Chapter 01

THE PINK CHERRY TREE-FRAMED train platform glowed in the sunlight. An eighteen-year-old blonde-haired girl sat on a bench on the deserted platform. Glancing up at the blank departure board, she let out a sigh. A cool gust of wind swept by, causing petals from the cherry trees to scatter. Before they fell to the platform, they transformed into purple butterflies that floated past her.

She closed her eyes, taking in the breeze against her skin. Announcing an arrival, the station played a melody that sounded a lot like Für Elise. Approaching footsteps echoed as a figure walked up to her, casting a shadow over her.

“You’re finally here,” she said, opening her eyes. Her breath caught, looking up at the man, who blocked the sun, giving him an angelic halo.

“Did you wait long?” he asked, his light brown eyes lighting up as they met hers.

“I stopped counting nights ago,” she replied, pouting.

“Sorry, I’ve been busy. I guess you already left before I got here.” Sadness filled his eyes. “We can’t get the timing right, can we?”

He helped her to her feet, pulling her up with too much force, her momentum sending her into him. Another breeze brushed past them. She looked up at him, blushing when his eyes met hers. He ran his fingers softly through her long blonde hair, returning the hair the wind had moved. The longer he stared into her eyes, the hotter her cheeks got.

“I love your green eyes,” he said.

She looked away shyly, but he gently turned her face back towards him.

“Eyes are the windows to the soul, the person within. I see the eyes of an angel. When I look into your eyes, I see my past and future in them.”

“You have me at a disadvantage. I can’t paint with words like you can,” she said, wrapping her arms around him. She laid her head against his chest, closing her eyes, and feeling his body heat through his shirt.

Her body relaxed as he wrapped his arms around her. Being in his arms made her feel a safety she couldn’t remember feeling outside of them.

“Are you okay? Did something happen?” he asked.

“Three-day weekend. You’re here, though. I’m fine,” she said, taking in his scent that wrapped around her.

The station now played a different melody as the chirping of the birds outside the station grew louder. The rumbling of a train in the distance grew stronger.

“I don’t want to go back there. I want to stay with you,” she whispered as she tightened her hold on him. She hoped that if she held tight enough, she wouldn’t leave. She’d turn into his shadow if it meant she could stay with him. Cold tears slipped from her eyes, trickling down her warm cheeks.

He pulled her back and wiped a tear from her cheek. “Not yet. Don’t worry, someday we’ll...”

* * *

In a bed surrounded by stuffed rabbits, each displaying a number seven on a paw, the eighteen-year-old blonde girl slept. The smile on her face faded into a frown. On the nightstand next to the bed, the red glowing numbers on the alarm clock clicked over to six o’clock.

“I don’t want to go…” she murmured as she pulled the comforter over her head.

The birds outside grew louder, acting as an alarm. She opened her green eyes and stared at the light rimmed shade that covered the window. She hugged her black comforter, then stretched out her arms and legs.

She could hear someone in the kitchen below as the smell of vanilla, butter, and a hint of cinnamon seeped under her door.

“French toast?” She sat up quickly, sniffing the air. There was a savory smell as well. “Sausage?”

Having overslept, she quickly dressed and brushed her hair into a ponytail. After a quick brush of her teeth, she opened her bedroom door, ready for the day. Locking it behind her, she stuffed the key into her backpack.

She tiptoed through the house to the kitchen. Seeing her mother alone cooking, she dropped the textbook-filled backpack on the floor.

“Seven!” her mother, Susan, exclaimed, surprised by the sudden thud. “I thought you left already. I didn’t cook anything for you. I’m making French toast, want some? Or are you going to get breakfast at school?”

Seven opened the fridge, pulling out a can of soda. She stared at the kitchen table. The smell this time was tempting. It had been so long since she had her mother’s French toast. “Is HE gone?” she asked.

Her mother stopped stirring the eggs and let out a sigh. “No, he’s in the bedroom dressing.”

“I’ll get breakfast at school. I’m running late anyways.”

“He’s a member of this family. You really should consider forgiving Derek,” her mother said.

Seven froze as she stuffed the can of soda into her backpack.

‘He makes mom happy. He stopped drinking. You have to let people change,’ one voice in Seven’s head told her.

‘He tricked her into marrying him,’ another voice in her head countered. ‘She wasn’t in the right state of mind. She was broken after losing dad and then almost losing me.’

Susan placed two slices of French toast on a plate. “You’re eighteen now, an adult. You’re about to graduate. I’m scared what’s going to happen to this family.”

Seven lifted her backpack onto her shoulder. “We’ll always be family-”

“Well, that’s good to hear,” detective Derek Locke said as he walked into the kitchen, fixing his tie. “You know, I bet she only thinks I’m with you because of that airport case.”

Susan returned the frying pan to the burner with a loud clunk. “I don’t want to talk about it!” she exclaimed, shooting him a look.

He flinched like a dog who wandered too far on its leash, the choke chain tightening around its neck. He quietly sat at the table across from Seven.

Seven chuckled to herself. Before and after their yearly Valentine’s Day trip, Derek was softer and easier to be around. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Trust me, it’s not you, it’s me,” she said.

Her mother smiled gratefully as she placed Derek’s food on the table.

Seven glanced at the melting butter and her stomach growled, demanding the same. “I’m going to school,” Seven mumbled as she hurried out of the kitchen.

She hurried out the front door and then broke into a run. She ran down the block, not looking back at the place she had to call home. She stopped at the corner as a bus drove by, honking its horn, not sure if she was going to stop.

“Why do I feel out of place? Why can’t I wait to get out of here? Why do I hate it here?” She grabbed her head as fog wrapped around her.

‘It’s all your fault…’ a voice whispered in her head.

As panic engulfed her, she fell to her knees. She took deep breaths to calm herself and stop the shaking.

“Stop it, Seven!” she cried out.

Seeing the crosswalk light had changed, she stood up and pulled her backpack to her shoulder.

“I’ll be okay once I get to school,” she said to herself as she hurried across the street.

She turned down a street lined with cherry trees in full bloom. A gentle breeze, still carrying the chill of the night, brushed past her and through the trees, causing the blossoms to scatter in the wind. She stopped, extending her hand as a petal floated down into it. She stared at the pink petal in her hand.

Cherry blossom time, as she called it, was her favorite time of the year. The blossoms were so delicate that a strong wind could bring their time to an end at any moment. She wondered if that was what happiness was—fleeting. After fighting so hard to attain it, once achieved, it burned bright and fast.

She closed her eyes, trying to imagine what it’d be like far away in another country. In the distance, she heard strange chimes that sounded like school bells. She opened her eyes, frantically glancing at her watch, and saw it was only six-fifty.

“School doesn’t start for another couple of hours. I thought for once in my life I was late.” She laughed, starting to briskly walk to school again.

The warmth of the sunlight shrouding her increased in warmth. She smiled at her favorite moment of the day, when the morning sun was strong enough to fight against the chill of the night.

She looked ahead at the large iron gate and tall fence that wrapped around her school. Even though her school looked more like a place to house prisoners than students, she looked forward to entering the gates and sitting on the benches in the back corner to wait for her friends.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

She pulled a book to read out of her backpack and placed the bag on the metal picnic table. She lay on top of the table, using the backpack as a pillow.

She couldn’t wait to get back into the world of the book. The main character had the power to see far-off places when looking into stilled water that was glistening in sunlight. Seven always wanted to see the world. For her, it was more about the leaving, than the destination. She quickly read a few chapters before putting her bookmark back into the book.

She looked at her watch, seeing it was now seven-thirty. “Another half hour till my friends get here. Every morning, I sit, read a book, and wait for hours,” she said to her watch. “Do you think I’m strange?”

“For a girl asking a watch that question, do you even have to wait for an answer?”

Her friend David Davis, a tall, dusty-blonde-haired, muscular eighteen-year-old boy, leaned over her. His bottomless blue eyes drew her in, and though she lost herself for a moment, she quickly snapped out of it.

“For a second, I thought you were a little too happy to see me.” His eyes lit up as he let out a laugh.

“David!” She sat up, hanging her legs off the edge of the table. “It surprised me you’re here this early, that’s all!”

“Oh, is that all? I hoped this morning you’d finally see my charm and fall for me.” He smirked back at her with an unmistakably flirtatious look.

“Get over yourself, David.” The buildup of anxiety in her bubbled up, striking out at him. She jumped off the table, with a glare that sliced through his ego. “In the real world, girls don’t give a crap if you make a touchdown. They want someone to talk to and listen to them. You’re way too busy looking at yourself in the mirror for that. What are you doing here early anyway?”

“I wanted to beat you here for once. Every morning since freshman year, you’ve arrived before me. I woke up early today, so I decided to see if it was early enough to beat you. It wasn’t.” His shoulders slouched over as he let out a sigh, sitting on the bench with his back to her. “Thanks for the ego buster this morning. I was only kidding anyway.”

She placed her hand on his shoulder. She wasn’t having the best of mornings and was taking it out on him. She’d said too much and hurt him.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re one of the most popular guys in school. You could date whatever girl you wanted. I even think you could date any guy you wanted, too.” She let out a nervous laugh.

“That really doesn’t do me any good if I can’t get the one girl I want, does it?” He looked back at her.

Her hand slipped off his shoulder, and she sat on the bench with her back to him. She’d been over this a thousand times with him. She didn’t want to date, and she definitely didn’t want a boyfriend. She just wanted to be left alone. “You’re one of the most popular guys in school, and yet you’re friends with me. Why? I’m not pretty or popular. I’m invisible here.”

“I see you. I see the person you are inside and it’s the most beautiful person I’ve seen. I don’t give a crap about the outside, but you don’t give yourself enough credit, you’re gorgeous too. I don’t know why I love you...” His voice faded as he stood up, turning to her. “I don’t know why you can’t love-”

“I love!” She barked at him; cutting him off as she stood.

“Who?” he asked, looking into her eyes. “You never talk about yourself, or your feelings. You don’t love your family, so you run from your house every morning. When we’re all together, you sit quietly unless spoken to. You don’t wear makeup or do anything with your hair besides a ponytail. It’s the same sweatshirt and jeans every day. You know, I don’t even think you even love yourself.”

She glared at him, her body shaking. Her mouth hung open to reply, but nothing came out. She realized that he was over fifty percent correct. She never talked to him or Aya about herself. She always listened to their problems and helped them. They rarely noticed it was one sided. She didn’t like being at home, so she left early and locked herself in her room at night.

Her legs gave out, and she fell into a sit on the ground. As she stared at the ground, she took a deep breath to calm herself.

“Sev…” The guilt was instant as he watched her deflate before him. “I-”

“David,” she said, cutting him off again. “Answer something for me.”

“Anything, Sev,” he replied.

“What about me do you like?” she asked.

He blinked at her. “Where the hell did that come from?”

“Just answer my question!” She looked up at him.

“I love your eyes,” he answered without hesitation.

Her face filled with shock as a part of the dream came flashing back. She heard the man’s voice clearly in her ears, ‘I love your green eyes...’ Her eyes watered with the rush of emotions from the memory.

“I’m sorry. I said too much.” David’s voice softened, seeing her reaction. “I don’t want to lose you. I haven’t stopped thinking about you since I first saw you that day-”

“David, don’t. I care about you a lot, but not the way you want. I can’t…” Her voice faded.

“Why?” he asked.

“I’m messed up.” She looked down at the ground. “You’re right. I can’t love.”

“Sev, you can love,” he said, walking over to her. “You give so much of yourself for other people. You can love. Just not yet. Someday.”

‘…not yet… someday…’ The voice of the man in her dream floated through her mind. Her heart fluttered, hearing it. She placed a hand on her chest as her breath was taken away.

“Let’s forget about me pouring my heart out to you. We have a test first period, don’t we? Mind helping me review until Aya gets here?” David held out his hand to help her stand.

“Only if you buy us coffee.” Her hand shook as she reached out for his.

* * *

On a black leather couch in a small dressing room, a Japanese man slept with a thick robe covering his head to block the light in the room. The room was sparsely furnished, with only the couch, a desk with a mirror framed with lights, and a chair. A gray stuffed rabbit with a white nose sat in front of the mirror. A faded pink ribbon tied around its neck.

“Kagihara-san! Break’s over. Next shot’s ready,” A voice called through the door, following a knock.

The next shot was the last of the long shooting day for the music video of their next single. Thanks to the nap he took during the set change, he’d be able to pull through the dance sequence.

“I’ll be right there!” Natsuo replied, sitting up and stretching.

He tossed the thick robe over the sofa as he jumped up. He felt the cold air wrap around his bare arms. The sleeveless costume, meant to show off his muscular arms, did little to keep him warm.

Looking in the mirror at his ebony hair with strips of blonde highlights, he frowned. He ran his fingers through his hair. He stared at the dark bags under his light brown eyes for a moment before his gaze lowered to the rabbit sitting before him.

“I’ll do this for you,” he said, taking one last look in the mirror before he opened the dressing room door.

As he headed towards the stage, he was handed a microphone as a woman pulled at him, straightening his costume. She then swiftly ran a comb through his hair. He let out another sigh as he saw the slight blush on her face as she brushed powder under his eyes to hide the bags. Done being primped, he stepped out into the hot stage lights.

Kenji Imai, holding a microphone, walked out on the other side of the stage. Another woman followed him, finishing up feathering out the layers of his dark-brown hair. He was dressed in the same sleeveless costume, but with red trimming instead of blue. As the woman ran offstage, he yawned.

“I want this shoot over. It’s almost midnight!” Kenji complained.

Natsuo laughed. “I thought idols weren’t supposed to complain, Kenji.”

It was Kenji’s turn to laugh. “I just want this music video shoot to end. I want my clothes back. Why are we shooting a summer video at the end of winter? Can’t they edit faster?”

“Let’s do this in one take then,” Natsuo said, smiling at the man he was paired with when he joined the company. He could briefly see the man that had been his best friend as Kenji smiled back, giving him a thumbs up.

“Que music!” someone shouted from behind the wall of bright stage lights. “Marks!”

His best friend disappeared again as Kenji’s face hardened as he looked down to stand on the red tape on the ground. Natsuo reminded himself that even if there were glimpses of him sometimes, his friend was gone. He shook his head, looking down at the blue tape to check his mark.

A voice counted down, and the music started. They sang along with the playback, running through the rehearsed steps effortlessly. Things might’ve changed, but on stage, they still synced perfectly. With three cameras on them, two for close ups and one for the master shot, they could get this done in one take.

Natsuo’s mind wandered as images of green eyes framed by blonde hair flashed through his mind. He fought against it, wanting to finish today’s shoot with this take. Even with the distraction, his body kept hitting each beat it needed to. The green eyes were so clear, but the rest of her was shrouded in fog. The memory of his dream girl always faded after he woke, except those green eyes. He focused on those eyes, almost feeling her there in front of him. He let himself get lost in the image of her reaching for him.

“I’ll keep searching,” both men sang the last line of the song as they hit the last pose.

“For you,” Natsuo sang, reaching out as the music faded.

“Cut!” the director shouted.

“What the hell was that?” Kenji asked.

“I…I don’t know,” Natsuo said, catching his breath.

“I hope that doesn’t mess up the take!” Kenji glared.

“As expected, perfect!” the director said. “That’s a wrap for Natsuo! Kenji, can we get one more run through for a close up when Natsuo says for you?”

Kenji nodded and shot Natsuo a look. Ignoring it, Natsuo walked offstage to his dressing room. He changed back into his clothes quickly, hoping he’d get away in time. When he heard the turn of the doorknob, he knew he failed.

“What the hell was that?” Kenji barged in, still in costume. “Are you trying to show me up?”

“Leave me alone, Kenji.” Natsuo picked up his bag and the stuffed rabbit from the desk.

“Answer my question!” Kenji demanded.

“Are you really that insecure about your own talent?” Natsuo snapped back.

“At least I’m not the one holding a stuffed rabbit,” Kenji coldly stated.

“Did you leave yours at home?” Natsuo struck with the power of swords. Both of them started laughing.

“I’m going to Roppongi. Want to come?” Kenji asked.

“I’m going home. My dog is lonely,” Natsuo replied.

Kenji let out a laugh. “Oh, sure, your dog is lonely. Do you have a girl waiting for you at home?”

Natsuo walked out of the dressing room, with Kenji following behind him. “Yeah, and I haven’t seen her all day.”

“Come on Natsuo! Come to the club with me! It’s your birthday,” Kenji said, not giving up.

“It’s past midnight?” he asked as Kenji stepped in front of him, blocking the door. “I really should get home. Just go party for me, okay? Have twice the drinks. Have twice as many girls for all I care, but just leave me alone,” he said, pushing past him.

Natsuo zipped up his jacket as he walked out of the staff entrance. The snow crunched under his feet as he walked down the poorly lit street.

“Kenji just doesn’t understand! He just wants the girls! That’s not why I’m doing this. I don’t need to show him up,” he mumbled to himself.

His thoughts floated from Kenji to his birthday. He was twenty, and still alone, waiting for her. His thoughts shifted back to the dream he had. Feeling his emotions swelling inside of him, he ran towards his apartment.

Running by the train station, he slipped on some ice he didn’t see and fell, hitting his face on the pavement. He stood, holding his cheek in pain.

‘What are you doing, idiot!? An idol’s face is priceless!’ he heard Kenji scream at him in his head.

He stood looking at the statue of a koi fish jumping out of water outside the station as he rubbed his cheek. As he faintly heard a train in the distance, he closed his eyes. A little more of the dream came back to him.

“Someday we’ll...” he whispered. He opened his eyes, picking up the stuffed rabbit and bag.

He entered his apartment, dropping his bag on the floor near the door as he slipped off his shoes. He tossed the rabbit towards his futon. He turned on the light, illuminating the apartment in full; the futon, a couch, and a TV. The kitchen in the corner was cluttered with fast food containers. On the couch, a small sandy brown ball of fur jumped onto his lap as he sat down. He hugged the dog and kissed the top of her head.

“I’m happy to see you too, Pooky! Have you been a good girl? I have so much to tell you!” She laid next to him on the couch, looking at him, waiting for the story. “I had another dream about her. What’s it about her green eyes? Why are they the only thing I usually remember? Do you think she’s really out there?”

He looked at the dog for an answer, but she had closed her eyes. Deciding to get some sleep himself, he first showered to get all the products used for the shoot off of him before climbing into bed.

“I wouldn’t be lucky enough to dream about you twice in the same day, would I?” he asked, staring up at the ceiling. With his question floating in the air above him, he closed his eyes and fell asleep with the gray rabbit next to him.