notes written within literally fifteen minutes. I love you, Hikago. You make me spontaneously combust ALL THE TIME. :D
every you, every me;
Hikaru wins against Touya Akira for the first time a couple of months after Sai. It comes as a surprise to almost everyone who has played Akira, but it isn't as surprising to those that have played Hikaru. Akira is fierce in battle; he strikes when he has the chance instinctively. Hikaru, on the other hand, lies low under awareness and before anyone's really realized it, he's already turned the game around. But victory for Hikaru doesn't taste as sweet as he once thought it would. His fingertips are numb as Akira bows his head low and clutches the sleeve of his sweater.
"I've lost," Akira says, but Hikaru doesn't hear him. He's staring at the goban with sullen eyes, his fingers curling around his fan.
"Shindou-kun?" one reporter says quickly, jabbing his microphone in Hikaru's face. "Shindou-kun, how does it feel to have won against the Touya Akira?"
"Shindou-kun, would you please—"
"Shindou-kun, how has this experience made you—"
"Shindou," Akira presses, leaning over to swat Hikaru lightly on his shoulder. He winces from his sitting position as one reporter steps over him to get to Hikaru. "Shindou!"
"Touya," he whispers. Akira strains to hear him.
"Yes, I'm here," he says quietly, urgently, as he shoots another glare at the flashing cameras. "Go on."
"I won."
Akira almost snorts. "Of course you did, you imbecile. You're ridiculous. Come on, we're done here. We should leave, before one of us gets run over."
"But—"
"Shindou, you've got to learn to know when to shut up. We'll talk properly about this game later. Let's go."
"Sai—"
Akira freezes in his footsteps and whips around. "Sai?" When Hikaru says nothing, Akira grabs him by the shoulders. "What about Sai? Why did you mention Sai just now? Is he here? Shindou?"
"Did I... did I play like him just now?"
"Yes, yes, you did," Akira says, distracted. "But Sai—"
"He isn't, anymore," Hikaru says finally.
"What are you even saying, Shindou," Akira asks, exasperated. "What are you trying to tell me?"
Hikaru turns to face him slowly, and for a second, Akira is taken aback by the confused, childlike look in his eyes. Hikaru looks drained but not old, tired and weary but still young, as though he had grown up too fast along the way. For a moment, Akira doesn't know what to say. He opens his mouth, and when nothing comes out, he closes it again.
Shindou continues to stare at him.
"But Touya," he whispers. "I'm not Sai."
Owari
2012.06.17
