Chapter 3

Summer Bliss

"It's so hot..." She said dreamily.

"Yeah. I know eh? Want to go swimming again?" I grinned.

"No way!"

We were drying our t-shirts in the sun now.

Even our swim suits were drying against our skin.

I could feel the scalding sand underneath me as I sat there.

"That was fun.." She looked thoughtful.

"I want to have as many good memories as I can this summer."

She was looking up at the blue sky above us,

azure, swirling and swirling upwards.

"Aozora."

"Somehow that's what I feel.

Make as many memories as we can,

So we'll always remember and cherish it."

I loved her the way she was.

She is the sweetest person ever. 

Yes, Aoi-chan, I'll always remember you.

No matter what.

* Aozora - blue sky

>><><><><><><><><><>

Chapter 4

Summer Bliss

The next moment, we were in Shibuya,

pushing our way through the weekend crowds.

Hand in hand, we would never let go.

The blaring, flashing, multi-colored evening city lights

made our spirits dance with excitement.

We were nearly soaring, jumping, in our bodies,

wanting to leave our earthly flesh behind.

We were holding hands, swimming through the sea of people.

"Hey, where are we going?"

I asked as Aoi tugged me along,

weaving between everyone.

"It's a surprise!"

"Eh?? That's almost too much excitement for a night."

I said, laughing.

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Chapter 5

Summer Bliss

"And now, we have the band, Eden,

who was nominated by all of you as the New Rising Star.

Please give a warm welcome!"

I heard the crowd roar,

the atmosphere so charged

I could feel the electricity

running up my spine.

It was a glorious night,

the stage lights flashing in a billion colors

with no restraint.

I cheered my throat hoarse and clapped my hands red.

Aoi was grinning the whole time when she led me to the live house.

She nudged me and smiled.

Then she grabbed my hand and gave me a quick squeeze.

I replied, the same gesture of affection.

On stage, I saw five guys walk up the stairs,

like brave soldiers ready for war,

their instruments, their weapons.

I wish I could be up there.

The lead singer.

He looked familiar.

Then he turned around.

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Chapter 6

Summer Bliss

It was Yuya. Uchida Yuya.

Aoi's brother.

It had been a month since I last saw him.

He had always been the person I looked up to.

He was popular, tall, with handsome features,

and wore his long hair more stylish than anyone I had ever seen.

He was always calm and collected,

but had a generous heart.

And he played the guitar and sang.

I remembered how he lent me his old guitar a few years back,

a fraying piece with cracking wood,

its steel strings always going out of tune.

Yet it was a turning point in my life.

Ever since then, I had been aiming to excel at my guitar skills, to catch up to him.

I turned to look at Aoi who was grinning from ear to ear.

She looked so cute and excited.

"Surprised?"

"Yes!" I replied. "How come you never told me?"

"I only just found out a week ago. I decided to give you a surprise."

She told me, giggling.

"Well, it's a pleasant surprise."

>><><><><><><><><><>

Chapter 7

Summer Bliss

I turned back to the band. Eden.

That was their band's name? Yuya never told me.

He told me that they hadn't decided on a name yet.

But that was a month ago.

It was a cool name.

Aoi's brother slipped on his guitar.

A brilliant white Les Paul,

whining with its thick, steady tone,

echoing through large stack amps

at the back of the stage.

He looked at the crowd.

I hoped he could see Aoi and I.

Then he gave a lop-sided grin.

"Let's rock on!"

The drums hit, the crowd roared again and the show started.

It was definitely a pleasant surprise.

>><><><><><><><><><>

Chapter 8

Summer Bliss

When it was done, we went to say hi.

"Hey sis." He said.

He gave me a grin.

"Ah, Seiji. How are you two love birds doing?"

Aoi blushed beet red. "Onii-chan!!"

"How's your guitar playing going?" Yuya asked me.

"Great."

""I heard you've been writing again."

"Yeah, kind of." I smiled, feeling victorious.

Aoi must have told him.

"That's good to hear. Some day, let me listen to your songs.

Maybe we can perform together on stage."

He clapped me on the shoulder.

"But my songs aren't any good!"

"You'll get there with more practice."

I gave a curt nod. "I'll do my best."

"Well, I've got to run."

Yuya straightened up.

"Catch you all later."

"Alright. Later!"

*~Onii-chan - A casual and affectionate way of saying brother

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Chapter 9

Summer Bliss

We were back out on the street,

ears ringing, sweaty from the packed crowd

but feeling refreshed from the concert.

I went and bought two sodas from the vending machine nearby.

The lights on the streets were still on, but fatigue was creeping up on us.

Loud music, shouting and jumping is bound to tire people out.

We sat down on a rickety old bench and sipped our drinks silently.

Stretching out my legs, I looked up at the night sky.

It was a clear sky; there was a bright moon.

Even though there were so many lights in the city, it was still shining brightly.

"I had a lot of fun." I heard her soft voice.

I smiled. "So did I. Thanks for that extra little surprise."

"It is your birthday after all."

I paused. "Birthday?"

I had completely forgotten about my birthday.

I was having too much fun.

I would be turning sixteen tomorrow.

"You forgot?" She laughed.

"Stupid." She drew out the word slowly.

It was my turn to laugh.

"Stupid? You're calling your boyfriend stupid? What does that make you?"

She grinned. "Smart. I deliberately picked a stupid boyfriend so I can boss you around."

"Ouch." She had me there.

I loved her smarts.

She was the smartest girl in school,

and she was going out with me.

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Chapter 10

Summer Bliss

"Happy Birthday!" They chanted in unison.

A dozen poppers exploded with colors and confetti rained.

Someone was playing dance music from the speakers they brought.

It was an ordinary birthday party.

I closed my eyes for a moment and pretended to make a wish.

Oddly enough, nothing came to mind.

I was content with life.

I just hoped it would stay this way.

Maybe I should have made a wish.

I blew out the candles and they whooped.

All my friends were here, except for Aoi.

Of all times, she wasn't here. But I didn't mind.

We usually had our own little private celebration anyway.

"Speech!" A few of the guys shouted.

I closed my eyes and cleared my throat.

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Chapter 11

Summer Bliss

"Thank you for coming. Feeling great to be 16..."

There were ten of us in the room. The closest of my friends.

"We've been through a lot haven't we?...

All you bad kids, sneaking around in the school at night,

the huge play at the culture festival,

skipping classes to play beach volleyball,

getting all of us in trouble with the teacher,

school trips where we got so lost they sent a search and rescue team after us,

cherry blossoms above our heads every spring.

Ups and downs.

So many things happened." I paused.

"Yeah, stop leading us to disaster." My friend laughed.

I grinned and ignored him.

"Anyway, I must say, I'm really happy,

I have everything I could ever wish for.

Somehow, fate put us together.

Don't forget those times we had.

Even if some of us are going to different schools.

Thanks for the good times."

I was surprised that I made such an elaborate speech.

There was a lot more I wanted to say to them.

But words could not express it all.

They gave a standing ovation,

grins plastered on everyone's faces,

some of the girls even looked teary.

It was a good day.

>><><><><><><><><><>

Chapter 12

Summer Bliss

Just as I was raising the cutter, my cell phone rang.

"Hey, it's Miko."

"Where are you?"

"Sorry I'm not there but...

actually, I'm at Aoi's place.

She's asked you to come."

"What?"

I hastily finished with the cake, and told my bewildered friends that I would be back in a bit.

Then I rushed out the door over to Aoi's house.

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Chapter 13

Summer Bliss

I was worried. Was she sick?

My heart faltered for a second.

She hadn't been the strongest physically after all.

I remembered visiting when we were kids,

because she was sick in bed for a week

every now and then.

When I got there the front door was open, beckoning me in.

I knocked. "Hello?"

Not a soul.

The ebony door creaked as I nudged past it.

I knew the layout of her house like the back of my hand.

Five steps and without fail, the stairs would be on my right.

I climbed up nimbly, heading for her room.

"Seiji-kun!" I heard a voice call from the top of the stairs.

"Miko... what happened?"

Miko shrugged.

I pushed Aoi's door open.

"Aoi?" I asked slowly.

>><><><><><><><><><>

Chapter 14

Summer Bliss

Not a soul in sight.

Her room was the usual, neat and tidy.

Her bed was made, crisp folds of clean bedsheets and quilts.

She definitely was not asleep.

Only a set of pyjamas lay strewn on the bed, the only piece left in a hurry.

I could still smell her scent, a mix of the shampoo she used and strawberries.

I always wondered why I smelled strawberries in her room.

I looked around the room one more time.

This time my eyes found something on her desk.

A white piece of paper.

It was a note. Her printing was small and neat, written in light blue ink.

Seiji,

When you are reading this, the party must've started!

I couldn't tell you last night, but while you were sleeping,

I was busy preparing this... hope you will enjoy it!

I will be waiting at the end of it!

Love,

Aoi

There was a key and a mailbox number at the end of the note.

I nearly laughed out loud. She would never cease to surprise me.

>><><><><><><><><><>

Chapter 15

Summer Bliss

I scrambled out the door seeing how Miko had already disappeared.

The only logical mailbox she had keys to, was her own.

That's probably where it started.

The mailbox was in front of her house.

I pried open the door carefully.

There was only one thing inside,

slightly dusty in its hollow metal shell

but I recognized it right away.

It was a simple photo of the two of us in our cultural festival outfits. Our middle school.

Was she waiting there? Or was there another clue.

If she could be clearer. What did she have planned?

But I didn't waste any time and headed for the school.

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Chapter 16

Summer Bliss

The walk to the school was around fifteen minutes.

We used to take this route together all the time.

I would wait for Aoi-chan at her front porch every morning.

Midway into the walk,

my pocket vibrated,

a jolt through my musing.

"Hey Seiji... where did you go?" It was my friend.

"Aoi had something prepared for me,

might be gone for a while."

Then I paused;

this was essentially betrayal to the rest of the party.

The sound of my nervous laughter.

"Save some cake for me!

My mom will be nice to you all."

He sniggered instead, understanding.

"Ah. I see. Some private time?

Alright, see you two later."

I hung up.

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Chapter 17

Summer Bliss

As soon as the line cut, a feeling of urgency swallowed me whole.

I never wanted to be apart from Aoi for too long.

We were inseperable, having known each other since birth,

growing up as kids together and dating for years.

She was a large part of my life.

My heart had become hers.

What would happen if one of us left the other, I could not fathom.

Somehow, it was a little dangerous this way.

I heard my cell phone ring again. I stopped and pulled out the phone.

The display painted Aoi's name in bright blue.

She's calling? Wasn't this supposed to be a game?

"Aoi-chan?"

>><><><><><><><><><>

Chapter 18

Summer Bliss

There was an unfamiliar silence over the phone.

Something I was unused to.

When she called she would always know what to say.

"Aoi? You finally call." I said warily. "Hey, I miss you."

There was a crackle. Shifting of the receiver to the other hand.

Then I heard a man's voice. I stared at the phone.

"Narimiya Seiji." His voice was deep and imposing.

Sounded like he was older than me.

"Yes...?" Why was he calling with Aoi's cell phone?

"Come to the rooftop of the school.

If you want to see Aoi again."

He paused.

"Come alone."

I couldn't help but explode into a fury of questions.

"What?? What do you mean?? What happened to her?"

There was no reply.

Instead,

"I hate the likes of you."

was the last thing I heard.