That evening, after she had finished her homework, Wren went out to the movies with Riku and Risa Harada. The girls rode to the movie theatre in the Haradas' old-fashioned car. They talked about their lives, but mostly they talked about Wren's life in Hokkaido. Then, the subject of boys came up.

"Oh, you'll never guess this one, Takimoto," Riku started. "Do you know who Risa is now obsessed with? Just guess!"

Wren shrugged. "I give up." She turned to Risa. "Who?" Risa giggled and squealed with joy.

"Phantom Thief Dark!" Riku told Wren, utterly disgusted.

Wren almost died laughing. In between breaths, she managed, "You…You like…DARK!" she laughed even more. "That is the most wacky thing I have ever heard!" Risa folded her arms and frowned.

"I'll have you know, Mr. Dark is very romantic." She got a dreamy look on her face. "He once picked me up after school and we went into town and he kissed me. Oooh, it was so wonderful!"

Riku and Wren looked at Risa then looked at each other and burst out laughing. Risa was apparently not amused by this and crossed her arms and frowned again.

Wren, still laughing, reached over and patted Risa on her shoulder. "We're just giving you a hard time, Risa. You know we love you."

As Wren reached out to touch Risa, Riku noticed a large bruise on Wren's arm.

"Oh my goodness, Wren! Where'd you get that bruise?"

"Huh? What bruise?" Wren turned her head to look at what Riku was staring at. As soon as she saw the dark spot on her arm, Wren remembered.

Krad hit me with his wing last night…I had almost forgotten…

"What did you do, Wren? You know you bruise easily because of your—" Riku stopped herself before she could finish. The car was very silent for a minute. Then, Wren broke the silence.

"Yes…I know that I bruise easily, Riku. But it's nice to know that you think of me." She smiled warmly and put her head on Riku's shoulder. Riku grunted.

"Why are you always so darn happy, Takimoto?" Wren lifted her head to look at the redhead. "You're dying, Takimoto! Why are you happy about that?" her eyes filled with tears. Wren grasped Riku's face softly and turned it to face her own.

"Because if I were to be sad and lock myself up in my hospital room all of the time, I would never get to enjoy the little life that I have left." She grinned again. "It's sad. I know that it's sad, but I can't just stop my life for this. It's just an obstacle. That's all it is. An obstacle."

"One that you can't overcome…" now Risa started to cry. Wren threw her hands up in the air.

"Not you, too, Risa! Guys," Wren looked both of them straight in the eye. "I'm fine. Dr. Dao says I have at least another year before I have to go into intensive care. It's not that bad yet."

"Do you promise?" asked Risa.

Wren hesitated at first, but nodded. "Yes, I'm sure."