They first see each other on the train to school.
She's looking out the window in awe as it seemingly glides over the ocean to Port Island.
He's slouched against one of the seats, dozing, while his headphones buzz with the music playing through them.
When the train pulls in at the station, they bump into each other as they're getting off.
They glance at each other, mumbling a quick apology before ducking their heads and heading towards the exit.
It doesn't take them long to notice they're walking in the same direction. Then it's the uniform that tips them off.

The girl clears her throat shyly.

"So… You go to Gekkoukan… huh?" she asks.

The boy blinks at her before pointing to his headphones.

"Oh…" she blushes as she realises.

He removes them, leaving them to hang at his neck.
She runs her fingers around her own, bouncing gently away from her chest with each step she takes.
He notes this.

"Nice choice" he remarks, noting their similar tastes.

She flashes him a smile.
He returns it by lifting the corners of his mouth, so slightly that she almost doesn't notice it.

"Gekkoukan?," he motions to her uniform "I haven't seen you around before"

She nods.

"I just transferred"

"In the middle of the term?"

"Yup"

"Scholarship or something?"

She clicks her tongue.

"Parents died"

"Oh…"

She glances at him, trying to gauge his reaction, but she finds herself laughing.
He looks at her, confused.

"What, no 'I'm sorry for your loss'?"

He frowns.

"'Sorry' doesn't help in those situations"

She stops laughing and looks at him, trying to read his eyes.

"How…?"

Then it hits her.
She lets out a low whistle.

"You too, huh?"

He nods.

"Sucks"

They walk the rest of the way in silence.

When they finally reach Gekkoukan High, her mind makes a snap decision and she tugs on his hand, motioning for him to stop just outside the school gates.
He looks at her, eyes questioning.

"You know your way around here right? What do you say you give me the tour?"

Her eyes are burning with something he can't quite put his finger on.
He mulls it over for a minute or so before agreeing.

He brings her to the strip mall and they eat ramen as they get to know each other, exchanging stories about family and friends, anecdotes about childhood, fleeting dreams and wishes.
He's never told anyone these things before but now they're just pouring out of his mouth while she listens, ruby eyes focused on him the entire time.
Occasionally, she'll nod in sympathy, or interject with a tale of her own, and he doesn't mind when she does because he thinks he's talking too much and wants to hear her voice and get lost in her memories.
They finish their ramen and she makes a crack about how her stomach is as big as any guy's or something like that.
He's barely paying attention as he hands over the money to pay for both their meals, he's too focused on her.

"You don't have to do that…" she says.

He remains silent but his hand brushes against hers as they leave and it feels wonderful.

He takes her to Paulownia mall and they browse the music store for a while.
She pulls a CD seamlessly from one of the racks and takes it to the counter to pay for it.
She hands it to him and explains "Thanks for the ramen" before he can say anything.
He glances at the cover and wonders how she knew he'd like it, but he doesn't ask.
When they leave the music store, she points to an alley next to the police station and asks "What's that?"

"There's nothing there" he begins, but she's already taken his hand and he lets her lead him there.
In the back of his mind, he remembers shades of blue and an elevator that never stopped.

The alley is empty, as he promised.
She's let go of his hand so he stuffs them into his pockets as she stares absentmindedly into the distance, seemingly pondering something.
Her eyes come back into focus again and she grins.
He cocks his head but she stops the question that's forming on his lips with a kiss.
It seems like an eternity before they pull apart.
He's not quite sure how he should react so he goes with his instinct.
He grabs her and pulls her close and soon he's lost in her taste, only knowing he wants more, so he's running her hands through her hair forcing her closer, drinking her in.
Her hands somehow find their way up his shirt and he leans into her touch.
He breaks away panting and looks into her glittering irises.

"I don't even know your name"

She laughs quietly.

"Arisato Minako"

He freezes.

"Arisato…?"

That's impossible.
Arisato is his name, and it makes him think that everything that just happened should feel wrong.
But it doesn't.
In the back of his mind, he's in the elevator and it stops.
He is alone except for the shades of blue and a single mirror.
He sees his reflection as a petite brunette girl with red eyes and defiant features.

A voice in his mind whispers "Eurydice"