aswithTakatsukiwheappedherontheshoulderandsaid,"Hey,whatdoyousaythethreeofusgogetsomethi?"Andsotheirtightlittlegroupwasborn.Juakatsuki,andSayokodideverythingtogether.Theysharedlectureelunthecampusdininghall,talkedabouttheirfutureovercoffee,tookparttimejobsatthesameplace,wenttolatenightmoviesandrocerts,walkedalloverTokyo,anddranksomuchbeerthattheyevengotsicktogether.Inotherwords,theybehavedlikefirst-yearcollegestudentstheworldover.

    SayokowasarealTokyogirl.Shecamefromtheoldpartoftowhemertclasshadlivedforturies,aherranashopsellingtheexquisitelittleaccessoriesthatgowithtraditionalJapanesedress.Thebusinesshadbeeninthefamilyforseveralgeions,anditattractedanexclusivetelethatincludedseveralfamousKabukiactors.SayokohadplanstogoontograduateschoolinEnglishliterature,andultimatelytoanacademiccareer.Shereadalot,andsheandJunpeiwerestantlyexgingnovelsandhavingintenseversationsaboutthem.Sayokohadbeautifulhairandintelligenteyes.Sheexpressedherselfquietlyandwithsimplehoy,butdeepdownshehadgreatstrength.Shewasalwayscasuallydressed,withoutmakeup,butshehadauniquesenseofhumor,andherfacewouldkleupmischievouslywhenevershemadesomefunnyremark.Junpeifoundthatlookofhersincredible.HehadneverfalleniilhemetSayoko.Hehadattendedaboyshighschoolandhadhadalmostnoopportuomeetgirls.

    ButJunpeicouldntbringhimselftoexpresshisfeelingstoSayoko.Hekhattherewouldbenogoingbacethewordswerespoken,andthatSayokomighttakeherselfoffsomewherefarbeyondhisreach.Attheveryleast,theperfectlybalanced,fortablerel