10 Steps on Surviving High School

A/N: I DO NOT own Super Gals!

Chapter Two: Step One: Make Friends

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Aya looked at Rei from a distance. He seems familiar, besides the fact that he is the most famous guy at his place. As if he's met him somewhere on her past... She removed this eerie thoughts and went straight to her room, knowing that no one is around her house.

Aya-chan,

Me and daddy went to shop for the spring fest. We should wear new kimonos for the upcoming feast. I'm gonna see my friends too. We have to let you follow us there, see ya later at 6 pm.

Love,

Mommy

Aya sighed. "Yet another party! Argh... can they give me a break?" she exclaimed to herself. "I just want to be an invisible, sane, and normal kid."

She then picked up the map and the letter, and then proceeded to her room. "It's just me again and a crowd of different and stange people," she replied, then she suddenly stood up after she just lied on her bed.

"Spring fest... 1999... Could it be him?" she asked herself, and then she rummaged through her drawer. She found a notebook and as she opened a certain page, cherry blossoms came out and scattered on her lap. A certain photo was there, with a mobile number and message at the back of it.

"Call me if you have spare time. Rei-kun"

"Rei-kun! Right! He's Otohata-kun too! Oh my!" she exclaimed, leaping in sheer happiness. "what a big coincidence! Small world..."

She smiled to herself. "So did he remember that I was that Aya-chan way back?" she thought. "or did he just forgot me and treated me good since he was the president of our class?"

She went to the veranda of her room and gazed up in the darkening skies. "Dakedo, I should still try to speak to him."

Aya turned her heel and went to arrange her stuff. She then picked up an old cream and pink Yukata. She quickly undressed and went to her shower room. She closed her eyes and felt the hot water beads pouring on her face.

"Aah, I think it was not him." She shook her head and then steam filled the air...

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"Tada ima,"

"Rei! Rei! Could we shoot some hoops first before we go?" his father rushed to him at the door, and he was already handling a basketball. "Is it okay, my son?"

"Dad, Rei-kun's tired from school. I told you, he should quit the team and focus on his College life for next year," his mother said, smiling at him. "I think you should rest and then we'll go."

Rei took the ball from his dad's hands. "Gomen ne, okaasan but if there's something else that I treasure than our family, it would be basketball." He smiled apologetically and then ran across to the lawn with his dad waving back to his mom.

"Oh right, the boys..." she replied and shrugged.

"Son, I'm just so proud that you could say those words in front of your scholarly mom." His father said. "I'm glad you took after me."

"When it comes to my first love, I can't say 'No'." Rei said, shooting a three-pointer smoothly.

"Good job!"

"... but may I ask you, dad, why did you fall for mom who's a brainiac?"

His dad laughed. "You'll soon know, once you meet someone like her."

"Someone just like her, eh?" he thought deeply. "I don't think I'll come across her again. And I do not think she's the girl I just saw a while ago..."

His dad suddenly laughed. "I guess you should set priorities properly son. I don't want your lovelife to be left behind, so as your studies."

"Thanks, dad."

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'Krrrriiiiiing! Krrrriiiing!'

"Coming!" Aya pushed the loudspeaker button "Hai, Hoshino residence!"

"Hello? Sayaka? This is Yuriko," a woman's voice replied. "Are you coming tonight at Nishida's?"

"Ano... mom's out, but hai, we're coming. This is Aya, her daughter." Aya replied politely.

"Sugoi! Domo, Aya-chan! I hope to meet you later!"

"Hai. Ii desu." She said sweetly. "Ja ne, Yuriko-san."

She hung up. "Oh right, so the next party's tonight. I better get going." She picked her sling bag filled with pocketbooks and pens. She looked at the clock. "Oh no! it's already 5:30!"

She rushed to the door and then locked it. Her mobile phone rang. "Hai! Aya-chan desu!"

She was still running faster to get to the train station. "Okaasan? Is that you?"

"Iie... ano... is this Hoshino-san?"

Aya could not recognize the voice. "Hai, Hoshino Aya desu. Dare?"

"It's me, Otohata-kun. Are you busy right now? I guess I'll just be calling you later." He said.

"Ano... iie! I wasn't. I was just getting on the train. That's all." She was now blushing.

"Yokatta." He said. "Well, I forgot to tell you that you belong to the Acad committee."

"Oh, sou da ne." she said. "I'll do my best."

"Hai. Hai. Good." He replied. "So when can I meet you to give you the modules?"

She stopped walking and thought for a while. Gomen ne okaasan... "Doko, Otohata-kun? Are you near Shibuya station?"

"Hai. I am here. Just behind you." He answered, and as Aya swept her head behind, she saw him smiling, handling a mobile phone.

Aya ran towards him. "Konbanwa, Hoshino-san." He said to her. "It's already 6, where are you going?" he asked.

Aya can't understand the feelings building up on her. "Ano... I was to go to a party with my parents... but..."

"Did I interrupt you?"

"No, I guess... I would just have to skip the party. Besides, it's so embarrassing if I'd go there this late, ne?" she smiled. He returned the smile to her.

"Hai. Ikou yo?"

She nodded. "Where are you supposed to go?" Aya asked.

"To a party too," he answered. "same reason. Same happening. We have a lot in common."

"I guess so..." Aya replied, clinging to her bag. Oh no... I guess this is something I've felt before. Is this some kind of a reaction or an attraction? She gazed at his kind face and blushed.

"Where do you want to eat? It's on me."

"Wow, sugoi! Arigatou, Otohata---" he placed his index finger gently on her pink lips. She stopped talking. Nani?

"Remember that we said we'd call ourselves by our first names?" he reminded her. "Ne, Aya?"

She smiled as she hit her head softly. "Hai! Wakatta!"

"Saa, Aya!"

"Hai, Rei-kun." She smiled again, this time, she felt safer around him...

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TO BE CONTINUED