Test Of Courage

Chapter 2: Separated

Everybody was given a candle, since Ayumi has lot of candles on her, she doesn’t even need to obtain one from the teachers.

“ Which boy do you think is the cutest? Be honest now!” said Mayu all out of sudden. “Well...I don’t really know, I used to think that Mochida was the cutest, but now….” said Ayumi. Mayu gave a slight giggle and said “Ohohoh, you’ve been lovestruck by Kishinuma-kun didn’t you~” Ayumi suddenly blushed and said “W-W-WHAT GIVES YOU THAT IDEA!?” Mayu pulls out her phone to show her something, but noticed that she doesn’t have any signal. “Damn this forest, THEY DON'T’ GIVE YOU ANY SIGNAL! Okay, Ayumi just wait here and I’ll go….. somewhere that’ll gives me signal. Ciao~” After that, Mayu rushed off in excitement. “MAYU WAIT! WE’RE SUPPOSE TO DO THIS TEST TOGETHER!” It seemed that Mayu didn’t hear her, since she was too busy thinking about that picture that Ayumi drew in pixiv. Ayumi was standing there in terror. She crouched down and said “I-I wish Kishinuma was here….. I must find him!” Without noticing her confession, she hurried off into the distance.

-Meanwhile at the other side of the forest.-

“ T-Thank you for holding my hand, I-I feel a lot more safer now..” Said the brown hair girl. “Oh yeah speaking of which, I never catched your name? Mine’s Yoshiki Kishinuma, from class 2-C” Said Yoshiki. “Ah pardon me, my name is Ayako Masami, from class 2-A” Said Ayako. “Ayako Masami? Thats a pretty name” Yoshiki gives a bright smile. Ayako suddenly blushed and whimpered “ T-Thank you, nobody has ever said my first name before...so I am quite thrilled” Suddenly they hear a strange noise coming from the trees. Ayako grabbed onto Yoshiki’s body tightly “I-I’m sorry Kishinuma-kun! I got scared and….” Yoshiki blushed and said “N-No problem, are you okay now?” Ayako loosened her grip and said “..Yeah...T-Thank you” Then they continued to walk side by side.

Ayumi was gasping for air, she’s been running non-stop for the past 20 minutes. Suddenly she heard a footsteps, thinking it could be a wild animal of some sort, she ran into the nearest bush and hid there.

Instead of a bear, or some other wild animal, she saw tiny light which was coming to her direction. Ayumi was about to call out, but then she saw something that terrified her. It was Ayako Masami, and beside her was Yoshiki Kishinuma. Ayumi remained in the bush with her terrified look. Her pulse was throbbing like crazy,  and she was feeling really dizzy. “Get it together Ayumi, its just a test of courage... but why are they holding hands….?” she whispered to herself. “Why am I getting so worked up?” Ayumi started to follow them, she didn’t want to follow them, but her body persuaded her to.

After a while of walking, Ayako suddenly trips. Yoshiki tries to catch her, but it doesn’t work out and they both fall down, ending up face to face.

“Y-yoshiki-kun” the brown haired girl stuttered “I-I love you”. After saying that, she grabbed his face and brought their lips together.

Ayumi stood in the bushes, and stepped back, breaking a twig, before running away.

Ayako and Yoshiki both heard the sound of the breaking twig, and Yoshiki tried to pull away from the kiss, but Ayako gripped around him harder.

After the kiss broke, Ayako pulled him to her chest, leaving them in a hug. “Yoshiki-kun, please tell me I’m the only girl you see.” she whispered to him.

Yoshiki was overwhelmed, not to mention that he was thrilled to know that somebody actually liked him.

He sighed and spoke up “I’m really sorry Masami-san, you’re really nice.. but I don’t like you. I’m sure you’ll find somebody else though, since you are really cute.”  

Ayako let go of Yoshiki, and they both got up. Yoshiki walked up to Ayako and pat her head. “There is already a girl I like.”

The brown haired girl looked up and stared into his eyes. “It’s Ayumi Shinozaki… right?” Yoshiki blushed “Yeah, just don’t tell her, okay?” he whispered.  Ayako smiled. “Why do you like her, Yoshiki-kun?”

“S-stop calling me Yoshiki-kun, we’re not a couple, remember?” Yoshiki replied.  “A-ah, sorry, I kinda got caught up in the moment, Kishinuma-kun..” Yoshiki placed his hand behind his head “It’s okay”.

“Well?” said Ayako while looking down. “Well what?” Yoshiki questioned. “Why do you like Ayumi Shinozaki?” Ayako repeated.  Yoshiki stared up at the sky. “Well.. she’s the reason I’m still in this school. I could’ve quit ages ago, I thought school was nothing but a pain, but she reminded me.. and now I kinda enjoy school” He looked down at his feet and mumbled to himself “And she’s the reason I’m always smiling.”