Reality's Blade

Chapter 8: Promise

I jumped in a pile of leaves that had accumulated along the pavement. The crisp crunch of the golden leaves under my feet was almost musical.

"What are you doing?" My friends scolded me, embarrassed by my behaviour. We were making the trek to school, so there were plenty of other students around.

I scooped up a large handful and threw the leaves over their heads.

"Fujimiya!" They screamed, trying to bat and brush the foliage from their uniforms. I ran off, giggling at their anger, they gave chase, starting to laugh too.

I had a promise to keep after all.

The clear sky had made today particularly cold, my breath gathered in thin fleeting clouds as I ran and the cheeks and noses of the walking students were turning pink. A lot of the trees were reduced to skeletal looking branches, their deep orange and red leaves having descended down to the floor, where the brown shades were starting to take over. I tried to take it all in.

I was glad to leave the chill behind as we reached the warmth of the school. I followed my friends as we went in-turn to the areas that our respective lockers were located. Along the way I spotted Kazehiro, my heart started pounding against my ribcage. He always came in at the last possible minute, so I'd not seen him on our morning rounds before. I suddenly remembered my second promise that I had to keep. I needed to properly apologise to him for getting him hurt.

"There's something I need to do! I'll catch you up in a sec." I told my friends then darted off, before any questions could be asked.

Luckily Kazehiro was still at his locker, sorting through his books. For a moment my courage failed me, I opened my mouth but I couldn't call his name. However the universe was on my side, and Kazehiro looked up at the approaching figure in his periphery. Surprise crossed his face, I didn't talk to him at school. It's not something we had discussed, but at school this kind and pleasant boy preferred to be alone. I was always confused by this, as he was well liked by everyone and could have been friends with anyone he pleased.

"Ah..." I started, my mind having gone blank. "I'm sorry!" I blurted out. Kazehiro started to turn pink, this strange exchange was drawing unwanted attention. "I wanted to apologise properly for getting you injured because of my careless behaviour." I could feel my ears starting to turn pink too now.

Kazehiro's nervous look disappeared as he realised what was going on. "Ooh, that." He said sounding thoroughly relieved. "Don't worry about it, I wasn't that badly hurt. I accept your apology." He grinned. In a lower voice he noted "You'd better get back to your friends, they're waiting." I turned around to where he was looking over my shoulder, to find my friends not so secretly watching the encounter. Kazehiro closed his locker and left, I traipsed back to my gang, knowing I was going to be probed over it. My friends had long figured out my feelings for Kazehiro, so it was a juicy meeting in their eyes.

We would joke about guys in our class and tease each other about our crushes, but I had noticed since the rumour had spread that none of them had dared mention him. I appreciated their considering my feelings, but it caused an awkward tension when there was a pause instead of the place where he would have been commented on. Perhaps this would get things back to normal.

"So heroic!" Airi dramatically swooned, laughing.

Airi was my closest friend in the group, we had always lived close to one another and had gone to the same schools. She had waist-length glossy chestnut hair, I often wondered how she managed to cope with having so much, but it was always immaculate. She was dangerously hilarious and laid-back but would stand her ground like a bulldozer when she fought for what she thought was right.