome!"
Onodera bowed.
"Thank you for— Ita!"
Miyamoto had karate chopped her friend across the neck.
"One time is awkward enough, two is plain condescension…" she muttered, "Three is pushing the limit."
"R-Ruri-chaaan!"
The party was a blast… that's for sure.
After a round of gift giving (with some death threats here and there), a full on banquet of food (supposedly prepared by Tsugumi herself), and some… odd choices for party games (for which I blame Naruto), I found myself lost, looking for Chitoge.
"Hey, Tsugumi!" I called, finding her in the crowd.
"Ah, Ichijou Raku," she nodded, "What is it? We were about to start Gift Giving, Round Two!"
I almost facefaulted, "There's a 'Round Two'?"
"Oh, yes," she nodded, and blinked, "And that reminds me…"
"Suzuya-kun!" she called.
I blinked. Wasn't expecting that at all.
"Yeah?" the boy walked over.
"Can you go over to my room and grab the remote on my nightstand by the door?" she asked, "I have to go find Claude, and he's on the other side of the mansion."
"Ah, alright," he agreed, "I'll be back in a few minutes, Tsugumi-san!"
And he jogged off.
I frowned, "Does he know where he's going? I mean, having him walk around a place like this unsupervised…"
She shrugged, "He'll be fine; he knows where to go. If he's at the Isolation Room, he should take a right, and if he reaches the elevator, he's gone too far."
I blinked.
"You have an isolation chamber?" I asked, incredulously, "Wait, fuck that— You told Suzuya you have an isolation chamber?"
She shrugged again.
"He only knows it as 'the room with metal walls'," she said, "Nothing to be worried about."
She turned to me, "What did you need?"
"Oh, that's right," I remembered, "Have you seen Honey anywhere? I assumed she was at the buffet line with Miyamoto, or the dessert line with Onodera, but she's nowhere to be found…"
"Last I saw her, she was out on the balcony," Tsugumi offered, "She said she was getting some air."
I frowned.
"She was jumping?"
The woman half-glared.
"Hehe… Just a joke," I held up my hands, "Thanks for the info. I'll see you later, Tsugumi!"
And I set out for the balcony.
BeeHive HQ
Balcony
8:34 P.M.
(Raku)
"Hey Chitoge," I called casually, as I walked out into the air.
She started a bit, before realizing who it was.
"Oh… it's you," she muttered, sounding almost disappointed.
I joined her, resting my elbow on the railing.
…
…
…
"How many languages do you know, Raku?"
I blinked, "What?"
"It's a simple question," she said, "You know Japanese, clearly. Your English seems a bit lacking, and you don't seem to know any others."
I frowned, "Well, with Japanese being the way it is, we have a lot of loanwords from other languages, right? So does that count?"
She seemed to ponder this.
"Depends really…" she murmured, "Can you make full sentences, or phrases? Maybe a famous quote or something?"
I frowned again, "Well… not off the top of my head. Why? Where is this all coming from?"
…
…
She sighed, and turned to me.
"The other day…" she trailed off, "...I found something interesting in my diary…"
She looked into my eyes.
"Do the words 'Zawse In Love' mean anything to you?"
BeeHive HQ
Halls
8:32 P.M.
(Suzuya)
Hmm, let's see… here's the metal room, so it shouldn't be long from here…
Ah, there it was.
The door was already open, just like it was earlier. I walked in and picked up the remote off the nightstand, like she said, pocketing it.
"...Oh?"
In the corner of my eye, I saw a bag from Tsugumi's favorite cafe. That wasn't there before.
I walked over and opened it.
"Aw, man…" I grumbled, "There's only one left…"
Regardless, I popped it in my mouth and set out.
Ah… phrasing. I love it.
…
…
...That… wasn't our Title Drop earlier. That comes later, when I tell you why I started writing this fic in the first place. Something I'll probably do around the end of the Winter Arc, or maybe the end of the story altogether.
Anyway…
Suzuya won't be around for too long. Also, if the relationship seems unrealistic in its pacing, remember that this is their first relationship for both of them, and that Tsugumi's training under Claude has left her somewhat socially inept. Partly the reason she's in one to begin with.
Don't bail out on me just yet. This fic is still listed as a Naruto/Tsugumi.
And that'll never change.
