I Remember you

"Kai we are here, we are at the old mountain shrine look"

"Suzuki – San lets go back obachan will be mad"

"Okay but just promise me you will not be a cry baby anymore after I go back to Tokyo tomorrow"

"Hmm I promise"

[I woken up]

This again, her voice is still in my dreams, it's been eight years since that day.

"Kai, have you woken up? You are going to be late for your first day of high school"

"Yes! Mom, I am just changing" of course I lied to her, I can't just tell her that I am going to be late for my first day of high school.

They say a promise to the loved ones is never be broken till the very end but what if you don't know about the person you used to love anymore?

Everything in this world has contradictions but it's us who choose it because we know that it's the right thing to choose.

"Kai, you have not changed yet? You are going to be late for school"

DOOR SLAMMED

Today is my first day of high school, I think I am going to join the soccer or baseball club it depends upon me. I am pretty goods at study, but it's not a thing I can brag about.

"Mom I am off"

It was a usual warm spring day, Sakura leaves falling, birds chirping, and welcoming a new season. I noticed many students heading towards the same high school as me.

"Kai......." I didn't realize who was calling my name on the street with so many individuals.

"Kai here, turn around"

It turns out that, it was my friend Itsuki calling me from a faraway distance.

[He ran towards me]

"Hey! Itsuki what is it?"

"Have you decided about the clubs?"

"Yaa maybe baseball or soccer club. What about you?

"Yaa maybe baseball"

Itsuki Tanaka is my childhood friend, we have been together since preprimary. He is the guy who is good at everything, I sometimes get envious of him but I am also glad to find him, and he is the only guy who knows about Suzuki San.

"Kai, are you alright? You are looking gloomy today, cheer up!! It's the first day of our school"

"Yaa, I am okay, thanks. Ahh.... hey, do you remember about Suzuki -San?"

As I mentioned, he is the only guy who knows about her, he also knows from the start that I love her for a long time now. We three used to be friends at that time.

"Hmmm, I remember her, the girl from Tokyo, we met her when you used to be a crybaby back then hahaha. I miss that part of you but I know you kept her promise since then"

We reach the school, I can spot all the students going towards the main gate, there were all kind of people popular, Overactive, Hard Worker, dramatic. Some of them were talking about clubs, girls, classes, a dumb manga too.

"Itsuki Kun, Kai Kun" A voice called for us, Ichika Sato, we all have been friends from middle school who ended up in the same high school. Ichika San is a smart and cute girl who can do anything, also in middle school a lot of boys used to have a crush on her but she likes Itsuki. Of course, Itsuki knows about it, he cares about her, he always helps her but he never reciprocated her feelings.

"We are in the same class again, Itsuki I told you no one is taking you away from me"

[Itsuki laughs]

"Kai, Ichika San let's make it a fun year again"

[I nodded]

I hope this be a fun year, hope I could meet you again Suzuki San.

"Okay guys I need to go now I need to take a glimpse of the school"

"Yaa fine, you go ahead we will meet you in the classroom"

"Later"

Ichika San was happy as always, I wonder that does she ever cry. Today is the first day of her high school and she already went for a tour, how excited can anyone be on their first day of high school?

"Kai let's proceed towards the classroom"

"hmmm"

As we were moving towards the classroom talking about different stuff, I noticed a girl passing by us. When I looked at her, I was stunned for a sec it was her, its Suzuki San.

[I ran towards her]

"Kai! Where are you going?"

I was so happy to see her, I called out her name with everything I got.

"Suzuki San!!"

As she turned towards me, I hugged her.

[Everyone in the hallway staring at me]

"Suzuki San where have you been, I have kept my promise all these years. Why didn't you?"

What was going to come was unexpected.

[ she smiles at me and replied]

"Yes, I am Mayu Suzuki, but I don't know you. I think you got the wrong person"

I was sure she was Suzuki San the same girl I have met eight years ago, but why did she....

I thought she would be happy to see me. People say the tongue has no bones, but it is strong enough to break your heart, those words from her did break my heart. The person I loved for a long time, kept my promise too, had failed to recall me, its like I never existed for her.

Back then I was a crybaby and a shy kid who never used to talk to anyone because everyone made fun of me. I was not a person who have many friends, the only friend I have was Itsuki, he became my friend when I forget my bento at home and he ends up sharing food with me.

One summer day, while walking back home from Itsuki place, I saw a girl the same age as me holding a hand with her grandma staring at me. I got terrified when they started walking towards me, I started crying louder and louder with each step they took towards me. No, maybe I started screaming "Help" with my tears overflowing from my eyes.

"Are you a crybaby?" it was the girl, she smiled at me and asked this with her sweet voice.

[I know it was practically an insult]

"Hello dear, what's your name? My apologies for her manners, she is Mayu Suzuki and I am her grandma"

Her grandma was very kind to me, she used to always smile at me.

"She has come to visit me on her vacation. She doesn't have any friends here; would you like to be friends with her?"

"No...... yes............" I was so confused that what am I supposed to do in this situation, I was just about to cry then a pleasant voice approached into my ears.

"Will you please be my friend?" she extended her hand towards me for a handshake.

"I am kai Iswaki, okay L... let's be friends "I didn't want to make grandma worry about her.

"Please take care of Mayu for me"

"Yes, I will obachan"

After that she took us to the candy shop, at first, I thought that I can't even take care of myself how I am going to take care of her.

"Obachan what if I fail to take care of Suzuki San?"

[she smiled at me with the prettiest smile she could]

"I know you can do it"

"Why did you choose me to be her friend? You could have chosen anyone, I cry at little things, I even don't have many friends" I asked her out of curiosity

She held my hand and replied "It was not me who chose you, it was Mayu who have chosen you"

After that day, we used a play a lot in her garden. Obachan used to watch us play, she didn't stop smiling whenever I look at her.

"Cry Kun what are we going to play today?" she used to call me Cry Kun instead of Kai Kun.

"Do you want to play Kendama?" I don't know what type of games do girls like, I always play this with Itsuki so I am pretty good at it.

We played kendama till afternoon and to be honest she was better than me.

"Cry Kun don't you have any friends other than me?"

"Yaa, I have Itsuki, he is my best friend. Wait I will introduce you to him someday" I replied with a smile

"Ohhh so, you have friends"

After listening to her words, I became more curious about why she chose me as her friend.

"Suzuki San, why did you choose me as your friend?"

She turned around and smiles at me and replied "That's a secret" that was the sweetest smile I have ever seen. she had long soft black hair, always open. She had brown eyes, while looking at her sometimes I wonder are girls this pretty?

The day passed we became closer and closer; I even introduce her to Itsuki. We three used to play a lot at that time. Obachan used to cook a meal for us, it was flavorful, I have never forgotten the taste of her meal.

[Itsuki started calling me cry Kun too]

One day I got fed up and told her that will you stop calling me that, I am Kai Iswaki.

"Okay I will call you by your name but only on one condition, I will drop the honorific" replied with a sly smile.

"WHAT! But honorific?"

"Okay if you are not fine then I will call you Cry Kun only"

"NO! it's fine you can call me Kai" Kai is better than Cry Kun right? I questioned myself.

Itsuki went to his dad for vacation he worked overseas so, we were again left alone, that day obachan came to us while we were playing,

"Do you two want to go to the Hanabi festival?"

Suzuki San and I were very happy to hear that, Obachan told me that they will be waiting for me Tomorrow at 7 pm.

The next day I went there I can see obachan waiting for me, I can realize a girl hiding behind her, I noticed that the girl was Suzuki San. She was wearing a yukata, hair tied it made me blush.

"Mayu didn't you wanted to ask something to Kai Kun?"

"Kai How am I look...... Ing" Her face was bright red; I had never seen this side of her before.

"You are looking great" I smiled and replied.

[We both were blushing after that]

Obachan held our hands and began walking towards the Hanabi festival, there was an awkward silence between me and Suzuki San on the complete journey. We were looking at each other and turning away. When we reached the festival, obachan bought us candies, chocolates, yakisoba, and many other kinds of stuff. She was like a grandma to me always smiling whenever I saw her. Obachan's friends saw her with us they called obachan, she didn't want to leave us alone so she told us to sit on the bench near the shop.

"Dear I will be back soon you two please wait here for a bit, Take care of her Kai Kun"

We were waiting for her to come back when Suzuki San said something to me, I was not able to understand what she was saying because of the noise around us, then she whispered to me

"Kai come with me, grandma told me that near the festival there is an old mountain shrine, grandma used to play there a lot when she was young. I wanted to visit the shrine lets go"

"We can't, obachan will be worried if she sees we are not here, she told me to take care of you"

"Yes, but we will be back soon" she held my hand started dragging me towards the mountain steps, while we were running towards the mountain. I could see her face; she was very excited to visit the shrine. It took us 15 minutes to reach the shrine.

"Kai we are here, we are at the old mountain shrine look" she was smiling at me with the same smile I saw the first day, I realize she is having a great time here, I didn't say a word. The shrine was old and by looking at it I could say that it's closed for years. I could see the moonlight from the shrine it was so beautiful.

"Suzuki – San lets go back obachan will be mad" I shouted to her

"Okay but just promise me you will not be a cry baby anymore after I go back to Tokyo tomorrow"

"Hmm I promise"

I didn't Understand why did she ask me to make a weird promise here.

"Kai that day you asked me why I chose you to be my friend right?"

"Yes, but that's not important now let's go back"

"No, it's important because after I arrived here, I didn't have any friends I spend all my day watching tv. I was lonely, grandma saw that right through me and told me that she will find me a friend to play with. On that day I chose you because you looked lonelier than me"

She chose me because for my sake if I thought about it now Yaa I was lonely, without Itsuki I am lonely. She is the only friend I have other than him. After hearing that it made me cry.

[Suzuki San held my hand once again]

"Didn't you promise something to me kai?"

"I am sorry, I will not cry I will become strong I promise," I told her that with all my heart.

"There is one more reason that I always want you to be my friend"

"And what is it?"

[BOOM! Fireworks begun]

"Kai looks it's the firework, it has begun"

We enjoyed the firework from the mountain that day it was so beautiful, I looked at her, eyes shining bright and the happiest smile, she was beautiful.

"Thank you for coming with me here, I will never forget this day"

"Let's head back"

We went to the bench again after the fireworks were over, obachan is not yet here we were safe for now. When I turned my face to look at Suzuki San, she was already looking at me (smiling).

She told me something but I can't understand her again because of the noise.

"Did you say something?" I asked with a confused look.

[she laughed and turned away]

"It's nothing"

After few minutes grandma came to us "I am sorry my dear, I missed the firework together. Have you both enjoyed it?"

[I was nervous to answer her]

"Yes, we enjoyed it a lot, right Kai?" Suzuki San replied with a chuckle looking towards me.

We came back home with lots of memories that day.

The next day, when I reached her home to play, I saw a taxi parked outside her home, Suzuki San and grandma were standing outside the house with bags.

[I rushed towards them]

"Suzuki San, obachan are you going somewhere?"

[Obachan hugged me]

"Yes, Kai we have to leave to Tokyo its urgent Suzuki San mom is calling us to live with her for some time as her dad is moving overseas for some work"

She wiped my tears and said "You have been like my grandchild, thank you for always taking care of my Mayu"

Now I think about it she is was like my grandma.

"I am going to miss you Obachan"

"Oh, dear! I am going to come back soon okay" She smiles at me.

"Kai"

I turned around to look at Suzuki San, she moved forward and hugged me, "You are bad at keeping the promise you know"

"Are you ever going to come again?"

"I promise you I will come again to see you if you promise to be strong next time we meet. Thank you for always being my friend Kai. I am never going to forget you", the smile she gave me at that moment I can't understand that she was happy or sad.

As they went inside the taxi, obachan and Suzuki San waving from the back seat going far away, I was waving back saying them my last goodbyes. From the day I decided that I will be strong and keep my promise to her so that she comes to visit me again someday.

I joined cram school, learn many sports, and tried to work hard to be the guy anyone can rely on.

"Hey kai why are you going that far for her?" Itsuki asked me casually but at that moment I realize that I was in love with her.

I told Itsuki about that day and he said he will always be by my side, to see the result of that day when she will come again to see me.

I went to check Obachan's house with Itsuki in the evening every day but a year had passed neither did Suzuki San came back nor obachan, after few months I gave up.

Since then, 8 years have passed and now we ended up in the same school after so many years and she even can't recognize me.

"Itsuki isn't she her or I have mistaken?"

"No, you have not been mistaken she is her she even told her name Mayu Suzuki"

"Then why the heck she didn't recognize me?"

"Kai! it's been years since she met us, she really must have forgotten us don't you think? Maybe try to tell her about the time you met her"

"hmm"

"Now, let's go to the classroom first or else we are going to be late"

When we entered the classroom, we took a glimpse of the class there were many kinds of people around discussing random things. I wondered that I am ever going to be comfortable in this class, Ichika San was already here, she also reserved two seats for us. We went there without talking to anyone.

"How was your high school tour?"

"There is a gym in the backside of the main building, baseball, soccer ground too"

"Did you like the school?"

"Yes, I loved it. by the way, what took you two so long to reached the classroom?"

"Ohh Yaa some stuff came up I will tell you about it later"

[Itsuki took the seat beside Ichika San and I took the seat behind her]

"Hey listen to you both I made a new friend when I was taking the tour of the school, she was lost in the left side building and I found out that she is in the same class as ours"

[she pointed her finger to the table next to me]

When Itsuki and I turned towards my right guess who was sitting next to me, she was none other than the girl I hugged in the hallway.

"Suzuki San these are my friend I was talking about"

Of course, there was an awkward silence between us.

"Guys this is Suzuki San"

Itsuki started the conversation "hello"

I was all red after the incident so I was facing the other way around.

"Kai Kun" as the voice entered my ears, I quickly turned towards the voice I have heard before, it was Suzuki San "you are Kai Kun, right Ichika San was talking about?"

For a second, I thought she recognize me but it was Ichika San who told her about me instead.

"Konichiwa," I said with awkwardness.

"That was a sharp guess you got there Suzuki San or have you guys met before?" Ichika San asked.

"I don't know about that but they have hugged before" Itsuki replied with a chuckle.

[Suzuki San and I started blushing with the awkward silence]

"What!! When did you guys" Ichika San was amazed?

"Yaa sorry it was my mistake; I am sorry for that Suzuki San"

"Oh, it's fine it's not like you did it on purpose and I can tell that by looking your face at that moment"

"Kai Kun is pervert, Kai kun is a pervert" Ichika San sang it with a sly smile.

[everyone laughed after hearing it including me]

After then Suzuki San looked towards Itsuki "and you are......"

"He is the love of my life" Ichika San announced instantly.

[Suzuki San was shocked but it made me laugh though]

"Hey that's not part of my introduction" Itsuki answered more instantly than Ichika San.

"That was pretty straightforward Ichika San" Suzuki San responded.

"Let me introduce myself I am Itsuki Tanaka, nice to meet you"

We were having a lot of fun in the little chit chat ours but inside me, there was still a part who was curious or was not believing that Suzuki San didn't recognize me, at the end when I last saw her, she told me she is never going to forget me. I want to show Suzuki San that because of her I have become strong the person she wished me to be, who she can rely on.

I was in deep thought that day whenever I looked at her, she looked the same to me the same brown eyes, long smooth black hair, her smile, she didn't even change her hairstyle. There was just one thing that did change is that she looks lonely this time more than me. I told Itsuki to tell everything to Ichika San so that she doesn't make it more awkward between us and maybe she could help.

"Ichika San, can I borrow you for a bit? I need to talk to you about something"

"Are you going to confess your love to me?" Ichika said with a fluttering eyes laches

[itsuki smacked Ichika San's head took her out]

The only ones left were me and Suzuki San in the class, it was still uncomfortable for me to talk to her after what I did this morning, it was embarrassing if I recall the morning incident again.

"Kai Kun, are you okay why are you so gloomy today?"

"No, I am fine"

"Suzuki San, can I ask you something have we met before?"

"I don't think so, I saw you first time this morning"

So, she didn't recognize me then, I was that unimportant. Maybe I can make her recall me once again. Ichika San and Itsuki came back after the conservation, everyone was silent for a bit, Suzuki San stood up for going to the restroom. As she went out of the classroom the real conversation started.

"Kai Kun you really should have told me about her, you too have a love life like me" Ichika San laughed.

"I am sorry but I thought I am never going to meet her again so it's better that I don't tell anyone about it now"

"So, you did change for her and kept your promise so that one day she comes to meet you again, how romantic"

"Yaa! he was a crybaby back then right Cry Kun," Itsuki said while teasing me.

"Hey you Mr. prodigy don't call me that, I am not the person anymore"

[Ichika San was having fun listening to this conversation]

"So, you guys had fun at that time, I wish I met you all before"

"Hey, it's not like that Ichika San, let's make this year fun too with you in the picture, okay?" I responded.

[Ichika San smiled at us]

"I am glad that I met you guys"

This was the first time I have seen her a bit emotional, By the way, I am also happy to find them as my friend. Without Itsuki I would have fallen back then, He supported me for being who I want to be and Ichika San was the person who always helped with my homework, or whenever I was feeling down, she always made me laugh.

"Thank you, Itsuki and Ichika San for always being there for me"

"Hey, are you going to cry now Cry.... Kun ha-ha?"

"I told you don't call me that"

I think this year is going to be fun.

"Hey have you decided how are you going to make her recall you again?" Ichika San asked me out of interest.

"When we were out did you two old buddies talk? Itsuki interrogated me.

"No! I asked her about meeting in the past but her answer was the same"

"Okay so...." Suzuki San entered the classroom so; I really can't tell them about the details or about asked their suggestion about this matter.

"Are you guys having a fun conversation while I am gone"

"No! it was just about an anime I am watching"

Now if she is here maybe Obachan must be back too, she might recognize me, I will visit her before Suzuki San reaches home so that I can talk to her about this first. Yes, I am going to meet her after school, I just hope she recognizes me. I missed her, but first I need to tell this to Itsuki so, he and Ichika San could buy me some time or at least help me sneak first.

"Make sure to buy me some time okay Guys"

Itsuki and Ichika San shows me a thumbs up.

[After the bell rang, I sprinted towards the door]