Putting on his school jacket, Hiro decides to visit the old sakura tree once before heading to school. Besides, he had no plans attending the school's opening ceremony.

It's always been like that for him since 6th grade.

Not bothering to get any form of breakfast from the kitchen's pantry, Hiro rushes outside and unchains his bike before heading out to his planned destination.

For once, he had a foreboding anticipation that something good will happen the moment he steps foot on top of that hill.

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"Hmm..it's gotten quite bigger from what I remember…" The girl with pink hair had her hand on her chin and stared at the tree with a thoughtful expression that was soon replaced with awe and a tinge of adoration.

"It's still as beautiful as before.." Her voice came out softer than usual, as a gentle breeze had the sakura petals gracefully floating around her, some getting stuck on her hair.

And of course, she doesn't notice this because of how transfixed she was with the millennium old tree before her.

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Pedaling as fast as he can, Hiro could see the hill getting closer in perspective, however he wasn't feeling really keen on hiking up the hill after a tiring bike ride.

He openly admits that even when he was deemed as a 'prodigy', he was weak when it came to physical activities.

Even so, that wouldn't stop him from seeing the Sakura tree in person; especially since he has just arrived just below the hill's base.

Eyeing the staircase which could lead him to the very top, he can't help but feel the foreboding he had earlier grow even stronger. With a deep and shaky breath, Hiro grabs onto the rails and begins his ascent towards the top.

Little did he know, there was someone who was about to change his whole life.

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At FRANXX high, a petite girl with short blue hair clipped to a side with a clip resembling a white bird, was leaning against the wall next to a taller, more masculine figure with glasses and blonde hair styled into an undercut. She had a serious expression on her face while texting profusely on her phone.

"Ichigo" The blonde guy tried getting her attention.

"Yeah, Goro?" The girl, Ichigo, answered, looking up from her phone.

"Did you get a hold of Hiro yet?" He asks and she shakes her head, a small frown on her lips as she returns her gaze back to her phone.

"Nope. Not a trace." Growing more and more exasperated by the minute, Ichigo let's out a small huff.

"That idiot.."

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He's astonished.

Instead of the Sakura tree, he's attention is towards a girl, probably the same age as he was, sleeping peacefully under the tree.

Unconsciously taking small steps towards her, Hiro finds himself hovering above the girl, his aquamarine orbs widening in awe as he took in her whole appearance.

Out of all the girls he has seen his whole life, it was without a doubt this sleeping girl right here was the most beautiful maiden he has ever laid eyes upon. He immediately noticed just how vibrant her pink hair was and how it seemed to match the sakura petals falling gently around her.

'She looks like an angel..' and for some reason, his heart seems to beat faster than normal.

He noted how her face wasn't as round as the other girls; in fact, it was sharper and more toned, accentuating her high cheekbones dusted with a light blush. Her lips were plump and had rosy with just a small amount of gloss applied and he can't help but wonder what her lips would taste like, making him turn even redder than he could ever get.

She also seemed to be wearing his school's uniform, making him silently hope they'd be actual classmates. Also, she had a red muffler wrapped tightly around her neck which he found quite odd, considering winter has already ended.

However, after further examining the sleeping girl before him, he notices something red protruding from her hair, which made her FAR more different than any girl he has ever seen, indeed.

His eyes widen as he realizes what those actually were,

'T-they're..!'

"Quit staring." The girl suddenly spoke. Her voice was as silky as velvet, sending a chill to Hiro's spine. She gives him a questioning look as teal orbs bore into his aqua one's.

The color of her eyes seems to accentuate the red eye liner she was wearing.

Hiro backs away nervously, failing to notice the protruding root behind him. Unfortunately, he trips on his bottom and finds the girl now standing right above him.

"I-I.." He's at a loss for words and is sweating nervously. He felt embarrassed for staring at her.

With an amused expression on her face, she extends a hand to him, which he shakily accepts, and pulls him back to his feet. Now that they were standing eye to eye, he can't help but feel even more embarrassed, especially since it looks like she's an inch taller than him.

"Never seen a girl with horns, huh?" She asks.

"No..-I mean..I..I wasn't staring at it!" The girl cocks her head to the side, her amusement growing stronger by the second.

"Oh? Then why were you staring then?" Hiro finds his face heating up once more as he struggles to speak. Deciding to tease him a little, she playfully point an accusing finger towards him. "I get it...you're a pervert!"

Hiro gasps in surprise. 'Me? A pervert? No way!' However, a part of him was nagging him that yes, you were somewhat a pervert for staring at her for too long.

Finding that the boy seemed to grow uncomfortable, the pink haired girl chuckles and sits on a nearby bench, beckoning him to sit beside her. Hiro reluctantly complies.

"You know, I was just kidding. No need to get all worked up." she grins at him. "In fact, to show you I have no hard feelings-" the girl then fumbles through her pockets before holding out some candy. "Here, have one."

Since he hadn't gotten anything for breakfast, he decides to help himself with the candy she was offering, uttering a small thank you. As he unwrapped the candy and plopped in his mouth, his taste buds were instantly assaulted with a sickly sweet taste

TOO SWEET FOR HIS LIKING!

Choking back a cough, he asks through strained breathing. "W..what was that flavor?"

"Hrm?'She says, a lollipop placed between her lips. "It's chocolate maple red bean flavor."

"E-eh?!" What kind of flavor was that?

'But somehow, it feels like I've tasted something like this before…'

The girl looks back at him with a rather innocent look on her face.

"Why? Would you have preferred the sugar cube flavor?"

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Not long after, they found themselves both relaxing in each other's presence as they talked about anything they could think about. For Hiro, he was enjoying every minute he spends with this pink haired girl.

A feeling he hasn't felt in a very long time.

"By the way, is it okay if I ask about your horns?" He had a feeling that this might be a sensitive subject for her, since you don't usually see a person with horns everyday.

"Mm? Well you see, I've been diagnosed with something called 'Klaxxosis.'" She glanced at him as he urged her to continue.

"It's when your body produces this large amount of yellow blood cells, they solidify into what looks like horns." She ends her brief explanation by giving her red horns a light poke.

"Do they hurt?" She shakes her head. "Nope."

"O-oh.." Hiro feels his lips tug into a smile, something he does very rarely. "You know, I never expected to see someone with actual horns.."

A slight pang hits her in the heart "Does it scare you?" She manages to ask.

"Not really..I think they're-" He pauses a bit, his face heating up as he think of the right words to say.

'Beautiful?'

'Captivating?'

'Breathtaking?'

"-alluring." He finishes.

They're quiet for a while, until he feels something wet graze upon his cheek. He lets out a startled yelp when he realizes that she just licked him. With a cheeky grin, she comes closer.

"Your taste, it makes my heart race." He's a bit confused. "My..taste?"

She makes a reaffirming sound. "Yeah, it bites and it lingers..you taste like danger."

"I don't think I'm much of a dangerous person." Hiro sweats.

She lets out a light chuckle before standing up and twirling to face him.

"You know what, I've taken a liking to you. I feel like we're the same and…" Her teal eyes soften.

"You weren't frightened of my horns…"

Extending out a hand to him once more, she says.

"Would you like to be my darling?"

His heartbeat quickens at the word. Such a sweet and intimate word it was..

..darling..

To be honest, he kind of liked it.

Before Hiro could answer, he felt his pocket vibrating. Grabbing his phone, he sees Ichigo's name on it. Answering, he was immediately greeted by her intense scolding over how he was missing the opening ceremony, making him wince.

Once she hangs up, he heaves out a heavy sigh. He knew that once Ichigo got mad, she'll be nagging him relentlessly to no end.

"Looks like I'll have to go." He stares sadly at the girl before him. "Aren't you going to the opening ceremony as well?"

She shrugs. "Nah, those things get pretty boring, if I must say."

'Wow..' Hiro can't help but be amazed over how free spirited and rebellious this girl was.

..this girl…

"Oh, I almost forgot!" He exclaimed, realization dawning on his face. He turned once more to the girl, who was a bit surprised over his sudden outburst.

"My name is Hiro, how about you?"

'..Hiro..'

A smirk appearing on her sharp features, she walks past him and begins to descend the hill's stairs.

One step.

Two steps.

"H-hey!" Hiro calls out, a sense of fear washing over him, thinking he'll never have the chance to talk to her like this ever again.

.

.

.

"..Two."

His ears perk up, hearing her say something in a quiet voice. The girl, with her pink hair dancing along the sakura in the breeze, faces him with a small smile etched on those rosy pink lips of hers.

"My name...they call me Zero Two."

'Zero Two..' He wonders over how strange it was for a name to be based on numbers, but somehow, that name seems to fit this peculiar, yet captivating girl he's just met.