Part 3
The weather is pretty nice today. Even though the wind is fresh and feels kind of cold. The sun is shining so nicely so it warms the body up. When you listen clearly you can hear the wind whistles through the leaves and blossoms of the cherry trees and the birds singing their love songs. Yeah, it’s spring… “Look.” She gives me her pocket mirror and takes out her handkerchief. …what’s that? ‘Tamako Toya’ and a big heart are written on my face with thick red lipstick. Tamako! That damn woman! Next time I see her I will- “Huh?” My face gets wet. “Uwah, don’t move or it will be blurred on your face.” Makoto washes my face with her handkerchief… her face is so close to mine. I bet right now my face is turning into an even stronger red than the lipstick had. My heart is pounding so loud like church bells. It feels like it’s about to explode. I wish this moment could last forever. Only the two of us so close to each other... I don’t want time to go on. I don’t want the lipstick to be gone. I wish she would always be by my side… stupid! What am I thinking? It’s impossible for time to stop. Everything will go on and we’ll have to part. I really enjoy this moment with her. It’s weird. “Finished!” I wish her smile to be mine. I wish she’d be mine... only mine. Her laugh is even more beautiful than those of angels… even though I never saw an angel smile. Well, it just has a metaphoric meaning so… “Thanks!” “Shall we head back?” I don’t want to. “Yeah.” While we head back to class to get our stuff she sings happily. It’s nice to listen to. ‘The cherry blossoms fell, fluttering down…’ it’s a beautiful yet sad song. ‘Embracing ever bit of my fluttering love…’ But the way she sings is so gentle and refreshing. I’ve always admired her cheerfulness. I wonder why she always has such a good mood. Is it because all you see in this world are the good things? Are you hiding your sadness? Do you want to live on happily without having anything to fear or to regret? Shying away from the dark? Or just faking that lovely smile of yours? People might say it’s just because of her stupidity. You know, like the girls in manga or anime who are just stupid and do always laugh and smile. Who are always cheerful and cheeky, the girls everyone would like, because they are just themself. But Makoto is not like that. To me… she is special. She is not stupid. She has average good grades and she is middling talented in various things. I may be the only one thinking that… because I like her. It’s weird. “Where have you been?!” Again that voice which always takes me out of my thoughts. Her loud voice is sometimes really annoying. “Ouch!” Tamako comes racing along to us with Shota behind her who threw my bag at me. “Sho-“ “I want to go home now.” Tamako sulks bugged. “You could also go alone, can’t you?” Maybe I could walk her home if Tamako won’t. “Mommy said so because Makoto is an airhead and gets lost everywhere she goes even on her way home.” I knew that but I still wanted to be alone with her. “Say Toya…” Tamako seems kind of pissed… “What the hell is on ya face, bud?” My face again? “Dunno, I can’t look at my own face.” What’s wrong with my face?! I’m called the ‘prince’ because I’m good-looking handsome and cool. So what? “Look!” She holds her pocket mirror against my face. Does every girl have such a thing? “Huh.” The letters made with lipstick aren’t completely gone. Instead of ‘Tamako Toya’ there’s now only ‘mako To’ and the heart. “Makoto!” She grins at my cheekily and runs away. The way she runs is so cute… But I haven’t got time for such corny thoughts. Well, if she wants to play that game I’m willing to play. “Wait.” I need to get her. But I’m pretty sure that she’s slower than me so it won’t be a problem. Feels like she being a thief and me a policeman following her. It’s pretty fun to run after her. Through the school building… through the yard… I’d follow her wherever she’d go.
