1 The Promise

January…..

The last preparation test before the entrance test result has announced.

My grade to enter Touka High School is…D

The bitter reality that beyond the expectation.

I never thought it would become like this.

"Don't give up, Kei" (Friend A)

"...Okay" (Me)

It's me and my friend that has eaten out is a fast food restaurant after we see the result of the last preparation test.

"This only a preparation test, right?" (Friend A)

"...." (Me)

"There's still one more month before the real exam" (Friend B)

"That's right!" (Friend C)

"You only got D mark on the first choice, right?"

"Yeah….."

"High school not only in Touka, Kei"

"Here, have some drinks"

[But, I really want to enter Touka High School…I don't know how, but there's something that motivated me to enter Touka]

"So, how's your result in Prep test?"

"I got B mark, qualified to enter Kounan High School" (Friend A)

"I got A, in Aoba High School" (Frend B)

"Me too" (Friend C)

"...." (Me)

I stare at them blankly, no wonder they look calm and confident, and can eat cheerfully here.

"Only me who got D…..*Sob*"

I lean my back to the chair because I feel so dejected. And that time….

*Smack*

A bag that carried by a girl who passing behind my chair hit my head.

"Ah? I'm sorry…my bag hit your head"

She's come in front of me.

And when she sees my face…she comes close to take a look….she gaze at me sharply

"Kei! You are Kei, right?"

"Huh?"

"Wow, I never expected we can meet here. Tokyo is small after all"

"Eh? What?"

"It's me! Me! Koshikawa Chitose. We always play together when in the kindergarten school"

Huh? Chitose? My memory goes back ten years ago when I still kid and in the kindergarten school

"Youuuuuuuu!?!?"

"We don't meet each other for ten years. Lucky we meet here, come with me. I already left Tokyo too long, I don't know the road anymore"

After saying that she drags me out of the fast food restaurant, leaving my friend who still shocked because a beautiful girl suddenly drags me out from them.

"Hey, where we going?"

I asked her on the way we walk together

"Hah? Auntie didn't tell you?"

"No, my mom didn't tell me anything"

"From today, I will stay in Kei's home, please take care of me"

HAAAAAAHHHHHH????

I get the answer when we arrive at my house.

"Why I'm not informed before? What the meaning of all of this Mom?"

"You don't have to be told about, you will agree"

My mother calmly answer my question while preparing some dinner in the kitchen

"Get real! I will have an entrance test, I must in full focus, I can't be disturbed, especially with a girl!"

But it's seemed my objection goes into deaf ears. My mother causally speak with Chitose who help her preparing dinner

"Chitose, do you like to eat paprika?"

"I'm not picky eater, auntie"

Damn! They just talk casually like I'm not even here. So I leave them and go to my room to change the clothes.

During the dinner

"I live with my father after that, but I decided to apply to a high school in Japan. But I already left Tokyo for too long and not used live here. When I'm discussing this with auntie, auntie said 'just live at our house'…I feel so glad when to hear it"

"Your late mother is my best friend, I'm glad I can help her daughter. Don't feel hesitate about that"

"...."

"Kei, I know I'm an uninvited guest, forgive me Kei"

Chitose looks at me with an apologetic look in her eyes, there's a sweet smile on her face. Suddenly my face feels hot.

"Who..who said that I'm not saying you're an uninvited guest. I'm not thinking like that after all"

"Um, thank you"

Geez, why suddenly my heart beating faster.

"Chitose also want to apply for Touka high school, Kei. Do your best so both of you can pass the entrance test, okay"

Hah? Does she want to go to Touka High School?

"Ehehehe….Touka High School, right"

I can only smile wryly upon hear my mom words. They don't know my grade in prep test, that's quite impossible for me to enter Touka High School with that grade right?

I lying down on my bed, looking at a paper that I put on the wall over my study table. 'MUST ENTER TOUKA' is written on the paper. Something that I always dreaming of.

I never expected to meet Chitose again. She already grows up and become a beautiful girl. She resembles her mom that already passed away. Chitose's mom, very beautiful and kind woman, too bad she has a fragile body and often gets sick. Last time I see her is when I'm five years old

I remember when Chitose crying…and her mom consoles her with her kind face. A half year after that she passed away….and Chitose is gone, I never saw her anymore.