" 3 , 2 , 1 , " Ryo smiled , " Surprise ! "
He took his hands of Milo's eyes and the other boy looked around them with a frown . The frown turned to shock a moment later .
" This is ... this is , " Milo looked around and he couldn't believe where he was .
" Kogagau Dog Park . " Ryo said with a satisfied smile . Mrs Saki had been right , this was the perfect place for taking Milo .
Just look at his face , Ryo thought , he'll love me in no time .
The two boys stood on the top of a hill , below them dogs and their owners ran around playing games . The sky was a musky blue and the scent of grass and dog was in the air .
Gou was straining against his leash , already eager to join the fun . Milo looked around again and then turned to Ryo , who was smiling ... , no , it was a smirk .
" So , how is our first date location ? " Ryo asked him , " I choose great , huh ? "
How did he know I wanted to go here , Milo wondered , and why I did even get dragged here ?
....
After school , Milo had left quickly , making sure to be on the road home before Ryo could find him . He need not have worried about Ryo following him ...
When he arrived , Ryo was already at his house !
Milo arrived home to see Ryo playing with Gou on the yard and his mother was coming out with some orange juice .
No , Milo thought despairingly and opened the gate .
" Milo , you're home . " Mrs Saki had said , " Ryo just arrived a few minutes ago , he was waiting for you ... something about a ... date ? "
Milo was mortified , how could Ryo tell his mother that ! He glared at the other boy , but Ryo just gave him a bored smile .
' You can't escape me ' the smile said and Milo turned away in a huff .
" I have alot of homework . " He said giving Ryo a blithering look , " I don't have time to go out . "
His mother had stopped him with a hand on his shoulder . He turned to her surprised , what was she doing ?
" Yesterday , I thought you brought a friend home but now I know that he is your boyfriend ... "
Both boys turned to the side when she said ' boyfriend '
" I won't let you stay shut inside with those books . As your mother , I command you to go inside , change into nice clothes , have some orange juice and go out with your boyfriend ." She finished her speech .
" Mom , I can't ... he's not my boyfriend ... he's my ... my bully . " Milo confessed and Ryo had grown tense . But Mrs Saki had just laughed .
" How do you think you're father and I fell in love ? " She asked him .
" Dad bullied you ? " Milo asked in shock , his parents never told him how they met . Especially his dad , was it because he had picked on his own wife ?
" No , " Mrs Saki said with a shine in her eyes , " He wasn't my bully ... I bullied him . "
Both boys were shocked . Such a sweet looking mother , Ryo thought , I couldn't imagine her bullying anyone , let alone Mr Saki .
Now I know why dad never said anything about it , Milo thought ironically .
" So you see , we fell in love because of our frictionful relationship . The same goes for you too ." She said with a smile and then pointed inside of the house , " Now , go get ready for your date . "
" Okay , " Milo had surrendered , his mother was never one to budge . She'd kick him out if he tried staying in .
Milo had gone inside and changed into a dark blue summer shirt , grey shorts with white stripes and sneakers . He'd come out of the house to find Ryo holding Gou by a leash .
Ryo was wearing faded jean shorts , a salty green shirt and a miasmic green cap . He also had that wicked smile that Milo had come to know as a sign of some hidden agenda .
" Where are we going ? " Milo asked as he came down the steps .
" Oh , it's a surprise . " Ryo had answered .
....
" Hey , let Gou off his leash already . " Ryo said taking the leash from Milo's hand .
As he did , their hands touched ... Milo quickly gave the leash away .
" This boy is a romantic , I don't think it's fair to play with his feelings . " Mina said next to Ryo but the boy ignored her . One ; because talking to her would make him look crazy and two ; he knew his plan would work .
" Hey , " Ryo said , " Remember when I said I have something special to show you ? "
" No , I don't ." Milo said looking to the side .
" You do . I got you a - Hey ! " Ryo shouted as Gou ran away from his grip and the leash flew from his hand .
" I'll get him . " Milo said rushing down the hill .
" Oh , okay ." Ryo said staying back .
" Oh , that was clumsy of you ." Mina said , " Why didn't you hold the leash better ? "
" I was holding it just fine . " Ryo said taking a seat on the grass . Mina sat down next to him , with a confused frown .
" Then how did it fly from your hand ? "
" It didn't . " Ryo said nonchalantly , " I let it go . "
" What ? " Mins asked in surprise and Ryo gave a smirk .
" Look down there . " He said and Mina looked to where he was pointing . What she saw was so cute !
Milo was playing around with Gou , chasing and rolling with him in the grass . The two individuals of man and dog looked so happy together .
" Was this ... was this ... the gift you wanted to give him ? " Mina asked with a happy heart .
" No , " Mina's heart hit the ground at Ryo's words , " I didn't have anything to give him . I just thought of this a few minutes ago ."
" Then why did you tell him you had a special gift to give him at the podium ? " She asked him and he shrugged his shoulders .
" I was just copying that other guy . It looked pretty romantic to those girls and I thought Milo would like it too . "
" You have a very smart mind ... unfortunately it's smart for the wrong reasons. " Mina said and raised her voice ;
" Show them you care .
Don't be someone but be you .
No one likes someone for being somebody else .
Just be you , do what you do and you will see love shine through . "
" That makes no sense . " Ryo said with a frown , " Have you seen me ? Do you know me ? "
" I have your file right here . " Mina said bringing out a folder from thin air .
" Does it say what kind of person I am ? Because I'm not a romantic . " Ryo said with a tisk , " I'm just doing this so he will sign the letter ."
Mina sighed , " He has to forgive you , but if he found out you're not even trying to be kind , he'll be even more hurt . "
" So what ? " Ryo said, " I've never been romantic or kind to anyone . "
" Then I'll help you . First we can start with a kind gesture . " Mina said with a smile and Ryo frowned confused .
" Isn't this a kind gesture ? " He asked and Mina puffed her cheeks .
" No ! Dumby ! This is a sham ! " She yelled , " You're just copying other people or not trying at all . Do something sweet for him ! "
" I'm the only person who can hear you , so you don't have to tell . " Ryo said cleaning his ears .
" Listen ; Be your own you .
Be your own you.
Don't do what they do , but just be you . "
" Fine , " Ryo said getting to his feet , " Hey Milo ! "
Milo looked up from playing with Gou , why was he calling him ?
" It's , " Ryo said slowly, " boring playing alone . Let's play with Gou together . "
" What ?" Milo as Ryo ran up to join them . Gou was happy to have someone else to play with and began to run around Ryo happily . Even Milo couldn't resist his dog and joined in the fun.
The two boys and the dog played around for hours until it was late afternoon .
....
" I'm tired . " Milo said sitting down and Ryo grabbed Gou's leash .
" Did you have fun ? " Ryo asked standing next to him .
" How is that any of your bus- " Milo sighed , he had had fun and it was because of Ryo . He smothered his insticsts and did something he had not before ; he said thank you to Ryo.
" Thank you . " He said softly .
" What was that ? I couldn't hear you ? " Ryo said annoyingly . Milo gritted his teeth.
" Nothing . " He said turning away , " Let's go home . I'm hungry. "
" Look , " Ryo pointed to a ice cream stand up the path . " I'll get us two cones . You wait here with Gou ."
Ryo handed the leash over and ran up to the stand .
" That whole time you were playing , " Mina said next to him , " Was it real or fake ? "
" Real . " Ryo said softly as he walked with the ice cream in his hands .
" Really ? You had fun with Milo ? " Mina asked happily .
" What ? No , with Gou . I like that dog . " Ryo said as Mina deflated . This boy was Impossible.
" Ugh , I'm going for a break . " She said and snapped her fingers , disappearing.
Ryo frowned , break from what ? She hasn't done anything all day . His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a strange sound .
It was laugher ... Milo's laughter .
He looked up and saw Milo laughing at a guy patting Gou . His grip on the ice cream slacked and the two treats fell to the ground .
.....
Milo walked next to Ryo on the pavement but his face was turned to the side and it held a angry frown . Ryo's face was no better , with a frustrated scowl . The two were in very foul moods .
Why ?
Because Ryo had acted like Ryo , was Milo's reason .
He had been talking to the captain of the chess club when Ryo had walked up with an angry scowl .
" Who are you ? " He'd asked his captain .
" I'm - "
" He is Captain Tabuke , of the chess club ." Milo had said , but Ryo acted like he didn't hear him .
" What do you want ? " He'd asked rudely and even the captain had noticed his aloofness .
" I...I... was just telling Milo about the cancellation of our club meeting . But , " he had gotten up from Gou ," I'm sorry if I was bothering you . "
" You weren't ." Milo said at the same time that Ryo said ," You were ."
What ? Milo had thought indignantly , what was wrong with him ?
" If you're done , you can leave now . " Ryo had continued and Milo was smacked with embarrassment as his captain turned around and left .
" Was he flirting with you ? " Ryo asked and for the first time in their entire lives Milo gave Ryo a punch on the cheek .
He didn't angle it right and it hurt him just as much as it hurt Ryo . But the action was shocking to the one who received it .
He hit me , Ryo couldn't believe it . Milo had actually raised his hand and punched him .
" What the heck is wrong with you ! " Milo said in a very furious voice ," Why were acting like an asshole ? "
" When ? " Ryo asked ,
" Just now , with my coach ." Milo said glaring .
" He just seemed tacky and I didn't act like anything . I was just me ." Ryo said angrily .
" You're right , " Milo said with a self depreciating smile , " You may have started off nice today but you're always going to be you . An asshole and a jerk ."
" You're a weakling , " Ryo said contemptuously , " I have guts and that's what makes you angry . That I'm better than you ."
" Better ? " Milo said with a dark glint in his eyes , " Better at what ? Hurting people ? Lying ? Or ... soccer ? "
Ryo growled angrily , because be knew what Milo was getting at .
" Hard to take the truth isn't it ? Especially for liars ." Milo said and turned around walking with Gou by his side .
Ryo stayed behind , fisting and unfisting his hands . He would have loved to fight back but knew it wouldn't do him any good . So he'd just followed , his mind filled with anger , irritation and ... self-loathing .
.....
Milo opened the gate and walked in with Gou , before entering his house and all without giving Ryo a single glance .
" That was expected . " Mina said next Ryo ,
" What ? " Ryo asked her angrily but Mina wasn't scared of his glare .
" You were rude , arrogant and very mean . If he's mad right now , it's your fault . I think you may need to apologise ." Mina said and Ryo growled before turning away .
He'd be damned before he apologized to Milo !
Mina sighed when she saw his tense and angry stance .
" Ryo , please listen ;
The words you say , can heal or break what your heart tries to build .
All it takes is one shard to cut a wound too deep to heal .
But love can mend you , love can fix you and only love can help you .
So show some love and all will be well ."
Mina finished off happily with her song , would Ryo get the clue now ?
" Mina , " Ryo said thoughtfully ," I think you're right."
" Really ? " Mina said excitedly , did he finally understand ?
" I shouldn't waist time on my problems here . I'm already dead . " Ryo said , " The only thing that matters is getting Milo to fall in love with me and signing the letter . I shouldn't care about that captain guy , I won't be here in the next three days anyway . Milo can date him after that ."
" Ryo ... I don't think ... you understand ." Mina said shaking her head but Ryo had stopped paying attention to her .
" This date was alright but got ruined . " He said thoughtfully ," Tommorow has to be better than great . I think I know what i have to do . You stay here , I'll be back in few hours ."
" Ryo , where are you ... going ? " Mina finished lamely as the boy ran away at top speed .
" So stupid ." A silky voice said behind Mina .
Mina sighed before turning around to face its owner . It belonged to a tall girl with black hair , who wore a long slit black dress and held a scythe in her hand .
" Devi , what's stupid ? " Mina asked the demoness .
" That boy you are guiding . " Devi said with her silky voice , " I barely have to whisper doubts in Milo's ear . Ryo ruins everything all on his own . "
" He's learning . That's what all humans do ." Mina said and folded her arms with a huff .
" He'll fail and then , " Devi smiled maliciously , " He'll be mine . "
With a snap of her fingers the demoness disappeared and Mina was left alone . She sighed , she wished she could have argued with Devi but Ryo was just making it hard .
" Do you think he'll be able to figure it out ? " She asked Gou and the dog sneezed his nose .
" Yeah , I think so too ." She said looking at where a very dumb boy had ran off .