Truth Bites

A Special A fanfiction

by Keikari


Author's notes: I'm back with another idea! Hehe... A whim popped out of my mind after the ending. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: S.A. is owned by mangaka Minami Maki.

Summary: Every day was the usual for the two of them. Challenges come and go with Kei always ahead of her. But one day when he suddenly leaves a bet unchallenged, it all changes. Kei x Hikari


A fine, breezy day inside the gymnasium of Hakusen academy…

"Takishima! I'm going to beat you someday…" Hikari swore as she sat on the wooden floor of the gym, red boxing gloves in hand and sweating.

Skillfully, Kei removed his own blue gloves and tossed them in one corner, grinning at Hikari's way as he replied, "That's a confident assumption coming from your lips, miss number two…" and although he didn't say anything next except for his golden eyes, she could feel him as he stared back at her dark blue ones with all the intent of mocking her.

A "rank 2" anvil falls on top of her head in a late reaction as she fumes at him.

"Just you wait! I will beat you…" pumping herself up, she faced him squarely, a competitive smile on her pretty face.

Takishima looked at her once more as though her actions were timelessly enjoyable to watch before turning around, "Better do it fast…" he mumbled. The regretful tone in his voice was unmistakable.

Startled but unsure, Hikari dropped her upraised hands, "Eh?" she thought she didn't hear him right.

What was that all about?

For a while when she thought he wouldn't say anything, Kei's voice broke the silence with his quiet reply, "Nothing…" turning to face her, the mocking smile was back on his face, "I accept your challenge. Prepare to lose." He declared.

Her rivalry spirit back in its rightful place, Hikari beamed back with the same expression.

"I should be saying that. All right! Two days from now!"


On the way home from school…

"I'm going to beat him so bad…" Hikari mumbled to herself as she rubbed her hands together, her plans circulating in her mind with thoughts of her victory.

"I must, I must…" she chanted when she suddenly stopped from her walking, a thought popping out in her mind.

"Better do it fast…"

It was Kei's statement earlier. Somehow, it sounded so depressing…

"What did he mean by that..?" she thought, somehow disturbed as she raised a finger to her chin. "Does he wish to lose that much? Hahaha…"


Next day… inside the Hakusen's Greenhouse.

The assembly of Special A students were in their usual seats, doing their own habit, except for one person.

The absence of the serious looking yet calm student and his laptop was upsetting. Hikari immediately noticed something wrong with the picture as she stepped to the Greenhouse and her roving eyes didn't spot him.

Somehow, it was easy to spot Takishima among the group, especially when he was typing in his laptop with a concentration that looked almost lax when someone looks, defying the enormity of what he's dealing with.

It was always calm around him when he works.

"Where is Takishima?" was Hikari's first question, and her tone sounded simply puzzled that the 5 of them looked at each other uncertainly.

Deciding to lay the decision on the more mature spokesperson of the group, they all looked at Ryuu's direction as he was petting a koala in his arms.

"I'm sorry Hikari. We don't know where he went…" he added with an awkward chuckle.

At his reply, Akira glared at him as though he didn't tell the complete truth.

"Come to think of it, he did say he was going to somewhere…" Tadashi replied instead, instantly earning a smack from Akira's tray.

The resounding clunk of the tray as it hit Tadashi was as loud as Hikari's response.

"WHAT?!!" her loud voice was nearly like Megumi's in its destructive tendencies, shaking the trees inside the greenhouse as though by a strong wind.

"Where did he go?!" Hikari whined, her fists clenched tight and upraised as she eyed all of them.

Tadashi had recovered enough to utter a reply, "He didn't say… But I think it's somewhere…far." Before he could say anything else, Akira's tray once more hit him, silencing the man as he whimpered forgiveness.

Akira gave him a good beating before looking at Hikari, concerned.

"Hikari… We didn't want you to worry. Maybe Kei just went somewhere?" she tried convincing to no avail.

The number two student appeared like someone just rejected her, her face downcast and an impending shadow over her back.

Instead of slumping to ultimate despair, Hikari gritted her teeth and clenched her fists by her side, fuming and frustrated, "Ooooh… How can he leave!?" she snapped, nearly on the verge of tears in her annoyance, "We had a challenge! He bet on me!"

Appearing bitter and totally annoyed, the others began to worry for her when Hikari suddenly pumped her competitive stance.

"Takishima, I will find you!" she announced to no one as she began to exit out of the greenhouse.

As she left, the 5 could only stare at her in silence before Tadashi spoke, "Does she know where she's going?"

Jun found the voice to speak and reply uncertainly, "I think the Takishima group of companies would know something…"


Hikari knew if there was one thing to know for certain, it was to go direct to the source. After all, Takishima spends most of his time helping his father manage the companies they own.

In this mission, she found herself on her first stop: the first branch of the Takishima group of companies.

Moving to the entrance, the glass doors instantly slide open as she stepped on the rug. Fascinated but determined, she moved in and approached the glamorous, sparkly reception desk where a friendly looking receptionist stood behind, smiling genuinely.

"Good afternoon ma'am. What can we do for you?" she smiled so sweetly that Hikari blushed.

Clearing her throat, she spoke, "I wish to have an appointment with your director."

Startled, the receptionist widened her eyes then immediately resumed her professionalism as she addressed her, "I'm sorry ma'am… I'm afraid our director, Takishima Kei, has been away on a business trip."

"Business trip huh?" Hikari mumbled before walking away, ignoring the surprised receptionist.

As Hikari got out of the building and into the sunlight, she found out she didn't believe what she said. There was more to this than just a business trip… she thought. Kei wouldn't abruptly leave her hanging with the challenge high on their back for a casual business trip… Not even if it was his father's fault. Hikari knew without a doubt that Kei would at least find a way to call her if it came to that.

But he didn't.

Finding herself unconvinced, she decided to seek for more answers.

Well, there were two more companies to visit. She can't give up now.


Next stop: the second branch of the Takishima group of companies.

The building was the same, elegant kind with austere decorations and a very classic feel inside. The entrance was the same automatic sliding glass doors that activated when someone stepped on the rug and the sensor detected it. It's just the receptionists who were different, but they still wore the same professional smile.

"I'm afraid we cannot tell where he went, ma'am… The director wishes to keep it confidential."

Frustrated, Hikari replied, "Then tell the director Hikari Hanazono wanted to know!"

The receptionist merely shook her head dejectedly, "I'm sorry ma'am. But if you wish, we can schedule an appointment for you when he comes back…" she stopped when she noticed Hikari was already leaving.

Staring after her, she wondered what it was all about. Then, remembering the instructions left to her by the director, she called a number listed on the piece of paper the director had left and informed of the girl's arrival.


The last stop was undoubtedly the hardest: the third and last branch of the Takishima group of companies located in a faraway district.

Hikari felt so dejected at the point, knowing somewhere that Takishima Kei had no intentions of letting her know where he went…

Still, she had to try.

To stop searching for him would mean she had lost, and she couldn't stand it. Besides, his absence felt like a splinter in her heart and she didn't want to quit just yet.

When she arrived, the building that met her was perhaps the biggest and most glamorous of the two. Entering the entrance, Hikari's first thought was that there was only one receptionist on the desk, and she appeared to be busy as she chatted on the phone with her back to her.

As Hikari went nearer, she became more aware of the receptionist's physique.

"That short, pink-hued hair…" she was thinking when the receptionist swung around in her chair and faced her.

"Yahiro Saiga!" Hikari exclaimed, totally shock to see him here, behind a reception desk of all places, and she had to mistaken him for a girl…

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

Yahiro merely smiled as though he expected what she would say and react. Inclining a hand to his chin, he glance at her demurely, "As always, Kei's predictions were clear-cut." Yahiro had received the phone call from the receptionist a little while ago, and he had the task to come here. But he doubt he would like what he was going to say…"

"Takishima! What does he have to do with this?!"

Sighing, Yahiro explained, "I'm sorry I have to be the one to say this but… Kei is going to be engaged."

Badoom.

A thunder strike hits Hikari's head fair and square as the realization crushes her heart and mind. The whole world closed in on her, trapping her in its embrace.

"W-What…?" still, she could not believe it. Maybe she heard it wrong. She couldn't be feeling this way…her chest suddenly feels too tight that it hurt.

Seeing her reaction, Yahiro tried to soften the blow, "Hikari… I forced Kei not to tell you. I thought it was better that way—"

"LIAR!" Hikari burst out before he could finish, tears on the edge of her bitter eyes, "Don't lie for him!" lowering her face, she quietly spoke, "I know him… Takishima doesn't want me to hold him back when he leaves, so he didn't tell me anything. He would never decide to tell me. He always does things by himself…"

Tears dropped down from her eyes, although Yahiro couldn't see her expression with her long hair covering it.

"Hikari…"

"But it's okay!" Hikari suddenly brightened up, or wanted to appear like it as she raised her fist and forced a cheery smile, "I understand! If Takishima wanted to get married that badly, I don't care!" she laughed hollowly as though to emphasize her point.

As he watched, Yahiro couldn't help feeling bitter too. Kei had made a selfish decision, hurting Hikari in the process…

He looked at her as her expressions appeared more forced even though she was clearly hurt. Deciding it's for the best, Yahiro said, "Hikari… I think it would be better if you forget him for a---"

A heavy stomp eats out his next words as Yahiro uttered a cry of pain. Frustrated, he looked beneath his desk and exclaimed, "Megumi, what are you doing?! You were supposed to be discreet!"

The curly hair singer scribbled on her pad and held it up, "You're supposed to help Hikari, not make her sadder!"

When Yahiro looked back, Hikari was no longer there.

"Well, too late. I think she already left—" a tap came from his leg. Looking down, Yahiro read the caption in Megumi's frustrated face, thinking as he glanced at her how she could've known... He had relented to let her come with him on the condition that she will remain hidden. He thought he could own all the blame and absorb Hikari's bitterness but it didn't work. And Megumi had to witness it. She reacted late though.

"'Why are you so slow?...'" Yahiro was reading and continued to read in silence, chuckling in mockery as he did so. "I would but since you're there…"

He didn't finish his next words as his sight saw a shock receptionist on the hallway, staring at him as though he was a dirty old man. Her eyes flashed to him then wandered to where Megumi was crouched underneath the desk. Then her eyes widened in realization.

"My…I didn't know. I'm sorry to have bothered you two…" she muttered mischievously before Yahiro and Megumi's flustered faces.

"No! It's not what you think!!" Both of them shouted. Then they looked at each other and blushed.

He cleared his throat before speaking, "We'd better inform the S.A. about this…"

She could only nod.


Author's notes: Like it? Review! :)