Taichi stepped harder on the pedal, hoping the car would travel at the speed of his thoughts and bring him right next to Chihaya this instant. He can no longer wait or deliberate, there is simply no time left to have any hesitation on his end. Any second now, he could really lose Chihaya forever and she'd never be within his grasp again. The thought hit him hard in the guts, he simply cannot imagine living a life without loving her, breathing the air without his heart beating for her. Oh, how he valiantly tried to do that over the past years only to be told by his stubborn, relentless heart that it had resigned to loving Chihaya forever and anything else would no longer an option. Arata woke him from the reverie he placed himself in and if he does not act now, he would never be complete once more. He cursed the hands of fate when the next traffic light flashed red, stranding his car in a stationary position for minutes that went on like eternity. Should have taken the damn train, he cursed inwardly.
Arata sat on the riverbank overlooking the river that was gleaming with hope and reflected sunlight, somehow this way he can feel peace take over every other emotion that is fighting to exist within his chaotic heart. He stared blankly at the mobile he has clutched in his hand still, he was unable to put it away until now and his mind constantly flashed back to his conversation with Taichi over, and over again. He winced as the clouds above swept away to reveal streams of afternoon sunshine. He surrendered himself to the calm covering every surface underneath the lazy sunshine and fell backwards onto the grass patch with a soft thud. This is the only way we can move forward, there's no turning back now.
Chihaya checked her wrist only to be reminded for the fifteenth time that she does not wear watches, she raised her head and caught a glimpse of time on the café clock. Fifteen minutes have passed, anytime now Taichi would arrive at the party but Arata was nowhere in sight. Where could he have gone to? She recalled the craziness from Sumire just a few hours ago, though she can never seem to understand why they were trapped in this limbo she had somewhat accepted the fate of this development and contended to the simple and happy days she spent with Arata in this cafe. Sometimes, it felt like something was incomplete, and she had once wondered if she could consult Taichi on this. Back in her school days, when she was with Taichi everything was simple and clear and she constantly lookrf to Taichi for support and faith to tide through the crazy as she became helplessly obsessed with Karuta.
However, time has changed the way everything is for them now and Chihaya felt helpless in times of such changes. Despite her ability to adapt and master new techniques for her card game, when it comes to matters of the heart she was completely defeated. And too many-a-times she found herself doubting herself, what she truly wanted and what she truly needed could never seem to coincide beautifully and she was eternally in dilemma. She sighed at the reminder of that thought, she was hopeless at figuring out this triangle. Maybe she would even have to admit that she is too scared to even explore her own feelings regarding Taichi and Arata. Sure, she was not entirely oblivious to the love triangle they're set in, but things have changed and even though she feels closer to Arata these days, she could never uncover his truest desires and thoughts.
'Chihaya-chan! Mashima's car is here, he's here! Are you ready? Wait, everyone! Are we ready?' Kanade ran through the door and summoned everyone with her announcement. Chihaya snapped herself out from her reverie and brought her hands up to give herself one of her infamous refreshing self-slapping, startling an unknowing Kanade in its process.
'CHIHAYA!' Taichi's voice roared through the doorway as streamers and popping noises appeared everywhere around him. 'SURPRISE!' Everyone chimed in unison as they greeted their long awaited friend, the star of the surprise birthday party. Taichi stood motionless in the doorway as he tried to compute sense into the situation. To everyone's surprise, he closed the door abruptly and re-opened it to fake a composed entrance. When the door re-opened, he greeted everyone nonchalantly, 'Hey guys, what's up.' Everyone had a good laugh about it for a few good minutes before they sent him their greetings and well wishes in pairs and trios. But Taichi's eyes were restlessly following Chihaya, he watched her expressions carefully and noted every movement she took. He felt pleasantly surprised by his friends' effort to come together and throw him this surprise party, but he needed to clarify what Arata told him. The years he had spent as a street-smart businessman made his outward composure an impeccable cover, but his nerves were chewing him on the inside. Every time he moved closer to her, the window of opportunity to talk to her would be quickly interrupted, and he felt his heart sink.
Kanade seemed to have detected his dilemma and pulled an over-chatty Sumire away from her past idol so he could have time with Chihaya. The moment his time freed up, he leapt across the room and pulled a stunned Chihaya out of the café by her arm. Before she could understand what had just happened, she found themselves in the car-park where Taichi's car is parked.
'Chihaya, get in.'
She looked up and her eyes met his fierce ones, a strange and rare flame seemed to be burning in his irises and she felt herself somewhat captivated this moment. She wanted to ask what he meant and where are they going, but he was already in the car seat and she felt herself falling into her own seat without any hesitance. Without further ado, Taichi ignited the engine and drove away to the one place he wants to bring her, leaving their friends behind in the café. He made a mental note to apologize to them when they return, but for now, this was something that he definitely had to do.
'Taichi, where are we going?' Chihaya asked tentatively, somehow she could sense the unrest churning in Taichi now.
Taichi gave her a wordless smile and drove down the winding road, and the car remained peacefully quiet for the rest of the journey. Despite the peculiar turnout of events, she felt strangely safe being where she is now. She watched the familiar scenery passed them by as they coursed through the town they grew up in. When Taichi pulled the car to a stop, Chihaya had already fallen asleep in her seat, snoring in the cute way she used to do whenever she fell asleep after an intensive game match. Taichi watched her peaceful face and smiled, she was the epitome of perfection yet her quirks like these made her even more unique and lovable. Without him realizing, he brought his hand up to her face, and hovered inches away as he deliberated. Gently, he flicked her forehead and she woke with a slight start.
'Time to go, sleepy head.'
She stepped out of the car into the warm afternoon sun, and realized that they were standing in front of their elementary school. She smiled at the fond memories that came to her mind at the sight of their alma mater and followed Taichi who was already making his way into the building. It was the weekends so the school was deserted except for the two of them. Taichi stopped in front of the shoe shelves and turned to face Chihaya with a wide grin on his face.
'Do you remember what happened here, Chihaya?'
Chihaya chuckled at the memory, 'Oh, you looked like such an idiot back then! You were boasting about how much pocket money you were given during the New Year that you didn't even notice me standing there and tripped!'
Taichi put his hands on his hips insolently, 'And you still dare to laugh at me after all these years? I had a shoe in my mouth after I fell, it's a good thing my shoes are being washed regularly!'
Chihaya shrugged pretending to be unconcerned, 'Yeah, that was the most ungraceful fall. We weren't even friends yet at that time, but you looked so much like you were going to cry that I just had to help you up.'
Taichi smiled at the thought, 'you sure did, and we became friends ever since.'
They walked on throughout the school, reminiscing their past at every juncture. When they reached the tall oak tree in the school yard, Taichi pulled Chihaya to a stop and looked into her eyes meaningfully.
'How about here? Do you remember what happened here?'
Chihaya looked up to the tree and smiled, 'Ah, I remember. We argued over something so trivial and I was so angry at you I said I'd never talk to you again and climbed up that tree.'
Taichi looked down at his feet and shuffled his leather shoes absent-mindedly, 'I've never felt more scared before, I was so afraid you were going to fall and hurt yourself. I was so afraid that I would lose you.'
Chihaya's cheeks flushed red at his words, she peered at Taichi who was still looking strangely focused on his leather shoes and she wondered if his nerves were acting up the way her were behaving this instant. Suddenly, Taichi reached across and took her hand in his and they walked towards the podium before their school.
'This was the second place where I felt that I would lose you again, when you suddenly said you were fine not being friends with me if we never accepted Arata on that rainy day.'
Without stopping, he pulled her behind him gently as they approached the washing basin in the school field, 'And this was where I took Arata's spectacles and hid them from the both of you so he would not be able to compete in our Karuta match. I'd admit that I was such a coward.'
They walked on in wordless silence until they reached the classroom where they used to study as fellow classmates. He walked to where his seat was and sat in the small chair, Chihaya could almost laugh at the sight of a full-grown adult trying to fit in an elementary student's chair but her heart was full of something else. Taichi's eyes avoided contact with Chihaya but she couldn't tear her eyes away from him anymore, her breathe catching in her lungs as she waited for him to say another word.
'Chihaya, I loved you the way an elementary kid only knows how when I cried myself to tears, helplessly fearing that you might fall from the tree. And I was being pettily jealous when Arata became best friends with you overnight and you were ready to forsake the friendship we had for years so easily. I'm sure by now you must have detected my feelings to some extent. Do you know why I brought you here, to our elementary school and not our secondary school where we spent way more time than we did here?'
Chihaya's ears turned red when Taichi confessed his innocent crush so readily, she felt at a loss on how to respond and could only shake her head in a silly manner.
'This place, Chihaya, was where Arata appeared in both our lives. And I understand, more than any else would that it was an important place for you too. For the first time, I felt that I could lose someone so important to another,' he paused for a moment and gave a wry smile before continuing, 'it feels to me that this place was the reason why all three of us stuck nowhere until now.'
-End of chapter 7-
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To my readers:
I have a few apologies to address to all my readers. First and foremost, I'm sorry that this took soooo long! It's chapter SEVEN, the magical number SEVEN! Now if you realize the few tiny NANA references I have thrown into the past few chapters, you may have realized by now that I'm a NANA fan. Yes, number seven is a very magical number and as such, this chapter is longer than usual! Hurray! And plenty, plenty of development I must say.
And second apology is needed because I simply had to end the chapter there and there. I know, it's awful, I really really wanted to extend it a little longer but I know that what needs to happen after here needs more time inside my head before I can deem it perfect enough for my readers. So bear with me a little, you will get to read the rest of Taichi's revelation very soon! (Definitely within the month of September!)
And the third apology goes to all readers who have been asking me to clarify what ship this story would be all about - you know what, I intended it to be a mystery until a rightful conclusion is given. So I can only say whether it is a Arata X Chihaya or Taichi X Chihaya or Taichi X ? or Arata X ? or Taichi X ? I cannot tell! What I can tell is that it'd never be Arata X Tacihi because I have no talent writing stories like that! I mean, if you read the previous chapter, I tried but cheese was dripping from every word I wrote so. I guess let's just keep it to the love triangle (maybe) shall we?
