(Chapter 2: Sakuragi Hanamichi's 51st Girl)

"Hey, have you heard about the new girl in school?"

"New girl?" Sakuragi Hanamichi's eyes widened as he closed the locker, shifting the books in his hands. His friend nodded eagerly as he leaned closer and said in a low voice.

"Yeah, I heard that she's a beauty." Youhei Mito leaned casually against the rows of lockers. "Everyone's been talking about her. They say she just moved here this morning."

"Really? And you think I might have a chance at her?" Sakuragi was excited, yet hesitant at the same time, having the experience of been rejected by girls fifty times in the past. But then he puffed out his chest and grinned arrogantly, as it was his nature. "I will win her heart, after all, there is only one genius in this school! And that's me!" His friend shrugged, rolling his eyes.

"You might. Every other girl in this school has already rejected you for Rukawa Kaede."

Rukawa had been a new face when he entered Shohoku High. However, his father was the president of a huge company and his mother was seen as a Paris model, which score big points with the kids at school. Upon arrival he had immediately taken up by the fast crowd, but his silent, distant manner kept everyone from getting close to him. It was easy to think a lot of things about Rukawa, and most people Sakuragi knew thought that he was very cool.

"Rukawa! That arrogant, idiot jackass? Ha! I could—" He stopped as Mito clutched his arm, hissing into his ears.

"There she is!" He pointed down the hallway. "She's they one they've been talking about!" Sakuragi turned his head and froze.

The girl they were speaking of was more stunning than the redhead could have ever imagined. She couldn't be much older then fifteen or sixteen, but her but her slender figure made her look more sophisticated. Her hip-length ebony colored hair was pulled back by her sunglasses and her lips curled in a charming crescent-moon smile, revealing perfect white teeth Her impeccable complexion was the color of the moon.

"Talk about a babe!" Mito gasped. "This is the first time I've seen her so close! Man, we're lucky!"

Sakuragi was speechless.

Classy silver earrings dangled delicately from her earlobes. Her shimmering long sable tresses were glossy and lustrous. Her engaging foreign features and manners had already turned many heads and stopped many young men in their tracks. But it was her eyes that hit him the hardest.

She had the most beautiful pair of deep ocean blue eyes, like none he'd ever seen, under the thick long lashes. It drew him in and he could all but detect something sorrowful and desirable underneath the mysterious dark depth, framed by her arched brows. It gave her a look of haunting beauty and also…intrigue. The most bothersome part about her eyes was the fact that they held something familiar, almost as if he had seen them before somewhere.

"I don't think you have much of a chance anymore." Mito patted his shoulders in a sympathetic fashion. "Save yourself from the humiliation, Sakuragi. Now that I've actually seen her with my very eyes, there is no way she'll agree go to out with you."

But his loudmouth, empty-brained friend had already sprinted for the girl at her locker. Mito sighed and tried his best to pretend not to know him.

"Hey." Sakuragi grinned and leaned against the locker next to her. She looked up and smiled.

"Hi." She closed her locker and turned to him. He stuck a hand out.

"I'm Sakuragi Hanamichi, a second year, the genius. Perhaps you've already heard of me?" He ran a hand through his hair in what he thought was a suave move. She cocked her head and thought for a moment.

"No. No, I haven't." Missing the crushed look on Sakuragi's face, she introduced herself. "My name is Kira. Rukiko Kira, first year. I'm new at this school."

"We know." Mito, seeing that they might have a chance after all, had abandoned his post, where his jaws had almost reached the ground at the sight of the girl actually talking to Sakuragi. "So if you need any help, please do not hesitate to ask us."

"Really?" Something in her eyes lighted, and a worried frown came upon her brows.

"Yes, anything." Sakuragi put in, hoping to get her on his good side before asking the important question. He itched to know what would make such a pretty girl so sad and isolated.

"Anything?" Kira still seemed hesitant.

"Anything." He assured, wondering at the same time if she really did need help of some sort. "Do you want me to walk to your classes? Or did you forget your lunch money? Or do you need a ride home?"

"It's neither of those." She shook her head, looking around. People were starting to whisper about the pretty girl that Sakuragi had somehow acquainted. Sakuragi felt a certain pride that he hadn't felt for a long time.

"I do need help." She said finally. "And you're the first to offer. I've been wondering around school for a while now, and nobody has asked to help."

"Nobody would dare speak to your graceful, elegant self without making sure they're worth it." His friend gushed. Sakuragi gave him a hard nudge with his elbow. Mito gave him a dirty look.

"What do you need help with?" He asked steadily, though his excitement to win this damsel in distress was thinly hidden.

"I-I'm looking for someone." She bit her lips. Sakuragi and his friend turned to each other simultaneously.

"Oh?" They echoed.

"Yes, and it's a rather long story. Will you help?" Sakuragi gave an easy grin.

"Definitely."

"Then, let's talk outside."

"So, you're looking for your brother." Sakuragi repeated slowly. "You were separated from him when you were born."

"Yes." Kira nodded, her eyes downcast.

"How do you expect us to find your brother?" Sakuragi picked up his drink. "What's his name? Does he go to this school? "

"Well, actually," she looked up, quite at ease now with the redheaded basketball player, for her indigo blue eyes had softened wonderfully. "I'm here because I'm looking for the guy who'll know how to find my brother. I need help finding him." She clarified. "His name is Rukawa Kaede. Do you know him?"

Sakuragi, in the middle of sipping his soda, choked. Mito clapped his back as he coughed until tears came into his eyes.

"Rukawa Kaede?!" He gasped.

"Yes!" She smiled, her eyes lighting up. Her smile was heart-stopping and Sakuragi realized how much he had wanted her to notice him. "So you do know him!"

"Yes, of course I know him." Sakuragi growled, his heart falling to the very bottom of his toes. "So all this time, you weren't interested in me? You were interested in Rukawa!?" He spat out the name as if it gave out a bad taste. "I thought you're looking for your brother."

"I am." Kira played with a strand of her long hair, twirling it between her fingertips. "But I'm new here, and finding my brother would be a long stretch, so I need to find Rukawa Kaede first. He'll know how to find my brother."

"You didn't want to go out with me, instead, you want to find Rukawa?!"

"Yes…" She explained patiently for the fifth time. "But I really do need your help. I heard that Rukawa is difficult and distant to everyone. I don't know him, but I need to find him. Will you help me?"

An evil idea suddenly popped into Sakuragi's head. A plan that will satisfy and benefit them both.

"If I help you…" He said slowly, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "Will you go out with me?" The raven-haired girl looked startled, then hesitated. She doesn't really want to go out with Sakuragi, but must find Rukawa Kaede. And alone, she would have no way of getting near Rukawa and his attention.

"Alright." She finally said quietly. "One date."

"YES!!" The redhead pumped a fist into the air, and leaned close to her. "Even though Rukawa say he's only interested in basketball and sleeping, he has a little storehouse club for where people likes to fool around. It's not his club, really, but it's known, unsaid, that he's the head of it."

"Can we go there?" Kira asked eagerly, clapping her hands, her eyes shining as if she had just found the sunshine of the day.

"Well, only 'certain' people could, if you know what I mean." Sakuragi scratched his head. "Only people that got his approval could, others that try to enter gets thrown out."

"Approval?"

"Yeah, he's rude to everyone, but those that doesn't get beaten up by him is considered approved by him." Sakuragi huffed. "Those are all idiots if you ask me, they only clown around to gain his favor."

"Can we gain his favor—" She started, but he cut her off.

"Never. We'll never be on that list." He then added sheepishly. "Especially me. But never fear!" His face brightened. "I have a plan. And we'll never be discovered."

Somehow, Kira doubted that.