<p>
"Let's join the marathon! Don't say no since I have registered for you! I'll wait for you tomorrow morning 5.30 AM sharp at the park! Don't be late"</p>
<p>
That was what Yoshio said last night when he phoned me. A marathon?! What is he thinking about? And now I'm standing here in the park at 5.30 AM.. *sigh*</p>
<p>
"hoaaah.. sorry I'm late, here is your number and instruction book,
now we only need to wait for her"</p>
<p>
Her? Now I know.. soon after that, a short haired girl comes. She is Kiyokawa Nozomi, our school best swimmer, she might be the best in Japan as well.</p>
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<p>
"Sorry I'm late. Hi, I'm Kiyokawa Nozomi, nice to meet you. Ok, let's start our training!"</p>
"hehehe.. she will be our trainer. Now you know why I insisted on this marathon

"
But it is not long 'till we can't keep up with her. She was surprised
to learn the fact that we seldom do our exercise, and thought we were only joking about participating and that we were just wasting her time. She left us behind after that.
Today is 13th February, and the girls bring the chocolate today! And like usual, Ijuin Rei with his truck is in the school's main garden and again he said a few words to me as well. Even Yoshio showed me the chocolate Shiori gave him, yet I still haven't received a chocolate from her. I was expecting her to give me the chocolate when we are alone doing the album when Megumi came and asked her out.
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<p>
But to my surprise, Shiori asked me to go out tomorrow. Yes! During Valentine Day itself! Woohoo! Though the reason was actually to buy books for the album's layout.. who cares!</p>
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<p>
The next morning I woke up early and was ready to go when she came. I glanced at her bag, wishing to be able to see a special package of chocolate in it, that's a big bag she has there. We go to the bookshop as planned. And she is busy showing me one of the books about layout, though I concentrate more on her pretty face.</p>
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<p>
"Ne, Ryu. What do you think of this book?" She looks at me.</p>
I'm surprised and answered "I think so". That's all I can think of.
I can feel my face burning red. Did she noticed that I was looking at her?
"Ja, I'll buy this book then" She is off to the cashier.. phew!
"Ne, do you have anything to do after this?"
"Nope" I replied
I see her searching through her bag.. OK, now I will get my special
chocolate!
"If you don't mind, shall we go to the movie?" She shows me 2 theater tickets "My father gave it to me and today is the last day"
"Sure" I replied, though I'm a bit disappointed. We went through the day with movies, spaghetti, video games, and a boutique owner that was looking for a model. After that we end up sitting at the park near our house.
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"Ne, Ryu. Do you still remember that sand playground? We used to make tunnels there before; even during winters, we still played everyday! We made a big mountain and dug from both side. I can feel your hands inside the snow, it felt ticklish but it gave me a strange feeling, just like magic. Those lovely days, seems to be a far away memories"</P>
I feel the urge inside my chest to confess my love now "Shiori, I..."
"Ryu" She paused.
"I wish our relationship can last like this forever, as a childhood friend"
She takes a valentine chocolate from her bag "Hai, this is your chocolate.
Sorry I have been saying weird things, fufufu..."
(Note: "fufufu" is the sound of her giggling. Don't ask me why, i just
found it cute.

)
I was shocked to hear that! As a childhood friend?! So I'm only a
childhood friend to her?! I take the chocolate and noticed that it is
the same as the one Yoshio showed me yesterday. She has no special
feeling for me.. so it is only me who feel that we both are lover, that
we are so close and understand each other.. yet now I feel I don't know
her anymore, we are so far apart. Did I do something wrong? I layed down
in my room for the rest of the evening, thinking.. I've lost my desire
to do anything, I just feel so tired, not knowing what to do next.
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