Flight


I've been watching long enough to know that the game is almost over (I can't seem to have the power to flick my eyes briefly over to the scoreboard). Taichi-san's team is winning, and he's scored three of their five goals with sharp precision. The two opposing teams run to center field once more, and the enemy begins with the ball in its possession. Taichi-san easily steals it, and just as it seems as though he's preparing for another breakaway to score, the final buzzer sounds.

Hikari-san jumps up in excitement at the team's victory, and Taichi-san shoots her the "V" sign. I give him a smile and an approving nod, and he repays it with a wide grin, resulting in my stomach performing a small somersault. He dashes to his excited teammates, who are gathering to acknowledge the other team for its attempt. Hikari-san snaps more pictures while I force myself to turn my attention to my belongings, gather them up, and start heading down to the field to congratulate Taichi-san.

By the time I reach the ground, Taichi-san is eagerly running towards Hikari-san and me. He has a white hand towel draped around his neck, a few grass stains on his uniform, his soccer bag looped lazily over his shoulder, and small beads of sweat adorning his tangled, jungle-like hair.

And I know that Taichi-san is happiest in these kinds of moments.

"If I had a few more seconds, I could've bagged another one!" he shouts to us as we approach him, we extremely calm compared to his effervescent aura.

"I'm sure, onii-chan, I'm sure," Hikari-san replies jokingly, knowing full well that he probably could have.

"Regardless, that last shot was very well-executed," I hear myself say subconsciously. I feel as though I'm going to blush at first, but my logic quickly reminds me that he could easily take it as a friendly compliment.

"Thanks, Koushirou!" Taichi-san beams again. "Hey, maybe I could go home real quick and change, and then we can all go out for lunch! That sound good?"

"Sounds like a plan," I reply, happy to be able to spend time with Taichi-san but relieved that I would be able to do so without the stench of sweat and grime to distract me.

"Did you forget?" Hikari-san asks, placing her camera around her neck, "I have plans to get together with Miyako-san to go shopping."

"Oh, that's right," Taichi-san replies apologetically, scratching the back of his head. "Well, then I guess it's just you and me, huh, Koushirou?"

Despite my intuition to give a big grin, I resort to a calculated smile. "That appears to be the situation."

"Hmm...but I guess it wouldn't hurt to maybe invite someone else along as well. I haven't seen Yamato in awhile. You know, him being so busy with his band." He turns to me. "Why don't we call him up?"

My heart falters a bit, but he's right. "I haven't seen Yamato-san lately either. That sounds like an excellent idea to me."

"Great! Why don't you call him while I get changed?"

"Alright then."

Hikari-san takes a step forward. "I'll come with you, onii-chan, I have to go home to get some money anyway."

"Okay then. Hey, maybe we could all go to Miyako-chan's so me, Koushirou, and maybe Yamato can pick up a couple things and chow-down in the park. That sound okay to you, Koushirou?"

"It's fine with me, and it makes perfect sense considering Hikari-san is headed to the same destination."

Hikari-san turns to me. "Koushirou-san, do you want to come with us, or would you rather meet us there?"

"It's okay, I'll meet you there." The last time I had been around Taichi-san while he was showering and changing had not ended very well. "See you soon!"

"Okay, see you!" The Yagamis begin to head towards their apartment while I stick my hands in my pockets and turn towards Miyako-kun's store.

It's not too far away from the soccer field, so I arrive there shortly afterwards. Knowing that I'll have to wait for a little while, I begin wandering the aisles searching for a suitable lunch.

"Izumi-senpai!"

I look behind my shoulder, knowing it could only be Miyako-kun.

"Hi, Miyako-kun, nice to see you."

"Nice to see you, too, Izumi-senpai! Can I help you find something?"

"I'm just looking for some rice and noodles to eat for lunch. Taichi-san and Hikari-san are going back to their apartment right now and—"

The girl's wide grin devolves into a small frown as she interrupts, "Hikari-chan? I hope she hasn't forgotten our shopping trip! We've had it planned-out for two weeks!"

I chuckle. "You didn't let me finish. Don't worry, she simply found it convenient to go home with Taichi-san after his soccer game because he needed to change and she needed to get some money. He's meeting me here to pick up a few things for lunch. Oh! That reminds me. I'm supposed to call Yamato-san to invite him along. Hopefully he's not too busy." I reach into my pocket and pull out my cell phone.

"Oh, Yamato-san! I haven't seen him in a really long time. How's he doing?"

I shrug as I search through my contact list. "I don't even know myself. He's been so busy with his band lately that it's been awhile since I've seen him."

"Ah, I understand why. They've been getting really popular!"

"Yes, they have," I agree as I call Yamato-san and put my cell phone to my ear. "Excuse me, Miyako-kun."

"Oh, sure, I'll be up front!"

I hear Yamato-san's phone ring as she giddily walks away. It rings several times before I decide, Well, I guess he's not going to pick up. Just when I expect his voicemail to sound in my ear: "Moshi-moshi?"

"Yamato-san! I'm so glad I caught you. It's Koushirou."

"Koushirou! Oh wow, it's been awhile since we've talked!"

"Yeah, it has! Well, Taichi-san had the idea that perhaps he, you, and I could have lunch in the park. We're meeting at Miyako-kun's store, which is, in fact, where I am standing at the moment. Think you could join us?"

"You're lucky you called me today; we're taking a well-deserved break from band practice. I'll be there in ten minutes."

"Great! See you then!"

As I hang up, another part of me can't help but feel disappointed. Sure, I hang out with Taichi-san frequently enough, but I like being able to snatch any chance I have with him alone.

I quickly pick out some rice and noodles and bring them over to Miyako-kun at the cash register.

"So? Is he coming?"

"Yes, he is! Apparently his band doesn't have practice today, so he can come."

"Bingo! Lucky!"

I can't help but laugh at Miyako-kun's catchphrase. "Indeed. So now I just need to wait for Taichi-san to come as well."

"Mmm...yummy!"

It feels like my whole body has frozen solid, except for the warmth that's invading my cheeks. I hope her flavor-of-the-week hasn't changed and she was referring to Taichi-san...

"Wh-what?"

"Huh? Oh!" She holds up the noodles I've set on the counter. "You picked out my favorite noodles!"

"Ohhh..." I feel the heat the leave my face and my body thaw.

"Wait...did you think I meant...?" She begins to laugh. "Oh, no! You thought I was talking about Taichi-san, didn't you? Haha, it did kind of sound like it, didn't it?"

"What about me?"

I swear I can feel my intestines tie themselves into several knots as I hear that voice. My head whirls to my left as Taichi-san and Hikari-san walk in, he with damp hair and fresh clothes on and she with a small purse. He looks much improved since the soccer game, and it's impossible to miss the scent of his shampoo since he has so much hair. I admit that it's taking a bit of effort to resist him...

"Oh, hi, Taichi-san!" Miyako-kun greets him cheerfully. "Izumi-senpai was telling me about how you were meeting him here, and I happened to comment on how delicious these noodles were at the same time. It sounded like I was saying you were delicious."

Taichi-san laughs and gives another one of his grins. "Well, I have been told that once or twice..."

"In his dreams," Hikari-san chimes in from behind.

"I can hear you, you know," Taichi-san grumbles.

"But you know it's true. Hi, Miyako-san, ready to head over to the mall?"

"You bet! Just as soon as Izumi-senpai pays for his lunch?"

I've been so focused on Taichi-san's entrance that I've almost forgotten. "Oh! Sorry, Miyako-kun, here you go." I get out my wallet, pay, and take my change.

"Alright, Hikari-chan, just let me get out of my apron and I'll be right there!" She disappears behind a door.

"So Koushirou, is Yamato coming?"

I nod. "Yes, he is. He should be here any minute."

"Awesome!" He gives me a thumbs-up and turns to the door where Miyako-kun has exited. "Hey, Miyako-chan! Don't leave until Yamato and I have picked out our lunch!"

"Don't worry, one of my sisters should be down here any minute!" She reappears without her apron and with her own small purse. "Let's go, Hikari-chan!"

She walks out from behind the counter and the two girls head towards the door. "See you later onii-chan, Koushirou-san!" Hikari-san calls back.

"Bye Izumi-senpai! Hope to see you soon!"

After they've left, Taichi-san makes a noise that sounds like a snort. He elbows me in the side teasingly and in a jocular voice remarks, "Miyako-chan didn't even say goodbye to me. Her attention was all on you. Think maybe she likes you?"

"I doubt that," I reply, never able to look at him whenever that kind of subject comes up, or when he's elbowing me in the side, for that matter. "I'm pretty sure she still likes Ichijouji-kun. However, I don't doubt the fact that she had a crush on me when we first met. Actually... I believe she practically worshipped me." I'm not lying, either. She had completely fawned over me, unable to contain her praise for my computer-related intellect.

"I believe it. She would."

"You're telling me."

"But now that I think about it, you guys would actually make a pretty good match."

If only you knew, Taichi-san. "You think so?" I still haven't been able to look at him in the eye the entire conversation.

"Sure. Why? Do you like her?"

"Koushirou liking somebody? Now that's a new one."

Taichi-san and I turn around simultaneously to find Yamato-san at the door, arms crossed and an eyebrow raised in slight amusement. He looks the same since I've last seen him, except he's doused in exhaustion, with dark circles under his eyes, and his voice is much quieter (I assume he's resting it).

"Yamato!" Taichi-san runs over and gives him a friendly slap on the back. "How've you been!? It's been forever!"

"Yeah, I know, my band's been really busy, and it seems as though everywhere I go, there are at least five girls asking me for autographs. Luckily, I only bumped into two on the way here."

"Well, none of them can be as bad as Jun was."

"Don't even remind me."

Fortunately for Yamato-san, Jun has spent the past three years dealing with other guys besides him. She first stalked one of Jou-san's brothers, Shuu-san, and she actually won his heart (to the amazement of us all). They dated for a little while, but Shuu-san eventually came to his senses and ended their relationship. Jun then resorted to stalking a various amount of other unlucky victims.

Yamato-san looks at me with a spark of mischief in his eye. "So what's this about Koushirou having a crush?"

I feel my cheeks go red, so I turn away.

"Well, it's obvious he likes somebody," Yamato-san continues, sounding extremely interested.

Great, I think to myself bitterly, now they're going to pry. How did I get myself into this? I'm usually so deft at avoiding it!

"I think it's Miyako-chan," Taichi-san declares, though I'm rather certain he's just teasing me.

"My sister?" We all whirl around to find one Miyako-kun's sisters, Momoe-san, standing behind the counter and tying on an apron. It seems as though everyone is intruding my conversations at the wrong moment today... "That's a new one. I've never heard of any guy liking my si—Koushirou-san!? You like my sister?"

"No!" I begin waving my hands in front of me frantically. "Not at all! Well, I mean, of course I like her very much as a friend, but nothing more!"

The three of them all have very suspicious looks on their faces, and I can't help but feel timid and nervous.

"Would you stop that!?"

"Alright, alright, jeez, Koushirou," Taichi-san chuckles, sounding slightly amused, "no need to get so worked-up about it. Now I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving."

"Yeah, same here," Yamato-san agrees, "Dad hasn't gone out for groceries for a few days. In fact, while I'm here, I might as well get some now—"

"Aww, come on, Yamato, you can do that afterwards! Let's just go have lunch."

"I'm going to have to agree with Taichi-san on this one, because I had no breakfast." I had stayed up late working on a computer program and slept-in too long to grab anything before the soccer game.

"Alright, let's find something to eat then, Taichi," Yamato replies, noting the bag of food I'm already holding.

As they begin searching through the aisles, I lean against the counter and set my belongings and food down on the floor next to me. I can see Taichi-san's hair from over the shelves, making me smile. He's so energetic, so lively, so happy, so beautiful (yes, I did just say beautiful) that I can't help but feel cheery around him.

"So Koushirou-san," Momoe-san says to me in a hushed, gossipy tone, "do you really like Miyako? If you do, I won't tell her."

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I was being truthful; I don't."

"Alright, well, then who do you like?"

With complete composure and an honest straight face, I reply, "I don't believe I am acquainted with you well-enough to entrust you with that kind of information."

"Jeez, no need to be so formal about it." She looks at me as though I'm peculiar, like most people my age do when I speak in that incredibly formal manner. "Well, whether you're lying or not about liking my sister, I might as well tell you that she likes that Ichijouji Ken boy anyway." She gives an amused "ha!" "How she thinks she's going to woo him, I have no idea."

I smile. "I figured she did. And I'd say that Ichijouji-kun really enjoys her company."

Considering that there's no sign of disappointment on my face, it seems like she decides to believe me. "Really? Well, he's never lived with her."

I can't help but laugh. "I'm sure that could change a person's perspective on someone, couldn't it?"

Momoe-san giggles and responds, "Yeah! My mom said that when she and my dad started living together, his cooking was so bad that she was ready to walk out on him! No wonder he decided to open up a convenient store right downstairs, huh?"

I laugh again. "Sounds logical enough."

"Hope you two weren't flirting too much while we were gone," Yamato-san's voice echoes from behind me.

I roll my eyes as I turn to face him and retort, "First you accuse me of harboring a crush on Miyako-kun, now you think I'm flirting with Momoe-san, who is already dating Jou-san anyway. You change your mind awfully fast, Yamato-san."

Yamato-san laughs. "Don't worry, I know that you're far from a ladies' man."

How observant of him, I note, a bit amused because he doesn't know the truth, nor do I want him to know it anytime soon.

"Aww, but he's growing up, can't you see?" Taichi-san pipes in, carrying a huge pile of assorted food. He sets everything down on the counter and ruffles my hair playfully, making me flush slightly at the contact. "Aww, see, he's blushing!"

Great, he noticed.

Momoe-san looks kind of disgusted at the amount of food Taichi-san has placed before her. "You're going to eat all of that?"

"Sure! Why not?"

The Inoue sister makes a face.

"You've never seen Taichi eat," Yamato-san says, grinning. "He's a pig."

"Guilty as charged," Taichi-san responds as Momoe-san begins scanning all of the items.

When both Taichi-san and Yamato-san have paid for their purchases, we head towards the park, Taichi-san munching on a rice ball on the way there.

"So tell us, Koushirou, who do you have a crush on? Come on, fess up."

I've been hoping that they would forget about the subject. "I won't waste my time being in-denial, so I'll admit that I do like someone; however, I'm still not going to tell you who it is."

"Aww, come on, Koushirou," Taichi-san eggs on, "we're your best friends, you can tell us!"

And that's precisely the reason why I can't tell you. "I'd prefer to keep it to myself, thanks."

Taichi-san begins to open his mouth to inquire further once again, but Yamato-san interjects, "It's his business, Taichi, he doesn't have to tell us if he doesn't want to... Although, I admit that I'd be pretty interested in knowing."

That's Yamato-san, who knows from first-hand experience that it's not pleasant when people tried to invade personal lives.

"Remember, Taichi?" he continues, "I didn't tell you that I had a crush on Sora-chan."

"Only because I would've kicked your ass if had I found out! The only reason I didn't kick your ass when you guys got together is because she liked you back!" I study his face. He doesn't seem resentful about it all; perhaps he's finally over her.

Yamato-san seems to find this comical. "This is true...wait a minute."

The two boys look at me with terrifyingly serious expressions on their faces. I don't understand why at first, but then I realize, "You don't think that I like Sora-san, do you!?"

No response seems to indicate that the answer is yes.

"Please don't take offense, Yamato-san, but I don't like Sora-san that way, nor could I ever imagine us being more than friends!" I could never imagine being more than friends with any girl, I add in my mind.

"None taken, Koushirou, don't worry," Yamato-san laughs. "It's fine."

"Yeah, well, I'm still curious," Taichi-san continues, examining me for the slightest hint. Unfortunately, his looking at me for so long makes me feel nervous, so I turn away. However, that's when I spot a couple of benches under a few trees, for the park is up ahead.

"Hey look," I begin, flawlessly changing the subject, "we can sit over there."

"That's looks like a good spot," Yamato-san agrees.

We approach the benches and sit down, unwrapping our lunches, taking apart our chopsticks, and beginning to eat. Taichi-san is almost finished his meal by the time I'm halfway through mine, which makes me smile because Taichi-san's huge appetite is a part of his contagious personality. I'm not very hungry, anyway; all of this love-talk has made me slightly anxious.

When we've finished, I offer to throw away the trash. They stuff their wrappers and such into their plastic bags, and I go searching for a waste disposal can.

It takes a little while (which peeves me because I believe that there should be more trash cans in a park), but I eventually find one and begin to head back. As I near my two friends, they seem to be in deep conversation, and that's when I hear Yamato-san say, "Maybe he's gay."

My eyes widen, and I dodge behind a tree not too far away in order to hear the rest of the conversation.

"Koushirou? Gay? Nah," Taichi-san replies, dismissing the idea as though it's absurd. "I can't imagine him liking guys. …Although I have to admit that I can't imagine him liking girls either…"

"That thought has seriously never crossed your mind?" Yamato-san looks kind of surprised.

"Well...maybe once...or twice. But only because he'd never mentioned liking any girls or commented that any girls were hot. But that's not Koushirou anyway."

I have to admit that I'm slightly annoyed that my friends are talking about me behind my back, but I'm achingly curious to find out what they're thinking, especially Taichi-san.

"I know what you mean, but I'm not the only one who's suspected it. Sora-chan has mentioned it. Mimi-chan did, too, in an email she sent me. I think she worded it something like..." He then begins to imitate Mimi-san's voice (very well, I might add). "'Has Koushirou-kun gotten a girlfriend yet, or has he finally come out of the closet?'"

My initial reaction to that is anger, but I can't help but sigh. Sometimes Mimi-san doesn't realize that her "jokes" are occasionally extremely virulent.

"That sounds kind of mean to me."

"Yeah, I know. I didn't say anything, though; you know how Mimi-chan is. But you get my point."

Wow...am I really that obvious?

"I always figured he was asexual and left it at that," Taichi-san comments. "I mean, not like it's important anyway. If he's into guys, so what?"

My heart flutters at that. I've always known that Taichi-san is an extremely accepting person, but how would he really react to me if he knew the truth? Especially if I told him how I felt about him?

"I'm not saying that it's not okay; I'm just making an observation," Yamato-san replies as though he's been accused.

"Do you think we should ask him about it?" Taichi-san suggests this in a slightly softer voice.

My intestines knot-up again. I don't know how easy it would be to conceal the truth!

"Taichi, are you crazy? Do you know how insulted he would be if we asked him that and he wasn't?"

"But he's a reasonable guy! I think he'll understand why we asked."

"That doesn't mean he won't feel insulted by it!"

I don't want to wait around any longer to find out what they're going to decide; I'm not about to take any chances. I stealthily move backwards and begin walking on the path again, taking out my cell phone and looking at it as I walk so it looks as though I've received a text message.

"There you are, Koushirou!" Taichi-san exclaims as he spots me.

"Yeah, sorry I took so long. They need to have more trash cans around here."

"Now, now, Koushirou, no need to cover-up the fact that you were flirting with some hot babes," Yamato-san jokes, glancing at Taichi-san, who also grins.

"Ha-ha, very funny," I reply sarcastically. "I hate to leave on such short notice, but my mom just texted me and asked if I could do a couple of errands for her. I'm really sorry."

"Your mom texts you?" Taichi-san asks incredulously, which doesn't surprise me because his mother knows absolutely nothing about technology.

"Yeah, it took me forever to teach her how to do it, but she ended up finding it easier than calling me." That's not even a lie.

"That's alright, Koushirou, it was great to see you." Yamato-san stands up and extends his hand. I take it and we shake, giving each other warm smiles.

"We should do this again really soon," I suggest. I turn in the direction of my apartment building and begin walking, waving back at my two friends. "See you guys later!"

"Bye, Koushirou!"

They wave back happily, blissfully unaware that I'm actually fleeing from them, fleeing from a truth that I have no intention of revealing any time soon.

And it's better that way.