A sudden change in visibility of the outside alerted Hiroyuki to the fact that he was now in a tunnel. The constant rumbling of the bus was now echoing faintly against the blackness only illuminated by small orange lights. He sighed and rested his head against the window, feeling the coldness from the frozen morning dew and the subsequent condensing that was commonplace for buses. He looked over at the bus driver from his position in the front seat. Even if he was a little older (Well, a year older, in fact) he still wore the same expression as the last time he drove him. He turned his eyes toward Hiroyuki before turning back to the road.

"Y'know, you're one of the only ones who ever comes here in the summer. Most people leave, but you do just the opposite. Why is that?"

Hiroyuki looked to the window for a moment before he moved more to the edge of his seat, grabbing his bag and setting it on the other side of the seat. "Well, this is where I grew up. All of my childhood friends are here, as well as my...significant other."

The bus driver nodded in understanding and looked towards the road again. "Y'know, when I was your age I had a girl and I thought the world of her. Thought we were destined to be married and have some fantastic kids who would grow up to make us proud."

He gave a short laugh. "Young love. Anyway, one day, she comes to me and says that her pops doesn't approve of our relationship and not only is she breaking up with me, but she's had another man for a week now. She walked out with her heels click-clacking and I never saw her since."

"Sorry to hear that."

The driver just waved his hand with a disapproving noise. "I'm happily married and have children now, but it just taught me a little lesson."

At this the driver slowed down a bit and turned to Hiroyuki with a serious look on his face. "If you've got something good that you both know is good, never let anything take it away."

Hiroyuki nodded with a smile. "Oh, I'll be sure of it."

The man turned back to the road, speeding up slightly and in a minute or two, brilliant light flooded in from outside, blinding Hiroyuki for a second before his vision adjusted. He was finally back.

~in an earlier time~

"Juuichi! Where are you!?"

Shouting was heard from down the street as Kounosuke looked behind him to see Torahiko running towards him. "Hey, Kouno! Have you seen Juuichi?"

The tanuki shook his head before scratching at it. "Why are you looking for him?"

The normally energetic tiger seemed heavily out of breath as he talked. "He left for a walk about twenty minutes ago, and I don't know where he is, and Hiro's gonna be here in like a half an hour."

Kounosukes ears perked up at that. "Really? I didn't know that! Why was I the least informed?"

Torahiko shrugged before looking out down the street. "I don't know. We told Tatsu-nii to tell you. I assumed that your boyfriend would let you know."

Kounosuke gave a slight blush and turned his head away. "Well, he came on a day where Tatsu-chan had to work. He's going to work until noon, so he'll be back then."

Torahiko nodded. "Well, I've gotta run and find him. We're meeting at Raimon, 10 o'clock! See ya, Kouno! Don't be late!" At that, the tiger took off running again, leaving Kounosuke to continue heading down the sidewalk.

When Torahiko started running again, a strong summers breeze came blowing, sending his ears back and moving pleasantly through his fur, but he didn't slow down to feel it. He ran faster as the road went into a slope, looking up and seeing the mid-morning sun over the trees.

It was shining bright, as it always was.