The Promise of Forever [END]

It was a beautiful, clear spring day when I attended my university graduation.

The sakura trees were already in full bloom all over Tokyo, even though it was only late March. They lined up the streets and filled the air with its pink petals, as if celebrating the coming of spring. The cool breeze brought one of the petals far into the Yasuda Auditorium of Tokyo University, where my graduation ceremony was being held.

I was half-listening to the long and winding speech from the President of Tokyo University when the stray petal caught my attention. It swirled in the wind and gently landed right on top of my black graduation robe. I picked it up, gladly letting myself be distracted from my friends’ quiet chatters around me.

The pink petal reminded me of a girl with a similar name. I looked up to the clear blue sky visible from the window, wondering for the thousandth time if she was alright, or if she was even still alive.

It had been five years since I last saw Sakuya, standing in front of her family house as I walked away from her. It had been a long and painful five years, with no news whatsoever of her movements or her well-being.

It was as if she had completely disappeared from my life.

For the first and second year, I tried being patient. I told myself many times over that she was still struggling, and it wasn’t safe to contact me. When the third year came, I got hopeful. Perhaps she’d have conquered the Kagura Family like she promised, and then she’d contact me. But the whole year came and went without any news from Sakuya.

I lost my patience and tried contacting her subordinates instead. After I separated from Sakuya that day, I learned later that all of the delinquents were accepted into the Kagura Family and sent to finish their high school education in Tokyo.

Some of them, like Ouji and Hiiro, immediately set to join as a full-time member once they graduated from school. The others chose to continue their education into college of their own choices, under the patronage of the Kagurazaki Company. To be honest, I felt a bit jealous that they got to study freely without worrying about college tuition, but then I remembered that they had to live with the risk of dying every day.

Anyway, I contacted Touma and Kazu, who were similarly attending Tokyo University like I did. Touma enrolled as a Medicine student, while Kazu chose to study Law instead. They both differed from me, who majored in Economics. But no matter how many times I tried to probe them, they always dodged the issue about Sakuya.

Fortunately, around that time I started hearing some news about Kagura Family’s surprising change of attitude. The media was abuzz with speculations that Kagura Family’s headship had changed hands, or the family was turning over a new leaf.

But there was still no news about Sakuya herself.

By the time it reached the fifth year, I’d given up. I concentrated on finishing my college studies as quickly as possible, so I’d be able to chase after Sakuya with all my might afterward.

And now, all of my efforts were about to pay off.

“…Shiba Ryuuji!”

“Here.” I stood up once my name was called as the representative for the Economics graduates.

As I received the diploma from the President, what I felt was not excitement nor pride befitting a graduate, but simply relief that I’d be able to focus all of my efforts into chasing after Sakuya without holding back anymore.

The rest of the graduation ceremony went in a blur. Once the ceremony ended, all of my fellow graduates went wild. They all cheered, exchanged pictures and promises, and enjoyed the last moment of freedom before entering the workforce.

I slipped out from the auditorium, being careful not to be caught by anyone. I walked past several of my friends, who were taking pictures with their family. I smiled slightly as I recalled the tearful faces of my parents a few days ago.

They both wanted to attend my graduation, but I persuaded them not to. Their health wasn’t like how it used to be, and I’d hate for them to strain themselves coming all the way to Tokyo. And besides, I didn’t have even a speck of intention to celebrate my graduation like a normal person.

“Aah…it’s finally over.” I sighed as I stood outside the auditorium.

I stretched my stiff body for a moment, taking in the campus sights for the last time. Green shrubs neatly decorated the garden in front of the auditorium, and stone paving led all the way toward the main gate. The road was lined with gingko trees, which made for an amazing view in autumn.

“Now then…” I finished stretching and clenched my diploma tightly. “Where should I start first?”

But before I could take the first step, the ground suddenly trembled.

“A-An earthquake?!” I reflexively crouched.

The people around me also came to the same conclusion, which led them into a panic. As they were making a commotion about evacuating, my ears caught a different sound of ruckus.

“H-Huh?” “What is that?” “Some kind of performance…?”

Everyone stopped panicking and instead focused on the strange procession that passed through the main gate. People dressed in formal, black suits marched through the campus streets, inviting everyone to gape at them in shock. They looked like a bunch of mafias ready to storm enemy headquarters, completely at odds with the campus’ serene air.

As they headed toward the auditorium, the people in black suits kept trickling into the campus like an unending river of death. I squinted my eyes to have a better look at them, while trying to guess which moron invited this large group of mafias to their graduation ceremony.

And then, I saw two familiar faces. One of them nodded at me with his unchanging scowling face, while the other smirked slyly at me.

“…eh?” I stiffened.

I quickly looked away, trying to deny the reality of the situation. Unfortunately, I saw more familiar faces in the procession. They all either grinned at me or waved at me, forcing me to accept the absurd reality.

“You’re kidding…right?” I muttered to myself as I stood back straight.

As I processed the unending stream of people, a vivid color instantly captured my attention. At the very back of the procession, standing out among the black suits, was a crimson-colored dress. The dress was designed for summer and seemed slightly outdated with the current trend, which was complemented with a jet-black cardigan that protected its wearer from the cold.

But my mind no longer processed those tiny details.

The moment I saw that familiar dress, nothing else mattered anymore.

My diploma hit the ground as I sprinted down the street, tearing through the procession of black to reach that single vivid color. Even though I nearly tripped over my graduation robe several times, I never stopped running. As if understanding my intention, those people split to the sides, allowing me a straight path right toward her.

“Sakuya-san!”

I took her into my arms and hugged her tightly, swinging her petite body around once to kill my momentum.

“Hey, Ryuu!” Sakuya laughed lightly at my emotional greeting. “Congratulations on your graduation!”

“You broke your promise!” I huffed at her nonchalant attitude. “Didn’t you promise to keep in contact with me?!”

“But I did come back to you, didn’t I?” Sakuya deflected with a bright smile.

“Ugh…you’re seriously…” I sighed, but my anger instantly melted down at the sight of her sun-like smile.

I slightly pulled myself apart to scrutinize Sakuya intently, just to make sure that she really existed and not just part of my imagination. The years that passed by had changed my physique quite considerably, but Sakuya's petite body remained the same, as if untouched by time. Only her face showed the passage of time, as her facial features matured into an adult and made her look more similar to her mother.

Unable to hold back, I hugged Sakuya tightly once again.

“I missed you, Sakuya-san.” I whispered.

“Yes…I missed you too. Sorry I’m late, Ryuu.” Sakuya replied with a hint of bitterness in her voice.

“Don’t be…I’m just glad that I can see you again. But tell me…” I pulled away and looked at her curiously. “…why did you only show up again after five whole years? What in the world happened?”

“Well…” Sakuya reflexively averted her eyes. “Let’s just say that telling you everything that happened in the last five years is enough for another book on its own. But the point is, we’ve won.”

Sakuya looked back and gestured at the yakuzas dressed in black surrounding us. I finally took a good look around and spotted some yakuzas that I’d seen five years ago. But there were more new faces that I’d never seen before.

“Just as you said, we transformed the Kagura Family.” Sakuya announced proudly. “We prevailed over my father, united the whole family, and made it so that no more unfortunate children will be born. The old Kagura Family is gone.”

“That’s…” I let out a gasp. “That’s amazing, Sakuya-san! Doesn’t that mean…?”

Sakuya nodded. “That means I’ve come here to pick you up as we promised.”

For a moment, silence fell upon us as I tried my hardest to remember what exactly Sakuya was talking about. After racking my brain and turning it upside down, I concluded that I had exactly zero idea of the so-called promise.

I quietly put Sakuya down to the ground, ignoring her confused expression, and crossed my arms.

“…Sakuya-san, do correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think we’ve ever made a promise like that.” I narrowed my eyes.

“Oh, we didn’t?” Sakuya playfully raised her eyebrow. “Then, let’s make one now.”

“That’s not how promises work!” I retorted, feeling nostalgic of our absurd exchange.

Sakuya laughed, clearly enjoying the same feeling. Pulled along by the sound of her pure, innocent laughter, I started laughing as well. At this moment, I put aside all of my questions and simply enjoyed the happiness that came from meeting Sakuya once again.

When our laughter receded, Sakuya cleared her throat and assumed a serious expression. Seeing her like that made me realize anew that she had indeed matured into an adult now, and left behind her childlike, whimsical self.

“Ryuu, there’s something I need to tell you first.” Sakuya said.

I nodded at her words. My brain started spinning furiously, trying to guess what she was going to say to me now. Perhaps she wanted to apologize for disappearing without any contact for five years. And that she was going to keep me by her side now, with no regards to my opinion as usual. Or perhaps, that her feelings for me hadn’t changed at all…

However, what came out of her mouth next was enough to make me freeze instantly.

“Ryuu, I’m sorry that I came to find you again after five years.”

“…huh?” I let out a dumb voice.

Sakuya lowered her head to me, hiding her face away.

“I knew that you’re doing just fine these past five years, living happily as a successful, ordinary person like you’ve always wanted to be. I knew that I’m supposed to leave you alone, so that you can find the right person for you.”

“No…wait…”

“But…I’m a selfish person. Even though I’d let you go five years ago, I still want you to stay by my side.”

“No, that’s not…”

“I’m really sorry, I know it’s terribly selfish of me. This might be troublesome for you, but can you please reject me so that I can move on—”

“SAKUYA-SAN, WILL YOU LISTEN TO ME?!”

I finally ran out of patience and yelled out, interrupting Sakuya’s monologue. She lifted her face and looked at me with wide eyes, too stunned to even speak.

“Haa…Sakuya-san, why are you apologizing for coming to see me?” I sighed in exasperation.

“Huh? That’s…”

“In the first place, why did you assume that I was living happily all these years?”

“W-Well, the reports said so…”

“Like hell I was! I was desperately looking for you this whole time! I even went through my thesis as fast as possible without caring for my grades just so I can graduate earlier and go find you! That’s how desperate I am to see you again!” I slammed my hand on my chest as I shouted my true feelings.

Sakuya’s face turned the same shade of red as her dress. Her lips trembled, but not a single word came out of it.

“Sakuya-san. Did you know…” I reached out and held her small hand. “…that the only reason I could endure five years without you was the single hope that someday, I will be able to see you one more time.”

I brought her hand to my lips and kissed it softly, pretending not to notice Sakuya’s small yelp. Her subordinates made a ruckus around us, but I ignored them as well. The only person that mattered right now was the one in front of me.

“That’s why, please let me stay—no, that’s not quite right.” I corrected myself. “I won’t let you disappear on me again, nor will I let you send me away. I’ve learned that I’ll lose the thing I want the most if I let go, so this time…” I looked at her with sharp glint in my eyes. “…I won’t let go, no matter what happens. Will you allow it, Sakuya-san?”

Hearing that, Sakuya’s face broke out into a brilliant smile. She looked like she was about to cry, but her wide smile conveyed how happy she was.

“Ryuu…are you absolutely sure? You won’t be able to take it back once you’ve said it.” Sakuya asked.

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“I’ve changed in these past five years, you know? I’ve done unspeakable things and tainted my hands. Will you still see me the same way?”

“I’ll just think about it as another side of you that I need to accept, Sakuya-san.”

“The world of yakuza is dangerous, you know? You could lose your life like my brother, despite my protection. You could live a better life if you remained ordinary.”

“It’s meaningless if you’re not with me. I don’t want a life without you.”

“Ah geez…” Sakuya laughed lightly. “There really is nothing that can shake you now, huh?”

“Nope, none at all.” I grinned.

“Well then…” Sakuya took out a small box from the pocket of her cardigan.

“…!”

As I was frozen with surprise, Sakuya shot me a mischievous smile and opened the small box, revealing a gold ring laid with precious jewels.

“Ryuu—no, Shiba Ryuuji, will you stay by my side forever?” She asked me.

All sorts of emotion welled up inside my chest, but there was one emotion that dominated them all—happiness. I finally met the girl that I’d been searching for all this time, and she’d asked me to be with her forever. How could I ever feel otherwise?

Instead of answering, I bent down and swept Sakuya off her feet, cradling her in my arms like a princess. Her eyes widened and she nearly dropped her ring box.

“I thought you came here to say goodbye to me?” I teased her.

“Did you seriously think that I can let you go just like that? I thought you knew me better than that.” Sakuya laughed. “I’ve come prepared to abduct you in a worst case scenario, so I’m glad we didn’t have to go that far.”

Chills ran down my spine when I imagined that possibility. “…Sakuya-san, your love is really heavy, huh?”

“Are you regretting it now?” Sakuya asked with a light tone, but when I looked into her eyes, I knew that she’d be willing to put the ring away and leave if I ever said yes.

“As if you can get rid of me that easily.”

I leaned closer to her and gently kissed her.

“I love you, Sakuya-san.” I murmured softly.

I was about to kiss her again when Sakuya stopped me. She took my left hand and carefully put the ring on my ring finger. Then she landed a light kiss on that finger.

“This is the proof of our promise.” Sakuya’s smile was so dazzling that I almost couldn’t bear to look at her.

“Sure, although I’m already yours even without it.” I took her hand and gave a kiss on the same spot.

Then we looked at each other and laughed.

“ “Forever.” ”

We both agreed before leaning closer to seal our vow with a kiss.