i promise

one

not proofread

                    Groans of frustration bounced off the young girl's walls as she stood in front of her mirror placed right beside her closet. She glanced at the digital clock placed on top of stacked books and noticed it was nearing almost eight twenty, she jogged over to her window, looking out to see a young boy walking towards her house. She cursed appropriate words in her head before going back to her mirror, placing her tie around her neck, and opening her door to peek her tiny head out to the hallway, "Hikaru! Can you please help me tie my tie?" She walked back to the corner of her room and heard the door beside her room open and slight heavy steps nearing her bedroom. Mai's brother entered her room and let out a playful sigh, he walked towards his younger sister, and grabbed ahold of her black tie, "Didn't I tell you to learn how to tie your tie a week ago? Especially if I leave early for my classroom duties or if dad went to work early in the morning," Her figure went timid as she was slightly scolded by her brother as he finished her tie, "I promise I'll learn hwo to do this after school today."

                    As Hikaru finished, he straightened out the wrinkles on her button-up and patted her head before going downstairs, "I'll supervise you just in case you choke yourself out." Mai tried not to laugh at his remark but in the end, she resulted to pushing her brother out as he laughed. She looked back at her clock and took notice that two minutes had just passed, in her mind, Mai knew that Makoto was already at her front door with her father trying to keep him occupied, she ran around her room grabbing her backpack that thankfully was packed the night before, and other things to stuff in her front pocket. She glided down the stairs and quickly ran to the kitchen for a piece of fruit on the wood dining table. She slowed down as she neared the front door with Makoto happily talking with her father, the young boy noticed Mai and raised his hand up to wave to her, "Good morning Mai," The young girl's father turned towards her and leaned down to kiss the top of her head as she would head out to Haru's house very soon, while also handing her pink coat and her packed lunch, "I knew you were gonna rush out of the door when you weren't down here five minutes ago, have a great day of school sweetie."

                    "Thanks, Dad," Mai took everything from her father's hands as she finished slipping on her school brown loafers, the two young kids exited her house and turned to the left to Haru's house. Mai and Makoto had small conversations as they walked up the hill to the quaint family house. Mai trailed behind Makoto as they walked to the front door and right before Makoto raised his fist up to knock on the front door, it opened with Haru's mother greeting them with a small smile, "Good morning Makoto and Mai," the young kids watched the mother of Haru wipe her hands down on her dark blue plaid apron, "Good morning, is Haru ready for school?" Mai peeked over Makoto's shoulder as she greeted the older woman. Mrs. Nanase looked around the house and smiled sheepishly at the duo, "Sorry kids, but I think Haruka went to the swim club." Makoto and Mai looked at each other with an idea of why he was there in the first place, the two said goodbye to Haruka's mother and walked straight ahead to the swim club that both boys considered as their second home.

                    Makoto opened the double glass doors of the swim club, holding the door for Mai. As they walked down the lowly dim-lit blue and green tiled hallway, they heard a splash from a distance and they instantly knew that it was Haruka. They stepped inside the pool room and the smell of chlorine hit their nose, Mai and Makoto walked over to the lane where a young boy who was doing butterflies, swam towards them and slammed his hand on the wall. The two watched the young boy in the pool rip his swim cap off, revealing soft-black hair, and taking his goggles off. Mai watched Makoto put his hand out before him and offer it to Haru, his sparkling blue eyes looking up towards them.

                    "Morning, Haru,"

                    "Morning, Haru," Makoto and Mai greeted the boy with a smile on their face, Haru looked away from the two before taking his friend's hand, exiting the pool suddenly hit with a cool breeze that had him shivering. Mai slowly jogged to the bench, fortunately, the tiles were not drenched in water that would probably have resulted in her slipping, grabbed the soft fluffy blue towel with dolphins stitched at the bottom. She walked back to the two boys and handed the cloth to Haru, to which he quietly thanked the young girl, "Come on Haru, we're going to be late to the entrance ceremony."

                    Makoto and Mai leaned on the walls as they waited outside of the changing room, waiting for Haru to get ready for school. Mai finally had time to put her lunch that her father had packed and slipped it inside her bag, they heard the door of the changing room creak open, revealing Haru in his fresh new school uniform, identical to Makoto's. Makoto's green eyes widened and walked towards the young boy, "Haru, you have to close the collar!" Haru tried getting away from his friend as Mako finished the collar and tried fixing up Haru's appearance, Mai laughed at the two as she walked closer to them, "Let's seriously get going guys, as much as I love the... pool and swimming..." She looked back at the pool and frowned at the sight, "We can come back after school." The two boys nodded at Mai's statement and all three started walking towards the front door. Haru tugged at his collar as they walked to their new school, "it's so uncomfortable." Makoto shook his head with Mai finding it amusing, She had never heard her brother complain about his school collar, it was very unexpected for Haru to complain about such a simple thing for Mai.

                    The trio walked down the cement sidewalk, as the wind picked up, Mai's wispy brunette bangs flew with the wind slightly exposing her forehead. Fallen cherry blossoms whirled around the trio as they made their way to their school ceremony, "How did you guys know where to find me?" Haru both looked at his friends, waiting for an answer, "I know everything about you, Haru," Mai furrowed her brows as she watched Makoto's calm expression, "Mako that sounded really creepy," Mai looked to her right to answer Haru truthfully, "We went to pick you up this morning but you weren't there, luckily your mom told us." Haru mumbled a small 'oh' before looking straight ahead. The atmosphere between the three calmed down as they saw their school slowly appear, Mai played with her bracelet before Makoto cleared his throat to grab their attention again, "Haru, Mai, are you two going to join any clubs yet? I... haven't decided yet," Makoto bashfully looked down at the ground, his pair of eyes following his steps. They all slowed down their pace at the way Makoto talked, Mai turned her head to Haru, both turning their heads to the left to look at Makoto's figure, "I?" They both asked simultaneously, confusion written all over their faces. Makoto looked straight ahead, not looking at the duo, puffing his chest out just a bit, "Well, since I'm a middle schooler now, I was thinking that I should start addressing myself 'I' now. Silence fell between three once again, different thoughts circulating inside of their brains. Another strong wind gust blew them which made Mai grab down her skirt, Cherry blossoms once again danced around them as they stopped walking, looking up to the bright blue sky. A petal fell down on Mai's head and carefully picked it out of her hair, she put it down on her palm and blew on it gently.

                    Mai somehow knew, deep down in her heart, this was going to be a good school year.