"Hello?" Taichi answered.
"Hey, it's me."
"Yamato? Is everything ok?"
"Yea, I just… wanted to talk to you." Yamato bit his lip. He wasn't sure what he was planning on saying.
Taichi smiled and shook his head. Here was the adventure he had wanted. His night was far from over.
"I can be there in 10 minutes," he said.
[call ended]
"No... It's –" but Yamato was too late, Taichi had already hung up.
Yamato looked at his phone dumbfounded. What just happened? He buried his head in his hands and let out an audible grunt. Did he sound desperate? No, knowing Taichi he should've expected this. Yamato reasoned he could handle a phone call. Spilling his heart in person was another story completely. He opened up his messages and started typing out a text.
Yamato: Taichi, everything's fine. Seriously you don't need to come here.
Yamato hit send and took a deep breath. He sat back in the balcony's fold-up chair and closed his eyes until he heard his phone vibrate.
Message from Taichi: I'm here
Still on the balcony, with his head again in his hands, Yamato started laughing. Ask and you shall receive, he thought. He stood up, heart still in his stomach, mind now filled with anxiety, and walked out of his Dad's apartment to face the music of the night he had just orchestrated for himself.
As he walked outside into the now too familiar cold night air, Yamato saw Taichi sitting on his bike outside the gate of his apartment complex. Seeing Taichi sporting a goofy grin eased Yamato's nerves. He remembered that above all else, this was a conversation with his best friend. He didn't need to be nervous.
"Hey," Taichi called out as he unmounted his bike and placed it against the apartment gates.
"Guess you didn't read my message," Yamato said as he began walking to the bottom of the stairs.
Taichi smiled deviously, "If I read it, then I couldn't ignore it."
"Typical," Yamato shook his head but returned the smile. He had reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Couldn't sleep either, huh?" Taichi asked.
"No," Yamato stepped closer and rested both of his hands on the gate in front of him, "Didn't even try."
Taichi folded his arms across his chest. "So," he began, "What did you want to talk about?"
Yamato looked down at the gate he was resting against. Unsure of where to begin or how he wanted this conversation to go, he made a decision to start at the beginning. From the look Taichi had on his face, he knew he wasn't in a hurry.
He took a deep breath and exhaled before looking up into his best friend's big brown eyes. "I don't know if you knew," he started, "…but, a couple months ago Sora and I started seeing each other."
Taichi laughed and leaned his back against the gate.
"What?" Yamato stared blankly.
"Yamato, you really think I didn't know that?" Taichi smirked and put his head down.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Yamato asked him.
Taichi simply shrugged. "I figured you'd tell me when you wanted to."
Yamato didn't respond. He nodded and stared out into the city lights around them. He was hoping Taichi didn't know.
Taichi discovered a few pebbles with his foot and began kicking them around.
After a few moments, Yamato spoke. "I'm going to end it."
"What?" Taichi turned around, surprised.
"I don't… like her as much as she likes me and that's unfair." Yamato said, lowering his gaze to the ground.
"Oh." Taichi nodded, unsure of what to say.
"Think she'll take it well?" Yamato asked.
Taichi thought for a bit and then spoke, "Sora's always been very understanding. I'm sure she'll want the truth. Even if it hurts."
"Yeah." Yamato agreed.
"She's strong, she can take it," Taichi assured him.
"You're right. Thanks, Taichi."
"No sweat, Yamato." Taichi looked at his friend inquisitively. "Is that what you wanted to talk about?"
Yamato looked up at Taichi. No, not really, he wanted to say. He took another drag of the night air. Taichi had come over in the middle of the night, hours after they had reconciled. He deserved to know why he was really here.
"Taichi…." Yamato began, "How are things with… Meiko?"
"Wha- what?" Taichi lost his footing and fell a bit into the gate. Yamato's question catching him off guard.
"You two are talking, aren't you?" Yamato followed up.
"Uh, not really," Taichi answered, scratching his head. "Just a few phone calls here and there."
"That's not nothing," Yamato said.
"It's not really something either," Taichi answered. "Why do you ask?"
"I don't know…" Yamato thought of lying but remembered the promise he made to himself to be honest. "I've just been thinking…about relationships."
"Well…" Taichi let out a laugh. "Mine are pretty non-existent."
"You have us." Yamato said quickly.
"You know what I mean," Taichi answered.
"Yeah," Yamato nodded. He knew very well what he meant, but he had to ask.
"So, there's no girls… that you're interested in?"
"Definitely no girls." The smile had faded from Taichi's face, he was now absorbed in kicking the smaller rocks on the ground.
"Why do you say it like that?" Yamato's palms felt sweaty against the gate. He decided to open it and move next to Taichi. They were both now leaning on the same side, facing the street.
Taichi shrugged again, not looking at Yamato who was now standing next to him. "It's just a no, that's all I meant."
Yamato gulped, he reassured himself that he could do this. "You're, uh… not into girls?
Taichi turned to face Yamato. He surveyed his friend with wide eyes as if he was deciding if he could trust him. He took a deep breath in and let it go as he turned away from Yamato once again and found another rock to kick.
"It's ok, Taichi. You can tell me." Yamato reached out his hand and touched Taichi's shoulder.
In a move that surprised both of them, Taichi put his hand on top of Yamato's. Yamato felt his heart beat faster. Taichi let out a small laugh.
"This isn't how I thought this night was going to go," Taichi said and then removed his hand.
"You and me both." Yamato laughed nervously and put his hands back into his pocket.
Taichi leaned back against the gate and faced his friend. "Ok," Taichi said, "There might be someone."
"What?" It was Yamato's turn to fall a bit backward into the gate, caught off guard.
Taichi smiled watching his friend's reaction. "It's stupid," he said.
"I want to hear it," Yamato's voice was filled with determination as he regained his balance.
"You're not going to like it," Taichi said.
Yamato stared at him. "You don't know that."
"Trust me…" Taichi turned his gaze towards the city lights, "I do."
"Sora?" Yamato asked.
"What? No. How could you say that?" Taichi shot his friend an angry look.
"You're right. Sorry." Yamato knew that was stupid, he just wanted to keep Taichi talking.
"This has nothing to do with Sora." Taichi continued, "plus she's a girl."
Yamato perked up, "Then it's a guy?"
"Yamato…" Taichi rolled his eyes.
"Please, Taichi," Yamato said softly and sincerely.
Taichi looking at Yamato and saw the plea in his eyes. He took another deep breath.
"What if it's you?" he asked.
Yamato stared at Taichi blankly, his heart pounding out of his chest. His breathing getting heavier.
Taichi, oblivious to Yamato's state, walked towards the street away from him. "I used to think," he sighed, "about maybe… you and me." He spoke out towards the night.
Yamato's heart was now beating so loud he thought it could rival the drummer in his band. He put his hand on his chest as he tried to catch his breath. This was all happening right here in front of him. It wasn't a dream.
Taichi put his head down and started kicking a few more rocks. After a few moments of silence, he spoke again, this time to the ground. "Yeah, told you it was stupid."
"Taichi…I…" Yamato started but stopped. His head spinning too hard to formulate words.
"Look, Yamato," Taichi said, "you don't have to say anything. I wasn't really planning on telling you."
"Are you…" Yamato started, but Taichi cut him off.
"Gay?" Taichi interjected
Yamato nodded.
"Yeah, I am," Taichi said, no shame in his voice.
"Does anyone…" Yamato was having difficulty speaking. There was so much he wanted to say.
"Just Hikari. I don't…. really want everyone knowing yet." Taichi said a bit resigned.
"Why?" Yamato managed.
Taichi shrugged again. "There's really no point. I'm still the same guy. Nothing's changed."
Yamato just looked in awe. Taichi would always be the bravest person he knew. What courage it was to just say what he felt. To speak his truth. He looked at his friend with deep admiration. Taichi was right, this news meant nothing. He would always be the same incredible friend and the genuinely amazing person he always was. Yamato felt his eyes get teary. This night had been so emotional.
Feeling the sudden inspiration and strong pull towards his friend, Yamato walked up to where Taichi was standing and hugged him, hard.
This stunned Taichi. "What's this, Yamato?" He asked, confused.
Yamato said nothing and just stood there, hugging him. Taichi eventually gave in and hugged him back. They stood like this for longer than would've been considered normal, hugging each other, illuminated by the street lights. Hearts beating faster as if they were racing each other.
Taichi smiled. "This wasn't the reaction I was expecting," he said.
"It's the one you deserve," Yamato answered, his head on Taichi's shoulder.
Taichi pulled away and looked at his friend with a puzzled grin.
"Yamato, are you….?" Taichi stopped, unsure if he should ask.
"I don't know," Yamato filled in the blanks as he took a deep breath, "I think…maybe." He answered honestly.
"Wow," Taichi took a step back and put his hands over his head, "Definitely wasn't expecting that."
Yamato puts his hands over his face as he blushed. "I have a lot to figure out." He said looking at Taichi. "But I… can we…"
"Can we what?" Taichi asked, his heart racing.
"Can we…" Yamato swallowed hard, "Spend more time together?" He closed his eyes in embarrassment, thinking he sounded like Takeru.
Taichi laughed as he saw his friend blush. "Yeah, Yamato. Of course, we can."
"Cool," Yamato said, hoping it sounded nonchalant.
"As friends?" Taichi asked raising him an eyebrow.
"Yes!" Yamato responded, hitting Taichi on the arm.
"Ow! Ok… just confirming." Taichi laughed as he smirked at his friend.
"For now..." Yamato muffled under his breath. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, he was sure his face was now beet red.
"I'll take it." Taichi smiled, staring intently at his friend.
Yamato began fidgeting and walked back through the gate. He had felt relieved and happy, but for some reason was finding it now difficult to look his friend in the eyes. Taichi stood tall and confident, just smiling at him with a dumb grin on his face. Yamato couldn't help but smile. His heart still pounding from the conversation.
"So, uh, thanks for coming over," Yamato said as he walked backward.
"You know I'm just a call away," Taichi answered.
"Yeah," Yamato said softly, "same here."
"Well, goodnight Yamato," Taichi said, grinning.
Yamato, still blushing, puts his hand over his face, "Goodnight... Taichi."
Taichi paused for a moment as if waiting for something. He looked at his nervous and blushing friend and he shook his head laughing. He had no idea how this was going to play out for the two of them, but he was very excited to see where it went. Tonight had been very interesting, to say the least. He grabbed his bike and mounted it.
"Taichi," Yamato said, "Thanks… for tonight."
"Don't mention it." Taichi answered him, "Thank you, Yamato."
"See you… tomorrow?" Yamato asked sheepishly.
Taichi laughed. "Yeah... if I ever get to sleep."
"Same here," Yamato laughed as he watched Taichi peddle away.
As he watched Taichi disappear into the distance, Yamato felt his breathing steady. His heart was still heavy, but it was back to beating its normal speed. He felt weirdly relaxed as if the tension on his mind had been released. He couldn't wipe the goofy smile off of his face, though. As he walked inside, all he could think of was Taichi. He had a crush on his best friend and those feelings were reciprocated. All of a sudden the future seemed a lot brighter, a lot more alluring. He sighed. How on earth was he going to get to sleep now?
