Chapter Thirteen: The Promise

“Grandma, what is something that absolutely must be reported?” Sun Siyu leisurely ran back inside through the front gate, curiosity bright in his eyes.

“It’s nothing, just some work matters. Why are you back so soon?” Yui Maeda was slightly startled but quickly composed herself, studying Sun Siyu’s expression and deducing he hadn’t overheard much.

“Oh, I just came to get the camera.” Sun Siyu bounced upstairs happily.

“Phew... Let’s go. I’m going to meet Izumi Inoue first.” Yui glanced toward the staircase, waved her hand, stood gracefully, and walked toward the backyard.

This trip was kept low-key for Sun Siyu, quite unlike his outings with the Ling family. There was only one car with three occupants—Sun Siyu, Chiyo, and Mai.

Chiyo was driving, while Mai sat in the back with Sun Siyu.

The Maeda family’s status in Sakuragi Country was evidently not as sensitive or prominent as the Ling family’s in Longteng Country. On the surface, they were merely a seemingly simple corporate family. Moreover, Yui’s taking care of Sun Siyu was kept very secret. Officially, she claimed to be visiting an old friend in Longteng. Apart from those inside the Maeda estate, no one knew of Yui’s connection to Sun Siyu, so there was little risk of any ill-intentioned parties targeting him anytime soon.

“Young master, where would you like to go?” Chiyo asked after driving out of the Maeda estate, realizing the young master hadn’t said where he wanted to head.

“Hmm, let me think.” Sun Siyu thoughtfully sucked his thumb.

“Here, take a look at this for reference and choose where to go.” Mai handed him a tablet showing an electronic map.

“Okay.”

Sun Siyu took the tablet, which bore the Maeda logo, the same as on his camera. He skillfully swiped and searched for something interesting.

A news headline popped up:

“Annual Anime Expo to be Held Today in Linjing.”

“What’s an anime expo?” Sun Siyu asked curiously.

“An anime expo is a showcase for everything anime—screenings, displays and sales of figurines, previews of new animations, and cosplay performances,” Mai patiently explained.

“Oh, so there’s anime to watch? Great! Let’s go there.” Sun Siyu decided immediately.

Linjing City was now packed with people from all over Sakuragi Country—hardcore anime fans and many tourists who happened to be visiting during the expo.

There were all kinds of cosplayers dressed as game and anime characters, wielding weapons from CGI worlds, performing signature poses and mimicking expressions, attracting enthusiastic crowds. Many avid fans eagerly jostled to take photos with these cosplayers.

“Wow, the Green Samurai, the Blue Wizard... Yay, I want a photo too!” Sun Siyu weaved through the crowd, holding Mai’s and Chiyo’s hands.

“Young master, this won’t do. There are too many people here. How about we find a less crowded spot? Slow down, slow,” Mai kept murmuring beside him.

But once immersed in this anime fan world, Sun Siyu barely heard Mai’s voice. Suddenly, his eyes lit up and he darted toward a particular spot. Since Mai and Chiyo weren’t as small or agile, they moved slowly. Sun Siyu let go of their hands and squeezed through their legs to get ahead.

In a corner of this bustling anime expo, one cosplay performance drew hardly any attention, watched only by a little girl about Sun Siyu’s age who seemed similarly interested.

“Wow, it’s a cosplay of Sniper Academy!” Sun Siyu ran up to the performers, pointing excitedly at them.

“You’ve seen it too?” The little girl noticed the visitor who had come to watch the Sniper Academy cosplay. Recognizing a peer, her initially gloomy expression brightened instantly.

“Yeah! I love Kitagawa-senpai the most. Her magic is so amazing... Wow, it’s Kitagawa-senpai!” Sun Siyu recalled excitedly, delighted to find a cosplay show he liked with few people around.

“That’s my sister cosplaying. Isn’t she beautiful?” The girl proudly introduced her sister as Sun Siyu admired her enthusiastically.

“Yeah, very pretty, I think.” Sun Siyu nodded happily.

“Why does your accent sound a bit odd?” The girl asked curiously.

“I’m from Longteng Country. I’m traveling here with my grandma. I learned Sakuragi language mostly from anime,” Sun Siyu explained with a smile.

“Oh, hello! I’m Watanabe Reimu.” The girl introduced herself.

“Hi, I’m Sun Siyu.” Sun Siyu extended his little hand, following Longteng’s custom of greeting by shaking hands.

“That’s a weird name—only three characters,” Watanabe muttered softly, unfamiliar with Longteng customs, and ignored his outstretched hand.

“Kitagawa Yukino’s dream was to become a powerful magician, and she made it,” Sun Siyu said admiringly, looking at the cosplayers.

“My dream is to become a great person too. Reimu, what about you?” He withdrew his hand and asked earnestly.

“Me? I want to be a successful actress,” Watanabe said with arms crossed, her face full of hope.

“You’ll definitely make it! I’ll be the first to watch your performance,” Sun Siyu chuckled.

“You will be great too!”

“Yes, we’ll both achieve our dreams.”

“Let’s make a promise: when we both fulfill our dreams, we’ll meet here again!” Watanabe smiled broadly, revealing two dimples.

“Let’s pinky swear.” Sun Siyu extended his finger again.

“Pinky swear? What’s that?” Watanabe asked curiously, as Sakuragi had no such custom.

“It’s a way to guarantee a promise,” Sun Siyu explained.

“A guarantee? Hmm?” Watanabe tilted her head, puzzled.

Long ago, there was a princess of unparalleled beauty who attracted princes from many kingdoms to propose marriage. The princess wanted only someone who shared her feelings to be her husband, so she devised a test. She hid one hand behind her back and extended a single finger, asking each prince to guess which finger she showed. The first few guessed wrong, disappointing her. When the last prince stepped forward, he slowly raised his hand and extended his pinky.

The princess looked at him, then revealed her hand behind her back and hooked her pinky with his. It was a pinky swear—a promise to be together forever.

The prince and princess married and lived happily.

But soon after, war broke out. The prince had to go to battle. Before leaving, they pinky swore to reunite. The princess waited every day on the highest tower for his return, but he never came back.

Ten years passed. The princess, though no longer young, remained beautiful and was still courted by nobles. Yet she waited only for the prince who had pinky swore with her.

She met every suitor and extended her pinky. No one understood her intent.

Some thought she wanted a ring and hastily offered theirs, but she shook her head sadly. One day, a beggar came to propose, though soldiers barred him from entering.

The princess insisted he be allowed in, saying everyone had rights.

The beggar entered the hall’s center. The princess descended from the throne and, as usual, extended her pinky. The beggar hooked his pinky with hers.

The princess knew the prince she had waited for had returned. That night, they spent time together.

But by morning, the prince was gone.

In truth, the prince died on the way back, but a soul can linger for forty-nine days. That day was the last.

He used the beggar’s body to fulfill his promise and see the princess one last time. The princess followed his spirit and found him, lying peacefully as if asleep. She drank poison she had prepared, lay beside him, and hooked her pinky with his.

They pledged forever, and the princess kept her promise.

Since then, pinky swearing has symbolized an unbreakable vow—a pledge of eternal love.

“What a romantic story,” Watanabe said, sitting on a nearby chair, absorbed.

“My mom used to tell me this story. Whenever we made a promise, we’d pinky swear,” Sun Siyu said, swinging his legs beside Watanabe. It had been four days since he last saw his mother. Thinking of her brought a surge of longing and sadness, his nose tingling.

“Sun Siyu, are you okay?” Watanabe, sitting close, sensed the change in him. Moments ago he was fine, now he seemed on the verge of tears.

“I miss my mom,” Sun Siyu said sadly.

“Where is she?” Watanabe asked.

“I don’t know. When I left, grandma said mom would come soon, but it’s been three days... Maybe she doesn’t like me anymore, maybe she doesn’t want me,” Sun Siyu’s sadness deepened. From birth, he had a special bond with his parents—a deep, precious connection beyond mere dependence.

“Oh, you said we should pinky swear—how do we do it?” Watanabe cleverly changed the subject.

“It’s where you hook your little fingers together and say, ‘Pinky swear, hanging for a hundred years, no changing allowed,’” Sun Siyu said slowly.

“Let’s do it then.”

Watanabe extended her right hand and took Sun Siyu’s right hand with her left, hooking their pinkies together.

“Pinky swear, hanging for a hundred years, no changing allowed—is that right?”

“Yes, that’s it.”

“You have to say it too.”

“Yes, we say it together.”

“Pinky swear, hanging for a hundred years, no changing allowed.”

In a quiet corner of the Linjing anime expo, two children sealed their dreams and made a solemn promise.

“Sun Siyu, Sun Siyu?” Mai and Chiyo’s anxious voices rang out through the crowd.

“Sister Mai, Sister Chiyo, I’m here!” Sun Siyu jumped up from the chair and waved at them as soon as he heard their voices.