"Mom! Why didn't you wake me up for school?!" Amu cried, rushing around the kitchen while trying to eat breakfast, pack her lunch, and fix her hair at the same time.
Her mother sighed. "Honey... you locked your door, remember?"
Amu froze, then sweat-dropped.
"I have to go!" Amu said quickly. She kissed her mom and dad on the cheeks, ruffled her baby sister's hair, and ran out the door. "Bye!"
As she walked down the pavement toward the gate, she noticed a moving truck parked nearby.
A new neighbor? I wonder what they're like...
⸻
After a long and uneventful day at school, Amu exited the gates and walked down the sidewalk hand-in-hand with her boyfriend, Hotori Tadase — a beautiful boy with soft blond hair and ruby-colored eyes.
My heart is beating so fast... I hope he doesn't notice.
"Amu-chan," Tadase said gently, glancing at her with a warm smile.
Amu's face turned bright red. "W-What is it, Tadase-kun?" she asked nervously.
He chuckled softly. So cute.
"I was wondering if you'd like to stop for some ice cream with me."
"I would love to."
The happy couple made their way toward the park. Amu sat on a bench while Tadase walked to the ice cream stand. A few minutes later, he returned with two cones.
"Which one would you like?" he asked.
"Chocolate," Amu replied.
He handed it to her and sat beside her. They both took their first lick.
"Tadase-kun... have you decided where you want to go for college?"
"Yes. Todai. Hopefully I get accepted."
Amu smiled brightly. "You will. For sure."
"What about you?"
Amu looked up at the clear blue sky. "I don't know yet... I still haven't decided what I want to major in," she admitted.
Tadase leaned closer and gently kissed her cheek, making her face glow red.
"I love you, Amu-chan."
She nodded shyly. So embarrassing... But saying it back feels even more embarrassing. Thank goodness he doesn't mind.
⸻
Amu hummed softly as she stepped into her house.
"Mama! I'm home!" she called while removing her shoes and placing them neatly inside the closet.
Her mother replied from the kitchen, "Welcome back, honey! Dinner will be ready in an hour."
"Okay!" Amu said, heading upstairs toward her room.
Once inside, she changed out of her uniform and into a simple white tee and denim shorts. She grabbed her manga and walked toward the balcony. Pulling back the dark pink curtains, she slid open the glass door and stepped outside.
Then she froze.
Her manga slipped from her hands.
Across from her balcony — through an open glass door with navy curtains pulled aside — stood a handsome young man with a towel loosely wrapped around his waist... smiling directly at her.
"Like what you see?" he asked smoothly, winking.
Amu snapped out of her shock, her face burning red. "Are you serious?! Don't you have any shame?! Who leaves their balcony door open like that?!"
The young man stepped closer to his balcony, smirking as her face grew redder.
This is going to be fun.
"Last time I checked," he said calmly, "what I do in my own home is my business... Miss Pervert."
Amu backed into her glass door, heart racing. He was... very handsome.
Midnight blue hair. Piercing cerulean eyes. Tall. Lean. Confident.
Her heart skipped.
"S-Shut up!" she shouted, pointing at him.
The blue-haired stranger laughed softly, then walked to the edge of his balcony and extended his hand.
"I'm Tsukiyomi Ikuto. What's your name?"
Her heartbeat thundered in her chest.
She stuck out her tongue, quickly opened her door, dashed inside, and slammed it shut. Pulling the curtain closed, she dropped to the floor.
What... just happened?
"Amu-chan! Dinner is ready!"
"Coming!" she called weakly from the floor.