My Past

My parents died in a car accident when I was 5 years old. It was a hard time for my grandparents, Obi & Yaka, especially having to take care of me, but did their best to give me a happy childhood. 

We were a respected family in Nokushima for our craft of making the most beautiful kimonos. My grandparents taught me everything, like how fabric is made, sowing techniques, and fitting. By the age of ten, I had made my first kimono all by myself. 

It was tough though when I started school because the boys would bully me for having a "girly talent", but I didn't care because what my only family taught me meant the world to me. 

The memories of being praised by parents and teachers for making kimonos for school plays and commissioned pieces for festivals overweighed the bad experiences.

Best of all, it got the attention of a lot of girls for me. Ha! Beat that dumb bullies!

It felt like an eternity growing up and going to school doing endless homework assignments, but graduation finally came to me when I was at my last year at Tanami High School. 

It was during the spring time in late March. The sun was out while a refreshing breeze rustled the cherry blossoms around the campus. 

Parents were embracing their graduates, friends having fun while taking picture, and teachers congratulating students for finishing the year. 

I didn't exactly have friends to meet up with, but I was thankful for my grandparents always being there for me. 

After taking some pictures, we were ready to leave. I picked up the school bag that was leaning on the tree trunk, determined to finish one final task.

"Obi-Pa, Yaka-Ma, go on home without me. I'll see you later!" 

Obi had a sour look on his face as he saw me take off with my school bag. 

"Kuro where are you going!" 

Yaka laughed as she held onto his arm. 

"Let the boy be. We'll see him back home."

The two walked down the aisle of cherry blossoms towards the entrance gate of the school. Obi started to talk about the graduation surprise for their grandson, but Yaka was lost in her fantasy as she thought about her grandson possibly confessing to his childhood friend.

'Ah, to be young again! Kuro really out did himself; I hope she likes it!'

She remembered fondly when cleaning his room one time while he was at school and saw the "secret project". 

'Maybe he'll bring her home tonight as a girlfriend!'

"I always thought they looked good together."

Obi looked at her with knitted eyebrows from hearing her out-of-context response. 

"What are you going on about?"

"Oh my! Don't mind me." Yaka giggled nervously for speaking her mind on accident. 

My heart was racing as I kept running past the crowd of  students and families, frantically looking out for my high school crush. 

There were so many classmates around, but none were the beautiful Sakura. 

She was known for her melodic voice, had long brown hair, peculiar sunset-like eyes, and would always wear different flower hair clips. 

The sunflower clips fit her the best, especially when she had her hair braided to the right side. 

As I reached the edge of the school, voices were heard and my whole body instinctively halted. My back was pressed against the wall, eyes wide open as I tried my hardest to keep my breathing soundless.

"Marry me."

'WHAT KIND OF CONFESSION IS THA- WAIT, IS THAT MATSURA?!'

I gritted my teeth, clutching my fists tightly while mentally cursing Matsura. My head was fuming with steam because dealing with his bullying all my life was enough, but seeing him with Sakura?! I rather die!

"Uhmm...I think we're too young for something like m-marriage." Sakura nervously replies as it brought Kuro relief.

'Yes! Yes!'

"Sure, you can be my girlfriend in the meantime."

'Take a hike Matsura!'

As Sakura was about to retort, she yelled in pain. "Matsura, No! Let go of m-," but Matsura shushed her as he tightly pressing her checks with one hand as he pulled her close. 

I let out a battle cry, surprising both, as I rammed Matsura to the ground like a bull with all my might.

With balled fists, I gave Matsura a set of fiery punches to the face. 

"Stay Away From Her You Punk!!" I yelled before dashing out with a stunned Sakura by the hand. 

We raced through the school yard, leaving behind a bleeding and pissed off Matsura in the dust. 

"BASTARD!" Matsura called out as he struggled to get up, wiping his bloody nose with his sleeve. 

Thankfully, we made it through the gates, but we kept running. 

The whole thing felt like a dream as time began to slow down. I turned my head to peek a look at Sakura and she had the brightest smile as she let out laugh that ringed in my ears. 

Her happiness was so contagious that I also began to laugh, ultimately making this the best day of my life.