Chapter One: Fourteenth Birthday

Daisuke POV

In all of my life I had never thought something so huge, so important, so weird could have happened to me. That was, until today

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I had woken up, expecting it to be just a normal day like all the other days in my life.

Boy, was I wrong.

Today was my fourteenth birthday, the day my life would change forever. But, then again, I wasn't expecting what actually happened.

I had looked at my alarm clock, registered that I was going to be late to school, and rushed downstairs to grab my usual piece of toast before sprinting to catch the train. The night before I double checked that my letter to Miss Risa Harada was safely in my schoolbag. Today was the day she would notice me, Daisuke Niwa, not as the clumsy boy I usually was, but for the cool, interesting one I could be.

As I reached the end of the block, I heard my mother yell to me, "I hope everything goes well with her!"

I turned around, surprised, "How did you know about that?"

"I'm your mother, I know everything!"

I sighed and continued on my way. My mother, Emiko Niwa, did seem to know everything. She knew so much, it started to scare me just a little. But today wasn't about being scared. I had to be brave. The bravest I've ever been in my life!(A/N: Awww.. Daisuke.. you can be adorable sometimes xD)

I replayed the scenario in my head of how she would receive my letter.

She would enter the train, looking for a seat. I would offer her the one next to me, then look her in the eyes and say, "Read this later," and hand her the letter.

Yes, it was perfect, foolproof even. Or so I had thought.

I reached the station just in time to catch the train. I boarded, trying to find two open seats. There were plenty in the back, so I sat down. A few minutes had passed and we made the first and only stop. Many adults filed on, then Risa entered. It took me only seconds to realize that she was entirely on the opposite end of the train!

No! It wasn't supposed to happen like this! I thought. My whole plan was ruined. How was I supposed to give her the letter now?

The train had stopped and passengers were leaving. I jumped out onto the platform, and saw Risa nearing the top landing. Running up a few of the stairs to catch up to her, I gathered my courage and said, "Miss Harada!"

She turned slowly, hair flipping from the movement.

She's so cute!

That was when I tripped.

I fell forward, thought I caught my balance, fell again, and when I straightened up I somehow managed to have my face inches from Risa's. I blushed, and scrambled down a few steps to get away from her. I was hugging my schoolbag tightly all the while. I had managed to stutter out, "I-I'm sorry Miss Harada!"

She smiled. "It's alright Niwa," she said, continuing up the stairs. I stood there for a while, then remembered I had to get to school. I hurried and caught up to Risa, where we walked in silence for a while. We had reached the fountain near the school building when I said nervously, "M-Miss Harada?"

She had been skipping ahead of me as I said this. Turning, she asked, "Yes Niwa?"

I was holding the letter tightly in my hands.

"W-what do you think of me?"

I don't know what made me say it. It was one of those things that just slipped out. But the question didn't seem to phase her in the least.

She replied with a cheery, "Oh Niwa, this is why I like you so much. You're one of the nicest people I know. You're probably one of the closest friends I have."

Friends?

I could feel my soul shatter inside of me. I was only a friend to her, nothing more. I hadn't realized that the letter to Risa had fallen from my hands, and was now in Risa's.

"What's this Niwa?"

The question was so innocent, I had to answer.

"I-It's nothing!"

I snatched the letter from her hands.

"I-I mean, I like the way your name looks when I write it! It-this was practice! Just practice!"

I stuffed the letter in my schoolbag just as Risa's twin sister Riku rode up to us on her bike.

"Hi Niwa! Hey Risa," she said, "What are you doing?"

"Nothing!" I answered quickly.

"Oh, okay then. We better get going Risa, you know I have early practice!"

I watched the Harada twins hurry in the direction of the school building. I slumped to my knees. How much worse could my day possibly get? I thought.

If only I knew the very real truth to that seemingly rhetorical question.

Whew! One chapter down. This does revolve around episode one, so please, if I forgot something or missed anything, please tell me so I can edit it! Oh, and please point out any typos =D Those definitely need to be fixed, yes yes. Please review!