"Oh, you can't be serious!" the annoying voice grumbled. I was getting irritated now.

"Keigo, I'm not going to the mall with you guys tonight. I'm not interested in picking up chicks. That's just like you to be like a stalker." I said, getting up from my desk and grabbing my book bag.

"Dude, I'm not a stalker!" Keigo whined. "That was just one girl, and she stole my hat!" He grabbed the edge of my uniform as I was walking off.

SLAM! I had picked him up, flipped him over my shoulder, and slammed him onto the ground. As I walked towards the classroom door I heard him whimper behind me, "You're so mean, Ichigoooo..."

I walked out of the classroom and down the hall. As I was turning the corner I brushed into Tatsuki, my childhood friend.

"Oh! Ichigo! Can you do me a favor?" She took her bag off her shoulder and handed it to me. "I've got karate practice, so can you run my bag to my house? I'm afraid I'll forget it again if I bring it with me."

"Sure," I slung the bag over my shoulder. It was a little heavier than I thought.

"Thanks, Ichigo!" she said as she ran down the hall. I heard a teacher scold her for running in the halls. I'm guessing she's late.

Crowds of people pushed their way out of the school entrance. I hung back until it had died down a little. I overheard people's conversations about hanging out this weekend and drama about break-ups, among other things. Standing just outside the school was Orihime. She turned and noticed me. I waved at her and she gave me a big smile. She walked over towards me, slightly swinging her bag at her side.

"Hi Ichigo!" she said, cheerfully.

"Hi Orihime, are you waiting for someone?" I asked.

"Oh, uh, no. I'm just looking at the sky. It's such a nice day, isn't it?" She closed her eyes and lifted her head to the sky. I looked up too. The sun was starting to set and the sky was turning orange.

"It is nice." For some reason I felt a wave of sadness rush over me. I shook it off and turned towards Orihime.

"Huh?" She glanced to my shoulder which had Tatsuki's bag on it. "Oh! That's Tatsuki's bag, right?"

"Yeah, she wanted me to drop it off at her house."

"I could drop it off if you want me to," Orihime said. I shook my head.
"No, you should get home before it gets too late."

Her face blushed slightly. "O-okay. See you later, Ichigo." She walked off. I thought I saw her hit herself on the head but I wasn't sure.

I made my way to Tatsuki's house.

"Ah, no. Sorry, I can't stay for dinner." I said nervously.

"Oh, well you should definitely come by sometime. We haven't seen you since you were this tall." Tatsuki's mother put her hand out about 2 feet of the ground. I don't think it's been that long.

"Okay, I will ma'm." I said, walking off the porch.

"Be careful on your way home, dear!" she shouted behind me. I sighed slightly.

It was almost dark. She had gone into a full conversation about how much she missed seeing me and that I'd grown to be so tall and- Really, I'm not even sure what she was talking about. I knew I had to get home soon or dad might think I've got a girlfriend now or something. I didn't feel like arguing with him tonight. I've felt really tired all day. Maybe I'm coming down with a cold or something.

I walked next to the river, looking out at the water. It reflected the sunset, sparkling as the light hit it at different angles. I almost hated how serene it looked.

"It didn't look like this that day." I sighed. Suddenly, I heard twigs breaking. I looked back at the trees behind me. Nothing was there. I walked over and peered inside the small forest. I heard footsteps in the distance. They were coming closer at high speed, like someone was really booking it. Then I saw what looked to be a person for an instant before the impact.

WHAM. The force threw me back. I felt my head hit the ground, hard. It knocked the breath out of me. I groaned as I grabbed my head. I felt a headache starting.

I sat up and looked for my bag. It was right next to me. Thankfully it hadn't flown out of my hands and went flying into the river or something. "What the hell was that?" I said, looking across from me.

A girl was sitting there, looking back at me. She looked startled for a moment before she turned away. What? Was I bleeding? I wouldn't be surprised considering how fast she was running. I noticed a bit of blood on her cheek. "Are you okay?" I said, getting up and heading over to her. I put my hand out to help her up.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine," she said, quietly. She placed her hand in mine. It was cold, but soft. I strengthened my grip a little as I pulled her up to her feet. She looked up at me.

Her hair was windswept and her cheeks and nose were red from the cold. I'm sure running like that wasn't helping either.

"Ah, that's good. You must've been in some hurry to be running that fast." I said. My thought's drifted to that cut on her cheek. I wonder how she got it.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, I was just trying to get home before dark." She rubbed the back of her head. Maybe she had hit it too.

"Oh, so you live close by?" I continued the conversation. I hadn't seen her around here. Perhaps she'd just moved here.

She nodded. "Would you want me to walk you home?" Now I felt like a stalker.

She appeared shocked by my question. "Uh, um, no," she said hesitantly. "I'll be okay, don't worry about it. Thanks for the offer, though!" She said before she turned and walked off.

Great. As if my appearance wasn't intimidating enough, now I sound creepy. I mean, it wasn't like I was as creepy as Keigo. And I wasn't trying to ask her out. I legitimately wanted to make sure she got home safe.

I watched her walk for a bit before turning back towards home.
"I'm such an idiot." I murmured.

I walked a few feet before I stopped. Something was lying on the road. It was a map. Guess I'll throw this away when I get home, I thought, sticking it in my book bag.

I opened the door and was greeted by Yuzu who was cooking dinner. I could faintly smell curry.

"We're having curry and rice for dinner." Yuzu said, moving around the kitchen grabbing spices and other ingredients.

"Sorry, Yuzu. I'm not hungry." I apologized and headed for my room.

"Huh? No way! You have to eat supper!" she scolded. "It's not healthy to skip meals!"

"I might come down and grab some later, okay?" I said, feeling the headache increase slightly. I heard Yuzu sigh as I climbed the stairs up to my room.

I pushed my door open and threw my book bag on my bed. I face-planted right next to it. The pounding in my head was getting worse. I laid on the bed properly and put my feet up on my bag.

I wonder if that girl made it home okay. Not that this town was all that dangerous, it still had its fair share of crooks lurking around. I'm sure she'd be fine if she was being careful. I chuckled. I'm not sure if I could label her as a careful person. She seems quite clumsy if you ask me.

Thinking back on it, she seemed a little out of place here. And she looked a little lost, too. Wait. I rose up and opened by book bag. I felt around until I found that map from earlier. Was this hers?

I looked at it up close and noticed a red circle around the gas station down the street, as well as... a circle around our house!

Before I had much time to think about it I heard my father yelling my name from below.

"WHAT?" I yelled back. My head pounded in response. I winced.

"Get down here and greet our guest!"

Guest? Were we expecting someone? No one had told me about it. I got up and made my way downstairs.

"What are you talking-" I stopped when I reached the living room. Standing in the kitchen was the girl from earlier, eyeing me curiously before realization hit.

"I-it's you!" I managed to choke out, despite my shock. What was she doing here?

"You two know each other?" Dad said, looking at me curiously. Oh no.

"So she is his girlfriend." Karin smirked, leaving the room.