Part 7

The crickets began to play quietly as the sun set, and the darkness began to creep into Hino's window. The last few pages were all that stood between her and a finished reading assignment. She lay on her bed, holding the book, Pride and Prejudice, above her face at arms length. Despite the fact that she was almost done, her mind was far from the pages open before her. It kept wandering back to that morning, to Tsukimori. Each time she tried to pay attention, his image would disrupt her concentration. Finally, she gave up. Laying the book over her face, Hino inhaled the scent of the pages. She couldn't help but compare the scent to Tsukimori's sweater. It lay neatly folded next to her, and she was tempted so many times to hold it to her face and breath it in, but the thought so embarrassed her that she only did half as many times as she thought about it.

Her cell rang, snapping her out of her reverie. Hino sat forward, setting her book aside as she reached for the phone lying by her bed.

"Hello?"

"Hino-chan!" Hihara's perky voice surpassed the volume of the phone. Hino had to hold it away from her ear for a moment. "Hi, Hihara-sempai." She smiled. "How are you doing?"

"Good! I was just calling to make sure you were still alright with coming with me tomorrow?"

"Of course! I'm still planning on it."

"Ok, great! Is it alright if we meet in the park at ten?"

"Sure, how about under the large tree by the main path?"

"Sounds great. I'll see you there!"

"Ok, I'll see ya' Sempai."

"Bye, bye!"

Hino shut her phone, lying back on her bed. She reached over to pick up her book and force herself to finish, but as she did, she averted her hand and grasped Tsukimori's sweater instead, pulling it close to her face. She inhaled, sighing.

She turned on her side, curling her knees to her chest, the sweater clutched in her arms. Before she knew it, she was asleep.

Hino stretched as she stepped from her house the next morning and walked to the mailbox. She cocked her neck to inspect the sky after closing her eyes for stretching. Her face fell.

Instead of the bright greeting of a sunny morning, she was scowled upon by gray storm clouds, the very ones from the night before, who decided to camp overnight and overcast her day. Hino's arms fell, and she sighed. Absentmindedly, she turned to her mailbox, and opened it to retrieve the morning's mail. Bills, bills, bills…advertisements…bills. Hino went trhough each letter. To her surprise, the very last envelope was plain, with no post mark, only her name written on the back in simple but defined script. Curious, Hino ripped it open.

Inside was a thin folded sheet of paper. When opened it, a single ticket fell out into her hand. She inspected it closely. It was a ticket to the very charity concert that Hihara had mentioned the day before. The concert wouldn't be for weeks, How would tickets be available this early? Hino quickly scanned the short note attached.

Hino,
I hope you can come and enjoy the performance. I'll look for you there.
-T.L.

"Tsukimori-kun…" She whispered. An involuntary grin spread across her features.

Hino looked at her watch again. It was twenty after, but Hihara had still not shown up. She sat under the tree, the very tree she and Tsukimori had sought shelter under the day before. The sky was darkening, the dark clouds gathering in groups to disclose their anger. A short wind broke loose, and Hino grabbed her shoulders absentmindedly.

Again, she checked her watch, forced a sigh, and pulled out her cell phone. Quickly she dialed Hihara's number. After a few rings, Hino heard his voice on the other line.

"Hihara-sempai, I-."

"Hino-chan?" He sounded surprised. "Hey, what's up? Are you feeling better?"

"Huh?" Hino asked, confused. "Where are you?"

"Me? I'm at the department store looking for clothes."

"But-?" Hino's eyebrows knit together. "Why-"

"Tsukimori-kun called me this morning; he said you weren't feeling up to going. He said something about a cold. How are you feeling?"

Hino rocked back. "Tsukimori-kun?"

"Uh-huh. He called and said you caught a cold yesterday." He quieted for a moment. "He said you weren't interested in coming anymore, anyway."

Lost for words, Hino tried to make sense of what she had just been told. A rumble in the sky brought her back to the moment.

"Of course I still wanted to come, Hihara-sempai." Hino rushed, "It's just my cold that kept me back. I'm sorry I missed out …good luck finding something for the audition."

Hihara sounded relieved. "Thanks, Hino-chan! Can I bring you anything for your cold when we're done?"

"Um, no. I'm fine. You have fun."

Hino snapped her phone shut, bewildered. Why would Tsukimori-kun say that? Why would he lie to Hihara?

A ripple of thunder sounded again. Hino looked up at the sky that now reflected her mood. She clutched her phone. Should she call Tsukimori-kun for an explanation? She had planned on taking him his sweater later that day, but maybe she should ask him now.

A rain drop fell, and soon after, a light sprinkle began. Hino looked out at the gray drizzle. It was the same weather as yesterday, but the mood was so different. Tsukimori-kun wasn't here…and even if he was, he had gone behind her back. He had canceled an appointment with her friend, for no reason whatsoever. What was he trying to do? Did he want Hihara out of the way? Did he really find him that annoying?

Suddenly her thought process was interrupted by a familiar voice. "Have a thing for the rain, don't you?"

Hino slowly turned and looked behind her, and as she had thought, Tsukimori stood over her, looking down, arms crossed in question.

"Tsukimori-kun!" She quickly jumped up and faced him squarely, reflecting his own questioning stance. "What's going on?"

He looked rather surprised. "What?"

Hino held her phone towards him. "I was supposed to meet Hihara-sempai here, but he said you told him I had caught a cold. Not only that, you told him I wasn't interested in going anymore!"

Tsukimori didn't speak.

"Did you?" Hino demanded.

He still didn't answer, and Hino was surprised that she was talking to him the way she was, that she had the guts. She repeated herself. "How could you do that?"

Still, Tsukimori stood silent. The rain was falling harder now, the sound of the drops hitting the ground canceling out the noise of the world around them.

Then, to Hino's surprise, Tsukimori tentatively reached up his right hand and touched her cheek gently. Her eyes widened as she felt his warm fingers caress along her jaw, and his warm palm as it rested against her cheek. He just stood there. All Hino's words were frozen in her mouth. She watched him, paralyzed as he leaned down. Ever so gently, he brushed his lips over hers.

The confusion and bewilderment Hino felt was quickly replaced by a rush of a light, unfamiliar but warm feeling. His other arm came around her, pulling her close. She was too disoriented, to frozen to protest. She was intoxicated. Just as she thought she would be lost to all reason, he pulled away. But his face still hovered only inches from hers.

"I'm sorry."

"Why…?" She finally managed to whisper.

He let her go, turning and exiting the shelter of the leaves. The rain quickly began to drench him. His light blue button-up hung on his back as his back muscles flexed as he walked.

"Tsukimori-kun!" Hino's confusion overtook her voice, "Tsukimori-kun!"

He turned facing her, hands held firm in his pockets as he gazed his golden eyes on her.

"You don't understand."

"Tsukimori-kun!?"

But he was already gone. His form enveloped by the fog and rain.

Notes: I really want to thank everyone for all your help and suggestions, I really have appreciated the tips and encouragement! It's been a while since I've written recreationally, and I've wanted to work my way back into it; so all your help and comments have really helped me! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter…! (I particularly do)
I'll also try to make these chapters longer. None will be as short as part 4 was.