A girl was walking alone around the enormous gardens of the famous rich school of Hyotei. It?s quiet in the garden, just the way she liked it. While everyone else was sampling the various extracurricular clubs and activities that Hyotei had to offer, wanted to escape the expectations, and distance herself from the luxurious lifestyle of the other students. was never good at making friends, or participating in various activities. Perhaps it was because she was the only student on scholarship to this prestigious school, or maybe it?s just because of that quiet personality of hers. However, if she felt close to someone, then that person would truly understand what a wonderful person was. Unfortunately, that person has yet to appear.

There were many types of trees in the lush gardens of Hyotei and wondered aimlessly into the fruit section and sat below a massive apple tree. She wanted peace and quiet as she tried to finish her latest sketch. It was a sketch of a boy she admired very much, a boy she knew would never notice someone as quiet as her, or so she thought.

While was dwelling in self-pity, a sudden gust of wind blew by and caused the branches around her to shatter. hugged her sketchbook close to her heart and was so busy protecting the picture that she did not notice that a branch was loosening above her head. Few seconds later, felt something knocked on her head before she lost consciousness.

?Are you okay??

struggled to open her eyes, her head ached and she felt as dizzy as ever. She tried to focus her vision on the speaker but failed. She shook her head and tried again. looked around and was surprised to find that she was in the Nurse?s office, but the physical appearance of the speaker surprised her even more, so much that she sat straight up while nursing her aching head. It was Shishido Ryou, regular of the Hyotei boy?s tennis team.

?What happened?? asked quietly, blushing slightly as she realized that she was alone with him, ?I don?t remember anything??

?I found you in the Fruit Garden, unconscious,? Shishido explained as he took a seat beside the girl, ?How are you feeling??

?Oh,? felt the bump on her head and winced at the pain, ?I just remember something hitting me, but I don?t know what it was.?

?It?s this little thing,? Shishido picked up an apple from the table, ?This one fell off the tree and hit you on the head.?

?I see,? wanted to say something intelligent or funny, but the pain is growing worse, she didn?t finish her sentence before falling back on the bed, loosing consciousness once more.

Shishido didn?t know what to do; after all, the girl just fainted! He sighed and took the sketchbook from ?s grasp and pulled the covers around her. He was about to leave when he noticed a drawing on one of the pages.

It was a picture of him, in his regular jersey and with a heart around his profile. Even though he always knew was the artistic type, the details were still surprising. He didn?t know what he should do about the picture, knowing fully well what it meant. He placed the book gently beside the bed and left the girl alone.

A few hours later, woke to the soft taping sound of rain on the windows of the Nurse?s office. She cleared her head for a moment and sat up. The nurse was typing medical records on her laptop and turned when she heard sounds behind her.

?-san!? The nurse exclaimed happily, ?How are you feeling??

?Better I suppose,? got down from the bed and noticed her opened sketchbook on the night table, ?Sensei, did you open my sketchbook here??

The nurse took a look at the book and shook her head. She made her way next to and felt her forehead for any signs of fever, ?No, it was already open before I got here.?

?Already open??

?Yes,? The nurse dismissed ?s question and continued, ?I don?t think you have a fever, thank goodness Shishido-san found you in the garden or who knows what could have happened??

?Shishido-san found me?? searched her memory and had a vague impression of her conversation with the said boy before she fainted, ?That must mean he saw this sketch of him! Oh my??

?Such a nice boy,? The nurse brought a cup of water and some pills, ?The gardens are so big and people rarely go there, imagine what would have happened if no one found you! That apple really did some damaged, so you should definitely rest for a while!?

?Hai, sensei,? closed her thought and stared aimlessly at the falling rain. Moments later, she fell asleep.

?Shishido-senpai,? Ohtori asked as the two stepped out into the courtyard, ?Are you looking for someone??

Shishido blushed and twisted his cap, ?No, Choutarou, it?s nothing??

At that moment, Ohtori spotted a girl sitting on a bench alone and called out her name, ?-san!?

Both Shishido and the girl turned and for a moment, the two locked glaze before broke it off and focused her attention on the second-year.

?Ohtori-san,? acknowledged the boy and after a moment of hesitation, she continued, ?Shishido-san?

?I heard you got hurt the other day,? Ohtori declared, ?How are you feeling now??

?I?m fine,? answered, ?Thank you for asking.?

?No problem,? Ohtori said cheerfully, ?Actually, I wanted to ask about that duet we?re doing. I?m so happy to work with you, I heard you can bring music to life when you play the piano!.?

?I?m glad to work with you too,? laughed at Ohtori?s comment, but her eyes were on Shishido, ?It is definitely an honor to work with you, the best violinist at Hyotei.?

?Actually, there is this one part of the music I don?t quite understand?? Ohtori started as Shishido looked slightly uncomfortable at the lack of attention he was given. answered Ohtori?s questions half-heartedly as she watched the backdrop of the third-year boy, who turned and walked away.

?Apple tree at 5pm today ? You Know Who?

read the note twice before leaning against her locker and allowed possibilities to flow through her head. She knew very well that the note was from Shishido Ryou, but why? She checked her watch and decided to walked toward that tree in the Fruit Garden.

With each step, wanted to go back, back to the safety of the school building, the safety of the unknown. She was scared, maybe Shishido just wanted to reject her once and for all, but that little part of her hoped for something more positive, maybe he will accept her, maybe they could be friends, maybe...

Unconscious of where she was going, she was surprised that when she looked up, there it was, the tree that started everything. She braced herself as another rush of wind blew by her. She looked up and noticed another apple was falling from the tree and would hit her in a mere few seconds. Human instincts caused her to close her eyes and wait for the impact of the apple to hurt her like it did the last time.

She waited, and waited, but nothing ever dropped on her head. She opened her eyes and there stood Shishido Ryou in front of her.

?You should be more careful next time.? Shishido said quietly, ?Or you may be back in the Nurse?s room again.?

?Huh??

Shishido opened his hand and revealed the fallen apple. Under the sun, the fruit looked bright and lovely, and transferred her gaze to the boy after the shock lifted.

?Everything have two sides,? Shishido said as he looked into the distance, ?And this is my first present for you, I hope now apples would present a good memory instead of a bad one.?

Shishido dropped the apple into ?s open hands and closed his arms around her.

?Yes.?

A single word answer and finally found the person who was willing to understand her and care for her. All because of the forces of nature and an apple.

Written By Amiya
Requested by Chris Du
Inspired by a true story --> Yours truly was hit on the head by an apple x_x?
September 8, 2007