By The Pavement / Pinky Promise

Today at school, it was just okay. Normal, some would say. But what Tetsu's life had become since Yai was staying over, was anything but normal. In some aspects, he didn't really wanted it to end and go back to that empty and boring life he had, but sadly, there was nothing he could do to change the inevitable - Yai would have to go home to her brother on Saturday.

"The first day of summer vacation... A summer with Yai would've been interesting... Heh." Tetsu chuckled lightly at that thought.

"What are you smiling about?" Hiraya noticed his soft smirk.

"Ah, nothing really, just um..." he had a second to think of a lie, that'd be believable. "My mom's cooking. She wasn't home yesterday, so I had to order in, but today she'll cook again."

"Ohh!" suddenly Hiraya jumped up from excitement. "I forgot how good your mom's cooking was! I haven't been to your house in a long time. Hey, today can I come over?"

"T-today?" Tetsu drew back. Another girl to come over? But Hiraya was a good friend, she wouldn't stay long, probably...

"Yes! I have some free time and that is rarity, you know?" Hiraya pointed at Tetsu in a demanding fashion.

"Okay, okay... You can come over, sure." he gave in.

"Yayyy!" Hiraya leapt for joy. The school bell rang as she did. "Ah, we'll be late! Let's go!"

They both ran to their classrooms. They were both late.

*

School ended for today and only three more days remained. Tetsu and Hiraya went outside together.

"How about we meet in front of my house at around 5 PM?" Tetsu proposed.

"Sure! See you in an hour!" said Hiraya. She waved at him and went on her way.

The sun was getting tired of shining every day. Or maybe Tetsu himself was getting tired. There were no clouds, the sky looked crystal-clear. The shadows around him vibrated and the smell of cheap gasoline, sugar and caffeine made him gag. The heat really brought those smells in the air for the worse.

Tetsu arrived home to drop his things and went outside again. He had to find Yai to tell her to stay out a bit longer today. He didn't want misunderstandings to pile up.

"Where could she have gone?" Tetsu thought. "Maybe the railway? I'll go check there first."

And so, he went up the hill towards the green bushes. There was no one around, only the scorching sun watching him from above.

*

Hiraya was heading home happier than ever, since she'd have a "date" with Tetsudo. She got to the crossroad, where through the mist she saw him yesterday. But once again there was the girl, that was waiting for him, sitting in front of the cafe on the other side of the street, watching the passing people. She had a black ponytail and was in home clothes. Did she even go to school?

Hiraya crossed the street and stopped for a moment to get a good look at this girl - she was really pretty, beautiful even. She just smiled, while her curious eyes, that looked like little shining raisins, gazed at the people crossing the road in front of her. Her black hair rested undisturbed by the wind or passing passengers behind her. As she was sitting on the curb, occasionally some car would pass by with a gush of wind, but she'd just close her eyes and her face would say: "I want wind to blow!". And she was a friend of Tetsu, apparently...

At some point however, the girl sensed Hiraya's gaze and their eyes met. If it was across the street, then maybe Hiraya could've turned away and continued walking. But now they were just a few meters apart on the same sidewalk. So, there was no need to hide her curiosity.

"Sorry, I just saw you sitting alone..." Hiraya got embarrassed. The girl smiled.

"Come sit with me."

Hiraya thought for a second - there was no real reason to deny this offer. She might get to know her even. She went and sat next to her on the curb.

"What's your name?" the girl asked.

"Hiraya. And yours?"

"Hiraya, nice to meet you. You have a cute name. Mine is Yarusenai, but please call me Yai."

"Yai, nice to meet you too."

There was a moment of silence as the two watched the semi-busy street.

"So, are you from around here?" Hiraya asked. Yai turned to her with a slightly conflicted face.

"Um, not really..." she muttered. "I'm from a town over..."

"How did she meet with Tetsu then? Is she a childhood friend of his?"

"Yeah, I figured by your clothes. You don't have a uniform, and this is the only school around this small town. So, what are you doing here, just sitting on the sidewalk?"

"I'm... waiting for someone." Yai hesitantly said.

"So, they were planning to meet up again after school? Are they a couple of something?" Hiraya's thoughts started to race and her anxiety built up.

"Who that might be? I'm pretty social, so I know a lot of people around town." Hiraya got close to Yai's face.

"Ahaha, there's no way you know him! He's a total loner, you know?" Yai brushed aside the question.

"So it's a 'he'..." Hiraya smirked. Yai realized what she just said and got red in the face.

"It's not like that!" Yai shouted out loud. A few passengers' faces turned her way.

"Okay, okay, I won't push around..." Hiraya backed off. "But I do want to ask you, and feel free to not give an answer - Do you like anyone? Maybe that 'he' you just mentioned?"

"Eh?" Yai stood frozen.

"C'mon, girl to girl, you can tell me!" pressured her Hiraya.

"But we just met, I don't feel so comfortable telling you..." Yai mumbled quietly.

"Alright, you're free to keep it to yourself for now..." Hiraya stood up and took Yai by the hand. "But next time we see each other, you'll have to tell me!"

"Ah!..." Yai suddenly thought about her leaving on Friday and her face sank. "Sure..."

"Pinky promise?" Hiraya put out her pinky in front of Yai's face.

"Pinky... promise? What does that mean?"

"You don't know?" Hiraya was shocked.

"No..." Yai got embarrassed again.

"It's a promise that must be kept no matter what!" Hiraya smiled. "You bring your pinky here and we..." they clenched their pinkies.

"We link up like that."

Hiraya turned around and began walking away to her home. Yai watched from behind with shining raisins for eyes. Hiraya turned around and waved at her.

"Bye, Yai! Remember to keep your promise next time we see each other!"

Yai waved back, without saying anything. She stood there for a minute, collecting her thoughts until she finally turned around and headed to Tetsudo's home. The sun was shining loudly and she didn't have an umbrella. There were no clouds in the sky, only near the street - black and toxic clouds, left by the cars. But the sweet smell around - coffee and cakes - hid the toxicity of the town.

Yai got the Tetsudo's house. She stood in front of it and looked up for a while, under a tree shadow. Suddenly she heard a voice from up the street.

"Yai! Yai!" It was Tetsu, running down to the tree she stood under. "Where were you?! I was worried you got lost!"

"I was at the cafe the whole time." she answered calmly.

"Oh..." Tetsu didn't expect her to go there again. "Alright, I'm glad you didn't get lost..."

They stood still for a minute, until Yai asked him:

"Tetsu..."

"What's up?"

"I'll go back home on Friday, you know that, right?"

"I do, what about it?"

"I'll go back to my hometown, maybe not to live there or anything, but I will go back..." Yai looked and pointed at Tetsu. "...If you do something I ask of you. Deal?"

Tetsu thought for a second.

"Sure. I'll do it"

Yai raised her hand for a moment, but hesitated. Tetsu raised his eyebrow.

"What?"

"P-pinky promise..." Yai put out her pinky towards him. Tetsu smiled.

"Sure." 

Their pinkies linked up. Yai smiled.

"Let's go to the railway again!"

"Alright."

As they were getting ready to go, Tetsu's phone rang. He opened the phone to see a message by Hiraya, saying she won't be able to make it today, and she wants to delay it to tomorrow. Tetsu accepted that and shut his phone down. He closed the door and the house turned blue and lonely.