The time was around 7:14 in the morning as Sakura was going to school to attend her fourth day of classes. The route to school had become more familiar to her, but she still relied on following other students to get to where she needed to go. During her walk, she notices a little brown creature on an empty road to her left.
"What is that?" She wondered and and slowly walked up to it. The creature notices her and began to head off, and she went on and followed it.
The creature went on to go past a few roads, and houses before she ended up losing sight of it. "...Where'd it go?" Sakura looked around and heard some familiar voices of Ryou and Kyou. She follows the sound of their voice and turns around a street corner and saw them, and the creature she was following.
"Botan." Kyou said to the animal. "What are you doing here? I told you to stay home."
"Puhi." The small animal replied.
"...Hey guys." Sakura greets, walking up to them and waving.
"Puhi!" The little creature which Kyou had called Botan jumped up into said girl's arms, seemingly frightened by Sakura.
"It aeems she's afraid of you." Ryou says.
"Wait, so that's yours?" Sakura points at it in question. Sakura couldn't tell what it was exactly. It looked like a boar, and an incredibly cute one at that.
"It's is mine." Kyou replies. "This is Botan, my pet."
"So why is it here?"
Kyou looks down at the creature, "I'm not sure either. She just came and followed us, I guess. Why did you come here?"
"Puhi, puhi."
"She just wanted to see us." Kyou said, looking up at Sakura and Ryou.
"I see."
"Yep. So..." Kyou picks up the boar-like creature. "Want to try and hold her?"
"Sure—" Suddenly, it began to cry in fear.
"Yup. It seems she's scared of you..." Ryou said.
"Botan, don't be scared of her. She's our new friend and she definitely won't try to eat you." Kyou says to the animal. It seemed to have understood her and stopped crying.
"Eat?" Sakura turned to Ryou.
"Don't mind what she said." Ryou said.
"Okay." Sakura took Botan into her arms and held it. "Wow, it's so cute..."
"Isn't she?" Kyou remarks, smiling.
"She is."
Taking her pet back, Kyou places her on the ground, "Okay, Botan, I understand you wanting to see us but it's not safe if you do this. Go and head back home while it's not far."
"Puhi!" Botan apparently nodded and began to run off into the distance.
"I sure hope she gets home safe." Ryou says.
"I'm sure she will, as long as she avoids dangerous people." Kyou reassuringly says.
"Hehe..." Sakura laughs. "This city sure has interesting people, doesn't it?" She says under her breath.
"Did you say something?"
"I was just thinking to myself."
"Let's head to school then." Ryou says, and she and her sister, and Sakura begin walking down the road to school.
At Class 3-D, Okazaki arrives and took his seat. He turns to Sunohara who was sitting at his desk to his right, "I'm surprised you're still here. She hasn't reported you yet?"
"I don't see why she would." Sunohara responds, rolling his eyes.
"Yeah. Because girls like having a creepy guy constantly bother them on their first day of school." Tomoya sarcastically says.
"Okay, okay. I get that. But I helped her. She even acknowledged it."
"Did she? You weren't dreaming or anything like that?"
"It was real! It happened yesterday. When you compare it to a few days ago, things have changed."
"Yeah, only by a little. And it doesn't sound like she considers you a friend."
"Mm..." Sunohara blew some air from his mouth, "...Why do you have to point it out like that?"
"Because it's true."
"Like you know what's she's actually thinking!"
"You know," Tomoya placed his right hand under his own chin, "I've been wondering... Why do you want to help her?"
"Oh..." Sunohara's voice turned distant, "Oh you know... There's no reason at all. I wanted to help her out and all."
"Are you after her?"
"No, not in the way you're thinking." Sunohara shook his head.
"Then what is it?"
"I just have some feeling about her. Like... I've met her before you know?"
"In your dreams?"
"No, not like that... I just can't really say what is it..." As Sunohara was staring out the window he saw Sakura enter his line sight as she took her seat. "Oh, good morning,m."
Sakura looked back at him. "Hi."
"Hey, did you really say something about him yesterday?" Okazaki asks her.
"Oh, the one during lunch? Yeah, I guess."
"See, I told you I was telling the truth." Sunohara said in a proud look.
"You're making something like that a big deal?" Sakura replies, narrowing her eyes.
"Of course. When a girl like you opens up to me, it makes me feel great." Sunohara stated, smiling.
"Really... Sunohara, are you sure it isn't like what I'm thinking it is?" Okazaki asks in a whisper.
"It really isn't." He replies in the same volume as him.
"What are you talking about?" Sakura looks at them.
"Oh nothing. It's our thing." Sunohara waves his hand, smiling.
"Okay then. I'll just leave it at that." Sakura then faces forward.
At lunch break, Sakura went to Ryou who was at her desk. "So, you ready to head to lunch?"
"I am." She replies.
"Hey there, Kimura." Sunohara calls her, heading over to her with Okazaki. "Let's go get lunch."
"No thanks, I'm fine. I don't want to head there with you." Sakura declines.
"Our class rep can go to." Sunohara looks at the purple haired girl.
"Me?" Ryou points to herself.
"She doesn't need to go with guys like you when she has us." Kyou said, from the front entrance of the class and walked over to them.
"If it isn't the savage sister." Sunohara mutters.
"At least I'm not a bum."
"Who are you calling a bum?!" Sunohara retorted.
"She isn't wrong." Tomoya joined in.
"I don't want to hear that from you!" Sunohara faces the blue haired boy.
"Hurry, you two, let's go. I don't want to talk to these idiots much longer." Kyou motions her sister and Sakura to follow her.
"Why am I grouped with him?" Okazaki questions.
"See you, guys..." Ryou said, waving at the two and leaving. Sakura nods at them and leaves with then twins.
"Huuu..." Sunohara fumed, "That Fujibayashi Kyou. She's as troubling as ever."
"I'm sure she's thinking the same thing." Tomoya replies.
"So, what do you want to do now?" Sunohara asks, facing Okazaki.
"Want to head to your dorm?"
"I would, but Misae-san would scold me us if we do." Sunohara shakes his head.
"Then what? The convenience store?"
"Eh, no. I can't pay that much right now. Let's just go to the cafeteria."
"All right."
Ryou and Kyou were with Sakura again at the cafeteria for lunch. The two had their bentos, and Sakura got the bread like the usual. "That's all you've been getting these few days. Have you not tried the other selections?" Kyou asks, pointing in the front of where the food was.
"I have, but I can't just spend my money carelessly. My brother gives me an allowance and I plan to save it as much as I can." Sakura explains, opening a bag of bread. "And to let you know, the stuffed bread taste good."
"Yeah, even my friends say that it's good." Ryou says.
Kyou looked at the hairpin on Sakura's hair. "I've noticed that's something you seem to always be wearing."
Sakura moved her eyes up. "Oh the hairpin." She said as a gentle smiled appeared on her face. "It's... It's from someone really special..."
"Hmm?" Kyou's face grew interested.
"It's not like that. If anything, it'd be this pendant I have been keeping." Sakura explains, touching the hairpin. "This is from my...mother."
"So what about the pendant you mentioned? Could it be that it's from your boyfriend?" Kyou asks, smirking.
"No, it's not."
"Really?" Kyou remarks, still insisting on questioning Sakura.
"Um, Sis, maybe you shouldn't ask her so much questions..." Ryou spoke up.
"It's fine." Sakura reassures.
"So is it from someone? Like a special someone?"
"No. I mean, I'm not really sure... My brother said that this was from a boy I knew when I was young back in the countryside before I moved to Kawasaki. It helps me remember that I've had happy times..."
"So that's why you've been keeping it." Ryou smiled. "That sounds so nice."
"Yeah..."
"So you're hoping to meet this boy again?" Kyou asks.
"I did long ago, but I don't really think like that anymore." Sakura explains, placing her hands together. "I mean I haven't seen him for years, and really, we were just children. Time passes by and things will change."
"Just when things were getting interesting." Kyou said in disappointment. "So you don't like any guys?"
"No. Just so many things have been going on with my life that I haven't found one. Not that I care to find one." Sakura asserted.
"Really?" Kyou responds, sighing.
"Don't look to me for interesting things... Enough about me. What about you guys?"
"Nothing." Kyou responds.
"I-I have nothing...!" Ryou responds, blushing.
"That certainly didn't sound like nothing."
"...Uh, nothing...!"
"If she's trying to hide that she has a crush then she isn't really doing a good job at it." Sakura mutters, facing the blushing girl's sister, "Who does she like?"
"Sorry. I can't tell you." Kyou waved her hand.
"Oh, now that's ruining the interesting part." Sakura said in jest. "Just kidding. It's fine if you don't want to say anything."
"Thanks..." Ryou said in a low voice.
When classes ended later that day, Sakura began placing her things away. "Hey," Sunohara calls her. He was still in his desk, but his things have been packed. The same was for Okazaki, "So, it's been a while since you've been here and all..."
"I'm not walking home with you, Sunohara." Sakura instantly says.
"Don't be like that." Sunohara said, smiling hopefully. "You didn't even know what I was going to say."
"She should be like that." Kyou said, walking up to them, with Ryou at her side. They both already had their bags. "It's you after all."
"I could say the same about her being with you." Sunohara said.
"A word from a bum like you means nothing." Kyou replies, closing her eyes.
"Then why do you get so pissed at every word Okazaki and I say?" Sunohara asks.
"Got that right." Tomoya agreed.
"See? I'm right. You're loose canon with a random timer going off every second causing you to fire up."
"Who says that I'm like that?!"
"Gah!" Sunohara yelped as Kyou's left hand, which formed into a fist went down onto his head, making him fall off his chair and land on the floor
"See...?" Sunohara weekly said, getting up, and using the chair as support. "Point proven."
"It sure has." Tomoya says, nodding.
"You want some, too?" Kyou showed her fist to Okazaki.
"No, no, I'm fine."
"You two really have no tact."
"You're really not one to talk about others." Tomoya said, facing away.
"What was that?" Kyou questions.
"Nothing, it was him." Tomoya looks at blonde.
"It was clearly you!" Sunohara retorted.
"Oh. Right. I forgot because of these two morons." Kyou said, bringing her hands together in thought, "Sakura, we were thinking of showing you around town if you have the time."
"Is that okay?"
"Yes. We don't mind." Ryou smiles.
"Yup. And it's better than having Youhei or Tomoya do it. They can't be trusted." Kyou says, pointing at them.
"You know..." Sunohara glares at her.
"You sure are something, you know..." Okazaki does the same.
"So what do you say?" Kyou said.
"Sure, I'd like that." Sakura nodded with a smile.
"Great." Ryou smiles. "Let's go then."
"Hope you have fun." Sunohara says in a grumpy tone.
Sakura took her bag and waved at Okazaki and Sunohara before following the twin sisters out of the class. "Thanks for this, guys."
"You're welcome." Kyou smiles, "And while we're at it, Ryou and I are going to be stopping somewhere. Is that okay?"
"It is."
After leaving the school, Kyou and Ryou guided Sakura away from the usual routes she'd taken and show them others places. Like alternate routes that lead to school. As they walked, Sakura noticed some things about Hikarizaka. "This city sure has a lot of construction going on." Sakura noted. Some of the roads they had passed by were blocked off for construction, causing them to take other routes.
"I know, it's been like that recently." Kyou replies. "Back then, it wasn't like this."
"But within time, the town just seemed to be getting by bigger." Ryou says, "If some of those routes though were free, there'd be a much easier way to reach school for some students."
"It sure would seem like that."
Kyou and Ryou continued on. They showed Sakura the neighborhoods just near her dorm, nearby bus stops, the bus station, and a small portion of the shopping district. Just near the area was where Ryou and Kyou had their stop.
"Here we are." Kyou says. They stopped in front of a book store. Above the entrance, the sign said in all caps, 'BOOKS HIMANO'. They enter and in the store was what they expected - books. There shelves of it, and stacks of it, and they there were many varieties.
"It's like a library in here." Sakura commented.
"It sure is." Ryou said.
"I'm going to go and check with some things I have." Kyou points ahead, "It won't take too long."
"We'll wait." Ryou assures. She begins walking and looking around at the shelves and Sakura follows her.
"Hmm... Fiction, Non-Fiction..." Sakura read the words on the signs above the shelves.
"Are you into books?" Ryou asks.
"Not too much, but I enjoy reading. I guess, manga, if you will..." Sakura distantly says.
"Manga. There are some interesting ones." Ryou says, waving her hands, "But I don't read them all the time."
"Same. I think of it as a passing kind of thing." Sakura replies, looking around, "I'm going to go check around."
"I'll be here." Sakura leaves the aisle she was in and went to the others. There were sections for kids, magazines that advertised items and goodies in the city, and then there were the serious educational ones, such as science, math, and history.
"Hmm, these books look advanced..." Sakura noted, taking and looking at one of the covers. She looks to her left and saw a girl with purple hair and pigtails. She was from her school, for she was wearing the same uniform. She had a blue patch on the uniform, signifying she was a third-year like her. The girl took an advanced book from she shelf and looked at a page, only to turn it a few seconds later, as if she were skimming through it.
"...Is she reading it that fast...or?" Sakura says under her breath.
The girl closed her eyes as if taking in what she read and reached into her shirt pocket. "Oh, I must have forgotten it." She says. She places the book back and leaves the aisle.
"Hmm..." Sakura watched the girl walk off and leave the aisle.
"Sakura, you ready?"
She turns around and saw Kyou and Ryou. "Uh, yeah, I'm good. Let's go."
"All right then." Kyou nods, "Let's go." They exit the store and begin leaving the area of the shopping district.
Later, Ryou and Kyou left Sakura at the nearest station near her dorm. Saying her byes, she leaves off into her dorm. "I'm back."
"Welcome back." Her dorm mother says.
"Thanks. Mizuki, so has my brother called?"
"Not, not today."
"Really-" Suddenly, she hears her cellphone ringing and takes it out. "Hello?"
"It's your brother."
"Ah, okay." Sakura puts her phone down, "It's him. I'll just take this to my room."
"Understood."
Going into her room, Sakura returns to her brother on the phone. "Hello? Makoto?"
"Hi. So your first week at Hikarizaka is coming to an end, and so far I've heard no complaints from you so I'm guessing things are fine right now?"
"Things are fine. I've been also able to make a few friends."
"So you've managed to make some friends? That's really wonderful to hear."
"It sure is. Just earlier, they showed me around. I'm thinking I can find my way around town soon enough."
"That's great to hear."
"Yeah, but I didn't do it by myself. Remember that flirty guy I told you about days ago? Well, he kinda helped me into getting friends..." Sakura explained.
"So he's helped you now?"
"Yes. I'm grateful for his help, but I can't help but wonder why, though. Why would he just suddenly help me?"
"The answer is simple" The voice pauses. "Youth."
"That's your answer. I don't think that's his answer." Sakura stated and thought about the past days of school. "I mean he isn't that much of a serious problem, but really..."
"If he's just after you, then you must act accordingly. I don't want trouble to spur up on you. But at any rate, it doesn't sound like you mind it that much."
"Does it?" Sakura questions.
"Yes. Compared to a few days ago, I was thinking you'd be saying that the school was dull and that you didn't want to be there, but now it seems different. I think you're starting to settle in Hikarizaka."
A smile broke out on Sakura's face. "...I guess you can say that. But this is just the first week. There's much to go through for this year."
"And I hope you have a fun time during the year."
"Thanks."
"Hey, while you're at it, go and tell Ayame about this. I'm sure she'll be glad to know."
"I will be sure to do that. Kuri as well. I'll be hanging up now."
"All right then. Bye."
"Bye." Sakura hung up her cellphone and placed it on her desk.
It was strange for Sakura. So much had happened to her on her first week of school. She unexpectedly ended up meeting a delinquent within her school, who went from being some guy who bothered her since her first day who she wish would just leave her alone, to being someone who she managed somewhat get along with him. She even got meet some new people thanks to Sunohara. But why he was so eager to help her was something she tried not to think about.
