Chapter 1 - The Bridge

The blond boy had cat eyes. As usual, he was annoying. Actually, he was more annoying than ever today.

"Come on, Danchou," he insisted. "It's Valentine's Day!" He tried to wrap his arms around her, but the stiff, green haired leader of the group kept him at bay with a good, solid fist to his face.

"Touch me again, Kano, and I will personally make sure you don't survive to see another Valentine's Day." She was feeling edgy. Something was going to happen. What was this feeling?

"Mmm, Danchou, you're so mean!" Kano chuckled. He swerved, trying to plant a kiss on her cheek.

This time, the girl stepped on his foot, then quickly delivered a bow to his ribs. Kano doubled over in pain.

"Idiot," she muttered.

"S-sorry..." Kano groaned. Trying to regain his composure, he pulled his black hood up over his hair and stuck his hands into the pockets of his slim jeans. The wind blew the tails of his no-sleeved hoodie back and rumpled his light brown shirt.

The girl couldn't see his eyes, but she was sure that he wasn't as hurt as he pretended to be. Everyone knew Kano was a liar. She couldn't have really hurt him - could she?

Burying her hands deeper into the pockets of her lavender sweatshirt, the girl lowered her head, allowing her bangs to fall in her face. It was unusually warm for February. The snow that had fallen thick a few days before had all but disappeared. It almost smelled of summer, and summer, she knew, was not a good time.

It felt like summer, too. This uneasy feeling made her feel as though it was mid-August. It was the same uneasy feeling that came with the oppressive heat of the end of August. It was a red feeling, deep and heavy. It made her sweat just thinking about it.

Trying to distract herself, the green haired girl listened to the mindless chatter of the blond girl walking behind her.

"...and I was so nervous! They keep telling me I have to do a hit Valentine's Day single, but you know, I've never actually been in love with anyone before, so I don't know if I can do it..."

The green haired girl tuned out. Kisaragi was cute, and Momo was definitely more sociable than her brother, Shintaro.

Kano had started flirting with Momo after a short while. Kido knew he couldn't have been hurt badly by her words. This was proof. He was forever the flirt. Couldn't he take anything seriously?

Kido walked on in silence, the white pavement made a satisfying clicking sound as she tread on it. The river under the bridge on which they were walking was whispering. It was so blue. She ran her hand over the trailing of the bridge. The metal was cold and seemed to seep into her skin.

It felt good, the metal. The weather was really too nice for February, and the metal reminded her that it wasn't yet time for oppressive, sickening heat.

She glanced back. Kano had one arm around Momo, and he was laughing. Kido sighed.

Sometimes, she wished that she could be noticeable. She was happy, however, that she wasn't. Having Kano's attention on a day like Valentine's Day would have been disastrous. Granted, he had been flirting with her earlier, but he was only joking. He was also exceptionally obnoxious.

Kano left Momo then and walked past Kido. Their shoulders brushed for a second. Kano regarded her as if he wanted to say something. He seemed nervous. Then, shaking his head and letting out a small chuckle, he continued walking. Kido thought it was weird, but then again, Kano had always been a little strange.

Kido tilted her head upward to watch the clouds. They drifted really slowly, like lazy summer days. Ayano used to point out shapes in the clouds, Kido recalled. It was always fun to watch the clouds go by. Things had been so scary before, but those days had been pleasant and filled with happiness.

"... Kido-san?" she heard a voice call her name, snapping her out of her reverie.

Kido looked behind her. It was Marry, the girl with the white hair. Her magenta eyes were glittering with excitement.

"What is it, Kozakura?" Kido asked.

"What do you want to do this Valentine's Day?" Marry asked again. She gripped her grocery bag tighter. Marry had been anticipating going shopping today so that she could make some sort of chocolate confection later.

Kido smiled knowingly. It wasn't hard to figure out for whom the chocolate was. She was going to answer that no boy had ever paid much attention to her and she didn't really want to do anything when, suddenly, Momo screamed.

Kido turned around just in time to see Kano, who was walking slightly ahead of the girls, as he got hit by a truck.