The same day, Tsukikage Town...
Everyone knew it was a clear day since the weather had created a lively atmosphere for everyone. They were all doing their stuff to enjoy the clear weather.
But unbeknownst to the five individuals residing in that town, that clear day would become the deciding moment for their seemingly peaceful lives to change for good.
Hiwara Shuichi, a young man of 23 having his black hair spiked up as he wore a leather jacket and jeans, was at the top of the cliff overlooking Tsukikage Town. He could have smiled at the breathtakingly beautiful sight greeting him. But he didn't show it on his face, even though he was alone at the moment. He was currently resting from a long morning of motorcycling with a few of his friends. He was looking at the scene while leaning on his favorite motorcycle.
It was his father's gift to him when he was nine years old. But he was only permitted to ride it when he turned 18 and had his driver's license courtesy of his father's friend and current guardian. It wasn't obvious to most people but he took really good care of that red motorcycle. It was one of the things that reminded him of his family, particularly his father who died during the hotel fire 10 years ago. No one knew why or how the fire started. But Shuichi knew it did a lot more damage than just burning down one of the largest hotels in Yokohama.
The fire also took so many lives that left internal scars on the survivors. He was one of the survivors who had that scar that hadn't healed from his mind—even in his heart—ever since.
"Hiwara-kun, come on! You've been looking at that scene for an hour already. Let's head back!"
That voice from one of his bike friends brought Shuichi out of his reverie. A sigh escaped his lips and wore his helmet. Upon securing it on his head, Shuichi hopped onto his motorcycle and fled the place, with his friends trailing behind.
"Hey, Shuichi! Wait up!"
A chuckle bubbled up from his throat and looked behind him.
"Race you back to the town!" Shuichi dared and accelerated the speed of his motorcycle driving.
Surprised and disbelieving by the sudden declaration, the rest of Shuichi's friends accelerated their motorcycle's speed and tried their best to catch up with the man. But they knew it would be a futile effort since they knew that no one had ever defeated Hiwara Shuichi in terms of motorcycle racing at all.
After all, Shuichi was known as the fastest racer in town.
= = = = = =
Back in the town, another young man (but two years older than Shuichi) with russet-colored layered hair who looked younger than his age was busy tinkering with his DSLR camera as he sat on one of the park's benches. It looked like he wasn't aware of his surroundings at all. But it was only for a few moments. After he was done tinkering with his beloved device, a wide triumphant smile became visible on his face.
"You love your camera so much for you to even forget your breakfast, idiot? I'm not even your nanny, Eichirou! Get up there before I decide to throw your bento to your face!"
A familiar girl's voice snapped Mizuhashi Eichirou from his thoughts on his camera that faded his smile for a short moment. When he saw that the girl beginning to fume in anger in front of him was his childhood friend having chocolate-colored long wavy hair that she always put up in a ponytail Raisaki Kanako, that wide—yet childish—smile appeared on his face this time.
"Kana-chan! That was fast. I thought I wouldn't have my early lunch anymore." And there he goes again, tinkering with his camera.
Kanako puffed her cheeks in frustration and annoyance at this camera-freak childhood friend of hers. Seriously, all this guy could ever think of was his camera and food to eat. But her frustration and annoyance gradually faded when she saw Eichirou's genuinely happy expression on his face as he continued looking at the pictures he took during the whole morning.
But Kanako didn't know something about Eichirou's pictures.
Eichirou knew that Kanako would go and have her picture-taking at the park that day. He insisted on coming along using the reason that he also need pictures for his current project—a photo mosaic with a theme of tranquility. But for the whole morning, all he did was take pictures of the girl he accompanied—albeit he did so in secret.
Weird... but for some reason, the word "tranquility" for him reflected Kanako taking pictures without a care in the world. But he didn't give care for that weird feeling he had. All he knew was he had taken enough pictures for one day.
Now it was time for Eichirou to enjoy his beloved early lunch. Doing so, however, started to prove itself hard as Kanako wasn't giving it to him. He pouted at that.
"Mou... Kana-chan's mean! I want my lunch!" he whined. Seriously, there were times he acted like a child naturally.
"After you take it from me. Put some effort in taking it from me or else I'll let you die in hunger."
Geez! Kanako didn't have to be mean to him. But if that was what Kanako wanted, then so be it! He'd take his lunch from her whether she liked it or not.
And so the chase was on for those two.