STORY ENTRY-
Story entry for writing contest hosted by ProjectJapan

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'Friendship grew like flowers in bloom'

A/n: I know that you said to write about the protagonist seeing her old childhood friend in school but I thought it would be cute to add in a few parts about how they became friends and some important moments that contributed to their friendship before I begin the main story (protagonist meets childhood friend as a transfer student in school) since I wanted to emphasize on how true and strong their friendship is.

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🌸 Part 1- Cherry blossoms 🌸

We were six when we first met in Kindergarden. The first time I saw Kazumi was in the classroom, his head was bent down, face twisted in concentration and determination as he worked on something.

The teachers had told us to 'make friends' and 'bond', so I tapped his shoulder and asked him what he was doing.

He had scowled, thinking that a teacher had came to bother him. But when he saw me, he shot me a contagious grin and passed me what he had been working on- a flower crown with cherry blossoms weaved in with the dark leaves and veins.

"Keep it, tomodachi." His tone was laced with amusement, and he sounded hopeful. So I did.

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🌸Part 2- Daruma dolls 🌸

We were eight when I got my first Daruma doll. Kazumi had passed it to me during lunchtime and I had shot him a confused look.

"You fill an eye when you set a goal. Then you fill the other eye once you fulfilled it. Do you have a goal in mind?"

"Yes." I had replied without hesitating.

"What is it?"

"To be your tomodachi forever."

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🌸Part 3- Anime cliché 🌸

The day before Kazumi left, we walked along Hirosaki Castle Park and admired the breathtaking scenery.

"So you're leaving for Singapore tomorrow?" It wasn't a question. I just didn't want to believe it.

"You know that I have no choice. My dad says we might have to stay there for a few years."

"This feels like some dumb anime cliché."

"Yeah, an anime cliché. Except this isn't fictional, Hana. This is reality." Kazumi's voice was harsh and cold.

"You will still remember me, your tomodachi, right?"

"Definitely."

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🌸Part 4- Paper cranes 🌸

I slammed my locker shut and a sigh left my lips.

It had been six years since Kazumi left. Six years of misery, torture, and the lack of stupid puns, the lack of references to anime and manga we loved and obsessed over, and the lack of happiness.

I missed everything about him, and the friendship and bond we had.

It was currently lunchtime and I headed to the classroom, dreading another day of eating alone, with no Kazumi to make stupid jokes about the disgusting sushi or bento set his mother always packed for him for lunch.

The only thing about lunch he had always looked forward to was when we traded different flavoured Kit Kat bars.

"Hana?" Someone called out.

My eyes widened in shock, confused that the voice had sounded so much like Kazumi's voice. I looked up.

It was Kazumi, standing in front of my desk, with that contagious grin on his face, his green eyes sparkling and his hair swept in his typical messy style.

"Kazumi?" My voice was tinged with shock and happiness.

"I'm the new transfer student, Hana. My family is coming back home, too." He explained as he squashed me into a hug.

"I missed you." I said, then winced as he gripped too tightly on my hands.

He glanced at my hands, and his expression was a horrified one when he saw the hideous cuts and scars on them.

"Hana? Where did you get these cuts from?" He questioned, eyes flooded with sympathy at the sorry state my hands were in.

"I folded paper cranes everyday when you were gone, in hopes that my wish would come true." I mumbled, embarrassed.

"What wish?"

"For my tomodachi to come home."

He frowned,"You suffered so much just for a wish to come true?"

"No. I didn't suffer for a wish to come true. But I would suffer for you." I gave him a small smile.

"You are the friend that I will never forget, Hana. I will always remember you, my tomodachi."

I smiled upon hearing his sincere statement.

"Me too, Kazumi. Me too." I whispered softly.

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🌸 More about the story 🌸

- Kazumi (Japanese name) means beautiful harmony, representing the strong, beautiful harmony Kazumi and Hana have.

-Hana (Japanese name) means flower, as her personality is as fragile yet determine, like a small flower.

- Cherry blossoms are from pink flowers from Japan and Hirosaki Castle Park is a real place that you can visit to see cherry blossoms. (With relevance to part 1 of the story)

- Daruma dolls originate from Japan and they are sold with no eyes. You fill one eye when you set a goal and you fill the other eye when you achieved it. (With relevance to part 2 of the story)

- Anime and manga originates from Japan. You can watch anime on kissanime.com or crunchyroll. (With relevance to part 3 of the story)

- There is no cafeteria in Japan, and students eat in the classroom. (With relevance to part 4 of the story)

- Kit Kat is a popular chocolate brand in Japan, and they even sell green tea flavoured Kit Kats there. (With relevance to part 4 of the story)

- In Japan, cranes are associated with good luck and people usually fold paper cranes for a wish to come true. (With relevance to part 4 of the story)

{ 2nd place}

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I hope you like it ^_^
-llaugh