"I really hate that teacher!" Hikkomi screamed in a brittle voice as she slammed her Flapdoozy Yakpack on the table and slid into the empty chair opposite Vahn.

"Who? Michiko-sensei?" Vahn asked calmly. He nodded thanks to the waitress as she brought them their usual order-- tea and Dr. Pepper. They came to this corner diner every day after school.

"She has the nerve to insult my writing!" Hikkomi narrowed her cat-green eyes and pushed her dirty blonde bangs from her face.

"And I can't believe Meisato!" Hikkomi growled. "Thinks she's high-class royalty."

Meisato's father owned a huge manga production company, and she thought she was the boss of everyone. "She had the nerve to insult my clothes! Can you believe it?"

Vahn nodded silently in agreement, his blue eyes scanning her outfit. Her navy blue jogging pants were a few sizes too big and hung loosely around her tiny waist. Every time she lifted her arms, her short black shirt would raise to show off the fake tattoo around her navel. Most of her hair was pulled into a ponytail, held in place with a fake hairpiece-- black with purple streaks.

Her unique style made Vahn love her even more...

Vahn found himself zoning again, but he didn't bother to bring himself back. He watched Hikkomi tap her can while he thought about the first time he'd met her. Was it really only last year?

"Late! Late! I'm late!" the girly voice worked its way upstairs with a pair of clattering feet and key chains. Vahn turned. Whoever was running upstairs was not late. Early really.

"H-hey! Watch it!" He found his voice a moment too late. Her foot caught the uneven top step and she slipped backwards. Vahn reached out quickly with his right hand and gripped her wrist. The girl sighed in relief as Vahn pulled her up.

"Arigato. Thanks," she puffed.

Vahn and the girl reached down to pick up her backpack at the same time. He noticed faint marks on her arm. Changing the course of his hand, he grabbed her wrist instead. He examined the scars again. One seemed new. He scanned her eyes for answers, but they were clouded with mystery.

"Um...how's about we get together at the arcade after school? Um...I have a few dollars for Dance Dance Revolution." she said nervously.

Vahn agreed, impressed that a girl played DDR. He was a junior then. Now in his senior year, he lost all his friends because he had devoted all of his time to Hikkomi.

"Vahn-sama?"

Vahn snapped back to the present.

"You looked zoned," she said as she rapped a purple fingernail on the Dr. Pepper.

Vahn loved that too, the way she was so careful to tap the can so that it wouldn't explode in her face.

She at least, seemed more careful.

Her scars were healing and she could wear sleeveless shirts again. She seemed a bit brighter too. Vahn was sure it was his unspoken love that saved her.

At night, he lay awake dreaming of being in her arms. How he longed to taste her lips. Hikkomi looked up suddenly, her lips poised on the edge of the can. What he wouldn't give to be that can right now!

"Oh my God! It's him!" Hikkomi exclaimed gleefully.

"Him who? What?" Vahn was confused and followed her gaze to a booth near the diner entrance behind him. "Erick?" Van asked.

"Yeah..." Hikkomi replied dreamily.

"You like him?"

She nodded her head slowly.

Vahn's heart sank. He leaned back against his chair, and sighed deeply. His thoughts crashed into burning flames.

"Hey, I gotta go." Hikkomi said as she stood and gathered her things quickly.

‘I've got to tell her!’ Vahn told himself. "Hikkomi-chan!" He grabbed at her jacket. His lips brushed her soft hair as she turned.

"What?"

Vahn pulled back, stunned at his reaction. "I-I'll stop by later," he replied. "I'll wait for you."

She smiled and kissed his cheek. She giggled. "I...thought you were going to say…‘I love you‘."

Vahn couldn't speak.

"Maybe...one day when you really do, eh?" she chirped playfully as she ran to the exit to greet Erick.

"If you only knew of my love for you." Vahn told the chilly air. As he paid the bill no one saw the tear in his eye.