Chapter 1: Love at First Sight

Natsuko Takaishi was now lost. Her family had just moved to Japan from France in order for her to have a better education but how was this suppose to happen when she couldn't even find her classes. She was running around frantically now because her first class was starting in 10 minutes! In her panic Natsuko wasn't paying attention to where she was going and ran into someone knocking both herself and the stranger over.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to…." Natsuko stopped mid sentence when she saw the man she had run into. He was tall and strong looking. His hair was a bit messy but didn't cover his dark eyes. She found him quite handsome though he was a bit rough looking. Natsuko began to blush when she realized she was staring at him.

He offered her his hand and helped her up. "Thank you." Was all Natsuko could manage to say.

"May I help you with something miss?" His words were kind despite his rough appearance and made Natsuko's heart begin to skip a beat.

"Yes I'm new and I can't seem to find my class." Natsuko tried to hide the fact that she was blushing when her hand brushed against his when showing him her schedule.

"Alright she you go straight down this hall to the end and turn right. Room 251 is the first one on the left. Do you understand where to go now miss?"

"Yes thank you so much. Maybe I'll see you around again." Natsuko blushed at what the statement that had just escaped her lips.

"Yes I'd like that very much." The man was smiling at her. She thanked him one last time and waved good bye as she ran down the hall to her class.

/

The man whose name was Hiroaki Ishida watched the woman as she ran down the hall. Her blond hair seemed as though it was floating behind her.

He couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was like an angel. Something about her made his heart skip a beat and put butterflies in his stomach.

"Hiroaki you idiot you should have asked for her name and number." Hiroaki Ishida thought to himself when he realized he was still holding the woman's schedule in his hand. He smiled when he looked down at it.

"Natsuko Takaishi." He read out loud.

"What a beautiful name for such a beautiful woman." He thought to himself.

As he looked down at the schedule he thought of a plan on how to see Natsuko again. She probably still needed this schedule so why not wait for her class to finish.

Hiroaki saw that Natsuko had no more classes that day and since she was new and had obviously had no idea where any of her classes were maybe he could offer to show her around.

He made his way to the nearby Starbucks to grab a coffee and study while he waited for Natsuko's class to finish.

/

Natsuko made it to her first class just on time. It was an advanced writer's class which was something that usually would have interested her but not today. Today she was dreaming of the man she had just run into.

"Natsuko why didn't you tell him your name. More importantly why didn't you ask him for his name and his number." Little did she know that Hiroaki was thinking the exact same thing as she was.

There was something about him and that drew her to him. He certainly wasn't the most exciting or handsome guy she had ever met but there was a certain charm to him. His rough appearance brought a sense of mystery to him. She didn't know how but she could tell something was hiding behind those dark brown eyes of his. Something that was buried deep inside him which was something only she could bring out.

Natsuko's thoughts were interrupted when she had realized she had forgotten her schedule with the man. That was her only copy. How was she supposed to find any of her classes now?

She knew she had to find that man again which made her smile. For a part of her knew that this man was different than others she had met before or would ever meet again. Something clicked between them when they first gazed into each other's eyes. This something was true love for her heart already knew she was destined to be with him even if her brain did not.

/

Hiroaki watched as the students filed out of the lecture hall but he couldn't seem to spot Natsuko anywhere.

He searched for a glimpse of her blonde hair in the crowd but could see none. The last of the students emerged for the lecture hall and still no sign of Natsuko.

Hiroaki hung his head in dismay. How he hoped to see her again. Her crystal ocean blue eyes sparkled with so much life. It now felt like a part of his heart was breaking because he couldn't find her. He knew he had just met her but it felt like he already knew her. It was like as if his heart knew something about her his brain did not. Hiroaki was about to walk away defeated from the lecture hall when he heard her voice behind him.

/

"Excuse me mister I think I left my schedule with you earlier." Hiroaki turned around to come face to face with Natsuko for the second time that day. The first time he had laid eyes on her he thought she was pretty but now he saw how beautiful she really was. She had a petit body which he could easily wrap his arms around. Her blond hair framed her face nicely and fell to her shoulders but it was her eyes that drew him to her. Those blue eyes which were so full of life and happiness unlike his own. Putting these thoughts aside Hiroaki managed to speak.

"Oh yes. Here's your schedule. The name is Hiroaki Ishida."

"It's nice to finally learn your name Hiroaki. My name is Natsuko Takaishi."

"I already knew that from your schedule." He smiled at her and Natsuko could feel her cheeks turning bright red. She prayed he wouldn't notice.

"Natsuko I remember you saying you were new earlier and I was wondering if you would like me to give you a tour?" Now Hiroaki was the one whose cheeks were turning a bright shade of red.

"I'd love that!" She smiled at him. Hiroaki was relieved that she had said yes. He offered to carry her book and his arm. She gladly accepted both.

Hiroaki Ishida began walking around campus with the most beautiful woman he'd ever met; Natsuko Takaishi. Neither of them realized that this was the beginning of their love story.