1 Chapter 1: An Exasperating Friend

"Are you really going?"

"Yes, My parents seems to have some business in Tokyo, And they said i will be studying at a famous and biiiig school there... And I won't be coming back sooner or later..."

"I see.."

She really will leave, It's gonna get lonely in the village.

"Don't cry Kazumi! You have many friends here to play with !"

"Eh? I'm not crying you know! It's just my eye hurts !"

" Hehe~ really? Stop lying!, Here I'll give you this, So you can stop deceiving people from now on ."

She pulls out a silver necklace, and hold It into her tiny hand. She then mumbled words that can't be heard, due to the softness and lowest of her voice, Kazumi can't comprehend on what she said to the necklace .

"Look. This Is called an Amulet, Let's just say I found this under the ocean floor~, I call it The Amulet Full Of Promises, It Look's cool right? If you hold It In tight into your hand and whisper your promises In to It, It will come true!, And If you already fulfilled your promises you have to return back Into the ocean where It belongs !"

"Then what did you say, to the amulet ?"

"It's a secret~"

"No fair, I hate secret's you know !"

I had an Idea! I'll be the one going to you!, I'm not Intelligent, Bright, Stylish, But I will work hard and change !

"I'll study hard and then I'll go to Tokyo too! And go to that famous school with you, It's gonna be a promise !"

"I see.."

I then hold the Amulet and grasped it tight, And whispered to It, It's like I'm telling a secret,

"( I promise that I, myself will go and meet

"Nii.. Chan.."

At Tokyo .)"

Nii-chan!!!

I was roused from a deep sleep by a hand on my shoulder, Wriggling me left and right with an angry expression , Due to my sudden awakening, I feel groggy and disoriented, with saliva all over my cheeks .

"Uh?!"

Looking at my little sister with a dumbfounded expression . And noticed that, somehow my cheeks hurts, How many times did she slapped me so I can wake up.

"Geez!, Didn't mom said not to overwork yourself, Wake up already, Breakfast is ready, you're such a troublesome sleeper, You were speaking whilst asleep you know !"

To my surprise I didn't feel too weak. Light-headed certainly, and with a sense of unreality, I was able to walk towards the bathroom and cleanse my self to get ready for school, I went downstair and took a seat in front of the dining table with my family, Excluding my Father, He Is at work today and will be coming home later at night.

Itadakimasu .

While eating I feel uneasy, My skin gets all tingly If someone Is staring at me, I looked at my front and was able to see my mother gazing at me with a worried expression. To make her feel relieve, I replied

"Don't worry, Still not dead ."

Yes the sentence I always reply with, "I'm not dead ." Due to how many times I've said that line It became my favorite. My mother was smiling with Ease.

"Ara~, Don't push yourself to much ok? You should be aware that overworking yourself, Comes at a cost~"

"Yeah, I've already planned on living longer than anyone here In this room ."

"Geez, This is why you don't have a girlfriend, All you do is study and work, Why not take a break and enjoy your life as a high schooler for once, You know like Drinking with your companions, Love Interest, or going to beach with your friends ?"

Said my motherly like little sister, I don't need that kind of life. It's just a waste of time, I don't get something In return If I did any of that. I replied with a sigh,

"Yeah, no.."

Cheeky kid. I once again looked at the person before me. Murakami Yui, Age 10, my little sister, She's the type of girl who would always talk about romance and brag about me not having a sexual relationship. She was a romantic. She loved Soap Opera's, Romance Novel and movies with a good love story. Even as an Elementary student, She would be mistaken as an innocent looking sister, Because of her somewhat cute appearance, But she's totally different on the inside. It's quite difficult to explain just what the difference Is. Beside, She's always carrying a smug around at home saying that I'm a totally different person compared to them. My family Is always too energetic, First thing in the morning you would hear them laughing and rarely singing, Well I do glad I have this kind of atmosphere at home.

"Now now Yui , don't tease your brother too much, Even though he's a different person compared to us doesn't mean he's not your brother ."

Said my mother on a serious tone, Mother doesn't like us fighting that much, So she always end It with truths that will make us shut our mouth, And end our fighting, It almost seems like magic .

"Well It's not like his not Iromantic, I still remember the times your brother back at the village always talking about a certa-"

"Mom!, Please no more ."

"Ara~, My mouth slipped ."

Argh!, It's too embarrassing, Well Yui's, not interested in hearing stor-

"I wanna hear about Nii-chans past, Tell me!"

No that's the opposite of what I just thought! Just Shut your mouth Yui !,

I was staring at my mom with a serious expression telling her not to tell anything, while on the other side Yui has an expression wanting to hear my past. My mom answered with.

"Maybe another time, Yui~"

"Hmph!"

Yui was pouting. The dining went in silence, And after a few minute's my sister

continued the talk.

"Nii-chan, I heard It's your final semester today, right?, So what school are you gonna enroll In?"

Oh yeah, I haven't told my sister about what school I'm gonna enroll next. Well i didn't planned to anyway.

"I'll be enrolling to Ishigami Highschool"

After I replied with that, My sister went in complete silence.

"__"

Eh? Did I said something wrong? After a few second, My sister finally broke the language barrier, All she's spouting was Eh? Ah?, What kind of sick language is that ?

"Eh?!, You mean, The Ishigami Highschool, That Elite school, You're really enrolling to that school?!, Well it's not like I'm against to that idea, You'll get famous I heard. Huhu~ But still!"

What's up with that reaction?, She's speaking like a worried mother, It's not like I'm risking my life just entering that school.

"Yes, Is there a problem?"

I wanted to ask question, Knowing based on her reaction, she has more knowledge about that school, But I know she's just gonna say 'Are you stupid?' .

"Don't you even know, what kind of school you're enrolling in?"

"Yeah, have totally no Idea, Care to enlighten me, young sister ?"

"Geez, You're totally hopeless. Listen carefully so you won't ask again! Ishigami's Highschool, Is one of the most known school In Japan. I heard most students in that school are very rich people, Instead of taking the test they were enrolled based on their social status, And when taking the entrance exams even if you get a passing score, You're most likely gonna get place on a lower section, Meaning you'll get a lower status, So you'll get discriminated, However If you luckily made a friend, Well it's not gonna happen anyways so why bother say It, Huhu~."

"Yui !"

"Okay okay, I'll tell you. If you get a friend with a higher status than you, It will be a big change in your way of studying In that school ."

Wait, Is it that big?!, I mean I heard about rumor's saying that It's a really good school, And if you studied there, You will most likely get a better job recommendation, But I haven't heard about that school Is specifically for people with high status in society. And not too mention they even have hierarchy?!

" There's many school here that you can choose, So I'm gonna say this again I'm not against enrolling you to Ishigami Highschool, I'm just worried on how they will treat you. "

Oh I see she's worried about me. But you worry to much, I'm much older than her anyway. I need to toughen my Image as a big brother, She sounds like a Big Sister lecturing me, And It's a disgrace!

"Don't worry, your big brother, Will manage It somehow."

"Are you sure?, Knowing you, You don't seem to have that many friends.. Wait? You don't even have friends !"

"If you surround yourself with the good and righteous, they can only raise you up. If you surround yourself with the others, they will drag you down into the doldrums of mediocrity, and they will keep you there, but only as long as you permit it, Is what you mean right ?"

I hate to say this, but she's completely true, I don't really have that much friends.

"Ara~, You're gonna get late for school, Come on now, Get ready, You can continue your conversation a later time~"

I almost forgot about school, But not gonna lie, Ishigami Highschool is really that scary? Nevertheless that's not gonna stop me from entering.

"I'll be going now!"

"Have a safe trip."

As i opened the door, I was greeted by a girl, She has bright pinkish hair and gleaming emerald eyes. Wearing the same uniform as my school. It was my classmate, Fugihawara Chizue, Age, 15 Years Old, Probably slightly shorter than me, 157 cm.

"Good Morning Kazu~kun!"

Yep, Energetic as always, I've met her at the second week, Thursday of school, Why I know the exact week you ask? Well she's my first friend actually.. No she's my only friend . She seems friendly and have many friends that looked up to her. She's popular at school because of her appearance and status as the daughter of a company CEO. Even so she seems really attached to me. Ever since she found out that we live in the same apartment complex, She would always visit me and wait for me to go to school together, At first I was happy that i got someone to come to school with me, However I realized how troublesome it was to accompany this somewhat child to school, We would always be late at school because of her, running into random places, Every time she visits a place I would want to run and leave her, But due to the promise I kept from his nice father, whenever I walk with her to school I would never let her leave my sight. So to avoid the possibility of getting late and the responsibility given to me, I came up on a plan to solve my problem and that is, To avoid her as much as possible, In short... Run and bail .

"Good morning to you and goodbye ."

I replied to her In a hurry, and ran down the hallway toward the bottom of the stairs, I studied the map of this building so I very know all the exits and entrances of this place, Let's sum up all the information. Gate A, Is the closest route and also the main entrance, unexpectedly It's lock due to the construction taking place. Gate B "a.k.a." 'The Second Entrance' Is open although It's gonna be a long chase, and It's a more crowded place, It may slow me down, Since Gate A Is unable to provide, It's role as an entrance and exit. All that left Is Gate C, It Is also open and It's more closer to my apartment and people don't seem to use that route, It's the most preferable route to my escape.

"Hey Kazumi...Don't leave me !"

She's panting while chasing me but I'm not a person you would think of as an always book worm, I'm also athletic!, Thanks to my strict P.E teacher, Due to my lack of athletic prowess, I was told that I may fail the P.E Ed, So in order for me to pass, 'My not so kind', P.E teacher tasked me to do 10 Km run per day, And forced men to join the Track and field team to maintain my average.

"Try catching up with me, Chizue !"

I raced down the stair and looked back, amaze seeing Chizue still chasing me, She Is a tough lad, I can't seem to shake her off my tail. But no fear, I'm almost at the exit!, I see the light, Racing through the hallway, I manage to leave the building, Time is 6:36, I still got much time left to walk to school.

But Is Chizue alright?

I started worrying about that girl on what state she is in. But she's a tough girl, she can manage herself, Besides she's not a baby anymore who needs to be taking care off... Right?

"Kazumi !"

I started walking towards school but suddenly I heard someone shouted my name, Suprisingly I looked back and saw a very tired Chizue, Still pursuing me in a worn out state, Her red cherry cheeks followed by an intense panting.

She followed me all the way here.., Why Is she so eager to walk with me towards school?! Not to mention we went through a 12 Story Building, So It would make sense for her to be tired. Her parent's didn't lie when they gave the name 'Chizue' to her ( Chizue = Durability ), Well moving aside the word 'tough', I'll say she's very determined.

Seeing her running towards me is giving a sense of Deja'vu, She reminds me of her that day.

"Kazu... Mi... You... Meanie.."

I caught a glimpse of Chizue's face, I didn't realize this, but she really looks cute In that kind of state.

"Good job hanging in there"

She deserves a praise

"Eh, Wait is this a test?!"

Quite a good uptake there Chizue. What made you think this is a test, You airhead, I guess I'll just move in with the flow.

"Yeah"

"Then did i pass?"

"Yes, Seeing you standing infrotme you did a good job catching up to me, If I were In your shoes, I would have given up soone-"

When I was about to finish my sentence, Tenshi turned back and opposed me with words.

"That's not true, Kazumi Is a remarkable person after all, hehe~"

That sincerely made me blush, Those words coming from a friend, It made me feel relieved, That an individual thinks of me that way.

Tenshi brushed passed me and walked upfront while holding her hands together with a joyful and cheeky red smile at the same time.

"Let's go Kazumi, I know you hate being late for school!"

"Good grief.."

We arrived at school and able to get to our respectful classroom, And took the test. The test doesn't seem too hard for me, I've always studied 24/7, But for them, I don't know.

Looking at my back, I saw Chizue with an prideful expression, She seems to have understood the question with ease. Did she really studied? Well studying will ensure a trouble-free performance after all.

It's really suprising, Knowing Chizue Is a total idiot, At the last few months I would scold her, and tell her to start studying, But I didn't think that she would actually listen to me and start studying .

Well I better wrap this up and congratulate her, Later.

A few minutes have passed and I've finished the test, It doesn't seem that hard for me, All the test questions were stated In the book, If you read It understandingly, It would be deemed unchallenging .

"Uhm.. Murakami Kazumi, Could you please come to the teacher's lounge ."

"Uh.. Ok"

"I'll be going to the teacher's lounge in a minute so you could probably go home first, I don't know how much time i will take ."

"Hm~, But i want to walk with you today Kazumi, So I'll be waiting ~"

"I see, Suite your self, But If It takes too long, You don't have to wait, I don't want your father complaining again ."

I went to the teacher lounge and saw my teacher arranging some paper works.

"Murakami Kazumi Here, What Is It that you have called me here for?"

"Oh Murakami, I actually want to talk to you a bit . Come sit here"

I went to the chair that was offered to me by my teacher, I was nervous because of the sudden call, and looking at my teacher holding some of my papers . However that was not a case because that teacher infront of me was smiling.

"Uhm... Uh"

"Oh sorry, So let's begin our talk. Murakami Kazumi, You have been an outstanding student this year, I can't help but to brag about how one of my student get perfect grades! If only all the student were like you, We teacher's won't be too stressed up, You think so too right?! ~Hohohoho ."

Oh, what a change of mood, Is it really worth bragging for? I mean I'm just a student fulfilling my role. And what's with that creepy laugh..

"Yeah...sure ."

"What's kind of pity filled answer was that?!Come on, Murakami be proud of yourself and Lighten up buddy!"

"B-buddy?!"

I know that we have a relationship as a teacher and student but Buddy? That's going too far.

"So I have been wondering... What school are you gonna attend In? Of course you'll attend in some higher schools for people like you, let me guess.. Is It 'Nurami Science Highschool' no maybe 'Tokuho University' wait that's a little to high, what about 'Huworong Highschool'?!"

What an energetic teacher Is It really worth getting excited for ? I denied my teachers words because none of them was correct.

"Actually.. It's neither of those ."

"Wait, Don't tell me you're studying abroad!"

"No, I'll be going to Ishigami's Highschool ."

"Eh..."

Eh what happened? Why the sudden change of atmosphere. She has the same face as my sister did back at home.

"Ar-are you really sure about your choice Murakami? "

"Y-yes? "

Wait?! Why am I hesitating to answer, And why do i feel like i said something wrong just now .

"Well you see Murakami, Ishigami Is a great school, It's actually one of the best school but... I don't really know If you're gonna be ok when you are gonna enroll to that school ."

She actually said the same thing as my sister did !

"Well It's not like I have a choice, Well I'll recommend you to that school so you better be thankful ."

"Eh, Are you really sure?!"

"Yes don't sweat it kid, I actually was a student at Ishigami's Highschool once, And I'm telling you, You better brace yourself ."

"Okay ."

"That's all I'm gonna say, You can leave now Murakami, Thanks for your time ."

"Thank you for your time too sensei ."

As I was about to leave the room, Sensei told me one last thing.

"A piece of advice, Don't get tangled up with the Queen ."

The queen..What's that? Is that supposed to be a joke ? It Isn't the 16th centuries you know .

"I'll keep that In mind, Sensei !"

I went outside and saw Chizue, Leaning on a wall. She's tapping on her phone, with a smile. As I was staring at her, She noticed me and started running towards me.

"So you done with the stuff, That was quick~?"

"Yes, She and I had a small talk ."

"Oh i see, Let's go home then !"

Me and Chizue left school and started to walk back home. She seems awfully silent today, at times like this, she would talk about school and stuff. We are almost at home but she Is still silent, maybe I'll try asking her, she may have problems.

"Say, Chizue. You seem quiet today, Is something wrong ?"

"Eh ah, No!, I'm definitely fine ."

Wow that was a nice reaction Chizue, She probably had a lot of thoughts in her mind. I don't wanna bother her and forcing her may be a bad thing.

"I see."

" Uhm..kazumi, Do you think I'm a weird girl ?"

What's up with that question, of course.... She's weird why ask a question that's so obvious .

"Yeah, You're a weird girl, You always kept smiling and I thought that was weird, but what's more weirder Is the last few months we spent together, You haven't even frown or get angry and that.. I mean that's just weird ."

"Eh? Really?!"

"An idiot too, Geez although even if you were a pain in the head It was really fun, All the time we spent together, I really enjoyed it, I'm glad that i was able to be your friend ."

"Eh, Fri-friend, Kazumi Is my Friend ?"

Chizue has a suprised reaction, Her eyes gleaming like an amethyst and with a blushing cute face in awe, But why did she react like that, Well it's not like she don't think of me as... A... Friend.

"Eh? Wait don't tell me that you don't think of me as a friend ?!"

Eh no this Is impossible,Then that means I'm being delusional and think of her as a friend even though we're not?! Ah!! this Is embarrassing!!

"No it's not like that, I'm just...happy.."

"Weren't you always happy ?"

What does she mean by that? Is she happy because she's my friend? No.. No she has many friends so she can't think about that way to me. I want to ask her what she meant about that but something came up to my mind. Why did she wants to be my friend and clung to me so bad when she can go with her other friends, She always followed me around and doesn't come with her friends, When her friends are asking her to go with them she would say 'I can't I'm sorry, I have to go with Kazumi', So rumors spread that i was dating Chizue . I want to ask her!

"Uhm, Chiz-

As I was about to finish my sentence, We haven't noticed but we were actually at the front of the building.

"Well then I'll be going now see you Kazumi !"

"W-wait?!"

I think she didn't hear me, She went running towards the building with a joyful smile as always.

"Well It's a long day huh? I'm tired ."

I went upstair and got to my apartment.

[ Chizue's POV ]

Kazumi thinks of me as a friend... She thinks of me as a friend!

I went inside my apartment and was greeted by my worried father .

"You are late at home Chizue, Don't tell me you'd go to other places !"

"Don't worry dad!, I didn't go elsewhere and I had to wait for Kazumi to finish something and went straight home ~!"

"I'm glad, Hm? You seem happy today did something happen ?"

Eh? I didn't noticed but I was actually wearing a joyful smile. Well It was because of a friend afterall .

"Hm.. It's a secret~"

"I'll be going to my room now, Dad !"

I went to my room and hop to my bed. I have forgotten that It's almost the end of the school year. Time sure flies fast.

"I wonder what school will Kazumi enroll in..."

I still haven't told my Father about where I'm enrolling. Maybe I'll try asking him, I'll give him a call. I went through my pockets and took out my phone, I scrolled through my contacts and called Kazumi.

"Huh? What's up Chizue ."

"Nothing much, I just wanna ask Kazumi what school he's gonna enroll in ."

"Ah i see.. I'll be enrolling to Ishigami Highschool, Why the sudden ask ?"

Kazumi's enrolling to Ishigami? I heard it's a really good school and my father kept talking about that school. If i enroll to Ishigami then i will have Kazumi come with me again!

"Oh what a coincidence. I'm also enrolling to Ishigami !"

"That's good. Your Father is a CEO of a company right?, Then that's a good for school for you, That school is specially for people like you who are rich ."

"Oh, I understand !"

I see, Kazumi just said that it's a perfect school for me if I'm in a rich family, Wait, then Kazumi is also rich?

"I'll be taking the Entrance exam at Saturday ."

"Ah then I'll go with you !"

"Ok then Saturday, 1:00 meet me up at my apartment ."

"Roger !"

"Okay, Bye.."

"Bye Kazumi !"

Saturday huh. Then i better go to my Dad? And tell him that I'm gonna go to Ishigami Highschool

I left my room and went to living room to where father is.

"Father, I'll be enrolling to Ishigami Highschool !"

"Ishigami? Oh what a good choice, Chizue, Ishigami is a really good school !"

"Yeah, I'll be going with Kazumi !"

"Hm? You mean he is gonna enroll to Ishigami too ?"

"Yeah, He said that he will take the Entrance Exam at Saturday ."

"Hm.. It's gonna be tough if he's gonna enroll to that school Chizue ."

"Eh? What do you mean ?"

"I'm sure that Kazumi has already mentioned it to you, That school is specifically for people with High status, Then that means even if he manage to pass the test he is most likely not gonna get enrolled, since that school was famous for It's discrimination upon students, In that school Status is Important, Even your monthly salary depends on your status. I'm worried for Kazumi, I can't even imagine what will happen if the student's of Ishigami's Highschool found Kazumi as a mere plebian, And I'm not lying because I was once a student of Ishigami's Highschool, And every ounce of discrimination and slavery I've saw and for the first time I was grateful for my parents being rich.

"That's too horrible! Then is there any other way ?!"

"Hm.. Let's see ."

I can't believe it, Ishigami's Highschool is really that worse? I need to protect Kazumi if the worse happens!

"Ah, I can send them a recommendation form for Kazumi, I think ?"

"What do you mean,You think !?"

"I'm really sorry Chizue, I know that you want to help Kazumi, I too want to help, but this is the least I can do ."

"But Chizue, I know that Kazumi will resolve this somehow, That's how he Is and that's what makes him special ."

"Yeah, Kazumi is an conscientious person. He always get what his want within his reach !"

Just the knowledge that a good book is waiting one at the end of a long day make's that day happier.

- Kathleen Noris -