The next day, Catalina’s friends no longer sat with her during their free time. Instead, Catalina would bring a chair over and sit with Manami. Their conversations were filled with smiles unlike the usual baron atmosphere Catalina would have around her old group.

I did my best to eavesdrop and heard Catalina mention making clothes for Manami to try on because of her perfect body type. I agree. And I would love to see Manami in cute clothes.

Their promising friendship had one drawback however, I’ve lost my precious time with Manami. Had Toro not been infatuated with her, I would have kicked her away.

“Hey, Toro.” I poke the giant eating his fourth granola bar of the day. “Go spend some time with Catalina.”

“What?!” He whispered. “What do you mean spend time with her?”

“Well, you like her, don’t you?”

“I do, but I don’t think we’ve gotten to that point yet.”

And if I don’t push them, they might never reach that point. “What did you two talk about after your game?” I asked out of curiosity, but it’s valuable information for my efforts.

“Ummm, I may have asked if she would ever like to go on a date with me.”

“A date?” The combined hit from surprise that Toro would ask something like that and the realization that I had yet to go on a date with Manami left me speechless.

Did the game count as a date? Maybe half of one? No, a date should be dedicated to the significant other. “How could I have forgotten that?” I leaned back in my chair.

Despite this new information, I still have no clue what kind of date Manami would like to go on. I don’t have the time to waste on a simple date, so I’ll need to think of something good enough and quick.

“Hey, Toro, where are you planning to take Catalina?”

“We haven’t decided yet.”

“So, she said yes.”

“Gah… I didn’t say that.”

I rest my hand on his ridiculously large shoulder. “Congratulations little bro.”

He nods and continues to devour his bars before class, but he has a large smile as he does.

As happy as I am for Toro, the date idea lingered on my mind the entire day.

“Hey.” Manami tapped my cheek with her pencil. After I didn’t respond the first time, she gave more of a whack with it.

I turn to look at her. We’re in the library with Catalina since exams are coming soon. Toro said he would meet us after practice.

Over time, Manami’s eyes became softer. No longer holding back their sparkle of happiness. Somehow – perhaps through the combination of her small face and pretty lips – she seemed more beautiful than ever.

“You’re gorgeous.” I managed to say.

Manami smiles and turns my face to look at my notebook. “You should be looking there… but thank you.”

Manami, one of the higher-ranking students of the class, did her best to teach an academic catastrophe. But even she found it difficult to drill formulas and scientific nonsense into my skull.

Still, she didn’t give in, and I managed to scrounge up an answer or two. Her excitement when I did was cute. “Good job!”

“Thanks!”

Toro arrived not long after and we left about an hour later.

We walked with Manami towards the car lot. Passing near the gym, I mustered the courage to ask the question. “Manami, where would you like to go for our first date?”

“You two haven’t been on a date yet?” Catalina remarked.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Said he forgot.” Toro added.

Manami thought about her answer. “Anywhere is fine, so long as I’m with you.”

My heart jumped with joy at her answer, but I needed more. “Hmmm, well is there any place you’ve always wanted to go?”

Her eyes darted away for a moment.

“Where is it?” I catch her vision before she can ignore my question.

“I… I always wanted to see the island from the top of the mountain.”

“Oh…” That’s difficult. The island’s mountain is around a two-hour climb and there are no carts that take you to the top. Manami’s stamina wouldn’t let her make it near half of the climb.

“The mountain huh.” Toro and I sat next to each other after Catalina got off at her stop.

I’m in decent shape. I ride my bike often or walk around the island. Although my diet is terrible, I have a lean body built from my travels. Also, I have some muscle from moving the boxes at the hospital for the last six years.

But I doubt that’s enough to make the climb.

“Toro.”

“Yea?”

“I need you to train me.”

“Train you, for what?”

“Don’t worry about it. But If I train for maybe two weeks, I should get in good enough shape. What do you say?” I raised my fist to Toro. Whenever we made an agreement, we bumped fist to secure it.

He bumped my fist but was still confused. “I don’t mind, I do extra training after practice anyway.”

And so, it started. For the next week, Toro trained me with his extreme endurance regiment. I had seen it before, but he must have toned it down for me.

We ran a few miles, did high intensity training, and other workouts that helped stamina. “What’s it called again?” I asked as I heaved on the ground.

“Cardiovascular system.” Toro drank some water. He was breathing hard but still had a lot left in him.

“Come on.” I get up and prepare to continue. “Let’s get to it.”

“Woah.” Toro pulls me toward a bench. “Getting into better shape is great, but there’s no need to rush big bro. Take your time with it.”

I stare at Toro. I wish he was right, but the reality is I don’t have much time. “Just a few more laps.”

“Hmmm, fine. But take them slow.”

Our first week is done. My body aches all over, which makes it even more difficult to study for exams. Manami did her best to keep me focused during our study session, but it was difficult to even raise my arms.

I was happy to be done with studying for the day, but my training session was another hell that awaited me.

Manami stops by the main building and looks into my eyes. Catalina and Toro stopped as well since they were following us. “What have you been up to?”

“Me?”

“Mhmm.” She poked face. “You’ve been more distracted than usual, and you’re always exhausted at night when you call me. Tell me.”

“Nothing much, just harder shifts at the hospital.”

“Hospital?” Catalina muttered.

Manami grabbed my hands. “I don’t like it when you lie to me. I saw you there yesterday and you were already exhausted before arriving.”

“You were there? You should have said hi.” I did my best to change the subject.

Manami wasn’t amused by my attempt. “Fine.” She turned to Toro. “Hiroto, what has Myo been up to?”

“Nothing that I can think of, we just work out after my practice.”

“Toro!” I muttered as I waved my hands behind Manami.

“Work out?” Manami was confused by sudden interest in self-improvement. “Is this because of what I said? You don’t need to do that. I know it’s not possible.”

“But I want to do it.” I reply without a moment to lose. My hard work wouldn’t fail me. And I refused to fail her. “I want to take you to the top of the mountain.”

“Shouldn’t you have trained with her as well?” Catalina asked.

“Ummm.” I looked at Manami who seemed to be pondering her next decision.

Once her decision was made, she took a deep breath. “Can I talk to you two, alone?”

“Sure.” They replied.

They moved to the building across from where I stood, and Manami began to speak. Her back was turned to me while Toro and Catalina faced my direction.

Their faces ran through many emotions. Confusion, disbelief, and then sorrow. Catalina, perhaps overwhelmed by what she was hearing, hugged Manami.

Toro looked over at me, I hadn’t seen such sadness in his eyes since Diana left the island.

Manami attempted to calm them as she talked with a smile afterwards, but her efforts weren’t enough to help them digest the information.

The walk to drop Manami off by the car lot was quiet. But the silence as the three of us sat on the empty train was worse.

“So… what did Manami say?” I ask to make some noise.

“How long have you known?” Catalina replied in a distraught tone.

“Since before we started dating.”

Tears dropped from Catalina’s eyes on intervals. She did her best not to let them appear, but they welled up against her will anyway. “I’m sorry. I said some really insensitive things.”

“Don’t worry about it, you didn’t know.”

“You…you.” Catalina allowed herself to cry. She pinched her legs, hoping she may gain some composure, but it didn’t work. “If I can help with anything, please let me know.”

“I will.”

Toro hadn’t said anything yet, even as we walked to our usual workout spot. It was a park near our houses with a big open field.

After we arrived, Toro stopped by the entrance. “I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize.” I say as I turn to look at him.

“I do!” He yelled and lowered his head afterward. “I trampled on your resolve, thinking it was just something you were doing on a whim. But I should have known better than that. I’m sorry big bro.” I walk over and pull his head into my shoulder. Even giants can cry.

“Hey gorgeous.” After my shower, I collapsed onto my bed. On some weekdays I have shifts at the hospital and get out around 11. I rush home, shower, and call Manami.

As of late, I’ve been falling asleep on the phone.

“You sound exhausted.” She replied.

“I’m not that tired.” I say even though I’m already drifting away.

“I feel bad now. You’re already so busy.”

“It’s my decision. If I’m honest, I’m doing it because I’m selfish. I want to see the look on your face when we reach the top.”

“I’m being selfish too. I know I should stop you, but I don’t want to.”

“Then tell me what you want.”

“…I want you to take me to the top of the mountain.”

And as I drifted away with a smile on my face, my motivation reached an all-time high.