That night, I decided that I should went back with my mom to her house. So, that my step mother would had more time to look after my father and my brothers and with this I could also had sometime to work on my problems. I thought that it would be a good decision for us.
The following next day, I were ready to go to my mother's house in Osaka. Both, Aki and Akihiko, were crying big tears of sadness from their little watery eyes and telling me to not go.
" Sister, don't go. We're gonna miss you. ", Akihiko said while crying and wiping his snot.
" Yes sister, Akihiko is right. Papa has already living far from us in a hospital. Now, you're also going far from us. ", he's also sniffling.
They both were pulling my hands, so that, I couldn't go with my mom. My face also made a sad expression by looking at them. I got overwhelmed by them. I bent down in front of them and hold their little hands . I putted a small cactus pot into their hands.
I gave out a smile and said with a coaxing voice, " Aki chan and Akihiko chan. "
" Yes! "
" Do you know, who's she? "
They both nodded their head, Aki raised his one hand and said excitedly, " I know, I know, she's big sister's best friend, Mini chan. "
I exclaimed and clapped for Aki, " Very good! " He got very happy as I praised him.
" So, last night, Mini chan was telling me that she's missing her papa like Aki chan and Akihiko chan, and told me that, she wanted to go outside and find her father. " I looked at them and they're listening so seriously, that it made them more cute.
" But she's so small and weak, that I'm afraid some bad guy will kidnap her. So, I promised her that I'll find her father and bring him here to meet with her. "
I made a puppy face and persuaded them, " So please, let me go. I promise, I'll come back soon with her father. "
They both think for a second, and Aki said first, " Will it make her happy? " I nodded my head energetically.
" Then, we'll let you go, but you've to promised with us you've to return back fast, okay. " Aki said it with a serious look, and took his little pinky finger close to my fingers.
I took his pink with my pinky finger and nodded my head, " Yes! I promise. I'll try to come back as soon as possible. ", and smiled at him.
Akihiko jumped cheerfully and said, " Oh! Oh! Until then big sister, I and big brother, will look after Mini chan. So that, you can find Mini chan's papa without worrying about her. You can rest assure, Big sister. "
I got surprised by their such innocent acts. I hugged them tightly into my embrace and said in my heart, "[ I'm sorry, Aki and Akihiko, for leaving you both. I'm really a cruel person. ]" I slowly release them from my embrace, and smiled at them. I stood up and ruffled their hair.
At last, my step mom came near me. Her face held a very warm and motherly expression. She gave me a big hug and whispered into my ear while still hugging me, " If you ever feel to come back home, so, please don't hesitate. We will feel delight to welcome you again. Hmm, Masuyo chan. " I hugged her back with my arms tightly around him like a baby monkey hugged it's mother. I buried my head into her hair and nodded it in response as yes. Even though, she's not my birth mother but she loved me dearly as she loved her both kids and never did differentiate between us. I finally said goodbye to them and took my leave with my mother.
. . . . . . . . . .
As days passed by, I get accommodated myself with a new life style. Since, my father's house was in Kyoto, it didn't take us much time to arrived at her house. My mom took me to my new school which was a local school named, ' Hashimoto Senior High School '. Since, I didn't know anything about this new place, my mom recommended it to me. It was my first day of school so, my mom came with me with her car. I walked out from her car outside the school at its entrance gate. I paused for a second and slowly waved my hand at her for good bye. Despite being, my face didn't show any kind of affection, she still smiled at me and waved back her hand. It made my heart warm.
My outdoor shoes were changed into indoor shoes. I was holding a single paper sheet in my hand in which the information about my new class was written like what's my classroom number, which subject period would be first, who would be my homeroom teacher, etc. In between going to the class, I were observing my school. I were walking in it's busy hallway where were many other students were laughing and chatting while going to their classes. I'm an introvert but I never be afraid of crowd and new people. It's just, I can't express my emotions and desires into words . I looked around curiously and my eyes fell upon the sight of a beautiful garden at the center of my school buildings which was surrounding it from three sides. It had many beautiful and colorful flowers on which some butterflies were flapping their wings over them and some other butterflies were drinking their sweet nectar. I were so mesmerized by it's beauty that I couldn't control myself and took out my mobile phone from my skirt's pocket and snapped a picture of it. It came out very beautiful.
" Excuse me, you can't bring your phone to school. ", my ears rang with a familiar gentle voice. I turned my head to look back at that person. My eyes widen in surprise. "[ He is the same person whom I met in park at night ]", I exclaimed. He was taking his steps forward in my direction. At that time, I could only got a glimpse of him since it was dark. But at this moment, his face was radiating handsomely. He bore an intellectual aura around him. My face became flustered with this sudden encounter. I hastily lowered my head and put my phone back into my pocket. He stood in front of me. I startled and slowly moved up my head with a poker face. I were trying hard to not get caught by him that I were deliberately trying to avoid my eyes to meet with his eyes and from nowhere words themselves spoke out from my mouth, " A- ah! I-I'm sorry. Actually, I-I didn't know that since it's my first day of school. I will no-not take it with me from tomo- ". " No, no, I'm sorry. ", His words interrupted mine. His face looked surprised.
He rubbed the back of his head with his hand in embarrassment because of mistake he had done. He continued his talking with an apologizingly look on his face, " Actually, the school committee has banned mobile phones for senior high school this year. If they found out your phone, they will gonna confiscate it. I'm sorry that I get you wrong. ", and he bowed his head in front of me as an apology. I got surprised by his sudden apology and said in flurry, " No, no, it's okay. You don't have to do this. You're just precautioning me. Instead, I should thanked you. " He lifted up his head and smiled at me. His smile caused a great stirred in my heart. At that time, I didn't know what was that feeling but now I know.
" Oi! Ayamu, let's go. It's time for class now. ", an energetic and loud voice came from the other side of hallway interrupting our conservation. I thought in my mind, "[ Ah! So, his name is Ayamu. ]" We both looked at that person. A boy with a slightly tall and strong stature than Minamoto kun was calling him. It was his best friend, Komatsu kun, with Takahashi kun standing beside him. Both were impatiently waiting for him. Minamoto kun looked at me and said, " I think, I have to go now. Take care and welcome to our school. " He smiled at me and I just nodded my head. " Oi! Hurry up. We're gonna late for class. ", Komatsu kun remind him again with his impatient voice. He left me and ran toward his friends. At that he was also laughing and chatting with his friends like he's doing right now.
At first, I just watched him, out of curiosity because in my entire life, I've never seen such an interesting person like Minamoto kun. But soon after as seasons were changing, my feelings for him were also started changing. My curiosity bloomed into attraction , attraction bloomed into admiration and finally admiration bloomed into a never-ending season of love. His kind behavior and sense of understanding of other peoples' feelings made me fell for him.
" Aizawa, Aizawa, Aizawa Masuyo! ", when I were sank deep into the sea of my beautiful past memories. I didn't noticed that Nakamura sensei has already entered into the classroom. I get startles by his loud voice and stand up from my seat hastily and shout loudly with a troubled face, " Ye-yes sir! ". Everyone in my class laughs at me, except Minamoto kun. He just looks surprise. Nakamura sensei taps his hand harder on his table while sitting on his seat which is located at a few distance away in front of our class' blackboard. He warns them with a serious tone, " Everybody keep quiet. It's your school, not your home. So, please maintains silence in class, okay. " Everybody get silent and nodded their head in response. Nakamura sensei is looking satisfied from their behavior and takes his attention back at me. He then approaches me with an interrogation and asks, " And you, Aizawa Masuyo, why weren't you responding back on your name earlier? Why is your mind not present in this classroom? Where does it wandering around? " I bow down and apologize, " I'm sorry, sir. This won't gonna happen in future. " He also look satisfied with my apology and says, " It's okay for now. But I won't be tolerated it in future. Good, now sit down back on your seat. " And then he continues to take attendance of our class.
I get embarrassed but neither because of Nakamura sensei scolded me in front of the whole nor everyone in the class laughed at me. But because of, I showed Minamoto kun such an embarrassing side of mine to him. My reputation in front of him has now goes down into minus and also, it's the second time since morning. I am crying invisible tears of my bad luck. I feel like please someone come and drag me away from this disgrace scene of mine. I want to show him my graceful sides also.
Nakamura sensei stands up from his seat and clears his throat, " Ahem, ahem, attention please! I want to inform something important to you people. " Everyone including myself also, focuses their eyes, ears and mind all at Nakamura sensei. He continues his talk again, " As you can see our class president, Sato kun, is not present today because he had got some personal matters to attend. And I'm guessing it, he'll not be able to attend classes before summer vacation starts. So, until then he decided to give his presidency to Minamoto kun. " Takahashi kun beside Minamoto kun jumps in surprise and complains to him jokingly, " You traitor! I were just absent for one day and you already started to keep things secret from me. You didn't tell me about this. You ungrateful snake. ", and laughs. The entire class which was silent, now, burst into a laughter. Nakamura sensei also chuckles lightly while slowly shaking his head at his joke. He looks at Minamoto kun and says, " Minamoto kun, please come here. " He stands up from his seat and walks to the teacher. He first bows down his head in front of teacher then looks at us. His face has a very calm and confident expression with a light smile on it. He speaks, " My friends, It's been only one day of mine at this class and I've already been so much trusted by our class president that he decided to bestow upon me with such great responsibility of his to me. I only hope to not disappoint him, sensei and you all. Thank you! " I am just looking at his confidence and work-spirit which makes me so proud of him.
. . . . . . . . .
After attending all five periods, we're in our sixth and last period and after that we'll able to go back. That's why many students were patiently waiting and looking at three hands of the wall clock. But I'm not that much eager about that, instead, I am sad that now I've to part with Minamoto kun. As just the school bell rings for ending of today's school, students pack their bags in a flash and are ready to leave. But before leaving, the class president has to greet good bye to the teacher. So, they're just waiting for Minamoto kun to greet teacher. He stands up from his seat and finally greets him, " I, Minamoto Ayumo, as a new class president of class 2'B', greets sensei goodbye from me and my class. Thank you for taking caring of us, sensei. " The teacher nods and finally leaves the class. After following him, all students are also start leaving the classroom.