• “Good morning Miu.” My mother greeted. She looked at me like I was a stranger. Was that how I looked like yesterday?
    “Morning.” I said.
    “What would you like for breakfast?” She asked. I thought back, what did I have yesterday?
    “Well, since I had waffles yesterday...Can I have pancakes?” I smiled. She gave me a shocked expression.
    “Miu…you…”
    “I remember.” I ran up to hug her. She hugged me back with joy.
    “Oh, my baby!!! That was so fast you recovered, I’m so happy!!!” She could almost sing.
    “Hey Sayu, what’s going on?” My father came into the kitchen.
    “Dad, tell her she’s suffocating me again.” I said.
    “Sayu, you’re suffocating…” He stopped and looked at me.
    “You…you remember not to call me uncle!!!” Now he came running into the hug. Seriously, I couldn’t breathe people!!!
    “Was I really bad yesterday?” I asked after they let me go.
    “Yes! How dare you forget the woman who gave birth to you! Mommy was really sad!!!” She began to cry on my shoulder. Sometimes she can be like a little kid, I rolled my eyes.
    “You kept calling us uncle and aunty. And you thought we were your adopted parents.” My father explained as my mother cried even more.
    “Momma, I’m sorry; so please don’t cry anymore.” I patted her back.
    “Mommy really loves Miu!!!” She cried even more. I sighed.
    “Come on Sayu honey, stop crying.” My father picked her up.
    “Okay.” She sniffed and she went with him willingly.
    “Well, I’m off to school.” I said.
    “Miu no!!! I don’t want you to walk to school alone!!! I don’t want my baby to get hurt again!!!” My mother began to cry again. My father sighed.
    “Miu, it’s best that I take you to school; or she’ll never stop being worried.” He said.
    “Yes! Honey, I think that’s very responsible of you!” My mother agreed.
    “Fine.” I replied.
    As we drove to school, my mother kept reminding me to stay away from dangerous situations. And as if I didn’t already know, I kept nodding and saying yes to her anyway.
    “See you after school honey bunny!!!” My mother yelled before they drove off after they dropped me to school. How embarrassing…
    “Hey honey bunny!” Mei teased as she came over.
    “Be quiet, it’s not funny!”
    “Ha-ha I’m sorry, but if you already know how to get to school, why did you get dropped off again?”
    “Because my mother thinks it’ll be safer if they brought me.” I rolled my eyes.
    “Do they know?” She asked softly.
    “Yeah, I told them this morning. That’s why they’re being even more cautious. They don’t want me to get hit by a car again.”
    “You only got hit by a car because of…”
    “Hey…”
    “Jun.” Mei said as he came over. We both went silent.
    “Miu, are you feeling better?” He asked.
    “Miu is doing just fine!” Mei answered for me as she grabbed my arm and rushed me into class.
    “What are you doing?!” I whispered.
    “I’m saving you from Mr. Two timers! Now don’t ask anymore questions, you’ll thank me later for this!” She rushed. This was not starting off right…

    “Who knows the answer to number five?” The teacher asked as usual. At this time he would either call me, or I would raise my hand. The teacher looked around the room, nobody showed their hands. And that’s when he called on me. I knew the answer, but I didn’t think I should say it. But I couldn’t let my grade drop another point, I’ve worked hard to maintain them.
    “The answer is ten.” I said.
    “Very good.” The teacher smiled and continued class. As I looked back down at my desk, I could tell that Mei and Jun…were staring at me. What have I done, I asked myself.
    Suddenly, the bell for lunch rang and we were excused.
    “Jun, can you come help us real quick?” A bunch of guys asked Jun right away. He looked back and me and Mei, and headed out.
    “Come on.” Mei said. We were going to our usual spot to eat lunch, but we were going to be very careful not to get hit with anymore soccer balls.
    “So what’s up with you and Eiji?” I asked as we sat down in the shade.
    “Well, we talked a little before you arrived to school this morning. And yesterday, he walked me home. It was so sweet of him!” She sighed.
    “Well somebody is in lovey-dovey mode.” I teased. Mei blushed.
    “Hey Mei!” We looked over at the field and saw Eiji waving over here. Mei waved back.
    “Eiji watch out!” One of his teammates said. And before you knew it, he was hit in the head by a soccer ball. But he didn’t fall or anything.
    “I’m fine! Everything’s fine!” He shook it off.
    “It’s he just the best! He wasn’t hurt at all!” You could almost see the heart shapes in her eyes.
    “Yeah, he’s really manly.” I rolled my eyes as I ate a chocolate pocky stick. She didn’t even know that I meant to be sarcastic.
    “Hey, what are you guys doing?” Jun came over. I straightened up, he shouldn’t know that I regained my memory.
    “Um…Meigumi, is staring at her boyfriend?” I said as innocently as I could. Meigumi looked at Jun, she knew what I was doing so she looked back at me.
    “Miu, I told you that we’re best friends. You can call me Mei.” She said.
    “Sorry, I forgot.”
    “That’s okay, I’ll forgive you just this once.” She went back to staring at Eiji.
    “Mei must be in love. I wish I could have someone to love me.” I sighed. I knew Jun was looking at me with concern.
    “Miu I need to…” Before Jun could finish, the bell rang.
    “Come on Miu.” Mei said, grabbing my arm again.
    “Miu, wait!” Jun grabbed my other arm. I stopped and looked at him.
    “Yes Kuzutani?” I replied. His eyes went wide with horrific shock. Even when we were just friends, I’ve never called him by his last name. I’ve only ever called him…Jun. Slowly, he let go of my hand, and turned around without a word.
    “Do you think that was too harsh?” I asked Mei.
    “Not really, I don’t see the big deal. You only called him by his last name, it’s not like you forgot who he was completely.” Mei shrugged and pulled me towards class. She didn’t think it was a big deal, but between Jun and I…it was huge. I once told him, that to people I hardly knew; of course I’d call them by their last names. It would be rude of me not to.

    After school ended, I called my parents and said that I was going to walk home. Of course my mother screamed “NO YOU CAN NOT!!! I WON’T ALLOW IT!!!” When she calmed down, I told her that I was walking with Mei. That calmed her down a bit.
    “Ready to go Miu?” Mei asked.
    “Yup.” I said. We walked out of the classroom and down the hall to the stairs.
    “Hey Miu, why the long face?” Mei asked as we went down the stairs.
    “Nothing, it’s just that…I want to be happy for Jun and Suzuko.”
    “But you can’t, right?”
    “Yeah, I guess I can’t. I just don’t accept them being together. I know it sounds selfish.”
    “You know, everything would have been better. If it wasn’t for that one guy who asked you out before.” Mei said as we walked out of the building. Come to think of it, after I was asked out; Jun became aggressive with me.
    “You’re right.” I said.
    “Yup, and then Suzuko noticed Jun’s sadness and urgency to be with you. So she swooped down and confessed her love! It was like a dangerous love triangle…!” Mei could be an actress for the way she portrayed the story just now.
    “And where do you fit in?” I asked sarcastically.
    “I! Am the noble and loyal friend, who has helped from a distance.” She said in a mysterious voice. I rolled my eyes.
    “Hey Mei.” Eiji walked towards us. Her I eyes just lit up again like before.
    “Do you want to go get something to eat?” He asked her.
    “I would love to! Oh but Miu…?” She looked at me.
    “Sorry Eiji but…”
    “She’d love to!” I pushed Mei towards him before she could protest. “I need to get home anyway, and don’t worry I’ll be careful. Later.” I said as I walked off. It was still the season for cherry blossoms. So I wanted to take a stroll down a different path. I really wanted my friends to be happy. I remember we used to all laugh and tease each other about simple things. I remember Suzuko coming over to me and trying to become friends…but that was only so she could get closer to Jun. I sighed. I should have known. As I looked to the ground I saw petals. They were so beautiful, and when I looked up; I could almost cry. I loved this season, because it was supposed to be romantic…but so far…I’m the only one not getting any love…
    “Such a sad face for a gorgeous beauty like.” I turned around and saw Masu. Oh gross, I never liked him. Even the first time he confessed to me. He was such a player and a pig!
    “Mew Mew, long time no flirt.” He smiled.
    “It’s Miu! And I don’t ever recall flirting with you.” I said firmly.
    “Don’t be shy now. I heard you lost your memory, so how do you know that you haven’t come on to me before?”
    “Who can forget your face?”
    “I know, because I’m so handsome right?”
    “No. You’re a player, a pig and too conceited!”
    “Come on, don’t be like that. Go out with me.” He said.
    “Masu, I already rejected you a long time ago. Didn’t Jun tell you to stay away from me?”
    “Yeah I remember, but I don’t see him here. Do you?” He challenged.
    “I’m right here.” Jun stood behind him.
    “Hey Jun Jun. Um…I’ll just be on my way now!” Masu ran off. I wonder if Jun heard of that. Hmm…
    “Thank you Kuzutani.” I said with a smile.
    “How did you remember he asked you out before? When he asked you, it was way before your accident.” Jun looked angry.
    “I…it’s a miracle?” I shrugged. I’m such an idiot! He’s going to hate me for sure!!!
    “If you regained your memory, then why didn’t you say anything?! Is it because of what you remembered, is the reason you can’t tell me? If you remember, then you should tell me. I’m still waiting for my reply to the confession I gave you before!” He grabbed my arm.
    “Why do you care for my answer if you already have a girlfriend?!” I shouted back.
    “Regardless of that, I still want a reply!” I had to contain my sadness because this meant that Suzuko really has him then.
    “I don’t reply to players.” I said firmly, he didn’t let me go though. I looked away from him, I could feel the tears already spreading like a virus.
    “I’m not going to let you go, I won’t. Not until you tell me why you can‘t even face me anymore.” He said. I could tell boy his tone, he was hurt. I took a deep breath.
    “That day, when I told you to meet me here…I was going to give you my answer. I was just too shocked when you confessed, that I wanted it to be perfect. So I asked you to come here. But when I arrived, I saw you with Suzuko and…”
    “…Love you Suzuko…” I blinked, so the tears would go away. But they kept on coming.
    “You misunderstood…” Jun said. “If I had known you had seen that, I would have stopped you from running away. And maybe you wouldn’t have gone running in the streets.”
    “Why would you explain it to me, I don’t want to hear that you’ve changed your mind.” I cried.
    “Funny, you sound almost like Suzuko did…”
    “Jun, I like you!”
    “I’m sorry…”
    “Please don’t say it! I won’t accept you saying no! I will keep on pursuing you!”
    “I don’t love you Suzuko.”
    “That’s how it was, you only heard half of the last part.” Jun explained.
    “Then why did you go out with her during lunch the other day?”
    “It was because she said she still wanted to pursue me. And unless I gave her a reasoning, she wouldn’t stop.” So it wasn’t Jun’s fault…it was my fault for misunderstanding things. I felt so stupid now…
    “What did you tell her?” I asked, turning around to face him completely. He was blushing now.
    “I told her I was in love with a beautiful girl with dark curls, and dark eyes. The girl who always got along with everyone and wasn’t afraid to have an opinion of her own. The girl that was smart and sometimes sarcastic. The girl…standing in front of me right now. Is the girl that I’m in love with.” He was looking at me seriously.
    “Um…” I stuttered almost.
    “I will ask you again. I love you Mui, will you be my girlfriend?” He asked. It was just like before, under this same old tree full of cherry blossoms. This season was the best. It was definitely meant for romance.
    “Yes!” I didn’t hesitate this time. I knew I loved Jun, with all my heart; I knew.



    [End]