Prologue
"Hinamori, remind me again why do we have to do this?"
As she finished setting up the telescope at the edge of the veranda, Hinamori Momo turned to her red headed classmate, Abarai Renji. "Sensei wanted us to look at the stars in the night sky. If possible, identify them."
Laying back against his chair, he put his hands behind his head. "How are we supposed to do that when the lights in the whole town is mostly turned on?"
"That is why we're star gazing late at night Abarai-kun," replied their other classmate, Kira Izuru, who entered the veranda with a tray of pop drinks and chips.
"Sensei gives us the most out of this world assignments to complete and it's only the beginning of the fall semester!"
Placing the tray on the small table next to Renji, Kira took a seat right next to him. "As long as we're learning at school, we have no other choice but to do what the teacher tells us to do. Besides, it will benefit us in the long run."
"You're already thinking about the future? Come on Kira, we still have a year left until our senior year. You can think about it by then. In the meantime, enjoy our junior year."
"Well unlike your folks, my parents expect a lot from me."
"Tch, fine. Do what you want."
"Ah, sorry Hinamori-kun. We're not helping at all, aren't we?" Kira asked the raven haired girl.
She could feel her cheeks heat up. Even though she has known him since middle school, he doesn't know that she has a huge crush on him. "Mou, calm yourself Momo. Even though you like him, he only thinks of you as a friend."
"Hinamori-kun?"
"Ah no, don't worry about it," she hesitantly replied. "I don't mind you two talking about other things. Besides, it's a good way of wasting time until we can see the stars in the sky."
"Good point there."
"Let's not talk about school," Renji said.
"Alright then, what do you want to talk about?"
"I heard that Kurosaki-kun is going out with Orihime-chan," Hinamori said.
"Ah yeah, they are," Renji replied as he opened his can of pop. "Apparently, Inoue is the one who confessed to him."
"I'm quite amazed," Kira said. "She seems like the shy type, but she's able to pull it off."
"Yeah, I guess."
"I think it's amazing," Hinamori said. "It really took her a lot of courage to admit her feelings to the person she loves. I don't think I'll be able to do the same if I had mutual feelings for a boy."
"Now that's where you're wrong Hinamori," replied the red headed teenager. "If you don't say a thing to that person, he'll never find out."
"Abarai-kun, I never thought of you to be the type to know these things," Kira replied.
"Let's just say it's experience."
"With Rukia-san," Hinamori added.
"Shut up," snapped the tall teenager. "S-She's my childhood friend."
"There's no need to lie Abarai-kun," Kira said as he place a hand on his shoulder, "the whole school knows about it."
"Tch...be quiet."
As the two boys continued to bicker with one another, Hinamori began looking up in the clear night sky. She envied Renji and all the other people who are able to find their special someone. "If only Kira-kun and I could be together."
Placing her hands together, she closed her eyes and silently made a wish. "I hope to have the courage to tell the person who I love the most my feelings. Then we could be together."
"Ah look Hinamori-kun! A shooting star just passed by!" Kira exclaimed.
Opening them once more, she looked to find nothing different. "Huh, where is it?"
"You just missed it," Renji replied. "It quickly flew by as you were standing there thinking to yourself."
"Mou..."
"It's alright Hinamori-kun. There's always next time," Kira said.
"Ah yeah..."
They continued to look at the stars until it is time to pack it in for the night. Once Kira and Renji left the Hinamori residence, the sixteen year old girl is finally put to rest after she went to her bedroom, got changed, and went to bed. Fast asleep, she didn't realize the glass door quietly opened by itself, allowing a gentle breeze blowing into the room. By the time she wakes up, she will find out. She is not alone.
