Ryota's POV. Student Council Room.
Another day at the Student Council Room.
Ryota: As much as I want to go home and relax for a bit......
I opened the Student Council Room and what welcomed me is......
Ishigami: All guys who wear boxer briefs are man whores!
Ryota: *enters the door quietly*
When I entered the room, there is Ishigami who just said that line, Fujiwara-san who just used Siri to search the definition of the word man whore, and Shinomiya-san who looked at Fujiwara-san's phone now having a look of total shock.
Ryota: Just what the hell are they talking about again?
And somehow, a few days ago, Iino told me about what she heard and saw at the student council, especially with the Prez and Shinomiya-san.
I told her that it may be just a misunderstanding and when I asked both of them, the misunderstanding was cleared up.
Ryota: Seriously, get pull yourselves together.
I was also kinda busy with the band practice so I had to balance my time.
Especially, since the Fall Music Contest was earlier than we expected, we had a lot of time, for the Winter Fest and especially, for the School Festival.
Now, once more, I went to the Student Council Room and somehow, it is peaceful than usual.....
And the thing was, there are some mangas at the table.
And Ishigami was reading one of the volumes.
Ryota: Yo, prez, Ishigami.
Miyuki: Oh, Kaedehara.
Ishigami: Sup.
Ryota: Wait, that manga........
I sat on the couch in across where the prez and Ishigami are sitting.
Miyuki: You know about that manga?
Ryota: Yep, my cousin reads it whenever we she has free time and even recommended it to me.
Ishigami: Eh. Have you read it?
Ryota: Yep. But I barely started, thanks to being busy.
Ishigami: Ah, that's fine, senpai. At the very least, you can read it at your own pace or binge read it.
Ishigami: Rather than waiting for the volume release which takes at least a few months.
Ryota: Ah, I read manga in my phone. My cousin knows a lot of manga websites that are reliable and easy to access.
Ishigami: That's nice.
Ishigami just flips the pages of the manga.
Ryota: So, can you tell me the context of the manga so that I can understand it as I read the story progress.
Ishigami: Hmmm, you may be surprised but the Prez also reads this stuff, am I right?
Miyuki: Yeah.
Miyuki: Just like Kaedehara, I read it when someone recommended it to me, namely my little sister.
Miyuki: The manga was moving that it made me cry.
Ryota: I read the genre of the manga and there it is melodrama or something like that.
Ishigami: Well, I read my share of manga, so I can usually predict the plot twists.
Ishigami: It's so boring when they set up a tearjerker scene. Ah, here we go, the tearjerker. Cheap trick.
Ryota: As expected from a veteran otaku.
Ishigami: Kaedehara-senpai, I'm telling you, when you reach this scene, and when you read other mangas like this, you're going to get sick of it because it's somehow—
Ishigami just stopped mid-sentence.....
Ryota: Huh? Oi, Ishigami, what's wrong?
Ishigami: ............
Ishigami: Obvious..........
Ishigami *tears began to fall*
Ryota: Wha!? Ishigami, you okay!?
Ishigami: Even though it is so obvious, it gets me everytime!
Then the Prez finally joins the conversation.
Miyuki: There, you see? It's a tearjerker!
Ishigami: I can't stop crying!
Miyuki: It makes you want to fall in love, right?
Ishigami: I want to fall hopelessly in love!
Ryota: Falling in love is somehow complicated fools. Also, you got to make sure if it's real or just infatuation.
Ryota: *the one who fell in love before*
Ishigami: But where can I find someone!?
Ryota: *sigh*
Suddenly, the door opened, revealing Fujiwara-san and Shinomiya-san.
Chika: I smelled love talk coming from here!
Ryota: You CAN'T smell love talk!
Fujiwara-san asked and as if she's searching.
Chika: Who is it? Who is it? Who is it in the throes of love?
Me and the boys deadpanned......
Ryota: No one is.
Ishigami: We're talking about this manga.
Ishigami picks up the said manga.
Chika: "Go sweet"! Just looking at the cover makes me teary-eyed.
Ryota: Hm? You read the manga as well, Fujiwara-san?
Chika: Ah! Even you, Ryo-chan!?
Ryota: No, I just barely began reading the manga online.
Chika: Really!? I also got a digital copy of the manga itself!
She shows us her phone with the digital copy of the manga itself.
Ryota: How I wish I could have a lot of free time.
Ishigami: Maybe I'll get the whole series, too.
Shinomiya-san picks up the manga from Ishigami and looks at the cover.
Kaguya: Is it really that interesting?
Chika: It's one of the best series that I've ever read!
I glanced at the prez and his face is in scheming mode.
Ryota: Ah, I see. So that's why HE brought those mangas.
Chika: You should read it, too, Kaguya-san!
Kaguya: Hmmmm........
He walks to the table and placed the volume on top of the pile of the volumes.
Kaguya: No, thanks anyway. I'm not just interested in reading manga.
Ryota: And there goes the prez's plan.
Miyuki: Shinomiya, consider it as studying.
Miyuki: I don't think reading one manga series in your life would be a bad idea. Kaedehara, have you read other manga series besides this one?
Ryota: AoT. As far as I know, it's already finish, I already read it online during spring break.
Miyuki: I see.
Kaguya: So, what's the story about this manga?
Ryota: I also wanted to know the context, that's what I wanted to know from the beginning.
And so, the prez began talking about it.
Miyuki: The main character is a girl who doesn't want to trust anyone. Then, a boy with a nasty mouth transfers in her school.
Suddenly, Fujiwara-san butts in with teary eyes and voice.
Chika: But it turns out the boy has terminal illness, and he dies near the end!
Miyuki: OI! STOP IT!
Ishigami: YOU NEVER BLURT OUT SPOILERS LIKE THAT!
Suddenly, the two of them restrains Fujiwara-san to shut her mouth.
Ishigami: *grabs tape*
Miyuki: Silence this shitty spoiler girl!
Ishigami: Roger that!
Ryota: Uh, I'm fine with it, though.
Ishigami: Shut up! Not another word!
Once Fujiwara-san got silenced......Shinomiya-san still wasn't interested.
Ryota: Well, a spoiler was blurted out like nowhere. In order to get someone attached in reading a manga, you must point out interesting points in the story itself.
Kaguya: I'm still not interested.
Miyuki: Well, with this kind of thing, this is how the story progresses. Kaedehara, listen so you can understand the story a little bit more.
Miyuki: As you already know, the girl is an anorexic who can't trust anyone.
Ryota: Yes, that was established in the beginning, to get to know the main character.
Miyuki: Good.
Ishigami: Then she makes friends for the first time and experiences hauman warmth.
Ryota: Hm. Hm. I read that part as well.
Ishigami: Ever since she was poisoned by her parents, she was forced to eat canned foods.
Ryota: Oh, so that's what the main character was describing as her "nightmare" when the reason of her eating canned food was brought up.
Miyuki: Not to mention, the flashbacks where she survives eating crackers and food supplements just to survive are heartbreaking.
Miyuki: But the curry that her boyfriend makes for her right before he dies.....
Ishigami: Timidly she takes a bite.
Miyuki: And then she said......
Miyuki & Ishigami: "It's sweet!"
Ryota: Wait, oh.......they just said the spoilers. Nevermind, I'll forget it anyway. I'll try to look into details later on.
As the two began talking about the latest chapter, Fujiwara-san grabs a tape and also silenced the prez and Ishigami.
And to add more chaos, Iino came in with a pitch fork, claiming she's going to save Fujiwara-san.
Once again, I cleared up the misunderstanding that happened and explained what was going on.
The next day however, the prez, Shinomiya-san, and Ishigami have began acting weird.
To be honest, I don't even know what the heck just happened.
While I was on my way to the music club, I bumped to Hayasaka-san and asked me if I'm available for today. I told her that I have band practice for today, so I declined her request.
But instead, she suggested to go with me during practice.
Sadly though, only members of the music club is allowed. So she was banned.
Tohma: You looked stressed, Kaedehara, did something happened?
Ryota: I don't wanna talk about it. Just the student council being like a bunch of idiots as usual.
Kotori: Ah......
Mio: Why don't you go home for a while? Besides.....
Tohma: I sent a text message that our practice is cancelled for today. We, the third years are currently busy with our university exams and all. So, we're really on a hard time.
Sora: Then, senpai......
Tohma: Yep, you're all dismissed and we won't be having any practice for two weeks.
And so we went home.
Back in the house, I lay on my bed and stared at the ceiling.......
Ryota: Falling in love, huh?
Ryota: It's been a while since I ever felt that feeling.........
Ryota: Hayasaka-san and Fujiwara-san.......
Ryota: Damn it, I still can't decide. I mean, there's just a lot going on with me right now.
Ryota: I wanted to settle it for the last because, I don't want to be stacked up with problems........
Ryota: *sigh*
Ryota: I wonder, back in the past, it was also hard for me to fall in love due to my internal struggles.
Ryota: And when I was in love, it was somehow, easier........
Ryota: Ugh.......
Ryota: Love really is complicated......
Suddenly, I remembered something......that locket.
Ryota: That locket, huh? Maybe if I try to solve mystery about that locket, it will somehow answer my questions.
I grabbed the locket which I hid under the drawer of my study table, and I went to the living room where my mom is currently watching the TV.
Ryota: Um, where's Dad and Saya?
Koharu: Out shopping.
Ryota: Oh, I see. Mom, I want to ask you something.
Koharu: What is it?
I sat on the couch, beside my mother, and showed her the locket that I found.
When I saw her reaction, she was shocked that I had still had the locket.
Koharu: Oh, so you still had the locket.
Ryota: Yes, but somehow, whenever I think about this locket, I remember something or someone else.
Koharu: Hm?
Ryota: I don't know but......
Ryota: I guess this is somehow connected to my past, so please if you know something......
Koharu: As much as I wanted to help you......
Koharu: The only one who has the right to know about the secret of that locket is you alone.
Koharu: After all, that locket, was a gift to you.
Ryota: A gift?
Koharu: It seems like you can't remember. I won't blame you, you were still young when you received the locket.
Koharu: But I promise you, the locket is a symbol of a promise.
Koharu: A very precious promise.
Koharu: And the promise, is what's inside that locket.
Ryota: You really can't tell me who is the one who gave this to me?
Koharu: Like I said, you are the only one who has the right, to know what's inside.
Koharu: The promise is there, but I don't know what the promise is.
Koharu: But let me tell you this, Ryo-chan.
Koharu: Everything changes as time moves forward.
Koharu: So, it doesn't really matter if the said promise will be or not be fulfilled.
Koharu: If it does, then I guess it is destiny. If it doesn't, then I guess it is also destiny.
Koharu: Sometimes, we wanted to take our destiny upon our own two hands.
Koharu: But remember, there will be some things that are out of our control.
Koharu: If that locket of yours contains something about love......
Koharu: Then whoever is the person that gave it you, really loved you from the bottom of their heart.
Koharu: Also, that locket holds some lost memories of your childhood, right?
Ryota: Yes. I tried to open it but to no avail.
Koharu: Hmmmm........
Koharu: I know you're still lost because you just barely moved on from your past.
Koharu: Also, you told me about Chika-chan and Hayasaka-chan's confession to you, right?
Koharu: I know it is still shocking for you.......
Koharu: Others might think that you're dense because of that.....
Koharu: After all, you were barely ready to enter a relationship after what happened to you.
Koharu: Honestly, though. Love is really complicated. Your Dad and I are no exceptions either. We had our ups and downs......
Koharu: But with time and patience, look at us now.
Koharu: So, Ryo-chan, don't ever force yourself to be in love.
Koharu: After all, just like what happened in the past, you just fell in love unexpectedly.....
Koharu: Hehe. So, you'd better be prepared, once it happens, okay?
After that talk with my mother, I went back to my room and lay my head on my shoulder.
Until I felt my phone vibrated.
Ryota: A message, huh.
I looked it up and it's from Hayasaka-san.
Hayasaka: Um, Kaedehara-kun, sorry for texting you......
Ryota: No, it's fine, I am actually on bed right now.
Hayasaka: I see. I want to ask something of you.
Ryota: Yes.
Hayasaka: How did you fall in love?
Ryota: I can't answer to that question, you said it yourself that you'll make me fall in love with you.
Ryota: It's like I'm giving the answer to the exam, so, no thanks.
Hayasaka: EH!?!?!?!?!?!
Ryota: It is what it is, Hayasaka-san.
Ryota: Also, I just had a talk with my mother, and I wanted to consider some things first.
Ryota: I'm really sorry, if I really can't give you a proper answer yet.
Ryota: But let me tell you this, you're also an important person to me, Hayasaka-san.
Ryota: I'm glad that I met you.
Hayasaka: Me too. I'm glad that I met you.
Hayasaka: I just wanted to ask you that question.
Ryota: I see. But I really can't answer that you see.
Ryota: All right, I'll be sleeping now.
Hayasaka: Goodnight, Kaedehara-kun.
Ryota: Goodnight as well.
I closed the app and placed my phone on my study table, and lay back on my bed.
Ryota: Ah, that's right. I promised that we'll both hang out sometime. Man, if I wasn't really busy.
-------------
Meanwhile. Living Room, Kaedehara Residence.
Koharu: So, he totally forgot about her.......
Koharu: About Chi-chan. Even after the answer is already right in front of Ryo-chan's eyes. Maybe because it happened a very long time ago?
Koharu: Perhaps.
Koharu looks upon the window, gazing upon the neighborhood.
Koharu: So, Chi-chan, what are you about to do, that a rival appeared? Will you prevail and fulfill the long forgotten promise?
Koharu: Or Hayasaka-chan will somehow create something new?
Koharu: I won't be able to decide on that. No one else can decided to that.....except Ryo-chan.
--------------
3rd POV. Chika's room, Fujiwara Residence.
Chika: *sigh*
Fujiwara-san lies on her bed as she is also staring at the ceiling.
Chika: Ryo-chan seems to be busier than ever.........
Suddenly, she pulls out something from under her bed and it was a photo album filled with her childhood photos, and some of them, are with the younger Ryota back then.
But at the end of the album, there is a secret compartment on it and when it was opened, Chika pulls out........
A unique key.......
A key that has a cross pattern on the bit.......
Chika: I don't want to force him to remember it. I don't want to.......
Chika: Even if that would give me the advantage, I want to win Ryo-chan's heart, fair and square.
Chika: But if he finally remembers.......and even if he didn't choose me.......then I'll be willing to let go.......
Chika: But even so, the memories that I shared with him, will always stay precious to me.