Momoko POV

I woke up all sweaty and pale. That was a very horrible dream, I thought. I rubbed my eyes and looked at the clock. "Four thirty.." I muttered to myself. It happens every night and I would always wake up at four thirty. I got up and did some exercises. I remembered the dream, no, the nightmare. Ever since I turned fourteen, the dream would visit me every night like a sign for something to happen. Everytime I wake up, I would just relax myself. To return to sleep was not a choice since I am not sleepy once I open my eyes. A noise from the neighbouring window turned my attention to it.

My house and the neighbour's house are very close. There is a room next to mine. It was so close that you can climb and get to the other room very easily. However, I know it is a boy's room. I often see him when he opens his curtains. If our eyes met, he would always smile at me and I will smile at him. He had red hair like mine and a beautiful pair of crimson red eyes. I am quite sure he is the same age as me.

I just moved here three days ago and have not been to school yet. Father says I have to get used to the house first, then maybe school. If I do get to go, maybe tomorrow, I hope we will be in the same class and I do hope I will have many friends. I used to be a loner as I was an adopted child.

I was adopted at the age of seven. Before that, I stayed at an orphanage since I was a baby. Father and mother are nice and I also have a little sister named Kuriko. They treat me as if I was a part of the family. Kuriko do not know that I am not her real sister. Father and mother decided to keep it a secret until the time comes. I hope she will still accept me then.

Another noise from the neighbouring room woke me from my thoughts. I heard a 'click' and mutters from outside. I went to my window and peeked a little through the curtains. It was the boy! He was standing there with his window open. I opened my window to see him. We never talked although we keep getting glances of each other. He looked at me as I opened my window. He smiles and I smile back.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asks, staring at the sky.

"Y-yes, how a-about y-you?" I stuttered. "I'm s-sorry. I-it has been a l-long t-t-time since I-I talked to a b-boy,"

"It's okay. I couldn't sleep either. I had a bad dream tonight, well, actually, every night," he says.

"Me too. I-I h-have a n-nightmare every n-night," I say.

"Really? Oh, by the way, what is your name? Mine is Akihito Mitsuki," he says, looking straight into my eyes.

"M-my name is A-Akatsutsumi M-Momoko," I say, dropping my gaze.

"Eh? Isn't your family name Sakai?" he asks.

"Ah.. yes, that is right. I forgot again," I mutter slowly.

"Oh! Look at the time. I have to get ready for school. Let's chat some other time, Momoko," he says.

"Yes, see you some other time, Akihito-kun" I say.

"Call me Mitsuki!" he says before he closes the window and the curtains.

I also close the window and curtains. I change into casual clothes and went downstairs. Mother is cooking breakfast in the kitchen and Kuriko and father are not yet here. I help mother prepare breakfast and put them on the table. A while later, Kuriko and father come downstairs. Father is wearing his suit and Kuriko is wearing casual clothes. We take our seats and eat breakfast in silence. Father eats unusually fast today, I thought.

"Momoko, after I return to work, let's talk. We need to get your things for school," father says, after he finishes his meal.

"I'm going to school, father?" I ask, excitedly.

"Yes, you will start tomorrow," answers father.

"Daddy, how about Kuriko?" Kuriko asks with her mouth full. Unlike me, she calls them 'mummy' and 'daddy' .

"Yes, you too, Kuriko," answers mother with a smile.

After that, father went to work and I went to my bedroom. I have a lot of books that father either bought or gave me. I am a bookworm, no doubt. Reading is my way of passing time and it also calms me. Though my eyes are fixed on the letters in the book, my mind trailed somewhere else. I thought of school, friends and the probability of meeting Mitsuki again at school. I wonder what school here feels like...