Starless
Chapter 11
Hikari beamed at the message Daisuke sent.
"Gorgeous as always," she whispered before placing her cell phone against her chest. Her eyes lids closed gently as she moaned in happiness. Her body moved horizontally as she could almost squeal.
"You should kiss him already," Sora said in the background while ironing her hair.
Hikari flashed of happiness before she turned around, "I wish I could," she said spinning around before landing on her bed. "I wish I could…"
Mimi appeared at the door looking at Hikari then at Sora, "she still happy about the text?" Sora nodded.
Hikari sat up, eyes still closed while having the phone against her chest. "I just never thought Dai-kun would like me this much. I never thought I would like him this much."
Mimi huffed and put her hands on her hips, "I'm so jealous! I'm literally going to be the last Chosen Child that doesn't have a lover." Hikari's cheeks went pink as she continued to smile. Mimi walked over and sat on the bed next to Hikari. "Though…" she smirked amused, "I never thought a boy would make you act this way."
Hikari rose as she opened her eyes which let out a sparkle of happiness. Mimi gasping at her enthusiasm as an immense smile appeared on Hikari's face. "He isn't just a boy, he's Dai-kun, the boy I love."
"The boy you love?" Sora turned off the hair iron down as she looked at her circled in hair in the mirror. She put the iron down and got up, "such a bold statement. If I was your mother, I would tell you that you are too young to be saying words like love on someone who isn't family." She chortled, "but who am I to judge? I basically said to myself I want to marry Taichi-kun one day when I got back with him."
Hikari closed her eyes once again and took a deep breath. And as if she was singing, "I realize I'm too young for love, but I'm not too young to enjoy it. And right now," she spun around and landed on the bed with her stomach. Her phone in front of her face and she viewed the messages they sent, "this is the most fun I had with 'love' ever."
Mimi put her hand on Hikari's head, "I would hate to be the one who brings things down, but Hikari-chan, you're still not his girlfriend."
"Mimi-chan has boundaries… shocker," Sora said caustically.
Mimi gave a grimaced look before turning to Hikari who was shockingly still smiling at her phone. "You really do love him?" Her soft said ever so calmly.
Hikari nodded and buried her head on her bed. An obvious smile still appearing as she took a moment to soak it all in. Her mind creating an image of a loving Daisuke before her that she longed for so badly. This image she spawned would have Daisuke extending his left hand as if he was going to ask Hikari a blessing to dance. Dancing. Yes, that's something Hikari would love to do with Daisuke. Not the wild and party dance, but a proper one. Where her arms were free to rest on his shoulder. And he would hold her waist as if to keep from getting away from his grasp. Then the image of his gentle smile appeared before he himself closed his eyes and puckered for a kiss.
"Earth to Hikari-chan!" Screamed Miyako. Hikari jumped up as her phone was lightly tossed away. She shook with her eyes wide open before frowning at her best friend. "I swear, your Daisuke-kun's daydreams are worse than Takeru-kun's."
Hikari panicked and looked around for Annia only for Miyako to say, "relax, she went to a nearby convenience store to get a pack of soda. But if Daisuke-kun in your daydreams feels jealous, I'll stop mentioning your previous love with Takeru-kun."
Hikari nervously gasped before continuing to frown at Miyako for her unexpected comment.
"No, I think you're allowed to," Sora said putting her arm around Mimi's neck and moving over to Hikari. Hikari startled as Sora who continued, "I mean these two girls wouldn't let me hear the end of how I dated Yamato-kun when they found out I was dating Taichi-kun." A slight tug on the grip she had on Mimi's neck while, with her eyes closed, she smiled at Hikari.
"If…" Mimi coughed which led to Sora releasing the grip, "if I'm being fair, this was before Yamato-kun and Jun-chan were a thing." Sora tightened the grip, "sorry! sorry!" And the Chosen Child of Love let go as Mimi rubbed her neck. "Jeez Sora-chan, I know we teased—."
"Bullied."
"Teased!" Mimi coughed a bit and smiled, "but you didn't have to be so rough. And this is different, Hikari-chan is open about liking Daisuke-kun after Takeru-kun and not keeping it a secret." Sora looked over with a deadpan face that freaked Mimi out to the point where she stood up and moved behind Miyako.
Miyako glancing over and nervously smiling at the Chosen Child of Sincerity. She coughed to compose herself, "but I should forget about your love with Takeru-kun," Hikari looked up at Miyako, "just forgive me… for the longest time, I thought it was going to be you and Takeru-kun."
Hikari's eyes wandered down, for the longest time I thought it was too. "I know and I'm not saying for everyone to forget how much I liked Takeru-kun, but the thing is… I did. But Since the camping trip, it's like Dai-kun became my love life."
Mimi and Miyako both smiled proudly as Sora said, "but I want you to remember that Daisuke-kun doesn't center around you."
"Sora-chan!" Mimi whined in the side.
"I'm serious," Sora looked over at Mimi then turned to Hikari. "If you want to hook up with him then you have to realize he's a person too. Not just a boy you like. Don't forget that and if you do, you'll have a healthy relationship like me and Taichi-kun." Sora crossed her arms, faced and smiled with her mouth open. As Mimi opened her mouth, Sora quickly pointed and said, "not a word."
"A healthy relationship," Hikari spoke softly before her mind wandered to the thought of them holding hands and just overall smiling. Her cheeks went pink when she imagined that thought until she snapped herself out, "I might not know how Dai-kun acts, but I know he would never hurt me. Never."
Mimi smiled, "gosh I wish I had a 'Dai-kun' right about now," Mimi stood up and twirled, "but let's not get carried away," she winked, "we still need to get your outfit done for tonight. Your non-date tomorrow may be a bit private, but this one is public. Still, I have a plan to make you stand out."
Hikari blinked, "but I have my outfit picked out."
"I know," Mimi put her hands behind her back and took out a needle and scissors. "We're just going to modify it~"
Hikari moved back as Sora stood up and dusted off. "W-wait, Sora-chan!" Hikari gasped as Miyako and Sora stood beside each other. Hikari clenching her teeth, "you two?"
"Sorry Hikari-chan," Sora giggled.
Miyako put her hand on Mimi's shoulder, "but this girl knows a thing or two about fashion. And well…"
Mimi snickered, "we never had a guinea pig before when it came to fashion to get a boy's attention."
Hikari then burst onto her nightstand where the clothes she bought for her birthday were. Once obtaining the clothes, she moved from Miyako who tried to tackle her down. Mimi, who put away her items, tried again as Hikari slid below her feet. She was stopped by Sora her pinned her as she was sliding.
"Dai-kun! Help me!" She screamed before Sora covered her mouth.
Sora leaned over as both girls stared eye to eye. "Sora?" Hikari spoke with her mouth muffled by Sora's hand. The Chosen Child of Love didn't take long until she took the clothes of Hikari which caused her to panic. She reached out for her clothes with fake tears in her eyes as Miyako came over and pinned Hikari's hand down.
Miyako clapped her hands together and said, "I'm sorry Hikari-chan, but they made me agree."
"Wait!" Hikari said which Sora would allow her to speak from here on. "I-I know that looking good a good thing…" she chuckled ever so nervously before continuing. "but I honestly think ripping up expensive clothes won't do anything. And Dai-kun should love me for me not for how I look. Taichi-kun didn't fall in love with you Sora-chan because of how you look, it's because he truly loved you. Same with you Miyako-chan!" Hikari turned and stared at her friend with scared eyes. Fake tears falling as her lower lip shook.
"She's right," Miyako said and Sora nodded. Hikari got a relieved smile on her face before it turned to utter confusion as they did not let the grip go. And before Hikari could even say a word, they both said in unison, "we just don't care." And smiled like Mimi who appeared over Hikari holding the needle and scissors.
Hikari grit her teeth, "you… you can't!" Hikari tried to struggle as her strength was nothing compared to Sora and Miyako combined. "I'm not a guinea pig of clothing experiment!"
"Now you are," the three said before they all began to tumble around Hikari.
An embarrassed scream from Hikari later and the three girls were standing beside Hikari who was wearing the outfit she was going to wear unmodified. A long sleeve blue blouse with white short jeans and wedge sandals.
"Oh," Hikari looked around at her body in shock. "You guys just put it on," she said as Mimi nodded. Hikari chuckled, "you could have just said so instead of going into this scary joke, I mean I thought you were actually going to—." With her innocent smile, she was forced to the side down in a chair with her arms tied around the arms chair and her legs tied into the leg chair. "Dai-kun save me…" she said out of instinct.
She looked at each girl, "but I thought you guys were just going to put on the clothes?"
"We needed to see how you look with it," Sora said as she sat down and gave a relieved sigh. "Now Mimi-chan is going to do her magic with you."
Hikari gulped as Mimi, on her left, and Miyako, on her right, tore up the respected leave. Hikari gasping as Sora turned away and began texting on her phone. "H-hey!" She looked at the sleeve as they were cut off her hands and thrown to the side of the bed. The Chosen Child of Light looked at her shoulder and blushed, "but what if Dai-kun can see from the inside of my shirt," she leaned her head to the side as her eyes looked down, she was still red.
"That's why you have a black sports bra underneath," Miyako said as she unbuttoned one button of Hikari's shirt.
"This a bit much Miyako-chan!" Hikari became completely red this time. Not even trying to hide her embarrassment, "I don't want to look easy to Dai-kun!"
"Calm down, don't assume we want you to look slutty in front of everyone. We're going to make you to a model by the end of this." Miyako got a needle and some string as she threads the needle and began to work around the area she took the button off from. She brought in a white cloth and moved her hands around.
Hikari blinked as she stared down at what essentially a bowtie. "This is both simple and effective. You see Hikari-chan, you picked out the best outfit to modify." Mimi became to knit around the sleeves to smooth the tear. "But about the bowtie. You see, you'll be close to Daisuke-kun and what better place to get all the attention at than your chest." Hikari went red as a puff of embarrassment was released from the head, making her almost faint.
Hikari immediately whipped her head forward as she glared, "I told you I'm not trying to look loose for Dai-kun! What do you mean so he could look at my chest!?" And Miyako continued to work on the bow tie, knitting around it a bit.
"Hikari-chan," Sora said sisterly, "I know you haven't experienced this first hand and I know that you think 'Dai-kun is not the same'. And you're right. None of the boys are perverts, but that doesn't mean they do not like a girl's chest. Even if they don't… ahem… nosebleed from it. They still like to stare whenever giving permission."
"This bowtie to give Dai-kun permission to look at my chest?"
"Maybe take it off Mimi-chan," Sora spoke, but Hikari knew she was gonna add something to make her give in. "I'll let him stare at my chest," and she lowered her head, giving in. The girls giggling as Mimi got done with fixing Hikari's sleeves.
"Perfect!" Mimi clapped her hands. "The bowtie is perfect for Daisuke-kun to look at your chest. Catch him and he'll just say he was staring at your bowtie, but you'll know better. Sleeveless isn't just for looks, but for physical contact. People tend to have soft skin and yours Hikari-chan is by far the softest. Any opportunity for Daisuke-kun to touch them is…" she kissed her hand, "marvelous."
Dai-kun enjoying my soft skin… Hikari looked down and gave a slight smile. Before she saw the girls cutting the ends of her blouse. "What are you doing?" She panicked as she began to shake her head.
"Hikari-chan—."
"Don't Hikari-chan me!" Hikari snapped as she shut her eyes with a heavy blush. "It's one thing to want Dai-kun to stare at my chest occasionally, but this, you want him to check me out completely? I bought this shirt, so I could cover up my figure and look proper—." And her voice turned to a scream when Mimi and Miyako both casually made the shirt's end short. Making it to where Hikari's jeans could be seen completely if she stood up. "What have you done?" She slouched as a fake tear streamed down her face.
"Sora-chan," Mimi gave the strip she took off and handed it to Sora who took out a needle of her own. Miyako quickly patched and fixed the end of the blouse they tore as Sora began to down her think on the left bottom side in the front of Hikari's blouse.
"What are you doing?" Hikari almost looked intrigued as Sora began to bend the fabric in a weird way.
"Hikari-chan. I will be honest with you." Sora sighed, "I did not think you and Daisuke-kun would ever work when you told me about liking him after the camping trip. I thought his little outburst of not liking you will already take a toll on him. But now I see that you and him becoming a thing is a possibility. And honestly, I have this empty part in my heart. Like Mimi-chan and Miyako-chan that we never helped each other. Like a wingman. Or a wing-woman," Hikari gasped as Sora looked up, "I wouldn't be doing this if there wasn't a reason. But I believe making you look good for him is the best thing we could do as friends. We're not trying to sabotage you. If we were, we would have just told Daisuke-kun you liked him the first minute you told us. And I will rephrase what I said: we never helped one another on 'dates' so this will be a first-time thing."
"Oh," Hikari spoke softly as her eyes softened and happily smiled.
Miyako smiled similarly to Sora, "you're our friend. And we're not making you look easy but attractive. Ken-kun, Yamato-kun, or any of the boys could think you are cute, but Daisuke-kun likes you so you'll stick out like a full moon in the night sky. And you may think you look slutty, but that's a little fashion sense I like to call 'confidence'."
Sora finished as she untied Hikari's hand and feet. She stood up and back up with the other girls. Sora with her hands on her hips. Miyako with her hand on her chin smirking while observing Hikari. Mimi with her arms crossed in happiness.
Hikari stood up and looked at what Sora was working on. A little flower pattern made by the same strip she cut out before.
Hikari could only stare in shock and happiness, her heart beating quickly imagining how beautiful she must look to Daisuke. Her heartwarming which each beat as she imagined him simply telling her how gorgeous she looks in person. Though he has called her cute on occasion, never when she began to love him.
"Daisuke-kun will be head over heels for you after this," Sora said and Miyako nodded with joy.
Mimi walked over and began to put bracelets on Hikari's wrist, confusing her. "Just aesthetics… need you to look rich," Mimi winked as Hikari looked at her wrist and looked forward only to have Sora take a quick picture. Hikari's cheeks went pink as she looked down and looked to the side.
"No need to be shy," Mimi wrapped her arm around Hikari's shoulder. "You look beautiful. And tomorrow you'll look stunning."
Hikari nodded, still with pink cheeks as she said, "thank you."
And a small gasp was heard as the girls flinched before looking at the doorway to see Annia holding a six pack of cola. She put the drink down by Hikari's drawer and said, "you look amazing!" Takeru's girlfriend walked over and tugged on Hikari's blouse slightly. "Miyako-chan said something about changing the clothes you bought, but you went from a ten out of ten to a ten million out of ten."
"Thank you," then Hikari looked over at Miyako with a glare. Miyako looking to the aside as Hikari couldn't believe this modification was planned.
"Hey," Annia's eyes shifted to the side as she nervously smiled. "Can I give you something," she grabbed her bag and opened it right up. Digging into it, "I was saving this for a date with Takeru-kun, but I think you will need it more than I do."
"What?" Hikari shook her hands around, "I don't need anything, really, I think I was given enough and your date with Takeru-kun—."
"Don't worry, I have many types of these, I just have the white one with me… and I think…" she took out something white and placed it on the right side of Hikari's hair. After some movement, Hikari tried to see what it was but could tell that it was a hair clip. "There, my part!"
Hikari blinked as she turned her head over and looked in the mirror. A small flower pin with a bow behind it. Her face lit up as she even thought of herself as gorgeous. "It's…" she reached for it but didn't fully touch it as she continued. "it's so pretty."
"Now Daisuke-kun can't ignore you," and once Annia said that Hikari lowered her head. It was all because she likes Daisuke. This was it, she was a teenager, truly a teenager.
"Right, Dai-kun will like it," she said smiling wide. She didn't even imagine him but embraced all the friends she had helping her. All the girls admiring the confidence and beauty Hikari had. And for the first time in a while, she was glad that she had them.
Her mind switched to Daisuke in a moment noticed, Dai-kun, I'm looking forward to my birthday because of you. Because of you.
She then turned around to her friends and said, "thank you, I love the makeover."
"What makeover?" Daisuke said holding a smoothie as he stopped in front of Taichi who snickered.
"Come on man, you had that antennae hair thing since you cut it 2 years ago. I know your hair was long back then, but you kept the antennae…"
Daisuke blew on them, "I like them," he said as one antenna bothered his eye prompting him to adjust it.
"Taichi-kun, as much as I want to agree with you. Leave Daisuke-kun alone," Koushiro said typing in the computer in the side of a pillar. "His hair is not bad and looks just fine."
"You just don't want him to have similar hair as you and Jyou did. Spiky and plain and all that fun stuff!" Taichi looked over and moved his hand up, "dude come on, you're using your laptop again. Is this Sun and Moon discovery really that important?"
Daisuke took a sip of his smoothie as he had no choice to listen to the two friends' bicker. It wasn't bad, he grew up with Jun, so bickering was a constant in the Motomiya household.
"The sun represents life and the moon represent power, so what?"
"If you let me finish!" Koushiro finally snapped which made Taichi whimper like a dog as Koushiro adjusted his computer in his lap. "The one who poses the sun will gain the power to fix the world as the one who controls the moon will control the power of power."
"Power of power…?"
"I'm still trying to figure that out," Koushiro kept on typing as Daisuke took another sip of his smoothie. "It could be possible that the sun and moon are crests or were the precursor to what were crests. The symbol of the sun does remind me of the crest of courage. And the symbol of the moon is the crest of friendship."
"They do?" Taichi looked over and even Daisuke decided to take a peak. The symbols he saw was a circle with a dot in the middle and another circle with two dots. "Um… which is which?" Taichi asked openly as Daisuke thought in his head.
"This has been still researched Taichi-kun!" Koushiro said annoyed. "Look, the symbol with the single dot was described to the be the power that made the world blue. It said: it was as if the sky itself could not stop being blue. If created reflections that were darkened whatever it covered. This power is what made us warm and move. As for the moon description: a darker world where there was a single light that barely made the shadow noticeable. It was if there was one main focus when the world darkened. But the shadows did not go away, it was just more attached to everyone."
"Could just be Digimon describing the sun and moon in their world as we did with ours."
"Yes, that a high possibility, but just a possibility. This also could uncover the power of the crests. This could also be something new. Or just simply the Digimon first encounter with the Sun and Moon… but the possibility." Taichi closed his laptop, "w-what are you doing!? I was working on that!"
"You're still angry that Jyou has a girl and you don't, huh!?"
"Oh shut up!" Koushiro blushed and began to once again bicker. But this bickering was too troublesome for Daisuke to hear so he just turned his head.
His mind still thinking about what he heard about Koushiro's Sun and Moon. Although, he agrees with Taichi and that was Digimon's first encounter. Daisuke always wondered how Digimon reacted to many things presented or was it all the same. His mind shifted to thinking about the Sun and Moon as he also knew it could a metaphor description. Maybe Hikari-hime is my sun and I'm a moon. Shining only at the darkest night and that sounds depressing, his face frowned sadly before he raised a brow, wait what am I saying? I mean Hikari being around is the warmest thing ever to my soul and her smile is… he closed his eyes and smiled while sipping his smoothie as he thought about Hikari's smile.
The imagination of Hikari smiling quickly turned into her touching her cheek and look directly at him. As he imagined her saying, "like that smoothie, my lips taste like strawberry," he touched her lips once as the background of his imagination turned to the shore of the camping trip. She puckered her lips as she did then.
Daisuke felt someone kick the side of his foot as he snapped out of his train of thought of imagining Hikari trying to kiss him. He looked over and saw Ken holding a bag, "hey, were you daydreaming?"
Daisuke didn't know what to say at first but hearing the inaudible bickering of Koushiro and Taichi made him come up with an excuse. "I was just trying to zone those two out," Daisuke and Ken looked over at the two best friends bickering as Taichi was showing Koushiro his phone. Trying to convince him to date one of Sora's former Tennis teammates or something.
"You should have just gone shopping with me. I can't imagine being around bickering for thirty minutes…" Ken sat beside Daisuke.
Daisuke shrugged, "you get used to it after a while," he chuckled, and the chuckle died out fast. His eyes looking down as he didn't want to be around anyone when they arrived at the mall. He just happened to find Taichi and Koushiro, well they spotted him, and he's been with them since.
"What did you buy?" Daisuke looked over and saw the slightly large bag Ken was holding. "Miyako-chan forgot a gift again?" And that brought back a bad memory that didn't hurt Daisuke anymore.
"No, I just decided to hit two birds with one stone and buy both Hikari-chan's gift and Miyako-chan's gift at the same time." He held up the bag, "so now I don't have to forget Miyako-chan's birthday like I did last year."
"We both were focused on school around that time," Daisuke snickered
"Yeah," Ken looked over at Taichi who was still bickering with Koushiro. "What did you get for Hikari-chan?"
Daisuke looked to the side, "that's a secret."
Ken blinked, "it's another bear is it?" And Daisuke nodded very quickly, "you're serious. She's going to be mad. Last year she almost threw you out of her house for that same reason. A bear?"
Daisuke shrugged as he gave a slight smile, "if I'm being fair, the bear is light blue this year."
"Color doesn't change the fact that you have been getting her a teddy bear since you met her. I thought you liked her," Daisuke's eyes widened upon hearing these words from Ken. "you could have gotten her some jewelry this year or just a bracelet if you were going to get her a bear." Ken turned to see Daisuke staring right at him. "What?"
"You think I like Hikari-hime?"
"Don't you?"
Daisuke looked to the side, "a little, I mean I think she's cute."
"She's just cute. Come on, Daisuke-kun, I know you aren't shallow. What kind of person would spend hours studying with her at your own house and say you only think she's 'cute'?" Ken snickered as Daisuke shrugged. "You don't like her romantically?"
"I… uh," Daisuke looked over at Taichi and Koushiro before Ken noticed, and he nodded. Both teens just got up and began to walk away from the bickering older teens. "I have been noticing myself more attracted to her, but to say that I like her that much. I don't know."
"How about you go on a date with her? Just a simple date. Find out if you like her romantically."
Daisuke shrugged, "I don't know…" and for some reason he became comfortable, something hasn't felt all day. "Ken-kun, I don't know if I want her as a girlfriend. I don't even know if I'll be comfortable. I literally moved away from Taichi-kun, so he wouldn't get ideas that I like his sister. And she probably still likes Takeru-kun," and it hurt him saying that.
"Hikari-chan does not like Takeru-kun," and for some reason Ken saying that made Daisuke content. "Her and Annia-chan are best friends. They are like sisters at this point. You know, unless Hikari-chan is planning on Takeru-kun to cheat on Annia-chan for—."
"She's not like that," Daisuke said seriously before looking surprised then looking over. "Alright, she doesn't like Takeru-kun anymore. But she may like another guy from school. It's not like I'm her only option."
Ken and Daisuke both looked at each other. Ken smiled and looked forward, the smile was more sinister than Daisuke was used to from seeing from Ken. Like he was turning to the Digimon Kaiser once again. "You're right. Thinking about it now. There was this person Hikari-chan has been hanging around recently. She goes to his house like all the time. She basically spends her day being with him or making plans to involve him. Personally, calling and if she's desperate enough she would go to his house to make sure he comes. And if he doesn't, she would just stay home and find another opportunity. Maybe this guy she likes," and when Ken finished, Daisuke was a bit jealous on the inside. To the point where he was obviously glaring at the ground as he continued to walk.
"S-see, she's not into me," Daisuke gulped as it hurt to say that or even hear about this. But his jealous curiosity got the better of him, "who is this guy anyways, do you know him."
And all that jealous was gone when Ken said, "it's you, Daisuke-kun." Daisuke looked over at his best friend as they made eye contact with no communication.
"She rejected me…"
"Back when you both were eleven. Back when I think she liked Takeru-kun. Back when dating was more embarrassing that it is now." Ken said which made Daisuke blush. Ken gazed as his friend before sighing, "I know it's none of my business if you don't want to date yet but acting like your feelings are not there is worse. But I also get that you don't really like Hikari-chan. I didn't start falling in love with Miyako-chan until a year of a time she slapped me."
"Oh yeah, she slapped you," Daisuke and Ken both snickered. Daisuke smiling while looking down, "It's not that I don't think she likes me," he turned to look at some stores in the side, "it's just that I'm not ready to date her."
"Why is that? If I can ask?"
Daisuke smiled and looked up, "I want the best for her and I wouldn't want her to date someone who just thinks she's cute and uses that an excuse for the lack of affection. Right now, I'm in a weird state where she could date someone else and I'll feel okay with it. I don't think I should be like that with her. I think she deserves someone who actually likes her and I'm just not that guy."
"Yet," Ken added.
"Yet," Daisuke repeated before covering his mouth and blushing while glaring at Ken. Ken snickered, "come on man!" Daisuke said with still red cheeks as Ken laughed. "Hey, come on, can you at least treat me the same way I did with you before you asked Miyako-chan out."
"I remember," Ken crossed his arms with the bag hanging in his side. "You told me to ask her out when I was ready and confident or something in that effect." The Chosen Child of Kindness chuckled a bit more, "but remember that I'm not you. I do things differently."
Daisuke gave a tired look as he huffed, "can you at least—."
"Take your time," Ken said mocking Daisuke voice a bit before he got serious. "I'm not telling you to ask Hikari-chan out. I'm telling you it's okay to like her. You seem so bothered by the idea of it before."
Daisuke shrugged, "if I'm being fair. She did reject you."
"Yes, but you both been through a lot since," Ken said and Daisuke added in his head, thinking about it, we both really haven't. "And spend time together. A girl just doesn't cancel plans with her friends to study with a boy. A girl doesn't go out of her way to invite you to an event if she didn't have feelings for you. She must like you. Either that—."
"Or she's just being nice," Daisuke slouched down.
"And the possibility of that is?"
Daisuke nodded, "not likely. I get it," he looked at his friend with a smirk. "Okay, she likes me. Where do I go from here?"
"You already said it. 'you need to fall in love with her'." Ken answered.
Daisuke looked to the side for just a bit, "and if I do like her?"
"You two could always get married?"
"Get married? In less than a year. What idiot gets married in less than a year?"
Ken shrugged, "there are people who get married to people they don't love in less than a year."
"That's so dumb. You torture yourself with being with someone who you don't love then further it on by marrying them. Why not just be with someone you like."
"Not that complicated?"
"Complicated doesn't excuse stupidity. Not the point! What then? I never dated anyone before and what if around that time… I still don't."
"Oh my god, you never dated anyone."
Ken stared in utter shock as Daisuke was realizing it too himself. "You never did," both teens gasped and moved to the side as Iori stood there as he texted in his phone.
"Iori-kun?" Daisuke and Ken both said before Ken asked, "how long have you been there?"
"Since the beginning. I saw Koushiro-kun and Taichi-kun bickering and thought 'no'. So I followed you two instead," Daisuke looked down blushed as Iori assured him. "Not to come off rude, but your relationship with Hikari-chan is not of my interest. I let you guys' dating life go on. I mean I did know about Annia-chan way before you guys." Yes, he did, he saw Annia and Takeru kiss much earlier than everyone else heard about it. "My mouth will be shut."
"Thank you."
"If you feel uncomfortable, I can go," Iori said pointing back where Koushiro and Taichi were.
"N-no," Daisuke chuckled, "just not used to knowing that others know who I like."
"Everyone knew you liked Hikari-chan back when we were Chosen Children…"
Daisuke clenched his fist as he looked down. Blushing heavily as he grit his teeth and then said, "okay. That time was different. I didn't like Hikari like that back then. This one is different. I won't be ashamed to like her this time." Ken smiled, and Daisuke pointed at him, "IF I like her that much!"
"I don't get what's the issue with asking out Hikari-chan. The worst she could say is no. You admitted she had said that before, right? You obviously weren't afraid back then to ask her out."
Daisuke looked down, "it's more of the idea that I really don't know how to handle another girl liking me."
"Oh right, that other girl," Ken said, "you said you lost interest in her. Who was she?"
"A secret," Daisuke quickly averted his eyes away from both Iori and Ken. "I don't even care about this girl so can we drop it about her," Daisuke nervously laughed as both boys raised a brow. "And besides… despite what Ken said, I still don't think Hikari-hime likes me."
Iori was taken back, "didn't Ken mentioned all the times she wanted to 'study' with you?"
"He did, but that might just be a coincidence. She might have genuinely studied with me?"
"Okay. Let's really break this down. We know there is a stereotype that if a girl spends time with a boy then she likes him. I know it's a stereotype, so I'm going to ignore this. Studying part? Daisuke-kun, despite you starting to study recently, you're still the lowest in the group when it comes to smarts. You're a B student surrounded by B plus and A students."
"I mean thank you, but—."
"Ken Ichijouji, the smartest person of the group. Same grade and takes the same tests. Literally, we saw him get awarded for tutoring students whose grade excelled. She did not go for him."
"He lives far."
"Miyako, just a grade above. Smart as she is hyper. She was awarded the same thing Ken was. Her literal DNA partner and best friend. She did not go for her."
"Okay, but maybe it's because—."
"Takeru Takaishi. Smart, handsome, and at one-point Hikari's biggest crush. Say what you want about Annia interfering. Hikari-chan is still best friends with him and they have been closed for a while. She didn't go to him."
"They live farther than me—."
"Daisuke-kun, for goodness sakes. She is an A-plus student. A smart girl surrounded by prodigies. She still has Jyou-kun and Koushiro-kun. She goes to study with you all the time and tell me, has she once invited someone else if they weren't already there?"
"I always thought they were all busy—."
"And has she ever told you that she studies with you to raise your grades?"
Iori was not wrong. Hikari started to hang out with Daisuke after the camping trip. When they studied which was almost every day, it was always at Daisuke's house. She would come over and they both would just study up or talk and have snacks. Not once has she even suggested to invite someone over. Thinking about it… she did get close to me at times. Daisuke shook his head, "and still, even if she did. I'm probably not ready—."
"And I'm not telling you to be ready," Iori chuckled as leaned his head to the side and sighed. "It's just for you to know that the chance of Hikari-chan NOT liking you is low. Maybe we are wrong. But ask me this, if we were in your situation with a girl. What would you think?"
Daisuke thought about it. Mostly with Iori since Ken has Miyako. If Iori-kun had a girl that always studied with him. She only studied with him without her array of friends. She would only study with him despite having much smarter friends. She studied with him every moment they could. Daisuke's eyes softened, I would think this girl is head over heels for him. I will grab him by the shoulders and tell him to ask her out. He looked up at Ken and Iori, quickly smiling, "Hikari-chan might like me."
"There you go," Iori smiled.
"But I spent months telling everyone that I don't like her. Do I just start liking her like normal? Will it be weird to date her?"
Ken tried to hold in the laughter. "Let me see," he sighed, "We were fine with Taichi-kun and Sora-chan. Everyone was fine with me and Miyako-chan. I think everyone was thinking Takeru-kun and Hikari-chan were going to end up together, everyone. We're not telling you to marry the girl," he walked over at pat the former leader's shoulder. "We're not even telling you to ask her out. You told me to ask someone out when you're ready. I think you should ask her out, but as you did for me, I want to know that Hikari-chan likes you."
"And really this is the most personal I'll get myself when it comes to your dating life. But if there is a part of you that likes Hikari-chan and you're unsure. I want you to be confident," Iori shrugged.
"Confident?" Daisuke said as he looked over his side. He thought about all the times he was a confident person around his friends. Whether it was reckless actions or just standing up in front of everyone. He truly was a confident person, yet the person who broke his shell was Hikari. He closed his eyes and smiled, "fine," he said opening his eyes. "I'll keep in mind that she would like me. And when I ask her out, I'm actually going to tell you all immediately and not keep it a secret a year later."
"That's the Daisuke-kun I know." That comment Ken said really got to Daisuke as his eyes widened quickly and he stared emotionless at the ground.
"Don't need to make fun of Takeru-kun. He meant well," Iori smiled innocently as Ken chuckled.
Daisuke, on the other hand, was looking at his palm. Not acting like myself. Have I not been acting like myself? Daisuke stared slowly winced before he felt Ken accidentally bump into him from laughing a bit. Snapping him from his thought, Daisuke just kept on thinking what Ken said.
"Since we have this love situation settled, I think we should go back to Taichi-kun and Koushiro-kun before their bickering becomes endless." Iori joked as Ken nodded. Daisuke didn't say a word, just stood there.
"Let's go," Ken said.
Daisuke gasped as he looked up at Ken, "O-oh! R-right!" He said walking forward until he noticed Ken did not move.
"Hey, is something wrong? You looked like you've seen the Dark Ocean yourself?"
Acting like yourself… Daisuke forced a smile and a laugh, "I'm alright, I just thought about Hikari," he lied, but he wished he didn't. He still smiled fake which hurt him more than it ever has before.
He simply stayed silent as Ken and Iori walked in front of him, he just followed without a word said. "What did you get Hikari-chan for her birthday?" Casually, Ken asked Iori. Daisuke still looking at his footsteps as he followed the two teens. "
"Nothing much, my mom actually got her some clothing. Nothing too personal to make me look like a creep. Just like socks and some scarfs."
"Really? Didn't we say we would have a contest on who gets the best gift?"
Iori chuckled, "really we know Yamato-kun is going to win. He has the most money out of us. I bet it's going to be a diamond necklace."
"He probably bought three diamond necklaces. Two for Jun-chan and one for Hikari-chan," both laughed as still no reaction from Daisuke who kept on looking down in silence. "Don't you think so, Daisuke-kun?" Ken looked back as Daisuke who kept staring down before the former leader looked up with a weird look. "Something wrong?"
Iori looked confused too as Daisuke gave a weak smile, "I think I just got a small headache. Maybe from shopping because with Jun," he lied, he hated that he was lying. "I always got headaches, maybe it's just second nature."
"You sure you don't want to go sit down or we can go to the van if it's too bothersome."
"It's going to go away," Daisuke wished he could go to the van, alone. "It's not painful, just annoying," he laughed it off, fake laugh.
"If you're sure—."
"Hey!" The teens flinched from the abrupt scream as they looked up to find Takeru, Yamato, and Jyou standing on the edge of the second floor. "Come meet up with us at the top. We're going to eat in the food court before we leave. We're done shopping."
"Don't yell so loud. You're disturbing the mall," Iori joked as the Chosen Children at the top pointed where they would go. With a single nod from Iori and Ken, the three Chosen Children at the bottom would head to the nearest escalator leading up.
Come on, Daisuke, be yourself. Daisuke had a tried look as he looked to the side. When seeing his reflection on a mirrored pillar, he shook his head and fixed his expression. I'm not being myself, he bit his lower lip in frustration.
"I hope we get to eat some burgers," Ken said once they arrived in the escalators. This was the perfect opportunity to get in the conversation. Food is something people could talk about. But it was more difficult to talk with a fake expression than keep one in silence. He was uncomfortable.
"I am actually in the mood for some sushi if I'm being honest," Iori chuckled, "I know… formal, but it actually is a good meal."
"True, but sushi from a mall? I think it's better to get one from a local sushi maker. They make it authentic."
"You don't think stores make it authentically?"
"From what I heard in America. They don't. I mean I have always eaten sushi when my mother makes it, but I guess I should see the difference instead of taking opinions from people online."
They're talking a sad smile when Daisuke saw two people who were once against each other having a good laugh while he was in the back. Staring.
He lowered his head and clenched his fist. An angry smile came over as it was turning into sorrow. Do I—? And like an answer from the heavens, his cell phone rang. With a surprised face and the other two boys looking back, he reached for his cell.
Caller ID: Hikari Yagami
He answered the call as he put the cell against his ear, "Hikari-hime?" Iori and Ken were both surprised before they looked forward with no business of even mocking Daisuke.
"Dai-kun, you're not busy shopping. Right?"
"Not at all, the others are done, and we are going to get a bite to eat before we head back. How's it going over there with the other girls? Jun-chan arrived?"
"Jun-chan hasn't arrived, Dai-kun," she answered as Daisuke arrived at the top of the escalator. "They are preparing for taking their turn with the showers and the dressing up. Girl stuff."
"It's nice that you are okay," he closed his eyes with a smile as he walked over to a pillar. Ken and Iori both pointing at the food court area as Daisuke nodded.
"It's nice to hear you Dai-kun," she said ever so softly. Her voice pillowing Daisuke's ear to pure comfort like nothing ever has. She didn't sing, but her voice was calming melodies of words that all sounded right. "I missed talking to you or even seeing you."
Ken and Iori said that she always wants to be around me. "What? Do you wish you were here with me?"
"Is it wrong if I say, 'I do'?"
He bit the corner of his lip as he chuckled. "If I'm honest, that would have been a nice time. From that picture you took, having a gorgeous girl to look at would make shopping a million times better. But you're always gorgeous so all type of styles would work."
"I'm always gorgeous?"
He blushed, "you're stunning."
"When did you learn such a word?"
Daisuke could only laugh, "Yamato-kun's music is more helpful than you would expect. A voice as elegant as you are beautiful. Corny, but—."
"I like it."
Daisuke stopped and smiled, "your voice is as elegant as you are beautiful."
"You too, Dai-kun."
Hikari sounded so soft that he wishes he could have held her like a soft bunny. But he snickered, "me? Beautiful? Come on—."
"I've seen how other girls look at you," like the day before, her small instant of venom returned in her voice causing slight nervousness within Daisuke. But different, it was more exciting.
"Come on, those girls just have bad eyesight. I mean have you seen my hair. The only thing special about it is the three long antennae hair strands."
"You can always cut them off," she suggested.
"No way, it's the only thing separating me from looking like anyone else. I mean I like them."
"I do too," his eyes widened before smiling, "you're handsome Dai-kun. If other girls can't convince you then trust me at least."
"I always trust you," he whispered softly leaning against the pillar. "Always." Both just stayed silent. Daisuke didn't know why she was silent, but he was just happy to hear her voice. She's such an angel.
"Then I trust you that I'm gorgeous."
"Very," Daisuke said so softly that he wanted to repeat himself.
"Very Gorgeous," she said as there was the silence once again, but he embraced it. It was enough to have her to be on the other side because of him.
"Is there a reason you called me?" Daisuke didn't want to ask this, but he knew it would keep the conversation going much longer than before.
"Wanted to hear your voice. I have been surrounded by the voices of girls who are trying to look good for their boyfriends that I needed to hear someone that wouldn't talk about strands of hair. But you did talk about your antennae—."
"Cut me some slack," he chuckled twirling one of his antennae. "It was something that came up because of you," because she had this jealous nature to her, but he never noticed how prominent it was. "They are girls, so hair is an issue."
"I'm a girl too."
"A beautiful one," he said as they both paused, "a gorgeous girl whose birthday party is today, and I can't wait to see her."
"Maybe she can't wait to see you," Hikari said ever so softly which made Daisuke smirk.
Daisuke looked over at his phone as he spoke, "you tell this girl that she's going to make my day. Okay?"
There was a pause, "I will," she sounded excited.
Daisuke turned and looked over at the food court. "I hate to do this, but I really got to go and get something to eat. But as I said, after this I will be on my way to your house. Will you be able to wait for me?"
"I want to keep talking to you."
"I want to keep talking to you too," Daisuke said back as quickly as she did. "And I could if you want. I can spend hours on the phone with you until I arrive at your house."
"Taichi-kun would kill you," Hikari joked as Daisuke chuckled. "But you do need to eat. I wouldn't want you to starve. But next time, maybe I can make you something to eat?"
Daisuke nodded and then laughed, "as long as it's not like your mother's food."
"Dai-kun!" Hikari yelled out for the first time as Daisuke laughed. "I know she… I know she needs work, but I'm not going to cook how she cooks. Promise."
"I believe you," he said before leaning back against the wall. He stopped when he realized there was nothing more to say. No conversation wouldn't feel awkward to keep going after Daisuke mentioned feeling hungry. He only said, "I can't wait to see you at the party."
"Same," she said, "be here as soon as you can. And I will always wait for you by the way. Will you always wait for me?"
Daisuke stopped as for some reason he remembered one single moment that this very moment. Miyako and him under the awning that one day. Then it all flashed to the moment when he punched the wall from that day. "I will wait for you. Just wait for me."
"I'll wait for you. Just wait for me."
"I'll wait for you. Just wait for me."
"I'll wait for you. Just wait for me."
"I'll wait for you. Just wait for me."
"Promise me," they both said before saying, "I promise." And no even laughter. Daisuke just smiled gently before Hikari said, "I'll let you go. I'll hang up to make it easier since I just heard Sora-chan calling for me in the bathroom. Bye."
"Bye, Hikari-hime." And there was a pause before the phone call was cut. He lowered his head and closed his cell before putting it away. He looked at the ground with a smile before seeing Koushiro and Taichi arriving at the food court. A sudden urge to really want to go home was on his mind, but he ignored it as he walked ahead.
Not since Miyako has Daisuke felt himself looking forward to a birthday. Not since her. Not since she broke his heart. Not since he gave her up. She was the last girl he loved, and it ended with him being devastated. Is this why I'm nervous? No, that's not it.
Daisuke kept walking. Looking ahead to his guy friends who were all ordering food. In a single step, the un-comfortability returned, but thinking about Hikari made Daisuke ease up, but only a bit.
Hikari smiled with her eyes closed, sighing in the process, "I love Dai-kun."
"Good," Sora said as Hikari opened her eyes. "Can you not be distracted when trimming my hair. I am all for a short look, but not short because one girl messed up."
"Sorry, it's just I keep thinking about him. He is lovely," Hikari said as she snipped at Sora's hair.
"Is this how I sounded when I began dating Taichi-kun again? I should apologize to Mimi-chan?"
Mimi then walked into the bathroom, "I wish you did talk about your dating life." She began brushing her hair using the bathroom mirror. "One day you were trying to make things work and the next you two were making out on my couch."
"We kissed," Sora turned with a smirk, "we didn't make out."
Mimi rolled her eyes, "what?" She looked over at Hikari, "come on, I would love to hear about Daisuke-kun. I mean you're literally the first girl to talk about her crush. Miyako-chan did, but that was right before she asked out Ken-kun."
"I just love him so much," Hikari then whispered, "it's almost shocking how much I can love one person." She snipped another part of Sora's hair.
"I still don't get why you don't confess to him. You could probably do it over the phone and he would accept it as he would if you did it in person," Mimi said as Hikari snipped another part of Sora's hair, moving it around so she could see if she cut it correctly.
"He would. Dai-kun probably would, but I'm not ready. I mean I am, but I was the type to just ask out someone. I know for a while I seemed like the person who just lives life plainly, but heck… even with the previous crush I had." Which was Takeru as she recalled the times she did love him before it all faded to memories of Daisuke, "I want to confess to him in a special moment."
"And if he confesses to you before then?"
Hikari smiled, "I have faith he would want the same that I would do. Wait till the perfect moment for both of us. Then I become his girlfriend."
"Now Hikari-chan, you're just sixteen, you're making it sound like he's going to be life changing for you."
"He might be," Hikari snipped another part of Sora's hair as the Chosen Child of Light gently smiled. "Even if he doesn't. It wouldn't be so bad to have him as a boyfriend. Just some minutes of our study sessions will turn into boyfriend and girlfriend time."
"Making out…" Sora joked.
"Sex?" Mimi said as Hikari accidentally snipped more of Sora's hair than she should. The blushing Chosen Child of Light held the hair she accidentally snipped off as Sora looked at it with a wide eye. Mimi staring before Hikari turned to look directly at Mimi. The strands of hair falling off her hands. "No mention of that anymore." She said with an emotionless smile before fixing the hair she took off. Not as if it made a difference, but obviously wasn't the height Sora wanted.
"I'll never mention se—." Both glared gave a cold stare at Mimi who shut her mouth and stayed silent.
The door opened as Miyako came in with a towel around her hair. At first sight, she saw Hikari and Sora both in silence as Hikari fixed up Sora's hair while Mimi was in the side scared. "Okay," the inheritor of Love and Sincerity said before walking back out of the bathroom.
Annia peeked over and showed her phone, "Takeru-kun told me that they will be on their way soon." She immediately read the room as there was just silent tension. "I'll get the snacks ready." Walking out of sight as Mimi quickly got out of the bathroom when seeing the door open.
Sora and Hikari sighed, "sorry about your hair."
"It's alright. Mimi-chan just needs to get a boyfriend herself to know how awkward it is to say personal things like that. I mean even if you did have Daisuke-kun as a boyfriend, you're too—."
"I heard you and Taichi-kun do it," Hikari said as Sora jerked her head down. "I'm not immature. Believe it or not, but I learned this early on and I'm some innocent minded girl as people led to believe. It's just the idea of me and Dai-kun…" she began red and shook her head. "I'm definitely not in that stage with Dai-kun to even be thinking about it. And I think he wouldn't like those kinds of girls."
Sora shrugged, "I guess. I mean I never talked to Daisuke-kun like that. But he seems like a nice boy. He isn't the type to be assertive."
"I wouldn't mind if he's a little—."
"Focus," Sora pointed at her hair as Hikari nodded with nervousness written all over her face. Sora using the mirror to see Hikari's hilarious expressions of flustered. "I know him enough to know he wouldn't cross that line. But I still want you to be careful."
Hikari smiled as she finally finished with Sora's hair. She put her hand on her hips as she said, "Dai-kun is someone I trust. I know him well enough by now to have confidence that even accidental moments, he would handle well."
"He did handle you puckering at him very well. With the frozen in shock and never mentioning it," Sora giggled.
Hikari huffed to the side, "if I'm being fair… I was in that phase still. I haven't noticed how much Dai-kun means to me. And something tells me he has noticed me getting closer since then. I'm very confident that things will be different with him.
"As long as you stay safe," Sora got up as she dusted some strands of hair from her shoulders. "I'm going to get dressed, do me a favor and try not to drool all over your phone when I get back. I know Daisuke-kun has been calling you gorgeous all day, but we don't want phone breaking to ruin the experience."
"R-right," Hikari said nervously as Sora gave one last nod before walking out of the bathroom leaving the lovestruck girl alone.
She looked at the door before looking back at her phone, seeing the contact of Daisuke Motomiya. She wondered if she should call him, but realized that calling him after he just said he needed to go eat won't be a good idea. She waited for a bit, wondering if he would call her back instead.
"Hikari-chan?" Annia peeked her head, seeing the Chosen Child of Light sitting down on the toilet. "Oh, if it's not too much to ask, can you pass me the lotion beside you."
"Right," Hikari got up as she put her cell in her pocket. "If you want to use the bathroom, you can get in." She handed Annia the lotion and walked passed her, preparing for her birthday.
Daisuke dried his face with a towel as he looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. His wet hair dripping down as he more focused on the look of his face. "You're going to have fun. You're going to have a good time."
As the water dripped from the tips of his hand, he leaned against the sink as his face got closer Gazing at himself in the mirror, his vision blurred one moment before he closed his eyes and gave a loud sigh.
"Daisuke-kun," Jun spoke from the other side of the bathroom. "Let's go."