A Promise to be Kept (Nisekoi Raku x Onodera)

Ch. 1 : An Overdue Confession

Onodera and Ichijo stood atop the hill that so many years ago, they, along with their friends, had played on so many times.

"Onodera....!" Raku exclaimed "I'm glad you're alright..."

"You too, Ichijo!" Onodera said "I feared the worst!"

"Chitoge is at the peak of the mountain, just beyond this hill. For our sakes, I hope she stays in one place," Raku said, laughing. 

As they walked, Onodera's thoughts swirled around her. There was so much to comprehend, so much she had just learned. She was the one who made a promise with Raku? Did Raku still feel that way? Not to mention what she had just learned about who Chitoge had liked all along... It occurred to her that she knew the reason why Chitoge had bolted off... but Raku didn't. Should she enlighten him? 

"Ichijo-kun...." she whispered "Do you know.... why Chitoge-chan disappeared?"

"Huh?" Raku was taken aback. "Well, now that you mention it... I'm not too sure I understand why. It was all so sudden, and she never informed me of anything that might've been bothering her.. But on the other hand... I do have a hunch."

"?" Onodera had a look of curiosity painted on her face.

"When I last saw Chitoge in America.." Raku said "Her expression was one of great surprise and for once, she was at a loss for words." He chuckled at the last statement. 

"I'm not sure.. but I think I may have done something terrible which I myself don't even recognize or even remember."

"No!" Onodera exclaimed, "That's not... I mean.. you haven't done anything of the sort, Ichijo-kun!" 

"Well, that's comforting. Thanks Onodera," Ichijo said with a sad smile. " It's nice to have a friend as supporting as you."

"But still... I can't help thinking about Chitoge. That girl may complain and nitpick about every small thing... but the big issues? The stuff she cares the most about? She keeps those to herself and as much we may dislike each other, I don't want her to struggle through whatever it is troubling her right now."

Wow, thought Onodera. Raku never managed to amaze her with his deeds of kindness. But why did that bother her? It was the exact reason she had fallen into love with him. Yet she couldn't quite stifle the feelings of jealousy she had. Jealousy that Raku seemed to care so much for Chitoge.

"Ichijo.." Onodera spoke softly, almost inaudibly. "Chitoge-chan... must be really special to you, isn't she?"

"Well,..." Raku started, "It's not exactly like that. I just find that she tends to brighten things up.. and things do seem less boring with her around."

Ah, Onodera thought to herself, could it be? She had been watching them for quite a while now, and now.. she wasn't quite sure what to think anymore. Well, she thought, if it's true, no matter how small of a probability it is.... that means... this is my last chance..

"Ichijo-kun," she began, "Before we meet up with Chitoge-chan... There is something that I want to tell you, right here and right now. I've wanted to say this for quite a while, and I've attempted to many times.. and yet I could never bring myself to finally say it."

"It was in junior high, that I found my second~ actually, my first.........."

Raku's eyes had opened to an impossible size and his jaw was on the floor.

"My first love. And Ichijo-kun... that first love was you. I like you and always have. I'm sorry to tell you at a time like this, but as I stated, I was unable to do so earlier."

WHAT, Raku gaped, did I just hear? Onodera likes me and always has? Since junior high? A flood of memories that he had shared with Onodera flooded his brain, all of them hints at what she had just told him... and yet he was too dense to ever comprehend. So she liked me from the beginning... just as I did her? All this time.... Before he was aware of it, tears started streaming down his face, of joy or sadness he didn't know anymore.

"Ichijo-kun... why are you crying?" inquired Onodera, who in fact had also started leaking liquid from her eyes. 

"I... I don't know," said Ichijo, with smile on his face as well as tears.

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