At lunchtime, I usually sat alone in a corner table at the back of the cafeteria. This cafeteria was pretty big, and there's usually a LOT of people in it. Even so, it isn't rare to see a bunch of people eating alone.

Like me. One Man Army...I picked up my tray, and was about to start walking to my usual spot, when I heard a voice behind me."Um...hello, Takagashi-san..."

I whirled around. And there stood Katsura, looking nervous as hell.

"Oh...hey, Katsura-san. Do you need anything?"

"Um...well, do you want to eat with me?"

"...Yeah, sure! I'd be glad to."

I seem pretty calm, right? Nah. On the inside, I'm freaking out.

We took a seat by the cafeteria windows, which had a nice view of the surrounding area, and the window seats tended to be quieter compared to the rest of the cafeteria. I let Kotonoha take a seat first, then I set my tray down in the spot across from her. I'm surprised I didn't drop it, my heart was beating pretty fast. Since when did I start feeling nervous around Katsura-san? Be still my beating heart be still my beating heart be still my beating heart...

Kotonoha looked as nervous as I was, though she showed it more - she was staring at the table, and fidgeting with her hands. Since she had invited me over, I assumed that she wanted to tell me something. But, she still seemed to be summoning the courage to say it.

The awkward silence was growing, so I took the plunge. "Katsura-san, are you doing alright?"

She abruptly nodded. "Yes, I am doing fine, thank you...I...I have something to say..."

She paused, and looked up at me with a nervous - yet undoubtedly heartfelt - smile on her face. "T-Thank you so much for saving me from Otome and her friends. No one has ever stood up for me before. I am in your debt. Thank you." For a moment, I swore I saw tears in her eyes, but then she stared back down at the table.

I didn't know what to say. "Katsura-san...it's all right. You don't owe me anything...I just happened to be there at the right time. And I'm glad I was able to help you out."

Kotonoha looked back up. "Takagashi-san...what you did means a lot to me...and while I may not be able to repay my debt to you now, someday, I swear I will." She spoke quietly, but I could hear the resolve in her voice, and somehow, I knew I wouldn't be able to change her mind.

I smiled a little. "Alright then Katsura-san, I'll...take your word for it, I guess. But...er...do you know why was Otome bullying you?"

At that, Kotonoha's face fell, and she shifted around uncomfortably. "I...uh...well..." Noticing her discomfort with the subject, I mentally slapped myself for the prying question. "Sorry, Katsura-san...you don't have to answer that." "No," she softly replied. "You deserve to know." She took a deep breath. "Otome and her friends have been...bullying me," - I noticed she had to force that word out - "since first semester, when there is nobody around."

I shook my head in disgust. "The girl really has no reason to bully you. Does she just do it for fun?"

"I...well...I have a feeling why she does that...I think it's because...b-because she's jealous of me...of how the boys look at me...because of my body..." Kotonoha blushed, and looked down at the table again. I warily nodded. "Er...actually, those sound like the only reasons why she's attacking you, childish and immature though they may be..." Kotonoha's head bowed a bit further. "Hai," she responded softly.

I sighed, and pondered if I should ask my next question - then I decided that it was for the best. "Um...Katsura-san, I have a personal question that you may not want to answer, but I think it's important..." She looked up at me with wide eyes, then slowly nodded. "Go ahead."

"Why didn't you defend yourself from Otome?"

I was expecting Kotonoha to have an emotional reaction. To my surprise, she didn't...she just got a faraway look in her eyes, and a sort of sad smile appeared on her face. "I...don't know, Takagashi-san...it's just the way I am..."

"And...uh...what would that be?" I uneasily replied.

Still looking into space, she began to speak softly, almost in a whisper. "I'm too meek for my own good. Weak. A coward..."

"No, Katsura-san. You're not."

Katsura looked up with a surprised, almost shocked look on her face. Even I was surprised at the resolve in my voice, but I went on.

"You're not a coward. You're not weak. I don't know you that well, but you're the class president...I've seen you handle a lot of responsibility, and I know you're one of the smartest people in the class. Katsura-san, you may have your insecurities, but you're stronger than you credit yourself for, and I know you have the potential to become stronger, more confident, and more successful than anyone else in the class." I stopped, and took a deep breath. "That's what I think." With my monologue finished, I, broke eye contact with the wide-eyed Kotonoha, and stared at the table.

We sat in silence for a long moment, then I heard her say softly, "Thank you, Takagashi-san." I looked up at her, into her softly smiling face, but that wasn't what caught my attention. Because in Kotonoha's eyes, I saw her feelings, her gratitude, expressed in a way that went beyond words. And I nodded. Because I understood.

Suddenly the sound of a loudly growling stomach interrupted us. Katsura blushed. "Sorry about that..." I suddenly realized we had been keeping from lunch long enough. "Not at all, Katsura-san, let's eat..."

And so we did. Katsura enjoyed some kind of noodles, while I had some sketchy tasting, but at least palatable spaghetti. We ate in silence, and I had a feeling both of us were trying to regain our composure after our rather deep conversation. But still, silence can't go on forever, and one of us had to break it...

-xXx-

Kotonoha finished her meal in silence. After the moment she had had with Takagashi-san, things had gotten quiet. And although she was the number one student in her class, a ranking member of two major student associations, and class president, nothing in life had prepared her for a one-on-one conversation with...a boy. What should I do? Should I say something? Kotonoha glanced at Milo, who was slowly poking at the half-plate of spaghetti in front of him. I think he's as nervous as I am, she realized. So, as she finished the last of her noodles, she decided to take the initiative.

"Takagashi-san-"

"Katsura-san-"

The "simultaneous encounter" doesn't just happen in the movies - it happens in real life.

Kotonoha gaped, then giggled embarrassedly. Milo just looked down and chuckled sheepishly, then said, "Uh, you go ahead, Katsura-san." Kotonoha nodded, and she slowly smiled. "Takagashi-san..."

"Uh...yeah?"

And in a light British accent, Kotonoha said, "Did you know I spoke English?"

Milo looked like he had been struck by lightning. He spluttered wordlessly for a moment, before gasping out in English, "N...no...I never would have guessed...how...I had no idea..." Kotonoha laughed softly. "My father hired a tutor from Hong Kong to teach me when I was younger. It's been a few years since I've last spoken English...do I sound strange?"

He immediately shook his head. "No, definitely not - you sound just like a natural English speaker...it's shocking...I had no idea..." Kotonoha smiled, and hesitantly replied, "Then...maybe...can I practice my English with you?"

"In my opinion, Katsura-san, you don't need practice, you sound like you've already mastered English. But anytime you want to practice, go right ahead."

She brushed a few stray bangs from her face, and nodded. "Okay, Takagashi-san. Uh...were you going to ask me something?"

Milo stared at her blankly for a moment before remembering. "Gah. Stupid me, I forgot. Uh..." He paused, and decided to switch to Japanese for Kotonoha's sake. "Katsura-san, the book you were reading this morning - what was the title?"

"Er...It's called The Host...it's a romance novel..."

"The Host...Oh yeah! I read that book before, it was pretty good."

Kotonoha stared at Milo with an incredulous look on her face. "Y-You read romance novels? Stephanie Meyer?" He winced, and shrugged. "Well...I randomly picked it at the library, the cover looked cool, and I read it...and I liked it. Actually, I didn't know the author was the same person that wrote the Twilight books."

Kotonoha couldn't help herself, and began laughing - she had read the Twilight series, and she knew what people thought about it. Milo looked on in amusement, while observing that she had a unique, cute laugh - not too girlish, not too annoying, but nice to hear. She should laugh more, he noted. Meanwhile, Kotonoha recovered, and apologetically murmured, "Sorry, Takagashi-san...I don't usually burst out laughing like that..." Milo merely smiled. "Don't worry, Katsura-san, it's natural...I'm sure anyone would laugh if they knew I read Stephanie Meyer's novels."

She smiled awkwardly. "Hai, Takagashi-san...Er, I'm wondering, what other books do you read then?"

Milo shrugged. "Anything that catches my interest. War novels, thrillers, action, history, science fiction, epics...that kind of stuff. How about you?" Kotonoha smiled, and began thinking. "Romance, mostly...but I read traditional literature, contemporary works, and fantasy as well." She blushed and hesitated, before saying, "You may think I'm strange, but I also like horror novels, movies, games - anything scary."

Once again, Milo was completely surprised. "Wha...seriously?...You like those? You're much braver than I am, then..."

Kotonoha nodded, and grinned. "They're fun, I get a kind of tingly sensation when I watch the really good ones."

He laughed. "I would just run out of the room screaming. So, if I put you in a dark room, all by yourself, and made you watch Paranormal Activity, what would your reaction be?"

Kotonoha chuckled. "I already did that. I couldn't sleep for the rest of the night, though."

Milo was just about to respond when he noticed the time on the cafeteria's far wall. "Ah great. Class starts in three minutes." Kotonoha reluctantly nodded, and stood. "We'd better get to class then," she sighed.

They picked up their belongings, tossed the trash, and exited the cafeteria. Along the way to class, Milo spoke up. "Nakayama-san hasn't been here for the past week - do you know what happened to him?" Kotonoha thought for a second, trying to place the whereabouts of the boy that sat between herself and Milo, then remembered. "He was transferred to Tokyo, something to do with his mother's work." Milo nodded, then took a deep breath, and said as casually as possible, "Do you mind if I sat next to you then?" Kotonoha hesitated, then smiled. "Not at all."

Milo smiled in response, and opened the classroom door for her. The two entered, and sat together by the window. As class started, Kotonoha glanced one more time at the person besides her, her unexpected savior, her newfound friend, Milo Takagashi.

And for the first time in a long while, she felt genuinely happy.

-xXx-

While do I feel like someone is watching me?

I glanced around the train terminal, certain that I would catch the owner of the eyes boring into my back, but I didn't see anything. Hmm. Weird. Maybe it was...a ghost. Or a serial killer. Or ninja assassins. Or maybe it was one of Kotonoha's jealous admirers - I don't know. I turned back to the laughing girl at my side, and walked towards the station exit.

Meanwhile, Makoto Itou wordlessly turned away from the train window, and turned the music on his MP3 player to max volume.

This day had been a surprise roller coaster ride. Achievements for today: stopping a group of bullies from evil acts. Speaking with one of the cutest girls in the school. Making friends with aforementioned girl. Finding out that she spoke English, liked horror movies and literature, and that she had never played Angry Birds. Once I showed Kotonoha that game on my Ipod, I think she became instantly addicted - she played the thing for the entire train ride, and in about twenty minutes, she had gotten farther in that game than I would have in two weeks.

Kotonoha Katsura. This girl is a unique person...usually, she's quiet and shy, but when you talk to her, she begins to open up. I mean, sure, she has her insecure moments, but I think she's a great person to talk to.

Anyway, while talking with Kotonoha through notes and during breaks, I found out that she lives a few blocks - or about a five to ten minute walk - from my house. Weird, but true. We go to school on the same train - we had just been sitting in different train cars this entire time. So, I took it on myself to walk Kotonoha home from school, while we talked about the definition of what a zombie exactly was.

Take a look around...it's a nice day, the sun is nearing the horizon, this is a quiet part of town that gives you a nice view of the city sprawled around, there's a soft breeze through the trees, and I'm talking with Kotonoha Katsura about whether someone can become a zombie through its saliva or any of its bodily fluids.

"So biologically speaking, all the characters in Highschool of the Dead should have been infected a long time ago, huh?" I grinned.

"Unless the producers can explain how someone gets a zombie blood bath and gets away with it," Kotonoha laughed. Then she stopped walking right outside a large gate. "Here's my home," she said, pointing to the just visible two story house inside. It looked pretty nice.

"You have a nice house," I observed. "So, uh...I'll see you tomorrow then?" Kotonoha paused, seemingly stuck in her thoughts, then awkwardly nodded. "Er...uh...yes..." I had only spent a day with Katsura-san, but I found that I could read her body language to a degree. "Is...something wrong?" I gently asked.

She shook her head. "No...I...uh, Takagashi-san...do you want to come in?"

My eyes widened. "I...uh, sure, alright then. Will your parents mind?"

"My mother doesn't come home till very late, and my father is on a business trip. My sister will be home soon, though." Kotonoha opened the gate, then shyly smiled at me. "Welcome to the Katsura residence."

I chuckled, then stepped inside. The sight of the house greeted me - I realized it was much bigger than how it looked from outside the gate. Kotonoha had mentioned that she had a wealthy family, and it showed - the grounds were well cared for, and there were a couple of late model cars in the driveway. I followed Kotonoha inside, while continuing to marvel at her house. Once there, we emerged into the...living room, I guess, for lack of a better word, and she motioned me to sit down on the couch.

"I'm going to make us some tea and refreshments, Takagashi-san," she smiled. "Just wait for a minute."

I wordlessly nodded, still speechless with admiration at her house. I gently placed my bag to one side, and had a seat. My grandparents weren't expecting me to be back until dinnertime, but I was usually back long before then. I decided to text my brother to tell them I would be back a little later, then I pocketed my phone and looked up.

Right at a mini-Kotonoha, except with shorter hair.

She stared at me with a huge grin on her face. "Who are you? Are you Kotonoha's boyfriend?"

Ah. This must be Kotonoha's younger sister, I realized. "Uh, no, I'm your sister's friend. I'm Milo Takagashi, and you're Kokoro?"

However, Kokoro just broke out laughing. "You said your name backwards, like Americans do, like how they say it in English...that's what my tutor is teaching me."

I grinned. "So that means you can speak English now?"

Kokoro gaped at me. "Not..that...well..." Then she switched back to Japanese. "You sound American!"

"That's because I come from there, Kokoro-chan-"

"Kokoro-chan! Are you done pestering Takagashi-san?" Kotonoha stood in the doorway in an apron, with an angry expression directed at her sister. However, Kokoro didn't mind that at all.

"Onee-chan! You didn't tell me you brought home a friend, especially a boy!"

Kotonoha's frown turned into an exasperated sigh. "I didn't know you were home yet, Kokoro-chan, where did you come from?"

"Uzuki-san was sick, so I couldn't stay at her house. Onee-chan, I'm hungry! Are you making anything?" And instead of waiting for Kotonoha's response, Kokoro jumped up and ran into the kitchen.

Kotonoha sighed. "Sorry about my sister, she can get kind of hyper sometimes."

I grinned. "It's all right, she reminds me of my little cousin."

A yell came from the kitchen. "Onee-chan! I need helping cooking the rice!"

Kotonoha winced. "I'd better get back, if Kokoro starts cooking, there won't be a kitchen left. Are you...okay waiting here?"

"Well, um, Katsura-san...is it okay if I stay in the kitchen?"

She hesitated, then shrugged and smiled. "I guess you can. I just hope Kokoro isn't too much of a nuisance..."

"How old is she?" I got up, and followed her into the kitchen. It was big one too (as expected), with two (TWO!) refrigerators, two stoves, and a sort of cooking center in the middle. Kokoro was sitting at a counter off to the side.

"She's 11, but she looks younger, don't you, Kokoro-chan?"

"What about me?" Kokoro said. "Oh yeah, I'm 11. Everyone says I don't act my age. Takagashi-san, you said you're American, right?"

I smiled, and sat down next to her. "That's right, Kokoro-chan. I moved here with my brother, and we're staying with my grandparents, and my house is a five minute walk away from here." I could tell that Kotonoha was listening, as she finished preparing the tea and snacks. I hadn't told her about this yet.

"But then where are your parents?" Kokoro asked, as she plucked at a tangerine.

"Well, they're actually in Manila, in the Philippines, taking care of paperwork. Do you know where that is?"

"Somewhere south, I think." Kokoro finally got the tangerine peeled, and happily began munching on it.

"Will your parents join you here, Takagashi-san?" Kotonoha placed the tray of tea, crackers, and fruit in front of us, and sat down next to me.

I shrugged, and handed some crackers to Kokoro. "I actually don't know, Katsura-san. They'll be...busy, for a while, but I'll know when I'll be seeing them again."

Kotonoha quietly nodded, and poured herself a cup of tea. There was something in her eyes, something...sad, like she knew how I felt...but I couldn't be sure.

But right then, Kokoro interrupted once again. "Onee-chan, why do you and Takagashi-san call each other by your last names? Aren't you friends?"

Awkward moment. I uneasily laughed, while Kotonoha blushed, and looked down. "Well Kokoro-chan, we...became friends today, and while I...want to call Katsura-san by her given name, I..." I looked at Kotonoha. "I don't know how you feel about it."

Kotonoha slowly looked up. "I...I..." She cleared her throat. "I'm okay with it...er...Milo...kun..."

I nodded. "Okay, Kotonoha-chan..." We nervously smiled at each other.

"We also call her Koto-chan, so maybe you can call her that too!" Kokoro said eagerly.

Kotonoha sighed in exasperation. "Kokoro-chan, the rice is almost ready, and the hot dogs are warm on the stove."

"Yay!" Kokoro squealed, and jumped off the stool to go claim her food.

"I haven't seen her this hyper in a long time, sorry about that, er...Milo-kun..." Kotonoha mumbled. I chuckled. "Yeah, I think it's because of me. Are you sure you're comfortable with the given names thing...Kotonoha-chan?"

Kotonoha hesitated, then looked over at my shoulder - to the counter across the room where Kokoro was happily munching on a hot dog while staring intently at us. When Kotonoha spoke again, it was in English. "Kokoro's English isn't as good as mine, so this might help." I grinned over my shoulder at Kokoro, who pouted, and returned to her food. "But it's fine, Milo-kun...I'll get used to it. You...are my friend, after all..." I smiled. "And you're mine as well. Uh...I'll tell you something I don't tell many people."

"Oh? What's that?"

"I actually hate my name. It sounds like something from fifty years ago."

Kotonoha actually paled. "Then...I shouldn't have..."

I was quick to reassure her. "No, it's fine, I don't mean it too literally, just that I don't like it. My dad named me...after the Milo drink, if you know what it is. When I was born, he was holding a cup of it in his hand, right? And he just decided, on an impulse, to name me that. It reminds me of...that movie, with a cat and a pug, and the adventures they have?"

Kotonoha slowly smiled in realization. "You mean Milo and Otis!"

"Yep, that. At least my name isn't Otis, I could never live with that."

Kotonoha laughed. "Oh, that's true. But you're not alone, I have a strange name too, and it certainly isn't common."

A forlorn voice spoke up behind me. "I don't know what you guys are talking about, and it's driving me crazy!"

Kotonoha and I turned to grin at the miniature bundle of fury behind me. "Then that means you should learn your English, Kokoro," Kotonoha laughed. "You'd better put your plate in the dishwasher and do your homework so you can catch your show."

At that, Kokoro jumped up and busied herself with the dishwasher, which left Kotonoha and I to clean up the leftovers of our snacks, and talk.

And talk we did...for the rest of the evening, we hung out in the living room place, talking about our families, movies, books, homework. Kokoro emerged from time to time, but her energy seemed to be spent, and she had her shows to watch. So, Kotonoha and I continued hanging out with each other, and we even did some homework, but all too soon, I realized it was dark outside, and that my grandparents were probably wondering why I was taking so long.

"Kotonoha-chan, looks like I need to go home now." She nodded, and walked me to the door, and even to the gate. Once there, she turned to me.

"I-I...had a nice day, Milo-kun," Kotonoha quietly said. "And I want to thank you, for being my friend."

I smiled. "No, Kotonoha-chan...thank you."

She looked deep into my eyes, smiled, and nodded. "S-See you tomorrow, then?"

"Yep. Till tomorrow..."

Finally, we said our goodbyes, and parted, and I headed for home with a huge smile on my face...and that smile was still on my face as I got into my bed that night.

And I knew, somehow, that in her own bed, Kotonoha was smiling too.

I'm back. And what do you think? Changes are good? Bad? Review, hold nothing back.

-AoL