Part Two: Seven Year Life

Chapter 11: Seven years more…

Orimoto Izumi, Minamoto Kouji, and Ichiyusai Asami had all became young, mature adults. They all had grown to their adult size, were very mature about the basis of life, but were not content. They were all separated from each other. They were all about nineteen years old, separated for seven years, excluding Asami and Kouji, who would see each other only once in awhile around campus. They both had dormitory campuses far away from each other and had completely different schedules, so that they wouldn't see each other practically at all. Asami was not attracted to him in any way, and neither was Kouji. Kouji disliked peppy people and cheerleaders, or people in cliques with people he loathed. Asami didn't like quiet, introverted people. But Asami thought it was sweet that Kouji had feelings for Izumi. Izumi studied at a fine university in Venice, Italy. She mainly kept to herself, usually, and didn't have time for friends, and always focused on her work. Her goal was to become a Psychologist in Children Behavior, and was aiming for her bachelor's degree. She chose this career because it reflected on herself, and her pathetic, depressing childhood. It made her content and happy to see young children not to grow up like her. Of course, it was not like her to not try to make friends while going to school. But, she knew she had some true friends in Jiyuugaoka, Japan. Besides, when she came back to Italy, the people saw her as Miyamoto did, so she didn't bother. And this time she didn't care, just like Kouji. Asami studied at Jiyuugaoka University of Japan. She studied in the field of Law and wanted to become an attorney. Ever since the experience with Izumi and Miyamoto, she was inspired in the way of helping others, even if their situation looked bleak, and if everyone hated them. Kouji also went to Jiyuugaoka University. He was studying in the Technology field, to become a Computer Technician. He only took up this career because his stepmother and father forced him to, saying it was for him own good, and that he would have a lot of money. Kouji really didn't care about the money. He wanted to become a doctor, or a career, which required saving people. As reflected from his past childhood experiences, it showed that he had a passion for saving people, even in life-or-death situations.

They all had grown into and became different, successful adults.

Meanwhile, back in Jiyuugaoka, a tall dark, mysterious, handsome figure was working in Jiyuugaoka Coffee shop. He was about almost twenty years old and needed to pay for college funds, while going to Jiyuugaoka University of Japan. He was really tired and wanted to go home. He had three papers due and a midterm the next day. He was Minamoto Kouji. Kouji had grown a considerable amount. He was about five feet and ten inches tall. His hair was not exactly the same, just longer. He still kept the same wardrobe, the indigo jacket, the yellow shirt, and the black pants, except they were longer and slightly baggier. The one thing that was missing was what complemented his whole outfit, his bandanna. His boss didn't like him wearing hats or headgear while working. He reached into his pocket and took out a familiar object. It was the fuchsia hat Izumi gave to him seven years ago. He held it in his hands reminiscently, thinking about that day in the snow in Iwate-san Mountains. And also thought that Izumi was the only real friend he had, counting Asami, but he didn't mind her. Orimoto Izumi was the only real friend Kouji made in seven years of being alone.

Meanwhile, in Venice, Italy, a medium sized girl was walking around the towne center. Her long blonde hair was down to her waist, and contained curly tips. She has a whitetop, a silver necklace, which was given to her by Asami, a ravishing long fuchsia trench coat, which reached all the way down past her knees, also with fuchsia nylon pants, complete with white sandals with one-inch heels. She seemed to look affluent and rich, but only because of the job movement her father did seven years ago. Inside her heart, she was lonely. The whole reason she hadn't made any friends in Venice was because of the same reason Miyamoto hated her. She didn't mind though, because she had two of the best friends she could ever have in Jiyuugaoka, Japan. It seemed hopeless that she could keep her promise to Kouji and Asami that she made on the day she left, but she kept determined that one day, she would see Minamoto Kouji and Ichiyusai Asami again. It was a windy day in Venice, and Izumi was walking around. The wind blew quite turbulently and her hair scattered and flew around, twisted and directionless. She waited for the wind to stop, then went into a nearby store, went into the restroom, and fixed her hair. She opened her purse and took out a brush. She fixed and rearranged her hair into its normal state. While she was fixing her hair, she remember back when she had her favorite fuchsia hat, her hair wouldn't mess up. She also thought of that day she gave it to the only other friend she had, Minamoto Kouji. And she missed him. She dismissed herself from the bathroom and looked around to see what the store had to offer. She also gazed at some merchandise, but didn't by anything they had to offer. She left and walked from the towne center and went home to her father's place. She got there in five minutes, opened the door, and sighed like everything was hopeless. She hung her coat on the rack, took her sandals off, and said hello to her father and went upstairs. She went in her room and lied on her bed. She rolled to the side, and looked at the picture on her wall, which had been hanging there for the past seven years. It was the class picture at Iwate-san Mountains. Izumi gazed at it, like always, like she had never seen it before. She was smiling brightly in the picture, Kouji smirking, and Asami with Izumi, also smiling happily. Izumi smiled while observing the picture frame, but was smiling sadly. She missed Kouji a lot but not as much for Asami. It seemed like the two of them have forgotten her.

Back in Jiyuugaoka, Asami was in her dormitory, sitting on her bed, fidgeting with her bed sheets and holding her pillow. She was lonely. Being an attorney was a fulfilling career to her, but she felt she was missing something. A friend. One that she could trust and could be sure that she would never tell anyone her deepest, dark secrets. But she didn't have one, well she used to. Her name was Ryusaki Miyamoto. After Miyamoto had gotten expelled, she never talked to Asami ever again. Izumi could have been considered a friend to Asami but she was never given the chance to get to know her better. She stared at the wall next to her bed. It also was the class fieldtrip picture. Asami began getting a bed reputation after getting Miyamoto in trouble, so she didn't havemany close friends or much of anything. She basically did the same routine everyday. Get up, get ready for class, go to class, eat, go back to her dormitory, and study for long hours, studying different kinds of cases and terms based on law, then go to bed. She was pretty tiresome of it, but it was all she had. She thought of the heirloom she gave to Izumi and prayed she didn't lose it. She regretted giving a family heirloom to somewhat of a stranger. She was pretty lonely, but it wouldn't bother her as long as she knew she was successful.

Meanwhile, Kouji was very stressed out. He had finally finished his shift at work, but was pissed. A child had thrown a cup of hot coffee in his face, messing up his hair and making it sticky. He had to clean up, then hung his apron, remembering to take out Izumi's hat from it. He walked to his blue car, and his key out. The wind blew softly into his hair, making his head cold. The wind blew into the direction of his old middle school, Jiyuugaoka Middle School. He stared at it, took the key out the keyhole, stuffed his key in his pockets, and walked away to his middle school. As he walked down the sidewalk, some people looked at him, because his head looked and smelled like someone poured coffee on him. He didn't care and kept walking till he got to his old middle school. He stood there, in front of it, like he had never seen it before. As the wind blew, he began to reminisce of back when he was still there. He stared at the cherry blossom tree in front of the school. There was a marble bench under it. He remembered how Izumi would always sit there, daydreaming alone. He saw the tree on the left side, where there was a red bench. He remembered how Miyamoto and her group, including Asami who didn't talk very much to them, would pompously sit there, talking or criticizing people for no reason. He looked at that one wall near the school entrance door that he always remembered. It was a wall in the corner, and he would always stand there, either hands crossed or in pockets, waiting for "useless" nutrition break to end. He blinked, and went away, back to his car. He started the engine, and drove into the night, back to his dormitory.