Hey readers, I hope you're enjoying this as much as I am. Anyway we get to see a new character show up, and hopefully you'll enjoying learning about him as much as the other characters.

Summer II

"Well, I'm ready to go what about you?" said a young man with brown hair and eyes to match. He wore a pair of blue swimming trunk and a white, Akemi turned around just having gotten off the phone with Kiesuke.

"Almost, my friend said he'd meet us outside so in about five minutes he should be here" she said with a smile. Daisuke was her favorite cousin and finally they would get to spend some time together rather than talking on the phone.

"This friend of yours, it's the guy you mentioned to me last night?" asked Daisuke as he gathered their belongings, Akemi walked over to help him and gave him a nod.

"Yeah, he's pretty nice once you get past the rudeness and sarcasm…"

"How'd you ever become friends with a dude like that?"

Akemi blushed she took a look around, her father nor the staff were around. "Well…last year I was sort depressed, I felt lonely…let's just say he and I just clicked."

Daisuke raised an eyebrow but didn't ask any questions, instead he opened the trunk of his black Silvia, between him and Akemi they put the things in the trunk. Daisuke stood up straight as Akemi closed the trunk. "Well, as long as he's nice to you he's okay in my book" said Daisuke patting Akemi's head.

She frowned "stop reminding me of my height!" At that moment she heard the doorbell ring, she quickly left the garage leaving Daisuke by himself. He smiled at his cousin's retreating back; she had grown up in the last few years, from a short shrimp to a young lady. Something he worried about constantly, after all who ever broke his cousin's heart would have to go through him.

After about a minute Akemi walked back into the garage followed by a tall young man with blonde hair and brown eyes. He wore a pair of red trunks and a black shirt. He seemed bored, Daisuke walked over to him and extended his hand.

"Daisuke Kaneda."

The young man took his hand "Keisuke Takahashi." Daisuke gave him a curt nod before letting go of the boy's hand and opened the garage door.

"Ok, so now you two know each other, can we get going?" said Akemi impatiently, Daisuke chuckled and walked back to his car.

He noticed the small smile appear on Keisuke face as he took in Akemi's appearance. He got into his car and opened the door for the passengers. So far, these two didn't seem like just friends, but he had a long road trip ahead that would help him figure it out.

For the next couple hours the three sat in the car, the chatting was mostly done by Akemi who was fascinated by the surrounding scenes. Keisuke couldn't help but to think he should stayed home today, but he couldn't disappoint her after all he'd need her help later one if he wanted to pass the year. The thought plagued him; he'd completely screwed up this time. In junior high school he'd often skip class but not as frequently as this year, nor did he get into as many fights.

He remained in silence for the most part noticing Daisuke would often take glances at him using the mirror. "What the hell's wrong with this guy?" he thought looking away from him and out onto the streets, they were close to the beach now, upon noticing this Akemi rolled down her window letting in the ocean air.

After a few minutes the three of them were walking on the sand, Akemi led the two boys. Once settled Akemi was the first to the water while Daisuke and Keisuke sat on the sand under an umbrella.

"So Keisuke right?" began Daisuke pulling out a bottle of water from the fridge. Keisuke nodded lying back against the sand. "How did you and my cousin meet?"

"School" responded Keisuke nodding he couldn't very well go into detail of what had truly happened. It was between him and Akemi, no one else. "We've been in the same class since junior high."

Daisuke nodded as he drank his water. "I see, so you guys have been friends for a while…"

Keisuke simply nodded, he wasn't about to let this guy into his personal life. "Yeah."

Before Daisuke could go on Akemi reappeared from the water her hair soaking wet clinging to her face. "What are you two doing? Don't tell me you're not getting into the water?" she said taking a seat next to Keisuke who sat up.

"I'll be right there cuz, I was just getting to know your friend here."

"Yeah we're just talking" said Keisuke when Akemi frowned at her cousin.

"Stop trying to interview him, and you quit sulking!" She proceed to poke Keisuke until he stood up and followed her to the water. Once in the water he stood there until she splashed water at him, and so he splashed back.

Soon after the two were laughing as they chased each other around splahing water one over the other. It was a stupid activity, at least in Keisuke's opinion but if it brought a smile on Akemi's face it couldn't be too stupid at all.

They spent the rest of the time out of the water chatting between the three, Daisuke mostly kept quiet observing the interaction between his cousin and her 'friend.' After a while, after much convincing from Akemi all three of them went into the water.

The rest of the day flew; as the sun started to set they dried off and trekked back to the car. Daisuke had promised Akemi's father they wouldn't be home too late.

Keisuke on the other hand didn't want to make it home, he figured after stopping at Akemi's place he would just go home change and go out again. The arcade was starting to get old, so was it to beat those punks from the nearby schools.

The car trip was silent since Akemi had fallen asleep in the passenger seat whilst her cousin was driving, as he shift gears he turned to Keisuke.

"Listen, sorry if I've been harsh on ya, but she's my baby cousin" said Daisuke, Keisuke nodded in return, he knew what was coming next.

"You take care of her Keisuke Takahashi'

"I have so far" said Keisuke in return putting a hand on his pocket feeling the un harmed box of cigarettes.

He could really use a smoke.

It was a week into summer vacations and Keisuke was as bored as bored could be, as of late he had gone back to hanging out with Akemi, which usually meant walking around the city. Buying sweets, or going on running at the nearby park.

Running in particular he didn't like it, he always fell behind. Maybe Akemi was right he should take up a sport.

"You know you haven't run off lately" she said once he caught up; Keisuke took a deep breath and nodded.

She chuckled "it's alright I'm done for the day, we can take a rest before going home."

Keisuke took a seat laid his head back, he was out of breath. Akemi handed him a water bottle which he took a great gulp out of.

"Well someone was thirsty."

"Yeah, c'mon I'll walk you home" he said standing; she followed not knowing that this would be the last time she saw Keisuke in a while.

Something was missing and he was hell bent on finding it.