The ring that binds us

After that, Akio just sat in silence.

The promise we had made was really carrying its weight in that room. Sure, it could be just wishful thinking, I mean, who's dumb enough to wait for eachother that long?

It was us.

Seeing Akio's eyes sparkle the way they did when she said those words lit a fire within me.

I was going to put my faith in Akio.

I'll wait for her, as she waited for me all those years.

I know it's foolish, but that's what loves all about, right? Doing foolish things for the one you love.

"Hey Tatsu-kun? I know you don't like gifts, so I held off on giving this to you - but I'm ready now... here you go."

The box was covered in all its beautiful colours. The ribbon was tied with such care.

This came from the heart.

I started unwrapping it piece by piece. What was Inside?

It was a ring...

"Akio? Why does this ring have your name on it?"

Akio's eyes darted in a different direction.

Her face seemed flushed.

"Well...because mine says Tatsu-kun..."

Akio's voice steadied.

"This is living proof of our promise, Tatsumi... don't forget me."

"As if I could forget the one who changed me... You idiot."

Akio's eyes met my gaze.

"The moon is beautiful from up here, huh?

"It sure is."

The next morning, we had to fly back early. It was only a 1-night stay after all.

After seeing America, I realized that Akio and I were on borrowed time. These last few months have been a true blessing to me... I seriously can't thank Akio enough for how much her presence has changed me.

Being in a world without that presence - I simply couldn't imagine it, y'know?

It scared me.

"Tatsu-kun! What are you doing spacing out for?"

That voice... it always knew how to bring me back to my senses.

Akio turned to me, with that same old sparkle in her eyes.

"So...What's the verdict on America?"

Verdict? What was she on about?

"Wha-"

"I'm talking about America, silly! Now that you've seen it, what do you think?"

My voice began to crack.

"It made me realize you were right."

"What are you-"

"About the stuff you said about school? It made me realize that it's sooner than I thought...soon, those halls that we roam about in...people we talk to, even us."

"Soon...It will all just end."

I felt a warm presence grasp my hand.

"I think that's the beauty of life...I mean, think how boring life would be if we just stayed in one place all our lives."

I squeezed her hand.

"Yeah, but with all the big changes coming to our lives. I hope we don't.

Akio smiled, not in the teasing way she's always used to, not the painful one she does when she wants to fake that she's ok, but the comforting one she wore when she was honest.

"Then let's make the most of the time we have left, Tatsu-kun."

I nodded.

We just stayed silent.

In that moment, no one needed to say anything.

We both just understood.

When we got home, everyone was seriously pooped. Akio and I even fell asleep in the car.

"Mr and Mrs Fujisawa, thank you so much for this trip. It's been a blast."

With that, School started back up, and the final few months of our high school lives were finally upon us.

We started studying for finals like crazy - it was getting real.

"Hey Tatsu-kun, morning!"

Every time I saw Akio, I was reminded of how fast time seemed to be moving.

"Oh, morning, Akio."

"How are you feeling about finals? You ready?"

Akio wore a teasing look on her face.

"As ready as I'll ever be. Question is, Tatsu-kun, how are YOU feeling? Last I heard, you failed our last batch of finals."

She leaned in towards me, her breath practically pressing up against my ear.

"Why don't you get your beautiful girlfriend to teach you once in a while?"

Here I thought I was immune to Akio's teasing nature, but clearly I still had a ways to go.

My face turned flushed.

"W-will you knock it off...but help is always appreciated."

"Aww, is someone embarrassed?... And here I thought you weren't falling for it anymore. Guess even you still have things that set you off, huh, Tatsumi?"

"Yeah, yeah, alright, I get it. So are you going to help or not?"

Akio's eyes lit up.

"Sure, I'll help, but you'll have to come round mine if you want it."

Seriously, this was all a scheme to get me to come round hers? I guess I have no choice.

"Welcome, Tatsumi. It's so good to see you again."

"Oh, hello Mrs Fujisawa, how are you?"

"Yoko is fine, and I've been well. I see Akio finally talked you into coming over."

"Talked me into" is an understatement. She practically forced me!

"Tatsu-kun cmon hurry upstairs, let's get started already!"

GULP

It was my first time going into a girls' room, let alone my girlfriends'! Seriously, my heart would not stop beating. At one point, I thought I was going to die!

The air smelled like Akio. Was it the perfume I liked?

There were photos of us all around her room. Some from then, some from now. I was once again reminded of how much Akio loved me.

It gave me comfort.

"Tatsu-kun...are you gonna come in..."

Was she - embarrassed?

"Oh, yeah, sorry."

I take a seat under Akio's Kotatsu, and we began the thing we all dread.

Studying.

"So, Tatsu-kun, let's work on your English since it's by far your worst subject. I'll start you off easy. What do you say in English when you want to say 'I love you'?"

"I lovvu?"

What was I thinking? That was obviously not it.

"Cmon Tatsumi, I know you can do it - you're close!"

"I love you."

Akio's face was flushed.

"Not so direct, idiot."

I couldn't hold back my amusement.

"Aww, look whose getting all flustered now, huh, Akio..."

"Hey, stop that, Tatsu-kun, it's not funny when you do it!"

"That's because it's YOU getting embarrassed, not me."

"Whatever Idiot."

These after-school study sessions with Akio went on till...finals hit.

It was the first day of finals. The school felt tense.

"Ok, class, settle down. Put your books and notes away and please begin!"

First final: Math.

A) In your own words, what is the basis of Pythagoras theorem?

My hand trembled, my certainty wavered for a moment.

Oh, I know this! a^2+b^2=c^2

These boring questions dragged on for what felt like an eternity. Day after day, questions like this appeared.

But thanks to Akio, I scraped by Finals.

"Tatsu-kun! WE DID IT! Well done, I'm so proud of you!

"If it wasn't for you, I probably wouldn't have passed. I owe you one, Akio, seriously."

"Oh, please....save your thanks for graduation."

That reminds me...the next time we see each other

Graduation.

"Oh, Tatsu-kun, I actually have some news about America..."

Oh yeah, America, I had forgotten all about it.

"What do you need to tell me?"

My face wore a puzzled look.

"Well...turns out they want me over in America straight after graduation..."

"Wha-"

Akio gave me a warm smile.

"What's that face for Idiot"

"It's finally here, huh, Akio. The end."

"Yep, it sure is, Tatsu-kun... these halls we used to roam will now fade into a distant memory."