Author's Note: I removed the profiles when I realized that criminal records would only bore the readers. So therefore, I moved on to Part Three!

Enjoy!

Part III

MIYA

The sweet smell of rain drifted into the blue Corvette Miya was riding that day. She sat beside the chauffeur, a worn old man who appeared as if he’s had enough of driving spoiled young ladies and their friends.

“How are you guys doing back there?” Miya turned around to face the passengers who were seated behind her.

“Awesome! Thanks for the ride, cuz.” Ryosuke grinned, giving her a thumb’s up.

“No prob,” Miya returned. She shot a glance at Nobu, who was silently admiring the scenery unfold outside. “How about you, Nobu?”

She felt her heart skip a beat as his gaze met hers.

“I’m fine,” Nobu remarked quietly before returning to watch the landscape pass by under a downcast sky.

Miya looked out from her own window and heaved a deep sigh. She watched the world roll past her until everything became nothing but an incomprehensible blur of color. And all she could see was the day when they first met.

It happened two years ago during her fifteenth birthday party. It was held in the high-ceiling ballroom of a prestigious hotel. As usual, her dad made sure its extravagance was unrivaled. There were so much people, she remembered; most of them she didn’t even know. She recalled the lights which fell from onion-shaped lamps and bathed the room in an elegant glow. There were also waiters garbed in their classic white and black. They scurried back and forth like mice, but still maintained that poised look. Her father even hired a string quartet to perform and fill the place with sophisticated melodies.

Amidst all these, Miya had been sitting all by herself at a table, fretting over how her maroon gown matched the tablecloths, when Ryosuke came with someone she had never seen before.

The stranger donned a custom-made Hiroto Yamada tuxedo. (Hiroto Yamada is Miya’s second favorite designer.) There was no doubting it. This guy was the first to ever match Miya’s high taste in fashion.

“Hi, cuz. Happy birthday!” Ryosuke greeted. He gestured towards the guest. “I brought my friend Nobu along. I hope you wouldn’t mind.”

Miya stood up immediately, her eyes never leaving Nobu’s. She felt unsteady and dazed, as if she had just lighted from a roller coaster ride. A strange sensation seemed to have engulfed her. It softened her knees and reddened her cheeks. She suddenly felt as if all her confidence had dissolved into thin air.

An inaudible “hi”, which sounded more like a sigh, was all she managed to say to the dashing young man who stood before her.

Miya was certain that it was love at first sight.

Terajima National Park could be found nestled amongst acres and acres of woodland at the foot of a mountain. It was Japan’s equivalent of Yellowstone. It was also the place where the blue Corvette pulled into that day.

“We’re here at last!” Ryosuke stepped out into the graveled parking lot and stretched his arms into a “v”.

“Yeah. It sure looks pretty big,” Nobu said, astonished at the endless rows of trees ahead. “I can’t believe we have to clean this whole place up.”

“No, silly! Just the picnic area. Weren’t you listening to the officer?” Miya elbowed him playfully.

Meanwhile, the driver cleared his throat and wearily looked up at Miya. “What time should I be back, Miss?”

She barely gave him a glance.

“Afternoon. Around five,” Miya replied nonchalantly as she shooed him off with a wave of her hand.

With a muttered complain, the chauffeur drove away, leaving them alone in the wilderness.

By noon, four trash bags filled with dry leaves, twigs and candy wrappers were leaned up against the base of a tall evergreen tree. Despite the clouds above, the heat from the summer sun still managed to penetrate through, causing the four delinquents to seek the shade of a nearby oak.

“I could use a shower,” Miya grumbled. She wiped the sweat off her forehead with an embroidered towel.

Meanwhile, Nobu was looking off into the distance where black storm clouds were starting to gather. “Looks like you’re getting more than just that.”

Miya’s giggle drowned out the distant sound of thunder. “You are too funny!”

“We should get going.” Suddenly, at that moment, a small voice piped up. Miya and Nobu had to turn their heads to see who it was. Ryosuke thought a gnome had come to haunt them.

It was Hikari.

She had been standing next to them, half hidden by the oak’s leafy branches. It was the first time she had ever spoken.

“What?” Miya, however, wasn’t a bit amused. She had just begun a conversation with Nobu when this girl had to ruin it.

“I think we should go home,” Hikari repeated, almost choking on the last word.

“Who cares about what you think?” Miya replied crossly. No one has the right to interrupt her Nobu moments. No one. Not even a timid little girl who has finally decided to use her voice box.

“I think she’s right.” Ryosuke joined in, stepping in front of Hikari, who looked shaken. He pointed to the dark mass of clouds covering the horizon. “It won’t be long before the storm reaches us.”

Nobu nodded. “He’s right.”

That did it.

“Well, guess what? I’m not calling my chauffeur. We’re not going anywhere!” Miya screamed. Then, she stomped off into the woods.

A/N: All persons and places referred to herein are fictitious and any similarity to actual persons or places is purely coincidental. In other words, don't sue me.

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