LONG YEARS GONE BY BUT RETURNED AND GONE AGAIN IN A FLASH.

I didn't in fact get a chance to see that girl again the next day or the next month or following decade that passed.

I spent that summer without much rest or breathing room because Grandpa...
Got much worse after that night,Dad himself was forced to get a from home computer techie job to be fully on hand for Grandpa then I too as well had to become full time,though with the help of one of my kinder sensei's,Migado Kumuira,I was able in between my care taking duties to still graduate at an advanced level even.

That really didn't matter to me much though,he died that winter like he just fell asleep instead of a painful or restful night like what had become his normal of lately at that time.

Now?

Funny you ask that question.

Now I am trying to find this stupid cafe that Eriika has been begging me to take her to for the last six weeks and that is somehow more difficult to find than a first edition of a classic novel that never saw the light of day or something.

"You promised me Ken-Kun...."

I sigh at her,our phone cameras are on as she is waiting for clients to make it to there wedding dress fitting she scheduled just for them to get an exclusive look and first choice at her dress line.

Those eyes of hers,she has such wide and cute eyes.
Like if a doe were staring you in the face and so hard as you try to ignore them those big eyes always find a way past your defenses to end up being a girlfriend of a year and a half and the funny part is we like next to nothing alike except manga.

The more gruesome and bloody,the more swords and funny the better to us both.

That was how we met at a second hand book shop,right after Grandpa died and my chores money had built up so much I couldn't keep it in my box anymore.

She is the one who introduced me to this manga that got us started.

"BLAYZIE SHOGUNATE WARZ!"

"I am looking okay Riika,be calm..."

Erika smirks at my method of saying be calm like she is going to be carted off any second to a doctor,she knows how funny she sounds and how dead serious I come across which somehow meshes together in its own weird form of flirtation we have together.

"Just hurry okay please!I am so hungry right now and have been looking forward to our date forever okay...I am really looking forward to it so much."

I smile at her,reading her mind already about the plans for the night and Eriika blushes like a fifteen year old all over again but before I get to make her turn from a pink hue to vermillion she kisses me by and tells me the clients are there.

Back to work again I am now,free to think again and look now.

"Where.Are.You.Stupid.Bakery."

Muttering loudly as I can while I walk this busy cafe and clothes store street that no one seems to acknowledge my presence on since I have asked twice directions on and twice got less than friendly responses.

Do I smell?
I am not a idol or anything I know I am no snappy dresser but this is a bit much--

"Wow."

A smell like that can take a mans heart out of his chest and make it beat again purely out of the desire to fill a stomach that I have worked to hard to flatten to fattiness again.

"BAKED RETREAT TREATS."

I confirm via social media pics to be sure this is where Eriika meant and now I don't think I blame her for wanting me to take her to this place now.

I step back to marvel at the hand drawn kanji and beautiful english writing of the business name,the type of baked goods and small meals painted carefully on little wooden posters around the front by the tables and umbrellas that are very old Japan style in design.When I step in to take a peak it is like being slammed in the face by a ton of breads that make my brain want to forget I am on a high protein low all the is goodness diet that will be my end to early if I linger much longer.

"Welcome,welcome.I felt that you were nearby!I am so glad you came.I was wondering if I would ever see you again!"

My eyebrows shoot up to Mars.

"What?"

I am just standing at the edge of the cafe section,just staring at the breads section for too long trying not to catch any attention if I can help it but I hear someone just keep repeating that sentence twice until I realize that girly voice is talking to me.

Also,the fact that there is a somewhat taller than me man who appears to be in his upper forties is eyeing me like I am being disrespectful but I wasn't.
Honestly I try to convey to him,I turn to where he is pointing and up runs towards me a girl straight out of some fairy tale like fantasy story come to life girl,young woman appears.

She is practically a head shorter than me with long to her knees jet colored hair that she has almost entirely down except for two thin face framing braids that have a little bit of green hair dye in them that makes her matching jet colored eyes to shine brighter.
Even her uniform is that type of emerald green that matches with her plaid gray and black skirt and white blouse that seems more white from flour and icing than the actual color of the shirt is.

She is cute to be honest and real but I am so confused right now.

"What?"

I repeat to her,a little gentler than before but hoping to avoid anymore spoken words than I have to for my girlfriends sake and my lively hood,my manhood as well if I'm being brutally honest too.

"You really don't remember me?Not even a little?"

This young woman does as pinched finger and nose impression that is kind of funny but I pinch myself inwardly to show no sign of it affecting me at all.

I shake my head softly,wave to her father to show my amends was made and nod to her trying to leave quieter than I came in until she follows me out,my shoulder being almost pulled out of my socket then do I see something on the hand she pulls me with.

"I'm glad you are still here Baka boy,you still kept the bond....Thank you so much for...not leaving."

Before I get a chance for a word in to say anything I am handed a box full of some smelling good baked item and an eye full of her running inside again,turning back only the once to brandish a red thread knot....
My matching knot I almost forget I still wear.

My moment is lost to make any acknowledgement because she is gone inside again,over a decade has passed and I find her here today on all days that ii would not have thought to have seen her.

The her.
I thought for a long time was my only her until I met Eriika,I let that thought of this wild girl...wild woman go.

Now...
I know now....

Eriika is going to murder me and eat all this bread before I go.