After a short break, classes start at Eitoku college. Talk spreads like a wildfire in the hallway about the events that took place during the prom. Daisuke is now sporting a small, healing bruise on his check. Masato, Tatsuya, and Hitoshi had given Daisuke a stern talking to the day after prom. In the end, everyone agreed not to get any parents involved as long as Daisuke made amends with Hikaru.
It was harder to say then to do. Hikaru was nearly impossible to find on campus. She made it her mission to be invisible. The few times Daisuke had seen her, she ran away and disappeared before anything could be done or said. Weeks passed like this bringing summer with it. Now there was only a week is left before summer break.
"Ah!" Daisuke yells in frustration off of the school roof. Hitoshi, Masato, Tatsuya and Hitomi are sitting behind him. "I've seen her three maybe four times since school started and she disappears within seconds. How am I suppose to apologize if I can't even talk to her?"
Hitomi rolls the bottom of her can around on the ground. "You really messed her up, you know that? Before she tried to talk to people but they wouldn't speak back. Now it's the other way around. She won't respond to anyone, she barely responds to teachers. Of course, now people just want to talk to her because they think she's the villain in this situation but we all know who that really is."
Daisuke sighs and leans on the railing. "I know, I know."
Hitomi's expression softens. "You've really been beating yourself up about this haven't you?"
"Yeah, it is all my fault." He sighs again and a breeze comes and ruffles his hair around.
Masato sets down his can and looks at Daisuke. "She really did win the bet didn't she? You truly like her."
Daisuke turns away from the rests and looks out over the roof. He rests his arms on the railing and lowers his head. "Yeah."
Tatsuya stretches his arms above his head. "You are the biggest egotistical pig in the world, you know that?"
"Yeah I do." He sighs again.
"Would you stop sighing! It's annoying the hell out of me", Hitomi covers her ears.
Daisuke whips around to face her. "Then what do you suppose I do? I don't know what to do since she won't get within ten feet of me."
Hitoshi rubs his chin, "You're going to need to do something that's not your norm." He thinks and then smiles wickedly. "Or it might be something fits just you."
Hikaru sits in her last class for the day and doodles on her notebook. She doesn't make eye contact with anyone and ignores all conversation. As the teacher calls an end to class she gets up and quickly leaves class. She heads directly to her locker to get her backpack but a white piece of paper is stuck inside.
She yanks the paper out and reads it. "You win." Her hand goes to cover her mouth as her gives a small chuckle. "What an idiot", she whispers but smiles. She then notices another piece of paper sitting on top of her backpack. She takes that one out and reads that one as well. "Meet me tonight at 7 at the back gate." She grabs her backpack and shoves her books and the notes inside before flinging it on her back.
Hikaru keeps her head up as she scans the hallways. She finally sees someone she is looking for. "Hitomi!"
Hitomi turns around and is shocked but gives Hikaru a warm smile. "Hikaru, what's up?"
"You know about it don't you? About Daisuke's note?" Hitomi nods. "I have to say I'm surprised and pleased but I'm not sure if I want to talk to him just yet."
"It's been almost two months. I think it's time you both leave it in the past and work out your problems. You may not notice it but you've left an impression on Daisuke."
"Really?"
Hitomi chuckles, "Yeah and he's been mouping around ever since prom and it's getting really pathetic. You've turned him into a blubbering whiner."
The two girls laugh. Hikaru looks at her watch. "Well, I guess we can work it out tonight. I'm going to bring my stuff home before meeting him back here."
"You're meeting him here?" Hitomi raises an eyebrow.
"I guess he came up with it on his own. He must have been thinking the same thing as you that we should talk. He wants to meet at the back gate of all places so he still hasn't quite gotten over us being seen in public together but as you said, we'll work on it. If you see him, tell him not to keep me waiting."
"Ok, I will."
Hikaru waves as she rushes off.
Later that night, Hikaru stands underneath the street lamp right by the back gate. Dark clouds roll in quickly squashing out the remaining sunlight. She looks at her watch. Seven o'clock. She taps her foot and puts her hands on her hips. "I'll give him five more minutes before I leave." She tries to keep her mind occupied and reviews what she needs to study for class.
A couple minutes later, a woman approaches her. "Are you Hikaru Tachibana?"
"Yes, who are you?"
The woman smiles, "Daisuke sent me. He got here really early and went to go get something to drink. I told him I'd go find you for him."
"Ok", Hikaru is a little skeptical. If they did miss Daisuke on the way, she knew he would wait for her.
Hikaru follows the woman into the dark campus. She is a little confused on where they are going until she notices a particular smell. The woman opens a gate and Hikaru pauses. "Isn't that the outdoor pool?" Hands shove Hikaru forward hard through the gate. The gate slams shut behind her. The man who had shoved her stands guard and the woman stands next to him. Four more people come from the pool area, two guys and two girls.
"You just don't seem to learn, Hikaru Tachibana."
Hitomi waves good bey to her friends and walks into her house. She hears the TV and follows the sound into the main living room.
"Welcome home Hitomi", Hitoshi looks up from the couch.
"Hey", Daisuke waves at her.
Hitomi looks at the clock on the wall and then back at Daisuke. "Weren't you suppose to meet Hikaru ten minutes ago?"
Daisuke looks at her confused. "No, I left the note in her locker and I'm letting her approach me once she's ready. Unless she told you something to pass on to me."
"No, she said you left two notes in her locker. One of them said to meet at seven at the back gate."
Hitoshi's face drops. "Oh, shit..." The other two look at him. "Remember what you said earlier today Hitomi? Hikaru is the villain."
Hitomi's eyes widen. "You don't think that someone would..."
Daisuke leaps over the couch and runs for the door. "You said the back gate right?"
"Yes. You better hurry Daisuke."
Hitoshi and Hitomi watch as Daisuke jumps in his car and sends the car launching down the driveway.
"I hope it makes it in time in case anyone does anything stupid." Hitomi holds onto her brother's hand.
"Me too, me too."
