After breakfast they decided to go for a walk. Leaving the gate to his parent’s house Eizan was looking around nostalgically. They were walking in the direction of his childhood home. Mio was silently walking next to him while holding his hand. Eizan looked over at her and smiled.

“It’s a little strange being back here after a year. I honestly thought I might never come back here.”

Mio nodded. “I’m not surprised. Are you sure you’re ok with going for a walk? You woke up so early I was surprised.”

Eizan laughed. “I’ll be fine he wasn’t too hard on me.”

Mio giggled and reached up and stroked a small red mark on Eizan’s forehead. “You say that but it looks like your injured.”

“It’s just a small bump. Even though father is getting older he is still faster than me. At least he avoided hitting me in the ribs.”

Mio shook her head. “I’ll never understand why you put yourself through that kind of training.”

Eizan just smiled and thought to himself “It’s to protect you.”

After walking a few blocks, he stopped in front of a normal looking house. He looked up at it with a small smile. He then looked over at the house next door and got a sad look on his face. That house was Minami’s. Mio was staring at him. “Are you ok?”

“I’m fine. This is where I grew up.”

“Do you miss living here?”

He shook his head. “No, home is where the people you love are. This is just a structure we used to live in. I would be happy in a cardboard box if it was with you.”

Mio blushed. She stood up on the tips of her toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I think the same way.”

Unbeknownst to the couple staring from behind a sheer curtain on the second floor of the house next door Minami was frowning. “I can’t believe he came back. Who’s that girl with him? Did she just kiss him? I thought I could reconcile with him the next time I saw him. But this girl is going to become a problem. What should I do? I’m not surprised he has a girlfriend. I was too foolish back then. I need to do something before they become too serious. But what can I do? He probably hates me now. I need to talk to my aunt in Nagoya.”

Mio and Eizan started walking in the direction of a convenience store to get a drink. Upon entering the store Eizan froze. Standing there in a store uniform supporting himself with a cane was a handsome looking blonde haired teenage boy. Both of the teen boys were staring at each other. Mio looked up at Eizan who had a strange look on his face that she had never seen before. It was a look of sadness, shock, and regret. “Eizan, do you know him?” Eizan nodded. “Do you want to go somewhere else?”

He shook his head “No. I should go talk to him.” He slowly walked forward while slightly tightening his grip on her hand. He walked up to his ex-best friend. “Touma.”

His ex-friend had a stern look on his face. “Eizan.”

Eizan bowed his head slightly “I want to apologize to you. I went to far that day and because of me.”

Touma put his hand up. “Stop. You did nothing wrong I was the one who should be apologizing to you. I was a fool. I shouldn’t have done the things that I did.” He picked up his cane a little and shook it. “This was karma.” He bowed his head slightly. “If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have ever known how arrogant I had become.” He raised his head and smiled “Besides.” He looked over at Mio and smiled “It seems we have both gotten something good out it.” Eizan tilted his head in confusion. Touma turned towards the counter and yelled “Hey Hana can you come over here for a second I want to introduce you to an old friend.”

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“Hana?” Eizan questioned.

A cute petite looking brunette came out from behind the counter. “This is my girlfriend Hirata Hana. Hana this is an old friend of mine Hashimoto Eizan.”

They both bowed towards each other. Hana turned towards Touma and whispered something in his ear. Touma laughed a little. “Don’t worry about it.” He looked at Eizan and smiled. “She was worried that we would get into a fight.”

Eizan sighed. “I don’t think we will get into another fight.” Mio hit him in the side. “Oh, this is my fiancé Sakurai Mio.” She blushed.

“N-nice to meet you.”

Touma smiled. “Nice to meet you too. Eizan I’m glad to see your doing well. I’m surprised you got a fiancé though.”

Eizan scratched his cheek. “Yeah, it just kind of happened.”

“I’m happy for you.” Touma reached out his hand. “I hope we can be friends again.”

Eizan stared at his hand for a second and then reached out to shake Touma’s hand. “Yeah, me too.”

Eizan looked over at Hana. “Did we used to go to school together?”

Hana nodded. “We have been in the same class since 3rd grade. You don’t remember me?”

Eizan laughed. “I really need to stop sleeping in class.”

Mio was shaking her head. “Yes, you really do.”

Touma laughed “Don’t give him such a hard time.” He looked over at Hana and smiled. “You are not aware of his intelligence Hana. He may not look like it but he’s a certified genius. I had him tutor me for years. He only sleeps in class because he’s bored.”

Hana looked at Eizan curiously. “So that’s why. Everyone was really curious how you passed every exam so easily. We all thought you cheated.”

Eizan sighed. “Yeah, that’s not the first time I heard that.”

Touma smiled “Well it’s good to see you again. If your ever in town and are free give me a call.”

Eizan nodded and replied. “Sure, I will. It was good seeing you again.”

Mio and Eizan started walking towards the drink isle.

Touma and Hana watched them walk away. “I thought he would be scarier, but he seems nice.”

Touma laughed “He’s always been nice. If we hadn’t attacked him that day, he never would have harmed us.” Touma got a sad look on his face. “I wronged him and Minami. I deserved everything I had coming to me.”

Hana smiled softly at him. “You did something bad and you are repentant. You have done nothing but good since then. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

Touma shook his head. “I just hope I can live up to your expectations.”

Hana punched him in the side. “You better.”

Touma smiled “With you around I’m sure I will.” He patted her on the head. “We better get back to work. I don’t want your dad yelling at us again.” Hana nodded and ran off.

Mio and Eizan were staring at the drink selection. “Eizan are you ok?”

He smiled at her. “Yeah, I think I’m just fine. I’m just a little surprised. I thought he would hate me.”

“How close were you two?”

“He was my best friend and the one who dated Minami. I think I hurt him the worst. I heard he will never walk right again.”

Mio shook her head. “It sounds like he has forgiven you. Don’t you think it’s about time you forgave yourself?”

Eizan looked up at the ceiling and was lost in thought for a few seconds. “Yeah, I thought I had already done that. But maybe I’m not completely past it.”

Mio grabbed his hand. “If you need to talk, I’m here for you.”

He patted her on the head. “Thanks.”

After leaving the store drinks in hand they walked to a small park and sat down on a bench. “I used to play here a lot when I was a kid. It brings back a lot of memories both good and bad. This is where I was the first time I got kidnapped for ransom.”

Mio narrowed her eyes and gave him a strange look. “How many times have you been kidnapped?”

Eizan scratched his cheek “Well…”

Mio gave him a worried look. “Eizan.”

He sighed “Ok, ok, I told you last night didn’t I.”

“Well, yeah but you made it sound like you’ve only been taken once.”

“I have been grabbed three times. The other two times were stopped before they could get me to the car.”

Mio looked worried. “That must have been scary.”

Eizan smiled “Yeah, I guess it was.”

Mio shook her head. “You have lived a strange life.”

Eizan burst out laughing. “I keep trying to live normally though.”

Mio giggled “Yeah, most people don’t have to try.”