I sat in my room with the lights off and listened to my parents muffled voices behind my door. Just then something hit me and I sprung upright, I had forgotten to thank Sora again!

"It's official, I'm the worst person ever. I can't even thank someone for helping me." I thought hanging my head.

Suddenly an image of Sora appeared in my head. He seemed as if he was always smiling. It was hard for me to imagine him upset about something as simple as forgetting to thank him, but either way it had to be done. How could I not thank him for all the the kindness he had shown me? He was always kind and caring towards me so I think it was only right for me to return his kindness.

Sora I'm sorry I haven't shown you the same kindness you have shown me, but I promise I will not make the same mistake again.

I thought hanging my head, feeling ashamed and almost wanting to cry.

I decided that it was better that I try to fall asleep and forget everything.

Tomorrow was a new day and everything was going to be different. Maybe....

I woke up a little later than last time because I decided it would be better to visit Sora in the evening rather than before I went to school. Hopefully I would have enough time left after tennis club to see him without getting in trouble.

***

It was after last period and I was getting ready for tennis club. Hopefully the captain would go easy on me or maybe I could have gotten better, who knows! As soon as I put my bag pack in my locker I saw Anastasia. She was standing in the door way leading onto the tennis court and she was looking at me irritably.

"Hey Fumiko! The coach is waiting for you! Hurry up so we can start practice!" She shouted at me, irritation mixed in with her normally deadpan look.

"I'm coming" I said grabbing my racket and resting it over my shoulder, while following behind her.

Anastasia had something about her, a sort of silent air mixed in with her deadpan and dispassionate attitude which she had towards everything and everyone.

"I hope the captain goes easy on me today or maybe give me a few tips" I said trying to make conversation.

Anastasia said nothing, she just kept walking, her expression the same as ever.

"You know something the captain is really nice" I continued. "He's always like that, isn't he?"

"Jake" Anastasia said suddenly with a tinge of emotion that I couldn't make out.

"Yeah, speaking of him, recently it seems he always wants to play against me, giving me tips, helping me practice. I wonder why he's suddenly getting so close-"

Anastasia stiffened, the air around her changed and she came to a halt. "Since you're so interested in him maybe you should go find him then." She said in a rather harsh tone which surprised me. She then went the other direction without even turning around to look at me.

"Anastasia" I said trying to call out to her, but she kept on walking away, her dark hair flowing behind her furiously.

Was she furious?

Maybe she was

But why would she be?

I sighed and hung my head, I shouldn't have bothered her, I knew she was not the talkative type.

Just then, I heard the captain call out to me. He was standing on the court and was waving at me cheerfully. I shook my head trying to forget what happened with Anastasia before running off to meet up with him.

"Jake!" I called out to him while he swung his racket around in the air. "What's going on?"

"Ah, nothing." He laughed while rubbing the back of his head. "So Fumiko are you ready for practice, I've got a few tips I want to show you."

"Ah.....yeah!" I said as he smiled brightly at me. There was almost a moment of silence between us as I realized he was smiling at me more than usual.

"Um...Great!" He said breaking eye contact with me. "Let's get ready."

***

It was after three and practice had ended early.

I had made my way back to Sora's house but this time with not as much effort as before.

I suppose it was because he had bandaged and dressed my knees again.

Great! Another reason why I should have thanked him.

I am really an ungrateful person.

He is always so kind to me and he never asks for anything in return...

My thoughts came to a halt as I suddenly realized that Sora was no where in sight. I was standing beside his house just as I did the day we met. He was not on his porch and his front door was closed.

I went around to the front of the house and inspected it before going on the porch and lightly rapping on the door.

There was silence

"No one's home" I said. I turned to walk away but was caught by surprise when I saw Sora. He seemed equally surprised as he jumped back a little.

"Fumiko, what are you doing here?" He asked with a charming smile. That was when I noticed he had a hoe in his hand. "Oh.....um, I was out hoeing my plot" he said following my eyes and realising that I was staring at it.

"What! Your into farming!?"

"Yeah, for years now" he said leaning over on his hoe.

"Well, it's just that I never thought of you that way - what I mean is I never imagined you were in into agriculture." His eyes seemed to gleam a bit at my words and he leaned further over on his hoe.

"I've been farming this land with my father since I was young. This is a farming area after all" he sighed and leaned off his hoe a little with a small distant look in his eyes.

"Wait, if you and your father were such good farmers, why did you move away?" I asked, curiosity suddenly getting the better of me.

The smile on his face suddenly faded and the distance in his eyes deepened as he seemed to be consumed in thoughts.

It could have been thoughts or maybe memories.

"Um...Sora, are you alright?"

"....Yeah" he replied with his smile returning to his face and the distant look in his eyes gone.

Why do I always let curiosity get the better of me?

It's just as with Anastasia, I asked too many questions and got her upset.

Now I've troubled Sora.

Maybe I should watch what I say.

But it is still strange how whenever his father is mentioned he grows distant.

"Never mind that, Sora there is something I have to say to you." I said stepping off the porch and standing face to face with him. "Sora I want to say thanks for bringing me back home, dressing my knees, being so kind....." I had to stop because my cheeks burned red and I was so embarrassed I hung my head. I felt so emotional at that point that I feared tears were going to form in my eyes.

Damn it! What's wrong with me! Why am I getting so emotional?

"Fumiko" I heard him say in a delicate way which made me blink back and slowly raise my head.

He had a gentle smile on his face.

"Fumiko, there is something I should say to you as well, thank you."

"What?" I couldn't help but say. What did he mean?

"Thank you for your company. I have always been alone here and there are not many people here to talk to. Thank you for your time."

Something hit me that moment. I didn't realize what my time had meant to him. I never realized that he could be lonely, but after all why wouldn't he be?

"Sora" I said suddenly

"Huh...what?"

"How about I come here everyday from school to see you."

"What?....why?"

"Because you're lonely up here and you need the company." I simply said.

"You can't, what about school and your friends?"

"Not to worry" I said with a gleaming smile while waving my hands at him. "I will come to you everyday after school."

"And what about your friends?" He asked curiously.

"I don't have any, well not close ones." I sighed staring at the ground. "I guess I've just always been alone.

There was a brief silence between us and I realized that his smile had considerably brightened.

"Okay if that is what you want." He said leaning on his hoe again. "But if you plan on coming here again there is something I must tell you. You have to use the road that leads down your street to get here. It might take longer but trust me it's a lot safer. I might not live on a mountain but I am still a little farther away from the town. I wouldn't want you to slip and hurt yourself again, and not only that but criminals are known to hide in the bushes around here but don't worry I don't think you'll easily stumble onto one."

What he said about the path leading up the hill did surprise me but I was just happy he had agreed with me.