After All the Starts and Stops

"You're being mean." said a boy with tussled unruly hair. "Ne, Kuma-kun. Why don't we go together to have some dessert pastry, before we go to the park to study." said the girl with long silky reddish hair, to a boy of the similar age, standing with a small group of girls behind her. Kuma-kun, or Kumiya Masahito, is often referred as, cheered up at the girl's invitation. "Let's go, before they ran out of strawberry crepe again like the last time." chattered another girl to the group. "Oh, I really want to try their new double chocolate dip banana pancake roll." said another as they excitedly rushed down the street.

Tsuruga Ren, age 22, the most popular up and coming novelist for two years in a row, is currently sitting at the outdoor patio of the Cafe Morocco on a sunny day in June, wishing that his agent, Yashiro would just show up some time soon. Really soon, Ren is getting really, really bored. It isn't that Ren dislikes summer, or the near constant rain. Nor, is it because of what happened so many years ago, one summer, when a very important person simply disappeared from his life.

But, Yashiro, his manager insists that's the reason. Ren would argue that's not the point to Yashiro, until he's blue in the face, and Yashiro would still not budge from his point of view. Ren reminisced about what happened after that day. Ren had came back to the hotel he was staying with his father, Kuu, dripping wet from head to toes. Kuu had just come back from the meeting, and was worried that his son was not at the hotel. With the storm being as big as the news is saying, the meeting had been shortened, so that everyone could get home safe.

Kuu had took a look at his son, when he stepped right into the hotel room. Without a word, Kuu had grabbed a large bath towel from the bathroom. When Ren wasn't forthcoming about what had happened to him, Kuu just silently rubbed his hair and face dry. When Kuu was done, Ren only said, "I don't think I want to come back anymore."

Kuu only accepted his son's words quietly. When they came back to the state, Ren started high school, and he decided from the first day of freshman, he was going to hit the book hard. He had asked his guidance councilor, if he could short track his time spent in school. The councilor had enrolled him in "High School in College" Program and matriculation program. So, he could start taking some classes in college, with the credits going towards his high school graduation and his college degree.

By the time, Ren graduated from high school with a diploma, he also graduated from the local university with a Bachelor degree in Literature, and a minor in Japanese. A few weeks after the graduation, he promptly packed his things, and left United States. When the plane landed, he went to the funny uncle and asked for a job. Lory Takarada immediately saw that the boy was more raw talent, than anything. He had Ren enrolled in the Tokyo University for the Master degree program, set him up with his own apartment, and a car. Every summer break, he would visit Kyoto, in hope of finding some news of the lost girl.

At that moment, Yashiro showed up apologizing for being a little late. Then, he launched into reciting Ren's schedule. Yashiro knew the moment, he mentioned the schedule, he had lost Ren's interest. It's the blasted month of June. It's the same thing every year. He's not even surprised when Ren summarily dismissed the entire schedule made for him. Ren is even out of his mind enough to refuse the appearance at the University of Tokyo.

Ren's private revelry was interrupted by the excited chatter of a group of passing college students. "Ne. Kyoko-chan, how about karaoke tonight. After, we finished our study group." said a girl's voice. At the mention of the name Kyoko, Ren nearly jumped. After he came back to Japan, Ren would always jumps at the mention of Kyoko. Ren silently chastise himself for doing that still after all these years. There are thousands of Kyoko in Tokyo, let alone Japan. He really needs to stop having such a drastic reaction.

"You need to be more serious about your career. You are Japan's most notable author right now. Everyone and their mothers clamor to read your books. Your books have been translated into eleven languages. You can't disappoint your female fans." said Yashiro, reaching across the table holding Ren's collars between his hands.

Ren brushed him off, and straighten himself. "I need a couple of days off, now and then."

Yashiro was about to launch into a tirade about Ren being crazy to refuse University of Tokyo. When, Ren with a dismissive gesture said "We should be going back to the head quarter."

At that moment, a strong breeze brushed by lifted the hat of one of the girl in the chattering group of student. The hat landed on Ren, as she turned to try to catch the hat. Ren, leaped over the iron enclosure that separates the patio from the sidewalk. He strolled towards the group.

"Miss, I believe this is yours." said Ren, to the girl with reddish hair.

The girl turned and smiled and said, "Thank you for returning my favorite hat to me."

"You must be Tsuruga Ren," said the girl, as she reached for her hat. "The famous author of a series of books known as Kyoto Tales." She said as all the girls around her started squealing like a group of fan girls.

"Yes. I'm Tsuruga Ren." said Ren to the girl. "And your name?"

Ren looked at the girl, as her friends mobbed him with notebooks for him to sign. All he could see was her. She somehow feels familiar.

The girl smiled a big smile and said "My name is Mogami Kyoko. As you can see that my friends are big fans of yours."