One whole week.

She'd been out one whole week.

As she walked the distance to school she could feel a sneeze coming on. Covering her nose she gave a sneeze and a few people around stared and slowly began to move from her. She pulled a handkerchief out and rubbed at her nose. It had snuck up on her quickly. A summer cold was going around her class and she was the last to get it. She thought she'd been safe and took care of it but come Monday morning she couldn't get out of bed.

"Morning Koko-chan," Koko-chan looked up and her eyes widened a bit. Haruka and his tall green eyed friend,she'd started calling him Mesu-San. Japanese for dear.

"Koko-chan..." She said as she realized she still held her handkerchief to her nose. Stuffing it away into her bag she blushed as she walked beside the boys to school .

"Are you feeling better? Haven't seen much of you this week," He said as he looked ahead. Haruka glanced at her then let his eyes focus back on the walk up to the school. Koko blushed as she realized his words. He'd been looking for her.

"Yes...much better," She started as she rubbed a hand along her arm.

"Summer cold...horrible one," She looked to Mesu-san and he gave her one of his doe smiles before looking back nodding.

"Good to hear," Koko nodded back looking down, letting her black bangs cover her eyes. She hoped she was looking down enough to hide the blush that covered her cheeks. In all the time they'd talked or been close to each other. This was the most. She gave herself a small smile.

'Cute boy, talking to me. Nothing could get in the way of me today,' She thought as she gave a small girlish chuckle. Finally they came to changing shoes and the boys were in and out quick, as Koko was lost in thought. A slight tug came to her shoulder and she turned to see green eyes smiling.

"See you later, take it easy. You may have a fever Koko-chan," He said waving bye and joining Haruka. As soon as Mesu was gone, Koko reached her hand up to lay it against her forehead. She was cool to the touch and then she realized.

'Omg...I'm blushing like an idiot,' She thought as she made her way to class.

~Later that day-The swim club~

Haruka watched his friend. Makoto was leading the training practice having given Haruka his regimen. Haruka watched as his best friend seemed to be in a better mood then yesterday. He tried to piece together what was new that made his friend cheer up. But his mind couldn't seem to make the connection. Haruka shrugged and pulled his goggles on jumping in without a thought on the problem again.

Makoto Tachibana looked over his school mates and nodded to Gou that he would be jumping in as well. As he readied himself, her felt a goofy grin spread on his face. Catching himself quickly, he patted at his cheeks as he jumped in. He let the water surround him and opened his eyes to see the others starting there laps. Makoto broke the surface and readied himself for his lap.

Makoto's thoughts had little to do with swimming at the moment.

'Wonder if she went home,' He thought as he began his backstroke. At each stroke his thoughts seemed to contain her. He didn't know what it was about the black haired girl. But Makoto found he couldn't help but tease or talk to her.

'She didn't look so good,' He thought as he made his turn. He stared up at the clear sky and a grin crossed his lips.

'Just like hers,' He stopped at the end and shook his head. Gou came over a frown on her face.

"Did you get a cramp Makoto senpai? Your time was really off," She asked concerned as she showed him the stop watch. He pulled his glasses up and gave her a smile.

"No, I'm fine Gou-Chan. Just getting warmed up," He said pulling them down and getting ready for the next lap.

'I wonder what she'll wear tomorrow,' He thought as he pushed off and picked up speed.

~That night~

Koko pulled her handkerchief out and wiped at her nose.

"Koko...what could Koko be?" She asked allowed as she put it down and looked over to her bed. Her uniform was laid out and her bag as well. She looked over everything and nothing stood out to her.

"Koko...koko...koko..."She mumbled out as she turned back to homework. She picked up her pencil and drummed it on the table before looking at the one thing she'd been using all day.

The handkerchief was pale yellow. It was lined with a pale blue on the edges. But embroidered on one corner was a smiling pink heart. Koko's eyes looked over it and her heart gave a small beat. His voice called out to her again in her mind and the smile turned into a full blown grin.

"Koko...Kokoro-chan," She giggled. Kokoro/heart was her nick name for today and she found that it was a sweet gesture.

"You got me Doe eyes...you may just have my heart..." She chuckled as she sneezed hard and gave a groan.
~