Encounters: Later On
"How come you have blue hair?" Spark asked.
College, who had been taking a sip of his coffee, paused. "I'm not sure. I was just born with it."
Spark giggled. "That must have been fun."
College and Spark had decided to meet up every Tuesday for a cup of coffee and hot chocolate at the local diner. Why? Neither of them knew. They just enjoyed each others company, and felt sort of empty when they didn't bump into each other.
Spark inspected the male. He seemed weary, and a bit worn. Although, strangely enough, she was ok with that. It was just that... whenever she was with him, he would tell her something she was sure he had never told anyone else. When he was with her, his cold, blue eyes seemed just a bit warmer...
"When I was ten," College said, smiling the slightest bit. "And I went to get my hair cut, my father asked to at least try and dye my hair a dark brown. It worked for a few hours, but the next morning, my hair was right back to it's blue color."
"Dark brown?" Spark laughed lightly. "I can't even imagine." College shrugged. "I like your hair, though. It makes you unique."
On Friday nights, the two of them liked to watch movies. Whether it be at the theater or at one of their homes, they didn't mind. They had actually come accustomed to spending nights at each other's appartments.
"What's your real name?" College asked Spark one night. He had been thinking about it all throughout the week before, and he couldn't stand it. He tried to predict many names, but none of them sounded quite right. He looked at the young woman in his arms for an answer.
She yawned when she replied, "Risa Harada..." Her eyes were closed, and she was practically falling asleep.
College smiled. "Risa... I like that."
"Hey, Satoshi," Spark mumured as the movie ended. College turned the TV off, wondering why, of all times, she would use his real name. Perhaps she was just trying to get used to it. "What college are you going to?"
He blinked. "I don't have to go to college. I have a real job and I graduated early, remember?"
Spark giggled sleepily. "Ohhh. Right." She paused. "What about when I go?"
The two remained silent for a long time, not quite sure what to say. Finally, just before she drifted off to sleep, College leaned forward and whispered into Spark's ear, "I'll follow wherever you lead."
It was practically inevitable that he'd fall for her. He somehow knew he would ever since he was a little kid who knocked her over on the streets. Now Risa Harada was going to college, and Satoshi Hiwatari had to watch her off.
"Well..." she said, closing the trunk door of her car. She looked at him. "College isn't too terrible, is it?"
Satoshi shook his head, chuckling. "Not at all. I have no doubt that you'll do great."
Risa nodded, smiling sweetly at him. "Thank you... for everything."
Before either of them could blink, Satoshi had taken her into a warm embrace, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "Hey, come on... I'll still see you." He felt Risa nod against his shoulder.
"I'll call you every night, and visit over breaks..." He heard Risa sniff. She backed away and wiped her eyes. Smiling confidently, she took a deep breath. "I'll even call you tonight once I'm settled in." Satoshi nodded, telling her that he would like that. Just before she climbed into her car, Risa turned to Satoshi, raising on her tip-toes, and kissed him on the cheek. "Wait for me, ok?"
"Ok," Was all he was able to mutter as she climbed into the car, started it up, waved one last good-bye, and drove down the road.
Five years later, there is a small wedding in a local church. A reception is held at a large mansion, the home to the parents of the lucky bride. There are many people, laughing, chatting, taking sips of the punch. A red-headed male nudges his wife, who turns to look at the dance floor. She smiles and winks at her man, happy that her twin sister is having a good time.
Because before them stands a young woman in a white wedding dress, laughing and twirling around. A man stands close to her, muttering things in her ear. The woman is a girl who is known to the man as Spark. The man is a boy known to the woman as College. Their real names are Risa Harada and Satoshi Hiwatari, a newly married couple.
And to think... before they used to just crash into each other on the sidewalk.
It kind of makes one's hope rise, thinking that maybe someday, we'll have encounters such as this.