A/N: Basically, this is just my excuse to write what Hikaru's life and career would be after the manga from an outsider's perspective. Akari fits the role to a T. Also, Akari is a good girl and I quite enjoy her character. Naturally, I want to explore her dynamic with Hikaru. Enjoy!

Basic disclaimer applies.

Chapter 01

. . .

At first, there was only one black stone on the board.

. . .

She never actually expected to meet him again. Not so soon, at least. They were neighbors after all; they were bound to meet each other at one point. Like now.

"Huh, Akari?"

She was walking with head down, looking at the ground when she heard her name called by a familiar voice.

"Hikaru?" she looked over her shoulder. Just few meters behind her, she could make out his blonde bangs from the dark surrounding. He was wearing his blue formal suit with his usual yellow backpack slung behind his back. Wait... if she read the latest Go Weekly correctly...

"Weren't you supposed to go home yesterday? From the Hokuto Cup?"

And then she stopped. Remembering what the article said about Japan's fate on the Hokuto Cup, she wasn't sure if it was okay for her to bring up the tournament so soon. Silently cursing about her blunder, she offered a reassuring smile toward Hikaru.

"Uhmm... good job! You've put a good fight against Korea and China, Hikaru!" she waved her hands in uplifting manner, "I wouldn't dream of representing Japan like that! And..."

Ahh, he looked pissed now... she started to sweat. But his eyes was anywhere but on her, and it looked like she wasn't the cause of his inner turmoil. He closed his eyes as if trying to calm himself down, fist clenched at his sides. They were standing on a dark street now and she wasn't sure how to break the awkward silent.

This wasn't how she pictured their reunion at all!

"It wasn't enough..." his small whisper finally broke the tension. She didn't fail to recognize a sliver of desperation in it.

"I'm not enough..." he said again, a bit louder this time. "Not yet."

"Hikaru..." She didn't know why, but the lose affected him so much. He lost only by 0.5 moku; considering all the sudden change in the board number and the fact that his opponent was Korea's top young professional, it was quite an amazing feat. It was one close game that has become the talk of the go professionals, too. Maybe it was the closeness that frustrates him?

She took her time to truly look at him now. Gone his bratty look and round face from their elementary school years; the time he spent on the ancient game had truly matured him. Young Akari would never dreamed that Hikaru would be taking a lose on professional match this hard, not even of him joining one. The thought tugged the corner of her mouth upward. He had grown so much.

Not enough to let him grow out of his habit of bleaching his bangs, though!

She chuckled at the thought, and Hikaru took an clear offense of it. "What? You think my defeat is funny?"

"No, but your ridiculous bangs is," her reply hid a secret mirth. Hikaru, on the other hand, looked at her as if she had lost a screw or two. She continued with a warm smile.

"Next year, beat Ko Yeong Ha," she said with finality, "Show him what Japanese youth is made of, Hikaru!"

He looked at her with various conflicting emotion, but in the end, determination won. Eyebrows taut, he talked in firm confidence.

"You don't have to tell me that. I plan to kick his ass across the goban."

"Don't forget to win with 20 points difference or more!" she joined playfully. He laughed at her.

"Oi oi, even for me that was waay to optimistic..." he let out some chuckle out of his system, then looked up at the night sky with a smile. She saw him relaxing, which was a good thing.

"Soo Hikaru, why are you coming home today again?" He hadn't answered her earlier question.

"Well, Su Yeong invited me for a rematch today, so I stayed with him for a bit..." he smiled at the memory, "He has become strong, that Su Yeong."

"Su Yeong..." Akari gasped when she recognized the name from Go-Weekly. "You mean Korean third board, Hon Su Yeong? You know him, Hikaru?"

"I played him a year ago, I think? On his uncle's go salon," he scratched his head in an unsure manner, "He had grown taller too. I still win, though!"

She gaped at him inelegantly. Not only he knew him, he won from Korean third board, twice?

He said it so lightly too!

While Akari was far from Hikaru's level, she at least knew how strong Korean players are. She started to think that her childhood friend doesn't get any idea how strong he truly was sometimes. In a sense, it was truly Hikaru-like... to be clueless and all. Guess some things just wouldn't change that easily.

While she was lost in her own thought, he turned to her. He took a quick look at her new uniform.

"What are you doing this late, Akari? I thought the cram-school season is over?"

She was a high-schooler now, and Hikaru would be too if he was a normal boy. "It is over, but high school student has a lot of things to do, you know. It's nice that you don't have to do anymore homework or tests, Hikaru."

"Yeah, that's neat I guess," he grinned at her and started walking again, which Akari followed. "I got to play go as much as I want! Though Mom still want me to study other things once in a while... something like 'find other thing than go to fill time' or 'having back up plan'," he snorted, "Like I will stop playing go! I won't fail either! I will take one or two titles too for sure!"

"Obasan is just worried, Hikaru. And you did say you want to stop playing go once," she pointed out.

"That...! That's just one time, one time! I won't do that again," he repeated with full conviction. "I won't stop. For his sake..." he said, slowly this time. Akari didn't caught the flash of pain in his eyes.

"His sake? You mean Touya-kun?" she remembered the bob-haired boy with intense expression that didn't suit his pretty face.

"Eh? Ah, right. There's Touya too..." he scratched the back of his head, "This time, I won't run away like last time."

Akari didn't know why he was running away that time and felt that it wasn't her place to ask. In a way, Hikaru's current world was so different than hers. No matter how much of catching up she did, she wouldn't reach the same level or understanding like he did. She just knew it by heart, and it was kind of lonely on her side...

But this was enough. As long as he could be smiling and keep his spirit high like this, she doesn't mind being a bystander. If their ways weren't supposed to cross, she was already grateful for being his friend. His spirit rubbed off on her to try the impossible, after all.

"Well, that's good to hear. That way I could still invite you."

"Invite me?" Hikaru blinked innocently while Akari pouted.

"You said you'll visit my high school someday, right?"

"I said that?"

"Geez..." she suspected as much that he'll forget, "Did you remember what I told you on our graduation day? I said to you if I joined go club in my high school, I'd like to invite you. I even said that I'll make one if they don't have go club!"

"Ah... ooh! You did say that!" he smacked his fist to his open palm. He paused and blinked again, processing her words. "Wait, then that means-"

Akari sighed in amusement. "Yes Hikaru, I joined the school's go club. Apparently I don't have to make one."

At the mention of go, Hikaru's eyes lit up. "So you still play go Akari! Good, that's good!"

"Of course I am! I aimed for the high school tournament, you know!" she clenched her fists in the air, only to unclench it soon. "I'm not sure if I'm good enough for that, though. My senpai in the club are far better than me."

"Akari..." they spent some time in silence, only accompanied by the sound of their footsteps. "Hey, if anything I know you can do it Akari. You're too stubborn not to do it! Mom also said your current high-school is your first choice, right?"

Akari nodded, feeling bashful by his compliment. True, she got into the school she wanted, even by 50:50 chance...

"Thanks to you, Hikaru. Your stubbornness is contagious," she offered him her widest grin.

"You mean my fighting spirit is contagious! You're born stubborn, Akari, don't post it on me."

"Came from someone who suddenly said 'I'll become a pro!'? I don't think so."

The playful banters between the old friends lasted for a few minutes until they see their neighboring houses. Hikaru stood in front of his house's gate and regarded Akari for the last time. "Well, just tell me if you want to invite me. I'll try to find the time."

"Really? You mean it, Hikaru?"

"I mean it. It has been a while since I set my foot to any school..." he trailed off, and she knew he think about their middle school go club. "Just don't invite me so suddenly! I have oteai matches and study groups too, you know!"

"I know I know, Mr. Go Pro," she snickered and waved at him to go inside his house. He nodded and dashed to his front door, saying "Mom, I'm home!" loud enough for her to hear.

"Welcome home, Hikaru," she whispered to the empty street and making her way to her own house.

. . .

And then, a single white stone made its move.

. . .

Notes:

- Black/white stone: Stones used for go games. Black moves first, and white got komi points for this disadvantage (ranged from 5.5 to 7.5 points).
- Obasan: Auntie
- Goban: Go board. Normal size is 19x19, but smaller sizes usually used too for lower kyu practices.
- Oteai: Rank promotion system, usually in form of annual or bi-annual tournament with weekly schedules. Per 2003, there's a new rank promotion system in Oteai which includes 1) accumulating a certain number or win, 2) ranking high in prize money among same dan players, and 3) entering certain title leagues or winning certain titles.

(Citation source: senseis/./xmps/./net)

Any feedback is appreciated! Review gave me life, not gonna lie.
Next: Hikaru and Akari have a talk.