Thesis

*Ping – Pong – Pang – Pong*

The school's bell rang. Marking the end of Aoi's last supplementary class.

"*yawn*~ Man... Thank goodness I revised that final part with Kokona last night..."

The heat from the sun was still the same, and the cheerful sound of students participating in their summer activity around the school ground can be heard by Aoi. However, unlike others – he's just here for the supplementary class to make up for the last month's physics test.

"Hot...", he complained, flapping his shirt while cursing the rays of light radiating from the sun in the back of his mind.

During summer, he would usually took a detour to stop by a convenient store, treating himself with a nice and cold lime flavored ice cream. However, today was different.

"Hm?..."

Walking feebly towards the school's front gate, he could see a familiar silhouette of a girl accompanied by her drone, waving a lively greeting towards his direction.

"AAAOOOIII!!!", she shouted, bringing both her hands closer to her mouth, replicating a megaphone.

(Man... she's loud...), Aoi thought, releasing a friendly sigh.

Feeling refreshed by her present, he waved his hand in a small arc – replying her greeting.

As he inches closer, he could see the image of her much more clearly.

"A – O – I! I brought ice creams!"

A bit shorter than him – she wore her usual summer outfit. An oversized sun hat covering her long black hair, and a light summer dress. Holding a plastic bag on her left hand – she took out a pack of ice cream from it, and offered it to Aoi.

(Lime.)

His favourite flavor.

"Thanks Kokona."

Hearing his appreciation for her thoughtfulness, she turned a joyful smile like the one usually wore by a child. Except, she wasn't a child – but rather – his girlfriend, Kokona.

A girl full of joy. And a girl full of curiosity. He grew up along her since he can remember, having a fair share of wonderful and loopy memories together.

Seeking shelter from the summer heat, the two then went to a nearby park – about 3 minutes walk from where they were.

"Here, your cap."

"Thanks."

The two eased themselves on a wooden bench, shaded by an old Keyaki tree – all the while enjoying the cold sweets brought by Kokona.

"How peaceful~"

"Right~"

The two jest, adjusting themselves to the calm sunny day.

...

"Hey, Kokona.", Aoi broke the silence.

"Yeah~", she replied – still maintaining her tranquility.

"The thing you said that day.", he continued, referring to the event 4 days ago.

"Yeah~"

"...For real?...", he prompted – still in disbelief.

"For real~ for real~", she answered – popping a popsicle into her mouth.

...

(Unbelievable...), he thought – popping a popsicle into his mouth.

* * * * *

4 days ago – Monday – 6:32 PM – Kokona's Apartment

The date where the relationship between the two changed.

After apologizing to Kokona for something that she had already known all along – he was given an explanation to the whole cellphone thing.

(Huh... So the device wasn't real then... Wait?... She sniffed my network?), he sensed a bad premonition.

(I can't believe she went through such length just to confess to me... ...somehow... it's cute... but extreme...)

However, he can't really think of it as something admirable because her health was affected during that time – maybe for holding too much pent up stress, and staying late at night concurrently working on her AR project and the cellphone.

"I see... so Aoi love me too right?...", she asked – taking a sip from a creamy potato soup prepared by Aoi.

"Y– Yeah...", he stuttered – embarrassed by the sudden question – taking a seat on Kokona's workdesk chair, right next to her bed.

"Why?!", she closed the distance between their face – almost spilling the half-eaten soup.

"Eh?! Why? I mean... we've known each other for a long time right? Isn't it normal to develop a feeling or two along the way?", he answered – holding a sickly Kokona who's breaching his personal space.

"Eh?... I don't get that...", she pouted – clinking her melamin spoon against the edge of the bowl.

"Well, I bet no one gets it too. Love is pretty abstract if you ask me.", he crossed his arms, pondering about the subject.

"Then...", she muttered.

"Hm?", Aoi noticed a sudden shift in the air.

"Then... why did you look so sad, Aoi?...", she asked, now avoiding his face, as her clinking fell of the rhythm.

(Sad, huh...)

Aoi somehow knew what she was talking about. He felt a sense of regret for making Kokona worried about him.

Kokona is playful, yet – her capabilities isn't something to be underestimated. By the age of 9, she'd already knew the concept of networking and internet in great details. And by the age of 12, she'd already made her own simple operating system – which she integrated into ICHIGO, her companion drone. This made her to be one of a kind – prodigy.

And for that prodigy to be a friend of someone ordinary like Aoi. He felt like he was being a hindrance to her growth, while also getting left behind – unable to catch up or even stand by her side anymore.

"Kokona.", Aoi muttered – clenching his hand together.

"You're a genius, you know that right?", he continued.

"Eh?... Ah! Yes!", she responded with pride.

"Why would a genius be a friend with someone plain like me...", he asked.

The two stared silently onto each other.

"You're not plain!", Kokona denied his statement in vexation.

"But I–"

"Aoi is not plain!!!", she cut him.

"Aoi is fun! Aoi is Kokona's first friend! Aoi always helped Kokona with Kokona's experiments! Aoi is always there for Kokona! Aoi is! Aoi is... Aoi is someone Kokona love!", she declared in desperation – relieving Aoi from every grey thoughts.

Her rebuttal dismissed his worries, as if it was smashing all of them, one after another. Forcing Aoi to realize his value in Kokona's perspective. It was just a simple truth, but it came from a special person. That – in turns – soothed his pain.

"A– Aoi is!... Um!... cool!... A– Also!... Aoi!... Um!... A– Aoi is..."

Seeing her frantic demeanor – still trying her best to find Aoi's good points – lifted a smile on his face.

"*Pfft*!", he suppressed his laugh.

"A– Aoi is!... H– Hey! Why are you laughing?! Aoi?!", she was confused by his sudden reaction.

"Haha! M– My bad! My bad! It's just – how do I say this...", he refrained himself – covering his eyes with his right hand – mocking his ego for even thinking about such stupid thoughts in the first place.

"Hm?... A– Aoi?..", she inched herself closer to him – trying to look for any problem.

"Thank you! Kokona!", he lifted his face closed to her – expressing his gratitude with a nervous smile.

"Eh? Ah..."

Kokona was dumbfounded. Her cheeks flushed red as steam came out of her ears. However, instead of backing away from him, she opt to jumping him for a hug – instantly spilling the leftover soups to his face, with none hitting her.

"AAAHHH!!!!", he screamed in pain.

"I LOVE YOU! AOI!", as she expressed her love.

* * * * *

The time is now 12:36, and a sudden breeze passed through them.

"How pleasant~", the two muttered in sync.

...

"Hey Kokona.", Aoi called out to her.

"Yeah~", she replied.

"I'm gonna do my best.", he declared.

...

"Me too." she chuckled – as if receiving a challenge from him.

The two then popped an ice cream into their mouth. Stunned by a sudden brain freeze.

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