Riku was on her knees sobbing. Her tears dropped to the ground from behind the curtain of her auburn hair. She hadn't been able to stop herself from crying once she was in the safety of her bedroom. The once cheerful room with it's warm cream walls, gentle white bedset and wide open balcony now took on an appearance of harsh hateful bright things. Seeing the way the sun reflected off everything, glaring into her closed eyes made Riku disgusted with the world. She didn't understand. How can everything be so…peaceful… while I can feel my heart breaking and my soul tortured? Doesn't anyone understand? Why… what did I do?
Riku sniffed loudly and scratchily called out, "R…Risa…" She smiled bitterly through her tear streaked face and she laughed maniacly, "Heh! I'm so glad Risa. So glad that your happy. After all you are the twin that matters most… that everyone cares about… so as long as you are happy, the world will feel the same, right?" She sobbed again at the end of her little speech.
Slowly Riku got to her feet and walked to her large bed. Pausing at the side, she glanced at a picture on her nightstand. She picked up the fragile frame and cradled the picture in her arms, whispering, "You meant everything to me. It's nice to finally know that our time together was a lie. I never could tell when you were telling the truth." She smiled crookedly at it before abrubtly throwing the picture at the balcony glass doors. Both frame and door shattered in array of glittering lass reflecting the blood red of a dying sun. A flock of wild doves flew into the sky, startled by the noise that disturbed what seemed to be a tranquil sunset.
Riku screamed angrily, "I'M SO STUPID! AUGH!" She threw herself onto her bed and lay there staring blankly at the ceiling until she fell into an abyss of darkness that could hardly be called sleep.
The next morning Riku was awakened by a loud knocking on her door. She shivered wondering why the room felt so chilly and why her head was fuzzy and stiff faced. Did I cry in my sleep?
"RIIIKKUUU! Wake up! We're going to be late for school, if you don't get ready now! I'm not going to wait today!" At the sound of her sisters' voice, Riku felt her ears tingle and her eyes begin to water. Everything came flooding back. She slapped her hand over her mouth to keep a loud sob from reaching others ears and clenched her other hand in an attempt to keep the tears from falling. Regardless of her efforts tears began dripping off her chin. Instead of dying down to nothing, it was as if the tears gave way for unstoppable sobbing. They left her gasping for air and shuddering from the effort to stay silent.
Twenty-five minutes later Riku managed to calm herself and forced herself to get ready. In the midst of getting dressed she was startled to hear Risa at the door again. This time the knocking was softer and her voice gentler, "Riku? I'm leaving. I wanted to get to school earlier today, because... I'm taking the car…ride the bike… sorry…Are you ok? Did you hear me?"
Riku's mind went numb with her own thoughts as her sister was talking. I'm not sure I could handle school right now. I don't want to face anyone. Snapped out of silence when Risa's voice rose at the end, dazed she replied, "I'm not feeling well… I think I'll stay home."
"Oh. Okay! Bye R….!" Risa already began her descent down the stairs as she called out her farewell to Riku. Risa's exit was followed by a slam of the front door that echoed in Riku's head, showing signs of an oncoming headache. She groaned, but continued getting ready. Dressed in her school uniform, she grabbed an extra set of clothes and stuffed them into her messenger bag.
She left the mansion as if she were on her way to school. Jumping on her bike, she began to pedal in the direction to her school. Halfway there, Riku stopped at a park and went to the restrooms. She swiftly changed into a pair of khaki boy shorts and a white halter top. Once into more comfortable attire, Riku began to bike into a random direction.
Riku was enjoying the wind in her face when a school bell shocked her into stopping. She glanced around franticly to learn where the noise came from. There was a middle school campus to her right. She laughed at herself for being so jumpy. As she was, somebody tapped her shoulder. Riku turned stiffly around to see a short boy with messy brown hair and glasses bowing down to her.
"Um… excuse me sempai… but I'm new here and I was wondering if you could tell me where the office was?" The boys stuttering words came out in a rush. She frowned and was about to say she didn't go there, when a glance over his head, she glimpsed a doorway titled School Office.
Riku rubbed the back of her neck and pointed out the doorway. The boy blushed embarrassed as he thanked her, before running towards the office. She chuckled at the boys antics and stared at the students rushing to class. This school looks weird. She shook her head as she realized no one was wearing a uniform. I can't believe it took me so long to realize that! As Riku was about to ride away, an idea came to her. Suddenly, she knew just what she wanted to do.
Half an hour later, Riku was walking through the school halls with a small paper in her hand. She smiled triumphantly as she studied her class schedules. I can't believe this worked! I beat the system! Ha! Who knew I was so sneaky! Tee-hee. I should be in drama! She reminisced fooling the principal with well placed tone changes, pouts, innocent smiles and disappointed teary eyed looks. She glanced up at the doors and came to a stop in front of room B46.
Taking a deep breath Riku entered the classroom. The teacher stopped his introduction speech and glance over to the entrance. Riku put on a shy smile and bowed to the teacher. "Good morning! I'm a transfer student. I was told to come to…class B4. That's here, right?" Riku looked up from checking her schedule.
The teacher had a puzzled look on his face, "Strange, I wasn't told there'd be a transfer…hmmm. May I see that?" He took the paper from her hands. Seeing the principles signature, his demeanor went to completely welcoming, "Welcome to Yuriko Middle School!" Turning to the class, he announced, "Class, this is a new student. Please be friendly and make her feel welcomed." He beamed at her at nodded encouragingly to introduce herself.
Riku stepped forward and greeted, "Ohayo! I'm Harada Riku. I hope to get the chance become friends with all of you." She then sat where the teacher indicated. After the teacher finished reviewing the material for that semester, the class was free to talk and visit with their friends.
Riku looked around at her classmates happily chatting amongst themselves. A wave of anguish flowed over her. She smiled sadly at her desktop. Maybe this wasn't such a clever plan after all. Their happiness hurts. And nobody is even trying make friends. She blinked hard to get rid of the tears trying to come. Ok Riku! You can do this! Just put a smile on your face and introduce yourself to someone. After all, I'm knew here so I can be anything! Determined She was about to stand when someone dropped into the seat on her right. She looked into the smiling face of a boy with wild red hair and matching crimson eyes. Sitting beside him on the desktop was another boy with stiff black hair and bushy brows, grinning. Riku smiled brightly back at them, "Hello!"
The redhead smiled wider, "Hello! I'm Niwa Daisuke and this is Saehara Takeshi. Pleased to meet you Harada-san!"
"Please call me Riku!"
In response Daisuke waved his hands in the air, shaking his head, "No-"
Takeshi elbowed him the stomach, effectively cutting him off as Riku stared wide-eyed, "Ok Riku! But in return you must address us as Daisuke and Takeshi! I always hated formalities!" Takeshi stuck out his tongue to show his disgust.
The whole scene made Riku giggle hysterically, "Right then! Hee!" She tossed her head to the side then asked curiously, "So that makes us friends right, Daisuke-kun? Takeshi-kun?" She smiled to see Takeshi nod and looked at Daisuke who hesitated, blushing, and then nodded. Wow! Daisuke is cute when he blushes!
They talked a bit more. The boys learned of Riku's love for anything to do with athletics and she in return found out that Takeshi, who was an aspiring reporter, was in the newspaper committee. Daisuke told her about the school, and sketched a detailed map of the campus, with all her classes marked. He was in the middle of denying his drawing ability when the bell for second rang.
They went in different directions to get to class. On her way there, Riku came upon her locker. She checked if there was time and then tried to open her locker. Grrr… why isn't it opening She smacked it with an open hand in anger.
"You know, abusing school property has a big punishment." Riku jumped in surprise. She looked up worriedly at the owner of the voice. Hand over startled heart, she managed to gasp out, "Really? Sorry. Ano, I'm Harada Riku… I'm knew here."
"So your previous school allowed you to hit lockers?" He raised a questioning eyebrow at her, "Hikari Satoshi." He glanced at her combo and opened her locker; then walked away, leaving Riku alone.
At hearing his name she had gone numb in recognition. Her legs felt weak and she was both hot and cold once. She continued to stare at where he'd gone. A bell rang sounding the end of passing. She was once again left alone. With no one near, it was harder to hold them back. Riku began to run, tears streaming. She found a staircase leading to the roof. She made it to the roof and clung to the railing at the edge of the buiding, forcing hear tears to make the long drop from her eyes to the ground.
In Riku's distraught state, she failed to notice that someone else was on the roof before her. Not long later, she was made aware of his presence when a hand turned her around. She gasped in horror that someone should see her in this weakened state. To make it worse, the person who caught her so was staring straight into her eyes. And gazing into those deep violet eyes made her feel naked, vulnerable. He can see…Oh.. he'll know everything… he's seen me…I don't want this…I'm worthless… Please disappear! Riku squeezed eyes shut, only to open them to see him still there. And what she interpreted in his eyes made her angry. He-he pities me? Riku glared furiously and slapped him with such force, that his head snapped to the side.