The determined youth ran up the stairs with all his might. He would not allow depression to overtake him anymore. He would once and for all announce his rivalry with the famous 3-dan. This would be his first step into recovery.

Once Hikaru entered the room, he immediately laid eyes on the well-known Touya Akira, but just as he was about to walk up to him, he froze.

"You're kidding me right?" he thought and stifled a laughter, first time in a long time.

Shaking his head in despair, he approached the other young professional, who in return spotted the blond-banged boy right away and turned to face him with a surprised expression.

"Shindou?" he questioned.

Said boy came closer and didn't stop until his face was nearly touching the other teen's.

Akira blinked.

Suddenly, Hikaru began to examine him, from head to toe, leaning back and rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he did so.

Akira stood still, confused and slightly flustered as the other boy kept staring.

"W-What's wrong?" he awkwardly stuttered out in an attempt to ease the silence and get an explanation to Hikaru's stranger than usual behavior.

"Hmm... Touya.. What exactly are you wearing?" was the questioning reply.

"Eh?" Akira blurted and quickly looked down to inspect himself, failing to notice anything out of the ordinary. He was wearing his usual pink shirt and purple slacks with a tiger striped tie. No unwelcome spots were visible either.

"Don't just 'eh' me! Jeez, you really need to get yourself a mirror!"

"Shindou.. I don't understand what you mean.." the bewildered Touya could only mumble in response.

"Who tells you to wear these outfits? Do you get paid for it? Or is it your traditional father who lacks a sense of fashion for western clothing?" Hikaru wondered, completely serious.

Before Akira had the time to answer, the half-blond was quick to add to his speculations:

"But then again, I can't imagine the former Meijin buying... clothes," he chuckled and asked for confirmation with a confident grin; "It must be your mom then, right?"

Akira was, if possible, even more confused than before. His rival had finally showed up after a long time of absence from the Go institute, only to mock him for his fashion sense? It didn't make much sense, especially as the young Touya didn't think anything was wrong with the way he dressed.

"No.. I buy all my clothes on my own. What's wrong with them..?" he asked warily, eyeing the other boy's casual clothing.

Hikaru didn't respond directly. For a while, he just stood there, looking puzzled.

"You're fifteen like me, aren't you? Did you know that you dress like a 40-year-old businessman undergoing an age crisis?" he inquired with a snort.

"And," he proceeded, "combining that way of dressing with your girly shota- no, lolicon trap hairstyle you look like.. a freaking.. clown or something!"

Akira frowned, not knowing what to say, because his rival was being even ruder than usual. The young Touya had never been very fond of the 1-dan's attitude. And though he had somehow been able to put up with it, this was simply a little too much for a boy of such proper upbringing to take.

When the actual words began to sink in one by one, the dark-haired professional's face paled in horror, before turning unbelievably red.

"A.. clown?" was the only thing rushing through his head.

"I can't believe you willingly make a fool out of yourself like that.. But then again, it's not like I understand the mind of the great ex-Meijin's son either.. Outside of go.." Hikaru continued.

"Wait a minute!" Akira interrupted, forgetting his manners. "I do not look like a clown!"

Hikaru laughed heartily.

"Would you prefer it if I compare you to 'The Joker' then?" he asked in clear amusement, obviously enjoying the other boy's embarrassment.

Just as Akira was about to reply, the door was suddenly opened and an older go player made his entry.

Ogata 10-dan observed Akira and then turned to Hikaru in astonishment, which quickly transformed into an arrogant look.

"So you decided to come back to the pro world after all, Shindou?" he inquired as he strode over to the two younger professionals.

"Of course," Hikaru replied with a shrug and looked at the man. "We're discussing Touya's fashion sense right now."

"I see.. Oh Akira, you bought that outfit I recommended after all. As I thought, it suits you perfectly," Ogata stated with a satisfied smirk.

Silence...

"WHAT?!"

Hopefully, this conveyed my feelings towards Akira's fashion sense. I believe many feel the same way. His hair, on the other hand, though it's girly, I kinda like it the way it is, very.. Akira-ish.

Edited 26/27.07.2014