Dear Maribel,

Oi oi, where have you been?

Hah, I know that's redundant. You've been gone for three months. So why am I writing this? I hear that writing letters is a good way to show your emotions. Not like I'll even send 'em, anyways. Well, whatever. After you disappeared three months ago, everyone was looking for you, ya know? We were all worried sick, your face was all over the news and everything.

Nobody ever found you, of course.

They all just assumed you jumped in a river or something. I, of course, knew that wasn't the case. I didn't even attempt to explain what I believe, though. Afraid they'll put me in with the crazies.

Anyways,

Remember when I first met you? It was all so stupid, you were just wandering in circles, looking like a dog with a missing tail. When I finally mustered up the courage to ask, that's when you told me how you were lost, remember? I slapped a palm to my forehead and laughed, then suddenly stopped, hoping you didn't take offense. You then asked where your first class was. I pointed you in the right direction and thought you would just mutter a thanks and leave.

But, of course, you had to ask me to walk you all the way there. "What's your name?" you asked.

"Uh, me?" I was not used to people actually taking interest in a conversation with me. I was always kind of the weird one, the 'talk to them and nobody knows what happens next' type of person. "Usami Renko."

"Well, thank you, Renko." I was startled when you completely skipped my surname and called me by my first name right away. "My name's Maribel, Maribel Hearn." I figured you were obviously English, because of your small accent, so I didn't point out the name thing. It actually kinda made me feel more friendly towards you all the more, so that helped, right?

After class I saw you walk over to me, which I was surprised about. There was so many other people you coulda talked to, but you wanted to talk to lame old me, right? Well, get lost together, stick together, that's how it is. Eh...

Remember later on you invited me to your dorm, to drink tea? We had a huge conversation. I found out you were from the west, but you spent many years in Japan, so you were able to speak fluently in Japanese. Then when you were trying to open a book and knocked your cup of tea all over the cookies, and you were too embarrased to tell me so when I took a bite it was all soggy? We both laughed so hard.

It must have been the first time I smiled in months.

I think that's around when we established a friendship, y'know.

Crap, I'm in a bit of a hurry, gotta get to class. Well, I'll write again later.

Your friend,

Renko Usami