"Oorochi-kun! Oorochi-kun!"
Makoto Maruchii ran after the boy, pushing her way through the school. Shiritsu Daitou High School was a very crowded place, and chasing after someone (who was listening to his IPod) in your sailor-suit uniform was difficult.
She finally caught up to him. "Oorochi-kun!"
He took out his earphones. "What is it, Maruchii-san?"
"You left your book behind, Oorochi-kun." She handed it to him.
"Ah! Arigato, Maruchii-san! I don't know what I would've done!" He smiled through his mass of black hair. "I'll pay you back. What are you doing Friday?"
She blushed. "Nothing..."
"Would you like to come to the school dance this Friday with me?"
"Hai, Oorochi-kun!"
"Please, Maruchii-san - call me Koba. Ja ne." He walked away.
Makoto felt her heart rise in her throat. "M...Mata ne, Koba-kun!"
Nayuki and Asako loomed over her shoulders.
"Mako-chan has a crush!" Asako squealed.
She blushed and span. "Asa-chan! I do not! Ne, Nai-chan?"
Nayuki smiled. "Whatever you say."
Friday night, Koba-chan was waiting for her at her front door, dressed in a formal suit. Makoto's sister Kotone rushed to answer the door, cat in her hands. "Hi, Koba-chan! Mako-chan is upstairs."
Makoto rushed down the stairs, dressed in her white dress. Her long brown hair was in pigtails.
"Ready to go, Makoto-san?" He asked with a smile and a sneeze.
Kotone gasped. "He sneezed on me! That means I'm going to catch..." Her voice became a whisper. "...The emo..." She bolted. "THE EMO! THE EMO! I'M GOING TO CATCH THE EMO!"
Makoto blushed. "Gomen, Koba-kun..."
He laughed.
They arrived, miraculously, on time to the dance. Koba smiled, as usual, to Makoto. "Would you enjoy a dance, Makoto-san?"
She smiled back. "Hai, Koba-san."
With gentle hands, the boy took her waist and hand and swept her into a waltz to Bohemian Rhapsody.
"So, Makoto-san, I know so very little about you. Do tell me about yourself." He said quietly.
"There is not much to know, I suppose. What would you like to know?"
He pulled her close and whispered in her ear. "Everything."
She blushed. "Well, I live with my sister and grandmother, and our cat Yukumo." She told him. She sighed. "That's about it."
"What is your favourite colour? Movie? Food? Song? Game?"
"Lilac, Paprika, ramen, When I Come Around and a tie between NeverWinter Nights and BioShock."
He smiled. "I myself am partial to those games; however nothing beats Guitar Hero."
"What about you, Koba-san?"
He smiled down at her. "Well, I love you, Makoto-san."
She blushed. "Oh...Koba-kun...I love you too..."
Koba leaned down and kissed her.
"Please let me love you.
Lonely heart, do not run,
I am beside you.
You hide your wounds,
As if I would fear them,
Let me kiss them,
And cry for you.
Just let me love you.
I won't flinch or run.
When will you learn, love,
That I am here to stay?
Let me love you,
As freely as you are,
Let us be together,
Here, now and forever."
