Rating: K+

Genre: Romance/Mystery

Author's Note: My writing in this chapter… Hm. Seems a bit off. Well, I'm still trying out new writing styles but they are very subtle, most readers won't be able to tell what changed, and what didn't change. The next chapter will have more Risa and Satoshi moments along with the intro of another character. I'm sure that most readers will already figure out who it is, haha. Anyway, please read and review if you can, please! Enjoy!

I Know Now How to Reach You

Chapter 2

I'm Searching for Him

"Hey, Riku, what do you mean it's Monday?" Risa asked Riku for the millionth time in a row. The two sisters were on their way downstairs after getting dressed for school. Riku took only a few steps at a time, keeping up with her own pace and trying to figure out why Risa did not know the date. She sighed to herself angrily and then looked Risa in the eye with a force that stated who was the older one, and who was the younger one.

"It's Monday… because yesterday was Sunday! Get it?" she answered with a huff. However concise as Riku's answer was, Risa still could not understand why it was Monday.

Risa walked down the stairs with small steps, pondering over her own questions about whether or not it was Monday or some other day. Riku was sure Risa would tumble down the stairs any moment. "But… I thought yesterday was Monday…" Risa said, unsure of her own memories by now. She put a hand under her chin.

"Are you okay? You sure you're not sick?" Riku asked, just a bit concerned for her odd sister now. She led her outside of their house and locked the door behind them. As Risa was off by herself, Riku walked a few steps to the right where her bicycle was waiting patiently for her. She smiled at it and, taking a small silver key out of her skirt pocket, unlocked the chains that bound it to a tall lamp post.

While Riku did all this, a thought suddenly struck Risa's mind. She took a giant step toward Riku and grabbed her arms with her hands. While shaking her vigorously she asked, "Riku, if yesterday was Sunday, then what did I do?! Tell me what I did on Sunday!"

"W-what? A-all right! All right!" Riku shouted as she freed herself from Risa's tight grasp. Thinking for only a moment, the memories of yesterday came flooding back into her mind like waves from the ocean. "Yesterday, you went out to the mall because you wanted to buy a new skirt or something," she told Risa.

"I… did? Then! Where?! Where is it?! Did I buy that skirt I wanted?!" Risa asked as her voice rose in volume.

"Yes, yes you did. I remember you showing it to me… just yesterday." Riku said sternly with an emphasis on 'just yesterday'. "It was pink and ruffled and all Risa-like."

Risa felt like her own lifetime was quickly sucked out of her. "What's happening to me? Why did I think that yesterday was Monday? How come I have no memory of ever going to the mall? Yesterday… Didn't I go somewhere else? Where did I go?" she asked herself uncertainly.

Riku looked over her younger sister. She placed her hand atop Risa's forehead, checking to see if she felt hot. "Are you sure you're all right?" she asked again, this time with a serious tone in her voice. "Maybe you shouldn't go to school to-"

"N-no! I'm fine, fine. I'm fine." Risa assured her older sister with a bright but weary smile.

"Hmm…" was all Riku said. She eyed her sister, unconvinced that she was 'fine'. "Let's… go. We don't want to be late to school." She got on her bicycle and placed her foot atop the paddle.

"Yeah…" Risa replied softly.

As they walked to school, Risa noticed that the sun was not up and about like usual. With its absence for certain, everything looked dark and dreary. Monday's morning was not looking bright at all.

Risa looked toward the sky. Rain clouds littered everything.

"Huh? Didn't it rain yesterday?" she inquired to herself.

"What was that?" Riku asked as she rode her bike, keeping up with Risa's pace.

Risa shook her head. "…Nothing."

The sound of rain etched itself into her mind.

The classroom that day was loud and noisy. As soon as the bells rang for lunch break, everyone scattered amongst themselves. Friends were with friends and Risa was with herself. Because of that morning conversation with Riku, she couldn't take her mind off the subject of days. She felt her entire world spinning… all because of a rainy Monday. She sat in front of the window, staring out into the dark, crying skies. Because she was still in her own, spinning world, she didn't notice that someone had patted her back in an attempt to grab her attention.

"Risa! Did you bring an umbrella?" asked Ritsuko, her head tilted a little to the side.

"…Huh?" replied an absentminded Risa. It took a moment before she was fully back in the real world.

"Is something wrong? You've been out of it all day," asked her friend with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh, have I? It's just… wasn't yesterday Monday?" Risa asked her friend, still confused about the days.

"Huh?"

Without allowing Ritsuko to answer, Risa continued on. "It was raining like it was today. And then, something happened. But I don't know what! What is this feeling of emptiness, of long forgotten memories?! What's happening to me!? I'll find it, no matter what! Because I'm…"

The words came out as if some other being programmed them into her.

"Because I'm… myself. I'll surely find it… No matter what." Risa looked at Ritsuko, confused. "…Find what?" she asked, this time, with a hint of longing and sadness.

Ritsuko, worried about her friend's sanity, patted her on the head. "Risa… Let's take a trip down to the nurse's office, why don't we?" she suggested sincerely.

"Who was it that said that? I feel like I should know who said it. But… who?!" Swirling memories of a boy flashed inside Risa's mind as quickly as the wind. "I need to find him!" Dashing from her seat, Risa headed at full speed toward the doors. Dragging them open, she raced out into the hall.

Ritsuko, running after Risa, placed her hands against the doors as she called out, "R-Risa?! Where are you going?!"

"I'm sorry, Ritsuko, but I need to find someone very important right now!" Risa replied, hurriedly running down the hall.

"Huh? Satoshi? What are you doing here?" Daisuke, who had just finished cleaning the art room, spotted a boy with blue hair sitting atop the ladder, reading a paperback by himself. Satoshi flipped the pages of the book silently.

"…What're you reading?" Daisuke tried his best to strike up any kind of conversation with the quiet Satoshi. Being in silence always did make him feel just a bit uneasy.

Satoshi, after turning another page of the book, flipped it shut. He looked Daisuke in the eyes. "You haven't noticed?"

Daisuke was confused. "Notice? Notice what?" he asked, looking up toward Satoshi. The pitter patter of rain thundered against the walls, creating space between the known, and the unknown.

Just then, the doors to the art room burst open. Daisuke and Satoshi quickly turned their attention to whoever it was that quietly peered in.

"Ah, Daisuke!" Riku cried happily with a broad smile. "I knew you were here!" She cheerfully walked over to his side.

"Riku! Sorry, were you looking for me?" asked Daisuke with a giddy smile. He rubbed the back of his head as he took a step toward her.

Riku shook her head. "Not really. I just wanted to see if I could find you." She laughed to herself. Finally noticing Satoshi in the room, she waved to him.

"Hi there, Satoshi. Were you talking with Daisuke?" she asked, afraid that she was interrupting something.

Suddenly remembering their conversation, Daisuke looked back at Satoshi. "Oh, yeah! What was it that you were talking about again?"

Satoshi paused, staring intently at Riku. He needed to decide whether or not he would tell her what was really going on or not. He thought against it, but a sudden realization forced him to agree to telling her.

Daisuke grew wary of the way Satoshi looked at Riku. He took her hand and moved her behind him.

"Daisuke, what'd you do that for?" Riku asked, a bit confused.

"Oh, n-no reason, hahah…" he laughed uneasily.

Satoshi, realizing what Daisuke had done, smirked to himself. "Well, I never knew you were like that, Daisuke," he said sarcastically as he made his way down the ladder. Daisuke hid his blushing face from Riku by taking a step forward away from her. After Satoshi had climbed down, he closed the door to the art room, ensuring that there would be no listeners from outside.

"Daisuke, Riku," Satoshi began. "Have either of you two noticed anything… strange these past few days?"

"Anything strange?" repeated Riku unsurely.

"What do you mean?" Daisuke asked.

"These past few days… Can we really call it that?" Satoshi said gravely.

"Satoshi, what are you talking about?" asked Riku worriedly.

Satoshi turned his attention toward her. "At first, I was against telling you anything, but then I realized something…"

Somewhere within Daisuke's memories, he quickly realized what Satoshi was talking about. "Satoshi, you don't mean…"

Risa wheezed and panted, tired out from running all over the school. She was sure she looked like a mad woman from the way the other students stared at her while she was running. Finally stopping at the shoe lockers, she gazed outside with eyes of desperation. "Where are you?" she asked tiredly.

Leaning against the lockers with her hand, she turned her eyes upward toward the sky. "Come out, whoever you are," she pleaded.

"Wow, I'm surprised you noticed me," said a sudden voice.

Risa's heart jumped when she heard the voice. Shaking just a bit, she looked downward and saw a boy sitting alone against the side of the lockers. She crouched down next to the stranger, eyeing his facial features.

An older boy, with lovely black hair and… Risa couldn't help but be in awe at the boy's eyes. One crystal blue and one green in fields. A minstrel's song of love and war could have described the boy's eyes in perfect detail.

"Hello there!" the boy said, waving his hand in front of Risa's face.

"You…" Risa started, unsure if she knew the boy or not.

"Yes?" the boy said, urging Risa to continue.

"Have we met before?"

"Satoshi, just spit out what you wanted to say already!" Riku huffed angrily.

"Now, now, Riku…" Daisuke tried to calm the already furious Riku down. She looked at Daisuke and then sighed, calming herself. Turning his attention back toward Satoshi, he asked him, "Satoshi, if what you're thinking is really happening, then how are we able to stop it? We don't even know how long it's been and…"Daisuke paused, afraid to say his next words. "What if it's stronger than the both of us by now?"

Satoshi fell silent as he tried to think a way out of the mess. "Daisuke, this will probably be the last and only time I say this but… your friend might be able to help. But for now, I need to explain to the two of you in detail of what's been happening."

"Have we met before?" repeated the boy, absorbing Risa's words into his memories. He thought for a moment, closing his eyes. Risa sat down next to him. After a few small moments, the boy opened his eyes and replied with a smile,

"Nope! I don't recall ever seeing your beautiful face before."

Risa blushed slightly but shook the feeling away. "Are you sure we haven't met before?!" she asked again, making sure of his answer.

The boy shook his head. "No, honestly, I have never seen you before."

Risa's heart sank, along with her energy. She sighed sadly. "I'm sorry… I must have mixed you up with someone else," she apologized.

The boy looked at Risa with eyes of interest. "Hmm. So… Who is the one you are looking for on this fine specimen of a rainy day?"

The boy's question threw Risa off balance. She choked on herself. Through her coughs and breaths, she managed to mutter out a few words. "Don't… know… who…!" she stuttered.

"Oh? You must know who you are looking for. Otherwise you wouldn't be looking for that person at all."

"This… can't be real," lamented Riku. "If what Satoshi's saying is true, then..." She looked down at her hands. They were shaking. Daisuke, noticing this, took her hands in his.

"Riku, we'll find a way out of this." he assured her kindly.

She looked into his sincere eyes but couldn't bring herself to feel any form of relief. "But…!" she started.

"I know." Daisuke interrupted. "I know… that you're worried about her. But she'll be fine."

Satoshi looked out the window. "If it's her, she'll definitely be okay."

"So that's what Risa was talking about this morning…" Riku concluded sadly. "If I was any smarter, I would have noticed…! And now she's…!"

"Riku." Satoshi called out her name sternly. Riku couldn't bring her eyes to meet his. "There's no time to be worried about the past. If that's all we're going to do, then we'll all be trapped within the loops of time... for eternity."

Riku turned around from Daisuke, hugging her arms tightly. Daisuke felt a void between his hands from where Riku's hands were. He gripped his fists tightly. "If time is repeating itself, and 'today' will be restarted again," he started,

"Then what should we do to break this cycle?"

Satoshi, even though his memories of 'yesterday' were almost erased, still remembered a boy with black hair and mysterious eyes. "While we wait for your 'friend' to come, Daisuke, I have a hunch on how to set things in motion again."

Risa, without knowing why, felt oddly at easy with the boy with mysterious eyes. She told him about the strange days and the boy she had to find. The mysterious eyed boy listened quietly to her every word, nodding to her questions and giving her advice when asked. When she was done with her story, the boy took a moment to take everything in.

"So, the boy you're looking for… You think he might be the key to finding out what happened yesterday?" he asked.

Risa nodded her head. "Yes, I do think that… but I can't seem to find him anywhere. And I can't even remember how he looks like anymore." Risa explained sorrowfully, her eyes cast downward.

The boy smiled at her kindly. He ruffled her soft brown hair playfully. "Do not worry so much! I'm sure you'll find him in no time."

"You really think so?" Risa asked, her spirits beginning to be uplifted by his kind words.

"Of course I do. In fact, maybe you'll even meet him today."

"How do you know?"

"Well, don't tell anyone but…" The boy leaned in closer toward Risa's ear. "I work part time at a cake shop a few blocks away from school. A lot of people come in everyday for cakes and maybe you'll see your boyfriend there."

"My… w-what?!" Risa stammered, embarrassed that the boy would even think of something like that. Punching the his arm, she moved away from him, beet red. "H-he is not my boyfriend! He's just someone I might find useful!" Risa stated furiously.

The boy laughed softly with such an extravagant smile. "Haha, well, if you're up for it, let's go to my workplace after school?"

Risa thought for a moment. "If I go, I might really find him…" she paused, thinking of reasons she wouldn't be able to go but none of them sounded dramatic enough to allow her to not go. Smiling, she nodded her head. "Yeah, after school. It's a promise." She raised her pinky at the boy.

"Pinky swear. So I'll know you won't stand me up in the rain," she said. "After all, I'm searching for him."

"There's no way I'll ever leave you alone like that," the boy said with a smile.

Although Riku couldn't fully believe everything that Satoshi had told her, she didn't want to take any chances. After all, her younger sister's life was on the line.

After the school bells rang, informing all the students lunch was over, Riku headed towards her classroom with Daisuke and Satoshi. Once part way there, she noticed from out the window that the rain had not stopped. Without even thinking it over, she grabbed her own umbrella that had been hanging around her arm the entire time and pushed it toward Satoshi.

"Risa didn't bring her own umbrella today, so if you see her after school, can you give this to her?" she asked. "I have some stuff I need to do before going home so I won't be able to see Risa."

Satoshi was about to object to the idea but Riku had already ran away, leaving him with Daisuke… and the red umbrella in his hands.

"Thanks!" was all he heard when she left.

He sighed tiredly, holding onto the umbrella. Daisuke's only reply to their interaction was laughter.

"Riku sure is energetic, even after hearing everything, huh?" Daisuke said happily, looking at the spot where she disappeared at. "...Still, she must be hiding her true fear deep down... in her heart."

Satoshi smirked. "I guess you two are a perfect match then."

Daisuke immediately blushed red. "W-what're you talking about?! I… I… need to go!" Running off in his own direction, Daisuke waved back at Satoshi. "S-see you later, Satoshi! My friend will be here tomorrow for sure!" he called out.

Satoshi watched Daisuke disappear down the hall. Once he was alone, he looked at the bright red umbrella. Sighing, he told himself,

"I guess I'll go search for her."