Please enjoy my fanfic and review.

February 13, 2047 Earth

Noboru sat in silence as the car quietly made it's way to the airfield. He normally didn't sulking, at least not while Mikako could see. He looked down to his right shoulder where her head rested while she slept.

"I love you." He whispered.

With anxious fingers, he pushed some stray hairs away from her face and maintained the contact for a moment longer than would have been inappropriate for their relationship, the "friendship-only" relationship she wanted.

"No jelly donut, don't eat me." Mikako mumbled in her sleep causing Noboru to chuckle.

Soon, Noboru also fell asleep. When Mikako heard the soft snoring, she opened her eyes and tilted her head to look at Noboru's face.

"Noboru, my sweet caring Noboru. I truly am sorry for the trouble I cause you and will continue to cause you." She thought as she put a hand to where his was a minute ago. Closing her eyes, she went back to sleep.

-

The slow forward motion caused by the car decelerating and then stopping woke Mikako up again an hour later. She looked up to catch Noboru staring.

"Hey. Were you watching me sleep?" Mikako teased.

"No… I was just surprised because… you say the most stupidest things in your sleep… and you drool." Noboru countered.

"I sleep talk and drool? What kind of things did I say?" Mikako asked embarrassed.

"How should I know? Anyway, we're here."

Mikako got out of the vehicle and stretched before walking around to the back of the car to help Noboru get her luggage out.

"Why do you need so much stuff? Isn't the military providing you with everything?" Noboru complained.

"Just a few necessities." Mikako said as they strained with a particularly heavy suitcase.

"Yeah right. Knowing you, these bags are full of Pocky!"

"Like I said necessities… now shut up and pull!" With one last gasp, they removed the suitcase from the trunk and the car lifted three inches.

"Hey, I have to grab my ticket. Can you help bring some of these to the check-in counter with me?" Mikako asked sweetly.

Noboru mumbled under his breath about slavery rights but grabbed a suitcase and followed Mikako.

As Mikako approached, the ticket clerk gave Mikako a great big smile.

"Hello and how can I help you, lovely lady?" He said.

"Nagamine, Mikako. I am on the U.N. shuttle flight to Mars." She gave the clerk her passport.

"Okie Dokie. One sec, and I'll get that ticket for you. And might I add, you are quite photogenic." The ticket clerk looked down at his keyboard and typed.

"…I, N, E. and I press this key and here it is." The clerk looked up and glared at Noboru who had just walked up.

"Hi." Noboru smiled as he patted Mikako on her head.

"Yes. Hello…" the clerk growled.

"Is that my ticket?" Mikako said uncomfortably.

"Yeah. Here. How many bags you checking?" The clerk passed the ticket and passport back to her.

"Just four." Mikako said, still not understanding what caused the sudden change.

"Your boyfriend on this flight too?" The clerk shot make-believe death beams from his eyes at Noboru.

"Boyf… no, just me." Mikako said as Noboru loaded the last suitcase that Mikako's mother dragged over.

"Fine. Thank you. Next!" The clerk waved them away.

"What was his problem?" Noboru asked as they walked away.

Mikako shrugged.

-

"Mikako-chan, I want you to eat well and listen very carefully to what your teachers say, ok?" Mikako's mother told her.

"It's not elementary school, mom. I'll be fine." Mikako reassured her mother.

"Well… OK, Noboru-kun, how about one more picture?" Mikao's mother asked Noboru.

Noboru looked up from the U.N. pamphlet he was reading.

"Sure." He finished eating the Pocky stick he was using as a makeshift cigarette and brought up his camera and photographed them.

"Thanks. And let's get one of you two." Mikako's mother said as she reached for the camera.

"Now stand side-by-side. Mikako, get a little closer to Noboru-kun."

Mikako stepped to her right and their hands touched.

"Sorry." Mikako said.

"No prob." Noboru answered.

"Aww. That's no good. Noboru, put your arm around her or something. Right, like that. On three now. One. Two. Three."

Mikako and Noboru made weird faces as Mikako's mother took the picture.

"Great, there's one I'll treasure forever." Mikako's mother said sarcastically as they laughed.

"Oh, looks like they're lining up." Noboru pointed out.

For a moment, Mikako looked hesitant but then she regained confidence. "Well! Guess this is it!"

"You sure? I could still kidnap you and take you away, if you're too nervous ." Noboru grinned.

"Nah. This will be a piece of pie.".

"Good, then… I guess this is goodbye."

"No, that's too sad. Besides, we'll message each other and stuff…"

Noboru thought "Please, don't go" but that wasn't what Mikako needed to hear so he smiled and said "Yeah, good luck. I'll be cheering for you."

Mikako thought "Don't forget me.", but what she said was "Don't forget me."

Mikako gasped. "I didn't mean to say that…"

Noboru's smile faded a little and he just nodded.

The announcement that they were beginning to board the passengers was made so Mikako hugged her mother and Noboru once more and entered the transport to board the ship.

Noboru could see Mikako through the transport's glass windows, he waved.

Mikako smiled confidently and gave him the peace sign as the transport slowly ascended.

Noboru continued to wave and watch her until her image blurred through his tears.