[surprised] "Hoe?" Monday morning homeroom. The transfer student standing at the podium said that, first thing. The boy before the blackboard stood with the poise of an actor on stage. His elegantly curling, deep indigo hair was tied back in a single tail. His blue eyes, seeming to see through everything, slowly swept across the classroom. [gentle] "My name is Hiiragizawa Eriol. And Sakura-san—you are my destined one." The classroom froze in an instant. And then— "Wha, wha wha whaaaaat!?" The screams of her classmates echoed throughout the room. Sakura didn't immediately understand what had been said to her. Destined one? Who? Me? Her soft brown bob swayed as she blinked her large emerald-green eyes. [surprised] "Hoe? Wait, what? Destined one... what does that mean?" Eriol, still smiling gently, walked over to the seat directly in front of Sakura—the one that had been empty until now. [gentle] "It means exactly what it sounds like. We met because we were meant to meet." That was when it happened. From the window side of the classroom—the seat diagonally behind Sakura—came a tremendous *PFFFT!* Li Syaoran had spectacularly spat out the tea in his mouth. [angry] "—!" His dark brown, unruly hair shook wildly, his amber eyes opened as wide as physically possible. His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. [excited] "Th-this is incredible!" In the seat next to Sakura, Tomoyo had risen to her feet. Her waist-length black hair swayed softly, and beneath her straight-cut bangs, her violet eyes sparkled brilliantly. In her hands, of course, was a video camera. [excited] "A love confession from a transfer student on his very first day...! And what's more, this is the opening act of a love triangle over Sakura-chan...!" The recording light glowed red. There was no telling when she had started filming. [scared] "Wha—Tomoyo-chan! It's not like that!" Sakura flapped both hands frantically. Her face was bright red, all the way to the tips of her ears. But still. Eriol-kun's "destined one" declaration had pricked at something deep in her chest. —Destiny. She felt like she had heard that word somewhere before. Eriol sat down in the seat in front of Sakura as if nothing had happened. Behind him, Syaoran let out a low, growling voice. [angry] "You... what the hell is this guy?" The sound of a fist slamming against a desk echoed through the classroom. His amber eyes were filled with a murderous intent, as if he might lunge at Eriol at any moment. [gentle] "Li-kun, is it? A pleasure. However, pounding on desks is not advisable. You might break it." [angry] "Shut up! Sakura is my—" Syaoran stopped mid-sentence and clamped a hand over his mouth. His eyes met Sakura's. [confused] "...Huh? I'm your what?" Syaoran turned bright red to the tips of his ears and abruptly looked away. [embarrassed] "...Nothing." His small voice was swallowed up by the buzzing of the classroom. Sakura felt a restless stirring deep in her chest. Again. It was the same as that time recently, when Syaoran-kun had held her hand in front of the classroom. When he'd said, *I'll never let go again*— (*What was Syaoran-kun about to say...?*) And then there was Eriol-kun. From the seat in front of her, he offered a gentle smile. But deep within those blue eyes, she sensed something unfathomable, and it scared her, just a little. The homeroom teacher was shouting, trying desperately to quiet the room. Sakura murmured, in a voice so small no one could hear. [whispers] "Destined one, huh..." The words stuck strangely in her heart as the morning lessons began. ◇ The chime signaling the end of fourth period rang, and lunchtime arrived. Today was Wednesday. The once-a-week dessert day, and this week it was fruit jelly. The delicious smell of curry drifted through the classroom. The lunch monitors began serving, and trays were placed on everyone's desks. On Sakura's tray, too, were curry rice, salad, milk, and a small cup of fruit jelly. A clear, yellow jelly with orange, peach, and pineapple inside. [excited] "Wow, jelly! Today's jelly looks so good!" Sakura gripped her spoon. That was when it happened. From the right and from the left. At exactly the same moment, two hands reached out. [gentle] "Sakura-san, if you'd like, I can feed it to you." Eriol held his spoon at the ready, smiling pleasantly. And the other hand— [angry] "Wh-what are you saying! I'll do it!" Syaoran reached for Sakura's jelly cup. The two hands collided over Sakura's jelly. [gentle] "Li-kun, I said it first." [angry] "Who cares! I sit closer to Sakura!" [gentle] "Seating distance is irrelevant. It's a matter of feelings." The two of them—Eriol smiling pleasantly, Syaoran glaring with a bright red face—clashed with a tense, crackling air between them. In the midst of it, Sakura reached out. [scared] "Uh, um, I... I can feed myself...!" She quickly scooped up some jelly with her spoon and put it in her mouth. The sweet, cold jelly melted on her tongue. [embarrassed] "I-it's good... de-arimasu!" Her nerves made the end of her sentence come out in a weird, pseudo-polite form. Eriol smiled, looking just the slightest bit disappointed. [gentle] "What a shame, Li-kun. It seems Sakura-san can feed herself." [angry] "...Next time, I won't lose." Syaoran clenched his own jelly cup tightly, gritting his teeth. Sakura looked back and forth between their faces, feeling the sweetness of the jelly. —This feeling. She felt like she knew it. Being caught between the two of them, unable to go to either, feeling so troubled... but somewhere inside, she felt like she had been watched over by the two of them like this before. It wasn't like before, a vision flowing directly into her head. It was something more vague, like a presence. (*Again... Why do I feel this way?*) Kinomoto Sakura tilted her head slightly, pondering the déjà vu smoldering deep in her chest. ◇ Afternoon PE class was soccer on the school grounds. The May sunshine warmed the dirt of the field. The green of the distant Tsukimori Hills glittered brightly. The game ended, and the class dispersed. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Sakura slumped down at the edge of the field. [tired] "Haa... I'm so tired." She liked running, but she still wasn't good at it. Right before Sakura's eyes, at the exact same moment, two towels and two drinks were offered to her. [serious] "Sakura, use this." [gentle] "Sakura-san, please have a sports drink, if you'd like." In Sakura's right hand, Syaoran's white towel and barley tea. In her left hand, Eriol's blue towel and sports drink. Before she knew it, she had accepted both. [surprised] "Eh... ah... um... thank you...?" She looked left and right in turn. Looking right, Syaoran stood with his arms crossed, looking sulky. Looking left, Eriol wore an angelic smile. [excited] "Oh my, what a wonderful composition this is!" Before she knew it, Tomoyo had her video camera ready from behind a bench on the school grounds. She hadn't broken a single sweat, and how she'd found that spot was a mystery. [excited] "A towel and a drink from both of them at the same time...! This is a scene straight out of a love comedy finale!" [crying] "To-Tomoyo-chan! This isn't funny!" Still slumped on the ground, Sakura stared at the towel and drink in each hand. Her head was a mess. (*What do I do? Which one should I use? If I use Syaoran-kun's towel, Eriol-kun will be sad. But if I use Eriol-kun's, Syaoran-kun seems like he'll get mad...*) [angry] "This is your fault." Syaoran glared at Eriol with a low voice. [gentle] "My fault? I'm merely acting with Sakura-san's best interests at heart. Why is it, Li-kun, that you interfere with me every single time?" [angry] "Interfere? Don't screw with me! Why did *you* show up in front of Sakura!" [gentle] "Because it's destiny." [angry] "...!" Syaoran took a step forward. Eriol, his smile unwavering, also took a step forward. Sparks seemed to fly between them. Still slumped on the ground, holding a towel and drink in each hand, Sakura just looked up at the two of them. [crying] "What am I supposed to do... de-arimasu." Her small voice melted into the wind. It was the first time. Having both of them direct their "feelings" at her so directly, at the same time. This wasn't the "like" between friends. It was something different, something hot and aching, a feeling that made her chest tighten. (*I'm... being thought of this way by both of them.*) That suddenly became reality, crashing down heavily on Sakura's mind. [gentle] "Are you alright, Sakura-san? Can you stand?" [angry] "Sakura, don't push yourself. Rest a bit." Both of them reached out a hand at the same time. Unable to take either hand, Sakura just sat on the ground, clutching both towels tightly. Syaoran's white towel smelled like his usual scent of sunshine. Eriol's blue towel had an unfamiliar scent, yet somehow nostalgic. (*Ah, seriously... What's happened to me?*) The pounding in Sakura's chest was far louder than when she'd been running, and it echoed achingly. ◇ After school. Before the chime had even rung, Tomoyo was pulling Sakura by the hand, dashing out of the classroom. [excited] "Come now, Sakura-chan. Let's review today's footage together!" [scared] "Eh, wha—Tomoyo-chan! I still have my things..." She was taken to the usual rooftop. Tomoyo, naturally, had a copy of the key and opened the door with ease. When they stepped onto the rooftop, a pleasant breeze was blowing. Beyond the fence, they could see the townscape of Tomoeda and the sparkling surface of the distant Nadare River. Leaning against the wall, Tomoyo operated the small LCD screen on her video camera. There, the entire day's events were vividly recorded. The transfer student's entrance. Syaoran pounding the desk. The two of them fighting over the jelly. And Sakura slumped on the field, with the two towels. [excited] "My, what a truly magnificent day it was! The birth of a love triangle, the heroine caught in the middle, and a maiden's wavering heart... This is the perfect textbook for a love comedy!" [crying] "Tomoyo-chan, don't tease me..." Sakura wanted to cover her face. Her own pathetic expression was being replayed over and over on the screen. Tomoyo gently lowered the camera and turned her usual angelic smile toward Sakura. [gentle] "Sakura-chan. Syaoran-kun, and Eriol-kun. Which one are you more curious about?" Her voice was very gentle. But her violet eyes held a strong light that absolutely would not allow any evasion. Sakura's heart skipped a beat. [whispers] "Which one am I more curious about...?" She thought of Syaoran-kun. Unfriendly, blunt, but always the first to come when she was in trouble. Whether in the dreams of the magical world or in reality, he always tried to protect her. The warmth of when he held her hand. Next, she thought about Eriol-kun. Polite, kind, but somehow enigmatic. The boldness to declare someone his "destined one" without a hint of embarrassment. And when she looked into those blue eyes, she felt a strange mix of reassurance and fear. [whispers] "Syaoran-kun is... from before, I don't really get it, but he's special, I guess..." Without realizing it, Sakura had murmured the words aloud. [gentle] "Special, you say." [embarrassed] "Ah!" Startled by her own words, Sakura turned bright red to her ears. [scared] "N-no, that's not what I meant! Forget I said that! And Tomoyo-chan, you're not recording, right!?" [gentle] "Of course, I made sure to record it properly." [crying] "Tomoyo-chan, you're scary!" Sakura had no choice but to cling to Tomoyo in tears. Tomoyo, still holding the camera, gently stroked Sakura's head. [gentle] "Fufu, it's alright, Sakura-chan. Those honest feelings of yours will surely help you someday." The wind swayed both their hair. ◇ That night. The second floor of the Kinomoto residence, in the six-tatam