Girl Next Door

Chapter Two

Risa Takanaka looked up from the book she was reading to see who called her by name. She saw that it was a tall teenage boy with unruly dark blue hair and blue eyes that she knew very well. Her eyes widened as she said, "Kyosuke? Oh, Kyosuke!"

She ran up to Kyosuke and leaped upon him, giving him the tightest of hugs. The force of her body colliding with his was so strong that the two of them fell over and landed on the floor, with Risa right on top of Kyosuke.

"R-Risa..." he said, lying on the floor and trying to get his breath back, "you're back."

"I know, right?" said Risa, laughing as she lay on top of Kyosuke. "Oh, It's so great to see you again, Kyosuke! I have lots to tell... But I'm just so happy to see you again!" She lay her head on Kyosuke's chest.

Kyosuke's mother watched and chuckled at the two.

"I-It's so great to see you too... Risa," said Kyosuke, smiling awkwardly. This was her, his friend that he waited so long for, but she looked so different from when he last saw her that he didn't know much of what to do.

"Oh, we should catch up! There's so much we missed out on together, I don't know where to start..." said Risa, elated.

"Um, Risa?" said Kyosuke.

"Yes, Kyosuke?" said Risa.

"You're heavy."

"Oh! Sorry!" said Risa with a sudden realization of how long they have been on the floor with her on top of Kyosuke. She quickly got up, helping Kyosuke up as well.

"Well," said Matsuko, chuckling, "aren't you two happy?"

"Very!" said Risa, giggling.

"Well, why don't you help me with dinner, Risa-chan?" said Matsuko.

"Sure!" replied Risa. "I'll help."

"I'll just be in my room, guys," said Kyosuke, "If you need anything--" He hurriedly ran up the stairs, almost tripping.

Risa giggled as she watched him. "Silly as ever."

"He's just happy that you're back," said Matsuko, smiling. "Now let's go prepare the food."

"Yes, Mrs. Matsumaru," replied Risa.

Meanwhile, Kyosuke shut the door behind him as he entered his bedroom. He was sweating and his face was red. "Is that really her?" he thought to himself. "I never thought she'd come back. It's so sudden. What do I say? I usually come up with lots of things to say to her, but now that she's back, I'm speechless."

Risa lives just next door. She and Kyosuke have been friends since kindergarten. For so long they have become best friends. Through kindergarten and elementary school they've been classmates. But after she graduated from elementary school, her father decided to let her study in America. This disappointed Kyosuke so, that he forgot to say goodbye when she left the neighborhood. But one last-minute decision forced him to run after Risa's father's car to the airport. There, they had a tearful goodbye, as they thought that was the last time they'd see each other. But Kyosuke made a promise,

"Don't worry, I'll be here when you get back. I promise."

Those words echoed through his mind as he stayed there in his room, three years after he made that promise. He said down on the chair in front of his computer, unsure of what to make of Risa's return. Then a soft knock was heard from his door.

He turned and said, "Come in."

The door slowly opened. To Kyosuke's surprise, it was Risa.

"Hey," she said, smiling, "what are you doing here all alone?" She slid her hand on Kyosuke's shoulder as she passed by him to sit on his bed.

"Risa..." said Kyosuke, feeling uncomfortable.

"Well," said Risa, looking around Kyosuke's bedroom, "you certainly haven't changed the room around you very much."

He turned away from her, unsure of what to say.

"Kyosuke," she said, and Kyosuke's sensed concern in her voice, "are you alright?"

"Oh. Yeah." he answered in a soft voice.

"Kyosuke..." said Risa, sounding even more concerned.

He turned around to look at Risa. "I'm fine." He gave a small smile.

"Kyosuke," she said, giving a modest smile, "I'm back."

"I know you are," Kyosuke replied. He turned away again.

A short moment of silence before Risa said, " Could you please tell me what's wrong?" He sensed slight irritation in her voice.

"Nothing," he answered.

"Kyosuke Matsumaru, if you don't tell me what's wrong, I'm leaving!" Risa raised her voice.

"Okay!" he said, also in a raised voice. "I... really... missed you."

Risa felt her heart sink when she heard those words. "Kyosuke..."

"It was just so sudden when you came back," said Kyosuke in a softer voice. "I was so excited at first, but I suddenly felt so nervous when I saw you again. I found it hard to believe that you're back at first. I missed you so much, Risa."

Risa gave a smile and walked over to Kyosuke. She surprised him as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and gave him a hug from behind.

"Oh, you," she said in his ear, "I missed you too. More than I ever imagined I would." She continued to hug him.

"R-Risa?" he said, aware of their close proximity with each other, her cheek almost touching his. It was a second or so before she realized it too, and quickly pushed herself away.

"Oh!" she said, giggling and tucking her hair behind her ear. "Sorry about that."

Kyosuke chuckled. "Shouldn't you be helping Mom fix dinner?"

"Oh yeah right," she said as she fixed her hair, then headed for the door.

"I'll be right down," said Kyosuke.

"Okay," replied Risa, smiling at him. She opened the door, then closed it as she went out.

Kyosuke smiled. This time he was convinced his friend Risa is back.