ちびまる子ちゃん / 大まる
Chibi Maruko - Chan / Maruko x Ono
"For Tomorrow May Rain" © Ro-Kat
English Text
A Fanfiction
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CHAPTER 3: "For No One"
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Sugiyama couldn't help but frown when he saw his best friend acting so differently from the Ono he'd known all his life. Ono was stiff, his entire body tense, and his cheeks were undeniably flushed. Same goes with Maruko who was just as speechless as she noticed Ono standing not so far away from her. Sugiyama then locked eyes with Tamae, Maruko's best friend, who shared the same expression as himself. He noticed Tamae was also perplexed, and she realized something had happened between Maruko and Ono.
Could this be?
Could this be what has been causing Ono to act strangely since yesterday?
What exactly is going on?
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Ono took a deep breath and opened his mouth, as if wanting to start a conversation in the midst of the silence that had robbed him of his senses. "How are you–Saku–"
"How are you doing, Sakura? It's been a long time since I've seen you. Are you well, Baby?" Hanawa asked, simply joining in the silent roar. Sugiyama, Ono and Tamae who were all stunned, could only glance and see Hanawa in a confused look.
"Oh?-" Maruko was awakened from her trance, "Ah yes, Hanawa-kun, long time no see. I'm in good health and well. How about you and Grandpa-Hide?"
"I'm fine, and–"
"HE'S FINE, SAKURA. DON'T TRY TO ASK MY DEAR HANAWA!" Migiwa hits loudly but refuses to accept it as she hugged Hanawa's arm tightly.
Hanawa, who was in all in awkward position could only groan, "Ba–Baby–Stop–"
Maruko and her friends who witnessed the two of them could only chuckled wryly.
"Ugh, Sakura," Hamaji grumbled, "You're already here in class, we were just about to ask you to bring a soccer ball from the multimedia room. Fine then, let us just get the ball, Ono, Sugiyama."
"Huh?" Sugiyama blurted out, seemingly on purpose, "... wait, now?"
"Yeah, now, buu… When do you think we will play soccer if it isn't now? It's going to be late and it's about to rain, see? The sky is already cloudy." Buutaro replied as he pointed to the classroom window. There were indeed already gray clouds in the sky.
"But," Sugiyama folded his arms, glancing at Ono, "Ono hasn't had time to talk to all of the friends here yet."
Ono narrowed his eyes and wrinkled his brow in surprise as he looked at Sugiyama.
"Hmm… you're right." Hamaji had no choice but to agree. "Do you still want to talk to your friends here, Ono?"
"Oh?- it's okay, Sugiyama, we can still talk whenever, I'll come again tomorrow." Ono said to Sugiyama as he had been staring at him nonstop. "Come on guys, let's stick to our original plan and play soccer."
"Then you should come here every day, buu!." suggested Buutaro, "Our school is pretty close to each other, anyway!"
Hamaji immediately put his arm around Ono and Hanawa's shoulders, "Yeah that's right, and of course Ono will happily come visit everyday and invite this one–special–friend with him, isn't that right? Ha Na Wa-kun ~?" he teased.
"E–Eh? What does that even mean, Hamaji-kun?" asked Hanawa, he had been too focused on calming Migiwa who was aggressively hugging him.
Migiwa immediately barged in, "SURELY HANAWA-KUN AGREES TO COME HERE EVERYDAY, RIGHT, HAWANA-KUN?"
"Gosh… this is just like primary school again, isn't it?" thought everyone who witnessed this "strange" incident which they had not seen for a long time.
Seeing that, Sugiyama felt compelled to take on the role of dispersing and summoned everyone to the school soccer field immediately, "Alright then, now let's–"
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"ONO-KUN?"
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"Sheesh, what now?" asked Sugiyama, glazing lazily in the direction of the voice from the classroom's back door. A familiar figure just yelled loudly. Sure enough, she was, indeed, Misuzu Fuyuta.
"ONO-KUN? THAT'S ONO-KUN RIGHT?" exclaimed Fuyuta, who has been a big fan of his since the 3rd Grade. Just like Migiwa, she dashed to Ono and ignored everyone who looked at her strangely.
"H–Hello, Fuyuta-san." said Ono, he just couldn't wrap his mind that Fuyuta still, in fact, liked him. "Long time no see,"
"This isn't a dream is it? I'm not dreaming right, Sakura? Ono-kun–Ono-kun is now right in front of me–" Fuyuta tried to calm herself as she was pounding hard. Her face flushed so much that it started to get hot.
"Fu–Fuyuta-san, calm down." Maruko whispered while also trying to calm her down.
"Ono-kun… finally… I can meet you again–I'm so happy–" and she was shaken, she fainted in front of all of her friends, and everyone screamed, calling her name.
"FUYUTA-SAN!?"
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That afternoon, Maruko, Tamae, Kayo, Hamaji, Buutaro, Ono, Sugiyama, alongside Hanawa and Migiwa, the 9 of them, fathered in the school clinic to accompany Fuyuta who was lying limp on the bed. The weakened Fuyuta apparently hadn't woken up from her stupor at all. It seems that Ono's sudden presence was able to break her consciousness.
"Gosh… this is so troublesome." Hamaji complained.
"Hamaji, don't be like that! Fuyuta is also our friend!" scolded Tamae, while placing a compress cloth on Fuyuta's head.
Even Buutaro couldn't hold back his annoyance, "We should be able to play soccer now, but instead we're here waiting for Fuyuta-san. Let's go home, Buu… it's going to rain soon."
"We'll be back when Fuyuta-san wakes up!" said Kayo, being as annoyed as Tamae.
Maruko walked slowly, taking a basin from the small table beside Fuyuta's bed.
"Let me get the cold water again, Tama-chan." whispered Maruko to Tame, who was still busy taking care of Fuyuta. Tamae nodded slowly. Maruko then walked towards the entrance of the school clinic door, passing several friends who were also standing around Fuyuta. She deliberately didn't look at Ono who-she knew- had been watching her.
"Sakura," he called suddenly. His tone is cold and firm, but is hesitant to be one.
Maruko abruptly stopped walking.
Sugiyama, who had also been learning against the wall, immediately cast a sharp glance at Ono and Maruko. Ono got up from the wall and moved closer to Maruko. "... let me help you out," he added.
Maruko, also stiffened, could only nod in agreement, and the two of them walked out the clinic room together.
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"Ooh… so you're attending Shizuoka Gakuen private school now?" Maruko asked while wringing out a cloth at the school's water source not far from the clinic room.
Ono softly nodded his head, standing leaning against the wall next to Maruko, while folding his arms. He observed Maruko's busy hands fetching water.
"Must be nice, if that's the case. Our schools are closer now." she said, this time with a friendly, sincere smile.
Ono responded with a faint smile to her words.
"..."
"..."
Both of them fell silent.
30 seconds felt so long for them, especially for Ono alone. Neither of them wanted to bring up a topic of conversation. Ono felt "choked" by the atmosphere, and he immediately spoke up.
"Sakura–"
"Hm?" Maruko responded briefly while still collecting water into the basin.
"How are you?"
Maruko didn't immediately respond. She wasn't locked with Ono's eyes either. She just remained silent and busy ringling the cloth, which only made Ono feeling more anxious.
"I mean–" with a slight hesitation, he continued, "Are you–"
"I'm fine, hehe…" Maruko finally turned her body, positioning herself in front of Ono. She looked at him sharply yet remained calm, "I hope you are too."
She smiled. But not Ono.
Ono furrowed his brows, as if he understood that it wasn't the smile he was hoping for.
Ono opened his mouth again, intending to continue the conversation that had stalled,
"Sakura–I…"
"Buuuu! Fuyuta's already awake, buu!" Buutaro called Ono and Maruko from the lobby, "Come on, hurry up so we can play soccer!"
"Yeah, just wait, I'll be there soon!" Maruko quickly walked away, leaving Ono still unfinished with these words. "Was she awake?" asked Maruko to Buutaro.
"She just woke up, come on Ono!" Buutaro called Ono, "... Hey, Ono?"
Ono could only watch Sakura's gradually retreating back and let out a soft sigh.
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At the school clinic's bed, Fuyuta slowly opened her eyes.
"Uh… where am I?" she asked, slowly scanning all of her friends that were standing around her.
"You're in the school clinic, Fuyuta-san." Tamae answered. "You fainted."
"What?"Fuyuta opened her eyes wide, "Why?"
"Because–"
"This is the cloth, Tama-chan," Maruko came over carrying a basin of water with a wet cloth. "Thank goodness you're awake, Fuyuta-san."
"-Are you awake, Fuyuta-san?" asked Ono, with an innocent expression, stood behind Maruko and greeted Fuyuta casually.
"Eh–EHH? O–ONO-KUN?"
"D–Don't faint again, Fuyuta-san!" Kayo quickly grabbed the wet cloth from the basin and placed it on Fuyuta's head. But it was too late, Fuyuta immediately rose from her bed and hugged her crush tightly.
"ONO-KUN, I'm so glad you came–!" she exclaimed, tears of joy in her eyes.
"A–Yes–nice to meet you too, Fuyuta-san." Ono said it while gently patting Fuyuta's back.
"I missed you so much, Ono-kun! What brought you here? Oh my goodness, it's been five years since I last saw you, and–HUHUHU…" Fuyuta couldn't hold back her tears.
"Fuyuta-san, calm down…" Migiwa whispered softly to Fuyuta, even though she herself was just as passionate when talking about her crush, Hanawa. Because of that, everyone that was present there couldn't help but laugh at this comical situation unfolding before them.
"Hahaha, come on Fuyuta. Just relax, buu." said Buutaro.
"Buutaro's right. Calm yourself." Migiwa added.
"Oh stop it, Migiwa. Don't pretend to be the calmest one here." Hamaji teased.
"AND WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?" Migiwa got angry at him immediately.
"Puh–hahahaha!" even Maruko joined in the laughter, chuckling softly and shaking her head of disbelief.
Seeing Maruko's infectious laughter, Ono smiled.
"Thank goodness, the atmosphere has become quite relaxed," he thought.
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The clock showed that it was already 5 pm in the evening, and the orange sky was gradually fading into dark purple, with clouds looming here and there. Fuyuta's friends finally decided to walk her back home.
"Thank you for accompanying me to my house, everyone… I am indebted to you all." said Fuyuta, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"Hey, it's alright Fuyuta-san, what matters most is that you're okay now." Kayo said.
"Rest well, Fuyuta-san." Maruko added.
"Thank you very much, you're all good friends. See you tomorrow, everyone." Fuyuta said as she opened the gate to her house. Her eyes then shyly met Ono's. "Uhm… see you tomorrow, Ono-kun."
"Yeah, get some rest, Fuyuta-san." said Ono with a relaxed smile.
Fuyuta giggled happily. It could easily be guessed that today was the best day of her life.
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After bidding farewell to Hanawa, who was picked up by his butler, Hide, in a car at the intersection, and also to Migiwa, who went to the opposite direction, Hamaji, Buutaro, Tamae, Kayo, Maruko, Ono and Sugiyama walked in the same direction back home.
Hamaji put both of his hands behind his head and complained, "I told you so, right? We rushed all this way, but still couldn't play soccer. It's all because of Fuyuta-san." he said sadly.
Tamae, with her anger, shouted again, "Hamaji!"
Hamaji nodded with a bit worried, "Okay… okay… she's our friend, you're right… damn, you're so strict, Honami."
"Haha…" Ono tried to lighten the mood, "I'll still be going to your school tomorrow, so we can play soccer together as you plan"
"Really?" Hamaji asked excitedly.
"In that case, let's have a 4-round match tomorrow, buu!" Buutaro explained, clenching his fist.
"Of course, why not? Haha." Ono replied with equal enthusiasm.
"Alright then, I can't wait for tomorrow! See you guys" Hamaji cheered. Buutaro followed Hamaji toward the intersection.
"I'm going this way too," Tamae said, joining Hamaji and Buutaro,. "See you all tomorrow, Maru-chan, Ono-kun, Kayo-chan, and Sugiyama-kuin. Bye~"
"Bye-bye, Tama-chan." said both Maruko and Kayo.
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"We're going that way," said Sugiyama, pointing in the opposite direction.
"Yes, see you tomorrow, Sugiyama-kun, Kayo-chan. Be careful on the way." Maruko said.
"Come on, Ono." urged Sugiyama to his best friend.
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But Ono didn't move. He remained standing in the middle of the intersection, both hands in his pockets, and gave Sugiyama a seemingly indifferent, relaxed look. And just like that, that look from Ono instantly made Sugiyama realize. They understood each other perfectly.
"... Hmph," Sugiyama chuckled. "Let's go, Kayo-chan. See you later, Ono."
"Eh?" Maruko and Kayo couldn't hide their confusion.
Ono returned Sugiyama's smile, and Sugiyama, along with Kayo walked away from both of them.
"Aren't you going that way with Sugiyama-kun and Kayo-chan? Isn't that road closer to your house?" Maruko asked. Ono didn't answer her question and chose to walk ahead towards the path leading to Maruko's house.
"Come?" he asked her, and invited her.
This time, it was Maruko who was left stunned, "Huh? W–wait!" she said.
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"Hahahaha!" Ono's laughter burst out, echoing almost along their way home, "Is that so?"
"Yes! You saw it for yourself, right? Maruo-kun and Yamada-kun immediately ran away as soon as they found out Fuyuta-san had fainted. They didn't want anything to do with it. Maruo-kun even wants to be student council president, for goodness sake, how can he be so indifferent to his own classmates?"
"Hahaha…" Ono chuckled, "Patience, Sakura."
"Hhhh… just because he's the class president, he can act however he wants? Besides, I wonder if Maruo-kun has some grudge against me. He always pairs me with Yamane-kun and Yamada-kun for the class duty schedule. Well, at least they're slightly more reliable than they were back in primary days, but still–" Maruko complained, "Ah, forget it. Enough about me. I might never stop being angry if I kept on talking about these guys."
Ono continued to laugh in response to Maruko's unchanged chatter. He hadn't heard it in a long time, and honestly he didn't mind with this much chatter at all.
"What about you? How are your friends in the new school?" Maruko asked.
Ono smiled, "I haven't gotten to know many of my other classmates yet, but I think I'm getting quite well with Hanawa-kun because it turns out we're in the same class."
"Speaking of Hanawa-kun, I almost forgot that he came to visit the school this afternoon together with you," said Maruko, chuckling mischievously.
"But unfortunately, he was immediately "abducted" by Migiwa-san., hahaha." Ono added with a laugh.
"He probably won't want to come back tomorrow."
They both exchanged glances and laughed.
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Not far from them, the sound of footsteps from Maruko's front yard could be heard. Those footsteps quickly approached Maruko and Ono, and it turned out to be the sound of Sumire–Maruko's mother–getting ready to pick up and search for her youngest daughter.
"Maruko! Where have you been? It's getting late, and it's a good thing it hasn't rained yet! I've been worried sick!" Maruko's mother lamented. Her eyes then quickly fixed on the figure standing next to Maruko, "Eh?"
Ono promptly took a step forward to stand in front of Maruko and greeted her mother. "Good evening, Baa-san. I apologize for keeping Sakura out so late. We got carried away chatting during our walk."
"Huh?" Maruko peeked from behind Ono, "No it's not like that, Mom, it's because of Maruko's friends–"
Maruko's mother opened her mouth in surprise, "Ara? Ono-kun?"
"Mom? You remembered?" Maruko was equally astonished.
"Of course, I remember Ono-kun. How could I forget? It's been so long since we last met, right? How have you been, dear?" Maruko's mother greeted him while patting Ono's shoulders affectionately.
Ono, with his polite manners that easily won over anyone's parents, replied, "I've been well, Baa-san. Thank you. How about you and the family? Is everyone healthy?"
"Baa-san is well, and everyone is healthy. Thank you for asking. Well–well–Ono-kun, you've grown up to be quite handsome, haven't you, Maruko?" Maruko's mother teased.
Maruko, looking flustered, could only respond with panic. Ono couldn't help but laugh and amused by her reaction.
"Ah! How about Ono-kun having dinner at our house tonight?" Maruko's mother suggested.
Ono shook his head politely, still maintaining his gentlemanly demeanor. "I appreciate the offer, but I have to decline tonight as I'm sure my mother already prepared dinner at home. But thank you for the invitation once again." He slightly bowed as a sign of gratitude.
"Oh, that's right… Well then, how about next week?" asked Maruko's mother enthusiastically.
"Mom, don't force him, please. He might have other plans." Maruko whispered, feeling embarrassed by her mother's behavior.
"Is that okay?" Ono asked Maruko's mother eagerly, his eyes shining with hope.
"Of course it's totally okay. Maruko hasn't had a handsome young man visit for a long time. When was the last time, Maruko? I think it was–"
"Mom!" Maruko shouted, quickly pulling her mother's arm to stop her from talking.
"Alright. I'll visit next week." Ono said, smiling warmly and looking at Maruko, who still seemed astonished that he had just accepted her mother's invitation.
"Great! We'll be looking forward to your visit, Ono-kun. Send my regards to your mother, okay?" Maruko's mother replied.
"Yes, thank you very much, Baa-san. Goodbye, Sakura. Have a good rest." Ono smiled softly as he turned to leave.
Maruko could only nod her head slowly, "G–Goodbye…"
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The entrance to Maruko's home opened wide. Sakiko, Maruko's older sister, with a puzzled expression, emerged from inside the house and joined the commotion.
"What's going on, Mom? Do we have a guest? Why is there such a crowd outside?"
"It's Ono-kun." Maruko's mother whispered, pointing to Ono's back as he walked away.
"Ono-kun!? Is he in Shimizu? Why? On vacation?" Sakiko asked. Equally surprised.
"I don't know," Maruko's mother rubbed her cheek in confusion, "I don't know why he's here. Could Ono's family decide to return to Shimizu, Maruko? He was wearing a Shimizu school uniform, wasn't he?"
Maruko didn't respond; she remained silent, gazing at Ono's back as he slowly disappeared from her view.
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Unmoving. Unblinking.
Her cheeks turned rosy.
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"Come on, let's go inside and talk. We don't want to catch a cold," Maruko's mother suggested, still blushing with joy. Maruko also followed her mother inside.
As for Sakiko, who had stayed silent and stood in front of the house, she squinted her eyes. Her face did not show any sign of inner peace. She furrowed her brows and muttered to herself sourly.
'... After being gone for five years, he just shows up like this…?'
And a drizzle of rain begins to fall, dampening her.
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Ono closed his umbrella and walked up the stairs to his apartment. His uniform appeared slightly damp from the drizzle, and his body shivering in the cold night air. However he didn't mind. Ever since he left Maruko's house earlier, he couldn't stop smiling. His body warmed with happiness, and the chilly air didn't bother him at all.
Upon reaching the third floor where he lived, Ono found his friend leaning against the wall in front of his apartment door. With folded hands, his friend welcomed Ono with a sly grin.
"You took quite a while," Sugiyama said, simultaneously greeting him while still leaning casually against the wall.
Ono was taken aback by Sugiyama's unexpected presence. "Sugiyama?" he asked.
"Now, are you going to tell me?" Sugiyama asked, but Ono didn't immediately respond. Sugiyama widened his grin and pushed away from the wall, walking closer to Ono, "... Are you going to tell me? Hehe," he teased.
Ono finally chuckled in resignation and nodded slowly.
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"So, do you like Sakura?" Sugiyama asked bluntly as he entered Ono's room, without any hesitation or beating around the bush.
Ono almost stumbled and slammed his own bedroom door, but he tried to appear composed in front of his best friend. "I never said I liked her," he replied casually.
"Oh really?" Sugiyama immediately took a seat at Ono's study desk, still grinning mischievously, "Then why did your cheeks turn red just now?"
Indeed, his cheeks had slightly reddened when Sugiyama asked that strange and silly question, "You're so annoying. Besides…" Now it was Ono's turn to give his sly smile, "... Don't you have something with Yamada Kayo-san too?"
Sugiyama wasn't as adept as Ono in concealing his facial expression. He protested clumsily, his face turning as red as a tomato, "W–What!? What are you even talking about!?"
"It's pretty obvious," Ono replied casually, sitting down on his bed. "I could tell from the way you behaved when we played soccer under the bridge the other day, and besides, the more you act like this, the more it shows, Sugiyama. I've known you for a long time."
"Ugh… don't even try to change the subject," Sugiyama retorted. "You better tell me your story with Sakura now. Since when have you liked her?"
"I never said–"
"Since 3rd grade, right?"
Ono let out a long sigh, "I never said I like her."
"Oh whatever," Sugiyama rolled his eyes, "Just like you, you can't lie to me, Ono."
Ono could only curl his lips in annoyance as he lay down heavily on the bed, taking a deep breath. His cheeks turned even redder.
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The heavy rain poured down, soaking the small town of Shimizu that night. Maruko and Sakiko's combined room exuded both cold and warm air simultaneously. Maruko sat cross-legged in front of a small cupboard next to her study desk. She gazed, read, and carefully flipped through the papers in her hands, as if longing for, reminiscing about, and eagerly awaiting something to emerge from them.
"Maruko, why don't you go shower first?" Sakiko, seated at her study desk with her back to Maruko, suggested. However, Maruko didn't respond at all. "Hey Maruko, why are you so quiet?" Sakiko asked again, but Maruko still didn't answer, busy flipping the papers in her hands.
Sumire, Maruko and Sakiko's mother, walked into the room with a towel in hand. "The hot water is ready, Maruko, Sakiko. You should shower before dinner."
"Maruko," Sakiko called out, twisting her body around in her chair to see what her younger sister was doing, "What are you reading?"
"Hm?" Maruko, startled and feeling embarrassed, forcefully shoved the papers into the drawer of the cupboard. "It's nothing," she replied.
"Hee~" teased her mother. "Are you hiding something?"
"It's nothing, Mom," Maruko quickly responded, and she stood up from her seat.
Her mother affectionately patted Maruko's cheek. "Could it be a love letter from a boy?"
"Come on, what are you saying? Mom, don't tease me like that," Maruko said as she forcibly took the towel from her mother's hand.
"Hey I used to be young too, you know. Hihi."said Maruko's mother.
"Alright, Maruko is going to shower!" With a flushed face, she hurriedly walked out of her room.
Her mother giggled softly at her daughter's nervousness and glanced at the small cupboard where Maruko had hidden the letters. She walked closer, smiled knowingly, and whispered, "Hihihi... I can see the sender's name. Youngsters these days, so careless when they get embarrassed like this," she said while closing Maruko's little drawer tightly.
But Sakiko remained silent, offering no response.
She just gazed at her sister's drawer with a cold expression.
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RING RING
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Suddenly, the sound of the home telephone rang from the dining room. However, Ono chose not to get up from his bed and instead placed his hands behind his head.
"Is that your phone?" Sugiyama asked, pointing towards Ono's closed bedroom door. "Aren't you going to answer it first?"
"Let my mom handle it," Ono replied.
"Ken-chan!" Kiriko, Ono's mother, called from behind the bedroom door. "There's a call from—"
"I'm busy, Kaa-san," Ono continued in a cold tone.
"Why don't you just answer the phone? Who's it from?" Sugiyama asked.
Ono shook his head slowly. "I just don't want to... Where were we earlier?"
"Oh?" Sugiyama furrowed his brow in confusion but continued the conversation. "Yes, let's hear all about you and her!"
Ono smirked. "Where should I start?"
"Start from anywhere!"
Ono glanced at his conversation partner with a melancholic look. He let out a soft chuckle and gazed at the ceiling of his room, preparing to tell the story of his journey with the "friend" who was the central figure of that evening.
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/BEGIN FLASHBACK/
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"WHAT!? The day after tomorrow!? Isn't it supposed to be a few more weeks?" Ono couldn't believe what he had just heard from his father, Himura. Kiriko, his mother, immediately took on the role of calming her son.
"Yes, it turns out that Tou-san needs to go to Tokyo as soon as possible this week. The department heads need Tou-san as soon as possible," Ono's mother explained while helping him take off his school bag.
"But this is so sudden! I haven't had much time to spend with my friends yet!"
"Didn't you already have a farewell party with your friends? Wasn't that enough?" Ono's father, with an uncaring tone, asked his son, making it clear that the move the day after tomorrow was non-negotiable.
"Otou-san..." Ono's mother whispered.
"-But... the cherry blossoms haven't bloomed yet." Ono whispered softly, a mixture of turmoil and anger in his voice.
Ono's mother then knelt in front of him, holding his shoulders, "Forgive me, Ken-chan, but—"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Ono shouted loudly, full of emotion, and then ran to his room, slamming the door shut.
"Ken-chan!" Ono's mother called out to her only son.
"Let him be," Ono's father, who had been sitting quietly at the dining table, still maintaining an indifferent and cold demeanor, said. "This is good for him and his mental preparedness. It's a learning experience that will help him adapt to sudden life events. It can't be challenged, especially with reasons as trivial as 'not having spent enough time with friends.'"
"Himura, he's only in the third grade," Ono's mother said softly.
"So what? The sooner, the better, right? It's good for his future. Regardless of where or when life takes us as a family." Ono's father spoke in a calm yet firm tone. "I know our son can be the best path for all of us. At his young age, he's already shown a good leadership spirit and is respected by his classmates. It may seem small, but it will pay off later on. Don't think I haven't noticed, Kiriko."
Ono's mother did not respond to her husband, as she saw her son's closed bedroom door with a sad and worried look.
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Ono sat curled up in the corner of his room. His heart was pounding.
His face was red with anger and sadness.
But he didn't cry.
Ono never cried.
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What he wanted was to escape and leave behind this complex reality. He had even planned not to mention it at all to the girl who left a mark on his heart, Maruko.
Yes, especially Maruko.
He wasn't ready to meet her, to say goodbye for the last time until the next meeting, whenever that might be. He wondered, would it be better not to tell Maruko anything and just disappear?
Disappear.
Vanish without a trace.
"But is that what I really want? Leaving her like that?"
"Why is it so hard to say goodbye to her?"
"I'm nobody. She'll forget me."
"Is it true that she'll forget me?"
"What if she doesn't? What if she's hurt by this news?"
"I don't want to make her sad."
"But what if she's not sad at all?"
All these questions plagued Ono's mind. Because, for him, friendship was a crucial thing. Leaving or being left by a friend was the biggest disaster for a child his age. Just a friend? Ono couldn't answer that. But one thing was clear: that night, his feelings were filled with sorrow and confusion.
He wanted all these feelings to come to an end.
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The next morning in class 3-4, the weather still had a gloomy atmosphere, which perfectly matched Ono's mood on that cloudy morning. Ono was completely confused about his feelings, uncertain about how to express his frustration and apprehension about his sudden move, which had been rescheduled to the next day. He wasn't prepared to tell his classmates or even his closest friends.
"Ah! Go-Good morning, Ono-kun," Fuyuta greeted when he saw Ono entering the classroom. Ono nodded slowly at Fuyuta without a smile and chose to sit at his desk.
"Good morning, Ono," Sugiyama greeted him. "What's wrong? Your face looks pale. Are you getting the flu again?"
Ono didn't respond immediately. However, he couldn't hide the sadness in his eyes from his best friend. Sugiyama furrowed his brow and, without beating around the bush, placed a hand on Ono's shoulder.
"Hey, Ono! What's going on?" Sugiyama asked again, full of concern.
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"WHAT!? TOMORROW?" Fuyuta, who overheard Sugiyama and Ono's conversation, suddenly shouted hysterically. This succeeded in drawing the attention of all the students in class 3-1. Sugiyama remained silent, unable to believe what he had just heard. His face turned red, a mix of sadness, anger, and disbelief.
"But you said there were still a few weeks left, Ono!" Hamaji exclaimed in shock.
"It's... it's so sudden, Ono-kun. We haven't prepared anything yet," Jogasaki almost burst into tears just like Fuyuta.
Sasayama, Jogasaki's friend, tried to console Sugiyama by gently patting his back. However, it didn't work, as Sugiyama brushed Sasayama's hand aside and ran out of the room, his face and emotions a chaotic mix.
"Sugiyama-kun!" Sasayama and Jogasaki called out.
Ono, without saying much, immediately got up from his seat and ran after Sugiyama.
.
Sugiyama, one of the two best athletes in class 3, ran as fast as he could through the school lobby, not knowing where to go or what to do. His emotions were on the verge of exploding. He wanted to shout and calm down at the same time but not in front of Ono or his best friend.
"Wait, Sugiyama!" Ono called out, running to catch up.
Sugiyama didn't stop running; he kept running until he reached the middle of the school field. There, he was out of breath, standing in front of Maruko and Tamae, who had just entered through the school gate. Sugiyama slowed down and stood in front of them, gasping for air.
"Eh? Good morning, Sugiyama-kun. Where are you going so early?" Tamae greeted.
"Why are you running so early in the morning?" Maruko furrowed her brow.
"Sakura... Honami...hh...hh..." Sugiyama gasped for breath and looked at his two female friends with a confused expression.
"Sugiyama!" Ono shouted from a distance as he continued to run towards Sugiyama. "NO! DON'T TELL SAKU–"
"... Tomorrow?" Maruko asked Ono. Her tone was calm and flat, but her eyes betrayed her surprise. Ono slowed down as he approached them, his breathing heavy and erratic. He couldn't hide his regretful gaze from Maruko.
"It's so sudden, Ono-kun," Tamae whispered sadly.
Ono bit his inner lip and lowered his head. He couldn't bring himself to look at Maruko, Tamae, or Sugiyama.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "My dad asked us to move tomorrow. There's nothing more I can do, and..."
"But you promised," Maruko interrupted Ono's explanation and apology. Her eyes were now teary. "We promised to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom together with our friends. You promised."
Tamae gently patted Maruko's back, trying to comfort her.
Ono remained silent, overwhelmed by sadness, confusion, and anger. He felt incredibly guilty. Was this what it felt like to say goodbye to a friend?
Maruko furrowed her brow, not waiting for Ono's response or explanation. She was filled with suppressed emotions as she turned and walked away, seemingly ignoring him. Tamae quickly followed Maruko.
But Ono's hand quickly grabbed Maruko's arm, stopping her. He wanted her to stay, to listen to his explanation.
"Hm!?" Maruko grumbled, not even wanting to look at Ono as he whispered near her ear.
"I had no choice, Sakura. You know I had no choice," Ono whispered with a strained voice, full of pressure.
Sugiyama immediately stepped in to separate the two.
"Ono, that's enough," he said.
"Maru-chan..." Tamae added.
Maruko turned, looking at Ono with a face full of regret. But she didn't say anything. She then forcibly pulled her arm from Ono's grip and walked away quickly, as if ignoring him.
"Maru-chan!" Tamae called out, walking quickly to catch up with Maruko.
Ono bit the inside of his cheek and clenched his fists in frustration. He watched Maruko retreating back, feeling overwhelmed by emotions.
Sugiyama, now somewhat calmer, patted Ono's shoulder and said softly, "Ono, let's go back. Class is starting soon." He led Ono back to the classroom, both of them still dealing with their mixed emotions.
.
.
"Children, time flies by so fast. Exactly a month ago, we celebrated Ono-san's farewell day, and now, it's finally time for the official farewell as Ono-san will be leaving for Tokyo starting tomorrow," Mr. Togawa said, conveying the sad news that afternoon. All the students in class 3-1 could only bow their heads in sadness, and some even quietly shed tears. Farewells were never easy for them.
Ono, standing beside Mr. Togawa, occasionally glanced at Maruko, who was sitting at the back of the class. Maruko chose to look out of the window, ignoring Mr. Togawa and Ono. Tamae, seated next to Maruko, was keenly aware of this. She understood that Maruko was saddened by the impending separation from Ono. Tamae knew that Maruko was trying to conceal her emotions by acting cold, but she also knew there was nothing she could do to help Maruko.
.
.
At 2 in the afternoon, it was time for the students of class 3-1 to go home. Ono and Sugiyama stood in front of their desks, packing their textbooks into their bags. Both of them remained awkwardly silent, neither daring to break the ice until Sugiyama cleared his throat and said,
"Uh, Ono, I'm sorry for this morning... for running away like that." Sugiyama, who was the first to speak, felt embarrassed about his behavior in the morning.
"Oh, it's okay," Ono replied softly. "I understand. I'm also sorry for springing this news on you so suddenly." He managed a faint smile.
Sugiyama smiled as well and asked, "What time are you leaving tomorrow?"
"We're leaving at 10 in the morning," Ono replied.
Hamaji and Buutaro suddenly ran over from their desks and joined the conversation between Ono and Sugiyama.
"10 in the morning? That's so early! I thought we could still play soccer together," Hamaji said with a hint of sadness as he put his arm around Ono's shoulder.
"Yeah, exactly," Buutaro chimed in, standing nearby. "We were planning to invite you to play soccer at the field under the bridge."
"If that's the case, it seems like there's no time at all," Hamaji continued while hugging the soccer ball he brought.
Ono smiled wistfully and nodded, "Haha... unfortunately, it seems that way." His expression darkened, mirroring the faces of all his friends surrounding him.
"What are you all talking about?" Sugiyama immediately interrupted the conversation, grinding his teeth as he took the soccer ball from Hamaji. "We can still play soccer this afternoon, right? Let's go to the field under the bridge for one last time before Ono leaves."
Ono fell silent, but Hamaji and Buutaro beamed with excitement. Hamaji enthusiastically shouted, "That's a great idea! Let's go there now!"
"Oh! Can we come too?" Jogasaki asked eagerly while pulling Sasayama, her friend.
"Who else wants to join?" Hamaji invited.
Ono looked towards the back of the classroom, where Maruko and Tamae usually sat. However, the person he was looking for was no longer there. He hoped, truly hoped, that he could see Maruko that afternoon, even if it was just to let her watch him play soccer. But she was nowhere to be seen in his line of sight. His disappointment was evident on his face, but he realized that he couldn't let his friends' efforts to invite him to play soccer go to waste.
"Let's go, Ono," Sugiyama said, patting Ono on the shoulder and snapping him out of his reverie.
"Hm? ... Okay," Ono replied softly.
.
.
The field beneath the bridge, where Ono and his friends played soccer and other sports together, stood as a silent witness to Ono's impending departure the next day. Everyone played soccer with enthusiasm, and classmates like Fuyuta, Jogasaki, Sasayama, Fujiki, Nagasawa, and others sat on the grass beside the field, cheering Ono and his friends as they played for the last time. In the midst of the game, Ono occasionally glanced at where his friends were sitting, and he realized that the one female friend he had been waiting for had yet to appear.
"Go, Ono!" cheered Jogasaki, encouraging him from the spectators' side.
Ono's daydream was stopped, and he smiled at Jogasaki before resuming the game with his friends.
Fuyuta suddenly shed tears and whispered, "Ono is truly captivating."
"Very different from us, right, Fujiki?" Nagasawa remarked.
"Quiet!" Jogasaki interjected, annoyed by Nagasawa's negative and irritating comments.
"You're right, Nagasawa, and yes, I didn't expect today would be the last time we'd see him play soccer," Fujiki added. "It's sad."
Fuyuta shed more tears upon hearing Fujiki's words. Sasayama, sitting next to her, could only pat her classmate's back and say, "It's okay."
Jogasaki agreed with what Fujiki said, and with teary eyes, they all couldn't hide their sadness.
The sun was beginning to set, and they had been playing for nearly two hours. Out of breath and tired, Sugiyama patted Ono on the shoulder and said, "That was such a great game, Ono."
"Indeed, we haven't played soccer this joyfully in a long time. You're amazing at it, Ono," Hamaji continued.
Ono responded with a faint smile and a quiet nod. His sad and disappointed expression still showed.
Sugiyama, noticing this, patted his friend's shoulder again. "Are you okay?" he asked with concern.
"Hm?" Ono replied, "Yeah, I'm fine."
.
"Hey," Hamaji suddenly pointed towards the edge of the field. "Isn't that Honami?"
They all turned their gaze upwards and indeed saw Tamae running breathlessly, looking confused.
"Hey, Honami!" Hamaji called out, waving to her.
"You gus are here?" Tamae asked, immediately coming down from the edge to join her classmates on the field.
Ono quickly approached Tamae and asked, "What's wrong? Why were you running?"
"I-I... I was looking... h-h... for Maru-chan," Tamae replied, struggling to explain her confusion. "I was looking for her."
"Where is she?" Ono asked again, his concern evident in his voice.
"Isn't Sakura at her home?" Nagasawa asked.
Tamae's eyes welled up with tears as she answered, "No, I went to her house, but her mother said she hadn't come home yet. Earlier, Maru-chan rushed out of the shoe locker room without saying anything. She ran so fast that I couldn't catch up... I'm worried about her... she's been acting strange... where could she be? Have you seen her?"
Ono tightened his grip on his hands, and hearing Tamae's explanation made his breathing heavier. Without hesitation, he quickly urged his friends to help search for Maruko.
"Here's the plan," he said firmly. "Sugiyama, Hamaji, Buutaro, and I will go look for Sakura. The rest of you, wait at Sakura's house. She can't be far, and the sun is about to set. She'll probably come home soon. So, someone needs to be at her house."
Everyone immediately nodded in agreement and followed Ono's request.
"Let's all split up," Sugiyama continued. "Our meeting time is 6 o'clock. Whether we find her or not, we'll gather in front of Sakura's house."
"Okay!" Hamaji cheered. "I'll go west!"
"I'll go north, Buu!"
And they all started to scatter.
"I'll head towards the market," Sugiyama said. "What about you, Ono?"
Ono didn't answer Sugiyama's question and simply ran away from the field beneath the bridge, as if he knew exactly where Maruko was.
.
.
As Ono suspected from the beginning, Maruko stood in front of the Aunty's small grocery store, specifically under the sakura trees that had yet to bloom. Her melancholic eyes couldn't hide the sadness of realizing that their plans and promises to see the cherry blossoms together had not come to fruition until that day.
Breathing heavily, Ono said, "I knew it... you're here."
Maruko turned and found Ono slowly approaching her. Her eyes were filled with tears, and she couldn't hide her emotions.
"Ono-kun..." she whispered.
Ono stood just inches away from Maruko and gently placed his hand on her head. However, Maruko was still reluctant to meet his gaze.
"Stay positive, Sakura," Ono said while patting Maruko's head softly. "We will see the cherry blossoms in full bloom together someday. I promise."
Maruko remained silent.
"So, you just relax," Ono continued.
Maruko didn't respond with words, but she gave a slight nod.
Ono then bent his back and placed his head at the same level as Maruko's. He stared into her eyes intensely, so she couldn't avoid his gaze. Unbeknownst to them, both of their cheeks had turned slightly red.
"O-Ono-k..." Maruko stammered nervously.
Still patting Maruko's head with his hand, Ono whispered, "I will always think of you, Sakura."
"Eh?" Maruko replied, surprised.
"I will always remember you," he continued. "Don't forget about me, okay?"
"You're being foolish. What are you saying?" Maruko replied, still with a nervous tone. "Of course, I won't forget—"
Without waiting for Maruko's complete response, Ono immediately smiled, gently stroking her head. He then turned around, standing with his back to Maruko.
"Let's go," he said.
"Eh?" Maruko asked, still looking confused.
"Everyone is waiting in front of your house."
"Huh? You all went looking for me?" Maruko positioned herself beside Ono.
"Of course," Ono replied. "Honami was worried earlier, so we all split up to look for you."
"On the day you were supposed to meet up, you were all out searching for me...?"
"It's alright. We already had a great time playing soccer."
Maruko furrowed her brows and lowered her head, her eyes welled up with tears.
"Uh... I'm sorry... I'm really stupid," she whispered, feeling guilty. Ono also furrowed his brow and dismissed Maruko's words.
"Tsk, why are you apologizing...?" Ono said, turning his body again to look directly into Maruko's eyes. "You didn't do anything wrong... stop talking to yourself like that."
Maruko stared into Ono's eyes intensely, and both of their gazes were unbroken, as if they were trying to read each other's thoughts.
"Tomorrow..." Ono continued softly, trying to reassure her, "Tomorrow, with our friends... if we still have time, we'll come here again. Who knows, maybe the cherry blossoms will have bloomed by then. So let's pray that it won't rain tomorrow. Okay?"
"Tomorrow?" Maruko asked.
"Tomorrow," Ono affirmed.
Maruko nodded in response. Seeing Maruko's answer, Ono turned around again, his back to her. Their cheeks, once again, turned slightly red.
.
.
That night, in her bedroom, Maruko was busy making several teru-teru bozu, amulets believed to ward off rain. Tomozou, Maruko's grandfather, who had been standing behind the bedroom door, could only watch his granddaughter with a worried expression.
"Maruko..." he murmured in his heart, filled with concern for his granddaughter.
"What's happening, Grandpa?" asked Sakiko, Maruko's younger sister, as she walked in from the hallway.
"Maruko..." Grandpa replied, pointing to the inside of the room. "Maruko seems very busy making many teru-teru bozu, and I'm worried..."
Seeing her sister like that, Sakiko also began to worry. She entered the room and immediately asked Maruko what was going on.
"Hey, Maruko, what are you doing?" Sakiko asked.
However, Maruko remained silent without answering.
"Why is Maruko making so many teru-teru bozu? What are you going to do tomorrow?" Grandpa asked, unable to contain his curiosity and concern.
"Maruko just doesn't want it to rain tomorrow," Maruko replied, continuing to tie cotton balls with string. "Maruko hopes that tomorrow the cherry blossoms of spring will begin to bloom."
"What's the big deal about cherry blossoms?" Grandpa asked again.
With her teary eyes, Maruko replied to Grandpa with a hoarse voice, "Maruko... Maruko wants to see the cherry blossoms with Ono-kun and our friends before he moves to Tokyo."
Sakiko and Grandpa could only remain silent after hearing Maruko's response. They couldn't hide their worried looks.
"Maruko promised Ono-kun that we would welcome spring together. That's why Maruko doesn't want it to rain tomorrow! That's all Maruko wants!" She continued firmly, trying to reassure herself, but her trembling hands while tying the teru-teru bozu were evident to Sakiko and Grandpa.
Sakiko then sat down beside her sister, taking cotton balls and cloth scraps.
"So that's how it is... Big sis will help you," Sakiko said.
"Grandpa will help too, Maruko!" Grandpa exclaimed, sitting beside Sakiko and taking some thread.
"Onee-chan... Oji-chan..." Maruko whispered, deeply moved by the selfless actions of the two important people in her life.
"Tonight, we'll make and hang as many teru-teru bozu as possible. You don't have to worry," Sakiko said, trying to encourage her sister.
"Okay!" Maruko exclaimed
.
.
However, fate had other plans. The next morning, heavy rain surrounded the small town of Shimizu. Ono stood in front of his bedroom window, gazing at the dark clouds and the incessant rain. His face was filled with disappointment and sadness. It seemed that nothing could defy the plans of the universe.
"Ken-chan, are all your belongings loaded onto the truck?" Kiriko, Ono's mother, asked.
"...Yes," Ono replied tersely. His eyes remained fixed on the overcast sky outside his window.
Ono's mother could sense her son's melancholy, so she walked over and gently patted his back.
"Ken-chan, I know this is very difficult for you," she said. "But it's for your own good and, of course, for the good of our family."
Ono didn't respond to his mother's statement. He remained silent.
"If it's meant to be," his mother continued, "we will come back here to Shimizu someday. Don't worry, my dear."
Still, Ono offered no reply. Shortly after, Himura, Ono's father, entered the room.
"Kiriko, Kenichi, are you both ready? We'll be leaving in 10 minutes," he reminded them.
Ono finally looked at his mother and asked, "Kaa-san, may I..."
"What is it, Ken-chan?" Kiriko, his mother, inquired.
"...May I stop by Aunty's grocery store before we leave?"
"Ken-ch—"
"The time won't permit it," his father interjected, cutting off his wife's response. Ono's mother pursed her lips and gently patted her son's shoulder.
"Otou-san is right, Ken-chan," his mother replied. "Besides, it's pouring rain outside. Going to the grocery store now wouldn't be a good idea."
Ono let out a disappointed sigh, but he understood that there was nothing he could do except to accept the situation. He nodded slowly and walked out of his room, down from their house, and headed toward the entrance of his apartment building.
.
Unbeknownst to him, this was where he encountered his loyal friend, Sugiyama, waiting to bid him farewell.
"Sugiyama?" Ono asked, almost in disbelief that his friend was there to see him off.
Sugiyama didn't respond verbally but simply gestured behind him, indicating that he wasn't alone. Several of their classmates were also standing there in front of Ono's apartment building.
"You all...?" Ono asked his friends who had gathered there.
"We intentionally came here to see you off, Ono," said Hamaji.
"That's right, buu," added Buutaro, standing next to his friend. "We didn't want to miss your departure."
Ono smiled warmly, "Thank you, you guys. You really didn't have to go through this trouble, especially in this heavy rain."
"No trouble at all, Ono," Sugiyama replied, dismissing his concerns. "You are our friend, and of course, we'd be willing to accompany you."
Fuyuta, who stood not far from Sugiyama, approached Ono and handed him a small gift.
"Ono-kun... th-this... is a gift from me to you... I hope you like it," she said, bashful. However, the sadness in her eyes was evident. She clearly disliked the fact that his crush was leaving Shimizu.
"Thank you, Fuyuta-san," Ono said with a gracious smile as he accepted the gift from Fuyuta.
Seeing this, Fuyuta couldn't hold back his tears and sobbed while Migiwa, who was faithfully hugging him, tried to console him.
Hanawa also didn't want to be left behind and gave Ono a farewell gift.
"This is also from me, friend," Hanawa said, handing a large gift box to Ono. "I hope you enjoy your time in Tokyo. If I come to visit, we must meet up."
"Of course, Hawana-kun. Thank you," Ono replied. "Then until we me—"
"This is also from us, Ono-kun!" Jogasaki suddenly interrupted, handing over a medium-sized lunchbox. "Sasayama and I made a pork-cutlet special bento for you."
"Pork cutlet?" Ono's eyes lit up. Pork cutlet was his favorite food, and he couldn't resist it. "Thank you so much, Jogasaki-san, Sasayama-san. I'll enjoy it on the way."
"Sure!" Jogasaki said. "We have to meet again, Ono-kun." His eyes teared up, and Sasayama, who stood beside him, had a similar expression.
Ono nodded and smiled warmly, "Certainly, Jogasaki-san."
"This is from me," Maruo said, "I hope you'll always be successful wherever you go, Ono-kun."
"This is from us too," added Hamaji and Buutaro, as well as several other classmates. Ono happily accepted all the gifts from his classmates. However, he couldn't help but notice that one person was conspicuously absent from the gathering. Seeing that, his heart ached. His forlorn expression couldn't be hidden from those who understood.
"Eh?" Hamaji suddenly exclaimed, "Where's Sakura, Honami?"
"That's right, where's Sakura, buu?" Buutaro asked. "She's been missing since yesterday."
Ono and Tamae exchanged glances. Tamae, Maruko's loyal friend, looked distressed and anxious. She felt powerless to explain where her friend had gone and why she wasn't present at Ono's farewell.
"I'm sorry," Tamae replied quietly, her face showing sadness. "I couldn't get Maru-chan to come here. When I went to pick her up at her house, her mother said she wasn't feeling well. She's been acting strangely since yesterday, so I thought—"
"What's wrong with Sakura?" Hamaji said irritably.
Buutaro was equally frustrated, saying, "Yeah, buu, she's been acting weird."
"It's okay; maybe Sakura is not feeling well," Ono interjected, trying to understand Tamae's message and feelings. "In that case, please give her my regards, Honami."
Sugiyama, Ono's best friend, also understood what was really happening. He whispered to his friend,
"Maybe she's sad because she won't be able to see the cherry blossoms bloom for the last time with you, Ono."
Ono nodded slowly, "Yes," he said. "I know."
.
Finally, the time came to say goodbye. Kiriko and Himura, Ono's parents, left the front door of the apartment building and asked Ono to join them in the car to leave. Before that, Ono's mother took a moment to bid farewell and thank Ono's friends who had come to accompany them.
"Thank you for taking the trouble to come here, Ken-chan's friends. Please send our regards to your parents," Ono's mother said, accompanied by smiles and nods from all of Ono's friends.
"Baa-san, this is from Mama," Jogasaki said, handing a gift box to Ono's mother.
"Thank you, Himeko-chan. Just now, your mom called me to say goodbye. Please give our regards to your family as well."
"Okay, Baa-san," Jogasaki said, her cheeks blushing with happiness.
"Thank you, guys. I'll take my leave now," Ono said to all his friends.
"I can't wait to welcome you, Ono," Sugiyama said, raising his hands to be slapped together. But Ono chose to give his true friend a tight hug instead.
"See you again, Sugiyama," he said in the embrace.
Sugiyama blushed and laughed, "See you again, Ono!"
Ono then got into the car, smiled warmly, and waved to all his friends who had kindly said their goodbyes to him in the pouring rain. In his smile, his true emotions were evident. The sadness, longing, and guilt were clear to those who understood. His hope had faded. His wish to meet the girl he missed the most could not come true. All he could do now was accept the situation with resignation.
.
However, the hope he longed for would not forever remain unfulfilled if destiny forced their paths to cross. For a moment, as the Ono family car passed by the grocery store, there she stood—the girl he had been missing. In her mustard yellow raincoat, Maruko stood in front of the yet-to-blossom cherry blossom trees. Her gaze fixed on the approaching car, she gave a weak smile and a feeble wave. It was at that moment that Ono felt as though he had been struck by a bolt of lightning in the rain.
"S-Sakura?" he whispered in astonishment. "T–Tou-san! Stop!"
"What's wrong, Ken-chan?" Ono's mother asked.
"STOP THE CAR!" he yelled.
Ono's father abruptly stopped the car, looking bewildered as he turned to the backseat where his son had been sitting. But to his surprise, Ono had already exited the car, standing in the pouring rain without an umbrella, hat, or raincoat. He ran toward Maruko, and seeing Ono approaching, Maruko ran toward him.
"O-Ono-kun..." she murmured weakly.
Ono grabbed both of Maruko's shoulders tightly.
"Why are you out here in the rain!?" he shouted.
Maruko, taken aback, could only remain silent. Ono's firm grip sent shivers down her spine. Her eyes welled up with tears, and in the midst of the pouring rain, she began to cry.
"O-Ono-kun... the trees..." she sobbed.
"What are you thinking!? You foolish girl..." Ono scolded while adjusting Maruko's raincoat hood, which wasn't doing much to shield her from the rain. His eyes, too, were filled with tears. He couldn't bear to see his dear friend cry like this.
"Promise me, Ono-kun," Maruko whispered, still unable to stop her sobbing. "Promise me that you will write me letters."
Ono, utterly taken aback, could only remain silent, listening to Maruko's heartfelt request. Unconsciously, their cheeks turned red. Anger, sadness, worry, tenderness, longing, and the cold rain all mixed into one. Ono smiled warmly and responded with a heartfelt promise.
"Never mind letters, Sakura," he said. "If I can make phone calls, I'll call you every day."
"...Eh?" Maruko said, her tears suddenly halting. Her breath warmed up.
"Letters and phone calls, and so on. I'll keep doing all of that until I return to Shimizu. Will you be willing to do that for me, Sakura?"
In the midst of the pouring rain, their eyes locked, and they didn't look away. Maruko smiled brightly.
"Of course," Maruko said, filled with happiness.
Ono returned her smile, equally happy.
"We will meet again, Sakura," he said.
Maruko nodded, "Yes, we will definitely meet again."
.
.
Three years had passed. Now Maruko and her friends were in the 5th grade at Shimizu Elementary School. Not much had changed in their daily lives. Except…
"Maruko!" her mother called angrily from the bedroom.
"Hmm...?" Maruko responded from the living room. She was lounging at the kotatsu table with other family members.
"You're already in 5th grade, but your room is still a mess!" her mother scolded. "Lazybones! How much longer are you going to be like this?"
"Yeah, yeah... I'll clean it up later," Maruko replied lazily.
.
Shortly after, Sakiko, Maruko's older sister, called her from the hallway.
"Marukooo! There's a phone call!" she said.
Maruko promptly got up from the kotatsu table and headed in the direction of her sister's voice.
"Really, you should be this prompt when there's a phone call," her mother chided. "I'll report to Ono-kun that you're misbehaving and won't tidy up your room!"
"Mom! Shhhush!" Maruko hushed her mother, signaling her not to speak so loudly.
"Here, it's a call from your boyfriend," Sakiko teased as she handed Maruko the phone's receiver.
"He's not my boyfriend!" Maruko complained as she accepted the phone and covered the bottom part of the receiver.
"Not a boyfriend, but he calls almost every day~," Sakiko continued to tease.
Maruko's cheeks turned red. "Tama-chan and I call each other every day too! Hmph! Yes? Hello?"
"Hahahaha," a cheerful laugh came from the other end of the line.
"Don't laugh!" Maruko scolded, still blushing.
"Soon I'll get used to the greetings from your family," Ono said, still laughing.
"Well, I'm already tired of it," Maruko responded.
"Hahaha. How was your day, Sakura?" Ono asked.
"It was fine. I got a score of 70 out of 100 on my test today."
"Only 70?"
"Hey! I tried my best! You know how hard I prepared for that test!"
"If you can get 80 out of 100 on the next test, I'll send you chocolates from Tokyo in this week's package. How about that?"
"Wha-what!? Are you trying to bribe me?"
"Hahahaha."
.
Sakiko and Sumire, Maruko's mother, peeked from behind the shoji screen of the living room. They both smiled warmly at their daughter and sister, who was enthusiastically talking on the phone with her friend who rarely missed a day.
"Hhh..." Sakiko sighed while still peeking at her sister. "I'm so jealous..."
"Hahaha, sis," their mother said, "At first, I was worried about their friendship too, afraid that Maruko wouldn't concentrate on her studies. But over time, it turns out that it's not a problem at all. Thanks to Ono, Maruko is more enthusiastic about studying. I'm happy that someone is encouraging her like this."
"I hope they can stay like this," Sakiko said, smiling happily.
Maruko's mother smiled in agreement. "Yes, I hope so too."
.
.
Sakiko and Maruko's mother were right. One year later, both of them were in the 6th grade at elementary school, and they were still exchanging letters and phone calls. Just like today, at the Ono family's residence in Tokyo, Ono opened a letter from Maruko, who had just returned from a school excursion with her classmates.
"...Then, Yamada accidentally fell, causing all of us to tumble along with him. It was quite annoying, but we were really happy and enjoyed the trip because I thought it would be an interesting excursion to tell Ono-kun about. How are you over there? Have you prepared everything for entering the junior high school you wanted to attend next year? Speaking of junior high school, Tama-chan and I plan to enter Shimizu Public Junior High School, and–"
"Another letter from Sakura, Ken-chan?" Kiriko, Ono's mother, asked when she noticed her son smiling warmly while reading a piece of paper he had just received.
"Oh... haha... yes," Ono replied.
"You seem quite close to her, Ken-chan," his mother remarked. "It's been three years, and you're still exchanging letters and calls."
Ono nodded and folded Maruko's letter back. He couldn't wait to respond to the letter. "Yes... that's right," he said.
"I'm happy if you're happy, Ken-chan. I hope you and Sakura can be friends forever," his mother said.
"I hope so too, Kaa-san," Ono replied, still smiling.
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/END OF FLASHBACK/
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"Is that what I really want? Leaving her like that? Why is it so difficult to bid her farewell? I'm nobody. She will forget me," Sugiyama said, mimicking the conversation he had just finished telling his friend. "Oh, and one more thing, 'I always think of you, Sakura.' Ono... Ono... Ono... I never expected such deep words to come out of your mouth at such a young age. It turns out what people say is true—you've matured faster than kids your age. Why didn't you tell me this from the beginning? Were you embarrassed? Hahaha."
"Shut up," Ono replied, still lying down and staring at the ceiling of his room. His cheeks were red because the reason he hadn't told his friend was indeed embarrassment.
"But actually, when I think back, it's true," Sugiyama continued. "The thought that you and Sakura were closer than friends did cross my mind back then. But I thought it was all within the realm of friendship."
"Until now, we're still just friends, Sugiyama."
"Uh huh, keep telling that lie to yourself."
Ono chuckled upon hearing Sugiyama's response. Sugiyama laughed too and let out a sigh of relief after hearing his friend's story in great detail.
"Haaah... I never expected it at all," Sugiyama said while placing both hands behind his head. "I thought your type of girl was different from Sakura."
"What do you think my type of girl is?" Ono asked.
"I didn't say Sakura was lacking in any way—of course, I can understand if someone likes her. She's a pleasant girl. But all this time, I thought you preferred someone different from her."
Ono got up from his bed and sat cross-legged on it. He was curious about Sugiyama's explanation regarding the type of girl his friend thought he liked.
"What do you mean by someone different?" he asked.
"I don't know, maybe someone with long hair, graceful, calm, feminine? Hmm... like one of your classmates you just talked about?"
"...Who?" Ono asked.
"Maybe Jogasaki Himeko?" Sugiyama replied casually.
Ono didn't immediately respond to Sugiyama's statement. He simply stared blankly at his friend.
"I heard she's a model now, isn't she?" Sugiyama continued. "If I remember correctly, I saw her face prominently displayed on local Shimizu billboards."
Ono still didn't give any response.
"Eh? Wait..." Sugiyama suddenly realized something. "If I'm not mistaken, she also goes to the same school as you, right? At Shizuoka Gakuen Private School?"
Ono let out a deep sigh and leaned back against the bed, folding his hands while covering his eyes.
"...Ono?" Sugiyama asked.
"Don't mention her name," Ono said.
"Eh? Why?"
Ono opened his eyes and stared at his friend intensely.
"...I don't want to hear her name today," he said.
Sugiyama furrowed his brow with confusion. Before he could ask further, Ono got up from his seat and walked to open his bedroom door.
"Okaa-san," Ono called out to his mother, who was in the kitchen preparing dinner. "There was a phone call earlier, right? Who was it from?"
"Yes, Himeko-chan called earlier," Ono's mother replied. "Himeko-chan called three times just to make sure Ken-chan got home safely."
"...Is that so?" Ono said.
"Don't forget to call her back, Ken-chan. Don't make her worry."
Ono didn't respond to his mother's request and simply closed his bedroom door quietly. Behind his back, Sugiyama wore a bewildered and shocked expression.
"Himeko-chan?" Sugiyama asked. "Do you mean—"
Ono looked at Sugiyama with a melancholic expression. He settled back down on his bed.
"Wait, Ono. What do you mean by that just now? Are you—"
"Yes," Ono replied shortly. "I'm dating her."
Sugiyama's eyes widened in disbelief.
"W-What?" he asked incredulously.
"I'm dating Jogasaki Himeko," Ono replied.
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To Be Continued.
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Author's Note:
Thank you to the readers who took the time to give reviews, kudos, and other feedback on this fanfic! I hope you liked this chapter. I apologize if the updates took so long; real-life jobs can be exhausting! Hahaha.
Ono had a farewell event with his classmates before moving to Tokyo, and that scene is CANON and can be seen in the movie "Chibi Maruko Chan The Movie - Ono & Sugiyama (1990)." In that movie, they performed a song and other farewell activities for Ono. That's why there's a dialog in this fanfic where Himura, Ono's father, says, 'Wasn't there a farewell event with your classmates back then?'
Thank you for reading. I look forward to your reviews and critiques, anytime, anywhere :)