"Let's stay together, forever! Let's never get lost, all three of us, Me, you, and Tsukasa-Kun! Promise?"
"Let's tie this ribbon together to get through the crowd, okay? Just around our pinkies; ya know, the ones we used to make that promise."
It's a search, it is.
So many longing years since he had last seen her. He's traveled all across Japan to find her, searching through the crowds. No, it wasn't like those romantic Cinderella stories about the prince looking for his dance partner.
He resides in a house just near the outskirts of the small town nearby, just to have some bits of peace. His brother, Tsukasa, says it's too boring there and occasionally beckons him to come to the city life with him and Sakura, which is an offer that he is tempted to take if he isn't so stubborn.
The nice Matsu trees he had placed around his home give off the familiar admiration she had once said was her favorite. He had made a small garden patch to soothe himself too, as he too prefers home-grown things.
He sighs to himself as he leaned back on the rocking chair that Sakura had given him as a housewarming gift. He should go to the city soon; he's running out of potatoes.
Running his hands through his hair and ruffling them, he gets up to get ready for his travel to town. He needs a break from correcting work anyways.
He makes it to the town nearby safe and sound, thankfully. He already bought the supplies he wanted but decides that he just wants to have a drive around. He notices a playground nearby and thinks that it would be nice to walk around in it.
Goodness, it's chilly out. He thinks as he slips on his coat and gets out of the car. He steps out to meet the cold breeze as expected. Sighing at himself, he pops his car door open and close, locks it, and starts moving forward.
The late birds fly overhead with their twitters. The grass is dancing in the direction the wind is going with radiating a calming aura. He nears the playground and listens to the sound of children laughing.
Coming in to view, he pauses and scans the playground. The swings are filled with children swinging forward and backward; slides occupied as well. Children are running around, weaving themselves around and under the playset.
A nearby picnic shelter was a girl with part of her silver hair tied by a red bow. It matched very well with her pink overalls covering her white shirt.
Amane's eyes narrowed. He swears he recognizes that figure....then it hits him. Is that her? Is that really her? He hoped it was her after all his time looking and searching...
He built up the anxious courage he had and strode over to her. She looked like she had zoned out, as she was just staring at the wooden table.
"A-Ah...Hello?" He tapped her on the shoulder
Her head snapped up, and Amane met those so familiar large pretty ruby eyes. His heart smiled and he realized it was her.
For what felt like forever (it was only 20 seconds) she said, "A-Amane-Kun?!" Oh how terribly happy he felt when he heard his name said like that.
He swept her into a hug full of warmth. A hug is full of longing. A hug was full of energy that radiated the sense of wanting her. He would happily want this moment to pause right then and there; the wind slowing to a soft breeze, his fingers intertwined with her loose locks.
A moment of breathless and nervous laughter comes from both of them, as they awkwardly let go from each other.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?" She giggled, her eyes shining with happiness.
"Sure has." He smiled. "How have you been?"
"Ahh...pretty good! How about yourself."
"Ehhh....ups and downs."
For one to always change the subject on things, "You owe me 5 Yen," Amane chuckles, recalling the promise they had made, and if it was broken that it would cost 5 Yen. (Look, they were children back then).
"I do not owe you anything!" She huffs, "We found each other so technically the promise didn't break."
"Riiiight.... And...what about the 13 years we've been apart? Hmm?"
"That....That was-" He laughed at her attempt to defend herself.
"Silly Yashiro."
"You are so mean..."
It's been a few years since that encounter, and much has happened.
Amane still resides in the house on the outskirts of the town, but not alone. He lives with Yashiro, his childhood friend (And crush but he's in denial about that). It is not easy living with her, but he manages. She only lives with him because he insisted, and doesn't want her living in the city near Tsukasa he denies that he's jealous.
He's glad that someone else helps him attend to the garden he has made so he can work on other things, such as correcting students' late work. Someone familiar (other than Tsukasa and Sakura) to talk and laugh with is also comforting.
The Matsu trees are now accompanied by small shrubs and more flowers at the root, making the home exterior friendlier than it already was. It was her touch that made it better.
So I guess you could say it ended like the Cinderella story; the prince and the dance partner met again, but instead of a glass shoe, it was a ribbon.
