CHAPTER 1- INNOCENT PROMISES
In the quiet neighborhood of Maplewood, where the sun painted golden hues across the streets, stood a modest home where the Suzuki family resided. Inside, laughter and joy filled the air as seven-year-old Satoshi played in the living room with his best friend, Serena.Satoshi and Serena were like peas in a pod, inseparable since they were toddlers. Their innocent hearts knew nothing of romantic love, but their bond was as strong as steel. They shared secrets, dreams, and countless adventures, their laughter echoing through the halls of the Suzuki household.But one day, the tranquility of Maplewood was shattered by unexpected news. Serena's family received word of a job transfer, and they would be moving away from the only home Serena had ever known. The news hit Serena like a ton of bricks, and tears filled her eyes as she hugged Satoshi tightly, unable to bear the thought of leaving him behind."I don't want to go," Serena sobbed, burying her face in Satoshi's shoulder.Satoshi's heart clenched at the sight of Serena's tears, but he knew he had to be strong for her. "Don't worry, Serena. We'll see each other again, I promise," he whispered, his voice filled with determination. "And when we do, we'll get married, that way we'll never be separated again." He turned his face away shyly, his cheeks flushing with uncertainty. "Or do you not want that?"A bittersweet smile tugged at Serena's lips as she looked up at Satoshi, her heart aching with the weight of their impending separation. She reached out and gently turned his face back towards her, her eyes filled with unwavering determination. "I want that more than anything, Satoshi," she said softly. "No matter what happens, I'll always be yours."Their parents observed the tender moment with fondness and sadness as the two innocent kids hugged each other tightly, knowing that soon they would be separated. Their eyes reflected the innocence of youth and the purity of childhood friendships, filled with a mixture of emotions. Fondness for the bond between Satoshi and Serena, and sadness for the inevitable separation that lay ahead. They knew that this moment would be etched in their memories forever, a testament to the strength of their children's friendship and the depth of their love for each other.Fast forward seven years, and Serena found herself sitting alone in her middle school classroom, lost in memories of the past. The laughter of their childhood echoed in her mind as she recalled Satoshi's earnest promise, a promise that had sustained her through the years of separation.With a wistful sigh, Serena glanced out the window at the vast expanse of the sky, its endless blue canvas stretching into eternity. "I wonder if he remembers me," she murmured softly, her heart heavy with longing. "I wonder if he remembers the promise we made."As she spoke those words, a sense of hope ignited within her, warming her soul with the possibility of reuniting with Satoshi once again.Meanwhile, across town, Satoshi found himself lost in thought as well. He sat at his desk in his own middle school classroom, his mind drifting back to the promise he had made to Serena all those years ago."I wonder if she still thinks of me," Satoshi thought to himself, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I wonder if she still believes in our promise."With a newfound determination burning in his chest, Satoshi vowed to himself that he would find a way to keep their promise alive, no matter where life took them.And so, in the quiet solitude of their respective classrooms, Serena and Satoshi whispered their silent prayers to the heavens above, their hearts reaching out to each other across the miles that separated them, their innocent promises standing strong against the test of time.