Ran Haitini 14

—Then tell him he has competition.

That answer did take him by surprise; Ran let out a louder laugh this time, putting a hand to his hair.

"Cherry…" he murmured, as if the nickname had been born at that very moment. "What do you think is going to happen between us? I'm almost ten years older than you."

You looked at him, resolute.

—Still—That single word made him narrow his eyes—Let me invite you to dinner—you added afterward, completely naturally.

"Are you coming for me on your tricycle?" he mocked.

—No. By taxi.

—Do they really let you use taxis?

You took another step closer, lowering your voice as if it were a secret—Nobody has to know.

Ran watched you silently, still laughing; you were so innocent and those pigtails looked adorable on you.

"Hey!" your brother interrupted, walking towards you. "What are you saying to my friend, huh, shorty?"

"Nothing important," Ran replied, still looking at you. "She's just very confident."

"See you in ten years," you said suddenly, and Touya opened his eyes.

—What?—Ran sighed—Why ten?

You smiled, that small smile… but determined—Because then I won't be a child anymore.

As anyone who has lived long enough knows, time doesn't erase what is spoken with true conviction; it transforms or refines it, and sometimes… returns it with a dangerous elegance. Ten years had passed, ten winters, ten summers, ten opportunities in which Ran Haitani could have forgotten that absurd scene in the park… and perhaps he did, for the moment, until fate brought them together again, he now 24 and she 16, at that family dinner where he was Touya's guest.

"I never knew you had anything against dinners ," you said, laughing as you entered the living room.

—Huh? Cherry?— he was stunned to see her

The afternoon sun shone down on the park, bathing the cement court where several boys were playing basketball in a golden light. The sound of the ball bouncing off the ground mingled with laughter, shouts, and the squeak of sneakers. You weren't interested in the game, not really. You were running around, distracted, kicking pebbles, playing alone, until your gaze drifted toward the court and then you saw him: Ran Haitani. His hair was blowing in the wind, he had a carefree smile, and that arrogant way of moving made everyone around him seem inferior. But what caught your attention most was the way he played—confident, light, as if everything were a game to him, or rather, a guaranteed victory.
"Pass it, Ran!" your brother, Touya, shouted from the other side of the court.
Ran let out a laugh and threw the ball with precision, scoring without even looking. Everyone celebrated, but not you. You just stood still, staring at him as if you had just discovered something important, something dangerous. Without thinking too much, you walked towards the court, small, curious, and completely determined.
-Hey
Ran turned his head, slightly annoyed by the interruption until he saw you, a little girl, and frowned. "What?"
You stared at him, fearlessly . "I think you're the most handsome man I've ever seen." Silence was immediate. Your brother froze, the other boys burst into laughter, and Ran blinked . "How old are you? Five?" "Six," you replied, crossing your arms as if it were the most obvious thing in the world . Ran let out a short, amused laugh . "I'm fourteen. What's Touya going to say if he finds out you talk to his friend like that?" "Nothing, I'm sure little brother would be happy. "Your answer was so serious that even he was silent for a second . Then he smiled, that dangerous smile . "And what's your dad going to say?" "That I have good taste. "Laughter erupted again around them, but you didn't look away, not ever . "And what's my girlfriend going to say? "Ran added.