Feeling the cold from the early winter, Onodera Ritsu pulls his coat closer and rub his gloved hands together quickly, trying to generate some warmth from the friction- not that it helped much.

The young man, 18, was walking on the streets of Tokyo. Winter came early that year. On term break, the student flew back to Japan for a short visit. Unlike all the previous time he went back, Onodera Ritsu decided to go out on the streets for a walk instead of coping at home. It has been more than 3 years since he went abroad. Perhaps Tokyo has changed much.

The student walks into a café, buying a cup of hot chocolate for himself. As he stood in line, laughter from a neighboring table drifted to his ears. A couple, in their high school attire, were sharing a drink from the same straw. Laughter rose from the girl again as the boy shared another funny joke.

Onodera watches. He had nearly forgotten the real reason why he left. Why he dropped everything and ran. Watching the couple, pangs of sadness and pain filled the young man .

''Excuse me sir, may I take ….''

Snapping out of his daze, Onodera Ritsu remembers where he is and what's he doing; he returns to his senses.

It's been 3 years.

''One hot chocolate, take away please.''

Forget him already

Truthfully,he did already started forgetting. Some details have become fuzzy and blur. But Onodera still remembered the pain.

Exiting the café, the brunette continued his way down the street.

''I've been gone for a while,'' mused Onodera as he surveys his surroundings. In some ways, some things never changed, but in others, things have.

Onodera continues walking down the crowded streets, brushing past strangers. The crowd of people shifts and changes. Onodera keeps on walking. It was nice- to be back in the country he grew up in, to hear and speak his native language and having it surround him again. Familiar faces, familiar words.

As time passes, his legs carried him to a quieter street. Neon coloured signs and bright light shone against the darkness of the winter night. Throwing his empty cup, the brunette's green eyes roam the place. It's was a rather empty street around the corner, filled with bars.

He wanders down idly. The young man has never been to a bar before, not in Tokyo. Curious eyes looked around, until a particularly bright bar caught his attention. Instead of sealed doors, it had a huge see through exterior. Lights illuminated through the giant window and glass door. The brunette stood outside it, looking at the patrons. Jazz music played in the background as a guest pushes the door, ringing the overhead bell.

Onodera watched the people inside, thinking about how they had all moved on with their lives. Then, he thinks of him. Normally, the brunette tries not to. But then, walking around on his own in his home country after being away from so long was making Onodera feeling strangely nostalgic. He was back in his native country, to where he belongs. For once, Onodera lets go and just let himself feel. Alone, standing on the dark street during a cold winter, Onodera just let himself feel what he's supposed to feel.

Sitting on a stool, an ink-haired male patron was sloshing down a jug of beer, talking to his drinking buddy after settling the empty jug down. The young man was sitting in the other direction, his back facing Onodera.

Onodera watches. Briefly, his mind goes to that place- the inaccessible place where he locked up- filled with thoughts of him. The brunette wonders to himself how he would be doing, and where would he be now? Onodera stands and stares, lost in thought. A patron steps out, and the bell rings, bringing Onodera back to the present. Realizing how long he's been there, Onodera turns and walks back out to the main street, heading home.

''Hey, '' said university senior with dark blue hair to his friend, eyes narrowed. '' There's a guy standing outside the bar, he's been staring at you for a while. ''

His drinking buddy twists around, catching a glimpse of the figure before the person turns. Soft brown hair. Unmistakeable green eyes. Rosy cheeks. The figure leaves.

Realization hit him like lightning.

Ritsu.

Hurriedly,the raven leaves his seat and rushes out. Amber eyes darts around wildly, looking for someone. A person with brown hair and green eyes. His pulse starts to race.

''Oda !'' shouts the raven, jogging down the path the figure took. Glancing around the deserted streets, he continued searching.

''Oda Ritsu! '' he shouts again to emptiness. There's no one there. Spinning around, the raven races the other way.

''Oda Ritsu! '' he calls out again, heart pounding against his chest like a rock. It was him. It has to be him.

Silence

There was no way he could have mistaken it.

''Oda Ritsu ! '' shouts the raven, walking aimlessly. Sneakers slapping against the concrete pavement. ''Where are you ?'' he whispers weakly after wandering for a while.

All that answered him was the barking of a distance dog and a horn of a car.

''Masamune,'' calls Yokozawa, catching up to him. '' What the hell was all that crazy running around about ?''

Takano surveys his surrounds, and admits to himself he was alone all the time.

''Nothing,'' Takano answers stoically, the anxiety and hope fading from his eyes. '' I thought I saw someone.''

''It's him, isn't it? '' said Yokozawa, scowling. '' You thought it was him.''

''Hey, '' said Takano. '' Did you see how the person looked like? ''

Yokozawa frowns. '' How the hell would I remember how he looked like? ''

Takano remains silent.

''For god's sake, '' said Yokowaza, getting angry. '' How long are you gonna pin after him like this?''

Seeing the despondent look in Takano's eyes, Yokozawa regretted his words instantly.

''It must have been your imagination, '' Yokozawa rolled his eyes. '' It's almost pitch black outside and you drank quite a bit already. ''

''Yeah,'' answers Takano, giving up hope once again. ''You're right.''

The two men return to the bar.