The morning sun cut through the courtyard, painting bright streaks across the concrete. Takuya leaned against the cool brick wall, watching students drift by. Their laughter and chatter filled the air, a normal start to the day. He just watched, his hands tucked into his pockets.
Beside him, Rito Yuuki fidgeted. Rito was a nervous mess, his light brown hair a spiky tangle. He had warm brown eyes that darted around, but mostly they were fixed on one spot. He wore his school uniform, a little disheveled, like always.
Rito's gaze landed on Haruna Sairenji. She stood near a cherry tree, its branches just beginning to show hints of green. Haruna's blue-violet hair fell past her shoulders, soft and neat. Her school uniform was perfect, her posture gentle. She was talking to a couple of friends, a soft smile on her face. Her purple eyes held a quiet warmth.
"Okay, Takuya," Rito muttered, his voice low and tight. "I'm going to do it."
Takuya just gave a small nod.
Takuya knew the drill. Rito had liked Haruna since middle school. Every time he tried to tell her, something went wrong. A stray soccer ball, a falling potted plant, once even a herd of escaped alpacas.
Seriously, alpacas? Takuya thought, shaking his head.
It was like the universe had a personal vendetta against Rito's love life. Takuya wondered what it would be this time.
"Right. So, first," Rito continued, his eyes wide with a mix of panic and determination, "I'm going to approach her casually. Like, super casually. Maybe ask about homework."
He paused, a bead of sweat tracing a path down his temple.
"Then, once we're talking, I'll subtly drop a hint about the poem I wrote. It's… it's about spring. And cherry blossoms. She likes those, right?"
Takuya managed a faint smirk. A poem. Classic Rito.
"Then, if she seems interested, I'll pull out the letter. Not too fast, though! Like I just remembered I had it. It's on special paper, with a pressed flower."
Rito looked at Takuya, his eyes pleading for approval.
"It sounds… elaborate," Takuya said, keeping his voice even. "But you know, sometimes just saying it works too."
"No, no, Takuya, you don't get it!" Rito insisted, waving a hand. "It has to be perfect. Every detail. This time, I won't mess it up."
Takuya just offered a supportive nod. He understood the effort Rito put into these things, even if they always blew up in his face.
"Just go for it, Rito," Takuya said. "Be yourself. That's usually the best strategy."
Rito took a deep, shaky breath. He gave a firm nod, as if trying to convince himself more than Takuya.
"Okay. Okay, you're right. Just go. Be myself."
He squared his shoulders.
Rito started walking. His steps were hesitant at first, then gained a bit more purpose. He reached into his bag, his fingers fumbling for the crumpled letter. His eyes were fixed on Haruna, who still hadn't noticed him.
He was within a few feet of her, almost there. His hand was almost on the letter.
Thwack!
A blur of yellow. The tennis ball hit Rito squarely on the back of his head. It was a solid, comical sound that cut through the schoolyard chatter.
Rito's eyes rolled back. He dropped like a puppet with its strings cut, landing in a heap. The love letter, a small, pink square, fluttered from his grasp. It landed softly on the ground beside his unconscious body.
Haruna and her friends gasped. They rushed over, their voices a sudden mix of concern and surprise.
"Yuuki-kun!" Haruna cried, her soft voice filled with worry.
Takuya watched the whole thing. He shook his head slowly. A small, knowing smirk touched his lips. He knew Rito's luck. It was almost impressive how consistently bad it was.
Poor guy. Some things never change.
Haruna knelt beside Rito, gently checking his forehead. Her friends crowded around, looking equally worried. Takuya walked over, his hands still in his pockets.
"Sorry about him, Sairenji," Takuya said, his voice casual. "He's always tripping into trouble."
Haruna looked up, her soft hazel eyes meeting his. They were still wide with worry for Rito, but she gave Takuya a gentle nod.
"Yamashiro-kun," she said, her voice quiet. "Will Yuuki-kun be alright?"
Her concern was genuine. It was always genuine with Haruna.
"Yeah, he'll be fine," Takuya said. "This kind of thing happens all the time. He's tougher than he looks."
He watched her for a moment. Her gentle presence was a quiet thing, a stark contrast to the usual chaos Rito dragged around. It was a small comfort, just for a moment, to stand there in the calm of her concern.
"I hope so," she murmured, her gaze returning to Rito.
Their conversation was brief, just a few polite words between classmates. A respectful silence settled between them before the school bell rang, loud and clear. It signaled the end of classes.
"Takkun!"
The shout was a burst of energy, cutting through the bell's fading ring. Nijika Ijichi bounced over, a flash of blonde hair and a huge grin. She wore her school uniform, but her energetic way of moving made it seem like part of her. Her bright hazel eyes scanned the crowd, zeroing in on Takuya.
"Heard Rito-kun got taken out by a tennis ball again!" she said, a laugh in her voice. "Classic Rito, right?"
Takuya's earlier smirk returned. "Yeah, you could say that."
Nijika grinned, then her eyes sparkled. "Walk home together, like always?"
Takuya felt a genuine smile spread across his face. "Sounds good to me."
He felt a sense of ease with Nijika. Their friendship had a comfortable, familiar rhythm, a beat he could always count on.
"See you later, Sairenji," Takuya said, giving a small wave to Haruna.
Haruna gave a gentle nod back, still fussing over Rito.
Then, Takuya and Nijika walked away, leaving the still-recovering Rito and his crumpled love letter behind.
The streets of Shimokitazawa hummed with the after-school rush. The setting sun painted the sky in shades of orange and pink, casting long shadows ahead of Takuya and Nijika.
Nijika chattered beside him, her voice bright and quick.
"So, Ryo and I were at STARRY last night," she said, her hands gesturing as she spoke. "Still looking for a lead singer and guitarist. It's harder than it looks, Takkun! Everyone's either got no talent or too much attitude."
She sighed dramatically.
"But we'll find someone! STARRY needs a band. My sister's counting on us. We're gonna make it big, you'll see!"
Her dreams for their live house were always a big topic. Takuya listened, nodding along. He liked her enthusiasm.
"Oh, and speaking of big… how about that race, Takkun?" Nijika teased, a playful glint in her eye. "Thought you had it in the bag."
Takuya winced slightly. The memory of Kenji cutting him off, the crash, the wrecked bike—it still sat heavy in his gut.
"It was a cheap shot," he grumbled, his earlier frustration returning. "He cut me off. It wasn't fair."
He kicked a small pebble down the sidewalk.
"Sometimes you just run into bad luck," Nijika said, her tone softening. She quickly changed the subject, always good at reading his mood. "You know, Ryo probably just blew all her money on a new bass pedal after practice. She asked me for money, and she still hasn't paid me back!"
Nijika's voice held an exasperated affection for her bandmate.
Takuya chuckled, the image of Ryo buying more gear making him smile.
"Speaking of bikes, remember that time my chain snapped during practice?" Takuya said, steering the conversation away from his sour mood. "And I almost took out Mrs. Tanaka's prize-winning bonsai tree? She was furious."
Nijika laughed, a loud, infectious sound. "Oh, yeah! You looked so scared! Like a little kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar."
Their talk flowed easily after that, moving from school gossip to band plans, his motocross race, and then to Ryo's quirks. It was a comforting mix of everyday teenage life, a steady rhythm he appreciated.
They approached a busy intersection. The pedestrian light flashed red. Nijika checked her watch, her expression shifting slightly. Her cheerful chatter quieted.
"Shoot, I gotta run," she said, her voice a little regretful. "Need to head straight to STARRY. My sister's got a show tonight, and she needs help setting up."
She gave Takuya a quick, friendly pat on the arm.
"Be careful on your way home, Takkun!"
Takuya nodded, understanding. He knew how much STARRY meant to her, and her family.
"You too, Nijika," he said.
She gave him a quick wave, then hurried across the street as the light changed. Her figure quickly disappeared into the crowd. Takuya continued on his path alone.
The evening air grew cooler. Takuya walked alone, the city sounds blurring into a dull hum. He kicked a loose stone, his thoughts still replaying the motocross race.
Kenji was such a jerk.
A strange feeling washed over him. It wasn't cold. It wasn't pain. It was a pressure, deep inside his head, like a whisper against his skull.
Comrade… my comrade… Come to me…
The voice was faint, like an echo in a empty room. It wasn't with his ears. It was somewhere else, deep in his mind.
Takuya stopped dead. His head snapped up. He scanned the empty street. No one was there. Just the distant glow of streetlights and the dark shapes of houses.
A chill ran down his spine.
"Who's there?" he called out, his voice louder than he meant it to be. It cut through the sudden quiet, sounding sharp and raw.
He waited. The only sound was the faint breeze rustling through leaves. Nothing. The street stayed empty.
What was that?
He pulled out his phone, checking for messages or a missed call. Nothing. Not even a strange number.
Takuya rubbed his temples.
Must be tired. All that race stress, no sleep last night.
He tried to shake the feeling away.
Just my imagination playing tricks.
He started walking again, faster this time. The strange feeling slowly faded, but a faint unease lingered, like a bad taste in his mouth.
The smell of miso soup and grilled fish met Takuya when he opened the front door. The aroma filled the air, a familiar comfort. He found Aiko and Hiroshi already at the dining table.
"Takuya, you're just in time," Aiko said, her voice warm. She had a gentle smile on her face, but her eyes held a touch of worry. "Come, eat before it gets cold."
He took his usual seat. His dad, Hiroshi, gave him a small, thoughtful nod. Hiroshi's wire-frame glasses caught the light from the kitchen.
"Your father has some big plans for tomorrow," Aiko said, looking at Hiroshi. "He's going up to the mountains. I want you to go with him."
Takuya paused, his chopsticks halfway to his bowl. "Mountains? What for?"
Aiko sighed. "He found something. A strange object, he says. It landed somewhere in the mountains. He and his team are going to investigate."
Her voice dropped, a quiet concern in it. "It might be an alien."
Takuya just shrugged, pushing a piece of fish around his plate.
Aliens? Right.
His mind was already back on his broken bike.
"Dad, you know I can't go," Takuya said, his tone casual. "I need to fix my bike. That crash messed it up pretty bad."
"And Aliens?" he added, a hint of dismissal in his voice. "Don't really believe in that stuff."
Hiroshi placed his chopsticks down. He looked at Aiko, a calm, reassuring look in his eyes. "It's fine, Darling. My team and I will be perfectly safe. It's just an investigation."
Then he turned to Takuya, his expression growing serious.
"As an astrophysicist, Takuya," Hiroshi began, his voice measured, "it's my responsibility to investigate unusual phenomena. If I have the ability to understand it, I have the duty to seek it out."
Takuya nodded slowly. "Yeah, Dad, I get it. Your passion."
Aiko let out another sigh, a soft, weary sound. "You always let him off the hook so easily, Dear."
***
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