Ao Haru Ride (book ver)

Volume 1- Introduction

I find boys difficult to deal with. Even more so in Junior high for many reasons: they're violent, loud and barbaric but there is one boy, Tanaka from next door... he's different somehow. Tanaka is short and his voice isn't low, he's like a girl. Most importantly, he's gentle so maybe that's why I don't mind being around him.

Break time started like any other, me and my friend Yumi were walking across the playground spying on Yumi's crush Naito. Unlike me, Yumi likes being around the boys in our year and I don't care because she's one of the only friends I have. "ROCK- PAPER- SCISSORS," Naito's voice echoes through the air. Before I could look at the other people around him, Yumi calls out to him. The boy's tell us that they're about to play cops and robbers and invite us to join them. Before I could make up my mind, my eyes met with Tanaka's for probably the first time ever. That really caught me off guard and I'm pretty sure I muttered yes. You know, I really don't understand guys,  they always act like they don't want to play with us but they're smiling. Well all of the boys except Tanaka.

 "ROCK- PAPER- SCISSORS," The next round has officially began, I begin to feel nervous because I haven't played this game in years. In the top right corner of the yard, there's a big bandstand that hasn't been used for ages. I lurk around it for a while until I spot a place that would be the perfect hiding spot. Suddenly, I hear someone's voice across the bushes so I quickly crawled to the nearest corner. I'm pretty sure the God's were in a good mood because Tanaka was right there, at the hiding spot. My face suddenly goes the darkest shade of red as I stared at him. Quickly, I tried to get up but someone's hand grabs my arm firmly and pulls me behind. "Tanaka?" I suddenly say. 

        "Not now," he says, his soft voice whispered in my ear, "The cops are over there."                        Embarrassment floods me as I let myself become delusional. I completely forgot that we were in the middle of a game. I look at him again noticing a few things, he's stronger than I thought, although his arms are slender. Also, The tips of his hair are curly and cute. 

On the other side of the bushes Naito, one of the cops, arises and Tanaka suddenly moves back.          "Whoa, that was close," he says. My face once again turns a shade darker. I abruptly breathe in and I can smell his shampoo that's mixed with a little bit of sweat. I can't help but wonder if that's what all boys smell like. Unexpectedly, he turns around and looks me straight in the eye. I begin to panic and the things going through my head were like:                                                              'OH no! what if he's telepathic and he just read my mind!? Sorry, I won't think any more weird thoughts, A-B-C-D.'      

Naito comes back to the spot next to the bushes, where he was before and looks around. To save myself from embarrassment once again, I was about to leave until Tanaka pulled himself up and ran away before I had the chance to do so. A few of the cops surrounded him in an instant and he got put into jail. Without thinking twice, I ran from the spot I was in and sprinted towards the jail to tig him and set him free but I got surrounded and put into jail myself.

The next few minutes passed by and the silence was becoming more and more awkward. I guess I should say something but I don't know what to say. "Um," Tanaka says, "You know, when you ran over I was... kind of really.. happy."                        "Yeah," I say, unable to think of anything else.      "Yeah," he replies, his face turning slightly red.

  After that incident, Tanaka's without a doubt different from other boys. I'm completely fine around him, I don't dislike him.

Ever since then, when our eyes meet, we always look away at first and then our eyes meet again.

The bell rings loud symbolling the end of school, I get my things and rush towards the main school door. I suddenly realize that there are big rain clouds right above the school. Within seconds, the rain pours down from the clouds right when I stepped out of the school. I quickly make my way to the nearest shelter that happens to be the roof of a nearby house. A weird jangly sound comes from the dent on the other side of the building which was coming from a boy that attends my school. His face turns to face mine and I notice that it happened to be Tanaka. We bowed our heads and stayed in silence for a good few minutes.

"It came down all of a sudden huh?" he says       "Yeah," I reply, suddenly cringing because of my reply. I don't dislike Tanaka but I still feel nervous, I wonder why. It's almost as if I like hi-      Wait! no.. It can't be! This is so embarrassing, I must say something...

"TANAKA" I boom out, "Are you going to the festival?"                 "Huh...?" Tanaka replies, expressionless. Regret overflows me, did it sound like I was asking him out? I'd be so embarrassed if it did!    "I wonder if Yumi wants to go" I say, unable to come up with anything else, "I'll have to ask her."

"Here use this," Tanaka puts his gym shirt on my head "Dry off or you'll catch a cold and don't worry. I haven't worn that one... except once."       "EWW," I howl, my reaction overtaken by Tanaka's laugh.   "I don't care, I'll use it," I say. I wonder what expression he has on his face and I slowly look his way. His cheeks are cherry red and I can't help but wonder if he likes me.. although I could be wrong.

Another day passes and morning comes again. I go to Tanaka's class and thank him for lending me his gym shirt.      "Are you going to the festival?" he says. "Did you make plans with your friends?"      "umm.. not yet" I reply.   "Seven O'clock" he says, "The clock tower in sankaku park."  Wait, is this what I think it is, I stare at him, not knowing what to say.   "WHOA! What are you two doing out here together?" says Naito, suddenly appearing at the classroom door.   "I lent her something. She just brought it back." Tanaka says suddenly.

My heart is pounding so hard it's about to burst, did we just make a date? What's happening?    "HEY so there's nothing going on between you two? TELL ME TELL ME" Naito's friend shouts.  "Cut it out, You're so annoying! This is why I can't stand it." I said "You're all so stupid! I HATE BOYS!" I screamed, uncontrollably. I look around and realize Tanaka was standing at the door frame the whole time. I start getting anxious as he walks away, hoping that he realizes that I was on about every boy except him. He will right?

However, our eyes meet all the time but Tanaka always looks away now.                                                   But I'm sure that Tanaka understands though.. right?

That's what I thought about all summer break. Back on the night of the festival, I waited and waited for him but he never arrived. For the first time of my life I was wishing for summer break to be over, so that I could see him again.

Finally, It was time to return back to school, I was so excited I thought I might burst but things didn't go the way I thought they would. As soon as I entered the school building, I heard many people gossiping about something.  "TANAKA TRANSFERRED SCHOOLS?!" I heard one girl shout  "No-one has contact with him!?" I heard another shout. My heart STOPPED. A feeling of guilt and sadness flooded me and I couldn't concentrate that whole day.

On the way home, once again I had forgot to bring my umbrella and rain started pouring down. I ran to the same building I did before and glanced over to the other side of the wall, hoping I'd see Tanaka waving his keys like he did before. It was empty. I tried to laugh it off but memories of him came flooding through my mind. I let myself cry to let out all of these new emotions. 

I liked Tanaka, even though it was a vague and fumbling crush... I still liked him but nothing even started... nothing at all.

Tanaka.. I wonder what you're thinking right now.

                                                                         INTRODUCTION END