Author's Ramblings: The party isn't over yet! Fans of the manga will recognize a not-so-original name. Some cute quotes too!

Daisuke was lucky to hear that the guests had decided that they had enough of the pool. As all of his friends jumped out of the pool, Dai stayed behind. He wanted to be the last to get out, just in case there was a leftover tear or two were still making their way down his cheek.

When Daisuke finally gathered his belongings and stepped inside the house he found that all the kids were playing video games.

"I guess I'll just sit myself in the corner and watch." Daisuke muttered to himself.

Once Daisuke seated himself down his eyes darted from corner to corner in an attempt to see if he could find the one who he had gone to this party for, and there she was. Luckily, this time her mouth was all to herself, but she was sitting awfully close to Satoshi as they were controlling virtual racecars displayed on the television screen.

The way they flirted without a care in the world sickened our poor Daisuke. His face had turned that scarlet hue again, but this time, he wasn't quite sure whether it was pain, anger, or embarrassment. It was more than likely a pathetic mix of all three.

"Daisuke…"

A voice that was so vaguely familiar it was almost flustering called out to Daisuke. It took a bit more than a moment to realize who had called out his name. It was Riku Sugisaki, a very quiet girl in his class that, now that he had a good view of it, had the most beautiful delicate face and cute brown hair. She was about Risa's height and body type, but so much more conservative.

"Oh, I didn't see you there, Riku. What's up?"

"Well, I just…I wanted to ask you the same thing. Why are you acting in such a manner? I've noticed since back in the pool. You kept dunking your head into the water. I wouldn't doubt that I was some of the others saw as well. Are you OK?"

Daisuke was speechless that this girl whom he barely knew would actually be concerned for his feelings. It was most evident that Risa wasn't.

"Riku…you don't have to be concerned with my feelings. I mean…I couldn't be more grateful that somebody would actually care for a guy like me, but I'm afraid that there's nothing that we can do about what's making me feel this way…" Daisuke said with his eyes focused onto the ground.

"Love. It can be that way sometimes." Daisuke's head jerked up to see Riku staring out a window with the most innocent look upon her eyes. How could he not have noticed how pretty Riku's eyes were. "Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love." Riku gave a small grin. "It's something Charlie Brown said in Peanuts. Isn't it the cutest thing?" Daisuke smiled and it felt like it had been decades since his lips took the shape of a smile. "Yeah, that's a nice quote." Riku and Daisuke exchanged smiles, and for a moment, Daisuke almost forgot about Risa and Satoshi over in the other end of the room flirting.

"Hey, you almost made me forget about why I've been so sad."

"So my efforts didn't go unrewarded?"

Both of them laughed.

Daisuke felt like sharing a quote himself. "There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness. - Friedrich Nietzsche"

"That's so sweet." Riku gave the cutest smile and Daisuke was entranced. How Daisuke went throughout his life without this girl was remarkable. Now his heart skipped beats and fluttered and flopped. He had never felt this way with Risa.

Daisuke was in a different world. A world all alone with Riku.

"Hey, can I get your phone number?"

"Sure! You're the first guy to ever actually ask for it." Riku said as she took a pen off a coffee table and started jotting digits onto Daisuke's palm.

"Really? That's surprising. I mean, you're so pretty… I'd think that a guy would be lucky enough to be your boyfriend." And with those words Riku stopped writing the numbers and glanced at Daisuke's eyes. There they sat, caught in each other's eyes.

When the party ended, Daisuke and Riku were left with these blank expressions on their faces that most evidently said: "DONE? ALREADY?"

Daisuke's eyes settled on the sight of Satoshi with his arms wrapped around Risa. He read Satoshi's whispering lips. "I love you." It still sickened him, but now he knew there was something – someone – who was a better use of time than watching them.

"So…you'll call me?"

"Of course I will! Once I'm done thinking about you some more."

Riku laughed. "How do you know all the right things to say?"

Daisuke smiled. "Maybe we can talk it over sometime. As in…well…Riku, will you go out with me?"

It was Riku now who had the bright crimson swept over her face. "Of course I will! How's Saturday? You can pick the time."

"OK. Saturday. At five."

"Alright then. That sounds great." Riku was still blushing. "This is gonna be my first date."

Daisuke suddenly started to blush. He realized that it was his first as well. "Me, too. I'm happy it's going to be with a girl like you. I girl that makes me forget about all else."

"You really do know all the right things to say" And with that, Riku dove in to hug Daisuke. "Do you mind that you'll be on my mind until that phone call?"

"Do you mind that I won't be able to sleep tonight because I'll be thinking about your angelic face?"

By then, Satoshi was angered that the love birds were still in his house. He finally got the two, who seemed to disappear into a separate world in each other's arms to get out of the place.

When Riku got home she ran into her room and jumped atop her fluffy bed. Daisuke seemed to be running laps around her mind. Her silent love for her had finally been returned. She reminisced of all the time she would take a seat in the back of class just to silently watch Daisuke's every move. Her heart was always aflutter for him. She felt so happy that she gathered the courage to ask what was making him so sad. It was amazing what came of such a question.

Could it have been that she was not merely dreaming that they had always been meant for each other?

Daisuke ran into his room. He picked up his 'rabbit' Wiz.

"Guess what happened today!" Dai exclaimed.

"Kyuuuuuu?"

Dark awoke from his sleep somewhere in the conscience him and Daisuke shared.

"Lemme guess, my advice worked and you scored a date with Risa?" Dark took a shot at it.

"Not quite. Well, the girl I thought I had feelings for was making out with some guy!"

"Oh… I'm sorry, Daisuke…"

"NO NO NO! Because you had the worst damn advice ever, I met the real girl of my dreams! Thanks, Dark!

"Oh, in that case, you're very, very welcome."

"Now I have to call her! I promised I would,"

Daisuke stumbled to grab the phone. He opened his palm.

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAT!" Sweat had smudged the numbers on his palm. They were at least a bit legible.

He dialed the numbers he hoped Riku scribbled onto his palm.

riiiiing riiiiing

"Hello?" Daisuke nearly melted at the sound of her voice.

"Riku! It's Daisuke."

"Just who I was thinking about!" Riku exclaimed with a hint of eager that was a bit too obvious.

"REALLY! I was just thinking of you!"

Of course Daisuke was just as obviously eager…