- Chapter 7 -

End of Halcyon Days

Misaki hadn't forgotten about what had happened and she was very happy to know that Makoto was liking her in that way. That had made up her day and for the first time after years, she was smiling brightly. Her grandomother was giving her some questioning looks but she didn't bother too much since all she wanted to see is Misaki smiling.

It was a bright shiny day, a small breeze blowing some fallen leaves to the side and making the heat less unbearable. Misaki had put on a white, simple dress and a simple hat from the ones that the women were wearing in the beaches. She was walking around the neighborhood, her cat walking besides her and following the girl's pace. Makoto had told her that he wanted to meet her up in about an hour and he told her that she would bring the rest of the swim club together.

"Hn. . . I still have time for some onigiri before we hang out" she told herself and began walking back to her house, the small kitten following besides her.

When both of them arrived, the raven girl noticed that she had mail in her mailbox so she took out the single envelope which was happening to be inside it. She took a small glance of it and froze when she realized that it was from the high school she wanted so badly to attend back there. Leaving the mailbox open, she rushed inside and sat on the couch, gripping tightly on the envelope. Her grey eyes stared at it before ripping of the top and beginning reading.

Dear Miss Namikaze Misaki,

Among all the students that were requested to be given our scholarship, the one that attracted us mostly were you. You are one of the so-called "prodigies" and being wise in such a young age made us reignite our discussion about you.

Gladly, we are proud to announce you that you are the person we chose for enroll in our High School; fact which will benefit you in your future job. The dates--

Misaki re-read a lot of times the first part of the letter, ignoring the rest of the text. Omikawa High School was offering her a scholarship to their school. In that actual school, the one Misaki could only dream of. The letter was dropped on the floor by her as her hands rushed up to her face to cover it. The girl was in the verge of tears, tears of happiness.

Shoving the letter in her pocket, she ran out of her house and made her own way to the place they would meet. She knew she was going to be early but she couldn't help and run to tell to her new friends. Her first friends. The ones that had tried to take her out of her loneliness and succesfully succeeded to do that, making her realize that it was better to have friends than being alone.

Fortunately, Makoto was the only one who had arrived there and she was planning on telling him firstly about the big news anyways, "Makoto!" she yelled while approaching him fastly, the brunette looking at her surprised for not adding the suffix in the end of his name. "Oi, Makoto!"

"Misaki-san? What-"

The girl panted lightly and stood in front of him, the first bright smile he had to see for a bit on her face appeared. "Ha. . . I received- I received this letter today", she started and waved the paper in front of his face, "which is a scholarship they gave me for Omikawa High School!! I. . . I actually did it!"

Makoto smiled brightly at her and suddenly pulled her in a tight hug, something that surprised Misaki a lot but in the end, she hugged back. Pulling back, small tints of pink were visible on both of their cheeks but the atmosphere wasn't as awkward as they expected. "So. . . Where is this Omikawa High School then?" the brunette asked, tilting his head to the side.

A small frown appeared on Misaki's face, showing that it was no good. "The. . . The school is in. . . Australia". The air blew forcefully and wiped her hair away, making them float on air. The gaze of Makoto on hair was dumbfounded- shocked from the new information. His heart had just shattered into millions of pieces and his eyes were clearly showing that.

Misaki will. . . accept to go to Australia? And leave us behind? After what happened between me and her yesterday. .. is she going to abandon this too? After all this smiles she tried to give me, after she became more sociable and comfortable around us and finally found friends. . . Will she leave us alone? Makoto thought selfisly, still staring at Misaki with shock.

"Misaki. . .san. . ." was all he could mumble before lowering down his head. 'I. . . I see. When are you planning on leaving, then?"

"Next week, probably"

Makoto swallowed the hard lump which was stuck in his throat and looked up at her, cracking up a fake smile to encourage her. "Very well. See you later then", and with that, the male left her alone. Misaki was still staring at him as his was leaving, her grey eyes mirroring her sadness which was created by his reaction. She knew that it would be hard for her to leave them but. . . she had to do it. For the sake of her future.

. . .

The female slammed the door of her room close, jumping on her bed and throwing away her shoes. She groaned in her pillow and grabbed it tightly, trying to restrain her anger and sadness. She wasn't ready to leave. To leave all this behind, her first friends, her first smile after a long time. . . the home of her family. She just wasn't prepared for that.

She took in her hands the frame she had touched in her first day in there, her brother and her being on it. "Aniki. . . What shall I do?".