Love Under a Starry Sky

Chapter 1 - The Letter

Kaito was no way or form in love with his best friend. Not at all. He didn't love her cute face or messy hair. He didn't love the way she speaks or the clumsy way she walks. And he definitely didn't love her eyes, not the way they sparkled - true to her name the child of blue. Aoko Nakamori. She definitely didn't keep him up at night. Kaito knew Aoko wasn't the prettiest or most elegant girl but to him she was perfect, but his situation prevented him from telling her. Telling her she was the only one for him.

Aoko definitely loved her best friend and it scared her. He was Kaito, her silly childhood friend. The one who always looked up her skirt or was pulling mean pranks on her. However, he was always there, when she was scared or upset. Ready to hug her or to cheer her up. She liked how his arms wrapped around her and his calm voice, she really liked that part of him.

Despite her knowing him most her life, it still scares her, he's definitely hiding something - something big. whatever it is she knows she'll be hurt. That's why when she got the letter, both of them were surprised - Aoko was friendly and cute but she had never received a love letter. Reading it, Kaito felt his heart twist and he didn't like this new feeling.

Dear Aoko Nakamori,

I think about you all the time - I don't think you hear it often enough, but you're beautiful. I have wanted to tell you this for a really long time, unfortunately I never got the chance, so I am writing to you instead.

I like you. I don't expect you to reply immediately, let's say today 22:30 on the school rooftop. I look forward to seeing you.

Your Secret Admirer.

P.S. I hope you like the gift.

It was simple enough, it was clear whoever wrote this didn't spend too much time on it but the thought was there. The paper itself was of high quality and a pretty baby blue and the gift referred to in the letter was a pair of clip on earrings - the same crystal clear blue of her eyes. The same eyes he loved staring at.

'Aoko,' he began, trying to swallow his jealousy, 'you don't plan on going do you?'

Her reply wasn't what he expected, the usually happy and lively girl he knew just looked fed up. 'Why shouldn't I?' It was barely a whisper but it scared him, Aoko was never this quiet. Something was bothering her. 'At least that way I won't be alone, plus it's not like I had anything to do anyway.'

'Alone? Aoko what do you mean?' Kaito knew that even if she was sad, she usually made an effort to sound cheerful, but she wasn't. 'Kid's heist is today, that bastard that's stealing my dad away from me, strikes again.'

'Bastard? Aoko what do you mean alone,' this was very bad, Aoko hated being alone, but she hasn't brought up the topic in a while, 'you have me, don't you?'

'Do I Kaito? Do I really? Recently you've been so distant.' She looked like she was trying hard to hold back her tears. He hated seeing her like this, but he couldn't do anything. He was that bastard, the one whose stealing her father, the reason he's been distant.

'Aoko-san?' This voice - ugh. Hakuba. Kaito turned to face the boy walking towards them, his face suggested he was worried about Aoko's demeanour, her usual smiling face covered by her hair and eyes glassed over with tears.

'Nakamori-san? What are you holding?' Akako wasn't really one to talk to Aoko without insulting her in some way, but even she sounded concerned.

'Aoko-san, if you're not feeling well you should go back home and rest.'

'That's right Nakamori-san, you should get some rest.'

Aoko mumbled something along the lines of 'okay, I might as well,' but it was hard to tell. As she walked towards the door she bumped into Keiko - one of her good friends, they talked for a little bit before Aoko walked out of the classroom and made her way out of the school.

'Shouldn't you be doing something Kuroba-kun, she is your best friend?'

'I don't think she wants to talk to me,' he began, feeling the eyes of his class land on him as Aoko left.

'Don't be ridiculous Kaito-kun, of course she wants to talk to you.'

'Keiko?'

'She's clearly upset about something and the least you could do as her best friend is try and talk to her.' He sighed, Aoko was upset about something he was a part of, he couldn't postpone today's heist without confirming Hakuba's suspicions and probably Aoko's too. The best he could do was to talk to her after school.

Today was definitely going to be busy.