Part One: Four Years Before

One

People say that the world's so small, that people you will meet in the future were actually somewhere in some corner of your past. Both of you were carrying out your daily tasks, and dreaming your own dreams. Dreams that you hope will take you to some distant place, away from the decaying place you have now. Or perhaps you dream of a future where you are still where you are, except you look older, and your life is quite similar to the quiet, happy one you have right now. And then, when that dream comes to pass, you find yourself looking at someone you least expect. Someone supposedly far away.

But isn't it odd, that the world isn't actually small, but instead, so large that two people who already know each other may spend one whole day not talking to each other, and not even looking at each other? They're in one room, under one roof, listening to the same voice of one person, copying the same words on the same blackboard. Yet they're as good as strangers.

In this situation, dear readers, we find two students. Two students who seem impossibly far apart, but are bound to come face to face with each other.

~~~

"If you could have anything you dreamed of, what would it be?

"A car. A black Porsche, to be specific. And lots and lots of money."

"Can I have sushi, Mi-chan?"

"Sushi? That's your dream? Sushi?"

"That's NOT what I meant, Yuko, and you know it."

Miyagi Yuko smiled charmingly (and mockingly) at her friend. Hayao Asako, on the other hand, ignored her and helped herself with Midori's sushi. The Two were as opposite as their names. Yuko had cobalt blue eyes, tanned skin and jet black hair cut short that the ends brush her chin. She enjoys any kind of sport, though her favorite was tennis. Asako was more of the academic type, and is a member of the school choir. She had a fair complexion, long blonde hair, and eyes so blue you'd think you were looking at the sky.

These Two, however, actually look quite similar, you can see it when you try to imagine their eyes being the same color, that people often mistake them for sisters. As a matter of fact, some people even mistake them for twins, since they often act the same way at exactly the same time. This is also the reason why Midori calls them "The Two". But, really, the only thing they have in common is their utter dislike for spinach.

That, and their knack for teasing Midori about a certain issue...

"Oh, I know what Mi-chan's dream is!" Yuko initiated.

"Huh?" Midori said as she snapped out of her reverie. Standing at a height of 124 cm., Yukibana Midori is the smallest member of the group. Her light brown hair rests just on her shoulders, and her emerald eyes dynamically reflect her thoughts. And her thoughts right now were very confused at the way her friends were looking at her.

"Ye~s," Asako agreed. "It's a little cozy house in the country..."

"...with little dogs running in the backyard..."

"...white picket fences..."

"...kids playing at the porch swing..."

"...And Sakuya-sempai!"

"Oei..." Midori finally interrupted.

"Except you won't be calling him Sakuya-sempai anymore, won't you?"

"You'll be calling him..."

"Ko..." the Two said n'sync, with the same dreamy look on their faces.

"Oei..." Midori repeated.

Asako giggled. "Nee, Mi-chan, I didn't see him at the Remi's yesterday. Do you know where he was?"

"No," was Midori's quick reply. It was true. She didn't know where Sakuya-sempai was when they were at their favorite cafe (partly because of the ice cream, partly because it's also Sakuya's regular hangout). Although, she DID know where he was after that. He had arrived at Midori's house about 30 minutes after she did. He went there with his father, since the latter was a business partner of Midori's dad.

Sakuya Ko was a junior high school student, but he had studied at Hanabishi Gakuen. He had been (one of) the Two's obvious crush since fifth grade. Midori, though she had already admitted to the Two that she liked their sempai, didn't find amusement in gushing about him so (this is why the Two liked teasing her about him). This, the Two found odd. Didn't girls want to talk about their crushes?

Midori was not that kind of girl. As opposed to the normal elementary schoolgirl who would blush hotly and melt at the sight of their ideal, Midori acted composed around Sakuya, as if it wasn't a big deal (which it was). Whenever Midori got the advantage of seeing him in their house, she never boasted about it to the Two. The list goes on and on about how Midori was different. That includes the face that she stands up to boys who tease her.

Being in elementary school, it was unavoidable for girls to be teased by the boys. It was just the way the world goes. Midori understood this, but she wasn't about to just sit back and accept everything. No, she wouldn't succumb to the desire to hit the boys with the nearest book. She regarded them very calmly, thus thwarting their ultimate plan to annoy every member of the female species of their age.

The girls gathered their lunchboxes and prepared for their next class, which just happened to be Midori's favorite. She didn't know why she liked it, even if everybody else didn't. Not that she was a genius at Math --- her grades were just a tad above average --- but...well, it wasn't exactly hell for her.

"There shall be a mid-year problem set," Asato-sensei announced. "so you could practice more. This will be due next week, so you have plenty of time. Plus, you'll be working in pairs so you can help each other. To save time, I've already arranged your groupings by drawing lots."

"I wonder who we'll be getting," Yuko whispered to Midori, who was seated in front of her.

Asato-sensei started listing the pairs on the board. Asako was assigned to work with Tsukioka Oto, Yuko was paired off with Nagai Katsumi, and Midori's name was written beside someone called Yokaze Rei.

Midori blinked. Yokaze?

"Ugh. Midori, I SO hate your luck," Yuko grumbled behind her.

"Luck?"

"You're paired with Yokaze-kun!"

"Uh...yeah. So?"

"Yokaze-kun just happened to be Yuko's latest interest," Asako supplied for her.

"Potential interest, thank you."

"Potential interest. Sorry," Asako said with sarcastic tone.

Midori's eyebrows furrowed. She, of course, was acquainted with Yokaze Rei, but she doesn't think she knew him. Yes, they had been classmates more than once throughout their five-and-a-half years of schooling in Hanabishi. But, really, the only thing she knew about him was the fact that, even though he was included in Takashi's circle, he was pretty...uhm...different from them. Takashi was the most persistent teaser in their class. But he never COULD get Midori to snap, though.

But Takashi was actually nice for some time: before 4th grade. That time, he was already pretty popular, not for being a prankster but the funny man of the class. He and Rei were the life of class parties. Midori wondered, then, why the two formerly inseperable boys, in a way, split ways. Probably because Takashi was swept by the urge of teasing girls, and Rei, on the other hand...Well, the fact that Midori had rarely (or was it never?) seen him insult girls was already an amazing thing for her. Even so, she didn't recall ever speaking to him!

Slowly, she glanced at a boy several seats away from her. He had tousled hazelnut-colored hair, and he was saying something to his seatmate, waving his hands dismissively. When his seatmate laughed, Rei's blue eyes turned to Midori, as if he felt her gaze on him. Midori took one last look at him, then turned her attention back to her notebook, scribbling "schedule meeting with Yokaze Rei".

Inwardly, Midori snorted at herself. Like, duh. It was just a math problem set, not some historical turning point. She didn't have to worry about who her partner was, did she? No, this was going to go by like a breeze, and then everything would go back to normal.

Right?

From the author:
OK. Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against boys, ok? But, let's face it. Half of the male population turn into complete idiots when they're in fifth and sixth grade.

So what do you guys think? Should I continue this? The next chapter will be Rei's side of the story...I think^^

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