Chapter 2: Tidings

Noon came, and Koaru made his way onto the roof of the school to try and eat his lunch in peace. Leaning back against the safety fence as he sipped some coffee he had purchased, he paid little attention as the doors opened again and two girls walked out onto the roof. He listened to their footsteps as they walked across the cement surface, stopping as their shadows cast into his.

"Something bothering you, Koaru?" asked a female voice. Looking over, he saw two underclassmen, Michelle Kaioh and Amara Tenoh both watching him with slightly amused expressions. "Amy still not talking to you?"

"No," Koaru sighed as he crushed the coffee can in his hand and threw it at a trash bin. "But that's not my only problem today."

"Oh?" Michelle asked, slightly interested as she walked over to a bench, pressing her skirt against the back of her legs before she sat down and crossed her legs. "Anything serious?"

"Nah, just a messed up dream." Koaru replied as he slowly sat down and opened his lunch box.

"Care to share the details with us?" Amara asked as she sat down beside Michelle, leaning back on the bench, keeping her eyes locked on Koaru.

Sighing, Koaru weakly smiled. "Why not, it will help kill the lunch break."

Across the district, Serena, Lita and Amy sat outside in the courtyard of their school, eating their lunches in the shade of a tree. Serena kept her eyes on her food, feeling guilty about having upset her friend so early in the morning. Lita looked between the two, feeling the awkward tension between them as she alowly ate her food.

"Did something happen?" she asked, setting down her chopsticks and closing the lid of her lunch box. Serena looked up and started to speak, but Amy quickly cut her off.

"Nothing serious," she said, her eyes fixed in a study guide as she ate. "I just got short with her about forgetting we have a test this afternoon."

"Oh shit, we have a test?" Lita gasped in shock at the news. Amy smiled slightly at her friend's reaction, though she kept her eyes in her book. Serena looked over to Amy and whispered, "Amy, I'm sorry for this morning."

"It's alright, Serena." she replied, still reading. "I wasn't bothered by you mentioning Koaru. I just actually had to get to class."

"Oh," Serena looked back to her lunch. "Alright than."

"Excuse me," came a voice from behind the girls. "Can you girls help me?"

The three turned around and saw a young man standing near the school gate. He had wavy gold hair and light blue eyes. He wore a dark blue jacket with a white shirt underneath and black jeans with a red belt. A small suitcase rested on the ground beside him, and on his back rested a packed ruksack. All three girls felt themselves turn red as his eyes passed over them.

"Uh...sure." Serena said breathlessly. The man smiled and reached into his pocket and fished out a small piece of paper.

"Do you girls know where the Juban Conert Hall is located?" he asked as he put the paper back into his pocket. Amy nodded and pulled out a piece of paper, quickly drawing a map before standing up and walking over to the man, handing him the drawing.

"I hope that helps," she said, blushing slightly. The man smiled as he took it and glanced at it before setting it into one of his jacket pockets.

"Thanks," he said as he picked up the suitcase. Looking down at Amy, he smiled and bowed his head before walking away.

"He's cute," Lita said with a misty look in her eyes. Amy slowly noddded her head in agreement, speechless.

"That is interesting." Michelle said as Koaru finished telling the two girls about his dream. Sighing, Koaru nodded and slumped over his lunch box, packing his leftovers. Amara watched him, her smile replaced with a slight frown.

"You sure didn't see the guy's face?" she asked, leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees. Koaru nodded again, sliding the box into his bag and slowly standing up.

"No, I couldn't see his face." he replied, stretching and rubbing the side of his neck. "And now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off."

"Could you wait a moment please?" Amara asked, reaching out to stop Koaru from walking away. Koaru looked down at her, confused.

"Umm...sure. What do you want?"

Michelle stood up as Koaru talked and faced him, smiling sweetly.

"I have a favor to ask of you," she said. Koaru shrugged and locked eyes with the girl.

"Alright, let's hear it." he replied. Michelle reached into her school bag and pulled out an envelope, handing it over to Koaru, who took it, confused. Inside was a ticket to the Concert Hall.

"What's this?" he asked. Amara smiled and also got to her feet, sliinging her bag over her shoulder.

"Michelle is performing for a banquet being held there tonight, and she needs an escort."

"So?" Koaru asked, his confusion. "Why can't you just go with her? You're always dressing like a dude."

"I can't," Amara said, smiling and slowly shaking her head. "I have a race tonight, so I can't go. That's why I'm asking you to go in my place."

"Ah," Koaru said, feeling things fall in place. "Yeah, I guess I can. Not like I have any plans."

"Perfect!" Michelle said, clapping her hands together, smiling. "Maybe you could also play with me onstage."

"What?" Koaru asked, confused once again.

"You could play the piano or the flute with me."

"Christ," Koaru said, slapping his head with his hand. "I haven't played either of those since I started guitar."

"Come on, Koaru," Amara teased, nudging him with her elbow. "We both know you could easily play if you decided to."

"I'll think about it." Koaru said, walking past them and heading to the door.

"I'll come by around six, and I'll need to change at your place." Michelle called after him.

"Fine!" Koaru called as he pushed through the doors and headed down the stairs.

"I can't believe it!" Serena called through Koaru's door as he changed into his suit. "You and Michelle are going on a date!"

"It's not a date, Meatball Head!" he shouted back. "I'm her escort, there is a difference!"

"Whatever," Serena said, turning and walking to her bedroom where Michelle was changing. Knocking on the door before entering, she smiled as she saw Rini helping Michelle zip up the back of her dress. "You excited, Michelle?" Serena asked, and Michelle sighed, softly smiling.

"I had hoped that Amara would be able to come, but I'm glad that Koaru agreed to help." she said, remembering how their after school rehersal had gone. Koaru's flute playing had been perfect, and her excitment for the performance was growing. "He is a great guy."

"I don't agree!" Rini said as she hopped onto Serena's bed. "He always makes me eat my vegetables at supper!"

Serena and Michelle both started laughing, causing Rini to glare at them.

"He does the same to you, Serena." she retorted, causing the teen girl to fall silent and hang her head. Michelle giggled at the little girl's wit, then turned as a knock was heard at the door.

"Everyone dressed in there?" came Koaru's voice, and Rini ran over to open the door.

Koaru stood out in the hall, adjusting his tie as he waited for the door to open. Checking himself, he wondered again why he was doing this. He was wearing a black dinner jacket with a sapphire blue jest overtop of a black dress shirt. His tie was also blue, as was the belt around his black dress pants, though he had attatched a small silver chain to two of the belt loops, letting it hang at his side. He had even pulled his black dress shoes out of their box for the first time since he had purchased them, and he shifted his wieght from foot to foot, trying to get used to the feel of them.

"How the hell does Darien manage to wear these things?" he asked himself as he heard the doorknob click before opening. Rini appeared in the small opening, smiling up at him before she pulled the door fully open, and Koaru felt his jaw drop slightly. Michelle was wearing a black satin dress with an image of an ocean wave across the right side. A slit ran up a ways on the left side of the dress, revealing a fair amount of the girl's leg and thigh, which Koaru realized he was staring at and quickly pulled his eyes up to her face, blushing slightly.

"You ready to go?" she asked, smiling. Koaru nodded as he spun his flute case in his hand before turning and walking down the hall. Michelle giggled and followed, leaving Serena and Rini in the room.

"Think they'll be alright?" Rini asked, and Serena shook her head.

"Not a chance. That's why we're going with them."

"No you're not." Luna said as she entered the room, glaring at Serena. "We don't need you ruining a benefit banquet."

Serena sighed and hung her head as the cat walked away. As soon as the cat was out of sight, a golden gleam flashed in Serena's eyes.

"Rini, go get a dress. We're going."