Ichigo looked up, tears still streaming down her face. There a dark-brown haired boy looked at her from behind the counter, tinges of worry in his silvery-light blue eyes. "Who are you?" he said as Ichigo looked at him, dumbstruck.

"Ah... Makoto Ich- !" Ichigo covered her mouth frantically. "Huh?"the boy said. "Sorry I didn't hear you. Ahaha... I must be going deaf." he said with an embarassed smile. "Ichigo... Amano Ichigo."

"Hmmm... That's cute. I'm Sowari Masato. Nice to meet you! By the way, why are you in Akemi Ramen?" Masato asked, looking at her.

"My uh... boyfriend got mad at me again." she mumbled, trying not to cry as she spoke.

"Ah." Masato said quietly as if he understood she didn't want to talk about it. "It's ok. Here, have this. It's on the house." Masato said with a grin as he slid a cup of hot chocolate and a plate of shortbread cookies her way.

"It's nothing special though. It's just the remains of yesterdays mock bakery event." Masato said as he put his hand behind his head.

Ichigos tears had begun to dry as she smiled. "Uh... Thanks." As she ate them she began to feel happier. "So are you busy tonight?" Masato said, looking at her eagerly.

"This guy cheered me up. I'll just go with him to make it up to him." she said in her mind. She smiled. "Nope."

And that was how it all started.