shiki no kagi chapter 1

2nd January 2004, Friday
Dear Diary,
Big yawn!!! I am so tired~ I am going to help out at the orphanage that otou-san helps fund this Sunday. I am born into a wealthy family, so I feel that I must do my best to help those who are less fortunate! I will not let myself be fortunate for nothing! Ganbarimasu~ O(>.<)o

Actually there's another reason why I want to help the orphans. They remind me of Akiko. She must be somewhere alone out there now. I wonder how many times I have to mention her at the start of the year na~!

My cousin is coming over to stay tomorrow. Can you believe this? She is only four years old! I am already 20. Haha. I haven't seen her before, because her parents migrated to Canada when she was very young. I'm sure she must be cute. ♥

Okaa-san just called from downstairs asking if I wanted grapes. Grapes... Even grapes remind me of Aki-chan.

"...Orenji-chan!" Koyama exclaimed.

"...eh?! Orenji-chan? Budou-chan!!" Akiko shouted in answer.

"Why 'budou-chan'?"

"Why 'orenji-chan' then?"

"Because you're wearing orange." Koyama pointed out.

Akiko smiled. "And you're wearing purple, Budou-chan."

Yup! And that's because Akiko called me 'grapes'. Heehee, maybe I should be a novelist! No, no, I have to take over the family's ramen company. Otou-san expects it na~ I don't mind it, but... I wish I could do something else I'd really find meaningful. But if it's my responsibility, I'll do it. Otou-san always talked of responsibility. The only thing I am puzzled over is why otou-san allowed me to take Chinese Literature instead of Business in university. Ought I not to grasp some academic knowledge of business so I can run the company? I guess otou-san is leaving it up to me.

Aki-chan's family owned a textile company. That's why I remember her being in a fair few pretty kimonos every year at different festivals. It was tremendously fun back then. And she even got a really really comfortable yukata for me! It's still in my closet right now, even if I am too tall to fit into it.

...and I only just realised, everytime I am with her, coincidentally I would have a shade of purple on me, and she, orange. But those were not our favourite colours. That was just a coincidence.

I always wonder what I might say to her if I see her again now. Would I even get the chance to do so?

Okaa-san is calling me downstairs. She says there are suddenly bugs at the kitchen window and she can't find the pesticide. Something like that. Maybe I was pondering too much and didn't hear clearly. But hold on a minute, BUGS?!! Yabai! I wonder... if it was because of me eating at the kitchen window and having dropped stuff unknowingly...

In any case I shall tread safely and hunt for the pesticide.

3rd January 2005, Saturday
Dear Diary,
my cousin came over to stay today, and she has got a really cute name. MOMO! Haha... She is still here today. Did you know? She, surprisingly, has small eyes like me. But she has a funny hobby of loving to climb up and down the stairs of the house. I wonder why? It was some time before I actually could lure her away from the staircase. And the next thing she couldn't stop doing was touching my hair! Well I have a habit of touching my hair too. Is it that nice to touch? Just joking.

4th January 2005, Sunday
Dear Diary,
I went to the orphanage today. And I made an interesting discovery. I'm exited to confirm my doubts, but I didn't have the chance to do so today. The Head of the orphanage had been away today! And tomorrow I have additional lectures and I can't make a trip there.

I had been helping to move cardboard boxes with the children at the orphanage, and I overheard them talking. I didn't mean to eavesdrop! Well it wasn't actually considered eavesdropping, since I actually was beside them and they didn't make an effort to hush themselves.

"...Don't bother about her. You're always getting upset over Akiko nee-chan." the first little boy called Akira had said to the other boy beside him, Kentaro. Of course, the first thing that had struck me was the name Akiko. It perhaps was not possible but there was that faint hope.

"Demo... I don't believe Aki nee-chan is so harsh." Kentaro answered in disappointment.

"Ano!" I had interrupted. They had both looked at me. "Who is this Akiko? Do you know her previous surname?" They shook their heads at me, and I had been thoroughly disappointed then.

Akira offered more information for me, though. "Akiko nee-chan is very anti-social. She just keeps to herself most of the time. The scary thing is, she just won't make any noise, and when she does, something bad has to happen after. Yesterday, she-"

"Akira-kun, don't say anymore!" Kentaro had cut in suddenly, a huge frown on his face.

A quietly rebellious girl? That wasn't the Akiko I knew back then. Back then, she was so cheerful, so full of enthusiasm in our conversations, and always such a gentle, sweet girl. Nevertheless, who knew what so many years might have done? I am determined to find out if she is Akiko. If she's not... Well it was a good hope. Half of me wants it to be her, because I want to find her. The other half doesn't want it to be her, because it pains me to hear that she has turned into such a depressing corner.

Either way, one day I'll find her.

Because we promised each other.