The Promises

“Thank you!”

Closing the entrance door, I thanked him. I ran and carefully placed the box on the table,
and…

I tore off the beautiful wrapping in a second.

Inside the box was my new school uniform: a black blazer embroidered with the Tokyo Metropolitan Izumi High School crest on the chest pocket. It included a white shirt paired with black slacks and cotton socks.

Within minutes, I was ready in my new school uniform. As I straightened the notched lapels of my blazer, I glanced at the clock—it was still 7:10 AM.

I took a breath and walked into the kitchen, humming gently as if a peaceful orchestra were playing in the background.

“Mmm… mmm… mmm…”

On the kitchen counter, I placed the mug, grabbed the coffee jar, and twisted the tight lid.

In a few seconds, my black coffee was ready.

Am I forgetting something?

Oh.

It was 7:20am!

“I have to hurry!”

I gripped the mug tightly and drank it in one go.

As I drank it, each drop slid down my throat… it felt really sour.

Why did I even drink that?!

But it felt—good.

I ran towards the door and slipped my shoes onto my feet. The man in the black suit was still there when I opened the door.

Ehh?

“Why are you still here?” I grumbled.

“Ito-sama, I t-thought you would need a ride to school because it’s quite far away.”

Stalker? Just go home!

“U-uhm, you don’t have to worry about it—I'll still make it.”

The auto-lock activated when I closed the door. Please—that gentle melody from yesterday! I thought to myself as I jabbed the elevator button, hoping it would arrive soon.

The elevator arrived on my floor, and I hopped in.

Whew! Now I just need the key—

My heart sank as I checked my pockets.

Seriously?! I forgot the keycard?! What should I do now?

The locked security gate was in front of me. I lost all hope of reaching the school today—and then something unexpected happened; the gate swayed sideways, as if someone were forcefully pulling it.

“EHHHHHH?!”

There were two men, dressed in black suits, opening the gate forcefully.

Are you guys idiots?!

Tch! I don’t have time!

I passed them in a hurry.

“Ito-sama’s friend?”

“Who knows? We have to hurry to the room of Ito-sama!”

I’ll report them later to the police.

My 400cc bike was still parked, I checked my pocket.

Phew, at least I have the key.

When I slid the key in and tried to turn on the engine, it wouldn’t turn on.

Hmm? Why?

Tried it again.

This is weird.

I noticed there was a yellow warning light beeping—It was the low fuel indicator.

“If only that back pain had killed me in my home, that would’ve been better.” I grumbled as I hung my head down onto the fuel tank in resignation, scratching my head with my fingers.

After a few seconds, I hopped off my bike, clenched my fist and lightly slapped my cheeks.

“Chill, Mahito! You can still make it, you’re a volleyball player!”

There were still forty-five minutes left when I checked my phone.

The school was thirty-five minutes and 6.8kms away from me.

I shifted into a runner’s stance, braced my feet and took a breath.

If I didn't make it, I wouldn’t get to meet her.

Okay.

3
2
1

I took off at a fast pace.

Each street I passed brought back the promise that we made when we were kids.

Back then, five years ago. I hadn't understood what her words meant.

A quiet town in northern Saitama Prefecture.

In a park, I was sitting on a bench, tears welling up and falling onto my shorts—I tried to wipe them but they kept coming.

“What happened?” a girl asked me.

Back then I really was a crybaby. I glanced at her—the girl wore a simple white sundress with a small flower tucked into her hair.

“M-my” I sobbed, my words breaking apart.

“What?” the girl tilted her head slightly.

“M-my m-mother.”

“Your mother?”

I lowered my head again and replied. “I s-secretly heard my f-father talking to the doctor.”

“What did he say?”

I tried stopping my tears but I… broke down again.

“D-doctor s-said t-that my m-mother w-will o-only live for one year…” the tears dampened my shorts as I uttered those words.

“It will be okay!” the girl said, smiling.

When I looked at her, my eyes softened, and the tears stopped trickling down.

My family's financial condition wasn’t good, we weren’t poor but we weren’t rich either.

My father worked hard—really hard. My Mother and Father never argued, we were happy even if there were things far away from our reach.

Every day, we ate dinner together as a family on a small table, in a small house—every dinner was filled with warmth and happiness for me.

But when I was ten years old.

My mom was suddenly admitted into a hospital after a medical checkup. My family was gathered in a small hospital room.

I had stepped out of the room to get some water and when I came back, the door was ajar, the muffled voices of my father and the doctor came through the gap. In curiosity—I stopped and peeked inside.

“You're a really serious doctor?!” My dad shouted as he threw the report, his words breaking apart.

“Sorry, Ito-san.”

My father sat on a chair and covered his face with his hands.

“There r-really is no way to save my w-wife?”

The doctor hesitated.

“Yes,”

“It’s pancreatic cancer. This type of cancer is extremely aggressive—by the time symptoms appear, it’s often already advanced.”

“If it had been discovered a year earlier, there might have been options, surgery, treatment— there was a chance.”

“But now, It’s no longer curable.”

Huh?

“Ito-san, all we can do is slow its progression and keep her as comfortable as possible.”

“Your wife—doesn’t have much time left.”

My eyes widened.

Mother…?

My dad welled up.

“Honey, don’t cry.”

“I…”

“I’m sorry I won’t be able to stay much longer—Hiroshi.” My mother patted a soft rhythm on his head as she smiled.

“I’m sorry… I couldn’t do everything I was supposed to…”

“But, it's not your fault, Mio.”

“If…” My father softly slammed his fist on the table.

“If I had worked harder… If I had worked two more hours… I… This wouldn't have–”

“Stop.” she tapped his head.

“It h-hurt!”

She tilted her head slightly as she stared into my father’s eyes with her softened gaze.

“You have to give my warmth to our kids too.”

My father's eyes widened.

And so did mine.

On that day,

I made a promise to myself that I would become someone strong enough to keep my loved ones safe—every time.

–

After one year.

My mother died.

Rain poured silently onto the paved stone path as thunder rumbled through the clouds.

In the graveyard.

My father and I, clad in black suits, stood there before my mother’s grave.

Grave of the Ito Family.

Beloved Wife and Mother.

My father crouched and softly placed his hands on my shoulders.

“We have to live, Mahito.”

“This is her last wish.”

I broke into tears and nodded.

The thunder…

Kept rumbling.

–

My mother told me not to cry but.

In the same park, I was crying… crying enough to dampen my shorts.

I heard someone running and saw Yuna sprinting towards me the moment she entered the park.

“Yunaaaaa” I sobbed.

“Mahito!”

She hugged me softly, pressing my head against her chest.

“M-my m-mother…”

“Died.”

She murmured softly, her voice breaking.

“S-sorry…”

She started crying too.

“Y-Yuna…”

“I… don’t k-know w-what to d-do now—my dad and I weren’t s-strong enough to save her.”

“I-i’m w-weak…”

“Then,”

She cupped my cheeks and lifted my head up, her eyes staring into mine.

A strong breeze swept past us. Her hair fluttered as sunlight streamed onto her face with her cheeks reddened and while smiling, she said,

“Let’s get married when we're older!”

My grip softened and my tears slowed to a stop.

It was like an angel was before me giving me the hope and warmth I needed to move myself forward.

“Huh?”

“I’ll become your wife, so—let’s stay together forever!”

Yuna… Her words still lingers in my ears.

I…

just can’t forget those words—even now.

–

Fifteen minutes away from reaching Tokyo Metropolitan Izumi High School.

I have to move faster!

–

Somehow, I reached the school.

But in front of the school front gate, I slowed to a stop. There were only a few students stepping inside the school.

“Hmm?”

I’ve heard sakura trees are blooming in the week of the entrance ceremony, but—there are none.

I noticed a boy approaching wearing the same uniform as me.

“Excuse me!” I said, scratching the back of my head.

“Yes?”

“Is the entrance ceremony today?”

He slightly tilted his head, as if puzzled.

“Hmm?”

“The entrance ceremony was a week ago.”

Huh?

The leaves rustled softly, drifting around my feet in a gentle breeze.

Seriously…?

…

“Thank you!”

“It’s n-nothing to worry about,” he said.

Well, I should ask this question too.

“Uhm, why are there fewer students stepping into the school right now?” I asked with a faint smile.

He glared at me and said,

“Because you’re late.”

“I-i see…”

I expected this, and why is he glaring at me?

He’s also late.

Scary…

And I don’t have time!

“Thank you for help, I’ll see you l-later, probably.”

“Yes.”

I ran and stopped in front of the shoe lockers, while leaning against them—I sighed.

My hands in my slacks’ pocket.

Well, now I have reached the school. I should find my shoe locker and change.

Class 1-3, was it? Where are the shoe lockers?

A few steps away, I found the class 1-3 shoe lockers.

“Found it!”

“Where is my shoe locker?” I murmured, gently humming.

“Mahito Ito… Mahito Ito…”

“Oh, Found it!”

So this is my shoe locker. Whose shoe locker is next to mi–

My breath caught.

…

“I found her.”

Class 1-3

Shoe locker
Hanaoka Yuna