Rin followed Seiya out of the Studio, well snuck out actually. Not wanting to explain where he was going and with whom, resulted in them exiting via fire escape. Once they were in the clear, they slowed to a leisurely pace. Seiya, covered in dark sunglasses and a hat, led the way down the busy streets while Rin struggled to keep up. The people overflowed from the sidewalks, all wanting to get home after a long day's work.

It was at the third crosswalk that Rin lost sight of the idol. She paused, turning left, then right, trying to catch a glimpse of what direction he went in. The people around her pushed passed urgently, eager to move on in their own direction. The light changed and all movement ceased, waiting for the cars to move quickly. A panic started to take hold of Rin.

"Um…hey?" She called meekly, ruling out using his name because of the number of potential fans around. "Where did you go?" People around her started to look in her direction, wondering if she was actually looking for someone or is she was just crazy. The light changed again and Rin decided to go with her gut feeling. It told her to turn left. She followed, keeping her eyes peeled for a sight of him. Where did he go? She wondered anxiously after walking a block with no avail. She turned left again and wandered down a surprisingly empty street. The once bright sun was blocked by the tall buildings, casting a dark, eerie shadow over the block. Maybe my gut was wrong… Rin thought cautiously, deciding to turn back.

Rin stopped and turned, knocking into something hard. She stumbled back and almost fell, but caught herself. Her heart was in her throat as she looked up into the eyes of a not-so-friendly face.

"Gomenasai!" She said quickly, and bowed. She prayed his looks were deceiving.

"Watch where you're going, would ya?" The broad man said angrily.

"Gomen," she mumbled again. "I didn't see you."

"You didn't see me?" He argued. "I'll give you something to look for." The man moved to grab Rin's arm, but she quickly dodged his grasp. He tried again, and failed. "Hey, hold still! You need to be taught a lesson." "He went to push her, but she moved, too fast for him, and he hit the brick wall of the building behind her.

Rin took this opportunity to teach him a lesson. She quickly grabbed his arm before he could turn around and pulled it across his back. He gasped, from the shock of losing to a girl no doubt because Rin knew she wasn't hurting him. She braced her knees against the back of his legs so he couldn't try to kick her.

"You should be more understanding when something happens by accident," she said as sternly as she could. He nodded his head. "You should also accept apologies when they are offered."

"Hai, young lady," he replied. "I'm sorry for losing my temper. I understand you didn't know I was behind you."

"Thank you," Rin answered happily.

"Will you let me go now?"

She took her time responding. "When I do, will you just walk away peacefully?" He nodded and Rin quickly let him go, taking a few steps away from him. The man took his time by the building; straightening his jacket, fixing his hair. Then as fast as he could, he aimed a punch towards her face. Rin easily dodged it, catching his fist in her hand and twisting his arm around to his back again. This time, she applied more pressure, knowing his shoulder was being strained.

"What did we just agree on?" Rin snapped, annoyed now that he went back on his word. "I'm going to give you one more chance, so you better think things through before acting this time. I'll let you go, and this time, I will walk away and you will not follow me and not try to attack me again. Got it?" She pulled up on his arm and he whimpered, then nodded his head. Rin let him go, and quickly turned in the other direction to leave.

"You little-" The man started, aiming to grab Rin's long hair. She turned around just in time to see someone come between her and the man.

"What exactly do you think you are doing?"

"Get the hell outta my way, kid," the man yelled as he aimed a punch at her protector's face.

"Seiya!" Rin warned, and Seiya quickly dodged the blow. He spun around and kicked the man in his back, causing him to fall over right in front of Rin.

"Apologize," Seiya ordered while keeping the man pinned down to the ground. "That is no way to treat a lady." Rin smiled widely as his chivalry.

"Gomenasai, miss," the man grumbled.

"Come on, let's go," Seiya said quickly, grabbing Rin's hand and leading her away before the man could even get to his feet. Once they were out of sight, Seiya stopped suddenly, let go of Rin's hand, and turned to face her. "Are you okay?"

"Hai, " Rin answered after a moment. She was stunned by the intensity in his voice. "Arigatou..." she added after a moment's pause.

"You really don't need to thank me," Seiya laughed softly. "I saw how you had him pinned on the building." Rin looked away from him quickly, embarrassed that he saw that. Seiya gently caught her chin with the tips of his fingers and turned her head back towards him. "It was pretty awesome...watching you stand up to him like that, and not backing down." Rin smiled at his approval. Seiya dropped his hand quickly and looked away, leaning casually against the building next to them. "The way you handled him, it just looked so...natural. Have you had to defend yourself like that before, Rin-chan?" He looked back at her again, and she was immediately sucked into his gaze.

"Um...hai," she answered, unintentionally telling him the truth.

"Really? When? And why?" He asked, now curious about the subject. "Wait, I shouldn't be surprised." Rin raised her eyebrows in confusion. "Remember the first time we met? I thought you were Usagi-chan, and…well, you ended up punching me in the stomach…so I knew you could fight." He laughed.

Rin took this opportunity to change the subject. "Were we going somewhere?" She began walking in the direction they were headed. Seiya was immediately at he side.

"Hai," he confirmed. "I thought about taking you down to the Summer Fest in the park. It started yesterday, and from what I heard, it sounds pretty fun." He noticed how Rin avoided all eye contact with him, by just looking straight ahead, or at anything except him. It bugged Seiya. "Then, the next thing I know, I turn around and you're missing!"

Rin stopped walking, rolling her eyes while she snapped back, "I go missing? You were the one who was walking way too fast!"

"Yeah, yeah," Seiya responded, relieved that she showed some emotion toward him, instead of taking interest in everything around her, except him. He also stopped walking and turned to face her. His breath caught in his throat when he saw the reaction his last remark caused: her cheeks were burning red and the annoyance in her eyes flared. Seiya smiled. "Let's go," he said, taking her hand in his. He noticed how she seemed tense at first, then relaxed after a moment. Good, she shouldn't be so apprehensive about being with me...

Walking hand in hand, Seiya led Rin to the park where the Summer Fest was underway. It was less crowded than Seiya thought it would be, and he was relieved by this. The more people, the easier it probably would be for him to be recognized... And I'd rather not have to cut this date short. Seiya paused for a moment, causing a strain on his and Rin's hands. She looked back at him, first with curiosity in her eyes. However, by the look she saw on Seiya's face, Rin's curiosity immediately turned to worry.

"What's wrong?" She asked urgently, closing the distance between them quickly.

"Uh...nothing," Seiya replied in a moment. "It was nothing... I just thought of something..." Is this a date?

"Oh," she breathed a small sigh of relief. "You scared me. Is it anything I can help with?" She smiled at him gracefully, her face glowing lovely in the setting sun's dimming rays.

"Uh...maybe later," Seiya answered. "This way." They walked towards the game area. Does she think this is a date? Seiya looked over at Rin nonchalantly. Her smile made him smile. It's contagious... He thought, laughing to himself. His eyes then traveled down to gaze at her lips. They were plump, but not big, just full enough to add to the beauty of her face. What would it feel like kissing those lips? Seiya looked away quickly. What am I thinking?! I just met her...kinda... Demo she's Odango's cousin! I can't! Can I?

They had stopped by a dart game. Rin was watching as a guy tried to pop a balloon with darts. On his third try, he popped one, and won a tiny stuffed animal for his girlfriend. Rin smiled when the girl kissed her boyfriend happily on the cheek and then hugged him.

"You want one?" Seiya asked awkwardly, tugging on Rin's hand as he made his way closer to the dart game.

"You don't have to..." Rin mumbled, but Seiya had already paid for three darts. The first dart zoomed past the balloon, knocking it over a bit, but not popping it. The second struck the balloon, popping it immediately. Rin jumped, but smiled. The sound a balloon made when it was popped always made her uneasy...balloons in generally, made her uneasy, actually. The uncertainty of whether or not a balloon would pop because there is too much air in it, or if something pinched it the wrong way made her nervous.

Seiya threw the third dart and popped another balloon. The game operator explained that since he made two of the three, Seiya now had the option of taking the tiny stuffed animal or pay half of the price to get another three darts. He, of course, paid for the three more darts and the chance to win a bigger stuffed animal.

"Um..." Rin managed to say as Seiya was about to throw the fourth dart. "May I try?" Seiya laughed as he handed Rin the dart and moved over. Rin took her spot where Seiya once was and aimed the dart for a blue balloon.

"Don't worry if you miss," Seiya whispered teasingly in her ear. "I'll win it for you."

"We'll see about that," Rin replied with a laugh. She threw the dart quickly and it pierced the center of the blue balloon in an instant. Rin smiled widely at Seiya. "Shall I continue?" She laughed when Seiya motioned for her to do so. The second dart popped a red balloon just as quickly. Rin looked over at Seiya, who tried to hide his shock. "Here," she said as she handed him the last dart. "You can do the last one."

Seiya focused hard on the yellow balloon ahead of him and aimed the dart. The dart left his fingers smoothly and flew through the air steadily. The tip of the dart closed the distance between it and the balloon rapidly and on contact, the tip knocked the balloon to the side. It did not pop. Seiya's mouth flew open as he tried to figure out how he had missed the target. Rin laughed and gently patted his back.

"It's okay," she said. "You did your best." She laughed again, happy with her triumph.

"Man," the game operator said, "she tied you, Bro." Seiya just looked at him. "I'll tell ya what. I'll let you have one more dart. If you pop it and save face for guys everywhere that have lost to a girl at one time, I won't charge ya for it. Deal?"

"Hai," Seiya answered quickly as he took of his jacket and gave it to Rin. He took the last dart from the operator quickly and concentrated as hard as he could. I have to make this! Seiya thought. I'll win that stuffed animal for her!

The dart flew in the air quietly. The balloon popped.

Seiya was more relieved than he allowed to show. He had taken this very seriously and was glad that he popped the last balloon. He glanced over at Rin and his heart accelerated. She was smiling at him, nothing more than that, but it made him feel good. I like when she smiles... He thought. It makes me happy...

"Thank ya for making that!" The game operator exclaimed, clearly more excited than either Seiya or Rin. "All right, which would ya like?" He pointed to the row of medium sized stuffed animals. Seiya looked over at Rin, waiting for her to make her decision.

"I like that Panda Bear," Rin said immediately after she came across it. Her favorite animal was a panda.

"The Panda Bear, please," Seiya repeated. The operator picked the bear up from the rest of the stuffed animal and handed it to Seiya.

"Here. For ya girlfriend," he said happily. "Ya a lucky guy," the operator continued, nudging Seiya's arm. "She seems fun and a great looker!"

"Hai. Arigatou," Seiya responded quickly, taking the panda bear from his hands and urging Rin to walk away.

"Arigatou!" Rin laughed as Seiya pushed her from the gaming booth and the game operator. "Ja ne!" She waved, and then looked over at Seiya. "Calm down. He's not chasing us."

"He shouldn't just go around saying things like that," Seiya replied, apparently irked by the operator's comment. He continued to urge Rin away from the game area and towards an open part of the Fest, where benches were set up in the grass.

"Well, sorry someone thinks I'm fun," Rin said, irritated by Seiya's sudden bitterness towards the comment. She picked a bench and sat down, looking at a couple sitting a few benches over.

"Iie! I didn't mean it like that, Rin-chan," Seiya said quickly, sitting down next to her.

"I know," Rin said after a pause. A small smile played across her lips, but it seemed sad. "Gomen."

"Iie," Seiya whispered. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I guess I just got a bit jealous." He laughed and dropped his gaze to the panda bear prize.

Jealous? Rin repeated in her mind. Did I hear that correctly? Seiya said he was jealous because some guy said I was fun...? Sweet! She tried to hide her excitement, but it was too much to contain. She tore her eyes away from Seiya, afraid he might look up into them and understand everything she saw thinking now. She returned her gaze to the couple just as Seiya finished studying the prize and began studying her.

"Why are you so happy?" He asked, his eyebrows furrowed. Rin looked at him, her head still swimming from what he just said. Her heart began to race.

"I just love summer," she replied. "The hot days, that certain smell in the air that only summer brings... It's my favorite season." She looked up at the now mostly dark sky. "But my absolute favorite thing about summer are the nights it brings." Seiya followed her gaze up to the sky. "The nights are so warm, and the stars are always out."

"Hai," Seiya agreed, and they continued watching the stars in silence for a long time.