DING! DONG! The bell at Dan's house rang.

    "I'll get it!" Dan Taichi shouted over as he ran to the front door and opened it. There, he found a girl, barely standing. There were wounds all over her body. Dan's eyes widened.

    "-sempai?!"

    "I..." she said. "Dan... I... I quitted."

    "-sempai, what do you–"

She collapsed.

Masshiro na Chikai
~A Pure Promise~

    "Dan-chan!!"

Dan beamed upon hearing the call. He turned his head and waved.

    "-sempai!"

    "Ooh, -cha~n!" Sengoku grinned as he, too, waved to the girl.

    "Hello, Sengoku-kun!"

    "Oi Sengoku, pay attention to your match a bit!" Muromachi demanded. Sengoku chuckled.

    "Mengo~"

    "-sempai, what are you doing here?" the freshman asked as he ran towards the girl.

    "I'm thinking we can go home together since our houses are near," she answered.

Dan looked at his watch. "There are still 30 minutes until practice ends..."

    "It's okay, I can wait," she smiled.

She noticed a familiar grey-haired boy who was practicing by himself against the wall. He, too, spotted her.

    "," he murmured quietly and walked outside.

    "Where are you going, Akutsu-kun?" Banjii–smiling as usual–asked. "It's still practice time–"

He glared. "Be quiet! Are you trying to order me around?!" Banjii replied nothing but a smile. "Che," he spat and walked to .

    "Akutsu," said. Her expression suddenly became serious.

    "," he scowled. "I heard you–" he paused, looking straight to 's eyes. "–Quitted?"

observed around, then gazed at Akutsu. "Let's talk about it somewhere else."

And so, the two of them sat under a tree near the clubhouse.

    "It was a tough decision," spoke up. "I'd never thought I'd quit just like that, you know. Black Cat really trusted me, and I thought I wouldn't want to quit the gang... But..."

    "That kid..." Akutsu murmured.

    "Yes," she nodded. "Dan-chan was the one asked me to quit."

    "-sempai!! It's too dangerous for you!!"

    "Feh," Akutsu spat as he lied to the tree. "He's really that kind of person. The ones who'd always get their hands on something not concerned with them."

    "Please quit desu!"

    "Honto," she nodded, placing her hands at the back of her neck. "He is really that kind of person..."

    "If you don't want to do it for yourself..."

    "Pretty annoying, eh?"

    "Well–Not really."

    "Then please do it for me!"

    "Do it for you...?" she mumbled as she buried her face with her arms. "Did I really do it because of you...?"

    "What?"

    "Ah, nothing, nothing," she shook her head quickly.

    "But this time he's right," the third-year sat up. "I heard from Kawamura that you were injured last time. He said something about police and stuff."

    "We went a little bit over that night," breathed out.

    "Oh yeah, Kawamura also said you have to be careful although you've quit," Akutsu said as he stood up. "They wouldn't let someone like you to just quit, you know."

    "I know," she sighed. "I know."

    "Yeah, that movie was great! We should watch it together, Dan-chan! Especially the part when–"

    "!" 's mom suddenly ran out of her house, almost crying. She wrapped her hands around the girl and sobbed. 's two little sisters were behind her, crying too.

    "Okaa-chan? What's wrong?" Her mom could only shake her head.

Kawamura walked out. "Some of your ex-gang members came," he said seriously.

She turned her head to the boy, surprised. "But why–"

    "They were searching for you."

Her eyes widened.

's mom, still sobbing, said, "They–they were going to destroy everything. I told them you hadn't come home from school, but they didn't believe me. Thank Goodness Kawamura came in time."

    "I was delivering sushi nearby," he added. "Then I saw motorcycles in front of your house, so I thought there was something wrong and I decided to check, and I was right."

    "Ne, , what's wrong? Did you get into a trouble and they now are after you?" her mom asked worriedly.

She looked aside. "Not particularly..."

    "Be careful ne, -kun," Kawamura said as he took his bike. "I'll tell Akutsu about this," he voiced and went away.

    "Aa–Takashi–!!"

She sighed. Why did she always get everyone around her in trouble?

    "I–Is it because of me...?" Dan suddenly queried with tears on his eyes. "I–Is it because I asked you to quit? -sempai?!"

    "Sssh, no, no, it's not because of you..." she tapped his head and lowered herself so she could see Dan's face.

    "B–but..."

    "Stop crying now, Dan-chan. It's not because of you. I mean it," she smiled and wiped some drop of tears on his cheeks.

    "Ho–Honto?"

    "Mm," she nodded.

Dan beamed.

Suddenly realizing how close their faces were, 's face reddened.

    "S–so!" she stood instantaneously, trying to hide the faint blush on her cheeks. "It's about time for you to go home, right?"

    "B–but..."

    "Don't worry, I'll be okay!" she pushed the freshman's back. "I'll be alright!"

Though he looked unsure, Dan nodded and went away.

    "Hikari-chan, Kyoko-chan, let's clean up the house and prepare dinner for Otou-chan, ne?" she beamed as she took her sisters to the house.

    "Hai, onee-chan!" they chorused.

    "," her mother called suddenly.

    "Yes?"

    "What did the kid mean by 'quit'...?"

stood still for a moment, but shook her head afterwards. "It's nothing, nothing!"

Her mom could only sigh.

Where am I...?

    " , right?"

A girl that was called turned her head. She was sitting, and a group of beaten men were around her.

    I–It's me?!

    "Who are you?"

The caller chuckled. "Everyone calls me Black Cat here."

She looked up. "How do you know my name?"

    "Everyone knows you around here, . You're strong. You've beaten many strong people, yet you're not a part of any group."

Wait... This was our first meeting...

    "Group?"

    "Yes, group," Black Cat said as she offered a hand to . "I'm the leader of my own group, . And we only want strong people to join us." She smiled.

Stop it... Stop it... Stop it!!

looked questioningly at the hand Black Cat was offering.

Don't take that hand... Don't take that hand...!!

    "Do you want to join us, -san?"

's hands moved a little bit.

Don't take that hand!!

's hand almost touched Black Cat's. She was smiling.

NO!! DON'T!!

5 more cm... 4 more cm... 3 more cm...

    "NOOOOOOOO!!!!" sat up and screamed. She wiped sweats from her forehead. It was a... "Dream...?" She rolled her eyes and sighed in relief. "Of course it was a dream, baka."

    "Do you want to join us, -san?"

    "Damn it!!" she cursed as she hit the wall behind her. "Damn it damn it DAMN IT!!" She took a deep breath and blinked her eyes slowly. "Why the hell did I take that hand...?"

    "Ah! Sumimasen desu!! Did I hurt you at all?"

Suddenly, 's lips curved a little smile. 'That's right. I met him last year, at the park near Yamabuki... He bumped into me and got all worried, though I was okay...'

    "Oh yeah, my name is Dan Taichi desu! I go to Shirokin Elementary School, sixth grade desu! What's your name?"

    "Sou ka?" she smiled. "Ja, I'll be waiting for you."

's smile widened. It was a really wonderful memory. The next year, she was so happy she saw the name 'Dan Taichi' at the new student board, and told Akutsu there was going to be a cute guy in tennis club he was joining. After that, the three of them often eat lunches together at the rooftop and spend so much time together outside school. was really delighted that she could meet Dan everyday.

That was until tennis took him from her side.

certainly did not know by only being a manager would make Dan busy all day all week that she rarely saw him anymore. Though she still had Akutsu, it wasn't the same without Dan.

She was lonely.

    'That was why I skipped school for a couple of weeks and walked around the town like crazy... I was really pissed every time a group of boys asked me to go out so I beat all of them with my karate... And before I knew it, everyone already aware of me and...' she covered her face with her arm. 'She asked me to join the group...'

stood up and walked outside her room, deciding to drink some warm milk because she seemed not to be able to sleep.

    'Even Akutsu was surprised when I told him I was in Black Cat's gang. He pretended like he didn't care, but I know that he wanted me to quit right that time... Kawamura told me to stay away from the gang, too, but I could not care less. I could do whatever I wanted in the group, why should I quit? After all, Dan didn't care about me at all...'

quickly drank the milk she had warmed.

    'But then... A couple of months later, just after I got along with my new "friends"...'

She wiped some milk around her mouth.

    'Dan suddenly told me to quit...' She sighed. 'I thought I didn't care again about him, but...'

She suddenly chuckled. "It's funny isn't it, Dan-chan?" She lied to the wall. "You were the one made me joined the gang... And now you've made me quitted..."

    "Da-da-da-daaaaan!!" Dan shouted over. "-sempai, you're spacing out again!!"

    "Ah–what?" she blinked. "Aa–Dan-chan, I'm sorry..."

He gazed at her worriedly. "Is it because of yesterday...?"

    "N–no! Of course not!" she shook her head quickly. "Ja! How about going to Akutsu's tea shop now? My treat."

    "Ah! Hai desu!"

They walked together to the tea shop.

    'It's great that he's with me again...'

    "AAH!!" Dan yelled.

    "Huh? What is it, Dan-chan??" I questioned, startled at the sudden scream.

    "-sempai... That's... That's..." his finger pointed to the shop in front of them, shaking.

's eyes widened.

Akutsu's Tea Shop was all messy. The tables and chairs were upside down. The lamps were all broken. Yuuki was crying inside.

She and Dan rushed in "Yuuki-san! What happened?!"

    "-chan..." she said in the middle of her crying. "A group of girls just came... And... And... And they did this!!"

clenched a fist. "Black Cat..."

    "Eh?" Dan turned his head. "You mean..."

    "Wait a second... If they came here, then... Could it be..." 's eyes widened in terror. "Sorry Yuuki-san!! I've gotta go! Dan-chan, stay here and call Akutsu!!" she said as she ran away.

    "-sempai?! Where are you going?!"

She didn't answer and kept running. Dan followed her.

They reached Kawamura Sushi.

    "As I thought..." took a deep breath. The situation at Kawamura Sushi was pretty much the same as Akutsu's Tea Shop.

    "?" Kawamura's dad called. "Aren't you ?"

She nodded. "Hai."

    "A group of girls just came and did all this..." he frowned. His wife was crying inside the restaurant. "...And they took Takashi."

    "WHAT?!" exclaimed. How dirty!

    "Yes, and they said..." he looked aside. "'If you want him back, tell to take him from us. Alone'..."

    "Black Cat!!" she murmured in anger. "I'm sorry, Kawamura-san. I'll help you cleaning up the restaurant later. And I'll bring your son back!"

She rushed away.

    "-sempai!! Wait desu!!" Dan ran behind the girl.

    "Wh–What are you doing Dan-chan?! Didn't I tell you to stay at the tea shop?!"

    "Yes, but–"

    "Listen to me, Dan-chan," she stopped and placed her hands on Dan's shoulders. "This is serious. And no, this is not a game. I have to save Takashi. So you just–stay. And tell Akutsu what happened to the tea shop, okay?" She smiled and patted his head. "Ja na."

    "-sempai..." he mumbled. Should he stay? -sempai definitely told him to stay... But... "I've caused all of this! I told -sempai to quit, so I'm responsible! I can't run away!" he said as he ran towards 's direction.

Meanwhile, just reached the place. It was their base camp, an empty house near the river. As expected, she found her ex-gang members there.

    "Where's Takashi?!"

A long haired girl walked calmly towards . "You're in a rush aren't you, -san?"

She clenched a fist. "Leave Takashi alone, he has nothing to do with this!"

    "My, my, you sure are cold to us now aren't you, -san?" Black Cat snapped her fingers. Two girls dragged Kawamura, who was all tied up and beaten up, to the room.

    "-kun..." he whispered.

    "Takashi!!" she exclaimed. "You–" she gazed madly at everyone in the room, then to Black Cat. "What have you done to Takashi?!"

    "Oh, he was being a bit noisy about you wouldn't come to save him and we should just stop waiting for you..." Black Cat smiled. Evilly.

couldn't hold her anger anymore. She prepared to attack Black Cat. "How dare you–"

She dodged.

    "UGH!!" Kawamura cried. He was kicked by the two girl dragged him.

    "Wha–"

    "That's what happens when you try to hit us, -san," Black Cat said. "You better be a good girl and stay if you don't want your dearest friend to be hurt."

    "Rat...!" glared testily.

    "I'm a cat, not a rat..." she smiled and snapped her fingers once again. "Girls, do whatever you'd like to her..."

    "-kun!!" Kawamura shouted.

could only stand still when around seventeen people started kicking and hitting her.

    "-kun!! Forget about me, hit them bac–" Kawamura was kicked by Black Cat.

    "Kawamura-san, be a little quieter, please." She then walked slowly to , so she could see 's face. "I'm sorry -san, but two months is a really long time, and you've known too much about us..."

ignored her. "Takashi!" she called.

    "What the hell?! She can still speak?!" one of the girls beating her uttered.

    "Taka... shi..." she called again. "If you... meet Dan-chan after this..." She coughed. "Please... Tell him..."

    "Damn it, she's still talking!!"

    "Tell him... that I..." She coughed again. "Love him..."

    "-sempai!!"

Everyone turned their heads to the voice. There were Dan and Akutsu in front of the door.

    "...!" Akutsu mumbled in surprise when he saw the girl lying on the floor. "What have you done to her?!"

Black Cat laughed. "We just played a bit with her, nothing more."

    "Yarou..." Akutsu clenched a fist.

    "Do whatever you'd like, Akutsu-san," Black Cat smiled. "I know you're strong, but you can never win against us. Especially with that little kid."

    "I know desu," Dan said as he wiped sweats from his face. "That's why I–"

    "Put all your hands up!! You're surrounded!"

The gang members looked around in shock.

    "Called the police desu."

    "Yokatta..." whispered in relief as she closed her eyes.

    "-sempai!!" Dan cried as he ran to her and bent down to see if she was alright. Akutsu walked to Kawamura to untie him.

    "Yokatta... I was really afraid imagining what Black Cat would do to you and Akutsu for a second there..."

    "... Sempai..." Tears suddenly came out of Dan's eyes.

    "Da–Dan-chan? Do–don't cry! I–I'm alright! Hora!" she sat up in panic.

    "Go... Gomen ne..." he sobbed. "It's all because of me... I didn't know this would happen if you quit desu... And I... I couldn't do anything for you..."

smiled. She hugged him, causing him to blush furiously.

    "-sempai...?"

    "Daijoubu, Dan-chan..." she patted his back. "This wasn't because of you. It's my entire fault that I joined the gang in the first place. And you don't have to do anything for me at all, Dan-chan. I'm happy that you care about me."

    "B–but... I couldn't protect you..."

    "I consider calling Akutsu and the police "protecting me", Dan-chan..." she smiled. "And you don't have to apologize about anything to me... Just promise me..." She let go of the freshman, looking straight to his eyes. "That you'll always be by my side, forever."

Dan looked up, unsure to say anything.

    "Promise me, Dan-chan..."

He looked down, and then his lips curved a smile.

    "I promise desu."

Note:
Masshiro na Chikai is Dan's best of rival song.