Chapter 1 - The lovely star

It was another Sunday alone in that big apartment, the candle is lit and the scent filled the entire apartment giving such warm smell of vanilla. Riho stretches her arms as she finished her Biology homework. She turned around to look at the clock hung just above the door to her room.

Riho : its just 12 !?

Mayeda Riho, a 3^rd year high school who lives alone in an apartment bought by her foster mother, Mayeda Akiko. Riho never met her parents and Akiko never talked about it to Riho. Akiko treats Riho like her very own daughter and she even put her surname for Riho. Riho has been living alone ever since Akiko moved to New York due to her work. Riho refused to follow as she wish to experience high school life in her birth country,Japan. Akiko never hold her back and she frequently comes back to check on Riho. But Riho didn’t know, Akiko has a secret that will change Riho’s life.

Riho : What should I do now.

Riho stood up to make some tea for herself when her phone rang.Riho quickly ran to her study table and took her phone

Riho : Okasan?

Akiko : Riho-chan, are you busy?

Riho : No no, whats wrong?

Akiko : I have something to tell you, but promise me you’ll listen carefully?

Riho : Eh?

NEXT DAY

Haru : HEH!? YOU ARE GETTING MARRIED!

Riho  : Haru shhhh!

Haru actually stood up and she quickly sat down and grabber her drink. She kept on slurping and shook her head

Riho : (sigh)

Haru : I don’t understand.

Riho : My mother got a divorced right after she got pregnant with her first child. So, in order for her to claim her land and some other things, the terms was to have her first son to be married. If then so, she can take her land. That’s the land her father gave her. She made a mistake thinking her marriage would last so they agreed on the terms.

Haru : Hmmmm

Riho : So..

Haru : WAIT YOUR MOTHER HAS A SON!?

Riho : looks like it. She said she meant to tell me once I graduate, but things is a bit messy now.So, it took a different turn.

Haru : But you are just a high school girl how can you get married?

Riho : With our parent’s consent, we can get married Haru. (sigh)

Haru : But still, you are just a high school girl.How can your mother…expect you to get married ?

Riho let out a long sigh before turning her head to look at the view outside of the café they are at. Her mind seems to be numb and she cant even think of anything.

RIHO’S APARTMENT

Haru : It’s done!

Kaneko Haru, a tall girl with doe-like eyes and a medium length hair is Haru’s bestfriend. They met when they got in the same class on their first day of high school. Haru is very extroverted and she is the captain of the Kendo club. Her family runs a Kendo training club thus the Kendo blood are in her genes.

Riho : Something smells really nice (sniffing)

Haru : Come come, dinner is ready!

Haru frequently sleeps at Riho’s place as Riho is always staying alone and she knows, Riho has no one to depend on but her. Haru’s family especially the mother loves cooking for Riho and they always invite Riho to stay over their place. Haru has one little brother whom are in the same school s their school, Kaneko Shohei.

Riho : (tapping on her phone)

Haru : So, do you have an answer for your mother’s request?

Riho : I want to help her on this one. I mean, she is the only mother I have. I have nobody else.

Haru : Riho, don’t say that. My family is your family too,remember?

Riho : (smiles)

Haru : Riho, remember during our last trip ? The one I got so agitated when Ishida-kun rejected me?

Riho : (nods)

Haru : What did you tell me?

Riho : (looking at Haru)

Haru : every single thing that appears in your life has a lesson to teach you. You grab it and learn.

Riho :…

Haru : So, no matter what your decision is, I am sure life has a lesson to teach you. And no matter what happened, I will always be your person. Despite you marrying early (grins)

Riho smiled when Haru told her that, she has Haru after all. Haru had been there for her through good and bad times. And she promised to herself that she will be there for Haru, no matter what happens.

THE FOLLOWING WEEK

Riho was waiting for Haru at the bus station when suddenly a guy came and sat on the same bench as her. The guy is tall and he had his shades on. He was carrying a bag filled with tripods and many other stuffs. Riho turned to look and suddenly her phone rang.

Haru : Riho! 5 minutes 5 minutes!

Riho : Hai hai, don’t worry.

As Riho was putting her phone, back in her pockets, suddenly an old lady whom were walking pass the bus stop accidentally dropped her bag filled with apples. One of the apples rolled towards her direction. Riho bend to pick it up and as turned around, the guy whom were sitting beside her was picking up all the apples that fell and he put them back in the plastic bag.

Old lady : I am so so sorry. Thank you very much. You are so kind (bowing)

Riho : Here is your apple (smiles)

Old lady : Thank you so so much. You both are so kind.(bowing)

Guy : Its okay, are you alright?

Old lady : I am fine, I am fine. Im old, you know being old takes a lot of energy (laughing)

Riho : Do you need help?

Old lady : ehhh, no no no. its okay, you young couple go ahead. My house is just up there. So nice being young and in love I see. (laughing)

Riho : Eh? No no—

Guy : (laughing)

The old lady bowed to them before walking up the road heading towards her house. At the same time, Haru came running towards Riho and she called out her name.

Haru ; Riho !

The guy whom were standing beside Riho turned to Riho when Haru called her name. He looked at her and then he just continued walking without saying anything.

Haru : I am so so sorry Im late!

Haru looked at Riho whom looking so dumb-founded as she look at the guy just now.

Haru : Eh? Whats wrong?

Riho : Nothing nothing. Where is Shohei?

Haru : He said that he’ll meet us at the train station instead. That stupid brother, he went out earlier.

Riho : ehhh, could it be he has a girlfriend? (laughing)

TOKYO TOWER

Haru : So beautiful ! (looking at the view)

Riho : Oh my, this is—

Shohei : Very very beautiful

Shohei, is one year younger than Riho and Haru. He is considered tall as he is definitely taller than his sister. Shohei has a tanned complexion due to him always being outdoor surfing during the summer and always playing basketball. He is the assistant captain of the Kendo club as he is too was trained in Kendo since his early years of school. Despite only being a second year, Shohei has many admirers even from the 3^rd years. But Shohei rarely replies to any of the confession and he always chose to ignore it instead.

Riho : Eh? Where is your girlfriend?

Shohei : Non-existent.

Shohei walked towards the north viewing area leaving Riho and Haru.

Riho : They broke up? (looking at Haru)

Haru : I think so. I didn’t even see Suzu anymore. He told me Suzu was the one who wanted to take a break. But Shohei chose to break it off instead. He told me it is such a nuisance. Girls he meant. Looks like he is single all over again (laughing)

Riho nods as Haru told her about Shohei’s break up with her 3 months long girlfriend, Hasegawa Suzu. Riho looked around and she suddenly spotted a guy that looks very familiar. She look at the guy and she tried her best to remember where did she see that guy before.

Riho : He looks really familiar (thinking)

Haru : Ne ne Riho.

Riho : Hai?

Haru : So do you have an answer?

Riho smiled wryly as she turns her head to the magnificent view of Tokyo in front of her. Riho thought for a while before replying to Haru’s question

Riho : If there is something I can do for my mother, this will be it. She had done so much for me. Loving me even I am not related to her. Caring for with so much warmth and kindness. Being there for me without failing. I want to help her in many ways possible. Repaying her with all my power. If this is a decision that will teach me a lesson about life, I am ready.

Haru : (smiles)

Riho : She is all I have, I can do this.

Haru : Now, this is the Riho I know (pokes)

Riho : (sigh)

Haru : But, are you ready for a marriage life?

Riho : To be honest, I am really really scared. Mother told me he will be back in Tokyo next week. He will live with me and then we will register our marriage when mother come back for a while.

Haru : Where was he all this while

Riho : Mother said he was in Hakodate all these years. He is working as a photographer. Mother said he will come and meet me soon. He even has my phone number. So that shall do.

Haru : A photographer eh… hmmm that is interesting.

Riho let out a sigh before staring into the blue sky towering the city she is in love with,Tokyo.

SATURDAY MORNING

The alarm on Riho’s kept on ringing but Riho was still hidden under her thick white comforter and she kept rummaging through her blanket, searching for her phone. When she suddenly found it, she tapped on her phone to stop the alarm and she went back to her pillows. She lost track of time of her snoozing under the blanket. Suddenly she heard a sound of someone moving a chair and she heard the sound of the coffee maker.

Riho : That must be Haru (yawning)

Riho slowly get out of her bed, and she didn’t even bother to tie her hair and she went straight to the kitchen.

Riho : You didn’t tell me you were coming Haru?

Riho was rubbing her eyes as she just woke up and when she finally opened her eyes. To her surprise, it was not Haru. It was a guy in a white shirt opening the fridge door and he was holding a mug of coffee. He turned around and look at Haru.

Guy : Good Morning (smiles)

Riho : Who are you!? (shocked)

That guy just laughed when Riho panicky grabbed one of the frying pans and aim at his direction.

Riho : Who are you? Why are you inside my house?!!!

Guy : Your house? It’s no longer “your” house. Its “our” house now.

The guy swiftly pat on Riho’s messy hair and went to the kitchen table to continue his cooking.

Riho : heh!?

Guy : Sit down

Riho : Wait wait wait

Riho still has the frying pan in her hand as she look at the tall guy infront of her.

Riho :What did you say?

The guy stopped chopping and and turn to look at Riho.

Guy : I  am Mayeda Aoi. Your soon to be husband.