She put the thought out of her mind, there was no way that he would like her for more than a friend. She didn't even like him like that. Not really anyways. I mean, she was a girl, a typical middle school girl, she thought of those types of what-ifs.

"Raiven, please stop it, you know I don't like it when you draw attention to us," Atsuko had said as she pulled on the sleeve of his shirt.

"I'm sorry, I was just teasing, and you know it," he told her. He just smiled at her, he loved to make her mad like this, just to see her sweat. He didn't know what he'd do if he didn't have her around.

Riiiiiiiiiiing....

"Lunch is over, are we going to go to the arcade after school today?" Atsuko asked as she gathered up her things in her arms and began to walk out of the cafeteria.

"I plan on it, I know you just can't wait to get you butt kicked at that new video game, I can't remember what it's called, but I know it's a racing game, and you can't win," Raiven told her as she followed her.

"I think the High-Score table disagrees with that statement. I believe those are my initials on the number one space," Atsuko said as she laughed at him.

They continued to walk to class and talk, just debating who was the best at video games. They knew that they only have a few hours left of school, and then it was time to decide who the best was for the day.

Atsuko thought to herself again while the teacher was explaining about volcanos. She knew all the material, so she decided to just daydream. She was thinking about the parade. She couldn't wait for it. She wanted so bad to be the center of attention. She remembered when the principle first called her into his office. She was so scared, she thought she had done something.

But her thoughts were on her new kimono now. The more she thought about the parade, the more she wanted the kimono. She couldn't wait to see it. She knew it wasn't even started, but she couldn't wait until she got home today to start. She was going to go to the arcade first, but then it was straight home. She picked out the material, a very soft blue material, with flowers and butterflies. She couldn't wait to begin fitting it and getting it started, it was just so pretty and...

"Miss Urameshi, the bell rang, you are dismissed," Mr. Hoshi had said and he began to pack his own briefcase.

All the students were out of the class and Raiven was waiting at the door.

"I'm sorry, I'll be on my way," Atsuko had said as she hurried out of the room.

"I can't believe you did that," Raiven said as he opened his locker.

"I was daydreaming, I didn't even hear the bell ring," Atsuko had said as she shut his locker for him. "I mean, it wasn't that big of a deal"

"I know, but it was funny," Raiven said, "Did you bring the money today, or was I supposed to?"

"I brought a little bit. Mother didn't work any extra this week, so I didn't really get an allowance," Atsuko had told him. He was the only person she'd ever talk to about being poor. She knew he could relate. He wasn't poor like her, but he didn't have much more to brag about. They had so much in common, she wondered what she'd ever do without him.

"That's OK, I have a little bit. But my mom said I have to be home early today. We have some work on the shop that needs done. I get to use the saw to cut out boards, so I have no problem with it," Raiven told her as he fumbled with the change in his pocket.

"Any amount of time is enough to beat you at any game," Atsuko told him as she bumped into him on purpose.

"It's on now! I can take you any day," Raiven replied bumping her back.

They walked down the block, and through the park. Atsuko was glad that her house was only a block away from the arcade. She would have hated to walk any further than she already did. She thought for a moment, and she smiled, thinking of her brand new kimono.

"Atsuko," Raiven said as he waved his hand in front of her face.

"What?" she asked as she realized she had been daydreaming again.

"We've been standing here for a few minutes now, I thought that you might want to go in and play," Raiven said as he tried not to laugh at her.

"I'm sorry, but you have to see the fabric for my new kimono, I mean, it's just gorgeous!" Atsuko told him as she opened the door to the arcade.

Atsuko walked right in and headed for the change machine. She placed her money in the machine, wishing that she had more to spend today. She had her eye on this gigantic stuffed goldfish plush. It was 500 tickets, and she only had 318. She couldn't wait to get enough tickets to win it. She loved goldfish, she had about 20 herself in different tanks at home. Since she couldn't have another real pet, it was the second best thing. It was hard enough for her mom to feed the two of them, and Emiko. She smiled, she loved her goldfish, and she wouldn't replace them if she had to. She wished that her new kimono had a goldfish pattern. But she knew she'd love her flower and butterfly one no matter what.

"I can't wait until the parade, really, and the festival after," Atsuko said to Raiven as they sat down in the fake cars.

"How come you always get the red car," Raiven teased Atsuko.

"Because winners get to choose first," Atsuko replied as she stuck her tongue out at him.

He had never once beaten her at this game. As many times as he tried, he always lost. Atsuko just smiled at him as they began to play. And no longer than 3 minutes into the game, he had lost.

"I think that's a new record," Atsuko said to him as she put more change into the machine," I beat you in 'record' time." She laughed at her own joke.

"I think you cheated," Raiven said as he placed more change into the machine.

Again, in about 5 minutes, she had him beat.

"I'm tired of losing, let's go play Skee-Ball, at least I can get tickets out of it," Raiven said as he got out of the fake car.

"I only need a little less than 200 tickets to get that goldfish, and I'll get it if it kills me," Atsuko said as they walked over to the Skee-Ball machines.

"It's not very packed in here today," Raiven said as he spotted two open machines.

"I know, it's usually impossible to find two machines at the same time," Atsuko said.

They usually had to share one, neither of them minded of course, it was more fun that way. They always tried to beat the others score from before. They were both evenly matched at this game, so it made winning all the better. Some days Atsuko won, other days Raiven did.

About a half an hour later and tons of games of Skee-Ball, they both finally gave. Raiven had the High Score for the day, but Atsuko had received the most tickets.

"Let's see, that brings be up to 352, only 148 more until I can get that plush," Atsuko had said in an excited tone.

Raiven just laughed. "Here, take these, it's about another 30, and I know you want that fish, although it's a very ugly thing if you ask me," he said as they walked out of the arcade towards Atsuko's house.

"It's not ugly! And thanks Raiven, I really want that goldfish," Atsuko said as she kissed him on the cheek.

It meant nothing really, she thought as she kissed him, she did it all the time, but not in front of people. They'd just tease her and make fun of them both. He smiled like he always did, and turned a bright shade of red. But this time, he did something different.

He kissed her cheek back.

Atsuko stopped walking and looked at him.

"I'm sorry, I am!" Raiven apologized and turned even redder.

"No, it's not that. It's just that you've never kissed my cheek back before." Atsuko said as she began to walk again.

"I've always kind of wanted to, I mean, you know, so what's the big deal," Raiven said not looking at her, clearly embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, I don't know. What do I know Raiven," Atsuko asked confused.

"Don't make me say it, you know. You have to know," Raiven said. He was turning even redder by the second.

"I'm serious, tell me," Atsuko said as they walked in front of her house.

They walked up to the front door, and Atsuko began to walk in. But Raiven did something unexpected. He grabbed her hand.

"I like you. I mean, I like you like you," he said to her.

Atsuko blinked. She just stood there, then replied, "You what?"

"You didn't know? How could you not know? I practically say it every time I'm around you," he told her.

"I like you, but I'm not sure if I like you like you. I mean, you're my best friend ever," she told him.

No, that was a lie, she did like him, in a boyfriend kind of way. She'd never had a boyfriend before, maybe he could be her first.

"It's OK, I understand. We'll still be best friends, always. I'll never leave your side as long as I live. I promise," Raiven said as he took a step foreword.

She kissed him. Not a cheek kiss, but a kiss kiss, a boyfriend kiss.

He stood back shocked and asked, "Atsuko, would you like to be my girlfriend?"

"I would," Atsuko said.

He kissed her back, and stepped off the porch.

He began to walk down the sidewalk, and said, "I'll see you tomorrow, bright and early. And don't forget an umbrella! It looks like rain tonight."

Atsuko took a step backwards and leaned against her door. She wasn't sure about what had just happened. She thought that Raiven had just asked her to be his girlfriend. No, she was sure that had happened. She smiled at herself. She kept smiling. Smiling was all she could do. She made a sound like a giggle and a squeal as she walked inside her house.

"Mother, you're not going to believe what just happened!" Atsuko said as she went to look for her mom.