The Promise

Colline was strolling with Mito near the park when they saw Kogure walking down the street. Colline was delighted. She called him and waved her hand to him. Kogure looked and smiled and came near to them. Mito wasn't wearing a smile that time.

"Vice cap, where are you going?" Colline asked Kogure gladly.

"Ah, nothing. I was just walking around." Kogure answered her.

"Why don't you go with us?"

Mito quickly looked at Colline but she was facing Kogure.

"Ah…" Kogure was still thinking.

"C'mon." Colline insisted.

"Okay."

Kogure went with them.

They were having fun talking with each other when they saw Colline's cousin and friends. They were playing basketball in the court nearby. Phil saw them and asked them if they wanted to join. Colline was so excited because she wanted to play. But she couldn't join them right away because she's still with Mito and Kogure.

"Ah… ah… wanna play?" Colline asked Mito and Kogure. But she's acting like she already wanted to go to the court.

"Go ahead. You can play." Mito answered Colline.

"You sure? How 'bout you vice cap?"

"No. Go ahead Colline. Kogure and I are still going to talk about something." Mito told her. Kogure quickly looked at Mito.

"Are you sure it's alright?" Colline asked them nicely.

"Yah it's alright. I know you want to play." Mito told her.

"Okay. You sure you're okay there? Thanks. I'll just play for a while." Colline happily turned to her friends to play basketball, while Mito and Kogure were left there watching Colline play.

"What is it that we're going to talk about? Is there really something?" Kogure asked Mito curiously.

"You know that I'm courting Colline?" Mito asked him. But he's facing Colline's direction while Kogure's looking at him. Kogure lowered his head and then he answered.

"Yah, I know."

"So you know that I like her?"

"Yah, of course."

"But I also know that you like her too."

Kogure quickly looked at Mito. Mito slowly turned his head to Kogure. After that, Kogure slowly lowered his head.

"Ha? What are you saying?" Kogure denied.

"C'mon Kogure, I know it. You like her. I can see it in your eyes. The way you look at her. The way you smile when she smiles at you. It's obvious to me."

There was silence for a while.

"Does she know?" Kogure broke the silence. Mito lowered his head and then answered him.

"I don't know. But I don't think so."

Kogure looked at Mito again.

"I think she still doesn't know. Because according to what her cousin told me, she would never know unless you tell her… you're not planning to court her?"

Mito looked at Kogure as he asked him that. Kogure looked down, and so did Mito.

"No. Why would I do that?"

"You sure?"

"Yes, of course. It's not a big deal. I just like Colline because she's a nice girl."

"Are you sure it's not a big deal?"

"Yes. And besides, she's three years younger than me."

Mito didn't reply right away.

"Liar."

Kogure quickly turned his head to Mito.

"I know you like her very much. But you just don't have the guts to give it a try."

Kogure's eyes got rounder when he heard Mito.

"But do you really have no plans of courting her?" Mito asked him.

"Ah… ah… yah. No. Of course." Kogure slowly answered him. But in his mind he's still thinking.

"Good. Will you promise that?" Mito asked him. Kogure became confused.

"Ha?"

"C'mon promise me, if you're not really going to court her, as you have said. If it's the truth." Mito looked at him mischievously.

"Ah… ah…" Kogure stuttered.

"You can't?"

"No, no. Of course, I promise." Kogure looked down as he answered Mito. But deep inside he's thinking really hard.

"Thanks man."

99-99-99-99-99-

Kogure was walking home. He's thinking of something really hard.

Why did I do that? Why did I make that promise to Mito? Won't I really court her? No, I already promised him. And I really can't. But why? Is it true that I just don't have the guts? Aah! Why am I confusing myself? What's happening to me? Is it really not a big deal to me? I don't know. Why did I make that stupid promise to Mito? But wait, why did he want me to make that promise to him? What is he afraid of? Is there something? Oh no, I don't know anymore.

99-99-99-99-99-

Hey, this is the second to the last chapter. Wait for the last to know the ending. $;p

Nopickup