CHAPTER 4: A Sad End to a Beautiful Day.
Takeru touched the spot where on his left cheek where, Hikari had kissed him. He was startled hearing Hikari saying this. He could not believe what he was hearing. He didn't even know anything about her neither did she know anything about him and here she was, telling everyone that he was her boyfriend. Now losing his temper, he tried to remove his hand out of Hikari's but, she had grasped it very tightly and was not ready to leave it. He turned in her direction and glared at her. Shrinking under his glare, and standing in the same position for about a minute, Hikari regained her confidence, then turning to look towards Ryan, she wanted to see what his reaction was. It was as she had expected.
Ryan's mouth was hanging open after he heard Hikari say that Takeru was her boyfriend. Then coming to his senses, he bellowed at the top of his voice. "I know, you are lying to me. This boy cannot be anyone's boyfriend. I know you are telling this so that you can get rid of me, but remember one thing, You slapped Ryan Smith and no-one goes without getting punishment for going against me. I promise you, that you will become my girlfriend, either by your own will, or I will make you mine forcibly." saying this, he turned on his heel and left the class without even glancing back once. While he was going out, a boy with reddish brown strands of hair called out to him, "Ryan, where are you going? today is our first day at the University. If you miss your first class of any subject, then you might get into serious trouble."
"I, don't care." Ryan answered back." If the teacher asks about me, then tell him/her that I am ill and would not be able to attend the class.
"But, listen to me..." Ryan silenced him with his hand. Then giving Hikari and Takeru one last glare of pure hatred, he walked out of the classroom and banged the door shut very loudly.
All the students stood silent for sometime, They were not sure about what they had seen just now was real or a dream. All of them were looking towards the door through which Ryan had just walked out. Suddenly the bell rang startling them all. Hearing the bell, they all started to occupy the places where they were going to sit, All the seats got occupied and they waited for the teacher to show up. Hikari and Takeru were still standing at the same place where the incident had happened a few minutes ago. Takeru was glaring down at Hikari who was averting his gaze by hanging her head down. Eventhough, she knew that what she had done was wrong and that she was still holding his hand very tightly, she did not feel guilty about it. Holding Takeru's warm hand in her's, gave her the feeling of protection which she had never felt by anyone else before. It gave her the feeling that as long as she had him by her side, she could tolerate anything the world threw at her. She herself was confused that why she was feeling in this way. As a result of this, she was holding his hand tightly and was not ready to leave it, eventhough Takeru was wriggling at her hand though, with not much force.
"Will you leave my hand?" Takeru asked Hikari in a voice full of anger.
"Uh...Oh..."was her only reply as she gave.
Now getting really furious, Takeru shoved her aside and freed his hand out of her's but, while he was doing this, suddenly Hikari lost her footing because of the force and fell down in his arms.
Both of them stared into each other's eyes. The other students were gazing at them. Some boys were whistling, the girls were shouting in delight, Other girls were enving Hikari to be in such a good looking boy's hands. But they showed no signs of acknowledging their presence. They were lost in each other's eyes. Then the door slowly opened and the French teacher entered the class. All the students at once became quiet. The teacher noticing Takeru and Hikari's position, coughed but no response. Then going near them, she loudly exclaimed,"If you both love birds have finished your romance, could you please occupy your seats!"
This made Takeru and Hikari to come out of their thoughts. Then understanding in which position, she was, Hikari stood still and was surprised to see the whole class staring at them. She then saw the teacher and looking into her eyes, she felt embarrased, then she turned her head down with cheeks blushing red. Takeru showed no emotion on his face. He just looked blankly over the teacher's face.
"So may you please grant me the pleasure of taking your seats?
Takeru slowly walked to the last bench near the window which was the only bench vacant in the class and sat on it. Hikari looked here and there but seeing no vacant bench, Then she saw that the only seat empty was beside Takeru. She stood rooted to the spot, debating whether she should go and sit near him or not! What if he didn't like her sitting near him? Would he be angry at her? While she was thinking about the fix she had fallen into, the teacher losing her patience rounded on her.
"Miss, whatever your name is, please take a seat near the boy on the last bench. As it is you have delayed the class. Go and sit with him or else leave the class."
Hikari glanced at Takeru. She saw that he was looking out of the window and was not paying any attention to the conversation going on between the teacher and her. She stood there staring at him.
"Are you going and sitting there, or are you leaving the class? The teacher asked.
Hikari gulped ad started walking to the seat where Takeru was sitting, when she reached there, he turned his attention to stare at her and spoke with pure hatred in his voice," Why are you here, just go away from me?
"I..." Hikari started but was interrupted by the teacher,"She is there, because I told her to go and sit over there as, there is no other bench vacant in the class. Ms. will you please sit down!"
Slowly Hikari sat beside Takeru. She turned to face him but, he once again turned to look out of the window. The teacher started taking roll calls. When she came to Ryan Smith's name, his friend informed her that he was not feeling well so, he will not be there in the class today, she then proceeded to the other children's name. When all the students declared themselves present, she started with the class. French was quite an interesting subject for Hikari. She had studied French in her High School days and had liked the subject, but today in the first class, she was not attentive as her thoughts were diverted to the boy who was sitting beside her. She recalled all the events from the morning in which Takeru was present . How they had fallen over each other in the Corridor, how she had waited for him to collect his things in the class, how she had declared in front of the whole class that he was her boyfriend, how she had fallen in his arms, and had got lost in his blue eyes, how she felt protected, when he was near her. She didn't know what this feeling was, but decided to meet Yamato during lunch and know more about Takeru. Then realising that Takeru was sitting beside her, she came out of her thoughts and turned to look at him once more. This time, even he was looking at her, but as she turned in his direction he began to turn away and look out of the window again. While he was doing this, for a brief moment, their eyes met and they gazed in each other's eyes. Hikari got lost in his beautiful blue eyes and kept on staring in them. But her reviere was broken when the bell rang signalling the lunch break. Takeru broke the eye contact and turned to look in the opposite direction. As the class was over, the teacher gave them their homework which they had to submit the next day and gathering her things, left the class. The students all filed out of the class for lunch. Now only Hikari and Takeru were left and there was an awkward silence between them. Then Takeru packed all his belongins in his bag and stood up to leave. But Hikari was sitting in his way so, forgetting the serene moment which had shared sometime ago, he shouted at her in a rough voice.
"What are thinking about you idiot? You are blocking my way. Just get up so that I can go and have my lunch."
"Huh"
"I said get up, I want to go for my lunch."
"Oh, I am so sorry." saying this, Hikari got up to let him leave the class. Takeru moved out without turning back to look at her and left the class. Hikari gathered all the books remaining on the table and stuffed them in the back of her bag where she was keeping the books of the subjects which they had finished with. Then straping the bag on her shoulders, she slowly moved out in the Corridor closing the door behind her and started walking to the Canteen for lunch. Though they had an hour of lunch, she felt that she needed to go fast and get finished with it.
"You forgot about me!" A voice from behind her startled Hikari. She stopped her walk and turned to find Yolei walking in her direction. Hikari smiled seeing her and Yolei returned the smile warmly. Together, they started walking to the Canteen.
"How was your class? Hikari enquired.
"It was superb, I enjoyed every minute of it. The teacher was really fantastic. She explained every concept in a really good manner. How was your's?
"It was fine. A boy named Ryan Smith, tried to flirt with me, but when I refused to pay any heed, he forcibly tried make me his girlfriend. He caught hold of my hand and when I tried to remove it from his grasp, I mistakely slapped him." Hikari informed her
"You slapped Ryan Smith on your first day in the University! Wow Hikari you must be really strong to slap a boy like him. He was with us in Tokyo High School. He was the boy for whom, each and every girl was crazy and wanted him as a boyfriend in the High School, and he wanted you as a girlfriend, and you just rejected him. You have a lot of guts Hikari. No-one has ever said no to him, he was the most popular boy and never had asked a girl out on his own but, when he asked you you slapped him, I mean wow!" Yolei exclaimed her face turning red by speaking so fast in one breath.
"Calm down Yolei, I told you, it was just a mistake, I had not intended to hit him. It was just a mistake and I apologized to him." Hikari replied.
"Did he get angry at you? No girl has ever said no to him but you just slapped him!"
"Yes, he got really angry and was about to hit me back but, Takeru saved me from his wrath. He stopped his hand and almost crushed his bones."Hikari replied replaying the scene in her mind.
"What? that Takeru saved you! What was Ryan's reaction at this, Didn't he get engaged in a fight with Takeru for stopping him. No-one has ever done a thing like that before."
"No, he did not get in a fight with Takeru. He just asked who he was, and suddenly an idea came to my mind, and in order to finish the matter forever, I announced in front of the whole class that Takeru was my boyfriend and kissing him on his cheek, I linked my hands with him."
"What? you did all this, and Ryan accepted it without any suspicion, and Takeru also was cool about it. He didn't say anything about the matter?" Yolei asked
At this, Hikari's face turned red. She replied," I don't think, Ryan believed it, because before leaving the class, he shouted that whatever will happen, he would make me his girlfriend by hook or by crook. And, Takeru was also not pleased, after Ryan left the class, he too shouted at me about me spreading lies that he was my boyfriend."
"You need to be careful Hikari of what you say about to these boys. You also need to keep an eye out for Ryan because, as far as I know, he can be really dangerous and for getting his revenge he can go upto any limit." Yolei warned Hikari.
"Really, did I make a great mistake by getting involved with Ryan? will he try to harm me?" She asked shivering fearfully.
"Don't worry, I am with you, I will also keep a look out for him, and if he tries to harm you, we will fight with him together." Hearing this, Hikari was really relieved. She hugged Yolei.
"Thank you." She said cheerfully. Yolei returned the hug.
"What are friends for and you don't need to thank your friends." Then she decided to pull Hikari's leg,"By the way Congratulations for doing that which no girl in Tokyo think of and for getting Takeru as a boyfriend, though it is not a very good choice, because he is an angry young man whom you could not handle. But I am warning you, think about it before you get your heart broken into pieces and then come running to me for help." Yolei teased her.
"Yolei! Hikari exclaimed."I told you that I had to make him my boyfriend in order to get rid of Ryan, he is not really my boyfriend and can never be."
"You never know. By the way, come on we need to move fast or else the lunch break will get over and we would not get any food to eat. Jenifer, Ken and Daisuke must have saved seats for us and would be thinking why we are getting late. So buck up."
They started running to the Canteen laughing and talking. When they reached inside, they saw a huge line on the counter for taking eatables. They groaned at the prospect of standing in the line to get their food. But, their problem was solved by a familiar voice calling them.
"Yolei, Hikari over here." Ken called from a corner table where, he was sitting with Jenifer and Daisuke. They turned to face them and waved at them, then they went over to the table where they were sitting. As soon as they reached the table, Daisuke blushed deep red on seeing Hikari, then regaining his composure, he got up and pulled out the chair for Hikari to sit beside him. But instead of her, Yolei sat on the chair. Daisuke's face turned red with anger. Seeing this, Ken, Jenifer and Hikari winked at each other and Yolei grinned to herself.
"Get up! I had pulled the chair out for Hikari to sit on it not you, so let Hikari sit on the chair! Daisuke exclaimed. Seeing him shouting in this way, the students sitting near their table stared at him. Feeling their gazes, he lowered his voice and turned his head down in embarrasement.
"Hikari, do you have any problem if I sit here? If you have a problem, I could get and exchange places." Saying this, she started to get up but Hikari stopped her." No Yolei, I have no problem with you sitting there. I will sit beside Jenifer." Hearing this Daisuke's face fell and Jenifer seeing his discomfort, tried to change the topic
"By the way how was your class? she asked.
"Mine was very good and Hikari's was fine too. Atleast, I did not slap a boy and make a new boyfriend as she has done." Yolei replied.
Hearing this, Hikari felt her face reddening with a blush creeping slowly on her cheeks. She picked up a tissue paper and threw it on Yolei who just giggled with her hand over her mouth.
"What, you slapped a boy?" asked Jenifer shocked.
"You made a new boyfriend!" exclaimed Ken.
"Who is the boy who forced you to become his girlfriend? tell me his name. I will break both of his legs." almost shouted Daisuke, his eyes popping in their sockets.
Hikari felt like getting buried down the earth. Once again she felt really embarrased and glared at Yolei who inturn laughed very loudly.
"Look guys, it is true that I slapped Ryan, but it was just a mistake, and about the boyfriend case, I had to make up a story in order to get rid of him. Do you understand?" Hikari pleaded.
"Is Ryan, Ryan Smith?" Jenifer asked.
"Yes."Hikari replied.
"You mean to say, you slapped Ryan Smith, who was the most popular boy in the Tokyo High School in our years, and for whom all the girls were crazy, and that too because he just asked you to become his girlfriend!" exclaimed Ken
"Look here guys, I didn't slap him on purpose or just because he asked me to become his girlfriend. He forcibly caught hold of my hand and when I tried to remove it from his grasp, my hand accidently came in contact with his cheek and he got slapped." Hikari made clear
"That boy tried to force my girl into becoming his girlfriend! I will kill him when I get hold of him." exclaimed Daisuke getting up from his chair and was about to go and threaten Ryan, when Yolei put her toe in between his legs and he fell down face first on the floor. All the students in the Canteen saw this scene and started laughing at Daisuke. Daisuke furious stood up and glared at Yolei who tried to stifle her own laughter but failed miserably.
"Why did you do this? How dare you put your toe and make me fall! He raged.
"Just keep your big mouth shut Daisuke. Someone needed to knock some sense into your dense head. If you would have gone to beat Ryan, we would have had to deliver your broken body parts at your house because, Ryan and his gang would have beaten you to a pulp." Yolei justified.
"You, What do you think of yourself? Do you think that you are the sharpest of all, to teach me? I..."
"Calm down Daisuke and take your seat." This time it was Jenifer who intervened.
"Why do you always tell me calm down, Yolei always starts our fights and then also I am told to keep quiet." Daisuke exclaimed getting angry.
"Now I think I will have to call your mother and tell her..."
"Okay, I am sitting quiet now but, I am not going to leave that Smith this easy, he tried to take a chance on my girl and I will punish him." Daisuke informed.
"Now, look here Daisuke, You don't have any need to deal with Ryan, it is my problem. And secondly, stop calling me your girl because I am not your girl. I don't even know you, we've just met in the morning and I will not tolerate you interfering in my life again do you understand! Hikari scolded him in one breath.
"But I thought that you liked me." exclaimed Daisuke hurt
"I am sorry Daisuke, but you need to understand that we can just be friends Daisuke and nothing more than that. I can never imagine you as my boyfriend." Hikari replied.
Hearing this Daisuke's face fell down and seeing this Jenifer once again changed the subject." I think the food we had ordered must be ready, we should go and get it. Hikari and Yolei you sit here we three will go and get the trays." saying this she got up and was going to the counter when Daisuke stopped her.
"You sit here with Hikari and Yolei. I and Ken will bring the trays so Jenifer giving him a smile sat down. Daisuke managed to return a small smile and he and Ken went to bring the trays of food.
"By the way, Jenifer what have you ordered for the lunch?" Yolei questioned.
"Rice balls, Chicken stew and vegetable sushi with tomato sauce and orange juice." Jenifer answered." Is it okay with you Hikari, we all like it and we didn't know what you like so we ordered it for you too." she questioned.
"Absolutely, even I like rice balls and vegetable sushi." Hikari replied smiling.
"I had wanted to ask you a question for a ong time but knowing that Daisuke would get upset, I didn't ask it in front of him but, now as he is not here, could you tell me who was the boy, whom you made your fake boyfriend?" Jenifer enquired inquisitively.
Hearing this, At first Hikari blushed then checking that whether anyone was evesdropping and making sure that no one was hearing their conversation she replied,"Takeru."
"Who is this Takeru?" Jenifer asked.
"He was..."
"The boy who was punished in the English literature class."Yolei intervened Hikari. Jenifer's eyes came popping out of their holes.
"What, and he accepted it without doing anything rough? she asked.
"Not actually, he shouted at me with as much contempt as he could use and pretended that I was not there the whole class, eventhough I was sitting beside him for the whole class." Hikari answered.
"You didn't tell me that you sat beside him the whole class." Yolei questioned.
"I forgot to mention it. I was forced to sit beside him because the whole class was full with students and there was no other seat vacant in the class." Hikari answered.
"Did you like sitting beside your boyfriend?" Jenifer teased winking to Yolei.
"Jenifer you know that in order to get rid of that Ryan, I made him my boyfriend. I had to sit beside him because there was no other bench vacant in the class so, there is no question of me liking it or not."Hikari answered. While she answered this question, she looked all round the canteen to spot Takeru. She saw him sitting on a table which was set in the corner which was furthest from the other tables. He was sitting alone and eating his lunch very quietly. She continued to stare at him forgetting about Jenifer and Yolei sitting with her.
Jenifer noticing Hikari staring at someone turned to see whom she was looking at. She saw her looking at Takeru without blinking and started giggling. When Yolei raised her eyebrows at her sudden laughter, she messaged her in signs about her laughter. Yolei, followed her directions and saw Hikari staring at Takeru. Seeing this, she too tried to stifle her laughter. Hikari saw them both laughing silently. When she asked them the reason of the sudden laughter, they both burst out laughing loudly and pointed towards Takeru. Hikari turned red. She was about to explain herself when she saw Ken and Daisuke coming to their table with trays of food. She nudged them both in the ribs which made them shut up and look at her. Then she pointed towards Ken and Daisuke and both of them stopped laughing and sat straight.
Ken and Daisuke at last reached the table and gave them one tray of food each.
"Thanks Ken, Thanks Daisuke." Hikari said smiling. Ken smiled back. Seeing Hikari smile, Daisuke's face brightened and he returned the smile cheerfully, coming back to his original nature and leaving the sulleness.
They all started eating their lunch. According to Hikari it tasted really good. Daisuke just gulped his lunch down in five minutes and then sat with his hands behind his head and waited for the others to finish their lunch.
Hikari while eating her lunch made sure that noone on her table was looking in her direction and once again turned her attention on the table where Takeru was sitting but, now he was not there. She scanned the whole canteen but did not see him anywhere. Then suddenly a voice behind her startled her.
"Looking for someone sis?" Her elder brother Taichi asked.
Hikari turned around to see Taichi standing behind her along with Sora, Yamato, agirl whom she did not recognise, a boy with a yellow laptop and another boy who had a mane of blue hair and wore goggles like Yolei.
"You gave me a heart attack." Hikari exclaimed.
"But whom were you looking for all over the canteen? Taichi enquired.
"Noone." lied Hikari and turned red which showed that she was hiding something.
"You sure because whenever you turn red, you either hide something or you are embarrased about something." Her brother informed her.
Hikari mentally kicked herself. She knew that her brother understood her like an open book and she could not hide anything from him. She tried to change the subject," Guys, he is my brother Taichi." she informed the others.
Everyone greeted him and Daisuke was at once over him." Hi Taichi, I am Daisuke. I am a big fan of your's. Even I play soccer. I have been waiting for a chance to meet you from the morning from when Hikari told me that she was your sister. Would you like to see me play and give me some advice on how I can improve my way of playing the game? He enquired in one breath.
Taichi quite lost for words just stared at him for a minute and then recovering himself from the shock agreed to help Daisuke who at once shouted with joy and leaped in the air. The other students sitting in the canteen turned to look in his direction and started glaring at him. Yolei seeing this, pulled Daisuke down and made him shut his mouth by giving him a strong kick from under the table.
Hikari sensing the tension in the air, once again tried to change the subject. "Taichi won't you introduce your friends to us?" She asked.
"Oh yeah, This is Joe, he is one year senior than us and is studying medicine in the University." Taichi informed.
"Hi everyone." Joe greeted with a smile.
"Hello, nice to meet you." Hikari, Jenifer, Yolei, Ken and Daisuke greeted back.
"The boy standing next to Joe is Koshiro. He is a very intellegent boy and is the master of all the computer technologies. There is not a single technology in the world of computers which Koshiro has not yet known about."
"Hi everyone. I am Koshiro and I love computers they are my life."Koshiro greeted.
"Hi Koshiro." Ken, Daisuke, Hikari, Jenifer and Yolei greeted back.
"Now Hikari, do you remember me?" Mimi came to the front of the group and questioned Hikari.
Hikari observed her and then it clicked in her mind." Mimi." She exclaimed and getting up from the chair hugged her tightly."How are you? The last time I saw you was when you went to New York four years ago. You've changed a lot and have become more beautiful than you were earlier."
"I am really fine. And for your second statement, thank you for the compliment." Mimi replied with a bright smile.
"You are as high and mighty as you always were. You have not changed a bit, except for your appearance. Guys, this is Mimi, my long time friend. Mine and her family stayed in the same appartment in Odaiba before she moved to New York with her family."
"Hi Mimi. You are really beautiful. Can you help me with selecting the type of clothes which would suit me the best? I was thinking of going shopping today." Exclaimed Yolei.
"Even I would like to come with you on the shopping excursion. When are you going?" Jenfier enquired
" Today at six p.m. Would you come too Hikari?" Yolei asked.
"I will. Even I wanted to give my wardrobe a new makeover." Hikari replied cheerily.
" I would also like to join you guys. Then we can find the perfect outfits for you according to the best which suits you. As we both Sora and I are planning to make our career in fashion designing so we could be a bit of a help. You coming Sora."Mimi asked.
"If you all don't mind." replied Sora. "By the way I am Sora. I am also Taichi's friend and this is Yamato. He is one of our friends and is planning his future in the field of music."
"Hi everyone. I am Yamato. Nice to meet you all. Would you like to listen my singing sometime? He asked.
They greeted him back and at once all of them agreed to listen him singing and Yamato agreed to sing for them once in the next week. Then Hikari introduced Ken, Yolei, Jenifer and Daisuke and Jenifer to Taichi, Yamato, Sora, Mimi, Joe and Koshiro.
After the introduction was over, once again the girls started discussing about their plans for shopping and the boys getting bored by the girl talk decided to go and spend the remaining time of the lunch talking together. So all the boys got up and went to a nearby table and started talking with each other.
When their discussion about their shopping trip got over and they decided to meet with each other near the University gate and go the two malls near Tokyo High School to buy their new clothes, the girls got ready to go to their respective classes. In the meantime all the boys had one by onegreeted the girls goodbye and had left for their next classes. Yamato was the only one sitting on the table waiting for Sora to go to the next class which they had together. Mimi, Yolei and Jenifer left. Sora got up to go to the table where Yamato was sitting waiting for her. Then as Hikari was leaving she remembered about Takeru and also that she was going ask about him to Yamato. Changing her direction to where Yamato and Sora were getting ready to leave for their class, Hikari went over to them. Sora gave her a questioning look and Yamato looked confused on seeing her moving towards them.
"What happened Hikari? I thought you were going to your class." Sora asked.
"Yeah Hikari whatever is the matter?" Yamato aked her.
"I wanted to talk to you about Takeru. It is really important! Do you have time in the evening? Could you meet us in the mall after we finish our shopping somewhere around at 8'o clock in the cafe? You too can join us Sora." Hikari replied.
"Okay, I am free today in the evening. So I will meet you in the cafe at 8'o clock." Yamato replied back.
After finishing their conversation the three of them went to their respective classes.
The rest of the day was very uneventful for Hikari. She kept on thinking about her meeting with Yamato after the shopping. She had formulated all the questions she was going to ask Yamato during the Japanese class which was the first class after lunch in which again Takeru was present. After Japanese, she had Psycology, Takeru was not present in this class and Hikari was thankful for that because, in whichever class he was present, she could do nothing other than think about him and could not concentrate on what the teacher was teaching. Today's Psycology was a different issue. Though Takeru was not present in this class, The teacher here had an irritating way of reading the notes without paying attention whether the students were listening or not. At present, the teacher was droning about how mind plays an important role in expressing our feelings. During his lecture, Hikari getting really bored and losing all her concentration dozed off and was woken awake by the teacher's loud voice near her. He scolded her very badly in front of the whole class which really made Hikari miserable. After the outburst she didn't dare lean on the bench and continuously kept staring at the blackboard showing as if she was paying attention to the teacher but really praying in her mind that the class got over. Finally when the bell rang, Hikari was the first one to leave the class before the teacher could stop and scold her further. She heavy footedly dragged herself to the Biology class which was her third class after lunch. Though Biology was really easy for her and she scored really good in it, she never liked the subject but, due to her father's persistance that she should take it, Hikari signed in for Biology. She at last came to the Laboratory where only a handful students were sitting among whom, she saw Yolei and Jenifer waving to her to come and sit with them. She slowly dragged herself to their table and sat between the two of them.
"You look tired. Didn't you have a good class?" Yolei enquired seeing Hikari looking Fatigued.
"Yeah, Psycology was a havoc. The teacher just read the notes and droned on. Getting bored, I leaned on the bench and fell asleep. The teacher spotted me sleeping and scolded me very badly for sleeping in the class. After that, I tried my best and with difficulty, listened his droning." Hikari answered.
"So, you mean to say that Ms. Hikari Kamiya fell asleep in class! You really are a surprise package Hikari. By the way, whom did you dream about while sleeping? Takeru!" Jenifer teased trying not to laugh and winking at Yolei who also started laughing.
"There is nothing of that sort okay, so take that out of your mind and stop teasing me, do you understand Jenifer." Hikari tried to change the subject, though giving her game away by going red. Jenifer was about to say something but what she was going to sy was drowned by the bell and the entering of the Biology teacher. After brief introductions, and a bit of chit-chat, the first biology session of the University started. The teacher presented them sheets and told them to write their names on them. Then he produced ten specimens of animals and told them to write their names in the order they were placed with a timelimit of five minutes. As they were going to start writing the names, the door to the laboratory opened and Takeru stood in it looking as though he was bored and was forced to come to the class. The teacher seeing him, told him to enter the class and warned him that as today was the first day, he was excusing him but from the next class, he would have to be on time. He then gave him the sheet and explained him waht ssignment he had given to the other students. He took the sheet from the teacher and went to sit on the last table which as empty. As he was going to the last table, he passed Hikari, Jenifer and Yolei's table. Hikari turned her attention to look at him and for a brief moment, when their eyes met, she saw a spark in blue crystals. But it was gone as fast as it had come and he went to take his place on the last table. Yolei and Jenifer snickered seeing Hikari looking at Takeru which offended Hikari and she decided to give them a piece of her mind on what she thought about them behaving in in this way after the class.
After everyone was settled down, the teacher started the stop watch and all the students started writing the names of the animals one by one. After the time was over, he collected the test papers and started evaluating them. In the meantime, he told them to read the first chapter of the textbook which he was going to take the next day. Making sure that Yolei and Jenifer along with all the students were reading the textbook, Hikari at once turned back to look at Takeru. He was playing with his mobile instead of reading the textbook. Feeling her eyes on him, he turned to look at her and seeing her staring at him, glared at her. Hikari getting afraid, turned back to her reading.
After ten minutes, the teacher finished evaluating the papers and announced for the whole class to pay attention to what he was going to tell everyone.
"Now I have the result of the test. There are two students who have topped in the test. One boy, one girl. I will be presenting them with these trophies and 25 dollars each." The whole class ooh-aahed at this surprise and all of them including Hikari eagerly waited for the name of the toppers to be announced.
"So the first student to top the test is Mr. Takeru Takaishi. May I request him to come to the front and collect his trophy and money." Takeru slowly got up and went to the front of the class to collect the prize. All the students applauded him, but he looked as bored as he always looked.
"Mr Takaishi, will you please wait here for a few minutes beacuse, I would like to take your's and the other Topper's photograph to clip on the notice board. So, the second student to win the position of the topper is Ms. Hikari Yagami. Both Mr. Takeru and Ms. Hikari have scored full ten marks in the test. Ms. Hikari would you please come to the front of the class." Hikari was shocked to hear her name being called out, but after a good shove from Yolei, she got up and went over to collect her prize. The students applauded for her also, but more enthustiastically. After getting it, she stood along with Takeru to click the photograph who just ignored her as usual. After the clicking of the photographs, both of them took their seats and the teacher gave them their homework for that day. As he finished assigning them their homework, the bell rang signalling the end of the class. All the students filed out of the class.
Hikari along with Yolei and Jenifer was going for her next class which was her favourite subject Photography. Yolei and Jenifer had Chemistry so they parted ways at the end of the corridor. Reaching the photography class, she entered it and saw that there were only nine other students in the class. She was glad that the photography class was not too crowded because it would mean that she could perform her work very quietly and with as much space as she would like. She moved inside the class and went over to the only vacant seat which was at the back of the class. As she was moving she observed that there were six girls including her and four boys and all of them smiled at her as she passed their benches except for two students a boy and a girl who were sitting opposite to the bench on which she was going to sit in the last row. She returned the gesture to all of them and took a seat on the empty bench.
On the bench, there was a box in which was a camera, a film and an album. It also contained a sheet of numbers of the photographs. Hikari immediately understood that this was her today's assignment. She then turned to look at the two students sitting opposite her and saw that they were looking really miserable about something. On closely observing, she saw that the girl was really beautiful with shining black hair and beautiful mauve eyes which glittered in the sun coming through the window behind them. The boy was also quiet good looking with soft brown hair and the same mauve eyes. She closly observed them and tried to start a conversation with them.
"Hi, My name is Hikari Yagami what is your's?" They did not reply as they thought that she was talking to someone else and kept staring blankly in the boxes of the assignment. So she repeated again but once again they just ignored it. Then a girl sitting in front of her told her about why they were not answering.
Then the girl sitting in front of her turned her attention towards Hikari. She had Dark blonde hair which suited her face. She also had dark green eyes because of which her beauty was enhanced to a very high level.
"They don't talk to anyone except amongst themselves because, they think that they are inferior to the other students. They both are twins. The brother's name is Alex and the sister's name is Alice. As they don't talk to anyone, the other people also ignore them and let them be upto themselves. By the way my name is Catherine Fournier. I am an exchange student from France. What did you say your name is?" Catherine asked.
"I am Hikari Kamiya. You say that you are an exchange student from France. Then how come you know about those two students?"
"They both along with their family stay in the same apartment in which me and my family stay. So I know about them because mine and their parents are friends and their parents are also a bit sad about their this kind of behaviour. They don't understand why their children behave like this and told me to try and talk to them. I tried my level best to try and talk to them but, they never responded so, I have stopped trying to talk to them." Catherine answered.
Hikari thought about this for a moment and then she got up and went over to the two of them.
"Hi! I am Hikari Kamiya. Can I sit with you for the photography class?". Both of them turned to look at her. She smiled at them but they did not return it back. Then the girl Alice spoke.
"No-one likes to sit with us. We are not like the others. We are not as intelligent as you are. We can never do anything right so people just ignore us or tease us. So we keep ourselves to ourselves. So you also have no need to be friendly towards us. Because eventhough you are trying to be friendly with us, when you will see our weaknesses, you will start hating us and one day you would leave us like everyone does. So it is better that we keep ourselves to ourselves and you don't try to be friendly with us."
"Who told you that when you make mistakes, your friends leave you for it? Friends are those who support you in good as well as bad times. We should never think about the things which are not able to do. We should look at those things which are our strength and try to enhance those which we know we can do. Just, give me one chance to prove it. I am definitely sure that we could become the best of friends and when you meet my other friends, you will see that whatever I am telling is true. So can we become friends?" Saying this Hikari extended her arm for Alice to shake.
Alice seeing towards Hikari's smiling face became reassured that whatever Hikari was saying, she would do it with full determination and not let her down. She then did what she had always refused to do. She got up from her seat and gave Hikari a huge hug. Hikari becoming elated returned it back and promised to try and be a good friend with Alice. Then she shook hands with Alex who smiled a really charming smile which melted away all the nervousness and miserability in the air."
The bell rang and Hikari went over to sit on her seat. She was really happy that she had made two new friends and was really excited to introduce them to the others. After five minutes, the teacher Mrs. Minomoto entered the class. After all the formal introductions and the instructions regarding their that day's assignment. They had to develp the film provided to them in the solutions given in the box. Then matching the numbers on their list, they had to arrange the photographs serially in the album provided to them. Then the teacher paired them. Hikari had to work with Cathrine who was a beginner in photography. Hikari explained her how to perform the work and the both of them completed the assignment within the alloted time by dividing the tasks between them.
Hikari saw Alice and Alex working hard at the assignment. They also completed the assignment within the alloted time. And when they saw her looking towards them, they gave her a thumbs up and smiled showing that they had completed their work satisfactorily. Hikari was really happy. She had made so many new friends on her first day at the University. Had become acquainted to the new world of competitions and had proved that she could cope up with the challenges she had to face and had come to know that she had friends who would support her in all the difficult times. All in all this was the best day of her life and she would always remember it.
The bell rang signalling the end of the school. All the students submitted their assignments to Mrs. Minamoto. She announced that she would declare the result tomorrow and the pair to perform the best would get 10 marks for the project at the year end exam. All the students became excited and left the class talking and discussing at the top of their voices. Hikari along with Catherine, Alice and Alex came out of the class talking and laughing and came out of the front door of the Junior University. There Hikari saw Yolei, Jenifer, Ken, and Daisuke standing talking with Taichi, Sora, Mimi, Koshiro and Joe. Yamato was the only one missing in the group. She took Cathrine, Alice and Alex over to them and intoduced them to the others. All of them were really happy at getting three new members in their group. Alice and Alex at once became at home with all of them and got engaged in the conversation seeing which Hikari was really happy. They reconfirmed their plan of shopping to which now Alice and Catherine were also added and after finallizing everything though, Sora and Hikari kept their upcoming meeting with Yamato a secret, they started going home.
On the way, first Koshiro and Joe said goodbye and went to the right of the fork while the others went straight. Then Catherine, Alice and Alex bid their farewells. After that, Mimi, Yolei and Ken said their goodbyes. Now left were only Taichi, Sora, Hikari and Daisuke.
"I will drop Sora home and then come back. Daisuke, can you do me a favour and drop Hikari home?" Taichi asked.
"Of course Taichi, there is no need for you to be formal. I will drop Hikari home." Daisuke replied excitedly.
"Taichi, there is no need for Daisuke to take me home. Don't you trust your sister. I know my way home. I only have to catch a train to Shibugaya. then it is five minutes walk. I will reach home safe. Noone is going to kidnap or rob me. I will go safely. I will call you as soon as I reach home. As it is Daisuke lives on the other side of the city. He will be late if he drops me home. So let him go home." Hikari replied.
"But..." Taichi started but was interrupted by Sora
"Are you sure. I think Taichi should go with you Hikari." Sora intervened.
"No, No it's absolutely fine with me. Taichi you go drop Sora home. I will go home straightaway."
"Okay but, call me when you reach home." Taichi replied accepting his defeat by his kid sister.
"Yeah I will." Hikari replied back. Taichi and Sora went to the left. Daisuke hanging his head started going to the right but, Hikari stopped him.
"I am sorry Daisuke, I know you wanted to drop me home. But, it is better that we don't spend too much time together because, I don't want your hopes to rise again and then your to be broken once again. I hope you understand that we can only be friends. I don't feel the way you feel for me. Once again I am really sorry."
"It's okay Hikari. I understand. I think, we should go now otherwise we might get late. Bye." Daisuke replied.
"Bye, see you tomorrow." Hikari answered back. She waited for Daisuke to disappear down the drive then started walking to Shinzoku station. While walking on her way, she saw a garden and sitting on the nearest bench to the fencing was a boy with golden blonde hair. There was no one else in that area of the park except the boy. She instantly recognised that it was Takeru and he was playing a guitar. The tune coming out of the guitar was a really beautiful one. Hikari was slowly pulled to the tune of the guitar. Dropping her bag near the Mulberry tree, she slowly started walking towards the bench where Takeru was playing the guitar. She came and stood behind him, closing her eyes and melting in the tune. While she stood listening to him playing his guitar, she accidentally stood on a twig which made a huge cracking noise. At once Takeru stopped playing his guitar and turned to look back to discover the source of the sound. There he saw Hikari standing rooted to the spot with her eyes wide with fear. He glared at her sharply which made her retreat back a few steps away from him.
Then, he got up from the bench and started slowly advancing towards her. Coming near her, he bellowed at Hikari at the top of his voice.
"Why are you following me? What do you want? Why can't you leave me alone?"
"Takeru, I was just..." Hikari tried to speak but, Takeru came over to her and clutched her shoulders tightly which made her shout in pain. She saw into his eyes the anger which she had never seen in anyone ever before which made her shiver with fear.
"Takeru, you are hurting me, please let go!"
"Why should I? Did I ask you to follow me? No, so you will have to pay the consequences of following me." Takeru shouted.
"But, I was not following you. I just heard the sound of your guitar and came to investigate who was playing it. Then I saw you playing it and I got lost in it's tune. I don't even remember walking upto the bench. I am really sorry if..."
"Now, don't try to act innocent. I know the girls of your kind, you can do anything for money. Seeing a rich boy somewhere, you try to become his girlfriend so that you can fulfill all your desires which your parents can't afford."
Now, Hikari lost her temper and removing his hands forcibly from her shoulders and pushing him back, she started shouting back at him."Enough! From the morning, You are speaking and I am listening. In the corridor when we fell down, even though I apologized for my mistake, you shouted at me without thinking what you were saying and tried to slap me instead of forgiving me. Then when I waited in the class for you to collect your belongings, you again scolded me for waiting for you instead of expressing thanks. Then in order to get rid of Ryan, I made you my boyfriend which was my mistake, after he went away I apologized again but you again ignored it. Now when you were playing the guitar, I was pulled by its tune towards you and not because I want to make you my boyfriend. My parents might not be as rich as your parents, but they have always fufilled the smallest of our desires without us asking. So for your kind information I don't need any boy or his money for fulfilling my desires. I am happy in whatever my parents have done for me and it is sufficient for me to live my life normally. So don't you dare to insult them. I was only trying to become your friend and help you overcome your lonliness. But, it was my mistake. Don't worry from now onwards, I will never ever show you my face or try to talk with you. I will never trouble you, nor interfere in your life. I will leave you alone now and I am really sorry for trying to help you out." saying this, she walked over to her belongings which she had dropped near the Mulberry tree and picking them up, she raced to the station as fast as her legs carried her without turning back to look at Takeru. She reached the station, bought the ticket, boarded the train to Shibugaya, on reaching her destination, climbed off the train and walked the distance to her appartment within five minutes. On reaching the appartment building, she took the elevator to her floor and on reaching to the floor of her appartment, hurriedly moved out of it and unlocking the front door, she entered the houseand banged the front door shut with an earsplitting noise, then she removed the shoes carelessly and threw them to the other side of the hall, threw the bag on the sofa and forgetting to call Taichi entered her bedroom and closing the door went to her bed and started crying over the pillow. She cried not beacuse she was upset but because, Takeru had shouted at her but because, she had answered him back and had lost the chance of befreinding him forever. She thought about her day where she had made so many friends with so many different people but, the one whom she had wanted as a friend had turned his back towards her without even thinking about her.
"It was a sad end to a really beautiful day,"she thought in her mind and blinking the tears in her eyes, she immediately fell asleep crying.
