this one is dedicated to Reniel Moza who's a sweetheart for reviewing a lot of chapters :)
Wednesday, October 8
Courage
"Ah. So you're Mimi-chan's friend."
"Uh yeah."
The man with slick black hair eyes and circular dark framed eyeglass me up and down. "... Boyfriend?"
"No."
"Hm." He holds out his hand. "I'm Hasegawa Yuujin. The Tachikawa's personal designer."
I shake it. "Yagami Taichi."
He gets a set of neatly packed clothes. "The costumes. Would you like to try yours for a second?"
"Uh, no thanks."
"Right." He gets a black paper bag with a large red and orange ribbon. "Here's your personal request."
I accept it. "Thank you."
"You're welcome... Takenouchi Sora-san... If I recall, is Mimi-chan's best friend?" Wow, even their designer knows her.
"Sora's mine, too."
His eyes widen a bit. "Girlfriend?"
I shake my head. "I meant she's also my best friend."
"Oh. Well. Maybe you like her?"
I shrug and check my watch. "Thank you Hasegawa-san, but I need to go now." I rush out the glass doors of his boutique
"With a gift like that, it's as if you're lovers!" He calls out.
Love
"Why is it so weird in this table right now?" I furrow my eyebrows in confusion.
"What do you mean?" Mimi asks, mixing her already mixed spaghetti. She seems so out of it.
"It's quiet. Too quiet."
"Maybe because Taichi isn't here yet." Yamato says. I wonder where he is. Lunch is almost over.
"... Why are you two not seated beside each other?" Yamato and Mimi make eye contact. The latter turns away immediately. "Did something happen?" I ask. I search the other C.C's eyes for answers. Their faces only show confusion as well. Mimi doesn't look up from her plate.
"I'm here!" Taichi shows up holding two milkshakes and his bag is strangely bulging.
"Hey, did you eat already?" I ask.
"Yeah, on the way here. I had to stop over a store for an errand."
"What errand?"
He shrugs. "Uh, just something Nagisa-senpai asked me to do..." He gives me the milkshake and smiles. "Banana chocolate chip."
"Thank you."
He snickers. "Someday, I'll be offering you shots instead of dairy products."
I roll my eyes. "Me turning 18 soon doesn't mean I'm going to be a drunkard."
"Hey! I'm 18 and I'm still sober as ever."
"That's because you're waiting for me to be 18 so that you can have someone to drink with."
He narrows his eyes. "Touché." He sits beside me, our thighs touching.
I whisper to Taichi, "Did something happen between..." I look between Mimi and Yamato.
"I don't know. It's only been a day, right? They weren't like this before..." He answers.
"What's in your bag?"
"Huh?"
"It looks awfully big."
"Don't worry, it's not heavy." Taichi please. I know you can carry the whole world on your shoulders.
"Yeah, but what's inside?"
"Stuff... For... Nagisa-senpai."
"... She likes you."
"I know." At that, the other Chosens turn their heads to him.
"... Really?"
He shrugs. "I do think she has a crush on me. Ever since we met, she's been showing that..." He taps his chin. "Or am I being too conceited?" How unexpected of him to notice it. Has he always been this observant?
"N-No. I think you're right." I poke my fingers together, under the table. "So..."
"I don't like her back, if that's what you're gonna say."
"Why?... Why do so much for her then?"
"... I do?"
"Yeah."
"Aren't I like this to everybody?" He says, skeptical. "I mean, I'm pretty sure I help everyone with anything I can help them with."
"... Yeah, but... You know for a fact that she likes you."
"So?"
"So... Shouldn't you be staying away because you don't feel the same?"
"No, that's like saying I should be staying away from you because you're my best friend's ex."
"..."
"I'm sorry, was that too much?"
"Forget it."
He holds my hand. "I'm sorry, Sora. I keep saying stupid things."
"You haven't changed at all."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't worry. That's what I like about you."
"..."
"But sometimes, these kind of things make me feel like I changed too much."
"What do you mean?" The bell rings. Too bad he's in my next class. I feel like the cosmos hates me and loves me at the same time for making me and Taichi classmates for the past 6 years.
He changed. When we were younger, and I'd get mad at him, he'd get mad at me. And we wouldn't talk for days because he wouldn't say sorry. Now, he couldn't stand it if I ignored him for a minute. I don't know if I should feel happy about that.
"I'm really sorry." He says, while we're walking to class.
I sigh. "I'm not angry. Please stop." He does.
Hope
"Who are you guys gonna invite to the party?" I ask, while we're walking to class.
"I was thinking we could invite the international chosens." Miyako says. "Like Michael." Daisuke shakes his head in disappointment.
Our eyes widen at her. "But he's Mimi-neechan's ex."
"Is that the american guy you guys told me about?" Ken lights up.
"Yeah, Kyou was insanely crushing on him back then." Daisuke teases, using his pet name for Miyako. Who glares. Ken raises an eyebrow.
"I think what Miyako-chan means is that maybe they're friends now." Hikari comments.
"Really? Did she tell you girls?"
"Well, no... But it's Mimi-neesama, so it should be fine, right? She makes up with people really quickly." Miyako adds.
"Hm, maybe we should ask her first." I say.
"Taichi-senpai said the more the merrier." Daisuke argues. "Besides, it's gonna be really crowded, and if Mimi-senpai had bitter feelings, she would have told us." I secretly roll my eyes at this boy.
"Then its settled! I'm gonna contact him." Miyako cheers. "Oh and there's Willis too."
"Willis?!" Daisuke and I react. Oh God. Not him.
Courage
It's math class. Naturally, I'm not listening to the teacher. And also naturally, Sora's beside me. I write her a note.
I'm sorry. Because I shouldn't have said sorry. Sometimes when I say sorry, all I really mean is 'you shouldn't think about stuff too much'.
She smiles a bit and writes something down.
Okay. I forgive you. You know Taichi, sometimes, all you have to do is to talk, say stuff out loud, to make things better.
I think she's right.
Only sometimes.
Most of the time, actually.
Like when?
Like the hair clip.
It's sort of weird how everyone sees it as a phenomenon.
It kinda is. Our friendship is phenomenal.
And it will stay that way, right?
Right.
No matter what?
I promise.
A promise. We've never broken a promise before. At least not to each other. And I really hope nothing's gonna change. Even if I want something to change, I'll always be afraid of it. Tried and tested. I glance at her, offering me an ensuring smile. And I decide, for once, that this cycle has to end. I really hope, that we keep this promise.
All I have to do is to say it out loud. I pull out my phone and text, making sure my textbook is blocking the view of the gadget from the teacher. I'm going to do something I've never done before.
Caramel, we're delivering fhe other invitations via mailbox today, right? Can we do it together after class?
Ask advice.
You're skipping soccer today?! -Princess Karaoke
I asked coach. Don't worry. Also, earlier I already gave my team and the tennis team their invitations discreetly too.
How about Nagisa-senpai?
I think I'll give it to her tomorrow
But won't she need at least two days to prepare...
Yeah, the thing is I don't think Sora will be comfortable with her there So it's okay if she'll be the last person invited. If she attends, fine. If she doesn't, fine too.
Oh really, what makes you say that?
Gut instinct. Oh and aren't you and the dog gonna practice today?
The dog? -PK
Oh my god I'm laughing -PK
Does he know this HAHAHAHA -PK
Don't tell. We all know that he's actually a puppy dressed as a wolf.
Friendship
Mimi holding back her laughter from a text from I-don't-know-who makes me feel funny. Oh look. I hate english class again.
I wish she'd talk to me already.
Sincerity
"Does Sora know you're skipping practice?"
"I sneaked. Does Yamato know you're walking home with me?" I actually wrote him a note that I'd also skip band rehearsal today.
"No... How'd you know he usually walks me home?"
Taichi shrugs. "I don't. I just asked if he knows this."
"..."
"So what happened between you two?"
I look down and grip my school bag tighter. "I don't think I should tell you."
"Okay. How about I say something, about why I wanted to meet you... And you reveal what happened."
"Deal."
Friendship
"Ishida, you're phone's buzzing." Akira calls out, wiping his sweat garnered from drumming. He's the most fit of us, to be honest. Participated in both leg and arm exercise.
"What a surprise. It's Wendy."
"I can't believe you still call her that." Takashi scoffs.
"She'll always be Wendy to me." Not romantically.
"But this time, it's a princess." Yutaka laughs. I roll my eyes. "Kidding aside, what'd she say? Is it about Mimi-san?"
Why did my friends tell me Taichi skipped soccer? I don't see him in the field too. -Sora
I dunno. Have you seen Tachikawa?
Courage
"Mimi, I can't believe you."
"I say the same to you!"
"You should know there are no hard feelings between them."
"But it still feels wrong!"
"Why?!"
"I just, I feel like a rebound..."
You and I both know that's not the case. "... Really?" I cross my arms. "Or are you just afraid of other people thinking that?" She looks away, her face troubled. "Besides, you and Sora are completely different."
"Exactly! What if, what if people will think he's just doing this to get revenge?"
"Mimi." I hold her shoulders. "You don't have to care about what other people think or say. Think about how happy you and Yamato will be if you actually gave him a chance."
Her face is blank. "... What about you, Choco?" She looks me straight in the eye. "What's scaring you?"
I smirk. "For instance, I'm not as brave as everyone thinks I am." She rolls her eyes.
Friendship
After showering and changing my clothes, Takeru messages me that I should be online tonight. Looks like we're having a meeting held by Miyako and/or Daisuke. Anyway, they're like the genderbent version of each other. Opening my computer, the brat immediately adds me to the group video call. 1, 2, 3, 4... 8 faces I see. Three are missing. Sora, Mimi, and oh, him.
"Yamato-senpai is online!" Miyako announces. "Have you seen Mimi-oneesama and Taichi-senpai anywhere?"
"Sadly, no. Sora doesn't know where they are, either."
"We can add them later, Kyou. They're experts in this agenda." Looks like no one's mentioning the possibility of Taichi and Mimi on a date, right this moment.
I don't have the courage to say that. "What agenda?"
"These kids are planning on discussing their speeches for Sora-chan." Jyou chuckles.
"It'll be embarassing if Taichi and Mimi found out about us talking like this, though." Koushiro sighs. "I bet they got their speeches all figured out, by now."
"Did Mimi-oneesan mention our order on who's going first?" Takeru pitches in.
"Mimi and Taichi should be the last ones." I say.
"I agree." Koushiro comments. "And you should be too." They all nod.
I shrug. "I'm fine with anything."
Sincerity
"Trust me on this, Chi-chan."
"You think I should do it?"
"It's been six years overdue."
"Woah, way too far."
"Oh. Uh..."
"Just four years."
She bites her lip, that stupid grin. I roll my eyes. "Right. Sorry." I giggle. "Even if you're not intimidated by him, just know, Yamato's supporting you as well. We talked about it deeply." I wink.
"Thanks for ensuring me, Caramel."
"No problem."
"So... About you and Yamato..."
"When..." I breathe in. Out. "When I'm sure that this is something more than me and Michael were." When I'm sure I can entrust my heart to people, once again. I'm not afraid of love. I'm afraid of hurt. He smiles and puts an arm around me.
Hope
After finalizing our content, which is basically just asking each other if the words are appropriate or not, I exit all the video calls except for Aniki.
"Don't go just yet." I call out to him, I can almost see his hand on the mouse of his laptop.
"What up?"
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
"You acted like you used to before you knew each other. Like six years ago. Not noticing the other's presence."
"I can't tell you."
"... Why are you being so secretive?" First him and Sora, now, him and Mimi.
"I can't tell you because... Because it'll hurt my pride."
"... Oh my God." I cover my mouth.
"I'm leaving this video call, Takeru."
I grin. "You did it?!"
"Don't tell the others." He holds up a hand. "And how do you think it turned out?"
"How the hell should I know? Tell me! Why is she mad at you? Oh Aniki, you're such a pervert."
"You bastard." He blushes. "Stop jumping to conclusions." He looks away, flustered. "We didn't do anything perverted."
"Man, I didn't know you were this impatient."
"..." He glares at me.
"What? It's too early for anything, Aniki. Even you should know that."
Sincerity
After Taichi and I part ways on the last street, I run into a woman. Her groceries fall.
"I'm so sorry!" I exclaim, reaching out to the mess of products on the ground.
She chuckles, her voice familiar. "Don't worry about it. I wasn't looking either."
Her hair is pretty. Reminds me of two blonde boys. "You... Ishida-san."
"Oh!... You're one of Yamato's friends." She smiles sweetly and recieves the fixed groceries. "He's been hanging out with you recently, right, Tachikawa-san?" And where'd she get that? Probably Takeru.
I blush. "You can call me Mimi." I suddenly remember seeing Yamato's dad with the woman. I wonder if I should tell her.
Something slung on her shoulder catches my eye. I furrow my eyebrows. "Is there something wrong?" She tilts her head.
"... You like the color red?"
"Oh, you mean my coat?" She touches it. "It's just a gift from Hiroaki when we were still together."
"I'm so sorry!"
"Huh?"
"I... I called you Ishida-san... I forgot..." My face turns red. I bow. "Um, it's Takaishi, isn't it?"
"Oh! I didn't notice that." She laughs. "I don't mind..."
"Are those for dinner tonight?" I refer to the paper bag.
"Yes, I haven't cooked a decent meal for Takeru for a while... I've been really busy..."
"... Are you gonna get back together?" She gets startled, shoulders raised. "I'm sorry if that was rude!" I giggle nervously.
She blushes. "I wonder... Did Takeru or Yamato tell you that?"
"N-No... I saw you and... And their dad, on a date... Well, at least that's what it looked like... I'm sorry!"
"Don't be, Mimi-chan. Just please don't tell the boys." Her smile is beautiful and gentle. She turns her head to see a café. "Do you want to sit down and have tea?"
"Uh..."
"Come on, join me. My hands are getting tired you know."
So I do. She orders chamomile and some biscuits while I ask for something iced and a cinnamon roll. "Thank you for the treat, uh-"
"Call me Natsuko."
"N-Natsuko-san."
"You're pretty cute. I can see why my boys like you." I blush in response. Why is my heart beating faster than usual? It's just the mom of Yamato... And Takeru. Right. Take-chan's mom. And also Yamato's. "Mimi-chan... How is Yamato, these days?"
I'm not sure if I should tell her everything. "He's fine. He's getting busy because of his work."
"He's so hardworking, and at a young age, too."
"We're all proud of him."
She nods. "I wonder how he's going to react when I tell him I'm dating Hiroaki again." I take in her full appearance. She's so youthful. I almost choke. Wait, so it is confirmed.
Light
"Onii-chan, you seem troubled."
"Yeah, Sora's eighteenth is coming up."
"I didn't think you'd be the one to be nervous." He rolls his eyes and turns his laying body the other way on the bed. If he's this quiet, something must be up. "Are you scared your gift won't be good enough?"
"I'm scared my speech will embarass her." If I asked her, you're the one she's proud of the most.
"Probably won't. Stay positive." I lay down beside him. He's so mellow when it comes to Sora.
He smiles at me. "Thanks, Hikari."
"So what's your gift?"
"It's a surprise." I pout. How typical. I'm looking forward to it, though. "So what's yours?"
"Not telling."
"As usual." He pinches my cheek.
"It's probably not gonna matter to her compared to your gift, anyway."
He ruffles my hair and laughs. "What are you saying? Of course it's gonna matter. Stay positive."
I laugh. "You're still gonna be the one that lights up the whole party."
Sincerity
"Uh, I don't know what to say..." I stare at the cinnamon roll before me.
"It's a risk. Trying to put the pieces back together. Especially if those pieces are already used to being shattered."
"..." I can see where the brothers got their poetic side. I wonder if she's trying to write a book? "If it means a lot, I support you, Natsuko-san."
"Thank you."
"Regarding Yamato, he's surely gonna be surprised when he finds out." I slice the pastry. "But he's gonna be happy like he's never been before."
"Mimi-chan..."
"You know, as his friend, we all knew how he dealt with you and his father separating... But reversing that will also make him look forward to the future of happiness
and disregard the past full of sadness."
"You know, me and him... We separated because we were scared of-"
"Love sure is a scary feeling, isn't it."
"..."
"A friend of mine is afraid too."
"..."
"But I'm not, and I wonder why. Maybe because I see love as the greatest thing in the world. It can do amazing things, you know."
"The greatest things can sometimes result to the worst situations." She smirks, a lot like Yamato, but with less smugness. "It requires a huge amount of responsibility. And courage. Love takes some balls."
"I agree."
"We didn't have that courage back then."
"And now you do?" She nods.
"We've been through a lot. It seems like all it takes is for you to sense some pain to safely enjoy the pleasure."
"I don't know if I should say this, but... Me and Yamato fought recently."
"Oh my."
"Well, it's not really a fight... More like, I just don't know how to approach him after what happened."
Her face is as if she understands. She grabs my hand. "Give him a chance." I blush fiercely. I haven't even told her what occurred. "I know it must be hard because Sora used to date him... But I'm sure she would be ok with it. And from what you said, I can tell you're not scared of love itself. You're scared of the outcomes."
"I didn't say I love him." I murmur. I swear my face is a tomato right now.
"Besides, Yamato is violent as a delinquent when people make him angry. I'm certain he'll be able to protect you." I laugh because of the accurate comparison.
7:00 pm
Friendship
A window opens on my screen. "Yagami is online." CourageTheBraveLion has added you to a group chat. I call out to Takeru, still on our video call. He sits straight.
"So is Mimi-oneesan." AngelOfYourNightmare, SincereLily, WittyAnonymous and 4 others are online and has been added to the chat 'Wonderland'.
"I'm home, Takeru." I hear Mom's voice on the background. "I'll be cooking dinner."
"Yeah, mom. I'm here on the computer."
"Takeru, exit the video call. Koushiro might detect it."
"Right." He does.
CourageTheBraveLion: After school tomorrow we're heading to the warehouse to decorate and distribute all the invitations. But try to hand out the envelopes discreetly throughout the day, alright? Without Sora knowing. There are eleven of us plus the theatre club, and I got the soccer team to help.
Invitations squad: Me, Daisuke, Iori, Ken, Jyou, Koushiro
Decor squad: Yamato, Mimi, Takeru, Hikari, Miyako,
BraveWarrior: HIKARI-CHAN
CourageTheBraveLion: shut up Motomiya
HopefullyYours: Copy that. Decorations are prepared.
SincereLily: How about the lighting?
LovelyLilac: Bingo! I got it. Leave the Tech to me and Koushiro-san!
FriendlyHusky: I borrowed speakers from Tokiya.
CourageTheBraveLion: Is Catering all set?
SincereLily: Affirmative. I got a famous chef to do it all. Thanks to Mom's connections. Oh and I borrowed the performance stage from the chorale. -I wonder when she and Tokiya talked?
SincereLily: The cupcakes are blueberry with cream cheese though.
CourageTheBraveLion: I can't believe you.
SincereLily: he had a batch already made.
CourageTheBraveLion: fine.
SincereLily: Chocolate is so cliché -are they flirting?
CourageTheBraveLion: how dare you
HopefullyYours: So why did you come home late, Mimi-nee? -Thanks Takeru.
SincereLily: I ran into someone I wasn't sure if I should talk to.
CourageTheBraveLion: Really? Who?
SincereLily: Secret. :P
FriendlyHusky: How about you Taichi?
CourageTheBraveLion: Picked up our costumes. -Wow. You skipped soccer for that? Lie detected. Oh Taichi.
FriendlyHusky: I thought you did that earlier today?
CourageTheBraveLion: Picked up the second bag. Which reminds me, I'm gonna give the clothes to you guys tomorrow, alright?
CourageTheBraveLion: did you ask Toshiko-san already?
SincereLily: Yep. She thanked us. And I think her dad's coming too.
CourageTheBraveLion: WOW.
LovelyLilac: QUEEN
MrReliable: Nothing less from Mimi.
-SincereLily has chatted privately with you-
SincereLily: Are you ok if Sora and Taichi will be together in the future?
FriendlyHusky: Don't you find it cute our usernames rhyme?
FriendlyHusky: I'll be more ok if they're together right this moment.
FriendlyHusky: So does this mean we're talking again?
SincereLily: yes. I wasn't really angry anyway. It was just awkward.
FriendlyHusky: So I shouldn't do stuff like flirt anymore?
SincereLily: do you do that with all the girls?
FriendlyHusky: is this a joke
FriendlyHusky: no
SincereLily: I don't really mind
SincereLily: it was just sudden
.-.-.
WittyAnonymous: Oh look, Mimi and Yamato are chatting privately.
CourageTheBraveLion: About time they made up. Don't be so jealous Koushiro.
WittyAnonymous: I'm not jealous. And now their videocalling.
.-.-.
"Are you sure it's ok to do this?"
She shrugs. "Yeah. I kinda wanted to see your face."
I smile. "So what did you really do after school?"
.-.-.
LovelyLilac: awww 3 Koushiro-san, just ignore them.
HopefullyYours: Isn't Jyou-senpai online?
MrReliable: Here.
KindlyPlease: I'm a Jyoumi shipper too.
CourageTheBraveLion: we should probably shut up. They're probably talking about this chat right now.
HopefullyYours: lets let them have their moment
.-.-.
"I ate in a café with a stranger I met. Taichi lied about picking up a second bag, though." Her eyes drift to the other side of the screen. "The others are so funny."
"A stranger?"
"It's a girl. Don't worry."
.-.-.
BraveWarrior: what the heck, Ken? Koumi forever.
LovelyLilac: I have to agree, I'm sorry, Kei.
BraveWarrior: you ship Mimi-senpai with anyone
AngelOfYourNightmare: ... Can I ship Mimato? -Really? Hikari does? Guess she's hipster.
I turn my head back to Mimi's amused face. .-.-.
"I didn't say I was worried if it's a boy or a girl."
"Just in case your wondering."
.-.-.
CourageTheBraveLion: ok look. We didn't open this chat to initiate ship wars.
-BraveWarrior has renamed the conversation to 'Mimi likes?'-
CourageTheBraveLion: DAISUKE YOU FUCKING
CourageTheBraveLion: well if you want me to finish that sentence, Mimi likes coffee.
HopefullyYours: Me.
HopefullyYours: and my brother.
HopefullyYours: She likes Aniki more.
.-.-.
I say no response. "I hope we're at peace."
"Who said we were at war?." She giggles. Everything's alright.
.-.-.
SincereLily: I like food.
FriendlyHusky: and Jyou.
MrReliable: as a friend
SincereLily: and music.
FriendlyHusky: and cookies and cream
SincereLily: and fashion
CourageTheBraveLion: and Koushiro
WittyAnonymous: she definitely doesn't like you, Taichi.
FriendlyHusky: and everything nice
BraveWarrior: OH OH
BraveWarrior: then he accidentally knocked over Chemical X
CourageTheBraveLion: ...
HopefullyYours: :(
-KindlyPlease, WittyAnonymous and LovelyLilac has left the conversation-
"You didn't tell them about the digimon partying."
"It's gonna be a really good surprise for the rest."
WiseToBeResponsible: See what you did. -Mimi laughs when Iori goes online.
BraveWarrior: Hi Iori.
CourageTheBraveLion: Now they're making out somewhere.
FriendlyHusky: oh my god. Are you saying they're having a threesome?
She covers her mouth, holding back a big laugh at my message.
"I'm gonna go now..." She giggles.
I raise an eyebrow. "What?" She exits the video call.
FriendlyHusky: Mimi WIAT
-SincereLily and AngelOfYourNightmare has left the conversation-
FriendlyHusky: WAIT
CourageTheBraveLion: ew Yamato. Lol wait til she discovers the porn mags under your bed.
FriendlyHusky: I DON'T OWN ANY OF THAT
HopefullyYours: Perv
HopefullyYours: and to think I admired you
-HopefullyYours and WiseToBeResponsible has left the conversation-
FriendlyHusky: ...
FriendlyHusky: my own fucking brother
MrReliable: well. Looks like it's just us.
MrReliable: and Daisuke.
CourageTheBraveLion: I can't believe everyone left.
FriendlyHusky: because of you.
CourageTheBraveLion: Oh and I walked Mimi home a while ago.
FriendlyHusky: Really?
MrReliable: you did?
-CourageTheBraveLion has left the conversation-
FriendlyHusky: fuck you
MrReliable: I don't think he was joking.
FriendlyHusky: you think so?
FriendlyHusky: Is Dai still online?
BraveWarrior: between the two of you, who has a greater chance with Mimi-senpai?
-MrReliable has left the conversation-
FriendlyHusky: Idk
FriendlyHusky: but Takeru has more of a chance with Hikari than you
BraveWarrior: WHAT
-FriendlyHusky has left the conversation-