Forget-Me-Not

By: AtomicKokoro

Storyline

A question is brought up around the table at the Russian Sushi restaurant. Mikado and Masaomi gladly answer Anri and Saki's question, only to trail deep down into Memory Lane.

Before You Read

I have no idea what to do for Grade 6, but I know we're reaching the end soon. "What?" you say. "We're reaching the end? It's barely begun!" I know, I know, my friends. Simply, sit back and enjoy the show. If you're good and review, I can write more...maybe a sequel? You'll never know!

On with the story.

Chapter 9

Aster – Symbol of Love

Remember how I used to pick up girls? I wasn't as bad back then as I was before me and Saki got back together, but I swear, I had a crush on every girl. I remember your first crush in Grade 6. You were so cute during that time! You'd always blush and stammer. Much like how you act around Anri.

I always knew you had a thing for her. I will admit, she was kind of cute. You could've tried a little harder, but I think you are so meant for Anri (Saki agrees with me). So, Mikado, put on that cute little charm and go talk to Anri. I dare you! … Well? What? You chickened out? Gee, man...

Don't you remember any of the advice I gave you in Grade 6...?

"Man, I was such an idiot..." Masaomi muttered to himself, resting his forehead against the table. Saki shook his shoulder and he sat straight again just in time to see the plate of sushi be placed in from of him. "Oh, thanks, Simon."

Simon smiled. "Eat Sushi!" he insisted. "You no longer idiot!"

The table burst into laughter and it took all of Masaomi's willpower not to slam his head into the table again. "Thanks, Simon," he muttered, holding in a few giggles of his own (the joke was uncalled for, but hilarious). "I'll keep that in mind."

"Oh, Masaomi!" Saki chuckled, popping a piece of sushi in her mouth. "I love your idiot side. It's so cute."

Masaomi gave a chuckle and ate some more of his sushi. "Thanks?" He had been saying that a lot lately.

"You should've seen him," Mikado chuckled, holding a piece of sushi between his two chopsticks. "When we hit twelve, he would play idiot just to impress the chicks."

Anri and Saki rolled their eyes. Suddenly, Masaomi burst into laughter. "Please, Mikado!" he chuckled, poking Mikado on the nose with his finger. "You're first crush was honestly far more amusing then what I used to do."

"Masaomi! ...You dyed your hair?"

Masaomi beamed at his pepper friend, his once brown locks shining a bright, unusual red. "Yeah! My parents don't care. I thought I could play up my look a bit. After all, some of the girls seem to be attracted to red-heads this year." He struck a dramatic pose, pulling on his best romantic voice. "Oh, the darlings! Searching for the rare yet strikingly handsome red head on a red horse in shining red armor to swipe them off their feet and carry them off into the red sunset!"

"That's a lot of red," Mikado muttered to himself, not meaning for Masaomi to hear, but he heard either way.

He switched his voice back to normal and turned out of his pose. "You know, they say red is a sexually stimulating color."

Mikado almost fell over. Twelve-years-old, and Masaomi had no problem tossing the word "sex" around like it was any other normal day word. After all, the boys had just hit puberty and Masaomi was more than ready to explore the opposing se-...er, gender. Mikado, however, was still too nervous, but he couldn't help but notice the interested glance from a girl across the room once in a while.

Damn this time. He knew he had at least three girls crushing on him (Masaomi told him who and why). He wasn't entirely all that interested in girls, but there was one girl he felt sort of skittish around (Masaomi found that out, too, in a matter of seconds).

"Look, Mikado," came the mischievous voice of Masaomi Kida. "Here comes your princess." The ironic part was that she was once Masaomi's princess, but only in a game. It was true. Mikado had developed feelings for his friend (although, they were more acquaintances, but they said hi once in a while) Ai Mikayumi. "I can't believe you fell in love with Ai, of all the girls."

"Well, she's grown up into a respectiable young woman," was Mikado's reply.

Masaomi slowly turned to him, unimpressed. "What are you? Twenty-five? Just use the slang term and tell her she's hot, kay?"

Mikado didn't object. If he could use any slang term for Ai, he wouldn't have to used hot. Cute would have worked better, since she was girly. She covered herself nicely and she smiled almost always. The way she tilted her head when she laughed, twirled her ankle when nervous, played with her hair. There was only one, teensy weensy little problem.

Ai only acted that way around Hideaki.

How could he have not seen it coming?

"You haven't decided who you're going to ask to the dance, have you?" Mikado asked, changing the subject before his heart was totally shattered.

Masaomi shook his head. "Nah. Maybe I'll ask no one. Or maybe I could take you, since you're going to be a loner!"

Way to rub it in, Mikado groaned to himself. He knew Masaomi didn't mean to be insulting, but the comment wasn't helping the situation. "No, thanks," he said. "I think I just won't go."

Masaomi looked as though he was about to cry. "Huh?" he whimpered. "It'll be our first dance. You have to go. C'mon! I didn't mean it that way..."

Now you realize it, Mikado sighed to himself. For the rest of the day, Masaomi tried to convince Mikado to go to the dance. Mikado continued to decline.

It was the night of the dance. Mikado had completely forgotten. He didn't feel like going out, anyway. Instead, he wanted to stay home and watch TV all night. It sounded like a great idea...

Suddenly, his phone rang. Confused, he pulled it out and glanced at the ID. He blinked once. Twice.

602-816-7235

Ai Mikayumi

Hesitantly, he flipped open the phone and held it to his ear. "Hello?"

Sniffle. Sniffle. "M-Mikado...?"

Mikado blinked and leaned forward. "Ai? Are you okay?"

"Yeah." She sounded unhappy, as though she had been crying. "Hideaki was supposed to take me to the dance tonight, but he said he couldn't because he wanted to ask some other girl out. ...Do you think you could take me?"

Mikado was silent for one whole long minute. "Y-yes," he said. "H-hold on. I'll be there to pick up as soon as I can, okay?"

The reply was so much more happier. "Yes. Thank you so much, Mikado. You're really sweet, you know that?"

Mikado blushed madly. "Th-thank you," he whispered.

There was a giggle and they hung up. Mikado sat on the couch for a moment, a dreamy look taking over his gaze, a semi-smile stuck on his lips until he realized he was supposed to be getting ready. He jumped to his feet and quickly dialed a number. "Masaomi! Quick! I need your help!"

"Black or white? Bow or tie? Is this too big?"

Masaomi had never seen Mikado so riled up about his appearance before. He had torn apart his closet, looking for something nice to wear. He was in a real hurry, but the dance didn't start for another three hours. "Is this okay? What do you think? Am I trying too hard? How is my hair?"

With a sigh, Masaomi got to his feet and grabbed Mikado by the shoulders, forcing him to face him. "I never thought I would say this but..." He leaned in desperately close into Mikado, until their noses were touching. "Calm. Down."

Mikado stared back at Masaomi, took a deep breath, the nodded. "Alright," he said.

"Why a flower?" Mikado asked. "Why Aster?"

Masaomi smiled and handed the purple flower to Mikado and turned back to the flowers. "Aster is a symbol of love. Be sure to include that when you give it to her."

Mikado blinked. It seemed Masaomi was far better at charming girls than he thought. Slowly, Mikado smiled. "I will," he said. A pause. "Thank you."

Masaomi looked up at Mikado and blinked twice. "You're...welcome," he said, sounding surprised.

There was a small pause. Mikado looked away, blushing and smiling slightly. "For everything. Really, I don't know what I would do without you..."

Masaomi stared at Mikado for a long time. Mikado couldn't tell what the brune-...redhead was thinking. His face was so expressionless. Mikado dwelled in a small hope that Masaomi would drop the conversation and continue to talk about girls and flowers.

Instead, Masaomi said, "You're the only reason I'm still here today."

Mikado was absolutely shocked by those words, glancing up suddenly, his gaze held strong by the glossy hazel eyes of Masaomi Kida, even if it was a simple side view. "What do you mean?" he questioned.

This was the time Masaomi chose to drop the situation. "You can't keep a girl waiting," he said with a sad smile. "Just be yourself, alright? Try not to shake too much, and don't forget to mention what Aster means, okay?" Masaomi smiled, turned on his heel, and left before Mikado could further question what Masaomi meant.

He stood on the spot for a moment...then smiled.

Ai answered the door not long after Mikado knocked and, needless to say, he was blow away. "A-Ai..." he whispered. "You're...so pretty."

Ai blushed and twirled the skirt of her light blue dress. "Thank you," she replied quietly.

There was an awkward pause, until it dawned on Mikado. "H-here. I have you- I-I got you a flower." Still slightly shaken, he handed Ai the flower. "It's an Aster. It's the symbol of love."

Instantly, Ai was far redder. "Th-thank you!" she gasped. "It's pretty." With an inhale to give him courage, Mikado leaned forward and pinned the flower to the thick strap of her dress. Ai was beautiful. Modest and pretty. What a gorgeous combination hardly seen in their grade.

He inhaled again and held out his arm. "Are you ready?" Ai nodded and took his arm. They walked together towards the school.

Masaomi arrived before Mikado did. Most of the girls there already had dates, and Masaomi was careful not to hit on any of the taken ones and seemed to be far more careful to not interrupt Mikado and Ai's date- ah, dance.

He tried to watch as carefully as possible from the side. He had to see Mikado and Ai. There was nothing more he wanted to see than his best friend finally be with a girl.

Masaomi didn't know how long he was waiting. Finally, Ai went to the bathroom and Masaomi stole the chance to run up to Mikado. "What the hell, man?" he snapped. "Dude! Ask her to dance!"

Mikado blushed. "Huh? Masaomi! Are you nuts? She wanted to be here with Hideaki, not me."

Masaomi tried as hard as he could to not slap Mikado. "Idiot!" he gasped. "She is waiting for you ask her. She wants to be with you right now. Forget about Hideaki. Forget about everyone else. It's just you and her. Hell! Forget I'm here! ...But don't forget my advice, cause, seriously bro. You need to ask her to dance." He looked back and noticed Ai was coming back. He turned back to Mikado. "Remember. Forget everyone."

Then, he retreated to the side again. Ai came up to Mikado and smiled. Mikado cast an unsure glance to Masaomi, then remembered that Masaomi "wasn't there" and turned back to Ai. He waited until the next song...then the next...and finally came the perfect song. Well, perfect in Mikado's definition. He took a deep breath and smiled shyly at Ai. "W...Would you like to dance?"

Ai was quiet for a moment, as though the question had taken her by surprised. Mikado held out his hand...and Ai took it. She smiled. "I would love to."

One hand on her hip, the other around her hand, and the two danced, simply turning in a circle. Nothing fancy, nothing special. But it was still one of the best moments of Mikado's life.