First things first. Forgive my horribly poor lack of German. I learn Japanese, okay? -Sweatdrop-

And I like green gummy bears. Heh...

I forgot to answer this before. Fireinu, you're stuck with the Japanese in DOA3, unfortunately. Likewise with DOAU, I've heard. What's wrong with English? :(

Thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far. I love you all! :D

One other thing... after the next chapter, we're jumping straight ahead to the college year. These first few chapters are basically the prologue of the story, setting the scene for the main characters, and then we're going to college! Yay!

Anyway, hope you enjoy the (slightly longer) chapter!


Even sitting on a plane which was bound for Germany, for a year of doing whatever the hell he wanted, he couldn't be exactly happy, and it was bothering him to some extent.

Well, to a lot of extent, really. Why had Ryu just gone? Just like that, gone. No warning, nothing.

Had everything truly gone so… so pear-shaped that Ryu just needed to get away from it all? And wasn't that what friends were for? Talking things over when things went pear-shaped?

He laughed bitterly. He was wasting his time even thinking about that. Everybody knew that Ryu would have dated Jann-Lee before dropping his enigmatic personality.

He couldn't expect things to change so quickly. Ryu just wasn't like that. Never had been, and never would be.

And so, he spent the first day of his holiday worrying. Worrying about his friend, whether he would be alright. Not even spending a second to think what the year would hold.

And Kasumi and Ayane. He almost felt guilty, leaving his parents with that enormous blow-up. Everything had officially gone to hell with those two. It had only been a matter of time, sure, but of all times…

Kasumi had been extremely upset about something ever since Ryu had left. He didn't know what exactly. Ayane hadn't shown him the note, and he hadn't pressed the issue simply because it wouldn't have done a thing. If Ayane hadn't wanted to show him, then he wouldn't see it. Simple as that.

Was it simply because Ryu had left without an explanation? He wouldn't blame her if it was, truly. But the depth of her unhappiness seemed to imply that it was something else. Every time he had tried to speak to her, she had just given him an unhappy smile and headed for her bedroom. She had barely come out of there in the week preceding.

Ayane, on the other hand, had been as smug as anything. Whether it was simply revelling in her half-sister's misfortune, or something else, again, he wasn't sure. But something had sent the already precarious relationship between his sisters into turmoil, and although he wasn't certain, he had suspicions about what, or who… had caused it.

"Welcome to Germany, ladies and gentlemen. Please fasten your seatbelts for the landing process. We hope you enjoyed your flight, and please come to fly with us again."

Now it was his turn. Time to relax and do his own thing. Life was looking up, yet there were some things that kept him staring down.

He stared around the airport. Considering it was a major airport, it was fairly barren. Nevertheless, Germany was going to be his home for a while; he should enjoy it while he could. Worrying about his sisters and his friend was good, but he had to enjoy himself, too.

Yes… himself. He couldn't be too preoccupied with his life back home, could he?

Could he?

Heading for the closest cafeteria, he ordered a strawberry milkshake. They were his favourite, but he couldn't remember the last time he had had one.

One other thing that been bothering him… his marks. It almost seemed cowardly going away for a year before his parents got his results, but that was what had happened.

Hopefully I get into whatever Father wants me to do… I can only hope…

No, this is ridiculous. I have to enjoy myself… while I still can.

Yet, he had left his phone on. Had, ever since Ryu had left… just in case.

He didn't know what was going to happen. So he would just have to wait and see.

Several people looked curiously over at him as he slurped the last of his milkshake, not caring whether anybody else heard or not.

Time for some rest and relaxation. He deserved it, after the… interesting… previous year.

It would be even more interesting considering his noticeably poor German.

"Du bist ein grün gummy bear," he told the people that were still staring at him. They stared at him for a bit longer, before turning away and muttering to themselves. A small grin crossed his face at their expressions.

Green gummy bear, huh? What an insult.

Grabbing his things, he walked out of the cafeteria, whistling.

I have to enjoy this year. No matter what.