Chapter One Elementary School -My First Love-
It hurts to remember. I don’t want to remember. But I can’t help remembering. The days of my adolescence come back to me vividly...
Chapter One In Elementary School -My First Love-
“Hey, Mikako! Let’s run to our classroom. The first one who gets there wins.”
“Okay, Hanako, ready set go!”
Hanako and I raced to our classroom, laughing and sabotaging each other
“Mikako, Hanako, please don’t run in the hall-”
“Good morning!”
“I won!”
“No way, I came here first!”
“Kyoko, you were watching, weren’t you? Which was faster?”
“I don’t know.”
Ding dong! The bell rang.
“Okay, everybody, class will start so please be seated. ”
“It’s a nice weather, so I want to study outside!”
“No, no, not today.”
“I forgot my homework.”
“Again? Koichi, when are you going to learn not to forget?”
I just loved school. Behind me, there was my best friend Hanako, and ahead of me, there was Koichi, who I had a crush on. I was very happy. During classes, Hanako and I always talked.
“Yesterday, my mom burned the frying pan, so I have to buy a new one.”
“The pot in my house broke too. Let’s go shopping together.”
“I wonder where we can find a cheap one.”
“Hey, are you two listening?”
“Yes, we are!”
I think happiness is in small things. Talking with friends. Everyday events. I wanted to stay as a happy and bright girl. I wanted to marry Koichi when I grew up. Koichi was sleeping ahead of me during class...
“Let’s do the stupido game! Boo!”
“Hah-hah, grrrr!”
Hanako and I always played foolishly.
We dug a hole in the sand and climbed trees.
Around us, there were rumors that some people were going out, but we weren’t interested in such things.
If we were having fun now, that was all that mattered. If we were happy now, we couldn’t ask for more.
I wanted to stay simple that way.
The showtime was coming near. I tried out for the main character, but failed in the audition. Hanako was the mischievous bunny. I was the doctor bunny, trying to show Hanako how to bounce.
“You know, I’m wondering why I have the role of learning how to bounce from you. We’re pretty much the same, aren’t we?”
“Yeah, I wonder. I didn’t want the doctor part.”
Hanako and I were very alike. However, Hanako seemed to be doing better in life. The way she got the part that she wanted. Hey, since when am I comparing myself with people? Especially with Hanako...
After the school show ended, there was a class for debating.
In my elementary school, the topic was like this. ‘Once, there was a magician. He became friends with a boy with illness. Today is the boy’s birthday, but the boy can’t get out of his house. The magician had promised he would do magic for the boy on his birthday. However, the magician was supposed to do a magic show in front of many people today. Which do you think the magician should show his magic to?'
Hanako and I were on the minority side, asserting that the magician should play magic in front of the ill boy.
“I think the promise he made with the boy is much more important.”
“I think so too. The boy would be so happy if the magician played magic for him on his birthday...”
I loved Hanako. She was always on my side.
“Hey, when are you going to ask Koichi out? You’re going to a different school, right?”
I looked at Hanako with surprise. Hanako, since when have you been interested in such mature matters?
“Um...”
I didn’t know what to say.
“Hanako, Mikako! Did you know that Koichi has a girlfriend?”
“What?”
“Look!” Emiko showed us a picture of Koichi with a cute girl wearing yukata.
...And that was the end of my first love.
