Chapter 9: CH 9

Chapter: 8 Hiroto and Haruka (Part 1)

“Hiroto-kun, are you there yet?” (Haruka)

“Sorry, Haruka-chan. I’ll be right there.” (Hiroto)

The two of them walked out, hand in hand, with a toy shovel and bucket in the other hand.

“”Hurry up, Mom! Hurry~!””

Today, Hiroto’s mother, Mari, Haruka’s mother, Keiko, and I were at the sandbox in the park.

“What are we going to make?”

“We’re going to make a mountain and dig a tunnel!”

“Haruka-chan, I’ll put the sand in, you make the mountain.”

“All right~”

I filled a bucket with sand and Haruka made a pile. My mom got mad at me for getting too muddy, but Haruka laughed when she saw her getting mad.

On the bench, the mothers were watching over the two of us and talking, and Haruka’s mother sounded troubled.

She said, “I’m really grateful that Hiroto-kun is here… Haruka is so shy that she can only talk to Hiroto-kun, who is with her every day.”

“It’s a mutual thing. Haruka is the only other three-year-old nearby, and we call her “Haruka-chan” at home. She’s going to start kindergarten next week, so she’ll have friends. I’ve heard that Hiroto will be in the same class as her, so I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

“I hope so…”

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On the day of the entrance ceremony, I changed into the kindergarten uniform I had been given, and went to pick up Haruka-chan. But when I got to her, she was crying. I was looking forward to her entrance ceremony, but what was wrong with her…?

“Not these shoes~! Eeeewwww!”

Mari, Hiroto’s mother, called out to Keiko, Haruka’s mother.

“What’s wrong, Haruka?” (Mari)

“You see… kindergarten has a specific uniform and shoes, right? She’s crying because her shoes are different from the ones she usually wears…” (Keiko)

“I like the light blue shoes I always wear!”

“Haruka-chan, your yellow shoes are cute too. See, I’m also wearing them.”

“Woah…(hiccup)…really…?”

“We’re the same, aren’t we?

“Yeah! I have the same shoes as Hiroto-kun!”

The entrance ceremony went off without a hitch and Hiroto and Haruka walked into the classroom with their parents.

“Oh! I’m next to Haruka-chan!”

“I’m next to Hiroto-kun!”

Haruka was so happy to be next to Hiroto that she brought her chair right next to his and sat down, smiling happily at him.

When all of the children and their parents had entered, the door in front of them opened and a young female teacher walked in, looked around at everyone and greeted them with a smile.

She smiled and said, “Hello, everyone. Hello~”

‘””‘Hello~'”‘”

“Yes! Good to see you all doing well.” (Teacher)

The teacher started to talk, and some of the children started to run around, probably because they were tired of sitting still.

“Everyone here is your friend from today. I want you to remember your friends’ names, so let’s take turns saying our names. Can you all say your names?”

The child sitting in front of me started saying his name, and then it was my turn.

“I’m Hiroto Yoshizumi!”

I was able to say my name loudly!

Haruka-chan was next!

“…”

Haruka looked down in silence.

“Haruka-chan, it’s okay.” (Hiroto)

I grabbed her hand.

“It’s… Haruka Aizawa…” (Haruka)

Haruka also had a small voice, but she managed to say her name and sat down, giving Hiroto an anxious look.

“I’ll protect you, Haruka-chan.”

Haruka’s smile returned to my favorite smile and she nodded as she said, “Yes.

Kindergarten was fun – drawing pictures, reading books, taking naps, and always having fun with Haruka-chan.