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Your side : part 18 :

2009-11-15T01:34:00.003-08:00

"Emiko!" Yabu called.

"Yabu kun" emiko turned around.

Yabu smiled and ran towards her.

"its a nice day, why don't we take a walk?" Yabu suggested.

Emiko nodded.

That afternoon Yabu and Emiko went for a long walk. Yabu talked a lot and Emiko just listened and laugh occassionally when Yabu cracked jokes. It was a nice spring afternoon. Remembering nothing just makes things awkward for emiko. Especially when yabu always started his words with "do you remember when.."

By the way yabu mentioned things, it seems like they used to be very happy together. Yabu bend down and picked a tulip, handed it to emiko.

Emiko looked up and reached for the tulip, "thanks, i like it", emiko said to yabu.

Yabu just sat down on the nearest bench and looked up at the afternoon sky. Silence filled the air.

"what's wrong?" emiko sat beside him. Eyeing him.

Yabu smiled and sighed. He looked at Emiko and hold her hands. "i know you don't remember much but i just wanna ask you one thing,"

"yes?" emiko looked at her hands.

"do you stil love me?" Yabu asked.

"yabu, i.. I don't know," Emiko answered.

"right now, i'm only afraid of one thing," Yabu looked away. "you're changing, and i'm afraid that all the feeling you've had for me will fade,".

"what makes you think that i'll change?" Emiko asked. "maybe i'll stay the same after i can remember things back,".

Yabu sighed and glanced at the tulip that emiko had gripped.

"you hated tulips so much that when i gave it to you on our first date, you cancelled it and you refused to talk to me.. for a week," yabu sighed.

"whoa! That's too much," Emiko exclaimed.

Yabu laughed.

"its never too much. You made sure i know what you like and what you don't. You made sure that you know what i like and what i don't but you always make sure that you can change my mind and you did it all the time," Yabu got up.

"i'm thirsty.. Lets get some refreshments," Yabu pulled emiko's hand.

"how about lemonade?" Yabu asked.

"did i hate that too?" Emiko asked.

"Nope," yabu laughed. "its getting late, i'll send you home."

_ _ _

"oh mom, you should take a rest," Ryuka tailed her mother.

"no, i feel much more better now. This is my place, i should be handling this," Ryuka's mother told her. "i'm fine so stop worrying. I'm not a baby. You should concentrate more on your studies and social life. Have fun. Let me handle this."

Ryuka try to insist.

"not another word,"

Ryuka sighed.

"fine, but i'm stil helping up. Like it or not," Ryuka told her mother.

Yuto came in.

"good evening Yuto," Ryuka's mother greeted Yuto.

"Mrs.Kim!" Yuto smiled. "kachan!"

Ryuka glared at Yuto.

"kachan?" Ryuka asked, pinching him.

Mrs.Kim pulled Yuto. "Ryuka, don't hurt my son,"

Ryuka looked at both of them in disbelief. "kachan? son? Both of you are driving me crazy! I can't believe this!"

"come on," Yuto said to ryuka. "i've got the permission from your mom.. We'll be cute together."

"yeah right," Ryuka sat down, looking out.

Yuto disappeared behind the counter and re-appeared wearing a cute pink apron and a bunny hat, carrying vanilla tea and a chocolate shortcake with him.

"now, now, don't be mad," Yuto approached Ryuka and sat beside her presenting his usual warm smile.

"are you wearing make ups?" Yuto asked, reaching for Ryuka's cheek playfully. "your cheeks are red," he laughed.

"no," Ryuka try to stop him. "don't touch my face!"

"She'll be okay in a second. Don't mind her Yuto, now, tell me what do i missed?" Mrs.Kim asked.

Ryuka just listened at the conversation between Yuto and her mother. They just met a few times and they were acting like best friends, which irritated Ryuka.

Your side : part 17 :

2009-08-13T07:05:00.001-07:00

Halfway to the post she changed her mind and ran to the main entrance since it started to rain. She pushed the door and was shocked when there's someone else other than Ueda in the living room, by the sound of laughter which echoed across the front room.

"miko chan!" a women stood up and walked towards Emiko, hugging her. It was Ueda's mom.

"is it monday already?" Emiko turned to Ueda.

"now, now, don't start calling me aunty. Call me Keiko. Keiko chan," she said.

Emiko nodded.

Ueda was watching the television. He seems to be unaware of his mother's presence. There's some one else in that room, a younger boy, who was busy reading a book and another female, who was busy unpacking the luggage.

"ah, this is Yuichi, Ueda's older brother," Keiko said.

"Older brother?" Emiko looked at him in disbelief. "You looked.."

"way younger and much more attractive?" Yuichi interrupted.

"it'll be weird if i call both of you Ueda," Emiko said.

"no. no. Don't call me Ueda. Anyway, that's not my last name,"

Emiko looked confused so Yuichi went on.

"i'm adopted," Yuichi explained.

"we both are," ueda interrupted, turning to both of them for the first time. "including that little brat"

Keiko shut them both.
"i don't really like that topic, they're all my sons,"

Emiko understood.

By this time, a small boy walked into the room - he was wearing glasses.

"chinen," keiko called him. He looked like he's around 15 or younger. "this is your cousin, Emiko."

"Emiko san, hajimemashite," Chinen bowed.

"oi!" Yuichi threw a pillow towards Chinen. "you don't have to be that polite"

Chinen glared at Yuichi and started to ran towards him. For a second, Emiko thought that he was going to do something to Yuichi but he stopped halfway and straightened himself, picking up the pillow and shove it to Yuichi's face. "okay, now we're even," he said, sitting beside Yuichi.

The three boys were busy chatting to each other when Emiko excuse herself to go to her room.

It was late and she was tired. After she had her quick hot shower, she fell asleep on the couch in her bedroom, forgotting to close the sliding door behind her that lead to a balcony. Her room was facing the backyard, in which two tennis court, a basketball court, a mini golf field, a skating platform, a playground, a man made lake situated beside a small traditional japanese house and an empty field stretched before that, were situated, all within the family's gate. Ueda's room is facing the swimming pool and Chinen's room faced the front lawn. The master bedroom is right beside Emiko's room, that means, its facing both the backward and also the right hand side of the house which is basically a piece of land where the apple trees, rows of different types of vegetables are grown and also a fish pond.

- - - -
"You're in the art class? Why don't you choose humanity and politics or science?" Chinen asked Emiko in disbelief.

"are you retarded?" he added.

"hey, i love art" Yuichi said. "don't listen to him, he's just a little brat," he added turning to Emiko.

"Politics doesn't suit me, i'd rather be creative than being boring," Emiko said. That day, They were sent to school by the driver, like any other students. Almost every students who studied there came from a well off family, though, its only an ordinary private school. Nothing like an elite school but unlike the other school, most students had their driver sending them right inside the school ground.

- - -

That evening, Emiko stayed at home. A family gathering was supposed to be held but it was cancelled within the last minute. She hangs out in her room and decided to use the laptop. She keyed in her messenger username and the password where she got from the diary. She had the instruction being told by Rika earlier. She tried checking her mail but when the page finally load, someone knocked on the door. Yuuri came in and told her that she had to come down to the back garden.

--
It took Emiko a few minutes before going out of her room. As she walked past the dining room, she nearly hit on something as it is too smoky and the odour was suffocating. She turned left and headed to the small elevator which lead to the back garden.

Your side : part 16 :

2009-07-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

"i want to search for new workers, i mean, Hikaru need to go to his basketball training. He can't missed it everytime," Ryuka told the girls. "wanna help me to put up the advertisement later?"

"can we try?" Rika asked.

"Sure, i still have to interview both of you," Ryuka said.

"but we're friends," Rika said, her voice was so loud that everyone start to look at their direction.

Everyone looked at them. Even Yuto woke up. Stared at them for a second and continue to sleep.

"i have to be fair," Ryuka told them. "anyway, i need four people,"

"wait. Um, Emiko, me, Yuto, Hikaru, that's four," Rika counted.

"you cant count Yuto in. Anyway, i still need permanent workers. At least two because i've got Hikaru who'll work every saturday and when he's free," Ryuka told Rika. "and you, don't you have your piano lesson twice a week?"

Rika pouted.

"what's that?" Emiko asked, pointing at a container.

"oh, i find a way to get extra money." Ryuka hand them a small cake. "i've sold most of it. The rest is for our art teacher,"

- - - -

"Ueda," Misa sat infront of Ueda, facing him. "i tried calling you yesterday,"

Ueda ignored her. He was busy writing something. Plus, he doesn't want to entertain misa. She's been giving him headaches. Misa stayed there for a few minutes before moving on to her own seat.

"hey," Hikaru sat down. Ueda looked up and gave Hikaru a questioning look.

"poor girl, you should at least say something," Hikaru said.

"if you want to talk to her, go ahead, don't disturb me," Ueda replied.

"i mean, you should get over it by now. Now that she likes you, why don't you just go out with her?"

"Okay, i'm not fully over it yet and i don't want to go out with her," Ueda said.

"have you heard about second chance?" Hikaru asked.

"hehs," Ueda sighed. "what she did to me was unforgettable," he added.

Hikaru shrugged.

- - - - -
"Nice place," Yabu commented.

The boys sat at a small table, Daiki's usual spot. Yuya was reading the menu and kei was staring outside.

"hei kei," a girl called out.

It was Rika, waving at him as she entered the shop. She had just finished sticking up the advertisement together with Emiko.

The boys looked at kei questioningly.

"what? We used to be in the same piano class," kei explained.

Yabu stood up when he saw Emiko.

"ah, this must be our lucky day," Yuya said looking at the girls.

"Yabu?" Emiko blurted out at the moment she saw Yabu.

- - -
"i've seen that guy before," Rika said.
"in your photo album right?"

Emiko nodded.

"now, that's Yabu?" Rika asked.

"You mean, that's your boyfriend? He's here?" Ryuka asked.

Emiko looked puzzled. "i don't know, i guess so,"

Rika, Ryuka and Emiko were whispering behind the counter. Their only customer at that time are the boys.

All of a sudden, groups of people started entering the shop, settling down. Half of them are the shop's regular customer.

"so which one is her?" Yabu asked Daiki.

"the owner of this shop," Daiki replied, sipping his drink.

"what are you talking about?" Yuya interrupted.

"Nothing," Daiki replied immediately.

"nah, just about a girl that he liked," kei told Yuya.

Daiki blushed.

"you don't have to know everything," kei told yuya.

Yuya pouted. He turned to the glass window, looking at his reflection, fixing his hair. A few girls who sat nearby flirted. His attention turned to them. The next thing the boys knew, Yuya was sitting at the other table, together with the girls.

Kei took out his book and start reading and eating his cake at the same time, glancing at Rika each time.

Daiki left early with Yabu because he have a training session. Yabu have to attend his first basketball training session. So kei was left alone.

"hey kei," Rika approached him, sitting next to him.

"hi" kei blushed, putting his book down and taking off his glasses.

"i didn't see you around anymore. Where've you been? You give up on piano?" Rika faced him.

"uh. No. I changed my lesson time," Kei answered. "i have to go to my basketball training in the afternoon"

Rika nodded. "well, its been how long? Two months is it?"

"no, its four," kei laughed. "i think"

They were talking for hours before realising that it was pretty late and apparently his friends had left. Without even telling him.

...
Emiko sighed. It was getting late so she didn't wait for Ryuka to close the shop. She bid them goodbye and walked home. She put both the hands in the pocket, covering her head with the hood. It was a little cold. She's been walking for sometime now, Looking at the large gates around her and also the one waiting in front of her-finally she reached her destination.

After slipping through the gate, Emiko noticed a small post nearby. It felt weird seeing it for the first time. She thought she have explored the whole ground within the brick gates. It was a security post. She decided to walk towards it.

Your side : part 15 :

2009-04-23T04:12:00.001-07:00

"look, i'm sorry alright?" Ueda said.

Emiko nodded as she flipped through her diary.

"where were you just now?"

"oh, just taking a walk nearby,"

"a walk?" ueda try to hide his anger. "err.. Where?"

"oh, the park,"

"the PARK? That FAR?" Ueda shouted.

Emiko sighed.

"i met my friend there," Emiko said.

"friend? Which friend?" Ueda asked suspiciously.

"this one," Emiko showed Ueda a picture of her and Yabu that she found in her diary.

"okay, i'll just leave you with your stuff. If you want any help just call me," Ueda walk out of the room. He turned around twice, hoping that Emiko would say something.

"tat-chan," Emiko called. He was about to close the door.

"hai?" Ueda looked back eagerly.

"did you guys finished the cake?" Emiko grinned. "if there's anything left, can i have it?"

Ueda looked at her in disgust and turned around, leaving the room.
- - -

"yaa! You should come with me this afternoon," Daiki said as he met Yabu at the school gate.

"You mean, you really like this girl?" Yabu asked.

"What do you think?" Daiki said, he's obviously annoyed by Yabu's question.

Yabu laughed. He knew that Daiki must be serious because Daiki is not the type who fall for anyone that easily and Daiki is very shy when it comes to girls. It's Yabu's first day at the all-boys school. The only person that he knew is Daiki, an old friend of his.

"this is Kei," Daiki introduced kei inoo to Yabu once they entered the classroom.

"hi," kei greeted Yabu, he was reading something and instead of sitting down, he was leaning against the wall. He removed his glasses and punched Yabu's shoulder. Daiki gasped. Yabu looked at him.

"that hurts right?" Daiki said, turning to Yabu. Yabu shook his head.

"nice. finally, someone who can stand kei. Welcome to the school," a boy entered the class.

The three guys turned to the door.

"Yuya. Takaki yuya," the tall boy was looking at his reflection, fixing his dyed hair.

"you mean, that doesn't hurt?" Daiki asked.

Yabu smiled.

"no one can stand that. Well, except you," Daiki laughed.

"i can show you around after school," Yuya said. "i'll introduce you to my fans. The girls school are just around the corner"

"sorry but he's going out with me today," Daiki told Yuya.

"oh really? We'll go with you then. Right kei?" Yuya gave the one of his best smile.

Kei who was reading, nodded. Once again, he had his glasses on. Yabu noticed that Kei doesn't talk much. Unlike Yuya or Daiki. While waiting for the teacher to come in, Yabu spend his time observing his new friends. Kei is obviously deep into his book. Daiki is busy re-writing his personal timetable, re-shuffling it, since he was told that his training session had changed. While Yuya, he's much more concerned with his appearance, fixing his stubborn hair into perfection even though Yabu didnt see anything wrong with it.

After that his mind seems to go somewhere else. He remembered his hometown where he grow up, meeting the girl of his dream, his first love, how he always waited for her in front of the girls school just to walk her home. How he get sick because he had to wait for hours in the rain when she had her art lesson and how he's always broke after buying her so much food. It was a beautiful, sweet memory.

"so, who's Emiko?" Yuya asked, waving his hands in front of Yabu's face. The other two boys turned around.

"ah?" Yabu finally realised that Yuya was right infront of his face.

"Yes. E-M-I-K-O. Who's that?" Yuya asked. "are you day dreaming?"

"no, no. I.."

Kei took off his glasses and start imitating yabu.

"Emiko, i want you to know that.. that.." Kei said. "that's exactly what you said"

"ah.. I did? I didnt realise that," Yabu told them, pretending to read a book, which turns out to be an empty page.

"come on, is she..pretty?" Yuya asked.

"stop bothering him," kei hit Yuya's head with his book.

"oi! My hair," Yuya cried, rushing out of the class, heading to the toilet.

- - -

"ah, i heard that Ueda's mom will be back today?" Rika asked. Ryuka was busy sketching something and Yuto was listening to songs with his face buried in is hands.

Emiko nodded. She's trying to remember how ueda's mom treated her. The only thing that she manage to remember is when ueda's mom send her to the airport as soon as she woke up from coma. They don't really talk much but she was too shocked to even say anything and even when she first arrived to the house, she didn't know what to do. Thinking of it, she felt silly now with the fact that she actually act weirdly when she first meet Ueda.

The night before, Emiko had been arguing with Ueda again. She doesn't understand what could possibly be wrong. Ueda saw her phone lying in the box. It wasn't her fault that she didn't bring her phone when she took a walk, she doesn't even know that it was there and Ueda doesn't have the right to be angry since she doesn't even open the other box before that. Well, maybe it was her fault but Ueda doesn't have to shout.

"you know, Ueda is acting weird," Rika told Emiko, breaking the silence. She was watching Yuto, who was apparently, now, sleeping.

"hmmm?" Emiko gave Rika a questioning look.

"he never shout. Well, he never lose his temper before," Rika told her.

"you mean, i'm too annoying?" Emiko asked.

"no you're not, to me you're just.. Weird and sometimes unpredictable," Ryuka interrupted.

The girls turned to Ryuka, who is still busy sketching.

"she's right, you're weird," Rika told Emiko.

Your side : part 14 :

2009-03-21T08:33:00.001-07:00

"this is a joke right? Are you stil mad at me?" Yabu raised both his eyebrows.

"mad?"

"if yes, i'm sorry. I know we're supposed to meet at the park that night but i swear that you weren't there. I was just five minutes late, and..."

"no, yabu, i really lost my memory. I'm not joking," Emiko told him.

Yabu laughed.

"but you said my name just now," he said.

"i have your picture, with your name written on it," Emiko said.

- - - - -

"what do you mean?" Ueda asked the girls.

"we don't know, she just disappeared," Rika and Ryuka told Ueda. Hikaru and Yuto entered the living room.

"we've searched the back field and the front garden, she wasnt there," Hikaru told Ueda.

"its late, what if anything happened?" Ueda muttered.

"call her," Yuto said.

"She doesn't have a phone," Ueda glared.

"relax, she'll be back," Rika said.

"how'd you know?" Ueda asked. He was walking back and forth. Everyone watched him.

- - -

Yabu walked Emiko home. Emiko find it awkward to walk alongside him. He's way taller. She could be considered as short. Almost everyone she knew are at least 164cm tall. Her height didnt even reach 160cm. In fact, she's just exactly 5 feet tall. They walked slowly. Yabu was looking at her all the way, up til they reached Ueda's place.

"well, see you next time," Emika waved as they reached the huge front gate.

"take care of yourself, alright?" Yabu smiled. "i really hope that we could hang out together any other time,"

"sure, next time," Emiko smiled back as she closed the gate.

Yabu waited for her to disappear into the huge house before leaving the place. Turning his ipod on, he continue to jog.

. . . . .

"how's the park?" Yabu's mother asked.

"nice," Yabu answered.

He went straight to his room, taking a quick shower and changed into his pyjama. His meeting with Emiko was unexpected, he is very happy. He even forgot that he was on a strike against his mother, who forced him to move there.

----

"where were you?" Ueda asked as soon as Emiko entered the house. Everyone was staring at her.

"i was taking a walk," Emiko answered. "can't i?"

"of course you cant! For god's sake, you don't remember a thing, you're new here!" Ueda shouted. "what if.. what if.." his voice got stuck in his throat.

"what if someone try to hurt Emiko?" Hikaru finished the line.

"yes!" ueda panted. He was breathless.

"i'm sorry okay?" Emiko threw a blank expression. She headed straight to her room, barely looking at any of them. The first thing she took out was her velvet covered diary. Everyone was watching her as she went straight to the kitchen, searching for something. Yuto got up and move closer.

"can you break the lock for me?" Emiko asked as she stared up at Yuto.

"sure," Yuto grabbed the diary and start picking on the lock.

"i said, break it," Emiko looked at Yuto.

"i can do this," yuto said.

"yeah right," hikaru laughed, he snatched the diary and throw it out of the kitchen window.

"hey!" Emiko shouted furiously.

"relax, your baby will be fine," Hikaru laughed, he went ouside and returned with the diary. It was unlocked.

Emiko grabbed it and rushed into her room.

She wanted to know about Yabu and her past.

To her, it was important..

. . .

"you're mean," Rika said to Ueda. "i mean, you shouldnt remind her that she doesnt know anything"

"but" ueda try to protest.

"she just need sometime alone," Ryuka told Rika. "it wasnt because of Ueda,"

"oh, our ue-chan is shouting just now," Hikaru smiled.

"i never see that before, not even during elementary. He's always cool," Yuto continued.

"ahh, we're so lucky to discover many sides of Ue-chan," Rika hugged Ueda, giggling at the same time. Ueda shrugged her off.

"he even blushed yesterday," Hikaru told them. "that was unexpected. Haha"

"shut up," Ueda ogled them. "or i'll kick you guys out of here," he threatened, while switching on the television.

. . .

"ewh, i'm so lame," Emiko said to herself as she flipped through her diary.

There's nothing much but she did found her e-mail address and the password and a URL. She memorised the password and rub it off.

"why am i so stupid to write that here," Emiko murmured as she rub off the password.

Ueda entered the room.

"i thought, you said that we have to knock on the door before entering?" Emiko sighed. She turned to Ueda.

Your side : part 13 :

2009-03-21T07:37:00.000-07:00

"ah. Really?" Ryuka looked away.

"Rika," Emiko look at both of the girls.

"but we're best friends!" Rika sighed.

"but if she want to tell, she'll tell you," Emiko whispered.

Rika kept quiet.

"at least you should tell me if... Never mind" Rika slumped against her seat.

The boys pretend not to notice the awkward atmosphere. They keep on chatting as if there's nothing wrong between Rika and Ryuka.

"ummm.. I love this cake. Could you give me the recipe?" Emiko pumped her fists in the air.

"ah! Don't you ever think about it! Are you planning to burn the house down?" Ueda interrupted.

Yuto chuckled.

--

"come on Rika," Emiko looked at Rika, who kept quiet since they were out of Ryuka's cakeshop.

They were back at Ueda's place. Yuto and Ueda were playing the video games, pretending not to look at the girls.

"hey, um.. We're gonna play a game of basketball at the back court," Yuto told the girls as the two boys got up and made their way to the elevator that leads to the backyard.

Emiko nodded.

"i don't care if i am being childish or what.. She should at least told me something. We're friends," Rika whined.

"she will tell you. Maybe not now," Emiko has been trying to make Rika feel better since they reached home.

"you know, you really should lock the front door," Hikaru showed up with cakes.

"Ryuka?" Emiko got up.

"hi," Ryuka greeted both of them. Rika looked away.

"look, Rika, i'm sorry. I didnt mean to keep anything from you,"

"yeah right," Rika rolled her eyes.

"its just that i don't want to burden you with all my problems," Ryuka sat beside Rika.

"burden me?" Rika raised her voice.

"the boys are at the back court," Emiko told Hikaru who quickly stood up as if he was expecting it.

"thank you," hikaru said, though, his voice was unheard.

Emiko sighed. Its been only a week that she stayed with ueda, she was lucky to be accepted by Ueda and his friends and now, she felt awkward, trapped, in the problem faced by her friends. Interrupting wouldnt make things better because she realised that she knew very little of Ueda and his friends.

"I have problems with the cake house, which also means that my family is still facing some sort of financial problem," Ryuka began, her eyes fixed on the floor.

"what? That's why you avoided us? And You even hurt Yuto by going out with Hikaru, i mean, what does it have to do with hanging out with us? Or sharing your problems with us? That's a stupid excuse," Rika gave Ryuka a disgusted look.

"what? Hikaru?" Ryuka looked up, surprised. "no. Its not like that-"

"You must be really serious with Hikaru eh." Rika interrupted. "or else, you wouldnt be so open with him,"

Ryuka sighed and start to explain everything to both Rika and Emiko. About her mother, who is not feeling well, about the cake house, about her newly discovered cousin-Hikaru, about izumi's dad, about Yuto, about how she felt when she was with her friends.

"i am just an ordinary girl who is lucky to be accepted in this sophisticated expensive public school, with financial assistance due to my exam results. Unlike most of you, who could actually afford to study here and come from a wealthy family. I don't belong to that school," Ryuka said.

"Ryuka, you shouldn't think of it that way," Emiko told Ryuka. "anyway, you deserve to be in that school because you're the best student. Unlike some people,"

Emiko turned to Rika for her support. Rika looked at Ryuka and glared.

"hey, what's that for?!" Emiko asked Rika.

"that's just it?" Rika asked. "that's your reasons?"

. . .

Emiko watched the two girls chatted away as if there's nothing had happened. She decided to leave them and take a walk at the park nearby. It was a cold night. Emiko used the back door instead. She saw that the boys were sitting in the middle of the basketball court, laughing. They barely noticed Emiko as she left the back garden through a small gate. The night air was refreshing. Emiko felt extremely happy and positive.

For the past few days, she had a good time with her new friends. Although, she find it hard to blend in at times, she managed to get along with most of the people at school.

The park was just two blocks from Ueda's house, Emiko find herself sitting on one of the bench ten minutes later. It was a star-less night. Emiko watched the night sky while thinking of her past, she tried to remember everything. The place was quiet.

"Emiko?" a familiar voice approached.

Emiko turned around to face the person. He was panting. Obviously, he was jogging. Emiko watched him turning off his ipod and removing those headphone from his ears. He looked awfully familiar.

"hey, Emiko, what are you doing here?" he asked.

"oh gosh, after that accident, i've been searching for you everywhere. They said you moved to your aunt's place," the boy smiled at her.

"gosh, i'm worried like hell. I don't even know what happened to you,"

Emiko stared back.

"Yabu?" Emiko asked.

The boy laughed.

"i've just moved here yesterday. What are you doing here alone?" Yabu sat beside her.

"you know, its almost a month since you moved, after that accident. I cant believe that i'll meet you here, i'm starting to give up,"

Yabu sighed.

"hey, why am i doing all the talking?" he stared at Emiko.

"what happened?" Yabu asked.

"i was in coma for three weeks. After i woke up, my aunt sent me to live at her house," Emiko said.

"and i am trying to regain my memory but i do recognise you," Emiko smiled.

Yabu kept quiet. "you remember me?"

Your side : part 12 : theme park

2009-01-09T06:20:00.001-08:00

"okay. Its Izumi alright," Ryuka said, pushing Hikaru away when he get too close to her.

"oh come on. Its not like i'm going to do anything. We're cousins, for goodness sake, " Hikaru said. "not that i wouldn't go out with you," he joked.

Ryuka pouted.

------

"whoa! That was fun! Lets play one more time,"

Ueda and Rika stared.

"Emiko, that was your fifth time!" Yuto shrieked, refusing. Emiko made him ride the roller coaster for five time. He looked like he is going to puke anytime.

"your grip is too tight," Yuto complained, showing her his right hand.

"whoa! Its red!" Rika take a look.

"okay. Last ride," Ueda said, pulling a slumber expression, taking Emiko's hand.

"yeay!" Emiko shouted, waving her hands at Rika and Yuto.

"she said she wouldn't come," Yuto said.

Rika laughed.

"you looked pleased when she ran after us," Rika nudged Yuto. "anyway, what were you thinking when you offered yourself to accompany her just now? You don't ride that thing remember?"

"well, she's cute and the opportunity is in front of my eyes. Who knows if i could fall in love with her,"

"and?" Rika laughed.

"no. I don't fall in love that easily. I didnt feel anything," yuto said, laughing.

"what do you expect? That's a roller coaster not the ferris wheel and getting over someone isnt that easy," Rika laughed even harder, looking at Ueda and Emiko who approached them. Ueda was rubbing his wrist.

"that was fun," Emiko smiled. "lets try the other rides."

"i want to go there," Rika said pointing at the merry-go-round.

"i'll go with you" yuto said as both of them made their way to the merry-go-round.

Ueda sighed and turned to Emiko.

"the ferris wheel," Emiko's eyes widened.

"uh, come on," Ueda rolled his eyes.

- - - - - -

"we wouldn't be stuck up here if it wasnt because of you,"

"how would i know that this thing'll get stuck!" Emiko protested.

Ueda sighed. They were stuck up there for almost half an hour. He looked below him. Rika and Yuto were waiting for them.

"how's your knee?" Ueda asked.

"its okay," Emiko answered. "gosh, i'm hungry."

"lately, you're always hungry," ueda muttered as he covered his face with two hands.

"this is beautiful," Emiko said. The sun was setting.

Ueda who had his face covered in his hands looked up.

"yeah," Ueda muttered, gazing at the sunset.

Emiko leaned on Ueda's shoulder and sighed. "don't move," she warned.

For a second, they were enjoying the moment. Ueda doesnt look like he's mad anymore.

"i wish that i could be stuck up here again and watch the sun set," Emiko started.

i wish that this'll last a lot longer, Ueda thought, smiling at himself.

"but with the right person and at least some snacks," Emiko said, getting up.

"you're like a statue. Are you afraid that i'll do something to you?" Emiko laughed.

"huh?" Ueda gave her a questioning look.

"nevermind. We're cousins and i'm not a pervert. you know," Emiko said.

"looks like everything's fine now," ueda said. They were moving slowly towards the ground.

"hey! Bring me to Ryuka's shop. I have not been there," Emiko told Rika as she got on the ground.

"i'm hungry," she added, giving Rika a big smile.

"lets go," Yuto said happily.

"Ueda, what up with the dreamy expression?" Rika asked, snapping her fingers in front of ueda's face.

-----

The shop was quiet. For the first time, they have no customer.

"so you really like yuto eh?" Hikaru began.

"don't you have anything else to talk about?" Ryuka pretend to re-arrange the cushions.

"ah. You've been avoiding that question since just now. Come on, its nothing personal,"

"yes. I do like him," Ryuka glared at him.

"hah! That was expected," hikaru laughed.

Ryuka hissed.

"so is there anything else that you want to tell me?" hikaru whispered as he moved closer.

"hello!" emiko cried enthusiastically.

Hikaru and Ryuka turned around.

Ueda, Rika, Yuto and Emiko stood at the entrance. Emiko was wearing one of her biggest smile.

"hello," both of them replied together.

Yuto's face turns red when he saw the close distance between both Hikaru and Ryuka.

"cakes!" Emiko shouted, grinning.

"ah. Emiko, your first time here eh. Here. my best cake. Just for you," Ryuka handed Emiko a huge cake.

"itidakimasu," Emiko stretched her arms.

Ryuka laughed.

Hikaru closed the shop.

"ah. Everyone's here!" Rika smiled.
"lets celebrate,"

"wha?" Ryuka looked at Rika.

"come on, Ryuka. You've been withdrawing yourself from us this past few days," Rika said.

Your side : part 11 : the girl

2008-12-20T00:07:00.000-08:00

"emiko?" Ueda moved closer. He was right. Emiko was leaning beside the fridge, sleeping soundly.

Ueda sighed. He looked at Emiko and rolled his eyes.

"oi! Wake up!" Ueda kicked Emiko softly. He kneeled down and poke her.

"oi!" he said, annoyed because Emiko doesnt even move.

"oi!" Ueda increased his tone. "aaaah!" Ueda scratched his head and slapped his face as if there's mosquitos trying to suck his blood. He did that quite often, especially when he was stressed out.

"ah! If you really want to sleep there, you can do so," Ueda said, with a defeated tone, walking out of the kitchen.

---

"arh! You're so heavy," Ueda complained to Emiko, who was still fast asleep. He decided to carry Emiko to her room, looking at her while he was carrying her. Ueda moaned.

Okay, she is cute But, no, she's couldn't be my type. She's harsh, selfish, demanding, hard headed, i can't be with someone like her, Ueda thought as he gazed at Emiko.

"hey Ueda!" Hikaru's voice echoed across the huge living room.

Automatically, Ueda dropped Emiko, who landed hard on the carpet in the living room.

"arrh!" Emiko cried.

Ueda quickly left Emiko there and run to where Hikaru was, wishing that Hikaru didnt see him carrying Emiko out of the kitchen.

"ah, there you are," Hikaru said after he saw Ueda.

"ummm, uh, yeah," Ueda stammered. At that moment, Emiko approached the two boys, still half asleep and rubbing her knee.

"ah, what were both of you doing there?" Hikaru said, looking at Ueda and Emiko. Emiko gave hikaru a questioning look, dropping on the empty sofa nearby, dozing off.

"ah. I didn't do anything," ueda stammered.

"I didnt say you did," Hikaru said. "eh, i just want to tell you that i'll be out for a while okay? I'll be back soon," hikaru informed.

Ueda nodded, while Hikaru made his way to the entrance.

"and oh, by the way," Hikaru said, turning to Ueda before he shut the door. "you're blushing,"

He was laughing.

Ueda cursed as he put both his hands on his cheeks, trying to feel the burning sensation as he walked towards the stairs.

----
"ohaiyo!" a group of girls greeted Hikaru as he entered Ryuka's cake shop.

"ohaiyo," Hikaru replied as he washed his hands and put on his apron.

The girls giggled as Hikaru gave them his flirty smile.

Ryuka grunted.

"stop spoiling my customers," Ryuka said, nudging him.

Hikaru make faces.

"why?" Hikaru asked. "anyway, its like an advertisement" he added.

"simply, to attract more customers," Hikaru said.

"yeah, and i'm going to lose them by the time you stop working here," Ryuka said.

"oh, come on, they love your cakes," Hikaru said.

"and look at that guy over there, he was here every wednesday and friday. Sometimes even on sunday. Same time, same spot, looking at the same person everyday," Hikaru said.

"ah, he's gay?" Ryuka said curiously. "whoa! I didnt know that you could also attract guys,"

"hell no!" Hikaru shouted. Everyone looked at him. The cake house turned quiet.

Hikaru apologised.

"he was looking at you," Hikaru whispered because some of the girls are trying to listen to their conversation.

"anyway, what are you trying to do? Avoiding yuto like that," Hikaru asked as he helped Ryuka to decorate a shortcake.

"and dont you try to deny," Hikaru said when he saw Ryuka trying to argue.

"There's this girl, from your class,"

"ah!" Hikaru looked at her. "she's prettier than you eh?"

"shut up. She gave me warnings," Ryuka told him.

"ah. And you give up just like that," Hikaru said, nodding.

"i didn't gave up just like that," Ryuka said.

"just like you, she's, of course, rich,"

"and her dad was my mum's ex-boyfriend. He's interested in buying this cake house since five years ago. And as you know, this is my dad's first cake house and this is his dream. We can't just sell it off,"

"but what does it have to do with yuto?" Hikaru interrupted.

"well, since we kind of have some problems because we had to shut this cake house for nearly a few month before, she told me that she could get nasty and she'll convince her dad to buy this place," Ryuka finished.

"ah. Who is 'she' Then?" Hikaru asked.

----

"awh! My knee hurts!" Emiko whined, looking at Ueda and Rika.

"its blue," Yuto stared at Emiko's knee.

"that's weird, did you fall or what?" Rika asked.

Ueda coughed.

"i dont remember falling," Emiko replied. "in fact, i dont remember a thing last night"

Rika nodded.

"aren't we going to do something? Today is saturday right? Why don't we hit the park?" Rika suggested.

"the park?" Emiko looked at Rika eagerly.

"yes, the theme park. There's a lot of thrilling rides,"

"will there be foods?" Emiko asked.

"forget about food. Trust me, it'll be fun!" Yuto said, getting up.

"come on, are you coming with us?" Rika asked.

Ueda, Rika and Yuto was ready to leave for the theme park after they gave up on Emiko. They have changed into a much more casual outfit.

"are you sure that you dont want to join us?" Rika asked as she grabbed her coat.

Emiko shook her head. "No, i want to stay here. If there's no food, i dont want to come" she replied, munching on the crisp.

"oh! Come on Rika!" Yuto cried from the entrance. Rika left.

"ah, we'll have a good time," Ueda cried happily, as he walked past Emiko.

"you. Look after the house," Ueda pointed, running out.

- - - - -

"come on. Tell me, who's that girl," Hikaru nudged Ryuka, who refuse to tell hikaru about the girl.

Your side : part 10 :

2008-12-15T22:04:00.001-08:00

"you know, i like the way things work over here," Rika said.

"ah? I dont get what you mean," Emiko said.

"well, at my place and yuto's, we have maids just everywhere, no privacy at all," Rika explained.

"unlike Ueda's. I mean, look at the house, its large and empty. Very independent."

"ah.."

"every morning, six people would wake me up, help me with things. That's just annoying," Rika complained.

Emiko laughed.

"at least i get to walk home after school. I have to beg my parents to even let me walk."

"ah, i walked to school everyday," Emiko said.

"hahah. Yeah, that'll help to keep you fit. I mean, look at you, you eat a lot," Rika murmured.

"Tadaima!" Ueda stood at the entrance.

"ah! Tat-chan, you're back!" Emiko looked up.

"tat-chan?" Rika rounded her eyes. "cute!"

Ueda rolled his eyes. "is Yuto here?" he asked.

The girls nodded.

At that moment, Yuto reappeared with snacks, his hair is still wet, with the towel on his shoulder. Yuto ruffled his hair, sitting on the sofa, smiling all the way. Everyone looked at him.

"uh.. What's up with you guys?" Yuto asked.

"nothing," the three of them answered, their eyes stil on Yuto.

"i better get my shower first," Ueda said, walking away while watching Yuto who nodded.

"eh Yuto!" Rika said. "Izumi from the business class asked for your cell phone number. And also Ayaka and Yuna. And a dozen of other girls," Rika continued.

"did you give it?" Yuto asked.

Rika shook her head.

"good," Yuto said.

"you sure have a lot of fans," Rika laughed. "We're so lucky to have good looking, popular guys like you, ueda and hikaru as our friend."

"ah! Shut up!" Yuto said, pretending to feel awkward, while smiling. "you could've suffocated me with all your compliments."

"how's the game?" Rika asked, changing the subject before Yuto could proceed with his vanity.

"why don't you ask Ueda?" Yuto said.

"bleah! No thanks," Rika stuck her tounge out.

"i suppose, Hikaru's not coming eh?" Emiko asked.

"weah! Who said so?" Hikaru said as he entered the living room. Everyone turned around. Hikaru was holding two big boxes of cake. "Ryuka asked me to bring this," he said, putting the boxes down.

"ah, now you're always with Ryuka eh," Rika grinned.

"ah, Ueda didnt tell you yet?" Hikaru laughed. "i worked at her cake house"

"Ryuka has a cake house?" Emiko asked.

Yuto nodded. "she's great with foods,"

"You guys should bring me there!" Emiko whined, she was already eating half of the cake.

"ah. Emiko. This is a new sight. Are you recovering from your amnesia?" Ueda walked towards Emiko, sitting beside her and wiped the cream off her nose.

"Umm.. Emiko. We're supposed to share that," Hikaru said, laughing.

"nee, you can share the other cake. This is mine. All mine," Emiko said grinning.

"after you burnt the oven and fainted the other day, your eating habit has changed," Ueda said. "which is quite worrying because we may need a cook to supply you with food. Which will disrupt my privacy"

"oh. Shut up! If you dont eat that quick, i'll take it" Emiko said. Everyone just watched her.

---

They decided to play board games instead of the electronic games. After scrabble, monopoly, chess, snake & ladders (in which Ueda refuse to join) and many other games, only Hikaru and Emiko were awake. The others were sleeping soundly on the sofa.

They were playing Uno card game when Emiko decided to ask Hikaru about Ryuka.

"You always blush eh," Hikaru said, smiling at Emiko.

"err.. Really?" Emiko asked as she draws four cards at once.

"so, you're going out with Ryuka eh?" Emiko began.

"well, she is cute. Although she looked quite nerdy when she had her spectacle on," Hikaru said, barely answering the question.

"ah, so you worked at her cake shop just to get closer to her?" Emiko asked.

Hikaru just smiled.

Ah, this way i'm not going to get anything out of him.. Emiko thought, looking at Hikaru.

"neh, i win. Next game?" Hikaru said, placing his last card.

"truth or dare?" Emiko suggested.

"ah, i know what you're trying to do. No, thanks. Haha. Wanna play Chess?" Hikaru smirked.

"what?" Emiko throw an in innocent look.

"i don't play chess," she added. "i don't like to think,"

"umm.. Snake and ladders then?" Hikaru laughed. "well, you just have to roll the dice."

-------

Ueda woke up. He looked around. Yuto was sleeping on the sofa, Rika took the other, Hikaru had his head on the coffee table. Ueda looked around. where's Emiko?, he thought.

He glance at the clock. It was half past seven. Ueda went to the kitchen, with the intention to get himself a drink. He squinted, due to the blinding sunlight that enters through the window.

He saw something just beside the fridge and went closer.

Your side : part 9 :

2008-12-11T12:54:00.001-08:00

Rika had promised earlier that she'll go to Emiko's place as soon as she packed up. Again, she didnt manage to talk to Ryuka.

Its been months since she even visited Ryuka's house or shop. Everytime she wanted to come over, Ryuka always stopped her. It seems like Ryuka was hiding something from her.

Their friendship is not the way it used to be. This past few months, Ryuka appear to be a bit withdrawned from the group. Even Yuto noticed the change. The serious girl is being more serious and secretive nowadays.

"i have to do something" Rika said to herself.

----
at ueda's place~

"i'll help you with all this stuff" Rika said to Emiko.

They were in Emiko's bedroom, looking through the boxes which Emiko never touch ever since she got there.

"i'm still wondering who Yabu is," Emiko said. "he must be a friend of mine or least something like that"

"or your boyfriend," Rika joked.

"hey, look. Your diary!" Rika waved a black leather book infront of Emiko. "but its locked. We'll have to find the key"

"just break the lock" Emiko said eagerly.

"you do it," Rika shoved the diary towards Emiko.

At that moment, the bedroom door swung open. Ueda and Yuto were standing there.

"We're going to kenji's, if Hikaru arrived, just let him in," Ueda said.

The girls nodded.

Emiko and Rika spent their afternoon looking at Emiko's stuff. Nothing much. The stuff doesnt ring a bell. Emiko wanted to read her diary when she was alone.

They went downstairs when Emiko met the housekeeper, who gave her a friendly smile.

"what did you guys do here? I've been away for more than a month before but that kind of thing never happen even when ueda was alone," the house keeper laughed, pointing at the burnt oven.

"err.. I tried to bake" Emiko said, feeling a bit silly. She kept on grinning. Rika were looking at the oven, with her mouth wide open.

"sorry for that," Emiko said.

"its okay. When Ueda's mum's here, she did a lot more damage than just this. A terrible cook," the housekeeper replied, smiling as he handed the girls some snack and juice.

"you look like your mother," the house keeper said observing and smiling at Emiko before continuing on her work.

"ah.. you've met my mother?" Emiko asked curiously.

"yes, she came here eight years ago to visit her cousin," the house keeper replied. "ueda's mum," she added.

"ah, i don't remember coming here before," Emiko said.

"no, she's alone that time. I only saw you once, when you're around two,"

"oh," Emiko said, dissapointed.

---
"come on, we only lost by a point," kenji said to Ueda, who was in a bad mood.

"we could have won," Ueda said as Kenji laughed.

"hah. The last time i saw you behaving this way was when you lost in a game in middle school," kenji said.

"yeah, in the game of snake and ledders! Hahahah" yuto laughed.

"HAHAHAHAHA-thats not funny," Ueda rolled his eyes. "anyway, that was the FIRST time i ever lost, to some lucky guy from the private school,"

"ah! But you can't count that in. That's snake and ledders! We use dice, for godness sake. Its a silly game anyway," Kenji said.

"that's not the point," Ueda argued.

"oh, drop it. Lets eat somewhere," Yuto said.

"ah, lets go to my favourite cake house," Kenji said. The two boys followed kenji. They walked past a few block before they reached the cake house.

Yuto looked around and sighed, "it seems like this is everyone's favourite cake house."

Ueda entered the shop together with Kenji. Yuto walked slowly behind them, wearing his serious expression.

"ah, Ryuka!" Kenji waved. The shop was full and luckily there is an empty table at the corner.

"Hikaru?" Ueda looked at the waiter.

"hai?" Hikaru turned around. "ah! Yuto, Ueda and kenji,"

"you worked here?" kenji asked.

"yeah, part time job." Hikaru answered short, smirking.

"so, can i take your order, gentlemen?" Hikaru asked jokingly.

"i'm not hungry," Yuto said, walking out of the cake shop, leaving Hikaru, Ueda and Kenji.

"wei, i'm treating you and Ueda!" kenji shouted.

"i'll talk to him later," Ueda told kenji.

Ueda watched Hikaru while he is trying to finish his chocolate cake. Majority of the customers are middle school and high school girls who chatted and giggled while enjoying the soothing music and of course, watching the waiter- Hikaru serving them.

"Neh, they're just friend. I mean, Yuto would never date someone like Ryuka," a girl who sat at a nearby table told her friends.

"that's right. Yuna, you're better than that Ryuka. I mean, compared to you, she's nothing," a skinny girl suggested.

"ah, but izumi, i heard that Yuto likes her. I mean, look at them, he even ate her lunch the other day," another girl joined in.

"haha. that's just a breadstick. Come on Ayaka, she's just a poor girl who's lucky to have rich friends and go to our high school. Yuto wouldnt be interested in her at all," the first girl laughed, flipping her hair.

Ryuka was clearing a nearby table when the conversation takes place. Ueda knew that she heard everything since her face suddenly changed into bright red and when both kenji and Ueda went to the counter to pay, Ryuka was no where to be seen as she dissapeared into the kitchen right after the conversation.

"did you hear what the girls were saying?" Kenji asked Ueda.

Ueda nooded.

"i hope Ryuka didnt hear that. Especially the last part," kenji added.

------

"yuto?"

Both Rika and Emiko were surprised. Yuto slammed the bathroom door shut. Luckily, the house keeper was gone.

Your side : part 8 : Yuto

2008-11-29T21:52:00.001-08:00

"ah! See you next time Ryuka-chan" Hikaru waved, as he left the cake shop.

"So, you and Hikaru..." Yuto started, after Hikaru was out of his sight.

"ah!" Ryuka said, slapping her forehead. "i have to make some soup for mother," she added.

"are you done?"

Yuto nodded and got up. "i guess, see you later," he said as he paid for his food and left. He didnt even turn around like he always did.

Ryuka sighed.

"i'm back!" Hikaru said, reappearing out of no where.

"You dont have to do that," Ryuka said. "You dont have to hide at the back, pretending that you're not here just because there's Yuto" she added.

"the situation is awkward. He's my friend and You're.."

"there's nothing between me and Yuto," Ryuka said.

Hikaru start to make faces upon hearing that. "which means, i can go out with you eh?" he joked.

"do you see this broom?" Ryuka stepped foward. "do you want to have this for dinner?" Ryuka lifted the broom and began chasing Hikaru, who was running around the cake shop, laughing.

-----
"you mean, this is the first time you look through your stuff?" Ueda looked at Emiko, who was sitting on the floor.

"err, yes," Emiko said, as she look through the boxes. "Hey look! I've got a cute photo album!" she jumped happily.

"i cant believe it! You NEVER went through your stuff?" Ueda sat down next to her. "its been there since you were here. How are you going to get back your memories when you dont even look through your stuff?" Ueda looked at Emiko curiously, annoyed.

"ah, this is my parents?" Emiko asked as she looked through the photo album. She was flipping through the pages when she stopped and pointed "ah, yabu! I don't remember much but i think, this is my friend. I've been dreaming about him just now," Emiko said.

"ah.." Ueda said, glancing at the picture.

----
at Yuto's place~

"yuto, its almost midnight, can you stop?"

"sorry, I'll stop now," Yuto answered his mother, throwing the drumstick on his futon bed. He has been playing the drum ever since he got home.

Hikaru is his bestfriend and Ryuka too but he doesnt want Hikaru to get too close with Ryuka. The thoughts of them being in a relationship is unbearable.

Yuto stared at the ceiling. He sighed.

"is there anything that i could do?" Yuto thought as he fell asleep.

----

"hey yuto, wanna play a game of basketball this afternoon?" kenji, a boy from Yuto's class asked him. It was breaktime and the girls left him in the classroom.

"um, sure," yuto answered.

"gee, thanks. We're short of one member. Can you help us?" Kenji continued.

"how about hikaru?" Yuto asked.

"ah, i've asked him but he said that he wont be available for the whole week"

"oh, i'll try to find someone," Yuto said as he made his way to Ueda's class.

"hey you!"

Yuto turned around to face Misa.

"what are you doing here? This is our area," Misa said rudely with her hands on her hips. She flipped her hair, looking at Yuto from head to toe.

"i have no business with you. Get out of my way," Yuto said. Trying to enter Ueda's classroom. "i don't feel like fighting with a girl," Yuto added, when Misa stand in his way.

"you don't belong here, the art class is at the other end. In case you forgot, you loser," Misa told him.

"i heard that you're interested in me, oh. I know i'm too hot for you to resist," Yuto said, walking closer towards Misa.

Misa looked at him in horror, throwing a disgusted face at the same time.

"oh please, that was during elementary school, you fool," Misa hissed. "now, we're on a different level. Look at you, art-boy," Misa hissed, pushing Yuto aside, walking away.

Yuto smiled, satisfied.

"stupid," he hissed.

"ah! Ueda!" Yuto called as he entered the classroom. Ueda who was busy doing his work, looked up.

"ah! Yuto. What's up?" Ueda said.

"are you free this afternoon? Kenji wanted to play basketball but they're short of one person," Yuto asked.

"sure, count me in," Ueda nodded, examining Yuto. Lately, Yuto was acting weird. Ueda noticed Yuto's mood swing and lately, hikaru is always missing from the group.

Hikaru entered the classroom. He looked at Yuto and smiled as he sit down beside Ueda.

Yuto left the classroom without another word, leaving Hikaru and Ueda. Both of them looked at each other.

Hikaru just shrugged when Ueda throw him a questioning look.

----
"miko chan," Rika whispered as she watched Yuto.

"do you noticed that there's something wrong?" Rika asked.

Emiko nodded.

"i think Ryuka's going out with Hikaru," Rika exclaimed. "she's always missing lately"

"i don't know," Emiko said, watching Yuto, wondering if he heard Rika. At that moment, Yuto turned around, facing both of them.

"Hey, today's friday right?" Yuto asked as he scribbled something on a piece of paper. Rika nodded.

"Is Ryuka coming?" Yuto asked.

"no," Rika told Yuto.

"so its just the five of us," Yuto said. "cool"

Your side : Part 7 : the cake shop

2008-11-27T08:16:00.000-08:00

"Ah. Yuto?" Ryuka said as they reached her family's cake shop. Hikaru gave her a suspicious look.

"yes. He might be jealous. Seeing both of us," Hikaru joked. He pretended to strangle Ryuka, laughing. Ryuka smiled

"ohaiyou," a male voice approached both Hikaru and Ryuka. Hikaru's arms are around Ryuka's neck, as he was pretending to strangle her earlier. Both were frozen in that position and they were shocked to see who it was.

Yuto was standing at the entrance, with his school bag on one shoulder, looking at both Hikaru and Ryuka. At first, his expression was unpredictable.

"ah. Yuto-chan," Hikaru finally said after he had released Ryuka.

"Hika-chan," Yuto said in a mocking tone. After that, Yuto gave both Hikaru and Ryuka a very convincing smile.

"ah. Yuto, didnt expect you to be here," Ryuka said awkwardly.

"yes. Its been a while," Yuto replied as he sat down on the nearest table. "i'd like to have tea and that shortcake," he added.

"oh, your favourite strawberry shortcake," Ryuka said, smiling.

"No. I don't feel like eating that. I'd like to have that special bitter chocolate shortcake," Yuto replied. "i dont feel like eating sweet stuff," he added.

Ryuka felt like the conversation was a little formal and Yuto does not act normal, his tone was serious. Which is weird when you were talking to Yuto. Hikaru, who had dissapeared behind the counter earlier, reappeared with two cups of tea. He was wearing a cute pink apron.

"one for Mr.Yuto and one for Miss Ryuka," Hikaru grinned as he placed the two cups of tea on the table.

"thanks," Yuto said quietly. Instead of sitting down, Ryuka clean the glass window.

---
at ueda's house~

"tat-chan, do you know how to bake?" Emiko asked Ueda.

"do i look like a sissy boy to you?" Ueda answered, his annoyed expression was clearly shown. "just because i cook dinner for you, doesnt mean i can bake. Oh please," he added.

"hmm, it wouldnt be that hard, i've got the recipe and Rika bought the ingredients for me just now, i just have to do whatever the paper said," Emiko said to herself. "gosh, i'm so smart," she added proudly.

---
Ueda had just finished his shower when he smelled something burning. He rushed downstairs to see Emiko choking under the kitchen table. The oven was on fire.

After putting off the fire, Ueda opened the kitchen's window for a better ventilation. Emiko was unconscious and he let her lay on the sofa.

"silly girl," Ueda said, sighing. He turned on the television while waiting for the odour to fade out. Switching between the channels, searching for an interesting show.

"Yabu," Emiko said. Her eyes were shut. She was obviously sleeptalking. "Yabu-kun.." Emiko continued. Ueda rolled his eyes, he throw a pillow on Emiko, hitting her head.

"aaah?" Emiko woke up. She looked at Ueda.

"i remembered something!" Emiko said.

Your side : part 6 : the plan?

2008-11-27T03:59:00.001-08:00

"if you're done, put the plates into the sink, i'll wash it up later," Emiko said, as she finished her food.

"No, i'll do it," Ueda told her.

"No, let me do something," Emiko argued.

Ueda gave up. He sat there watching Emiko trying to figure out how to wash the dishes manually.

"are you sure that you dont need any help?" Ueda asked.

Emiko shook her head. She was determined to prove Ueda that she could at least wash the dishes.

After fifteen minutes, Emiko was still trying to wash the dishes. She did not want to give up.

At last Ueda stood up.

"let me do it," Ueda said, as he carry all the dishes away from the sink.

"this, is my friend," Ueda said, pointing at a machine.
"i call it the dishwasher," Ueda added.

Emiko watched as Ueda put the plates into the dishwasher. Ueda turned around and smiled for a second.

At that moment, Emiko had just realised, that was the second time she ever saw Ueda smile. Well, at least in a friendly way, the other smile he gave her was a mischievous one.

---

"i invited Yuto and Hikaru to sleep over on friday," Ueda said. "you could invite your friends too if you want, you know, sleepover, manicure, bla bla bla, girly stuff," Ueda added.

"ah. Yuto will be happy if you invited Ryuka," Ueda continued.

"uh. I'll think about it. I dont think they want to spend their night here, i mean, they only know me for a few days," Emiko answered.

----

"REALLY?" Rika shrieked, jumping up and down.

"Of course we'll come, right Ryuka?" Rika exclaimed.

"i don't know," Ryuka said.

"oh! Come on! We'll have fun," Rika said.

Ryuka shook her head. She looked at Emiko and gave her a hug.

"its not that i dont want to, but i have other thing," Ryuka said.

"its okay, you can come over next time," Emiko said smiling. She sensed that something is wrong. Ryuka might be in trouble or something but Emiko does not want to ask because it seems that Ryuka is not ready to tell either Rika or her.

Emiko noticed that Ryuka was much more quiet that day. She didnt even talk to Rika or Yuto. When the last bell rang Rika, Yuto and Emiko didnt realise that Ryuka had left them.

Yuto was in a very bad mood because Ryuka didnt seem to pay any attention to any of his jokes, while Emiko and Rika laughed to his lame jokes.

They reached the front gate and met Ueda.

"i thought i saw Hikaru and Ryuka just now," Rika said, pointing at a girl and a boy, who dissapeared around the corner.

"ah? Hikaru?" Ueda turned around to look at the direction where Rika had pointed.

"i didn't get to talk to him just now, he was like, in a hurry. Left the class as soon as the bell rang," Ueda said as he walked. Yuto was quiet.

"Are you okay yuto?" Emiko asked. Yuto shook his head and try to smiled, but he end up looking like he had a constipation.

"No, i'm okay. Really," Yuto said as he walked ahead. Rika, who was busy trying to have a conversation with Ueda, ran after Yuto.

"see ya, Ueda," Rika waved as she try to catch up with Yuto.

Their housing area was ahead of Ueda's house.

Emiko remembered what Rika had just said. What is happening? Ryuka and Hikaru? How about Yuto?

Your side : part 5 : Tatsuya Ueda

2008-11-24T03:04:00.001-08:00

Ueda wondered, Its been three days and Emiko doesn't seem to do anything that annoyed him. In fact, she did everything that he told her to.

He tried to disturb Emiko, try to have a conversation and try to make her lose her temper but nothing seems to work. It was really weird. He didnt really know her well so he tried to ignore her but it was unsuccessful. She is however, a part of his life, a family. Even if it was only just for a few days.

Emiko listened to her favourite band. For the past few days, she has been spending her time in her bedroom. Sometimes, trying to figure out what she didnt remember. Its quite lousy, not to be able to remember a thing. Although she was continuously bugged by weird dreams and nightmares, nothing seems to provide her any additional information about herself.

"ah, this sucks," she muttered.

---

"hey, what's that?" Emiko asked Ueda when she reached the living room.

"our dinner," Ueda replied short, eyeing her as she sat on the sofa.

"oh, the housekeeper's back?' Emiko asked.

"No," Ueda replied.

"ah, you ordered this," Emiko said.

"No. Look, just eat okay?" Ueda replied.

"i'm not hungry," Emiko said as she got up, walking to the stairs.

"Hey! I've cooked this for you so COME HERE AND EAT IT NOW!" Ueda shouted.

Emiko froze. She suddenly find herself walking towards the dining table. Ueda's expression frightened her.

"you don't have to shout," Emiko said, reaching for her plate.

"ah, pasta, Salad and roast chicken? I'm expecting simpler stuff, like that instant noodles," Emiko said awkwardly, poiting at a pack of instant noodles.

Ueda rolled his eyes.

"shut up and eat," he said while he chewed on his food.

"i thought you don't know how to cook," Emiko said, watching ueda who seems to be in a very bad mood.

"You're the one who said that we'll starve," Emiko said.

The phone suddenly rang. Emiko wanted to pick it up but Ueda stopped her.

The answering machine told the caller to leave a message.

"ueda-kun, i'm thinking of coming over to your house this sunday, perhaps i could help you since you're always busy on sunday. Call me back, okay? Or at least go online, see ya" a female voice said.

"oh. Misa chan," Emiko said, enjoying her food.

"huh? You know misa?" Ueda asked, his eyes widened.

"oh. We met. A few days ago, infront of my class" Emiko replied.

Ueda stopped eating. For a second, he seems to be deep in thoughts.

"that's weird. What did she say?" Ueda asked, his expression serious.

"Nothing. Just this and that. Nothing interesting," Emiko replied, avoiding eye contact with Ueda.

"did your mum e-mailed my details yet?" Emiko asked, changing the subject.

"oh. About that. Umm. Yes," Ueda answered.

"you're trying to change the subject," Ueda said.

"No, i'm not" emiko replied. "and i need the details," Emiko added.

"Mum'll be back next monday," Ueda said. "Just want to give you an early warning," he added.

"great! Finally, a family" Emiko cheered.

Ueda nodded.

"don't get so excited. She might cancelled it last minute. Even if she's here, perhaps, it'll be just a few weeks or a month," Ueda said, with a bored look on his face.

"you know, eventhough everyone call me Ueda, at home, you should call me Tatsuya. Especially when my parents are here," Ueda said.

"oh, ueda is your surname?" Emiko asked.

Ueda nodded.

"so, i should call you tat-chan," Emiko said, laughing.

"that sounds better than ue-chan, don't forget to tell hikaru," Ueda said. "he's been getting on my nerves, calling me ue-chan in a gay way everyday," He added.

"ah. That's why you're mad at me just now?" Emiko asked.

"ah? Me? I'm mad at you?" Ueda said, surprised.

Your side : part 4 : the mean girl

2008-11-18T13:52:00.000-08:00

"ecchi," Ueda gasped as he throw himself on the king size bed. He stared at the ceiling, thinking on how he should spend his weekend. Normally, he'll just stay at home, cleaning the whole house, playing the piano or even play a game of basketball with Yuto and Hikaru, that is if they did not have anything else to do.

Its only monday and its Emiko's first day living with him.

"and yet, she gave me quite a headache!" Ueda muttered as he tried to sleep. " i thought people who have amnesia would be quiet or at least listen to someone better. I guess, having amnesia doesnt stop her being herself," he thought.

It was raining heavily outside. Ueda fell asleep soon after that.

-----
the next day~

"ohaiyou, miko-chan" Rika greeted Emiko when she entered the class. Neither Yuto nor Ryuka was there yet. Emiko smiled and sit at the back of Rika. Looking around to see if there is anyone else besides the two of them.

"miko-chan, can i ask you something?" Rika asked.

Emiko nodded.

"Hikaru kun did tell me about you, living with Ueda kun," Rika said. "how was it? You're so lucky. Did he mentioned anything about me?" Rika added.

"he didnt mention anything about you or any other girl," Emiko answered short.

"oh," Rika said. "hmm, he doesnt show any interest in girls. Hikaru told me that," she added.

"maybe he's gay," Emiko suggested.

Rika giggled. At that moment, Yuto entered the class. He looked around, walk towards Rika and sat beside her, glancing at an empty seat beside Emiko.

"i think, Ryuka will miss a few lesson today." Rika told them. "She have to visit her mother at the hospital," She added.

"ah," Yuto said. Turning around to face the teacher. The class was full now and the only empty seat was beside Emiko, which belongs to Ryuka.

---

"ue-chan," Hikaru teased Ueda. They were having physical chemistry. Ueda turned around, showing his disgusted expression.

"don't call me that!" Ueda said coldly.

"but that's cute," hikaru laughed. Ueda kicked hikaru's chair. Hikaru continued to make faces.

The bell rang and both of them headed to the cafeteria.

"ueda kun," a female voice called after them. Ueda turned around to find Misa.

"yes?" ueda answered.

"are you free this saturday?" Misa asked, flipping her long flowing hair.

"No. I'll be busy at home. I dont feel like going out," Ueda replied, walking away.

"but i want to.." Misa shouted.

----
at the cafeteria..

Emiko sat with Rika, Yuto and also Ryuka, who had just arrived there.

"Arararara! Ueda!" Rika gasped.

"what's wrong with you? It seems like you act weirdly whenever Ueda is around," Emiko asked.

"don't you know? She likes him," Yuto answered.

"every girls adored him. He's every girl's dream," Rika said.

"almost every girls," Ryuka said. "i didn't adore him, and definitely not you miko chan. Am i right?" she added.

Emiko nodded, watching Ueda and Hikaru being tagged by at least a dozen of girls. Both of them seems to ignore the girls.

"that's Misa," Rika pointed. "she told me to back off once because according to her, ueda would not look at a stupid art girl like me," Rika murmured.

"that's mean," Emiko said. Someone tapped her shoulder and she turned around to see Hikaru and Ueda standing behind her.

Ueda's hand was on her shoulder.

"wait for me at the main entrance after school and dont go anywhere else," ueda said and then he walked out of the cafeteria, with Hikaru waving and smiling at her.

Emiko felt that she was being watched. She looked around and she saw Misa, her eyes fixed on Emiko as she walked past.

"ah, Anaka ga suita!" Yuto said to Ryuka.

"Yuto chan, if you're hungry, go and get yourself some food. I dont want to share," Ryuka said coldly.

"dont call me yuto chan! You should say yuto kun instead" Yuto complained. "and i want that!" he added while snatching some of Ryuka's breadstick.

Yuto looked pleased when Emiko and Rika left him and Ryuka. Ryuka tried to stop them but they managed to leave before Ryuka could say anything.

"are they dating?" Emiko asked Rika.

"No. Not really," Rika replied. "they fight a lot, they're friends, at least thats what i think," she added.

"i think i want to stop by the washroom, do you want to accompany me?" Rika asked.

"i'll just wait for you in the class," Emiko answered. She almost reach the class when a girl suddenly blocked her way.

"Stay away from Ueda, he's mine. You're just a new girl here and you art students are stupid. You're not good enough for him. Look at me, i'm prettier and taller than you. Back off," said the girl.

"so desu ka?" Emiko replied, looking straight into Misa's eyes.

"hey! Arent you from the politics class? What are you doing here?" Emiko's art teacher asked Misa.

Misa backed off, glaring at the teacher.

"the bell rang ten minutes ago," the teacher told Misa. "You better go to your class, smart people never turn up late for their classes," she added in sarcasm.

Your side : part 3 : the house

2008-11-17T08:04:00.000-08:00

"I thought i told you to go straight to the principal's office this morning?" ueda said as he munched on his cheese pasta, watching a variety show with is legs on the coffee table. Emiko was sitting on the other sofa while the housekeeper mopped the floor.

"i dont know where that is," she answered, glaring at him. "you left me there to figure out everything myself!" she added.

"you're not in kindergarten so i don't have to show you the way. Besides, you're 17!" Ueda said as he watch the housekeeper walked out of the house.

"you know, we'll be starving for the next two days, no, four days," Ueda said with a serious expression. "because i just ate our last cooked food," he added.

Emiko gave him a blank expression.

"you should be panic," Ueda said, his tone grew more serious. "Mrs.Nanako, the houskeeper, wouldnt be here for the next four days, she's off to osaka and wouldnt be back before friday," he added.

"so?" emiko snapped.

"unless you cook for both of us, we'll be fine" ueda stated.

"you mean, you want me to set the house on fire eh? I have amnesia remember? I dont know how to cook. I dont know anything," emiko said, staring at ueda. "and i'm sure that i'll survive without food for just a few days" she added.

"for a person who have amnesia, you're too bold.." Ueda sighed. He sat beside Emiko and put his hand around her shoulder. Emiko tried to shrug it off but failed. Ueda was wearing that serious expression. He lowered his face and Emiko could feel his cold breath on her left ear.

"trust me, we'll starve to death," he whispered coldly and he walked away, with a smile on his face as he climbed the stairs.

"baka," Emiko hissed. "what makes him think that i will starve to death? I could live a month without food" Emiko whispered to herself.

She made her way to her room which was right beside ueda's. Although the distance may not be considered as close because the house is too big, emiko could hear some sort of instrumental music from ueda's room. Instead of entering her room, she walked to the other end and stood infront of ueda's room, putting her left ear on the door. Unfortunately, the door jerked open and she fell right on Ueda.

"hey, you!" Ueda shouted. "what are you?? A pervert?" he asked.

Emiko just realised that Ueda didnt put his shirt on. She also realised that she was in his arms when she tried to get up.

"what are you doing here?" Ueda asked after both of them got up.

Emiko looked around the room. It was awfully neat, just like girl's room. and beside ueda's king size bed, was a stairs which leads to another small, attic-like room.

"hey! I dont have that!" Emiko said, pointing at the stairs and running towards it.

"oi! That's my private place! Stay away from there!" Ueda shouted, running after Emiko who has reached the attic.

"sugoi," Emiko screamed. "my room doesnt have this," she said to Ueda.

"because this is MY house, not yours" Ueda snapped. "go back to your room now, you intruder, you pervert!" he added.

"and don't go into my room without my permission!" Ueda said as he slammed the door right in front of Emiko.

Your side : part 2 : the friends

2008-11-17T07:51:00.000-08:00

Staring at the students in the corridor. None of them looked familiar. Everyone wears the same outfit and she does not know where to go. Her head started to ache. Where is ue-chan?, she wondered. The corridor was packed and the last time she saw ueda, they were still outside of the school building.

"hello," a boy approached her with a friendly smile. "the new girl uh?" the boy asked.

"hai'," emiko answered. She blushed. He was cute, in a way.

"Hikaru," he said.

"no. i'm emiko, not hikaru," emiko replied. "i think, you got the wrong person," she added.

"haha. No. What i meant was that, i'm hikaru," he said, amused. "i dont think i need to ask for your name since you've just mentioned it," he added.

Emiko blushed again. Man, that was embarassing, she thought.

"new here?" hikaru asked.

"hai'," emiko answered. She was blushing even more as she noticed that hikaru was staring down at her.

"are you lost?" he asked.

"no," she said.

"alright then. see you later," hikaru winked and walked away.

"oh no, i should have told him that i'm lost," emiko grunted, as she made her way through the crowds where hikaru dissapeared, hoping that its the right way and someone would kindly tell her where she should be. She saw that on the other end, the girls are dressed in a more sophisticated way, with long flowing hair and good looks. It seems like the students there are of a different standard.

"you're lost honey," said a familiar voice behind her.

She turned around and saw hikaru. He was standing right behind her and she nearly knocked her head against his chest. He is tall, she thought. Well, compared to her, who is only 5 feet tall.

"look at you. You're so thankful that you even want to hug me," hikaru said, laughing.

Emiko stared at him.

"that was a joke," hikaru said, laughing again. "come on. Let me show you where the principal's office is," hikaru said, in a friendly tone.

They were moving away from the class when a boy stuck his head out of the door, calling emiko.

"miko chan! What are you doing here? You should be at the art section on the other end!" ueda shouted. A good looking girl stared at her, eyeing her from head to toe.

"ue-chan," emiko said softly.

"ue-chan? eh, you know ueda?" hikaru looked at emika suspiciously as they walk towards the principal's office.

------

Emiko sat down. At last, she was at the right place. The people are far more friendly than the one on the other side of the building and that was a very good sign.

"hello!" two girls approached her enthusiastically.

"Rika and Ryuka," said a pretty girl, pointing at her partner. "we call ourself the R square, get it? R² " she giggled.

"No. You're the one who keep on calling us with that silly name," said Ryuka. She looked more serious, compared to Rika.

"Anyway, where are you going to put the Y? We cant be YRR or RYR or RRY, thats just weird," Ryuka said.

"The Y?" emiko blurted out.

"Yes, Y for yuto. Every girls adore him. He's the coolest, smartest, super hot, charming and everybody loves yuto," said a boy who had just entered the class. He is good looking but he does not make her blush like hikaru did.

"stop it, yuto. Your vanity has developed over the holiday eh?" Ryuka snapped. "He's yuto. Our friend. Bestfriend," Ryuka said.

"Ryu-chan! We're buddy! Dont use that word. Bestfriends are for girls and sissy boy. I'm a pure man with lots of energy and dreams," yuto snapped back.

"What's your name?" Rika asked, trying to break the argument between Yuto and Ryuka.

"Emiko," Emiko answered, watching Yuto trying to kiss Ryuka's cheek, laughing as he saw the horrified expression on Ryuka's face.

"Ignore them, they're always like that. Arent they cute?" Rika said, giggling.

"We heard that you got lost just now Miko-chan," Ryuka said.

"Cool that you made it here alive. Their rudeness might just be the cause of you death. They think they're so cool and smart just because they study politics, science and business." Rika interrupted.

"What are you..?" Emiko asked, puzzled.

"Hikaru told me that you went to the 'so-called upper class' area, their area," Rika explained.

"Are you and hikaru...?"

"No, he's just a friend. He's Yuto's friend," Rika said.

"Bestfriend," Ryuka added.

"Urusai! We're BUDDY," Yuto snapped.

Ryuka rolled her eyes.

"Gomen. I didnt mean to shut you off," Yuto apologised to Ryuka.

The teacher came in right after that moment and Emiko do not have the chance to talk to the three of them after that.

When the last bell rang, she walked out of the building with Ryuka, Rika and Yuto. Hikaru and Ueda was talking infront of the entrance when they reached there.

Rika jumped enthusiastically at the sight of Ueda. Gripping Emiko's hand tightly.

"Come on," Ueda said coldly. Grabbing Emiko's hand.

"bye," hikaru waved. The other three was looking at her with their mouth open.

"she knows Ueda?" Rika gasped.

Part 1 : the known stranger

2008-11-14T07:38:00.000-08:00

There is nothing better than a hot cup of caramel tea on a rainy day, facing the sea, while sitting on a cosy sofa in a beach house.

BzZzZzZ!

Ueda woke up with a jolt. Darn it. I knew its too good to be true!, ueda thought. He reached for his glasses and put it on as his eyes squinted due to the morning sunlight that fell upon him. He got up quickly and take a quick shower. When he got down, breakfast was already prepared. His rich parents are away. They are on a business trip over europe, in which he was too lazy to care. As long as there's food and enough money. He doesnt seem to care about the rest.

"young master, would you like some tea?" a very unfamiliar voice approached him.

Annoyed, he turn around to face it. "ALICIA! HOW MANY TIME DO I HAVE TO SAY THAT I .. want apple juice for breakfast?" he was shouting at first but his tone grew softer as he faced the owner of the voice earlier.

"who are you?" he said.

"arigatou gozai masu," a girl greeted her. She was wearing a mini t-shirt and jeans. She should be around ueda's age so he was quite surprised.

The phone rang and ueda immediately answered it.

"sorry honey, i just want to ask you whether emiko has arrived" a female voice echoed at the end of the line.

"yes mum," ueda replied suspiciously. "but are you trying to find me a wife? She's my age," he added.

"haha, you and your sense of humor. She's not your new maid ue! She's your second cousin," the voice added.

"mum, she acts like a robots and she doesnt seem to know anything!" ueda said, annoyed with his mother.

"you just have to learn how to feed yourself, she got amnesia and her parents died last two days so be nice to her," the voice replied. "she will go to your school. Dont shout at her. Look, i really have to go honey, i'll be off to Manhattan in an hour, bye!"

"but mom!" ueda shouted as his mom hung up.

---

"you! Stop calling me sir or young master!" ueda said as he walked to his school.

"but what should i call you then? Young master?" emiko replied.

"dont you remember a thing?" ueda snapped. He was annoyed. "call me ueda, i'm your cousin, not your master."

Emiko nodded. She was sad. Sad that she doesnt remember anything. Sad that she doesnt even know who she is.

"ue-chan, do you know anything about me?" emiko asked.

"hey, i'm not a girl so dont call me ue-chan!" ueda snapped. "can you not make me hate you?!" he added.

Emiko kept quiet. She felt like she's unneeded. She doesnt have anyone except ueda. She is living alone with ueda. The housekeeper would come and visit them for every two days. Other than that, its just her and ueda.

"look, i'm sorry." ueda said, stopping and turning around to face emiko.

"i dont know anything, mum will email me your details later, so before that, all i know is your name," ueda added.

"Emiko kagurazaki. That's my name," emiko said.

"No. Its Emiko kagurazaka," ueda said. "you cant even remember your own name. How are you going to survive out there?," he added.