Maybe I'm the first person to write a historical/oriental-themed AssClass fic here, but I'll make it good! This story takes place in an alternate universe that is similar to ancient Japan. Main ship is karmanami, with nagikae and more. That ship needs more fanfics! Rated T to be safe. With all that said, enjoy Under the Cherry Tree!

"Are you sure we'll meet again?"

Small pink petals fell from the tree, dawdling in the air before falling to the ground just to be scooped up by a small girl. She sniffed the petals, sucking in the smell of the cherry blossoms with a smile. Her short ponytails dangled as she offered them to the red-haired boy sitting nearby.

"Of course. Who do you think I am? I can do whatever I want." The boy's words were quite arrogant in meaning, but his tone was soft and assuring.

"Of course I know who you are. You're Karma-kun." The girl giggled as she carefully brushed the cherry petals from her small shoulders and onto the ground, which was already dotted with them.

"But are you sure we'll meet again? Pinky swear if you're sure." The girl toyed with her hair as she stated her demand shyly.

"'Course I'm sure. Pinky swear."

Perhaps their intertwined fingers were already tied with red strings of fate then?

"Manami! Why are you dilly-dallying? We need to deliver the newest order of mochi, remember?"

A girl with long dark ponytails jumped – she had just been gazing at Morihara-san, her employer's, beautiful cherry trees, which were located in the center of the house, an idyllic little garden that brought memories to Okuda Manami's wondering mind.

The bespectacled girl assured herself that it was merely a figment of her imagination, just a little daydream she had again, and rushed off to retrieve the cooked mochi. The Moriharas ran a small but popular pastry business in the bustling capital city, and Okuda was just an employee, an apprentice to be specific. She was raised by the missus of the place, Morihara-san. She was a strict but occasionally kind woman, and she always loved to tell tales about her colorful youth. One time when Okuda threw a tantrum (she had no idea why she was so childish back then), Morihara-san had told Okuda about how her parents had begged the then 26 year-old lady to take in their 7 year-old little girl, who was close to starving to death back then. That always shut Okuda up whenever she had any complaints, for her respectful self would never allow being ungrateful to the woman who raised her.

Okuda quickly picked up an ornate brown box to package the mochi. It was made of a rich dark wood, and the sign of Morihara Sweets was imprinted large and clear in the very center. The girl quickly but carefully placed each mochi in the box. Morihara-san was always proud of her green and pink mochi with traces of starch left on the soft surface. They were soft and chewy, with the sweetness reaching every corner of your mouth the moment you bit into one. Okuda had finished packing all three platters, which totaled two boxes. She quickly wrapped the wooden boxes up in a violet cloth to finish the work.

Now she just had to deliver these boxes of mochi to the Akabane household, which was a little ways down the street. The Akabanes were the wealthiest merchants in the capital city, and rumor has it that even the largest lake in their country wouldn't hold all of their gold. That was a ridiculous exaggeration of course, but it did signify how wealthy the Akabanes actually were. Even if Okuda's whole lifetime was spent, she'd probably never earn as much as the Akabanes earned in a day. She often heard small talk about the family's sole son and heir, Akabane Karma, a cunning and mischievous boy her age who seemed to aim for a position as a government official rather than inheriting his family's business. She would call that kind of people foolish. They were unaware of the difference between peasants and merchants, and often wasted their wealth away without batting an eye at the poor people suffering outside. Did this Akabane Karma know how much people would give up just for a social status like his? And he decides to throw away inheriting the family business and become a government official instead? Okuda dislike people like this. They were too arrogant for their own good.

"Ma-na-mi-chan!" A cheery voice came from behind Okuda, and she knew that Kayano Kaede, her best friend, had come to visit. The bright-spirited girl had abnormal green hair (she insisted that it was natural) styled like two cat ears, which fitted her quite well, seeing as she behaved quite like a cute little cat.

"Are you delivering mochi again? I'll help you." Kayano gazed at Okuda's bundle in curiosity.

"But how will I thank you?"

"Oh, no need. This is what friends should do: help each other!" Kayano took one box eagerly and walked out the door, with Okuda struggling to catch up with the green-haired girl's quick steps.

Morihara Sweets was part of the commercial district, which took up a sizeable amount of the capital city. Farmers rang loud and obnoxious bells to advertise their goods, the restaurants fought viciously for customers, small scuffles broke out on the streets, but this was the street and home Okuda had grown to love. It was something about its liveliness that Okuda liked, distracting her from her former and piteous life in the slums, a foul place where crime and murder was committed so often, people treated it like normal happenings.

"Whoa. Is this the place?" Kayano was gazing in wonder at the Akabane household. Their surroundings had suddenly morphed from busy marketplace to serene residence. The building was a tall two stories in height, and a terrace overlooked a quiet and buzzing pond, surrounded by blossoming pink cherry trees leaning together as if to whisper a secret. The building gave off a calm and peaceful feeling that Okuda liked very much, and she was closing her eyes and listening to the buzzing of insects when an annoyed voice interrupted her thoughts.

"What are you two here for?"

A boy about their age had walked out of the large building. He had unkempt red hair that shone under the sunlight, and his golden eyes reminded Okuda of a cat's eyes – mischievous yet mysterious. He was dressed in a simple black kimono with a thin white sash that was definitely worth more than it looked (shabby, to be honest). Okuda quickly deduced that this boy must be the Akabane heir, and she quickly bowed in a greeting.

"I am from Morihara Sweets to deliver confections." Okuda made sure to talk and act like a servant would – quiet and subdued. Thing would not look good for her if she offended him in any way.

Beside her, Kayano also bowed in greeting. Karma seemed to be studying them, especially Okuda. The bespectacled girl felt quite nervous. Was he going to accept the delivery or not?

"Here's the payment. I'll take those-" Karma was about to take the box from Okuda, but he suddenly froze. To the black-haired girl's surprise, he suddenly leaned forward to examine her until their faces were only about one inch apart.

"Suzune?" He seemed to be addressing her.

Okuda felt her face grow hot. No one, especially a boy, had ever been so close to her before. Out of mere reflex, she pushed him away rather too roughly. She quickly realized how rude it was. Servants had absolutely no rights to touch their superiors!

"I'm sorry, but I am Okuda Manami, not Suzune. I am merely a servant at Morihara Sweets, and you are the heir of the Akabane household. Please do not make sudden advances towards me." Okuda gave another quick bow and ran off, with Kayano struggling to keep up.

Karma had run out of pranks. He had also ditched his calligraphy class, so it wasn't like he could just pop back in. So what if he was the only son of the Akabane household? So what if his family had a mountain of riches? Karma didn't care at all. Life was getting bland and tasteless, at least until he met that girl.

He had gone out for a walk by the river, which did not help at all. It was blazing hot in the summer, and going outdoors was a terrible decision.

He hadn't remembered ordering mochi, so that was probably one of his little sisters. Most of the servants were visiting their family, so no one was available to pay for them. It wasn't until he had gotten a better look at the girl with ponytails when a memory came flooding back. They had made a promise under the cherry tree…

But the girl denied everything, with her name to prove him wrong. It was the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to him. Why was he so impulsive? Karma was planning on just forgetting it when he saw something as the girl ran away. On her slim arm was a small silver bracelet. The exact thing he had given Suzune 7 years ago. But was she really called Suzune? Karma had no idea, but he was sure of something. He would find that girl no matter what he had to do.

Note: I have changed Okuda's hairstyle to ponytails because braids are technically from western culture and did not exist in ancient Asia.