Let's Not Meet Anymore

Chapter 2

Starting our second year of Jr High, we were given a worksheet to choose a high school to attend. I stared at it for a while... I couldn't decide. My first choice was the same as his. I couldn't fill it in.

*worksheet*

high school - first choice: "BLANK"; second choice: "BLANK"; third choice: "BLANK"

After school, I found myself at the park, wondering about my future. What am I doing? Where am I going to go? It's getting late... I decided to take the long way home. On the way home, I passed by Satomi-san; she's a lady who lives on our block, she runs a bakery on the way to school. She stopped me and asked me to take some bread home. As she was talking, she stopped, looked up, and asked if I was ok. I told her about the worksheet and what had happened between me and Touma. She brought me into her little shop and sat me down with a smile. I told her I was at a loss choosing which school. She told me that it was ok to be lost and that I'll be able to find a school suitable for me. I asked her which high school she attended. She replied saying that she went to a school far from here, she turned her head and looked at the mountains. I asked her about her school life. She told me funny high school stories. I was so engrossed in the conversation and didn't realize it was dark out. I bid my farewells and left. When I got home I realized I didn't ask for the name of her high school.

(WEEKEND)The next morning, I ran to her shop so I could talk to her more. She looked at me and laughed. She asked if I was able to find a school yet. I shook my head and told her I would love to listen to more of her stories about her school life. When the sun set, I said my goodbyes and before I left I asked for the name of the school. SHOKU ACADEMY...

When I got home, I quickly started to research the school and found out that it was a private boarding school and that it was for exceptional students. The school was on the outskirts of the city, up by the mountains. After extensive research, I was drawn to the school even more. I had decided. I talked to my parents about it and they somehow agreed on letting me go. I turned in my worksheet -->

*worksheet*

high school - first choice: "SHOKU ACADEMY"; second choice: "SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL "; third choice: " EAST HIGH SCHOOL" ....

I told Satomi-san that I had applied for her school. She looked at me with the biggest smile on her face, but told me applying was the easy part, the hard part was the entrance exam. Shoku Academy is an exceptional school and only the brightest attend..... Right then and there I studied non stop until the exam...

—S