"Taichi!" shouted Chihaya, her arms flailing about above her head from her bench at the train station "over here!"

I smiled a little and quickened my pace, my suitcase bumping along behind me.

Chihaya and I had decided to take a vacation during the summer break to Fukui to visit Arata. At first I really wasn't into it but she'd begged me for about five days straight and how could I say no to Chihaya? Eventually I gave in, but it was worth it. Her face when I finally agreed was to die for. She was over the moon happy.

Which also makes me happy.

"Hey," I say as I take a seat next to her.

Chihaya frowned down at my suitcase "Is that all you're taking?" she asked.

"Not even a proper greeting? Where are your manners Chihaya?" I scolded playfully "and yes, we're only gone for one and a half weeks and it's a fairly big suitcase."

"Oh sorry. Hi Taichi," she looked up at me and gave a meek smile. My heart skipped a beat.

You see I am hopelessly in love with Chihaya and she has no idea. She is quite oblivious about everything actually. People at school call her 'Beauty in Vain.'

I had a bit of a crush on her in the sixth grade but when we reunited in our first year of high school, I fell for her hard. She was extremely beautiful, with her long light brown hair and soft dark eyes. She was taller than me only by a few centimetres, she always has been but she never lets me forget it. Everything about her was perfect, plus she was an excellent Karuta player.

The other Karuta Club members haven't joined us on our trip because they aren't as well acquainted with Arata as Chihaya and I. They see him as more of a rival than as a friend. I'm not complaining though, I get two weeks away with Chihaya.

Oh, and Arata.

"I am so excited about this trip!" squealed Chihaya interrupting my thoughts "it's been so long since my last holiday!"

I smiled at her "It's gonna be great." I promised her.

"I know! I can't wait to see Arata again. I haven't seen him since…" she paused for a moment "since the individual tournament last year."

I felt something wrench at my heart. Even though Arata and I are mates I can't help but have this jealously toward him. He always has Chihaya's attention. She's always talking about him and his Karuta. It was like that when we were kids too. Back then I was extremely jealous of all the attention she gave him and was a total jerk to him. I stole his glasses and pushed him over the whole time. I was kind of jealous of his Karuta too. He has always been so good at it and I could never beat him, I still can't.

She was so into searching for him when I showed up to get our little Karuta group back together. Sometimes I wonder if it had been Arata to turn up at her school, if Chihaya would of even bothered to come search for me.

I pushed that thought aside for now and looked at my watch, 9:50a.m. Our train should arrive in ten minutes.

"Have you been practising Karuta much lately?" I asked her to pass the time.

"Of course," her reply was quick and unhesitant "every day. Twice some days."

The conversation seemed to stop there.

We sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Hey Taichi," Chihaya said quietly.

"Mm?"

"Do you still have a girlfriend?" she asked her voice barely audible.

I was taken aback by her sudden question, but remained cool, calm and collected on the outside.

"Nah. I broke up with the one that called me Ta-kun remember? You were there."

"Yeah, I know. I just thought maybe you might have a new one, I've heard you're quite popular with the ladies." Then she laughed "I can't see how though." And nudged me with her shoulder.

I grin at her "Oh really? I think you'll find that I'm actually drop-dead gorgeous."

Chihaya burst into a fit of laughter.

"Oh come on now. I'm not the only one who's popular, 'Beauty in Vain'" I said teasingly.

"Oh gosh, don't call me that," she said still laughing "I don't even know what it means!"

I rolled my eyes "Typical, of course you don't. You're the 'Beauty in Vain'"

"Taichi!" she giggled "Stop it already."

"Ok ok." I laughed.

I loved talking to Chihaya. It was so easy and so much fun too, but conversations like this one were my favourite. I guess because it gave me a chance to…I don't know, flirt with her? Charm her? I'm not sure but it's good fun. It also gets my heart racing at a million miles per hour.

"Why'd you ask anyway?" I said curiously

Chihaya looked down quickly "Oh I don't know," she stuttered "I was just wondering that's all."

Her beautiful hair was covering most of her face but I thought I could see light tinges of red on her pale cheeks.

Nah, I was probably just imagining it.

She looked back up at me with some regained dignity; in fact I don't even know why she was all flustered "After all, you are my best friend." She pointed out.

"Yes, I know I know." I said reassuring and patted her head. It's a habit of mine, I've always done it to her to calm her down or comfort her.

Just then our train pulled up at the platform with a screech.

Chihaya jumped up and literally skipped to the train. She turned the heads of some guys walking past, but she didn't notice at all.

To them she was just a beauty in vain.

To me she was a beauty.

I picked up my luggage and followed her towards to trains door.

I got in and looked around for Chihaya and found her sitting in a corner saving a seat for me. I made my way over and took a seat.

Chihaya had a mad grin plastered to her face. I couldn't help but smile too.

The trains whistle blew and we were off.

"Alright!" she said enthusiastically "Arata here we come!"

I joined her in her little celebration "Fukui here we come!" I cheered.

We got a few disapproving looks for strangers but I didn't care.

About a half an hour later Chihaya had fallen asleep, her head resting against my shoulder. She usually falls asleep on train rides and sleeps on my shoulder. I actually liked it, it was sort of nice.

Best friend huh? I thought, maybe someday I'll get to be more than that to her.

With that thought in mind, I matched my breathing with hers and eventually dozed off.