A/N: This chapter is in reference to the first episode of the anime.

CHAPTER 1

I see a girl lying on the grass with her headphones on. There's no mistaking, who else would do something so unrefined for a girl? It's her, Chihaya. It seems that she hasn't changed. She is just as careless as when we were kids.

I walk towards her but she doesn't seem to notice. Her eyes remain close even as I look down at her. I take a few seconds to carefully look at her face. She looks perfect just as she is, without any makeup on. It does not amaze me how so many guys find her attractive. But I liked her even before she was this beauty. It's that cheerful girl with a cropped hair that I have fallen in love with.

"Look at you plopped on the ground like that. No wonder they call you a beauty in vain." That's what they call her, 'beauty in vain'.

She opens her eyes and squints at me.

"Chihaya," I say her name with a smile.

She jumps up and calls my name. "Taichi?!"

"I was so surprised. I never thought you'd come to this high school too. I figured you'd continue at that fancy academy into high school." She starts tapping my back rather hard as we walk along the street to the train station.

This girl. She hasn't changed one bit. She's still as rough. "And spend three more years commuting an hour and a half each way?" I say. Traveling was not the real issue but I can't seem to muster any courage to tell her the truth.

"By the way, that was mean." I add. I have been in love with her since we were in Elementary school but she remains oblivious until this day. I thought that I'd be able to get over Chihaya during middle school but it seems that my feelings for her have only grown stronger.

"Anyway, I'm surprised you made it into such a good public school." I say.

I turn to look at her and I see her staring at me. Just staring. I feel my heart beating faster. She's piercing deep to my soul. I turn my head to avoid her gaze. With that kind of stare, I fear that she might actually be able to read my mind.

"Taichi, you've grown taller," she says.

And of all topics why does it have to be about my height?!

"We're still practically the same height! Don't get too cocky!" I retort.

She had been teasing me about my height since we were kids. It should have gotten old by now but she's still using the height card against me. She had always been a bit taller than me. It's always just by a few centimeters, I swear! Why does it have to matter anyway?!

"I'm still gonna grow!"

"So am I." She snaps.

"You're going down!" I snap back at her as I put my thumbs down in front of her face.

"Taichi," she calls my name.

"What?"

"Taichi!" She bumps me with her shoulders and leans on my side. "Taichi! Taichi! Taichi!" She starts chanting my name and bumps me again.

This is starting to irritate me. "What's wrong with you?"

"I'm just glad that you're here," she says.

How can she say such mindless things and make me extremely happy? How should I even reply to that?

"Chihaya, you aren't very popular with the guys, are you?"

I'm lame. I know.

I'm sitting on a seat at the train station. Chihaya is standing near me as we wait for the train to arrive. I watch her as the wind softly blows her hair. The moment seems right. I have to tell her. "Chihaya…"

I hear my cellphone ringing in my pocket. Damn it. Who could it be at this moment?! My heart sinks as I see Akane's name flash on the screen. Akane, a girl that reminds me of a reason why I can't tell her, for now. "One second."

I click on the answer button. "It's me, what is it?"

"Ta-kun, Let's meet." Akane's chirpy voice chimes through my ears.

"Right now? I'm at the station." Akane and I have been dating for 2 months but it's nothing serious. I'm pretty sure she's just playing around.

"I'll wait for you here at Bubaigawara Station," she says insistingly.

"Huh? You're waiting at Bubaigawara?" I ask.

"Please Ta-kun," she pleads.

"Fine. Fine. I'm hanging up. " Girls are a handful, really.

"Your girlfriend?!" Chihaya runs towards me.

"Taichi, you have a girlfriend?!" She asks with her face just inches from me.

I can feel my face starting to heat up. I retreat to a safer distance.

"Am I not allowed to have one?" I ask her defensively.

"I see." She withdraws from her position and sits beside me. "I see."

Is she probably… jealous? "W-what's wrong? Was it that big of a shock."

She nods her head. Her face shifts from disbelief to gloom.

I suddenly feel guilty. "W-well, I'm only with her because she asked me out. I'm not really attached to her or anything…"

"Maybe Arata's found something more important to him than karuta, too," she says, more to herself than me.

I feel my heart drop. It's about Arata after all. I'm the one who's here and yet it's still that guy she thinks about. Ever since she have met Arata, it has always been about him. Arata this, Arata that. I should be used to it by now but still, it hurts every time.

I hear the sound of the train approaching. "What's that supposed to mean?" I stand from my seat and walk towards the yellow line.

"Taichi?" I hear her say my name again, but this time, I do not feel anything.