The girl of my first love, whom I met again after seven years. I’m falling in love with you for the second time. - CH 8.1

Chapter 9: Hiroto and Haruka (Part 2)

Haruka and I have graduated from kindergarten and will soon be entering elementary school.

We didn’t have many classmates in kindergarten, so Haruka and I were in the same classroom until we graduated.

Haruka and I had similar names, “Sakura” and “Satou”, and our attendance numbers were close. We were always seated next to each other because our seats were decided by name. [TLN: Sorry I probably screwed up their names-]

During kindergarten, Haruka spent most of her time with me, always hiding behind me if something happened.

“Haruka-chan, are you looking forward to elementary school?” (Hiroto)

“Yes! I’m looking forward to using my school bag. I can’t wait to go to elementary school!” (Haruka)

Haruka-chan was twirling around with her pink school bag on her back.

“It’s dangerous, you’ll fall…”

“Don’t worry~”

Haruka stopped facing backwards and turned her face towards me, giving me a smile that she only showed me.

“Hiroto-kun, let’s stay together in elementary school too.”

“Yes, we’ll be together from now on!”

Haruka and I entered elementary school together. But unlike in kindergarten, our seats were further apart. I was worried about Haruka because I couldn’t be near her…

No… I was really upset that I couldn’t be near her.

This is the first summer vacation after entering elementary school.

Haruka and I played together every day. In elementary school, we had homework and worked hard together.

I would love having P.E class but Haruka prefered pool time. Today, Haruka’s mother took us to the local pool to play.

Haruka was playing with me, wearing a pink ring that matched her school bag. Haruka fell out of her float and ended up crying…

During the middle of August, my parents and I went to my grandpa’s house for a sleepover.

I had heard that Grandpa was my mother’s father. And every year he celebrated my birthday at his house.

Grandpa was more energetic than my father, and when we went out to play, he would alway bring a baseball that was small enough for me to hold, and play with me.

The day before I went to Grandpa’s house, Haruka came to visit me.

“Hiroto-kun!”

“Haruka-chan, what’s wrong?

“Ehehehe~!”

Haruka always had a smile on her face, but today she was looking at me with a different… smile…? Her hands behind her back, as if she was hiding something. I thought, “What’s going on?”, I wondered and tilted my head.

Haruka smiled, and put her hands out in front of her and held something out in front of me.

“Hiroto-kun, Happy birthday!”

“Huh?”

I was so surprised that I shouted out loud.

“It’s not my birthday yet, is it?”

My birthday was next week.

“I know… But Hiroto won’t be home next week, you’re going to your Grandpa’s house, right?”

“Yes…”

“That’s why I brought this to you today!”

“Haruka-chan… thank you!”

I received the gift from Haruka-chan, it was wrapped in blue paper and it had a pretty ribbon on top.

“May I open it?”

“Yes! Open it quickly!”

When I opened it, I found a set of pencils and a pencil case that I had always wanted.

“Woah! Thank you, Haruka-chan!”

Haruka-chan smiled at me and said, “I’m glad you liked it”.

I was so happy that I looked at the gifts over and over again from different angles.

“I love you, Hiroto-kun! I love you!”

“I love you too, Haruka-chan!”

Then Haruka looked down and started to fidget, then she smiled and said…

“Hiroto-kun, take me as your wife when we grow up!”

“Yes… I’ll protect you, Haruka!”

Haruka-chan was a very sweet girl with clear eyes and was cute as a doll, and even cuter when she smiles.

When she was played with me, she would smile and talk a lot.

I loved…Haruka-chan.