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Chapter 2: I Miss You
(Aichi's POV)

I was running towards her, I was waiting for her. Now's my chance! I just have to reach for her!

"Kourin-san!" I yelled her name, trying to reach for her. She glanced at me and and spread her arms out, she was smiling. That smile, I miss that smile. I want to see it again.

But I was near her, I WAS… but there was light and… and I felt like she has been going away. No… No please, please! I just want to see her again! Please!

But the light became bigger and it flashed through me, it hurts so much I had to close my eyes…

Where did she go?
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I woke up with a start, I found myself panting so hard and my hands up in the air, I realized I was dreaming. And the dream was still playing in my mind, I cried.

I cried and whimpered her name, I miss her so much… I can't stop myself from thinking about her, I want to see her again. But how? How if there's no more way to bring her back again?

I hear my phone go off and I was startled by it, I sat and sniffed, I answered the phone.

"Hello?" I said.

"Aichi?" It was my sister, Emi. "How's everything going? Wait are you crying?"

I got surprised, I realized I am still crying, I turned my light sobs into nervous chuckling, but I know that Emi knew I'm just acting my laughs.

"Oh come on, Aichi! Why are you always crying whenever I call you?! I don't want to admit but I'm worried about you, Aichi!" Emi told me and I sadly smiled.

"I'm sorry, Emi…" I replied, "But… I just can't help it…"

"Aichi…" I hear her voice softened after I said that to her, "Is it about… Kourin-san?"

I had to nod, everyone knows about that… and I could see their concern to me, but I can't help it.

"Aichi, you're being lovesick, you know? Please can you just… try not to think about Kourin-san too much? I know you love her, but this is just… too much, Aichi… Please?" Emi said and I didn't quite like what she said, I don't know why though.

"But Emi…" I sighed, "I can't stop it… I just… miss her and... I… I…" I started to cry, I feel my tears flowing on my cheeks again, I sobbed.

"I still love her… I can't stop myself from loving her and… whenever I remember her, I couldn't help myself but to miss her, it's like… it's like I feel so empty not being with her… Oh god, if only I could turn back the time…" I cried now, not caring about Emi calling me and trying to bring me back to my senses.

"I'm sorry Emi, but please… I need to be alone." I said and lied down once again and embraced the pillow. The call ended and I just continued crying, not caring about anything right now, I just had to let my feelings out.

The time passed, it was time for class, but I didn't mind, I just don't feel like it. I hear my phone rings and I saw that Ratie sent me a message.

-Aichi-kun, where are you? It's time to go to school!-

-I'm sorry Ratie, I just don't feel well right now. Please tell our professor.-

-I see, get well soon, Aichi-kun!-

I put the phone down and just sleep the day away.
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It was afternoon and I didn't feel like moving. I just looked at the ceiling and feel my eyes sting from all the crying, I glanced around facing the stand mirror and I saw myself.

I'm a crying mess. I sighed and wiped the tears away. I sat up and looked at my phone. I found that I received a message, it was from Ratie.

-Aichi-kun, next week is our summer vacation! Are you planning to go somewhere?-

I just smiled at the text as I replied, -I don't actually know if I have any schedules. But we'll see?-

Suddenly I received a call from her.

"Aichi-kun~ I just told Emi-chan about the vacation and we booked you a flight back to Japan!!"

Oh, a flight? Well…

Wait, what?!

"R-Ratie?!"

"Hahahaha! Well we decided that you need to go home for a while! We know you're homesick! And, another way to see your friends, Aichi-kun!" I could hear Ratie's giggling. Oh no, why would she do that?! Moreover, Emi and Ratie planned this! What the hey?!

"I-I understand you knew about my weird sorrow but… But you didn't have to plan this!" I whined.

"Eh? So you don't wanna go home? We could cancel the flight!"

"T-that's not what I mean, Ratie! I wanna come home too!"

"Then it's settled!" Ratie said and I sighed, suddenly she spoke again. "Um… Aichi-kun? We did this too because, we still believe you might find Kourin again… We hope and we believe you guys will find each other. That's all… see you."

"Okay." I ended the call and smiled. I appreciate that you believe in me, I swear I'll find her, I'll find Kourin-san. I looked at our pictures that has been saved on my phone, those pictures that we had. The Miyaji Cardfight Club, me and Kourin-san, Kourin-san and Misaki-san, and so many others… I scrolled and I saw an unfamiliar picture.

It was me and Kourin-san holding each other so close in the most bashful way, I liked the picture. I remembered this happened because we got forced to do this, it was so much fun… I zoomed in to Kourin-san's face and I sadly smiled… I got into my train of thoughts again…

'After all this time, I love you Kourin-san.

And I miss you.'

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END OF CHAPTER 2