Chapter 6

It was one of summer vacation, Yamada’s family took a vacation on their relatives in the province located near the beach. “It’s been a while, Aoi!” greeted one of her cousins, Honoka. “Yeah, it has been a while Honoka, Emi, and Airi.” “How are you Aoi-neesan?” asked Airi. “I’m fine Airi, thanks. You seemed cuter than before,” answered Aoi. “It’s getting late girls. You should take rest now, especially Aoi and her parents. You may continue it tomorrow, or at the beach,” said Natsumi, the mother of Honoka, Emi, and Airi. The next morning, Emi tried to wake Aoi, “Aoi-neesan… wake up! Hurry up for breakfast. My mom will tell a story about Grandma Chiyo when she got home from the market!” “Yeah, yeah, yeah… I’m coming. Just five more minutes,” replied Aoi.

Aoi has already missed a lot in the story about their Grandma Chiyo when she finished her breakfast. When she arrived at the living room, her aunt Natsumi is already narrating how their grandma and grandpa met and how they made their love story a happy ending. After her Aunt Natsumi finished her grandparents love story, Aoi exclaimed, “How wonderful! I hope I share the same fate like them!” “How could that be possible Aoi-neesan? You’re already in second year but you don’t even get a boyfriend,” said Emi. Everybody laughed. “Maybe, Aoi is still waiting for the boy who gave her a lollipop when once she was crying ten years ago,” said Honoka. “Huh? That boy, huh? I can’t even remember how does he look like and even his name,” answered Aoi. “Oh… poor Aoi-neesan,” said Airi.

When Aoi got home from her vacation, she has slept quickly because she was very tired of the long trip. While she was asleep, she dreamt of what had happened ten years ago:

Young Aoi and Young Miyuki were playing at the playground. Then Young Miyuki said, “Wait for me Aoi-chan, I will just give these pretty flowers to my Mom.” Aoi seemed to be enjoying what she was doing. Then she noticed that Miyuki has gone already, “Miyuki-chan, where are you?” cried Aoi. She started to cry louder and louder. Then a boy approached her and said, “Please don’t cry. Here, I will give you a lollipop but please promise me that you’ll stop crying.” “My Mom told me not to talk to strangers. Miyuki-chan!?” cried Young Aoi. “Yes. My mother told me the same thing; that I should not talk to strangers. So… I’m Ken,” said the young boy. The moment the young boy told his name is the same time as the moment when a big cargo truck hit his horns. Aoi accepted the lollipop while saying, “I’m Aoi.” “Stop crying now, okay?” asked the boy. “Sorry I have to go now, my Mom will going to be mad at me. Bye.”