A short opening. Sort of mysterious, but very plain.

Shintaro walked across the street as the light switched colors. Next to him were three of his friends who were all in his class, childhood buddies. There was Izumi, Hideki, and Yoshio. They had all just come from school and were headed to the shopping district. Things were quiet and especially now since school had been over for nearly two hours. He listened as Yoshio and Izumi argued over something. They were always doing this and Shintaro had learned to tune it out over the years.

"I don't care what you think, Izumi-chan. A girl's opinion isn't relevent in the area of gaming." Yoshio said, trying to sound as professional as possible.

Izumi frowned, glaring back him. "Whatever..." Shintaro could've swore he heard her muttering something like, 'Sexist idiot.', but he wasn't sure.

Coming up on their right was a flower shop. Shintaro recognized it as the one his mother always went to. As he glanced through the window of floral beauty, he saw someone inside looking at the selection of flowers; it was a girl. She lifted her head to look at Shintaro, red eyes piercing his heart as she smiled. Something inside him awakened and he froze in the middle of the sidewalk, staring at the window.

"Shintaro-kun," He could hear Izumi calling out his name, her voice echoing into his dazed state. "What's wrong?"

Shintaro shook his head and looked back at Izumi, Yoshio and Hideki sharing concerned stares. "I-I'm fine…I just…" He looked back into the window only to find that no one was there. "I just thought…that I saw someone…" Shintaro tried shoving the thought away while he and his friends continued on to the mall, but he couldn't. That face…is too familiar…

"I'm back!" Shintaro called out as he entered through his home's front door. He had a few bags on his arm which were filled with a couple of games and snacks.

"Oh, good," His mother's voice sounded from the kitchen and the smell of spices reached his nose. "Something came for you."

He paused as he was taking off his shoes, "What? What came?" He put his bags down on the kitchen table and looked at his mother who was working over the stove.

"I put it in the living room. Someone sent you some flowers and there's a card that's filled out," She looked back at him and smiled. "Dinner is almost done."

"Thanks." He left the kitchen and went into the living room. On the table he found a crystal clear vase filled with Poppy flowers. On the table was a white card just like his mother had said. Shintaro's first thought went to the familiar face he'd seen earlier. He picked up the card and opened it, though he was feeling paranoid enough.

'Have a nice birthday, Shintaro-kun.'

–Aichi Shino

Shin felt a heat wave coming through his face, and also excitement. He had been right! That girl in the florist's had been Shino!

"Shintaro, come and eat now!" His mother shouted.

"Coming!" His mind was swirling with questions. After all these years, Shino had finally spoken again. The one thing he couldn't figure out was what happened to her…