Hear me out

Chapter 1

Spring had changed the surroundings. The warm sun peaked over the horizon shining light on the trees that were in full bloom. Other trees were beginning to display their fresh green leaves. The grass was slightly damp from the morning dew that was already beginning to dissolve. Light fluffy clouds moved across the sky with ease. It was a perfect morning.

She decided to walk to school today, despite her usual laziness. It was early, so she figured it would be a good idea. Opening the front door, a breeze came through. She stepped out.

Closing her eyes, she savored this moment. She absorbed the sounds she heard around her; the rustling of leaves, singing birds, and the pure sound of peace. Over time, she had become more appreciative of these things.

"It's too bad…" she said quietly.

"…that I have to go to school on a day like this."

She couldn't help but smile. An unfamiliar sense of tranquility was upon her. Stretching, she extended her arms to the sky. She felt like she was in the best mood today.

Suddenly, realizing the door was still in fact wide open behind her, she quickly turned. She thought for a minute, making sure she did not forget anything. Glancing around inside, Risa concluded that she was ready to leave. Pulling out her house key, she closed the door carefully and locked it.

She was the last one to leave, since Riku had left early for lacrosse practice that morning.

Embracing the outside air, she stepped down off the porch. She swept a few stray strands of hair from her face, and started on her way.

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The influence of this perfect day had persuaded her to take the long way through the park. She had the time.

She carefully stepped along the brick path. Moving slowly, she took in her environment. Her skirt swayed in the wind as strands of her hair blew behind her. She stopped under the shade of a tree. A gust of air suddenly caused the leaves to rustle. Tiny strands of light shone through the leaves creating golden speckles on the sidewalk.

All of a sudden, the grass looked very inviting. She crossed over to the open space and made her self comfortable. Spreading out, she lied down. It was so peaceful…no one else was here in the park this early in the morning. The warm sun shone onto her face. So warm…so peaceful…

I really wish I didn't have to go to school… she pleaded in her mind.

Well… I have time…I can rest here for a while.

With that young Risa Harada closed her eyes and let the sound of the rustling leaves rock her to sleep.

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She suddenly awoke to various noises. A few stray people had walked down the paths of the park talking with each other and on their cell phones. There was also the faint sound of cars rushing down the streets of the town. The sun was higher, brighter. That was when she realized it was not so early anymore.

She jerked upward. "Shoot! I'm late!"

Slightly embarrassed that she had fallen asleep in the middle of the park, she grabbed her school bag and started running towards school. She didn't make it very far until she was out of breath, and walking. She never did have very much stamina.

However, Risa walked quickly. Glancing up at the clock tower she saw that it was eight-forty five. That means that classes had started more than an hour ago.

What am I going to say to my teachers…? Damnit! I can't just tell them I fell asleep in a park…I wonder what the people walking by were thinking of me!?

Thinking of excuses to say to her teacher, Risa hurried towards school.

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Satoshi Hiwatari's morning routine was simple. Wake up, take a shower, get dressed, grab a piece of toast, and leave. There were no parents to greet him. No mother to make him breakfast. No father casually sitting at the table drinking coffee and reading the newspaper.

He did not mind though. He liked it better being alone. No one bothered him that way.

He stepped out the door of his empty apartment, closed and locked the door, and made his way down the stairs and outside. He was always very early, so everyday he would take the long way to school through the park.

The park was peaceful, and quiet in the morning. There was no one to bump into…so this way he could avoid as much human contact as possible. The park also had beautiful scene, so every once in a while he would sit down and make a couple of sketches in his notebook. That is, if he had the time.

This particular morning, however, would not just be a casual and fast stroll in the park.

He started down the brick path. It was a beautiful day, and early enough to do some sketching. He came to the middle of the park with many trees, flowers, and benches. He sat down and briefly unzipped his school bag. Pulling out his sketch pad and setting it on his lap, he glanced around for a subject.

At that moment he saw someone lying on the grass across the way.

What the…? Wait, could she be hurt?

By natural instinct he stood and quickly walked over to the figure. He slowed, and as he got closer he realized that it was none other than Risa Harada.

What in the world is she doing lying here like this? Stupid…Well She's breathing. She must be asleep…

Satoshi found it quite odd that out of all of the places for him to find Risa Harada, it would be here.

I should wake her…

He stepped closer and then noticed this…almost beauty about her. She lied innocently in the grass, on her side with her hand up by her face. Her fair skin glowed with the light of the sun as the breeze blew strands of her hair around.

Satoshi's cheeks instantly became slightly warm. He ignored this.

I won't wake her. That would mean most likely walking to school with her…

Satoshi Hiwatari did not want nor need the company of Risa Harada. It was a burden. He wanted to walk to school in peace without a babbling girl following him.

Almost involuntarily he walked back to the bench and grabbed his sketch pad. Miraculously, he came back. Sitting down quietly next to her, he began to sketch.

He did not know what compelled him to start drawing her…

It was a simple and not detailed sketch, but beautiful all the same. He could not resist his artistic abilities telling him that this was a perfect subject.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew a couple of pieces of hair into her face. He glanced up, noticing this flaw in his subject. He could not have that…

Slowly, not to wake her, he brushed them away and tucked them behind her ear. It was bold, but she did not wake.

She must be a pretty heavy sleeper. I wonder how long she has been here…

Dismissing the thought, he continued. It wasn't long after that he was finished drawing the sleeping girl.

As he closed his sketch pad, she shifted.

Oh no…is she waking up? She can't see me…that would be too much trouble.

Quickly yet quietly, he got up and darted away. Grabbing his things off the bench, he continued down the path and out of the sight of Risa Harada.

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Risa finally arrived at school. She crept down the hallway, careful to not be noticed. Everything was extremely quiet because class was in session. Finally she came to her class room.

She slowly slid the door open.

Please no one notice…please no one notice…

But to no avail. The room was quiet and the tiny noise of the sliding door had caught everyone's attention. They looked up from their school work. Every one of their eyes was on her.

Her cheeks grew hot. She stood there dumbly, and frozen.

The sound of her entrance had also caught her instructor's attention.

"Miss Harada? What in the world…? You're extremely late!"

"U-uhm….u-uhh…" Her voice shook. She hated being embarrassed like this in front of everyone.

"No matter, please take a seat Miss Harada. I will talk to you after class."

Risa was quite relieved that she didn't have to explain her self in front of the whole class. She quickly crossed the room to her desk. Everyone went back to their work.

Geez…this is so embarrassing. I wonder what were working on…?

She pulled her notebook out of her bag. Then, all of a sudden, a small crumpled up piece of paper hit her straight in the forehead. It landed and rolled off of her desk onto the floor.

She looked up, into the direction it came from, rubbing her forehead. There was Riku, in the next row over a couple of seats up. Riku stared at Risa, and motioned for her to pick it up.

Risa, quickly retrieved it off of the floor. She unfolded and smoothed it out.

Risa, what the heck? It was worried sick about you! Where the heck were you all this time?!!! By the way, were on page 566, numbers 4-25.

She looked back up at Riku, who had a concerned look on her face. She then scribbled a few words down on the sheet, crumpled it back up, and threw it at her.

I'll tell you later…

Risa hoped it would in turn, hit her in the head, but Riku caught it. She read it, looked up at Risa with a stubborn look on her face, and then returned to her work.

Risa then got settled into her desk, and started working on the problems assigned.

Geez…I hate math…

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Satoshi had arrived to school shortly after the incident in the park. Class had started, and he noticed that she wasn't there.

She must still be in the park…he thought.

I guess I should have waken her up…she must be still sleeping.

He couldn't help but be slightly amused by this thought; the thought that she was now late because she was sleeping in the park.

What a strange girl…but then again, she was always that way.

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An hour into class Satoshi couldn't help but think about Risa. He couldn't help but get slightly…worried? No, not worried. Just…concerned?

Is she still sleeping? It's so late…I wonder if something happened to her. Maybe she decided to skip school? Is it possible that somebody had…kidnapped her?

He then decided that he was giving too much thought about Risa Harada. He did not need to think about these things.

Though, he did feel a sense of relief when she showed up that morning. He was amused by her embarrassment of being extremely late.

But at the same time, relieved. He was confused by this feeling, though he quickly dismissed it.

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"Well…you see…" Risa explained. "I was feeling sick this morning. But then all of a sudden, I felt better, so I decided to try to make it to school late."

"I see…but usually if you come to school late you need a note from your parent or guardian…" her instructor stated.

"Well…you see my parents are out of town…" she trailed off.

He paused, and then gave a sign of defeat.

"I will let you go this time Miss Harada," he explained while standing up and gathering up the papers on his desk. "But next time I'm going to need a phone call or a note."

"Yes, sir."

With that, Risa exited the classroom quickly. She finally was able to escape from her teacher.

I can't believe that he bought that…I suppose my lying skills are as great as ever!

She smiled, as she mentally praised herself.

That smile soon faded however, when she came face to face with her older sister Riku, who was waiting for her out in the hallway.

She darted over to Risa and put her hands on her shoulders. Riku shook her violently.

"So tell me, where the hell were you, huh?!!"

Risa wiggled out of her sister's grip. "Calm down, will ya?"

"Calm down, Calm down?! I will once you tell me where you were!!" Her sister gave her a look of anger and worry. Risa sighed.

"I'll tell you on the way home."

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The sisters walked home together, as Risa the story of how this morning she took the long way through the park. She stupidly fell asleep, and woke up more than an hour later. She also explained what she had told her teacher, and how he had fallen for it.

"That was a pretty good lie that you made up…" Riku slowly said. "I guess you really couldn't tell him how you…" She stopped. "Risa, what the heck? You can't be so reckless! Do you know how many perverts probably walked by you? You're lucky that you weren't taken away, or kidnapped!"

Risa tensed. "I know...," she said quietly. "I won't ever do it again."

Riku continued to scold Risa until they arrived home.

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Satoshi had often stayed after school in the art room. He often volunteered for cleaning duty, since he was already going there anyways. Usually, he was the only one there not including the times that Niwa would join him.

After classes had ended, he made his way down to the art room.

There was an art festival coming up that their school was holding. Everyone was busy painting and submitting their work to be in the festival.

Satoshi planned to start on his own piece of artwork, that he would submit. He entered the art room and flicked the lights on. Crossing over to one of the back rooms, he opened the door to reveal a plain white canvas. It innocently sat in the back of the room with other various art supplies. He carefully picked it up and brought it out to the main room. He then put it on a stand and pulled a chair up.

Unzipping his book bag, he pulled out various paint supplies: brushes, paint tubes, and a pallet with many dried paint colors on it already.

He sat there, looking at the canvas for a few minuets, trying to find inspiration for something to paint.

Reaching down into his book bag once again, he took out his sketch pad. Perhaps something he had sketched will give him inspiration?

He flipped through the pages with various drawings of flowers, trees, and buildings.

There it was. The sketch he had made early this morning of young Risa Harada sleeping under the tree.

It's…perfect.

He glanced back up at the plain white canvas, and he saw it. He saw the lines, and the colors. It was there.

If she ever saw it…that would be troublesome…but the last place I would expect to find her would be an art show…

He didn't think much of it. He had to paint it. Something was compelling him to, yet he didn't know what it was.

He opened various paint tubes and squeezed pastel colors onto the pallet; green, blue, brown, red, and yellow.

He then dipped his brush, and began to paint. Stroke after stroke, the picture came together. The colors were perfect…everything about it.

Later on, he was pleased with the work he had done today. It was not even close to finished, but he got the basic outline done.

Careful not to smear any of the paint, he carried it back to the back room. He leaned it faced against the wall, so no one would see it.

He cleaned, and packed up.

I suppose I'll come and work on it…tomorrow.

He switched off the lights and closed the door behind him.

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Satoshi Hiwatari then made his way home. It was starting to get dark. The sky morphed into a beautiful sunset over the ocean. Colors of pink, orange and yellow filled the sky.

As it became darker, the street lamps flickered on. His school was not close to his apartment. It was about a 30 minute walk. He didn't mind.

I wonder…

I wonder what compelled me to draw Harada-san…maybe I shouldn't submit that piece to the festival. People will recognize and see it…

Or maybe they won't notice? What is it about Harada-san that…

He again decided that he was putting too much thought into Risa Harada.

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Authors Notes: hello everyone! I've finally started a story! I'm really looking forward to this one…I'm so excited!

So here it is! I probably won't update until I have at least 5 reviews. I don't expect many.

Please critique! Also, if there are any grammar mistakes, please tell me!!

Sorry about the short-ness. I'm going to make the next one longer!

COVER: http://img524(dot)imageshack(dot)us(slash)img524(slash)9246(slash)hearmeoutdl2(dot)jpg