"Hey, what's with that face?" Ryota asked Sakuragi who was daydreaming.
"Ha?" Sakuragi snapped off his trance. Sakuragi grinned at him. "I've met a cute girl."
"So that explains it." Ryota turned serious. "I'm your friend, so I suggest that you stop it right now. You're just going to get hurt again."
Sakuragi became angry. "Don't compare me with you. You can't even talk to Ayako-san without squea . . .!"
Ryota immediately stood up and covered Sakuragi's mouth. Ayako, who was also in the train looked at the two suspiciously. Ryota just smiled at her sheepishly.
Ryota returned to his seat and glared at Sakuragi before looking out at the window.
While Sakuragi still looked blissfully happy as he imagined Tohru's face.
"I'm telling you, she's really cute. Not only that, she seemed to like me very much. She's kind, smart, and of course she's really cute." Sakuragi said dreamily as he gazed outside the window of their classroom watching cherry blossoms fall from the tree.
Mito Yohei, the leader of Sakuragi's gang sighed. He's at it again. Just then Haruko passed by their classroom and Sakuragi didn't notice. Yohei looked at Sakuragi with amazement. What's going on? "I hate to bring this up but, what about Haruko-san? Isn't it you said that she's the only girl for you?"
Sakuragi looked at Yohei. "Ah right. I forgot."
He forgot? "Hey, who do you really like between them?" Yohei was curious.
Sakuragi thought for a minute while Yohei was waiting expectantly. "I don't know"
Yohei almost fell out of his chair. "What?!"
Sakuragi looked thoughtful. "Haruko-san's the love of my life but Tohru-san is . . . Well I don't know what she is but I like her."
"If you don't know who she is, then how can you like her?"
Sakuragi jumped from his seat. "You're right. I must find her to get to know her. Ha ha ha. Kaibara High! Here I come!"
Yohei just shook his head.
Hmmm . . . their school is not that big. Sakuragi thought thankfully. Where could she be? Sakuragi thought as he scanned the crowd coming out from school. Sakuragi was getting impatient.
"Hey kid, do you know Honda Tohru?" Sakuragi asked a blond boy dressed as a girl.
Momiji was startled. He's so big and scary. Sakuragi was already scowling at him. Momiji had the urge to cry. He's scarier than Kyo!
Before Sakuragi can get closer to Momiji, Momiji broke into a run. What's his problem? Sakuragi's head was filled with question marks. Students here are weird, he thought as he spotted Haru. If weird hair color is allowed in this school, then maybe I should just transfer here.
Momiji was panting when he reached Tohru's locker. "Hello, Momiji-kun" Tohru greeted him before she saw the look on Momiji's face. "What's wrong?"
"There's . . . there's a scary man looking for you outside." Momiji managed to say in between gasps.
"What does he look like?" Yuki asked before Tohru can comment about it.
"I'll take care of him." Kyo announced.
Momiji felt safer with Yuki and Kyo. He knows they will protect Tohru. "He's tall and looks really mean."
"Ano . . . it might be important. I have to see him whoever he is." Tohru said but also looking scared.
Yuki assured her. "Don't worry, I'll accompany you."
Tohru smiled at him gratefully.
Tohru, Momiji, Yuki, and Kyo all went out to meet Sakuragi.
"It's him. It's him." Momiji pointed to Sakuragi.
"Oh, it's Sakuragi-kun" Tohru felt relieved.
Sakuragi had his back on them so he didn't see them approaching. Tohru tapped his back. "Wha?!" Sakuragi almost shouted at Tohru because he was already in a bad mood.
"Oh, hi Tohru-san." Sakuragi immediately smiled.
"How are you? What are you doing here?" Tohru asked him.
Sakuragi looked at Tohru's entourage and gave them a fierce look but they didn't budge.
"Could we talk somewhere alone?" Sakuragi deliberately looking at Tohru's friends.
"You're crazy if you think we'll allow you to talk with her alone." Kyo was getting pissed.
"It's alright, Kyo-kun." Tohru assured him. Yuki was just silent.
Sakuragi stuck his tongue out to Kyo when Tohru wasn't looking. Kyo was surprised.
So Sakuragi and Tohru went to a bench. For awhile, they just sat not saying anything. Sakuragi cursed himself. I stayed up late last night to practice what I'm going to say today. Why can't I say it?
Tohru looked at Sakuragi expectantly, waiting for him to say something. Finally, Sakuragi managed to start saying something. "Tohru-san," Sakuragi shifted on his seat nervously. "Do . . . you have a boyfriend?"
Tohru was surprised at the personal question but decided to answer it. "None." Why is he asking me this?
Sakuragi looked overjoyed. Yes! "I . . . I would like to get to know you better. So, would you like to go out with me on a date?" Sakuragi closed his eyes praying she would say yes.