Location: Mathematics class
Time frame: Fifth period
Point of view: Sakura

“The question asks you to find the angle the path of the ball makes with the horizontal plane after six seconds. So, what you need to do is pick out the information...”

I looked up to see the teacher circling a few equations I had no desire to understand. I could only sigh—quietly of course. Unknowingly laughing aloud had gotten me into trouble once before. It was a nightmare the last time. Mr. Hisamatsu gave all his calculus questions to me to answer and I was blank on all of them. Mr. Hisamatsu was an easy-going teacher, but sometimes he was very strict and enforced orderly behaviour and punctuality scarily. But I find it strange that he does so because even Mr. Hisamatsu himself was not very good at punctuality, especially on Fridays: it was more often than not that he was extremely late to Friday classes. His best was five minutes late and his worst was fifteen minutes late. I wasn't too sure why that was though, but I was not concerned: Mr. Hisamatsu's lateness allows more time to get to class!

“Differentiate this and we get: d x over d t equals...”

I sighed again: my mind was differentiating. This subject was infuriating: the calculations, the formulas, the questions—everything about calculus was infuriating . I was never good at maths. Maths drove me nuts, and yet I chose to take on this subject. I could have chosen a science subject, an arts subject, a language, or I could have even chosen statistics over calculus, but I had to choose calculus. I now see that I was no doubt going to suffer for making this wrong choice.

I took a deep breath and revived myself from the frustrations I felt—I was not going to pull any hair out over this. I forced myself to focus on the instructions Mr. Hisamatsu was giving and attempted to understand what was on the board. Calculus was not going to defeat me easily!

But my determination was in vain. My brain exploded once more. Mr. Hisamatsu advanced onto the next line as I was still trying to understand the one before.

It seems to me that calculus was going to continue to be an omnipotent enemy of mine. I will need extreme external help to understand and master this. I hope Tomoyo or Chiharu can help me—calculus seems to like my two friends.

I trailed off to more pleasant thoughts—pleasant thoughts of Kansuke as I revisited the rare and wonderful feeling of being in his arms. I looked in his direction: a row down and several seats across from where I sat. I stared at his side profile; I dived deeper into many sweet thoughts of him and me.

I was brought back to reality a moment later when I caught onto the exchange of looks between Kansuke and the girl sitting next to him—Yamamoto Hisa. I didn't know her well, I didn't associate with her much, but I sensed her to be a strong-headed girl, and something told me that she and I were not of the same personality type; I sensed she and I would not get along very well.

But it seems that Kansuke and this girl was getting to know each other very well at this present moment as they flirted with each other with more eye contact and playful pokes.

I had failed what I had set out to do earlier. My friends had convincingly told me that playing with the Loner would guarantee attention from Kansuke, but they were wrong: Kansuke was not the least bit interested; he was too focused on that Hisa girl.

Why is it that he doesn't notice me?

Furthermore, I was embarrassed at the end of it all and the loner seemed unaffected by my prank—even that Loner had a bit of a laugh at me!

“Kinomoto!”

It was Mr. Hisamatsu who called my name out in class. I think I growled aloud in frustration. I stiffened and looked up to Mr. Hisamatsu's unhappy face: I've done it now. For the remainder of the class I was going to have to answer all of his calculus questions.

“Is there a problem?” he asked.

“No, Mr. Hisamatsu. I'm sorry for interrupting your class.”

I prayed that this would show him that I had no intentions to be disruptive in this class. His eyes were firm on me, but unlike the last time, he didn't give me a deathly glare. He seemed more lenient today. I hope it was not wishful thinking that deluded me.

“Please do not disrupt the class with your groans again.”

“Yes Mr. Hisamatsu. I won't.”

“Good. Make sure you don't.” He then turned his attention back to the rest of the class and resumed the lesson.

I sighed in relief as I relaxed back into my seat. Mr. Hisamatsu was kinder today. Today, I think I am safe from being asked to solve calculus questions in front of the entire class. Making sure I didn't groan or moan aloud again, I set my previous thoughts to the back of my mind and returned to the lesson at hand.

But I was surprised when I looked at the whiteboard: in the short amount of time that my mind had trailed off, one entire board had filled up from top to bottom with work. We were now on the second panel of the whiteboard!

Worry began to settle again as I tried to catch up on writing the work into my exercise book. Last time, I barely passed the first test and that covered introductory topics, and now, we were doing actual calculus; and there was a test in two weeks which covered all of the material from the material in the last test to this point. With the amount of calculus that I understood (it was not much), I was in trouble. I was definitely going to need a lot of help for the next test and the many ones following. Hopefully, Tomoyo or Chiharu was willing to spend a lot—a lot—of time helping me understand this, or else I was definitely not going to pass at the end of the year. I've never had anything below a B-grade as a final grade let alone a failing grade. I do not want to see a failing grade.

The hour of calculus passed by slowly, but it did. There was only ten minutes left and for the past half an hour we were doing exercises from our textbook. Presently we were working through some problems that some had trouble working out. These problems were extension questions from each exercise: I was nowhere near those questions—I wasn't able to be near doing those questions when I had trouble with the regular questions. Nevertheless, I wrote down any and all problems that were worked out on the board and wrote down as much as I could of what Mr. Hisamatsu said in hopes that the information would later enlighten me and enable me to work out the regular ones.

Two problems were worked out on the board and I was almost finished copying down the second one when the Loner pointed out to Mr. Hisamatsu that something was not right with the second line of the second problem. I could not one bit spot the mistake of course and when the Loner explained what had not been correct, I couldn't find it still because what he said was a bunch of foreign words and logic. But Mr. Hisamatsu did and he took some time to look over his work and he confirmed that the Loner was right. He immediately corrected it.

As I rewrote the solution for that calculus problem, I wondered how the Loner was able to understand the subject so well—so much that he spotted mistakes in Mr. Hisamatsu's workings. He must not have much fun and studied like a geek, I reasoned—how else can a person be able to understand such difficult subjects?

What a frustrating person he was, I say—to be so relaxed about this subject and always correcting mistakes the teacher made. He must be so proud of himself that he gets great grades all the time! He's smart, but he is a loner. Being good at school is not everything.

My thoughts seem sour you may find them to be, but like the girl that Kansuke was flirting with earlier, the Loner's personality was one that opposed mine: he didn't talk much; he liked solitude a little too much: if there was a project where you got to choose to work alone or with others he'd choose the former; and he didn't attend or participate in anything—not socials nor part of any school clubs. Granted, he was a part of the school's soccer team last year, but other than that, I did not understand why he was so anti-social; a transfer student who was uninteresting. It was no wonder he had little to no friends. But being fair, he was not too bad-looking; he wouldn't be classified as unattractive. But again: I've not seen or heard any girl say they liked him. He was definitely no Kansuke. Kansuke had a charm and a look about him that both sexes liked and want to know him and be friends with him.

An unbearable person he was—Mr. I'm-so-calm. Mr. It's-not-there! Where does he get off being so full of himself? I thought.

I looked to the hand that almost touched him: once this class ended, I must remember to take a visit to the girl's washroom and wash my hands off of his microbes thoroughly.

As I finish off the last two lines of the calculus problem that Mr. Hisamatsu corrected on the board, the bell sounded.

“Okay. Great work everyone; we got a lot done today. If you haven't done so, finish the exercises for homework and we'll go over anything you found trouble with on Monday. I'll be discussing about the upcoming test next week, so you can prepare for it.”

I shuddered as Mr. Hisamatsu mentioned about the test. He continued:

“That's it for today. Those who borrowed a textbook from me, please return them to the shelf at the front. Have a good weekend, all!”

Fifth period and Calculus class was finally over. For me, the week finally ended and the weekends were here. But not understanding a single thing today, the majority of the weekends would most likely be spent going over the work today. I sighed heavily at the thought as I packed up my gear.

“It's home time for you, huh Sakura?” Tomoyo said as she placed her textbook into her bag.

“Yup. I'm so glad that this is my last class. I'm so tired.” I extended both my arms up in the air and stretched the tiredness out of me.

“Mm, lucky you, Sakura. Tomoyo and I still have one more class before we can finally enjoy,” Chiharu moaned from her desk behind me.

I turned behind and frowned crossly at Chiharu as I told her, “Yeah after what happened this afternoon with you and Tomoyo's ingenious plan of making Kansuke jealous and then having it fail, one more class is what you two need to learn that you two should make your own entertainment instead of getting me to provide it for you.”

I spotted Kansuke exit with that girl in my periphery and I turned more fully towards the sight. They were exiting happily, chatting, and smiling.

I returned. I saw Tomoyo and Chiharu return from looking as well. Tomoyo spoke:

“Sorry about that. I thought it would definitely get him to react—especially when the beautiful Sakura chatted up on Li Syaoran!”

I contorted my face and shook my head in disagreement. It was also in light of my stupidity also as I replied, “I don't know why I believed it would work in the first place. Just hearing you say that now, Tomoyo, I now know how absurd that sounds. He is nothing to Kansuke. Maybe it would have a chance of working if it was one of Kansuke's friends...” I shook my head again, “but not him. Remind me never to listen to you guys again.”

They both more or less agreed. However, I knew I would be fooled again into providing entertainment for them. There was going to be many more times, I was sure of that.

“Anyway, before I head off to class,” Tomoyo said, “there is a party tonight.”

“A party?—who's party and where?” Chiharu asked.

“Eriol. I just got the message before class ended. He wanted to hold one all of a sudden. It's at his place. You guys keen to come?”

“Definitely,” Chiharu said.

“What about you, Sakura?” Tomoyo asked.

Unlike Chiharu, I was unsure. Calculus was the reason for my uncertainty. There was a test in two weeks and I needed all the time I could get to go over it—even if it was just staring at it and rewriting what I wrote in class.

“I'm going to message Ashida to give us girls a ride. Come Sakura,” Tomoyo urged me.

I thought about it and did want to go, but my poor understanding of calculus worried me a little.

“Ashida's going to be there, Sakura,” Chiharu said. “Come! It'll be fun.”

The mention of him was tempting, more than tempting. I gave into it and accepted. Tomoyo clapped her hands in happiness. “Great. I'm so glad. I'll give Eriol a message that you guys are coming and I'll get Ashida to pick us all up as well.”

“You haven't invited Kansuke yet, have you?” I asked. “I don't think he'd want to pick us all up.” I was afraid that he'd find it bothersome. Although Kansuke and the three of us hung around, we were not that close to get him to do favours for us. We all were associated to him through Eriol. Kansuke was a friend of Eriol's.

“No problem, Sakura. Let me worry about that and you worry about looking good so that Ashida will be blown away by you when he picks you up.”

I was still uncomfortable with it, but I agreed. I then asked when I should be ready by. Tomoyo told me and Chiharu that she'd message us the details later this afternoon.

I waved both Tomoyo and Chiharu goodbye before I took my bag in hand and m ade my way towards the front of the class and returned the textbook I borrowed from Mr. Hisamatsu to the bookshelf.

I began visualising the interiors of Eriol's place and imagined Kansuke and I there. A surge of excitement rose in me. It was going to be great. The thought of him coming to my house then driving me there and then spending three, four, five, or even six hours in the same place as him. Tonight was going to be the best night ever!

In my excitement, I bumped into someone.

“Sorry,” this person said.

I came back from my thoughts and found the Loner standing apologetically before me. He had cleared the path for me as he stood pushed against his desk, waiting for me to pass. I didn't care to respond to him; I have had enough of him for today. I walked past him and spoke no words to him.

Location: Outside the residence of the Kinomoto's
Time frame: Friday evening
Point of View: Sakura

Tomoyo called me at home around 5:00 P.M. and told me she got Kansuke to agree to come pick us all up. She said that Kansuke was going to pick up my other friends first before going around to my house at seven-thirty to pick me up. It was now four minutes past seventy thirty, but still I hadn't arrived. Four minutes past the stated time was not too late, but I was anxious and it had been excruciating to wait indoors that I decided to wait for them at the curb outside my house.

7:35 P.M. I read on my cell phone display. Only one minute had passed since the last time I checked. “Oh I am definitely too nervous! Why am I so nervous? I see him every day at school!” I thought aloud.

A click and a creak sounded and my surroundings brightened. I looked behind to my door and saw my dad poke through before he made his way to my position.

“Sakura, why don't you wait inside?” my dad told me as he kneeled beside me. “They will come to the house and get you when they arrive.”

From his gentle yet firm speech, I could tell he was worried about me. I suppose sitting out here in the dark by myself for almost twenty minutes made him a little anxious. This street I lived on, it wasn't too busy nor was it dangerous—not really—it was quite safe and illuminated, but the road was wide; sitting out in the open, visible to all strangers in their cars and passer-bys I understood where my dad was coming from.

But I told him, “I know they will, Dad. I won't have to be here for very long. They'll be here soon,” I attempted to assure him, to put my dad at ease.

He hesitated to speak as a troubled brow and depressed lips formed on his facial cast. He then nodded: “Alright, but if they're not here in the next five minutes, come inside alright? I don't want you sitting out here alone at night.”

I smiled, “Okay, Dad.”

Dad went back inside.

My dad, a professor at Towa University , was a busy dad but he was a great dad. He was quite liberal, but also did worry about me quite a bit. My mum passed away when I was very little and my older brother, Touya, he moved out two summers ago to an apartment closer to his place of study, so now it was just my dad and I living in this modest family home of ours. My dad relied on my brother to share the role in looking after me back when he lived in the house, but now it was just dad so he had become a little more edgy about things. But my dad needn't worry especially when I was a responsible eighteen-year-old. I told him this one time and he said he knew, but still couldn't stop worrying because I was “very special to him and he cared and loved me very much.”

Dad coming out and then thinking about the latter had filled up three minutes. I wondered when I would finally see Kansuke's car pull up—a black car that roared loudly as it drove by.

Anxiety finally left me as boredom settled. I leveraged my chin on top of my bent knees. The lamp post directly across from me on the other side of the street provided me entertainment for a couple of moments before my mind drifted off to thoughts of the party.

Tomoyo informed me that Eriol had invited around fifty plus people and those were able to invite their friends, so there was a potential that the party was going to be a huge one. I don't think there would be trouble fitting everyone in though judging by Tomoyo's description of the house. She said that his place was an old-fashioned manor on the other side of town and was very spacious. It had a large kitchen and lounge with many bathrooms and bedrooms.

Tomoyo and I knew Eriol when he transferred from England to our school two years ago. We both knew him, but Tomoyo was closer to him.

A couple of short honks jolted me out of my thoughts. Bright headlights shone directly into my eyes; I tried to block the unbearable brightness with my arms as I stood up. It took me many moments for my eyes to go back to normal, but when I was finally able to see, I saw a parked car a metre or so behind me.

I recognise the sound coming from the car to belong to Kansuke's car. They finally arrived. I headed over as I saw the passenger door open.

“Sakura, sorry we're late,” Tomoyo said as she grabbed her handbag from inside the car.

A head stuck out through the back windows on the side of the passenger seat. It was Yanagisawa Naoko, my childhood friend. I was surprised to see her here. She was not a fan of going out or partying. One would more often find her at a library than at a party. Her interests had moved into those different to mine, so we didn't hang out with each other as often as we had back when we were in elementary school. We did still hang out, but once in a while only.

”Hey, Sakura. I had trouble finding something good to wear to the party. Sorry for making you wait,” Naoko explained.

Rika smiled and waved to me through the window. Sasaki Rika was also one of my childhood friends. We also lost touch throughout the years, but it wasn't because we have become so different that we didn't hang out with each other anymore, but because she spent a lot of her time with her long time boyfriend. Her boyfriend was a teacher at our old elementary school.

“Long time no see, you guys.” They gave me a big grin in agreement. “Don't worry, Naoko.”

My eyes not finding Chiharu in the car, I asked Tomoyo, “Is Chiharu getting a ride with Yamazaki?”

“Yeah. She just messaged me and said they're already there. So let's get going, eh?”

I nodded enthusiastically. “I'm so ready for the party, let's get going!”

I reached for the door to the backseat, but Tomoyo halted me—

“Wait, I'm moving to the back.” She had one of those crooked smiles on her lips that always caused me to go on edge. “You can sit at the front seat.”

Tomoyo walked to the back, clearing the line of vision between me and Kansuke. He leaned backwards for a switch on the car's roof. The interior of the car lit up, accentuating all of Kansuke's so handsome face, particularly his eyes. My heart pulsated faster and when he winked at me my heart thumped even harder.

“Hey,” he greeted me. “Hop in.”

Words would not come out of me even when many responses ran through my head. I only nodded and hopped in. He waited for me to buckle in before he put an arm across the back of my seat and said:

“Alright then, beautiful ladies: I'm running low on gas; you don't mind a pit stop at the gas station for a fill?”

I think the others responded with a yes, but me, I was too concentrated on not turning red as the way he sat he was only several inches from my face. I could almost lean over and touch his lips and kiss him.

“Is that sweet with you, Sakura?”

I snapped out of my daydream and found Kansuke's equally mesmerising blue eyes looking at me. The question was directed towards me.

“Y-yeah.” I replied. It had come out a little squeaky.

“Sweet,” he said with a smile before he started the car and we were off.

The gas station was only a short distance's drive from my house and for that amount of time, I daydreamed; every time we turned right I couldn't help but take a look at him, and when I did I just wanted to edge closer to him.

Presently, Kansuke was entering an amount into the pump. He then took the gas pump nozzle and began filling the car with gas. I remained looking out the window until I was taken away with a couple of taps on my shoulder.

I turned backwards. Rika's head was between my seat and the driver's seat. “Sakura, that guy likes you.”

“Which guy?” I asked her confused. I looked out the window for any guys looking in my direction.

“No, no, not out there,” Rika told me. “Your friend, Ashida.”

I was shocked by that statement. What had made her think that? I asked her that and she explained,

“He complimented on your dress, and he kept looking at you when you weren't watching.”

“Are you sure?” still not believing her words—because, if it was true, I was definitely going to up my game. If he did like me then I was definitely not going to sit here doing nothing about showing him that I was more than willing to return his feelings.

“Yeah—I mean, when he complimented on how you looked tonight, he said it like this: ‘You're looking good tonight'.”

Everyone burst into laughter. I didn't know if they were laughing at the compliment Kansuke gave me or at Rika's imitation of Kansuke. Her voice had lowered and she had twisted her body and eyed me up and down as she said his line. I wasn't laughing. I was much too worried about Kansuke seeing and hearing one of my friends imitating him.

“Guys, shh... He's just outside,” I said. They all went into silent laughter, hands over their mouths like three mice at the back of the car nibbling on cheese.

I looked out my window to see if he showed any signs of hearing the conversation in here. He was still filling and staring at the meter. I relaxed.

“Guys...” I groaned.

When and what had turned Rika into someone like Tomoyo and Chiharu? I remember her to be quiet, nice, and polite.

“Ashida scanned you like he was a vampire looking at blood—thirsty for you.” Naoko added.

Her too, but what a strange comparison she had made—I am blood?

“I agree with Rika and Naoko. I think Kansuke thinks that our Sakura looks stunning tonight!” Tomoyo followed.

I looked down at my white skirt and backless cyan top. “You guys think so?”

Tomoyo slapped my doubts away with a flick of a hand, “For sure! I swear that whenever we turned right, one of his eyes would stray off to you before it returned back onto the road again.”

I looked out the window and looked at Kansuke. Could Kansuke ever like me in the way that my friends described? He has so many more beautiful girls who liked him—was I his type?

I was still unsure, but it didn't matter. Right now, I was just happy and in such a good mood—so much so, I thought to treat my friends to some things from the gas station. I asked them,

“Do you guys want anything from inside? My treat.”

“There'll be heaps of snacks and drinks at the party, Sakura,” Tomoyo said.

“I know. I just feel like something now.”

We're fine,” Tomoyo answered for the group.

“Alright, I'll just—”

I paused as I heard a clank from the car. Kansuke must have finished filling up the tank. I looked out and saw him spray down the excess petroleum. Kansuke saw me and smiled through the window. “Won't be long, ladies,” he said through my window then went on his way.

Quickly, I unbuckled myself and called for him as I opened the door—“Wait, Kansuke! I'm going to get something from inside.” He heard me and waited. Once I reached him he winked at me and we both made our way into the store.

This gas station was packed with things. They had the usual products that one would find at a gas station: car accessories, lubricants, firewood, petroleum, and other car-related things. It was also a combined convenience store, so there were many things sold here, ranging from kitchen towels to stationery, magazines to food. When no place was opened and I needed to buy something like a missed ingredient for baking, a gas station was always first in my mind because it was opened twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

I had gone into the drinks section and grabbed an eighteen pack of beer before I headed over to the confectionery section to choose a bag of fruit chews. I presently made my way to the service line that Kansuke was waiting in. Tonight everyone seemed to need gas as it was a long line.

“Hey, I'm finished choosing,” I said to Kansuke.

“Good. What d'you get?” he asked.

“Beer and candy.” I raised the eighteen-pack of beer and candy for him to see. “I thought I'd buy this for the party.”

“Good thinking—that Hiiragizawa might run out during the party. You can never have enough of that stuff!”

I smiled widely. “Yeah, that's what I thought.”

He reached his hands for the pack and the confectionery in my grasp. “We'll put it together. I'll pay for it all.”

Quickly I waved his offer off. “It's alright, Kansuke, I'll pay for them myself.”

He nodded. “If that's what the lady desire, then the lady gets.”

After about minute or so passed, we finally moved to second from the front. But as a middle-aged man in navy overalls talked to the server, I realised that it might take just that much longer. Apparently, this middle-aged man knew this person at the counter and was making small talk. I hope he wasn't going to take too long though. The party had already started and we barely made our way there.

“Busy today isn't it?” the middle-aged man asked the server.

“Yes, quite busy.”

My brow furrowed in response to the voice. The voice was no longer a feminine voice as it had previous to this customer but a masculine voice. In addition, I recognise it.

I peered left; I was surprised to see the Loner on the other side of the counter. He worked here?

“People must be running out of gas at the same time,” the man continued.

“Yes, it must be,” he said, stifling a short laugh.

I was again surprised. This was the first time that I heard the loner laugh and make small talk. It was a strange thing to hear. It was unlike him.

“Number three, thanks young man,” the male customer told the loner. It was his bay number.

The Loner entered the number into his computer then told him the amount. The man handed him his money card and the Loner swiped it through the machine before handing it to him to enter his password. As he did so, he began again:

“About the other day...” The Loner's eyes brightened as he stilled all his action to listen to the man. “I still don't have anything on offer, but how would you like to come on into the workshop and take a look around, observe some of the work the lads do? I can't pay you, but I thought you might like the experience.”

“That's great!” the Loner's said as he ripped the receipt from the machine. Again, this was a strange sight for me as I never saw him so animated.

“Do you have an hour or so after work?” the man asked.

The sound of the cash compartment being closed sounded.

“I should do. I'll come across around ten thirty for an hour maybe.”

Upon this, I wondered if the Loner worked this late everyday. If he did, I certainly cannot understand how he got all the good grades when he worked so late.

“Alright,” the man said. “Till then.”

“Thank you. Have a good evening.”

The man turned around; I allowed him room to pass as I moved aside. He smiled at me then apologised to me and Kansuke for holding us up. I bowed and smiled in return.

It was our turn and I was a little uncomfortable to say the least. This afternoon it was embarrassing and infuriating enough that I didn't want to have to see him until the next class we had together, but now I was seeing him again—and so soon.

I stepped up to the counter as he greeted us:

“Good evening.”

I was surprised to see him on the other side of the counter earlier, but I couldn't tell if he was surprised to see me here since I saw no such expression on his face.

Kansuke didn't give the same courtesy of greeting him. Instead he just spoke his bay number: “Number ten,” he said.

“Will that be paid for altogether?” the Loner asked after pushing a few keypads on the computer. His eyes were on the things I cradled in my arm.

“N—“

I struggled to answer as I tried to stop the corners of the box holding the beer from digging into my skin. I heaved it up into the air, attempting to settle it in a more comfortable position, but I only moved it into another position that was more uncomfortable.

“Let me help you with that,” the Loner said.

He extended me his help as he took the pack of beer out of my hands. Kansuke quickly came to my aid also. The both placed the box on the counter for me.

“No, I'll be paying separately.”

The Loner nodded before he resumed. He spoke the amount and Kansuke tossed his money card onto the counter with a bit of strength. It sped across the surface so fast that I thought it would move beyond the edge.

But it didn't because the Loner's speedy reflexes stopped it dead in its track before he swiped it through the money machine.

“Nice catch,” Kansuke complimented.

The Loner paid no attention to Kansuke's compliment. He continued waiting for the machine to process the transaction.

“Here you are, Sir.” The Loner handed back the card. Kansuke took it. The Loner's attention then directed towards me:

“Will it be just those, Miss?”

Normally, people who knew one another, even just as classmates, they'd act like it, but the Loner, there was no sign of him acknowledging that he knew me or Kansuke. He was indeed weird and truly anti-social.

But I wasn't too worried. I want to head to Eriol's party as soon as possible anyway. I answered him, “Yes.”

“May I ask for some sort of identification please?”

I reached for my wallet, but make-up, keys, creams and other things that I stuffed into my bag earlier made the task difficult. I wished I had gotten my wallet out when we were waiting in line to be served. Right now I was sorry to the many behind who had to wait for me to get my I.D. card out.

“C'mon, she's old enough,” Kansuke said all of a sudden. “Look at her!”

The Loner's face was the first thing I saw when I looked up in shock, but no expression was on his face. I switched to look at Kansuke and heat surged to my cheeks as he winked at me. Maybe my friends did see something right: Kansuke complimented me again.

Quickly, I set that to the back of my mind, and resumed searching for my wallet. After two or three rummages, I finally found my wallet. I quickly took my I.D. out and handed it to the Loner as requested.

He took it from my hand and began checking the details of my card. He was very thorough: he looked at my I.D.; then at me for a very long time.

Why was taking him so long to check that the photo on the card was me? I thought. It wasn't as if he didn't know me, so it shouldn't be that hard to see that I was the person on the photo. He was so good at calculus—surely it cannot possibly be because he was finding it difficult to calculate that I was of the legal drinking age?!

After a moment or so, he finally gave me my I.D. card back before he processed the transaction. He gave me the receipt when I paid for it before he helped me lift the eighteen pack of beer and bag of fruit chews. Kansuke and I finally exited the store and made our way back to the car.

It was around 7:55pm when we finally made a start for the party. Tomoyo said that it was going to be another twenty minutes drive to get to Eriol's place, so I had to wait for another twenty minutes before finally we could get the night started. And I couldn't wait: after my progress with Kansuke tonight, I was excited with the prospects of being able to get a little closer to him at the party.