~ * Epilogue * ~

Life is really strange sometimes... like how it can all change before you, faster than you think you can react... but sometimes that change is for the better. Sometimes not. Makes you wonder if maybe somebody's in control of it all...
After all that has happened, I want to believe there's someone up there in control...
We've excelled in the sales division, and made a small name for ourselves... It's just as I wanted. To be successful, someone important, but not rich and famous. I have my perfect life now.
When I finished college, we had more time to spend, and Akiho got a great idea. Why not see the world? We've taken a trip every summer on our vacation leave to a different part of the world. We found that if you don't splurge, if you stay economical, it's quite affordable. Our house is full of souvenirs, pictures, you name it.
Speaking of the house, it's not a very big one. We ended up getting the two-story one with the veranda, just as I knew Akiho wanted. Nights and mornings, I'd go out onto the veranda with her, and we'd just stare at the stars or the sunrise, and I would thank every God of every religion that I was able to spend my days living with her. I'd need only to look over at her, see her smile, and my heart wrote volumes.
No kids, either, but that is as it should be. Akiho and I have never been that wild about the prospects of raising a child, so I don't ever worry about it. It's something that will come when we are ready.
It's been six years since I left my hometown, started a new life with Akiho... if you had asked me seven years before, I would have never seen this coming, not in a million years.
After we had toured several major countries, I found myself asking Akiho if she would join me on a trip back to my old city. I had since found out Akiho, after moving out of her parent's house, had lived near Sanko Trading with Mitsuki. She had made it her goal and worked hard to get accepted. She had never before been to my city.
My old apartment was still vacant surprisingly. The area had hardly changed at all. The school was the same; the kids were the same...
Mrs. Asaka was just as thrilled as ever to see me. She called through the house announcing my arrival. Akiho had just smirked and commented on my popularity around here.
Sayomi was pregnant, expecting in about three months. Koji was just psyched at becoming a dad. Somehow though, it wasn't surprising to me... They looked great together. Even Akiho mentioned it.
I was also filled in on all the things I had missed. Ziro and Yuri had moved a few months after graduation to Hokkaido to live in the quiet countryside, virtually alone. Koji admitted to not having been to Sha-ya in a long time, so he couldn't comment on Enoki or Yuko. Kikuchi Keiko was now a star and idol, though plagued with bad marriages. Ayame had gone off to college, though she was around for summer vacation. She was still single and, unless they were joking, had yet to have even one boyfriend.
I still remember how she came down the stairs to greet me. She was twenty now, and beautiful. Truly beautiful. It's all so surreal. I wanted to see that cute little girl run down to see me, but that little girl was now a woman...
I wanted to talk with her about how she still hadn't taken an interest in any other guy, but the look in her eyes when she saw me told me everything. It was the same look as before. That look of pure joy...
I remember hugging her for a long time. She didn't once show any signs of wanting to stop... in fact, if I hadn't stopped, I doubt she ever would have...
I keep asking myself, if I had never met Akiho, would I have fallen for Ayame?
For the rest of the time at the Asaka's, I had Akiho and Ayame at my sides. Ayame never seemed to mind that I was married now, and I recalled her previous confession that she'd be fine no matter what, as long as she was someone special to me. Well, she had obviously told the truth then, but it had to be at least a little hard for her... and, in order to make it easier for her, I kissed her forehead like I had used to. Like always, it made her blush, and she was still cute when she blushed...
And what about Akiho? Akiho and I share an understanding, almost like a connection that transcends normal relationships. I don't know if soul mates really exist, or if there are people you are fated to... It really doesn't matter to me.
Wherever I go, I know Akiho is the one for me. She knows I am the one for her. And no matter what happens we will always have that understanding...
I had to make a big decision though. In the end, I think I did the right thing. I decided to move Ayame to our house back in the big city, so that she could live with us. True, it wouldn't much matter until she finished up college, but I figured it would be good for her to have a place to go where she could be happy. I figured she'd love the idea of living with us.
Ayame cried when I told her what I had decided, but they were not tears of sadness...
So now I live happily with Akiho and Ayame. I've accomplished everything I ever wanted, and now I have the rest of my life to live it out. I suppose now I could say I would live... happily ever after.

Oh, what? Whatever became of Sha-ya? Of course, Akiho and I had stopped by Sha-ya before returning home. According to the banners it was now on a world-wide network with one big VR area instead of the old method with smaller ones every few cities in just Japan.
We didn't go in, but simply just stood in front of the building, which was now much bigger and had a lot of activity inside.
This was where we had first met, and our thanks for it having brought us together would never cease...
And under the large neon sign advertising Shaberi Heya, a beacon that shone brightly above us in the night sky...
...Akiho and I kissed.

And that, my friends, is the story ...
...of my first love...

Hatsukoi
~ * fin * ~

DISCLAIMER

The character 'Arai Akiho' was based heavily on the character 'Shinohara Akiho' from Maye Club. Maye Club is copyright 1999 Milky House/Excellents Japan.

Though the character was used without permission (partly because Milky House no longer exists to my knowledge), I have gone to great lengths to insure it was not by any means a direct copy, and credit has been given here. Should any company owning rights to Maye Club wish it, I will take down and remove this story immediately, no questions asked.

And now, for a classic Fireside Chat with the Author.
Okay! Now that those icky disclaimers and things are over, I suppose I could add some Author Notes! Yay!! Neat little info-bites! Wai wai! Umm, yes, anyway...
First off: I'm sorry for all of the shifting of tenses. It bothers me too. But I am lazy. Go fix it yourself (or, should the day I get this published, my editor can have a nightmare-fun time with it, so nyah).
And yes, most of Akiho's dialogue was based largely from the game, in fact, her entirely really. But, as I said, I've gone to great lengths to modify, change up, and fit her into MY world and story, and I really think it does her better justice. Plus, I like to think of it more as a way of showing my appreciation. After all, imitation is the greatest form of flattery, right? Of course... there's also plagiarism. I know. But I really think it's been changed up enough it shouldn't matter. Plus, it's not like I ever plan to earn a profit from this. It has and probably forever will remain free. (I was only kidding about that getting published thing, really! Don't sue me!)
So... what to say, what to say. As I finish this 'special edition' of the story, nearly two years after it's start, I look back at all the time I spent on this bastard of a story. Whew. There's so much of me in it, should you, as the reader, "read between the lines." A lot of the themes and ideas are my own. For that reason, the story is quite dear to me. I won't lie, it was written with me in mind. I didn't care that I was using a character and base idea from some silly game; I was going to shape it into my own, make it better, at least in my eyes. I believe I have done that.
I've moved on, I've learned a lot from this endeavor. When I began drawing, I began by mimicking the styles of others, by looking off of other pieces. I did a lot of fan-art. I've moved on since then, and now do strictly original works. It's the same with my writing. Though this story was possible due to a lot of borrowing, it allowed me to advance. My next work is much different, and, in my opinion, much better than this. It's purely original, with tons of background work and notes and planning and all sorts of little details.
Since I wrote this for myself, I don't care if you don't like it or if you're angry I stole a character from a game. I wrote it for me! Not to say I do not want others to enjoy it, but if you cannot see that this was a stepping stone for me, then you shouldn't be reading it. Nobody's gonna force you. Sorry to get preachy, but I felt it needed addressing.
Well, I'm not sure what else to babble about, if you want more specific comments and feedback, I suggest leaving feedback of your own! There's nothing I like more than good, wholesome, well thought-out feedback about my writing, whether bad or good (within reason of course, and it works both ways). If you do graciously leave feedback and reviews, don't be afraid to see a (possibly lengthy) email in your inbox. I enjoy replying to feedback as much as getting it, just warning you, heh.
And lastly, I want to thank you, the reader. You have no idea the honor you have done me by taking the time out of your day to read this. You humble me. Thank you. I'll see you again in my next piece, eh? - Sean Hanley (Yadyn)

UPDATE: Well well, it looks like the sequel I never got around to doing finally came to fruitation. Hatsukoi ~Daini~, what was supposed to have been in manga form (under the name Youjo) was dropped a long time ago (close to the finish of Hatsukoi). I never got anywhere with it, since my drawing skill is largely lacking. Anyway, I've finally broken down and begun writing it in novel form, and if you want more things Ayame, read on. There are a whole slew of new characters, and while it doesn't focus on the old ones, it will (hopefully) be Ayame's turn for a real relationship. If you liked the first, why not read the second? It'll be much more fun and playful than its predecessor, but all the necessary shoujo-lovin' drama and relationship mechanics will be there. Do check it out!