CHAPTER 01. Mitsuki

I walked the lonely roads of Misaki City. It was then the lights from the post lamps suddenly went out. I was about to bring out my phone to light my path when I realized it wasn't dark at all. I turned my gaze up in the pitch black sky and there I saw it - the full moon with its bright yellow glimmer.

 

I continued my path home as I kept my gaze to the moon. It was unusually bright. It gave me a wistful feeling. Like I've been wanting to see for a long, long time. My eyes never left the moon when...

 

"Ouch!"

 

"I'm sorry." I uttered apologetically. "I wasn't looking."

 

The lad simply looked at me. After a while, he offered a small smile. "You're looking at the moon."

 

"Ah, well." I stuttered. "Yes. I'm really sorry. Here. Let me help you." I said extending my hand to him.

 

He took and I helped him to his feet. He turned his head back. I followed his gaze and saw that he was looking at the moon.

 

"It's really beautiful."

 

"Eh?"

 

"The moon."

 

I looked back at the moon. "It is." I turned to look back at the mysterious lad. He was staring silently at the moon. His face was full of sincerity and his eyes seem to sparkle in the light. I withdrew my gaze and fish out my phone to see the time. It's already ten minutes past nine.

 

"I have to go. If you excuse me." I said as I made my way past him.

 

"Wait. Would you like me to walk you home? It's a little dangerous for a cute lass like you to walk alone at night."

 

I raised my eyebrow. "I'm sorry, sir. But I don't walk with strangers." I ended as I started to walk away from him. I heard him heaved a sigh but I didn't bother to turn around anymore. It was then I heard footsteps walking behind me.

 

"Are you following me?"

 

"No."

 

"I bumped at you because you were walking the opposite direction I walked."

 

"That's true."

 

"Why are you walking this path again? You really are following me, aren't you?"

 

"Maybe."

 

"I call the police."

 

"And what will you tell them?"       

 

"That a suspicious man is following me."

 

"Suspicious? Me?"

 

"Who else?"

 

He sighed again and raised his head. I figured out that he was looking at the moon again. "I've come from that way so I know it's dangerous to walk over there. You're not from around here, are you?"

 

I raised my eyebrows again in a questioning manner. "How did you know?"

 

"I live here since I was six so I know almost everyone here."

 

"It's true that I'm new here. But I don't need a tour guide. I'm perfectly capable of walking myself home. And I passed this road yesterday too. And the other day. So I know there's nothing dangerous here." I said. It wasn't a lie. But it wasn't the absolute truth. It's the first time I've walked this road at night.

 

"Hmm?"

 

"You're wasting my time. I'm going." I started walking again. I heard his footsteps following me but I ignored it. I raised my head and looked back at the moon. It was still there shining brightly for me. I smiled a bit thinking that it was a good luck to have the full moon tonight when the lamp posts suddenly died out.

 

"It's really beautiful. I could spend the rest of the night looking at it." I heard the guy following me said. "By the way, I haven't heard your name."

 

I didn't respond and just continued looking at the moon.

 

"Ah, I remember. You don't walk with strangers so it means that you don't give your name to one as well." He ended with a laugh. "My name's Hikaru. I'm seventeen years old. And I lived in this neighborhood since I was six. I lived with my grandparents since then. And let's see. I love skateboarding and hiking. And what else..."

 

"I didn't ask for your name or your life story."

 

He gave another laugh. "But now that you heard and know it, I'm not a stranger anymore, am I?"

 

I stopped walking and turned around. "I don't know why you suddenly got interested in following me and all but again, I won't give you my name." I said a little angrily and started running.

 

"Hey wait! I told you it's dangerous there!"

 

I didn't listen to him and continued running. Just three more blocks and I'm almost home. I looked up at the moon as I run. Please guide me home. Light my way. I was still praying to the moon for my safety when I bumped into someone once again. I felt myself land flat on the ground. I scratched my back a little before raising my head to look at the person I bumped into.

 

"I'm sorry. I wasn't looking." I apologized. But my words got lost. What I saw were two tall men who were both holding a bottle of alcohol. And from the look and smell they emitted, they were completely drunk.

 

"Heh? Sorry? Bumping into me like that, sorry wouldn't be enough. How about paying us with something Like that pretty face of yours." The two men started laughing.

 

Fear crept down on me. I'm scared. I tried to force myself to stand up but my legs were trembling. I tried to yell out but my voice won't come out. I could feel my eyes starting to cloud. Anyone...help me... I prayed solemnly closing me eyes.

 

A few more seconds and I didn't feel the men moved. Then.

 

"What the-?" I heard one men shout. "Who the hell are you?"

 

"Didn't I tell you to stop drinking and playing around with girls around here?"

 

That voice!

 

I opened my eyes and looked up. He was there. Standing up in front of her with the moon shining brightly on him. "You?"

 

He looked back at me and sighed. "I told it's dangerous here, right?" Then he faced the two men. "If I found you doing this again, you will regret seeing my face."

 

"Let's go." One of the men said. "It's Hikaru. Better not mess with him." Then the two hurried away.

 

He knelt down in front of me. I felt his hand brush away the tears that started pouring from my eyes a while ago. "Those guys are from around here. They like to play around with girls here at night but they're not really cruel." I'm not sobbing but I could still feel my tears flowing from my eyes. "It's alright. You don't have to cry anymore. Oh!"

 

I saw him fish out a handkerchief from his pocket. He reached for my leg and started to the handkerchief around it. So that's why I'm crying.

 

"It's just a bruise. But we still have to disinfect it. My house is just around the third block."

 

I shook my head. "I lived around that area too."

 

"Really? Say, are you the new tenant in Chigusa-san's apartment?"

 

I nodded. He suddenly laughed at my answer. "What's funny?" I asked.

 

"You'll see later." He said. I felt myself losing contact with the ground.

 

"What are you doing?!" I said blushing at the sudden contact. "Put me down!" He was carrying me in his arms like a bride. He didn't make any sign that he wanted to put me back on my feet. Instead...

 

"You won't be able to walk properly with a wound like that. I'll accompany you home." He said smiling brightly.

                    

“It’s just a bruise, you know.”

 

“I know. Nonetheless, let me.”

 

I stayed silent as he walked towards our destination. I looked up at the moon.

 

"You really love looking at the moon, don't you?"

 

I didn't answer and just stared back at the moon. I felt his head turned to look at it as well. Silence enveloped us.

 

"Mitsuki."

 

I felt his gaze turned to me. "Huh?"

 

"My name. It's Mitsuki."

 

"So you were named after the full moon." He said. "It's a beautiful name."

 

I nodded. "I'm seventeen." I started. I saw a look of surprised from him but he smiled nonetheless. Then, "My parents got separated a month ago. Dad went abroad to bury himself with work while Mom got remarried. I don't like his new husband so I decided to live by myself. That's how I ended up here. I don't like sports. But I like ice skating and hiking. And..."

 

Our conversation continued as he supplied me more information of him. I learned that we were both preparing for the special university and pursuing same course and scholarship program. His parents died when he was six so his grandparents took care of him. We both dislike mustard but unlike me, he likes broccoli. There are other things I learned about him - our similarities, our differences.

 

"We're almost there."

 

"Mind telling me now."

 

"About what?"

 

I sighed. "About how come you know I lived with Chigusa-san."

 

He smiled at me and said. "Chigusa-san is my grandmother. So basically, you're staying in one of our apartment rooms."

 

"Eh?!"

 

"I heard yesterday that a tenant transferred a week ago. I was busy with a few things so I wasn't able to get to know the new tenant. Although, it seems that I have."

 

I smiled at him. "By the way."

 

"Hmm?"

 

"Thank you for saving me back then. And I apologize for my behaviour a while ago."

 

He gave me another smile and said. "No problem."

 

Finally, we reached the apartment. I looked up at the sky. The full moon was still shining brightly. I smiled before finally breathing out the words, Thank you.