Chapter 1: I Like You

A CHERRY BLOSSOM RIPPLING IN THE WIND

I LIKE YOU

CHAPTER 1 OF THE MANGA

Aboard a train headed to near the high school at the next town over, a teenage boy has his 'work cut out for him' ! His hands are all sweaty, and his heart is racing a hundred miles an hour ! He holds a special envelope in his hands, containing a very important letter. His gaze is steadfastly fixed on the cute, pretty teenage girl, wearing a girl's sailor suit mini-skirted school uniform, sitting across the aisle way from him. Suddenly, his chest becomes painfully tight, making it hard for him to breathe. Why such a reaction ? Because today, right now, on the train, he is going to approach the girl and confess his love for her !

He mentally does one last check of his intentions and aspirations. He has written a Love Letter to the girl that he likes. Likewise, he fell in love with her at first sight, that day she rode the train for the very first time. He can't believe that he is holding the Love Letter in his clammy hands. Candidly telling himself, that up until now, he has not been all that interested in girls, yet, he shudders at the implication of being with this particular girl. However, love has rewritten his heart's devotion. Romantic love is 'running the show' now.

A computer voice blares out, "NEXT STATION IS ONIMAI ! NEXT STATION IS ONIMAI ! DOORS OPEN ON THE LEFT !"

Blimey ! That is the station that she always gets off at ! This is bad ! Real bad !! I waited too long !

In the meantime, the girl gets up from her seat and waits by the side door of the train car. The boy bolts out of his seat, and charges at the girl, like a cheetah after a rabbit ! He yells like a madman---

**"AH .... ER .... UM .... EX- .... EXCUSE ME .... !"**

"What is it ?" Cool, calm, and collected, the girl merely states that she has to get off at this stop. The boy silently tells himself that this must seem to the girl to be so very suspicious. Yet, he is in 'too deep' to do anything about that right now. The boy blurts out uncontrollably and haphazardly---

"Ah .... that is .... I'm Kazuhiro Migiwa .... I .... I have always observed you .... ah .... please .... PLEASE, go out with me .... (He hands the letter to her, as she takes it from his hand.) .... sorry .... sorry for being so sudden .... er .... PLEASE READ IT ! .... (The girl states that it feels a little strange to receive something like this ! Ha ! My first Love Letter !) .... I always look for you on the train every day .... I always think about you .... you radiate beauty and extreme cuteness .... I want to go out with you .... You .... You ....You are my ***DREAM GIRL !!!***

"Dream Girl, Huh ?!?", muses the girl, as the exit door slides open.

"ONIMAI STATION ! PLEASE DISEMBARK NOW !", shouts the computer voice.

*"Is it okay if you go out with me, at least for a while ?"*, fervently pleads Kazuhiro with all his heart and soul ! "There, I said it ! It's all over now !", as Kazuhiro's mind silently pronounces judgement upon him.

The girl now turns so that her back is facing the open train door. She grabs hold of Kazuhiro's hand with her hand, and mumbles, ".... ah .... um .... okay ....!" Then, quickly stepping backward, she yanks him off of the train. The door closes, and the train speeds off to the next station. The two are left to themselves on the nearly empty train platform. The girl looks at Kazuhiro like a cat eyeing a mouse. She speaks ever so softly---

" .... er .... okay .... you know .... yes .... hey .... you okay there ? .... you don't look so good .... it's okay .... !?!"

Kazuhiro stands there like a statue, memorized, and looking at the girl in complete stupification and disbelief !

She continues, "Ah .... We're here, so you can take it easy now. Your story .... uh .... I was too shy to say anything on the train. But, okay ! My name is Ren Takano. Did you come to love me and not even know my name ? That's just so weird !"

Kazuhiro remarks, "I knew that you were my Dream Girl, ***Sazanami-chan (\*)***!

Ren replies that it's okay that we are going to start going out together. I will become your girlfriend and lover ! (Kazuhiro gives silent thanks to the powers that be !) However, continues Ren, something that you should know about me---

***"I was born perceived as a boy !!!* Is everything about us still okay ?"**

Ren gets out her pictured Student I.D. In the space for sex, it says ***"MALE"***, and the picture is of Ren wearing the male's military style school uniform. Mind-blowing vertigo sweeps across Kazuhiro, as he is frozen in place, frozen to the ground ! His mind, heart, and spirit have just been put into a blender, then it is switched 'ON' !

"OMG ! WTF !", sputters Kazuhiro.

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(End Chapter 1)

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**Chapter Lookback, Commentary, and Opinion**

**(\*) Sazanami-chan**

In the Japanese language, the girl's first name "Ren", and the word "Sazanami" are written with the same Kanji, and both mean about the same thing --- a cherry blossom rippling in the wind, or a cherry blossom rippling in the water. Kazuhiro uses "Sazanami" as an instant nickname for Ren.

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Click on Chapter 2: My First .... to be taken to the next chapter.

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