Chapter 1- The Bike Ride

I woke up today, the same way I always do a Monday, I don't want to at all. It was growing more and more colder as autumn disappeared and winter arrived.

The leaves fluttered from the trees as I climbed up that big hill which my high school, North High is on top off.

"Kyonko!" A voice called.

I turned round to see my two friends, Taniguchi and Kunikida following closely by.

"Hey Kyon." Taniguchi grinned, "You look chirpy this morning!"

I yawned smiling lightly,"Sure I do, I tried to get the day off today. But my mum forced me to go in."
Kunikida shook her head tutting,"But a certain boy would be very upset if you didn't come in today."

Taniguchi sniggered putting her arm round me,"Oh yeah, you got that charity bike ride today don't you?"

I sighed trying not to think about it,"Don't remind me, I'm not looking forward to it.. My ass is going to freeze. Haruki is making us wearing these ridiculous dresses and.. Lets just say their not bike wear material."

"Dresses! Oh this I gotta to see! How is he going to get you in a dress!" Taniguchi gasped.

"Well that sneaky Itsuko suggested it and.. Of course that pervert loved it." I mumbled.

Kunikida wondered off as we got inside,"Cant wait, its for a good cause-"
"Yeah for Haruki.." Taniguchi smirked as they both walked off.

I grunted quietly as I walked into school and up the stairs to the classroom, where Haruki sat behind me and would be ever so excited about today.. I wasn't really as euthastic.

"It's going to be such good promotion for the S.O.S Brigade, the whole school is going to see that it's not just all aliens and solving mysteries, its also giving back." He said as if he was some sort of Saint.
"But your making them pay to watch us!" I snapped turning my head towards him,"Who's going to pay 50 yen to watch us peddle through the town and back!"
"It's a race, Kyon. I thought you would of known by now!"

"A..A Race?" I gulped.
He smiled nodding happily leaning towards me,"Were on teams, didn't you even pay attenion in our meeting last night?"

I rubbed my hand along my chin,"I think I might of fell asleep.. Since it was so long.."

He folded his arms,"Okay, were on teams, Itsuko and Mitsuru on one team. Me and you on the other. Yuuki insisted to go by himself, which means he's going to be very tired by the end of it."

I laughed lightly to myself, of course Yuuki wouldn't need to be on a team, he could race round Japan and back in ten seconds if he wanted to!

Haruki suddenly pulled my wrist, which made our faces very close together. His brown eyes were beaming, "Since your on my team, there's no slacking! We gotta win! And if we don't I'll tie your ponytail round an ceiling air fan."

I smirked sarcastically, "No pressure then."

I sat up and pulled myself back round, the bell rang, Haruki looked back at me,"Oh yeah, Kyon."
"What?" I said.

"Dont forget the dress or I'll make you do the race naked." He said simply.

He walked out, I flinched, I grown red with anger, "What? Y..You..!"

I realised he was gone, people stared as I pasted by, I let out a sigh.. What an pervert.

Itsuko insisted for me to meet her at lunch before the race, she sat on her usual bench, I slowly approached.

"Why do you look so scared, Kyon?" She asked, as she gave me that smile that never seemed to fade.

I raised an eyebrow,"If you going to try to get me to wear that dress its not happening."

She blinked in confusion,"Dress? Oh the one Haruki chose for us to wear? Well I like it, he has very good taste for a boy."

"Why do you always praise him!" I groaned,"No I don't think its very suitable to wear a dress for peddling on a bike. Also its above my knees, which is short, its only for his own enjoyment while the rest of the school laughs at us!"
Itsuko laughed lightly shaking her head,"It is quite funny when you put it that way. Haruki has longed cared less about what people think of him, also if you let him down on today of all days, it could lead to all sorts of bother for me and my esper friends."

I folded my arms,"Open spaces I presume. That idoit has no clue how much trouble he causes."

"Yet, you still tag along don't you? I know how much you complain,but I know you want to please Haruki. Even if it means wearing that dress."

I said nothing as I stood, I turned back to him,"I'll do the race but, I'm not making any promises.."

Itsuko winked at me,"I was right, wasn't I?"

I walked away, I could hear her calling my name in the distance, she's such a know it all.

"-K.I.S.S.I.N.G!" She sung faintly.

"Mitsuru wear it, it looks good on you!" Haruki insisted shoving a pair of cat ears in his face.

Mitsuru wept backing away,"N..No! No! My friends are going to be watching! It's a race, why do I have to wear-"

"Well put them on your helmet, it needs to be obvious to people that you're the clubs mascot, come on man! Wear it! It looks so cute!" Haruki shouted impatiently.

Yuuki looked up from his bike, holding a book in his hand. The boys were in their P.E track suits, while me and Itsuko were in pink and black puff strapless dresses. I wore my grey long cardigan over mine.
Haruki growled at me growing red,"Why are you wearing that thing over your dress!"

I narrowed my eyes,"Its cold!"

Mitsuru hid behind me and whispered in my ear,"Haruki's really grumpy."

I looked over to Haruki, he was the one motivating us about it all week, and now he doesn't even look like he wants to do it.

I frowned taking my cardigan off,"Are we doing this thing or not, Haruki! Were going to beat the stuffing out of Mitsuru and Itsuko! Oh and Yuuki."

I walked past Haruki to get to my bike, a surprised expression came across his face. Itsuko smiled softly skipping over to her bike, Mitsuru shuffled over to his bike next to her.

A determined look awoken on Haruki's face, "Team Haruko!"

"Haru..Ko?" I asked.
Haruki grinned excitedly,"Yeah its our names.. Combined!"

I looked down smiling lightly, "Stupid."

A gun was shot, I gasped as Yuuki sped ahead, leaving a trail of smoke behind him.

I stared in disbelief,"You have to be kidding me."

Haruki was ahead, he called me,"COME ON GOOO!"

Students actually turned up to see us, well mostly people passing by wondering what was going on.

I pedaled pass Mitsuru who was in the wrong gear and was pedaling backwards, he yelped, "Help me."
I gave him a sympathetic look as I strived by him, "Sorry!"
Itsuko smiled patiently and helped him, Haruki left me behind, I tried calling him but I didn't think he heard me.

There was no signs where to go so after I rode down the hill, I didn't know where to turn since I couldn't slow down, I ended up turning down a bumpy road leading me to a park where we shot Haruki's film, pass the cherry blossoms and past the back suburbs.

I hit the brakes, looking round, finding myself in the middle of a place I didn't recognize.

"W..Where am I?" I gulped.

I tried to stay calm, all I had to do was retrace my steps, not to hard right? Well it would of been if I remembered which way I came from.

I had no phone with me, just a bike and stupid short dress with no pockets! Also the wheels on my bike bursted, how lucky am I?

An hour later, I turned back but still couldn't get back to the roads that were familiar to me. I was pedaling further and further away.

I stopped and sat on the kirb, I placed my head in my hands. How angry is Haruki going to be? Now there's going to be a world full of open spaces and the world is going to come to an end because of me. Yes, it all sounded very over the top but since I met Haruki and the others, I've learned how fast your life can be taken away from you in a second. I mean if Haruki is in a bad mood, it can either be the difference from living or not existing at all!

I sighed as I noticed the sun setting, I was so late for my next lesson, never mind that, I bet school was well over by now! I buried my head in my legs and folded my arms to keep myself warm, tears bubbled up in my eyes, "Damn.. That Haruki."

"Baka.. Baka... Baka..!" I heard a voice from the distance.

I sniffed as I raised my head, I looked round, "W..What?"

"You idoit! Where are you? When I find you, you're going to get a severe punishment!" A familiar voice called angrily.

I looked round standing up wondering where he was,"Haruki..!"

I turned to see Haruki pedaling towards me on his bike, "What the hell do you think your doing? Everyone is out looking for you!"

He braked before me, , I frowned quickly drying my tears, "I didn't mean to go off! I got lost and I tried to get back for you. Now we lost the race.. And-"
Haruki groaned,"Who cares about the race? I called it off as soon as I realised you were gone, since you are my team mate, I couldn't continue without you."

I nodded as I quietly picked my bike up, why did I feel slightly touched? I felt a warm jacket placed on my frozen arms.

"You look cold." He muttered growing red, "How the hell did you do that to your bike?"

I laughed dryly,"Oh there were a few sharp stones and the wheels sort of deflated."

Haruki sat on his bike, I blinked, he grown red looking away, "You cant ride on that thing, just leave it. I'll give you a lift."

I sat on the back of the bike, Haruki grunted,"You're as heavy as sack of turnips."

I growled,"Hey! I can happily walk!"

He said nothing and began to pedal quite fast, for someone who thought I was heavy was pedaling just fine. I held onto my seat, I glanced over at him, did I just see a look of relief on his face? Was he worried about me?

Haruki quickly looked away, I smirked lightly, "Hey maybe we can do a rematch tomorrow, I'll promise not to get lost this time."

He laughed,"You better not, I'll let you off for your punishment since it wasn't entirely your fault.."

It was his fault for not telling me where to go, you think he would of planned a head that idiot.

Haruki braked, "But since it was my fault, I'll let you ride on the same bike as me. I mean, since yours is broke."

Yeah my mum wont be too happy about that, abandoning my bike for anyone to steal.. All it needed was new wheels!

I leaned my head on his back, my eyes began to feel heavy, "Yeah, beat the poop of Itsuko for me then."

Haruki smiled softly as he looked down at me, we were by those cherry blossoms again. When I woke up, Haruki told me that a shower of shooting stars appeared across the sky that very moment. I bet it was beautiful. Shame, I slept through it...