A/N: Hey. This is my first fic in ages. I've been writing for a long time, but haven't posted anything, so… eh. I'm a lot better than my old fics, now. Please, give me your feedback. Writers can only get so much out of practice, and reviews with any sort of criticism would be greatly appreciated. Now, on with the fic.

Luminous Heart

Brriiing, the phone rang again. Kaorin gazed at it sleepily, wondering briefly what it was, and why it was making such shrill noises in her room. Finally, comprehension of the object came to her.

Brriiing, the sound came for the third time. Kaorin turned over in her bed, just thinking that she would let her parents answer it. The ringing sounded twice more, and Kaorin remembered that both of her parents were at work. She answered the phone.

"Hullo…?" She asked groggily. Who would be calling her this early?

"Ah, Kaorin-san!" came a small voice from the other end. Of course, Kaorin thought, Chiyo-chan. She's the only person who'd be awake this early. "Did I wake you?"

"Er… yeah," Kaorin muttered, "but, it's alright," she added hastily, recalling Chiyo's tendency to get upset easily.

"Oh, I'm sorry… but, anyway… would you like to come to my summer home this weekend? We're having a party there."

Kaorin mulled this over in her head for a moment. She had graduated, so she didn't have astronomy club to worry about… college wouldn't be starting for a few months… so she was free… and Sakaki would be there.

"Sure thing," Kaorin responded.

"Great!" Chiyo exclaimed. "Do you need a new swimsuit? We're all going shopping in a few days to get a few things, and Yomi-san needs to buy a new one, so…"

"I'll go with you guys."

"Alright! Well, I still have to call Sakaki-san and Tomo-san about it, so I'll talk to you in a few days, okay?"

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye!"

Kaorin placed the phone back on its hook. She looked at the clock… 9 AM. It was later than she had thought. She yawned and stretched, making sure to work each muscle before she stood up. When she rose, she lazily wandered over to her desk, and plopped down in the chair.

Her eyes fluttered on the pictures of her friends. First, there was Chihiro, who had been Kaorin's best friend for a long time. They were often together, and Chihiro knew many of Kaorin's secrets, and visa versa. They had known each other for a few years, but they had nothing to brag about like Tomo and Yomi did.

The next picture was of little Chiyo-chan. The small, now thirteen year old girl had graduated high school with them and was now planning on studying abroad, in America. Chiyo was of the cutest people that Kaorin knew, with her little pigtails, and wide, curious eyes. Kaorin couldn't imagine such an innocent young girl going to America at her age. Anything could happen to her. Chiyo was smiling very brightly in this picture.

After Chiyo, there was a picture of Koyomi. Yomi was a very smart, bespectacled, self-conscious person. Kaorin never could figure out why she watched her weight so much. She had always thought that Yomi had nice weight for her size and figure. This picture was taken the last time Kaorin has seen Yomi, during graduation.

Then, there was Tomo. She was always so energetic, jumping and running around the classroom. Kaorin giggled to herself, remembering how Tomo would always been pegged in the head by Yukari-sensei's expert chalk-wigging abilities. This picture was from the only time Kaorin had stayed at Chiyo-chan's summer home. Tomo was perched on a banister, flashing the victory sign. She was blocking a great shot of Sakaki-san, but Kaorin had to admit, it really was a good picture. So, she decided to keep it.

Next was Osaka. Kaorin had also snapped this shot during graduation. Osaka was staring out a window, though anyone could easily tell she wasn't looking at what was outside, but rather what was within her own mind, miles and miles away. Coupled with the large, open mouthed smile she bore, the picture was Osaka in all of her glory. Kaorin thought that Osaka had some sort of hidden genius, considering her spontaneous thoughtful outbursts.

Kagura was next. The former swim team star was wearing her two-piece in this picture, taken at the beach near Chiyo-chan's summer home. Kaorin hadn't really talked to Kagura much, but took a picture regardless. Kaorin remembered how Kagura would always be prone to Tomo's random challenges, and how easily Kagura would win.

Next was the picture of Yukari-sensei and Kurosawa-sensei. The two had taken the group to Chiyo-chan's summer home, which was something that Kaorin hadn't expected. She had been worried that rooming with two teachers would be an uptight situation, but it turned out that Kurosawa-sensei—or, Nyamo, as Yukari-sensei and Tomo refer to her—was more relaxed than she was in school, and Yukari-sensei was even more lazy than she was in her own class… if that was even possible.

After looking at her teacher's pictures, Kaorin sickeningly remembered about what lingered in her trashcan. Kimura-sensei had sent her a picture of himself, embroidered with little hearts around the edges. Kaorin had thrown away the picture as soon as she had seen it, completely mortified. She had thought that she escaped him after graduation, but he apparently meant what he had said with his final outburst of, "But, Kaorin and I will be together forever!" She couldn't help but wonder what other horrors would come to her mailbox under his name.

Then, there was Sakaki. Or, as Kaorin preferred, Sakaki-san. Sakaki was the embodiment of coolness, with a perfect, strong body, long silky hair, and a cool demeanor. Well, at least that's what Kaorin thought until she began to talk to Sakaki more. She found out that Sakaki was not cold like her peers had said. Sakaki was actually kind, and loved cute animals. Kaorin just thought that this made Sakaki even cooler.

Kaorin would often waste her time just staring at the picture, or writing poems in the book the picture rested on. Sakaki had been the inspiration for so many of them. Kaorin once again started comparing herself to Sakaki, gazing deep into the picture. Wishing her hair could be as long and as beautiful as Sakaki's, wishing that she could be as fast or as athletic as Sakaki, wishing she could be as smart as Sakaki, wishing she could be with Sakaki, wishing Sakaki would notice her.

Kaorin sighed. Sakaki would never notice someone as plain and uninteresting as her. Even if she wasn't as cool or mysterious as people said, she still wouldn't notice little meager Kaorin. If she only had a day, just one day that she could spend with Sakaki-san…

Kaorin looked away from the pictures. She didn't want to think about her situation with Sakaki right now. She was glad that she had taken those pictures, though. She would always remember her friends from high school, even if they were scattered about the world. She suddenly remembered the picture that Tomo had taken for her. It arrived in the mail the day prior. Kaorin was rather surprised to see it; she didn't really expect Tomo to send it. It showed Kaorin leaning on Sakaki rather nervously, and Kaorin wished that she could calm down more around her. If she wasn't so timid, then maybe, Sakaki would notice her.

She put her hopes aside for now, and began to get dressed. She didn't have much to do today, except for study astronomy for her college classes, and to ask her mother about going to Chiyo-chan's summer home. Kaorin got excited at the thought… she would see Sakaki-san there. And, maybe… just maybe, she would get the chance to spend a day with her.