AUTHOR's NOTE: The song was originally played in guitar but let's just say that Eriol, dear Eriol, have a piano version of the piece. R&R! Thanks!

CHAPTER 1: Shine

It was an ordinary peaceful morning. The students were all in their class. The corridors were quiet. The teacher was already late fifteen minutes.

Two violet orbs scanned the common surroundings. Daidouji Tomoyo observed on her seat with a usual smile on her face. She loved ordinary days. They were now in high school but their ordinary day routine remained the same as it was when they were in elementary.

Tomoyo knew well enough what an ordinary morning would be.

Sakura would tell stories about her morning, infuriated by her brother calling her a monster. On the other side, Syaoran-kun would say something to Sakura that would make the girl smile to him and would make his face entirely red afterwards. Then, Yamazaki would suddenly enter the conversation with a story about ancient aliens and their connections to the Great Brittain, to which the cute couple would believe on. Right there, Chiharu would mediate and stop Yamazaki with a mallet from nowhere. Slowly, the conversation would somehow lead to Naoko's ghost stories and to how good Rika's culinary skills were.

And just like what she had predicted, the ordinary day routine went on before her.

Tomoyo watched her friends with satisfaction, fully pleased and contented sharing her opinion every now and then into the conversation.

It would go on as it was up until someone from the class reported, yelling, "Sensei's here!"

In a flash, the students sat on their respective seats and waited as the teacher entered the room and apologized.

"Apologies, class, this is just so sudden." He scratched the back of his head. The class wondered why. He continued, recovering, "I believe you have a new classmate."

The class went, 'Oh, there's a new student.'

The teacher called, gesturing towards the door, "Come here and introduce yourself..."

The expected new student stepped on the room.

Before she could even settle her own reaction, Tomoyo felt Sakura's jaw drop in surprise beside her and heard Syaoran and Yamazaki stand up from their seats.

The new student didn't have to introduce himself. Most of the class knew him back in elementary.

Syaoran yelled out in recognition, "YOU!" Then, Yamazaki shouted secondly, "Buddy!"

Next, the whole class went frenzied, "HIIRAGIZAWA-SAN!"

It wasn't an ordinary day, after all.

He sat behind her, just like before.

"Is this yours?" he asked in a low tone, when the students were all calmed down and when the teacher was currently writing on the board.

She turned her head to her right, sliding her vision to see the thing he was poking against her arm. It was a pen. She must have dropped it somehow that morning. She replied, "I believe it is." She took the pen from his hand and smiled, "Thank you, Hiiragizawa-kun."

He returned a smile and nodded courtly.

Then, she remembered she hadn't said a word to him about his return. She took the chance, "Welcome back, Hiiragizawa-kun."

"Thank you, Daidouji-san."

They were two perfect polite people.

Much to Sakura and Syaoran's relief, Hiiragizawa's return was not because of some trouble about the cards. They were all fine and the world was generally balanced and at peace. But – "Why?" Syaoran had once insistently asked. His simple reply was – "It seems better here, right?"

Hiiragizawa Eriol had changed, like everybody else in the group. He was taller, attractively lean, and matured. Still, his saccharine smile remained intact on his face. He was still the English gentleman with his midnight blue hair and indigo eyes.

Being academically genius and athletic, he became the center of attraction of Tomoeda High's female population. He gained a lot of people wanting to meet and know him. All the same, he remained with his old friends – chatting, laughing, having lunch together, telling lies with Yamazaki Takashi, and teasing Li Syaoran, his 'cute little descendant'. He stayed with his friends: Sakura, Syaoran, Takashi, Chiharu, Naoko, Rika, and yes, Daidouji.

To put it entirely, he was still their old friend.

Through Tomoyo's eyes, the daily routine had changed ever since Hiiragizawa entered their lives for the second time.

Sakura would tell stories about her morning, infuriated by her brother calling her a monster. On the other side, Syaoran-kun would say something to Sakura that would make the girl smile to him and would make his face entirely red afterwards. Next, Hiiragizawa-kun would leave a remark that would make the two turn the shade of tomatoes. Then, Yamazaki would suddenly enter the conversation with a story about ancient aliens and their connections to the Great Brittain, to which Hiiragizawa would agree and to which the cute couple would believe on. Right there, Chiharu would mediate and stop Yamazaki (only him) with a mallet from nowhere. Slowly, the conversation would somehow lead to Naoko's ghost stories and to how good Rika's culinary skills were.

Then, they would all laugh together.

It had been a year since he came back to Tomoeda.

Daidouji Tomoyo and Hiiragizawa Eriol remained friends, remained polite to each other, like old times.

Smile and talk. Usually, there were only smiles. Somehow, those gestures were enough for them and so, they rarely talk.

Theirs was more like a companionship. They would sometimes sit with their group and watch as observers, observing everyone. They would be satisfied with that. And then again, they would smile and (rarely) talk.

SAKURA. Syaoran. Chiharu. Takashi. Naoko. Rika. Hiiragizawa.

Hiiragizawa Eriol was a friend.

"…a friend of my friends…"

"…a friend beside me…"

"Tomoyo-chan…"

The dark-haired heiress withdrew her eyes from the lecture book and glanced at her best friend beside her seat. Sakura's face was almost on her desk, holding the book as a cover to avoid attention. Tomoyo smiled before leaning towards her desk as well. She whispered back, "What's that, Sakura-chan?" There was obvious concern in her friend's eyes.

Sakura pouted shortly, "Are you sure you're not going to the trip? Isn't it your – "

"I am fine," cut Tomoyo.

"This is three days," the cherry blossom emphasized, lifting her three fingers. I do not want you to be left alone on your day. I can always skip the trip and – "

"My, my, Sakura-chan, no," Tomoyo shook her head. "We can always celebrate after." She took a glance at the boy behind Sakura who was busy reading the chapter on his book. Syaoran had planned something for Sakura. He hadn't mentioned anything but Tomoyo knew it somehow. She didn't want to ruin his plan by causing Sakura skip the trip.

Tomoyo turned once again to her best friend, "Aren't you excited about it? You should not skip."

The cherry blossom ran her fingers to ruffle her short brown hair. "Ahhh! I hate this!" She sat up straight and looked over her history book, glaring at it as if it was something worth blaming for. "And there I was thinking that it was good for you to be a part of the student council!"

A loud cry was heard across the room, "KINOMOTO-SAN!"

"Tomoyo dear, I can't make it tonight. I am so sorry."

"It's okay, kaa-san."

"Really? Tomoyo…"

"It is really okay, kaa-san. Don't worry."

"I'm sorry."

The bus departed from the school premises at exactly seven o'clock in the morning. Tomoyo waved goodbye at them. At the back of the vehicle were Sakura and the others, waving back at her. Tomoyo specifically looked at the Chinese boy and gave him a thumbs-up. Syaoran tilted his head in question. She merely smiled sending him a message that she knew. Right there, the boy reddened and hid behind Yamazaki. Tomoyo couldn't help but laugh.

And then, they were out of sight.

After a minute of standing at the school gates, Tomoyo sighed. She wanted to 'capture the moment' on the trip by herself but she couldn't. Sending her 'people' to capture it was the only thing she could do.

Tomoyo hated it as well that there was an emergency issue for the upcoming festival that year and so, she had to stay behind to fix it. She had to do her part as the Vice President of the student council.

Of course, she was not alone. There was always the President.

"Let's start, Daidouji-san," he said, gesturing inside. "After you."

She gave him a small smile, "Thank you, Hiiragizawa-kun."

They went inside.

Tomoyo looked over the pages of the thick record book for the upcoming festival. Unwarily, her forehead contorted. She hated it being stuck inside the student council office while the others were on their three-day trip somewhere outside Tomoeda. And it was her…

Daidouji Tomoyo had grown up, yes, but she was still a human. 'Little things' bother her still. Alone. She hated being alone, hated being left behind. How come she ended up in the office with nothing but pile of papers and annoying numbers?

'On this day?!' Tomoyo almost crumple the page of the record book before her. Realizing that she was acting irrationally, she sighed deeply.

That was when Hiiragizawa, after a long silence, talked. "That's it. Let's go and take a rest for a while." She glanced up at him, surprised that he had said a thing. She almost forgot that, just like her, he was stuck in the office as well. He was leaning on his chair, while massaging his right wrist with his left hand.

She smiled politely, "No, I am not yet finished. Go ahead."

He countered a smile, "I am not yet done as well but it is getting boring in here, don't you think?"

'Boring' was not the right word. Maybe, the more appropriate word was 'irritating'.

They were busy. The two of them were incredibly busy with tons of papers filed on their tables. The sun was already up above the roof and they weren't still reaching half of their works for the day. Because of that, Tomoyo replied, "I'll stay here." She gave him an apologetic smile and gazed down to the records on her desk.

"Won't you have lunch?"

"I think I have bread inside my bag." She lied and maybe he would leave her then, and make her officially alone.

There was silence until he said, "Liar."

She stopped and slowly turned to look up at him, surprised. It was the first daring and less than polite remark she had ever heard from Hiiragizawa Eriol. "Excuse me?"

Hiiragizawa stood up from his chair and walked to her cubicle. Standing, he stared down at her with serious eyes. For a moment, she was intimidated. "Daidouji-san…" he called, a Cheshire cat smile forming on his face. "Let's go."

They were in the music room. He brought their lunch to the music room. She stayed and stood beside the closed door, wondering. Maybe, it was proper to ask. "Hiiragizawa-san, what are we doing here?" She was trying to be polite nevertheless. "We are not allowed to eat here."

Tomoyo watched the powerful mage walk across the room in silence, seemingly ignoring her presence. She waited until he sat down before the piano and put his fingers on the keys.

'Oh...' He was about to play. Tomoyo prepared herself to listen to the piece.

Then, he played with his long and slim fingers on black and white keys. His hands were transferring from one place to another, creating music with an upbeat tune. His face was glowing despite of the darkened room which was only being lightened by the afternoon sun entering through the glass wall. His glasses were glimmering against the small light, hiding his indigo eyes from her view. All the same, Tomoyo knew that Hiiragizawa was enjoying what he was doing. She could tell well enough that his heart was into the piece he was playing. There was passion in him. It shone brightly on his face.

The tune was somehow familiar to her. And, where did she hear that? It was an old song – that she was certain.

Tomoyo waited until Hiiragizawa played the last part of the song, ending it with a single key. She applauded right after; giving him an honest smile that she had enjoyed the piece and that somehow he had helped on lightening up her mood. "Amazing, Hiiragizawa-kun!" she praised and he bowed from his seat, smiling at her. Then, she inquired, "What's the name of the song?"

Hiiragizawa's smile widened up. It was different though. It was sincere, Tomoyo noticed. He replied, "The Birthday Song, Daidouji-san."

Hearing that, Tomoyo froze up on the spot, eyes widened. 'Oh…'

Hiiragizawa Eriol remembered. Tomoyo had someone with her who knew – had someone presently with her, and not outside Tomoeda or outside Japan, who really knew.

He greeted formally, "Happy birthday, Daidouji-san." She was speechless. He laughed shortly, "What? Did you actually think I do not know? Daidouji-san," he paused to close the lid of the piano, "I am a friend. Of course, I remember."

On that day, Hiiragizawa Eriol made her feel lighter and peaceful.

SAKURA. Syaoran. Hiiragizawa. Chiharu. Takashi. Naoko. Rika.

Hiiragizawa Eriol was a friend.

…a close good friend…

NOTES:

The Birthday Song by Don McLean (1972)