Disclaimer: Not mine.

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Naru did not need to turn to know that he had sighed and leaned against the railing. "So, I guess Mutsumi remembered a promise from her childhood in Hinata Inn…"

Looking away, she felt her heart tighten as she felt his sorrow. Mutsumi remembered something he so badly wanted to know, and yet she was so cruel as ran away as Keitaro tried to find out exactly what she remembered. She knew it; everyone knew that Keitaro would do anything to know who his promise girl was. Perhaps she wanted to see him grovel at her feet, begging her to tell? Perhaps she or Mutsumi herself was his promise girl? No one would ever know unless Mutsumi decide to speak up. Mutsumi was an enigma. Each time a person felt that he had Mutsumi figured out, she would always do something so off that a person would have to drastically change their perceptions each and every time. As it was, one thing was certain. Mutsumi would not be easy to pry open.

Somehow, she had a feeling that she was at the centre of all these. But her rising anger at Mutsumi for causing Keitaro so much pain was eroding her logic, so she could not be sure. Since she could not think clearly, she just decided to agree with Keitaro.

"Seems that way…"

She felt Keitaro fall deep into his own thoughts. He face kept getting ever more crestfallen. Deciding to wake him up before he sank further his depressing thoughts, Naru smacked him upside the head.

"Why are you looking so troubled? You should be happy!"

She knew Keitaro would be incredulous, even if he would not openly show it. After all, how could he be happy when he was kept in the dark over something he had searched for his entire life? It was so close, yet so far! She had to change the subject somehow, so she decided to talk about the one and only common topic between them: the upcoming Tokyo University entrance exams.

"Don't dwell on such distractions. You are barely going to make it even with your mind totally focused on the exams. Lose that focus now, and you will fail where you could have passed, I'm sure you would not want that, would you?"

This statement finally got a respond out of him, even thought it was just a stuttering of her name. "Na… Narusegawa?"

She simply continued. "Let us keep our priorities in order. Once we have finished the exams, you can tell Mutsumi everything. Then the two of you can finally be together! But meanwhile, the most important thing is for us to get into Tokyo University!"

Her tone softened as she remembered something very important to her. "You promised me, remember?"

She saw Keitaro visibly tense before he looked up. "N-Naru?" As she gazed into his warm brown eyes, so similar yet so unlike her own, she felt a strange new feeling spread all throughout her. She felt weak, and she suddenly got a very strong urge to just fall over and collapse into his arms. To hug him, to touch him, feel his warmth. But she held her resolve. She would not look weak in front of a pervert like… like him. She was just sticking with him because of the Tokyo University promise. Which promise? She secretly asked herself.

Unable to handle this new rush of unknown emotions, Naru once again decided to change the topic of discussion. This time to something much less definite.

She snapped her head around to look at him before saying, "Keitaro… we'll… we'll always be the best of friends even after Tokyo University, right?

The look in his eyes changed. Even though his face was still held his usual clueless look, Naru knew that he was probably very upset. She wasn't blind; she knew of his love for her. But she was unable to say the same for herself. The strange feeling a moment before had rattled her somewhat, she wasn't able to say that she loved him… yet. Perhaps time will tell. But she could feel something weird… she just wanted to hold him close, and yet at the same time she wanted to push him away. What was this strange mix of opposing emotions? Why was this happening within her? For the second time that day, she was unable to comprehend her emotions, so she changed the subject yet again.

Using a slightly sarcastic tone this time, Naru said, "But it seems like such a waste for Mutsumi to be stuck with you! There are not enough people with her personality around! Although I do admire your resolve to fulfill promise made when you were only a little kid… not bad, not bad at all!" For some reason, it hurt her to say it. It was as though she did not want to say those words at all. The strange emotions acted up again, causing another internal conflict within her. Not wanting to take any more of this conflict, Naru decided to get away.

As she walked away, she said, "I guess you can cross that bridge when you get there…"

"Wait, Narusegawa!"

She heard Keitaro yell, and she wanted to stop. But she could not. She merely continued walking away. However, with uncharacteristic courage, Keitaro sprung forward and caught her arm."

Naru's brain failed her at his touch, and she turned around. Leaning closer to him, She closed her eyes and waited for… something. What, she knew not. Keitaro never got to finish as she subconsciously removed his glasses.

The next thing she knew, her lips came into contact with Keitaro's. It was as though she was electrified. Her eyes stayed close, but she could feel that he was still, probably too shocked to do anything. She herself was shocked too, but she continued to follow her instinct by just… kissing him. She utilized her new emotions to fuel her, and she really did not know what she was doing. By the time she felt Keitaro start to stir, she had already broken the kiss and was looking down at her toes, surprisingly, not out of embarrassment.

Suddenly, she turned and ran. As she disappeared down the stairs, she called back.

"Bye Keitaro! Ten days to the exam, I'm sure you can do it!"

She knew Keitaro put his hand out after her. But she didn't stop. She just ran all the way back to her room.

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That's… it! Surprisingly tough.

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