Chapter 4: The Boy

With folded arms, Cagalli tapped her foot on the marble floor as she waited for the group of students in front of her to disperse from the activity board. It was the beginning of the second week, and, with mostly all of the enrolled students in attendance, the halls were packed like sardines during breaks. Cagalli sighed. She had been standing there for ten minutes, and, if the students didn't hurry, she would be late for her Algebra class.

Another couple of minutes went by before the students cleared the way. Yet, one boy remained. His back was to Cagalli, and he hadn't moved for a while, his eyes fixated on the pinned form in front of him. Cagalli stood next to him. She eyed the many papers and posters bulletined on the board. There was news about an upcoming welcoming dance, club sign up sheets, health pamphlets, and flyers about various sports. Her gaze drifted to the flyer on the far right side, just hanging off of the board. It read: "Onogoro Academy's Girls Field Hockey." She brushed her fingers across it, stopping before touching it again and then, eventually pulling her hand away. With a rise and fall of her shoulders, she heaved a noticeable breath.

"Are you thinking of joining any club or sports?" the boy next to her had spoke.

She stared at him. His eyes were still fixated on the form in front of him.

"Are you thinking of joining the basketball team?" she responded, staring at the same form.

He sighed and faced her with a smile. Cagalli found his smile to be kind, and the sight of it made her want to smile, too.

"I played in my old school, but I was thinking maybe I try something new since I'm here."

"Yeah, I get what you mean." her gaze returned to the field hockey flyer. "Do you really want to play?"

He looked back at the form. "I do, but I'm feeling a little...insecure."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I might be nervous because I'm in a new school. Though, many of my friends are here."

"Are you from Zaft or Heliopolis?"

"Heliopolis," he said. "An old friend of mine went to Zaft, and he's here as well. Zaft could be another reason why I'm nervous. That was a top school, and a lot of the guys were great players. I wonder if they'd even pick me."

Cagalli frowned.

"Try out anyway."

He turned to her again, eyes wide and questioning.

"I have a feeling you were really good in your old school, so I say go for it." She shrugged.

"Then maybe you should try out," he motioned to the hanging flyer.

"I had my fun with that sport. I could always join a sport in the spring, and I might join a club."

They smiled at each other.

"I'll stay after school then. I thought about joining robotics, but I'll leave things like that for Athrun."

Cagalli raised her eyebrow. "Is that your friend?"

"Yeah...we were really close when we were younger." he looked at his digital wrist watch. "I should go, I have workshop."

Cagalli nodded. "I have to go, too...I'm Cagalli," she stuck out her hand.

The young man grabbed it, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Kira," he said.

Her heart dropped. Kira began to walk away, waving, and saying his farewells, Cagalli could not hear him. Sound and time was lost to her. She stood there, watching him, mouth agape, until he turned the corner and was no longer in her vision. Her arm was still extended, her hand holding on to air.

Could it really be? She thought.

Without a second to spare, she ran to her locker. She made it there in a matter of seconds. Hastily, she turned the dial until it finally popped open. Quickly, she went into her backpack and pulled out a photo. It was of the woman holding the two babies. One of the babies had brown hair, just like Kira. Cagalli squinted. She could barely make out the baby's eye color, but, after her recent encounter, she was confident they were purple. She flipped the photo to the backside; the names Kira and Cagalli written on it.

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