"K-Karin-san, calm down! This is embarrassing!"

  "AH!"

  Karin quickly lets go of her hug and steps back a bit.

  ". . ."

  "Hm? What's wrong, Karin-san?"

  "Um. . . Remember about our bet about if I win, I get to ask you to gift me any one thing of my choice?"

  ". . .HUH? NO! WHEN DID I EVER MAKE THAT PROMISE? YOU JUST MADE THAT UP RIGHT NOW, RIGHT? YOU AIN'T SLEEK KARIN-SAN!!"

  "SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!!! JUST GRANT ME THIS ONE WISH NEO-SAN!! I BEG OF YOU!!"

  "Urgh. . ."

  I think to myself for a bit before finally making my decision.

  "Alright *Sigh*. State your wish! What do you want?!"

  "I. . .I want. . ."

  Karin points at me.

  *?*

  "Neo-san, I want you. Please go out with me!"

  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  "HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHH???"

  Everyone in the crowd, including me, gasps and screams at what Karin just said. Me? Going out? Someone asked me out? There's someone in this school who is romantically in love with me!? HUH? WHAAAAAAAT?

  Karin's face was red, but at the same time, her gaze seemed very hopeful. I couldn't help but find her cute, so the only thing I could say was. . .

  "Y-Yes. . .I'll. . .go out with you. . .Karin-san. . ."

  *!*

  "WWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

  "KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

  Everyone in the crowd screams in excitement. The boys cheered for me because I just got a girlfriend, while the girls were hysterical because they just witnessed a successful romantic confession. Everybody in the crowd goes to congratulate us both for our final exam scores and the confession. It was a momentous day in my life.

  A week later, we attended our graduation ceremony. Yuki was chosen as the one who will present the speech as a send-off to the upperclassmen, as she has now become the new role model student, as the successor of both me and Karin. She pulled off her speech flawlessly, but then she started crying when she was supposed to close her speech. And then all of us in the auditorium were crying as well. It was kinda impossible to hold back our tears when there's a guy at the piano playing such a sombre and sorrowful song the whole time. It took a while for us to move on and for Yuki to finally close her speech.

  After the ceremony was over, everyone gathered outside the school building to take a giant photo that included everyone. This photo will remain in all of our hearts for as long as we live. And then everyone starts scattering and dismissing. Some students form smaller groups to take group photos and chat, while others leave the school in groups to go have fun in the city.

  Karin takes my hand and drags me.

  "N-Neo. . .Come with me!"

  "W-Where to. . .Karin. . .?"

  That was the first time we both used each other's given names without honorifics. It was embarrassing, but at the same time, precious. Our faces turn red as we walk past the school gate.

  "We're. . .going to my home. . ."

  *!!*

  "Is-Isn't that a bit too soon?"

  "W-What are you talking about?! I'm introducing you to my parents!!"

  "Huh? But that's exactly what I was thinking about."

  "Huh?"

  Karin and I stared at each other in confusion.

  "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!! Whatever, let's go!!"

  "O-Okay!"

  That day, Karin introduced me to her parents. I was welcomed warmly and kindly. It's as though they've always known about me. I guess Karin has been telling her parents about me. I also talked about my future plans, both for me and Karin's. We've been going out for only a week, but I was already thinking about the future. After all, I don't take relationships lightly. If I'm gonna be in one, I'll be sure to take it as seriously as possible. Her parents respected my plans despite our very fresh relationship.

  And then we excused ourselves, and this time, we went to my house. I'm going to introduce her to my parents. When we arrived at home, I was surprised because I was greeted by my big brother. His name is Fukibayashi Fuu. Throughout the years, I wasn't really close to him as he was so busy with his job. But that didn't bother me because I know he's working hard behind the scenes.

  I didn't know he was coming. He said he arrived this morning. So, I introduced Karin to him first. And then he walked towards me and whispered, "Nice one, bro!". I chuckled a bit, but I held back my laughter.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  And then I called my parents to the living room and introduced Karin to them. I also explained my plans for the future to her. My parents, however, weren't surprised at all. They have always known their second son had already gotten hold of his own future. They complimented me for how I've always been a diligent boy since I was little, and that they're very proud of me. Their compliments almost made me tear up, but I held it back.

  And then we went on a date in our school uniform since it's our last day wearing it, we might as well make use of it. We went to an amusement park nearby. We first visited the ice cream shop, and we shared a scoop of ice cream.

  "Umm, Karin, aaaaaa. . ."

  "Uhh, aaaaaa. . ."

  I fed Karin a scoop of the ice cream. It was so embarrassing, but at the same time, we were so happy.

  Then we went to ride a Ferris wheel. When we're at the top, we witness scenery so beautiful that we couldn't say anything about the view of the city. But as we enjoyed the view, we also held our hands together. It was such a warm and fuzzy feeling.

  Next, we went to ride a roller coaster. As the ride gets crazier, Karin clings and hugs me the whole time while she screams her lungs out. I almost feel bad for her, but her facial expression was funny, so I just let her be.

  The next place we went to was the haunted house. I don't have any problem with ghosts and scary movies in general, so I should be fine. But when I looked towards Karin, she just clung onto me again as she shook in fear.

  "Umm, maybe we shouldn't?"

  "I-I-I-I-I'm fine!! We should go through. . ."

  "*Sigh* Let's not! This is our first date. I don't want it to be traumatizing to you."

  I looked at Karin's face with such passion, and it quickly calmed her down that she stopped shaking. And then I braved myself up and went for it. I kissed her cheek gently.

  *!!*

  She was startled, but she didn't move, so that means she likes it.

  "T-That was just the beginning! I'll continue to do more once we get married!"

  And then she didn't respond. But when I looked towards her, she was just silently embarrassed while her face turned red.

  "(Wow I'll die someday if I continue to stare at this adorable creature!)"

  And the date went on smoothly with no incident whatsoever. We end the date by taking a couple of selfies in our school uniform in front of a beautiful water fountain. We went home afterwards.

  I escorted Karin to her home first. We found out that the house was empty and that her parents had left the house. Karin was shaken by this fact and slowly turned around.

  "N-Neo. . .Wanna come in. . .?"

  I was shocked but happy at the same time. I wasted no time answering.

  "Y-Yes!!"

  Karin took my hand and escorted me inside. We walked through the living room while we held hands the entire time. And then she led me towards the staircase and her room on the second floor.

  In front of the door to her room, both of our hearts are beating so loudly that I thought we could hear each other's heartbeat. We were just standing silently in front of the door for a few seconds. Until Karin finally breaks the silence.

  "Neo. . ."

  Karin turns towards me with puppy eyes. She was so adorable at that moment.

  ". . .Let's come in. . ."

  "O. . .Okay. . ."

  Karin slowly opened the door to her room and she took my hand and pulled me inside.

  Inside her room, we just stood in the middle like we were frozen. And then Karin took the first step, and she sat on the side of her bed.

  "N-Neo. . ."

  Karin lightly pats her bed, signaling me to sit next to her. I rigidly walk towards her and sit next to her on the bed.

  . . . . . . . . .

  60 entire seconds have passed, and nothing happened.

  "K-KARIN!!"

  *!!*

  "Y-YES NEO!?"

  We looked towards each other. We realized how stiff we both are, and then all of a sudden, we burst into laughter together.

  "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

  "WAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

  We both laughed towards one another and flung our bodies back and forth. We were so focused on our laughter that we didn't even realize we had lain down next to each other on the bed.

  And then something just came over me, and I grabbed Karin's hand.

  "Karin, I love you!"

  "I love you, too, Neo!"

  And then we got up and sat on the bed. We faced each other.

  But then we both did the same thing. We suddenly bowed our heads towards each other.

  "I'M SORRY, KARIN!! I CAN'T DO THIS AFTER ALL! I WANT TO SAVE IT UNTIL MARRIAGE!"

  "I'M SORRY, NEO!! I CAN'T DO THIS AFTER ALL! I WANT TO SAVE IT UNTIL MARRIAGE!"

  *!!!*

  And then we burst out laughing again when we said the same thing. We hugged each other as we lost ourselves to laughter. I was so happy laughing this much with someone I truly love, this is a kind of experience for me.

  After a few seconds of laughing, we faced each other once more.

  "Let's keep this a promise until we get married, Neo!"

  "Of course, my beloved Karin!"

  Karin and I did a pinkie promise. Both of us have the widest smiles on our faces.

  "Okay, now that we've done that, let's do something together!" said Karin.

  "What are we doing?"

  "LET'S PLAY FIGHTING GAME!! WINNER GETS TO GIVE ANY COMMAND TO THE LOSER AND THE LOSER HAS TO OBEY THE WINNER NO MATTER HOW RIDICULOUS THE COMMAND IS!!"

  "WWOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I'M IN!! I'M GONNA BEAT YOUR ASS SO BAD YOU'LL BEGGING ME TO STOP PLAYING!!"

  "HUH? WHAT ARE YOU SAYING WHEN WE HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED YET? HAVE YOU PLAYED ANY FIGHTING GAMES BEFORE?"

  "Nope! But I'm confident I can improve in a short time! I'll let you win the first few matches until I adapt to your playstyle and win every time after that!! HAHAHHAHAHAHAH!!"

  "Just so you know, Neo! I AM THE QUEEN OF FIGHTING GAMES IN THIS TOWN!! I'VE WON LOCAL TOURNAMENT FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS SINCE MIDDLE SCHOOL!! YOU HAVE NO CHANCE!!"

  "I AM NOT SCARED OF SUCH CONVENIENT LIE TO SCARE NEWBIES! BRING IT ON THEN!!!"

  Karin suddenly pinched my right cheek.

  "DON'T JUST RANDOMLY CALL ME A LIAR! I AM YOUR LOVER YOU IDIOT!!"

  "ALRIGHT ALRIGHT I GET IT! IT HURTS! I APOLOGIZE!! STOP PINCHING ME ALREADY!!"

  "RRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!"

  "AAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

  And so, we both spent the entire night till morning playing fighting games and punishment games at the same time.

  .

  .

  .

  About two years later, me and Karin have become college students and have been for the past two years. I started taking part-time jobs here and there. Karin also took some part-time jobs even though I insisted she shouldn't. We're already making our plans to save up money for our marriage.

  One of the part-time jobs I got was at a convenience store in the area near where Yuki's house is. Now that I think about it, I haven't seen her at all after the ceremony. I didn't even see her afterwards at school. I kinda miss her annoying antics.

  When I was working my shift at the convenience store one day, Yuki came by and was surprised to see me again. She was crying because she didn't get to say goodbye personally to me after the ceremony. She said she was dragged by her classmates to take photos in her class. And the first thing she did after we hadn't met in such a long time was to tease me again. Even though she was annoying, her presence never felt bothersome to me. It's like having a little sister. Given how I am the youngest in my family, I felt so happy by her existence.

  We shared about our own experiences at her school and on my campus. We find out we are still the same smart and diligent student from back then. We both are the top students on our respective places, her at the school and me on the campus.

  I feel so grateful. My life has been going exactly as I'd hoped, minus some unexpected positive things here and there, which were meeting Karin and even dating her, and meeting Yuki and feeling like I got a younger sibling.

  One day, I was going home from college. On the way home, I met Karin, but she came from the opposite way, meaning she didn't go to college that day. I was about to ask why, but I felt something was off. When I looked at her face, she just smiled there emptily while looking at me. It was a bit creepy, but I finally asked her a question.

  "Karin? What's wrong? Your face looks weird. Did something happen?"

  ". . .Neo."

  "Uh, yeah?"

  "I'm cheating on you."

  . . . . . . .

  What?