Chapter 3

Author's Notes: This is the third chapter of my second fic, and I feel that I am getting the hang of this. The stories are getting written, and the quality is staying good. I hope you all enjoy my work, and that I can keep it up. This chapter will have a bit of focus on romance, so expect some…surprises to come up and balance things out. This is, after all, Higurashi. Note that the solution of this fic will likely differ from that given in the original work. Just like the original Higurashi, there is no easy answer. Please enjoy. Read and rate if you like it. Disclaimer: I do not own Higurashi.

That night, sleep was nothing but wishful thinking. With Rena out of sight, his thoughts returned to her eerie change that afternoon. The funny thing was that he wasn't afraid in the least. He was worried about her. The thoughts that kept him awake were that something was wrong, or that she was in trouble. He wanted to help her. He had to help her. There was nothing else for it. He made a vow then and there. He would protect Rena Ryugu with everything he had. Having made his resolution, he found sleep, if only for a few hours. He needed any rest her could get to prepare for tomorrow.

Despite his late night, the excitement woke Keiichi up early in the morning. Today was the day. He tried to get back to sleep. After all, sleeping in was what the weekend was for. No reason to be up at the crack of dawn when you had no school. The thought struck him just then. Rena was always up early, even on weekends. Maybe he should head out and try to find her. At least that way he'd have more time to spend with her. He made up his mind and rolled out of his futon, stretching tiredly.

Keiichi mad a bowl of rice and shouted to his mom that he was going out, and within minutes he was walking through the predawn gloom to where Rena had he usually met. He couldn't quite make out whether or not she was there. He kept walking towards the stop, but soon his eyes were caught by something else. It was the sunrise, and when he caught a glimpse, he realized at that instant that this was his first time seeing it. It painted the sky in reds, oranges and purples, and bathed the land in newborn light. He wasn't sure how long he stared at it, but it must have been quite a while.

Suddenly, a hand came down on his shoulder. He virtually jumped out of his skin, but soon realized that it was just Rena. She was in a pretty white dress and wore her favorite smile. Keiichi quickly decided that the sunset was the second most beautiful thing in Hinamizawa. "Hello Keiichi-kun! You found Rena's favorite thing in the village!" So early in the day, and already she was so excited. He couldn't wait for the rest of the day.

Keiichi tried to play cool. " Yeah, its pretty, I guess." He knew she could see through him by the smile of his face. He didn't try to hide it. The day was shaping up nicely, and he couldn't wait to see what else happened next.

"Well, Rena thinks it's beautiful! And thank you for waiting for me! I knew you would, you would!" She reached out and grabbed his hand without warning, and in an instant he was being dragged along the main road. He supposed it was only natural. Rena was being her normal, hyper self. He was relieved by that. "Hurry up, Keiichi-kun! We have a lot to see today, today!"

She was right about that. In just a few hours, Keiichi had been to most everywhere in the town. He had seen the road that lead to Okinomiya, the nearest large town, and he had seen the walking paths through the nearby woods. He saw the town square, where he heard a festival would be held in just a week, and by noon he had come to the Furude Shrine, where Rika and Satoko lived. He had to agree when Rena said that the view from here was beautiful. The decided to stop here for a bit, and Keiichi sat down, happy to give his legs a rest.

"So are you having fun, Keiichi kun?" she asked while unpacking a pair of bento boxes she had made. " I made lunch for us, for us. I hope you like it." She took a tablecloth out of the bag she'd been carrying, and laid it out between them.

To say he'd enjoyed himself was an understatement. He'd had a blast all day. "Of course I'm having fun. With you here, how could I not? And your food is always delicious. I can't wait to try it." With that he dug in to the picnic. It was perfectly cooked, like Rena always made. "Where did you learn to cook like this, anyway."

"Rena taught herself. I'm glad you like it Keiichi. I'm glad you came with me today Keiichi-kun. I'm always happy when you're around." Her smile, and her words, are enough to make him blush. This was quite the turn around for them.

"Umm, what makes you say that. I'm not that great." Now he knew how Rena felt all the time. He cold feel the heat in his face. " I mean, I'm always making fun of you, and I always make you wait for me."

"You waited for me today, and I know you're just having fun. And why why are you blushing, Keiichi-kun? Did I say something wrong?" She immediately becomes self-conscious.

"Not not at all. I'm just… Well, I've never been on a date before." As soon as he'd said it, his cheeks became even redder. " I guess I'm just nervous I guess." He looks directly into his lap, too embarrassed to look up at her.

"Well I still had fun, Keiichi-kun, and I hope you did too." She sounded very matter of fact, for a moment, but then seems to lose her nerve. "In…in fact, I had a question for you."

"What's that, Rena? Ask away. I told you before I wouldn't laugh at you." He had an idea where this was going."

"Well, the cotton drifting festival is coming up, and A few club members can't go this year. Rena wants to go, but not alone. I was wondering if maybe you could take me. Like another day. Maybe as my…" she trailed off, but Keiichi could fill in the blanks.

"Of course I'll take you, Rena. I would be happy to. And as for the other part, Of course I'll be your boyfriend." Rena seems to melt for a moment, but the lets out an excited squeal and jumps up to hug him. For the first time in his life, Keiichi Maebara has a girlfriend. It was too bad that it couldn't last.