shu1031

I’m Taki Tamada, just your average high school student. Well… not really. I’m kind of a lazy otaku who spends most of my time talking about anime and gaming. Surprisingly, I still manage to make it to the Top 15 in our exams. But honestly, I don’t care about grades. All I care about is enjoying my youth while it lasts.

There’s one thing I can’t forget, though. A promise.

Years ago, I had a childhood friend—someone I was really close to. But she moved to another country, leaving me behind. I don’t remember when she said she’d return, or even the exact words, but I know she will. One day, she’ll come back.

In the meantime, I’ve got my friends to keep me company.

Haru Tatsunagi and his younger brother, Tatsuki, are always around. Haru’s the cool and reliable one, while Tatsuki is energetic and full of mischief. And then there’s Yuki Hanagi. We’ve been friends since eighth grade. She’s different… quiet, but there’s something off about her. Even though she’s comfortable hanging out with us guys, I can’t shake the feeling that she’s hiding something.

I don’t know what the future holds, but I have this feeling… something big is about to happen.

And that’s where my story begins.

Threads of a Distant Bond

Rain fell softly from the sky. The sound of water hitting the ground filled the quiet space between Taki and Yuki. They walked side by side on the road home, holding their school bags, the sky gray above them.

Yuki held her umbrella, and Taki walked close beside her to stay dry. Their hands almost touched.

Taki looked at her. She was quiet, her eyes looking ahead, but her smile was small and soft.

He thought about what she had said before.

"I'm interested in you."

Those words stayed in his mind, like a song he couldn't forget.

They kept walking until they reached a large tree by the sidewalk. The branches above gave them some cover from the rain. Yuki stopped and turned to Taki.

"Let's rest here for a bit," she said, brushing her hair back.

Taki nodded. "Okay."

For a while, they just stood there, listening to the rain.

"I like the rain," Yuki said. "It feels calm. Like… the world becomes quiet."

Taki looked up at the tree. "Yeah. It's peaceful."

Then Yuki said something that made his heart beat faster.

"When I was small," she said, "I made a promise in the rain."

Taki turned to her. "A promise?"

She smiled, but her eyes looked far away. "Yes. With someone special. We said we'd meet again when we grow up."

Taki stared at her. His chest felt tight. He opened his mouth.

"Was that… with me?" he asked.

Yuki looked at him. Her smile faded a little.

"Maybe," she said softly. Then she took a step closer. "Maybe it was Tak-kun."

Taki felt like the world had stopped. His heart beat so loudly he could barely think.

But just as he was about to say something, Yuki's phone buzzed.

She looked at it. Her face changed. The calm look was gone.

"I have to go," she said quickly.

Taki frowned. "What's wrong?"

Yuki looked around like she was scared. "Sorry, I can't explain now."

And then she turned and started to run.

Taki reached out. "Yuki—wait!"

But she was already gone, her footsteps fading in the sound of the rain.

Taki stood there, confused and alone. The tree above him shook with the wind, drops falling all around him.

He looked down. A small photo had fallen from her bag. It was a picture of two little kids—one girl, one boy—standing under the rain with a red umbrella. The girl looked like Yuki. The boy… looked like him.

He picked it up, hands shaking.

"She really is…" he whispered. "She was there."

Just then, his phone buzzed.

He pulled it from his pocket and checked the screen.

Unknown number.

He opened the message.

"Stay away from Yuki. You don't know what you're getting into."

Taki's eyes went wide. The phone almost dropped from his hand.

He looked out into the rainy street, heart racing.

"Who sent this…?" he whispered.

And in the distance, thunder rolled through the sky.

End of Chapter 10.

Chapter 10: A Promise in the Rain