Chapter 17: Jokes Turned Sweet
Haruto was now at his apartment, sitting on his bed gazing at the ring in his hand, a serene smile was on his face as memories of Kanna were filling his mind… her smiling face… her laughters… and all their memories they shared together.
[Flashback]
Fifteen year old Haruto was sitting at the front chair of his cram school, his elbow's resting on its desk, as he absentmindedly twirled a pen between his fingers. With no teacher present in the classroom, the students were talking and laughing freely.
Just then, someone entered the classroom, Haruto quickly turned around and saw Kanna walking in. A smile immediately spread across his face, as they glanced at each other and exchanged smiles, Kanna then quickly sat with her friends chatting and laughing with them.
Haruto, with a smile, turned his attention back to the notebook. He popped the lid off his pen and began sketching on his notebook. His hand moves deftly as he draws a rough outline of a cat's face, the sketch was almost perfect, proving his brilliant skills in sketching and drawing.
Beaming with satisfaction, Haruto gazed at the sketch for a moment, then with careful hands he began to darken its outline, as he was half way through, a hand from his left came flying hitting his shoulder. The sudden impact caused his pen to slip, ruining the sketch.
Haruto's eyes were wide open with shock, gazing at his ruined sketch, Frustration boiling over as he angrily turned to his left where Baku stood with a smile, his bag slung on his shoulder.
"Baku you idiot" Haruto snapped his voice filled with frustration "You ruined my sketch!"
Baku settled into the seat next to Haruto, pulling out his book, "This is no time to sketch" he said with a smirk before turning to Haruto he asked, "How's your preparation for the test?"
Haruto let out a deep sigh, tearing the ruined sketch from his notebook and shoving it into his bag, "It's fine, what about you?" he asked.
Baku flashed a confident smile, "I've studied enough to get passing marks"
Haruto nodded in disappointment, shifted his focus back on his notebook, revising for the test.
After a few minutes, the Teacher entered the class shifting the atmosphere of the class, as everyone focused on preparing for the test.
The teacher calls out, "Erza come up here and erase the board"
A girl named Erza stood up from her chair, walked to the front and began erasing the board.
"Hey Haruto!" Baku calls out, drawing Haruto's attention.
With a smile, Baku displayed a ring on his finger, Haruto's eyes widened in admiration as he took the sight of it.
"It's fantastic," Haruto said, clearly impressed.
Baku then took out the ring and held it to Haruto, "Try it on!" he offered. Haruto took the ring and slid it into his finger,
"No, no, put it on that one," Baku said pointing at Haruto's ring finger.
Without any hesitation, Haruto slid the ring into his ring finger, Baku swiftly grabbed his fist, leaving Haruto puzzled.
With a mischievous grin, Baku lifted Haruto's hand up toward the ceiling, and announced loudly, "Teacher, Haruto is engaged!"
Erza, who was cleaning the white board burst into laughter, While Teacher seemed stunned, a smile playing on her lips.
Haruto was clearly stunned, staring at Baku with disbelief, he quickly pulled his hand free, shouting "Nonsense!" As he glanced back over his shoulder he saw every girl in the classroom seemed stunned gazing at him except for Kanna, who was giving him a death stare.
A look of fear started spreading across Haruto's face, as he hurriedly tried to remove the ring, "That's nonsense, it's just Baku's ring he gave me to try it on" he said, his eyes darting towards Kanna, who seemed unflinched and continuously staring at him.
Haruto yanked off the ring and slammed it on the desk, turning to the teacher he said firmly, "Teacher it's not true, I ain't engaged."
With a big smile the teacher nodded in agreement. "Yes, Haruto, calm down, we know it was just a joke." she said.
Haruto then turned to Erza who was still chuckling by covering her mouth with her hands.
"Hey why are you laughing?" Haruto called out, clearly frustrated.
Erza stifled her laughter and continued rubbing the board though she kept chuckling lightly.
Haruto turned back and saw every other girl smiling but only Kanna seemed serious, still giving him a death stare, Haruto was glancing at him, smiling hesitantly.
At night Kanna walked down the road with a serious expression, her bag slung over her shoulder. With Haruto trailing just behind her.
"Kanna!" Haruto called out softly, but Kanna didn't slow down or look back, as he kept walking with serious expressions.
"Come on Kanna it was just a joke" Haruto calls out again and keeps walking behind her.
Kanna kept walking, her face showing no sign of emotions.
Haruto then swiftly closed the gap between them, holding her arm and turning her around to face him, "It was just a joke" he said, glancing at her.
Kanna was staring at him when suddenly a sharp smile curled on her lips, "Really?" she said her tone filled with sarcasm "I thought Ayumi had said yes to you" she said, her tone filled with mockery.
Haruto kept looking at her with a hint of sadness in his eyes, "Come on Kanna, it was really just a joke" he said softly.
Kanna's fierce gaze was still fixed on him, without saying a word she quickly took off her ring, took Haruto's hand and angrily slid her ring into his ring finger.
Haruto was stunned by the gesture, watching the ring being placed on his ring finger. He then slowly looks up to Kanna whose eyes were narrowed out of anger, "You are mine" she stated firmly.
A broad smile spread across Haruto's face as he kept looking at her with complete affection. Carefully he removed the ring from his fingers, gently took her hand and slid the ring into her ring finger, "And you are mine" he said, his gaze and tone tender.
Kanna's anger softened, turning into a warm smile, Haruto was also gazing at her with a warm smile, Their eyes meeting in a meaningful tender look. [End of Flashback]
Haruto was still sitting on his bed, holding the ring and gazing at it with a tender smile, he then took a deep sigh and said softly "Tonight is the night when all our promises and dreams will come true." His smile deepend as he kept looking at the ring with warmth, then glancing at the wall clock, noting it was 5 o'clock already.
Standing up quickly he muttered "Man, I've got to hurry up, I also have to pick her up" suddenly a realization struck him causing his brow to furrow.
"Pick her up, In what? a public bus?" he asked himself, hitting his hand on his forehead in frustration and sank back onto the bed, "How could I be so stupid?" he whispered to himself.
He then pulled out his phone from his pocket, dialed a number and held the phone to his ear.
After a few moments of ringing, the call was answered, "Hey Rensuke!" Haruto greeted with a cheerful tone.
Rensuke was in his office, leaning back in his chair and idly chewing the lid of the pen, "Yeah? What is it? be quick, I'm at the office" he said casually.
"Aah, I need to rent a car," Haruto asked hesitantly.
Rensuke's brow furrowed in confusion, "A car, why?" he asked, clearly puzzled.
Haruto smiles, "I'm going out to dinner with someone," he said.
Rensuke started laughing, his mood lifting, "Now that's my brother, you are making me proud now, who's the girl?" he asked eagerly.
With a steady smile Haruto replied, "Kanna."
Rensuke swiftly stood straight, his pen slipping from his hands and fell down on the floor, he was clearly stunned. Meanwhile Haruto kept smiling.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone