Chapter 3

Yup, still the same flashback, this is gonna take awhile...

For the past 6 years, Nozomi continued to visit Eli each year. Each year, their bond began to deepen and expand. At this point of time, Nozomi is already a middle school student.

Nozomi hopped along the path on the way to the shrine. She couldn't contain her happiness and excitement since she was going to tell Eli all about her middle school experience. Today, Nozomi is wearing her brand new school uniform. (I'm pretty sure you know what an average Japanese school girl's uniform looks by now). She hummed a soft tune as she finally reached the shrine. Then she stopped…... Eli was no where to be seen. Nozomi just stood there..."Don't tell me she forgot about me already..." Nozomi thought to herself. Just as she was about to approach the steps of the shrine, Eli literally popped out of nowhere and scared Nozomi half to death. "Boo." Eli said as she popped out from her hiding spot. (She was actually just hiding behind a tree). "Elichi! What on holy earth do you think you're doing?!" Nozomi said as she fell backwards onto the ground from pure shock. Eli stood above her and grinned. "Well that's simple..….I was scaring you right?" Eli said as she flashed a grin again. Ever since Nozomi complained about Eli always wearing her mask 24/7, Eli almost rarely wears her mask anymore. "When has Elichi become this mean?" Nozomi said as she also puffed out her cheeks. "Aww...I'm sorry...Did I hurt the big baby?" Eli said in a teasing tone. Nozomi just looked at Eli with a WTF look on her face. Eli just burst out laughing at the sight. "Haha I'm sorry….What would you like to do today?" Eli said with a bright smile on her face. Nozomi got up and said, "I wanna fly a kite today. I already brought all the materials to make one." Nozomi then proceeded to take them out. Eli had a confused look on her face as if Nozomi was speaking in a different language. Nozomi noticed her confused look and quickly realized something. "Oh my god, you don't even know what a kite is do you?" Nozomi said with one of the most idiot grins you could imagine. Eli just shook her head. Nozomi smiled to herself. "Ara ara~ Then I have no choice but to teach you then mmm?" Nozomi said in a teasing tone. I'm pretty sure Eli was thinking something very….wrong...at the time but for some reason a blush spread across her face. "Well then...Let's go shall we?" Nozomi said as she ran straight into the forest. "WAIT NOZOMI YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING!" Eli screamed out as she ran after Nozomi.

"So...How is your new school?" Eli asked once they were walking at a normal pace. "It's pretty awesome! I have lots of new friends now and the teachers there are SUPER nice!" Nozomi replied back. "I don't hope because of these "New Friends" that you suddenly stop visiting me." Eli said with a pout. "Yeah...That's not happening. Although...Maybe you would like to meet them?" Nozomi asked. "Mhm yeah whatever." Eli said back. "Don't you dare just go "whatever". You know you want to meet them so don't go around acting like that!" Nozomi said. "Okay fine...I would love to meet your new friends." Eli said with the most charming smile you could think of. At the sight of this, Nozomi's heart skipped a beat maybe two? Ahh...crap….I think I accidentally fell in love with Elichi.. Nozomi thought to herself. Once Nozomi got the thought out of her head, she asked, "Then is it okay if I bring them here with me next summer?" "Yeah that's fine" Eli replied. "Should we go to the beach then next year with them? I would love to see Eli in a bikini..." Nozomi asked as she drooled at the sight of Eli wearing a bikini. "H-hey! Cut that out Nozomi!" Eli said as she covered herself. Nozomi just grinned at her. "Ahh! Elichi! Look! We're here!" Nozomi said, as she pointed to the clearing that they've just recently arrived at. Once they settled down their things, Nozomi took out the materials they needed for the kite and sat on the grass, starting to make it. "Hey Elichi? What's your favorite color?" Nozomi asked out of the blue while Eli was lying down on the grass. "Hmm...I guess my favorite color is light blue….." Eli responded as she continued looking up at the clouds. "Well that's great! Why don't we make the kite's color light blue with a bit of purple? My favorite color is purple! Don't you think it'll look cute if we combine our favorite colors together in one kite?" Nozomi said with a smile on her face. Once Eli nodded back at her, symbolizing that she thought the idea was pretty neat, Nozomi immediately got to work.

About a 10 minute time skip~

"Elichi look! I finished!" Nozomi said as she picked up her creation and showed it to Eli. "Huh...so that's what a kite is….How do we use it anyways?" Eli responded as she sat in an upright position. "Well….You kinda just...Fly it..." Nozomi said as she looked at the blue sky. "Well, let's get to flying that kite then!" Eli said with excitement in her voice. Nozomi then held up the kite. She let it go and the kite almost immediately got caught up in the wind. "Look! Elichi! That's how it flies!" Nozomi said, with a proud look on her face. Nozomi then handed the kite's handle over to Eli. "Don't you want to try?" Nozomi said with excitement. Eli was hesitant at first. But then she took the handle and flew the kite. Eli was...Astonished at how the kite was so free….Flying where it wanted….Back and forth, back and forth the kite went. Eli and Nozomi were caught up in the moment. They enjoyed this feeling of freedom. Also enjoying each other's company. "Isn't flying a kite great?" Nozomi asked as she noticed how astonished Eli was. Eli just smiled back. She was too caught up in the moment to talk. She enjoyed every moment passing by with Nozomi. Eli always wondered why she didn't think of interacting with humans until now. She then regret all those moments in the forest in which she spent alone in. They then chatted for a bit until it was time for Nozomi to go. Truth be told, Eli was always sad to see Nozomi go. Even though knowing that she'll come back the next day. I guess that's how much she treasured Nozomi. No matter how much it hurts, it always gets healed just remembering Nozomi's smile. Ahh….The days sure go by quickly eh? Eli always tried to avoid thinking about the day until she had to see Nozomi go forever….She hated thinking who would be the first to go..Herself or Nozomi? It was already a risk just hanging around Nozomi. And still...Why does she do it still? All these unanswered questions. Eli just had to wait for the future for them to be answered.

Ahh...I'm sorry I didn't post a new chapter in a long time~ I really am sorry! School's got me messed up. Seriously? What the hell is up with all those projects? And I'm always either the group leader or in-charge of the presentation. Ahh...Life sure is hard eh? I'll try my best to write these more quickly. Feel free if you have any questions about the story or just me in general! Author-san signing out!