Fujisaki eja: You're such a great inspiration - keeping the Mimato in me alive! I won't let you down ;)
[...]
A/N:
A reference for this chapter as you read. My favorite Digimon/Digidestined pairing is definitely Tentomon and Koushiro (Japanese version). Whenever they're together, just the two of them, I always find myself laughing at them. I like that Tentomon provides the comedy to Koushiro's polite mannerism. The same goes to Gomamon and Palmon because they're opposites of their respective partners. I love these three pairings and wish they appeared more in the adventure.
Well, enjoy this early present as my holiday gift to you all!
[…]
Chapter 21 — Give Me A Chance
...
"Welcome to Tokyo's Fall Festival!" the ticket master greeted Koushiro and Mimi enthusiastically, "Today's a beautiful day to make everlasting memories with your loved ones!"
"We're not—"
"Let's get going," Mimi interrupted Koushiro as she pushed him away from the animated man. "No point in explaining ourselves today, a lot of people will think we're a couple."
"W-What?!" the maroon-haired boy stammered, "Doesn't that bother you?"
"It does, but like I said, there's no point in explaining. A lot of people will mistake us for being a couple," Mimi smiled, "I mean look around you, there's more couples than there are families."
"Did you do this on purpose? Is this is a date?" Koushiro took a surprised step back with his hands shielding him from her.
"What! Of course not, we're here because I wanted to come here, and you were the only friend who was available!" Before Koushiro could say anything, Mimi explained, "Sora, Taichi, and Yamato are taking the college entrance exams today remember."
"Oh, right," the boy chuckled nervously before muttering quietly to himself, "I'd rather be there."
"Did you say something?"
"No!"
"And besides there's nothing wrong if people think we're dating, we make a pretty cute couple Kou-kun," Mimi winked playfully.
"Mimi!"
"Come on, I want to look around," she shouted with her back to him, walking in an unknown direction.
"I've got to get use to the way she talks," Koushiro heaved a heavy sigh, his shoulders slouching, "just because she thinks we're in the same grade, she can talk to me like that… what a person."
In the middle of September, the Fall Festival celebrates the end of summer while embracing themes for the new season. Gone is the season where children bask in sunlight, play outdoors, and spend most of their times with friends. And while autumn does celebrate happiness and appreciation for friends, there is more of a stress to be with family. A stronger emphasis to give thanks to one's parents and siblings by offering prayers of success, health, and good fortune.
As Koushiro and Mimi walked along the many booths, there was an overabundance of good luck charms, scripts, and various other accessories to gaze through. For a person like Mimi, each booth was different and offered its own special product. On the other hand, a person like Koushiro saw each booth as one in the same. Unless something truly unique caught his attention, then he'd consider looking. So far, only a few booths have peaked his interest.
Currently, they were standing under a purple tent, selling accessories just like any other. Koushiro was on one side, opposite of Mimi, where character stickers were currently in view. Even he had to admit that some of them were cute. There was one that caught his attention: a weird pink blob-like thing with arms and eyes smiling with its mouth wide open. It was an unconventional creature made cute, and that was what Koushiro supposed interested him
"See something you like?" Mimi asked, tearing his focus from the blob creature.
"Nope, nothing here," Koushiro immediately looked away, but he was caught regardless.
Mimi inched closer to Koushiro (who stepped away sideways) and picked up the sticker he was staring at. "It's cute, neh Koushiro?"
"Yeah, it kind of is… if you like anthropomorphic blobs."
"Aw!" the brunette leaned towards him, "You find these weird things cute?"
"Please don't get so close Mimi," Koushiro blushed.
Holding the pink creature in Koushiro's face, Mimi imitated the voice of a child in the Kansai dialect, "Konichiwa Koushiro-han," she moved the sticker up and down, "I am pink whip cream, do you want to eat me?"
"No, I don't, Mimi."
"I'm not Mimi," she giggled, "I'm pink whip cream! I taste yummy and sweet."
"Good afternoon," the booth attendant approached the duo, "I see you've picked up little Moti. He's a cute little guy whose fortune is to bring those who are too serious to relax."
"Eh? Really?" Mimi asked.
"Yes he is!" the man smiled back, "Moti is a character I created and his special charm is his outgoing smile which makes people want to have fun too."
The brunette was laughing, finding humor that the techy, one-track minded Koushiro picked the character that was his exact opposite. "You should get this Koushiro!"
"No! And what that's suppose to mean!" Koushiro replied back, but the girl's excitement was too much even for him.
"I'll take it!" Mimi told the merchant.
"Ah! Thank you misses," the man bowed, "would you like Moti's sticker quote? It's an additional ¥61."
"What does it say?" Mimi questioned, ignoring Koushiro who was intent on leaving.
"Here's the sticker," the man presented the bubble quote forward and paired it with Moti. In the bubble read, "Never forget to smile. Make life fun!"
Mimi couldn't resist the cuteness overload, "Aww! That's too precious, I'll buy them together. It'll be ¥420.00 ($3.50) right?"
"That's correct."
Content and satisfied with her purchase, Mimi handed the man the exact amount before joining Koushiro in the crowd of people.
"You really bought it?" Koushiro exhaled heavily, covering his forehead with one hand, and shaking it when she held the two stickers up.
"Oh don't be like that," Mimi smiled brightly, "little Moti here is going to teach you to lighten up a bit. Here."
"What? You're seriously not giving it to me?" Koushiro responded in confusion when she gestured the stickers towards him.
"Yes I am! You were staring at it for a while."
"That doesn't mean anything!"
"Maybe it doesn't," Mimi shrugged, but lifted Koushiro's right arm anyway and placed the pair of stickers in the palm of his hand. "Still, you can't deny that Moti is so cute!"
"Where am I supposed to put it?" Koushiro raised Moti to eye level, staring at it who was smiling right back.
"I don't know, maybe on your laptop? When you open it up, you'll see cute little Moti say, 'Koushiro-han, never forget to smile. Make life fun!'" Mimi spoke again using the childish Kansai dialect.
Koushiro laughed, giving in to Mimi's persistence, "Alright, you win. I'll take it and put it somewhere."
"It has to be somewhere you'll see everyday!"
"Okay, okay, I'll do that," he admitted while carefully putting the stickers in his cardigan's pocket.
Several hours later, before the sun began to set, Koushiro and Mimi were seated outside a small café shop waiting for the Odaiba train to arrive in Tokyo Station. They had left the festival half an hour ago. After looking at more booths and doing minimal shopping, the two went on to play with animals in a petting zoo, partake in a couple of various games for prizes, and sat to watch a performance about the importance of family.
"Thank you for coming with me Koushiro, I had a lot of fun today."
The boy smiled, a genuine smile not caused by her teasing or humor, but of a sincere gratitude. He shared the same sentiment and wished to convey it as well, "You're welcome Mimi, I had fun too. If I were to be completely honest with you, I didn't think you and I would enjoy each other's company this much."
This was an interesting confession to Mimi—he was after all, the first person she met at Odaiba High School. The brunette took a sip of her sparkling strawberry lemonade before asking why.
"Well," he started, avoiding eye contact because confessions always made him uncomfortable, "you and I are very different, personality wise and interests, that I didn't think we could survive a day together. Being at school is different, it's a familiar setting, and there's always at least one other person we know."
He finally returned his gaze to her and upon eye contact, he felt as if his heart rate was beating three times faster than normal. Her silence and scrutinizing stare set off warning sirens that perhaps he should have kept what he thought silent.
"I'm sorry, Mimi I shouldn't have said that. I didn't mean to say you're not good company…"
Mimi laughed, breaking the tension he thought was between them. "There's no reason to apologize Koushiro. I agree with you—that we are different, but I like that about us. I mean, two Koushiros or two Mimis? That doesn't sound much fun to me."
He chuckled, "Yeah."
"Back in New York, I was what they would call 'popular' and the crowd I associated with were pretty much all the same. There were a couple of friends I felt I had true relationships with, but the majority of them were superficial at best. I think that's why I've come to appreciate my small circle of friendships with you, Sora, Taichi, and Yamato."
"I, wow… Mimi, thank you for sharing that."
She winked back playfully, "Don't get me wrong Kou-kun, I did like the attention and popularity, but after recent events with a friend I lost contact with, I think I've realized what matters most in relationships."
"I don't doubt that Mimi, you're a great person to be around."
"Aww, Kou-kun!"
Koushiro chuckled at the same time while shaking his head, "That's what I mean right there."
"I like that you and I are the same age, Koushiro. I like how you are so easy to tease, but you do your best to humor me even if I overdo it. Sora-san is a great person to be around too, but she's a little more grounded than I am and takes things more seriously. Yamato-san is very patient with me, and tries his best to comfort me, but sometimes I'm afraid if what I'll say will trigger him to become withdrawn or angry. With Taichi-san, maybe it's because he and I are the most similar, but I feel like I don't need to understand him."
Mimi realized she was talking too much and decided to stop herself from sharing her life story. Laughing nervously, she apologized, "Sorry, I spoke too much. I went off tangent there."
"It's okay, Mimi, I'm actually very happy that you're willing to share this much with me. I don't possess the best social skills, so I feel like I'm doing something right if someone is confiding in me," he smiled at her. "As your friend Mimi, I'll always lend an open ear."
[…]
"You're here!" Mimi was surprised to see Yamato waiting for her at the school's entrance. School had just finished for the week, and after walking down two flights of stairs, the young brunette was eager to start her weekend. Apparently, walking home with Yamato was the beginning of it. "I wasn't expecting you, I thought you said you had band practice right after school?"
Yamato followed in her footsteps, heading towards the direction of his mother's place. "Yutaka has a family emergency I wasn't aware of during lunch, so we're going to postpone it for tomorrow."
"Is he okay?"
"I don't know, I'll have to ask him tomorrow when I see him."
"Today's the last the Friday of the month right?" Mimi gasped at the sudden realization.
"Yeah, why?"
Mimi stopped walking, turning to stare at Yamato who seemed to carefree on a day like this. "Tomorrow's the day you take the college entrance exams!"
"Ah, about that," Yamato stopped walking to laugh at himself. He kept forgetting that he never mentioned this to her, "I'm not taking the college entrance exams."
"What?!" Mimi almost fell over.
"Yeah, I'm not going to pursue a college degree—not for a while. I've decided to focus on The Teenage Wolves and further my career as a musician."
"We haven't had a serious hang out in two months, and you've decided that much?"
"Well, it wasn't until recently that I've decided this," Yamato explained slowly, "I took the practice test, but when I finished, I wasn't as relieved as I thought I would be. In fact, I think it made me really think what I wanted to do."
"And that was whether you wanted to skip college and just do music?"
Yamato nodded, "It was something I talked to my parents about. We talked about it for a while, and I think… well, I'm sure this is what will make me happy."
Smiling, Mimi eyes glittered with hope. She was happy for him, happy that he came to a decision that was his own. Even if he was feeling unsure and not willing to admit it, she was going to support him 100 percent. "Remember that one night we were riding the Ferris wheel and we talked about our dreams and goals at the poolside?"
"Of course!" Yamato replied almost instantly, "Our promises to become entertainers right?"
"Yup, and while you were already secretly in the business," Mimi pointed an accusing finger at him, "I mean what I say so don't give up! If you want to be a musician, I'll continue to cheer for you even if you're famous now. If you want to stop and quit, I'll still cheer for you."
"Thanks Mimi."
"I'll be you're number one fan because I understand music unlike Koushiro, Sora, and Taichi," she joked haughtily, "so don't forget to cheer for me too because I'm still becoming a model."
"Of course," he patted her head, using his tall frame to his advantage, "come on, let's get going, gotta take care of a brother now that I have the time."
She followed behind, rushing to match his stride, "How's Takeru?"
"He's doing okay I think—nothing seems to be bothering him. I wish I was as relaxed as him."
"You're older, so you're bound to have more responsibilities."
"I suppose."
"Hmm, well, how's Sora and Taichi then? Last I checked, they're both still taking the exam tomorrow?"
"Yeah they are; Sora's trying to getting into a nursing school she won't say. Taichi's aiming for some university's football scholarship."
"That's wonderful! I hope they do well tomorrow!"
"I hope so too… Sora's a little more concerned because the nursing school assesses her scores more critically. Taichi," Yamato chuckled lightly, "well, from what he's been saying, he's just got to take the exam to get a score. His scholarship depends on his performances and coach's recommendation letter."
"Wow, I didn't know they were that serious. Being a third year must be tough around this time," Mimi said more to herself than to him. The thought of her preparing that much for college seemed almost terrifying.
"I think for some, it is, while others it isn't." Changing the topic to something more interesting, Yamato was eager to ask, "Hey, I know we haven't hung out in a while, but since I'm having band practice tomorrow, I thought you'd like to join us."
"What? No way! I can see your band practice?"
Yamato smiled at her enthusiasm, "Yes, but if you cause to be a distraction, my manager might have to kick you out."
Making a disgusted face, the brunette remembered his manager—the rude manager that almost called security on her.
"He's not so bad, you just showed up where you weren't allowed," he said amusingly.
"He was definitely a joy, trust me. But as much as I would like to come and watch Yamato, Koushiro and I are going to a museum in Tokyo tomorrow."
Yamato frowned upon hearing her planned excursion. Needles to say, Ishida was quite disappointed to have been turned down. Now that he's free to finally spend a day with her, she seemed to have been doing well in his absence.
"I didn't know you and Koushiro hang out outside of school," he admitted almost bitterly. Wait, why did he care?
"I invited him out to Tokyo's Fall Festival last weekend and I promised to do something he would enjoy. He wanted to go to a museum so I suggested we go this weekend."
Yamato frowned after learning this. He considered Koushiro and Mimi… they were just as opposite as he and Mimi were. What could they possibly talk about? Wait, was he jealous?
"I don't suppose I can see your band practice another time? I really would like to see you guys practice, but I don't want to cancel my plans with Koushiro."
He considered saying tomorrow was the only day. Wait, what was he really just thinking that? "I think you can come watch next Friday if you're free after school?"
"Oh definitely! Can I come next Friday then?"
"Sure…"
"Great!" Mimi jumped with excitement, "Oh, I can't wait till then. This is going to be so cool!"
"I'll try not to disappoint," Yamato assured, although he was disappointed that he had to wait another week.
[...]
The following school week seemed to have ended faster to a third of high school students as the college entrance exams were finally over. Taichi wanted a post-exam celebration by going out for lunch after school. And while Mimi would have liked to join he, Koushiro, and Sora, she declined to watch Yamato practice instead.
Standing beside the blond as they rode the elevator to the third floor of DW entertainment, Mimi answered Yamato as if she was a child entering a stranger's house with expectations to behave nicely.
"Remember, no clapping—"
"No clapping while you're performing, only after," Mimi droned. "I swear Yamato, if I'm expected to just sit there silently and watch, why invite me in the first place? I thought we'd be going to someone's house for your practice."
Yamato chuckled, "We're not a garage band anymore Mimi."
"That would have been more fun I bet," she pouted.
"We're going to be in the recording room for the first hour so it's more serious," the musician tried to explain, "but afterwards, when we go to our studio, it'll be less formal. You'll enjoy it more, I promise."
"Okay, but if I don't, you owe me big time!"
"If you're good, I'll treat you for ice cream."
"Make that two scoops and I'll behave nicely," Mimi indicated with two fingers and then playfully sticking out her tongue.
"You got it," he answered just as the elevator door opened. Stepping out, he led them to a room where the three other band members were already setting up their instruments. The three members turned to the pair as they entered with Yamato being the first to speak.
"Hey guys, this is Mimi, she's a friend. Mimi, here are the members of The Teenage Wolves. Over there in the far right is Yutaka, he plays the electric guitar. Then Takashi there plays the keyboard, and Sutikku does the drums in the back," he pointed to each member as he named them.
"Hi everyone," Mimi waved and then bowed, "do your best! It's an honor to see The Teenage Wolves play even if it's just practice."
Yamato turned to face her directly, "Go through that door and wait on the other side. You'll get to see how awesome we sound live-recorded." He winked, pointing at a door that was connected to the control room. Mimi could see three people already waiting on the other side so she quickly entered the room to allow the recording to take place.
"She's cute, I've seen her around school before," Sutikku directed his comment towards Yamato as Mimi closed the door and went to take a seat in the back.
"You're on speaker," Hideki spoke into the microphone, unimpressed with his lack of restraint concerning the appearance of a girl.
"It's true," he smiled through the glass, but Mimi was rather embarrassed to have already caught unnecessary attention with their manager around.
"Alright, let's get started," Hideki ignored him, "we'll be doing just instrumentals today. Record the first track."
"Got it," the boys answered as they waited for the countdown in red before them.
First, Takashi played solo on his keyboard for about twenty seconds before Sutikku and Yutaka joined with their respective instruments. Mimi really liked the way the piano provided the bases before the guitar and drum added layers to it. Although she didn't know what the lyrics were to this particular song, she imagined it to have a passionate meaning.
All throughout the recording, Yamato was nodding his head to the music up until the one-minute mark where he joined the other three with his bass guitar. The quartet played altogether for approximately twenty seconds before ending. Mimi assumed this was the end of the first chorus as Hideki instructed.
"Well done boys," Hideki spoke through the speakers, "you guys got anything to add?"
Yutaka was the first to speak, "I missed a note with Yamato at the beginning of the chorus."
"Akira added a note during the pre-chorus," Yamato added.
"Ugh, I got it Yamato, it was a mistake," the drummer retorted.
"I did fine," Takashi commented.
"Take two," Hideki confirmed for another recording.
Sixteen recordings later, the boys completed their recording and were finally released from the recording room. They were allowed a ten-minute break before practice in the studio began. Mimi stood outside the room by herself, waiting for Yamato to return from the bathroom. Although he told her to wait inside with the rest of the boys, his sudden departure worried her. The brunette would have followed him, but Yamato handed her his guitar before rushing down the hall out of sight. So, as she waited for the blond to return, the door opened with Sutikku popping his head out into the hallway.
"You can wait inside you know, we don't bite," he invited with a toothy grin.
Like Yamato, he was much taller than her, towering over her frame with his stockier one. He had spiky black hair, dark brown eyes, and a pale complexion; a contrast to Yamato's blond hair, electric blue eyes, and lean build. He was no doubt handsome as was the rest of The Teenage Wolves, but Mimi attributed his good looks to his rugged appearance. Yamato, Yutaka, and Takashi however were all handsome in the bishonen sort of way.
"Oh no, it's not that, I'm just worried for Yamato that's all. He was in a rush to the bathroom, so I didn't know if he was okay."
"He'll be fine," the boy assured, smiling. He then stepped out of the room to join her, "Say, correct me if I'm wrong, but you and Yamato aren't dating right?"
"Oh no, I'm not dating anyone! We're just friends," Mimi quickly refused, feeling a blush develop on her cheek as he stepped closer to her.
"Really? He says he's not dating anyone too, but you two seem awfully close. I mean why did he ask you to see us practice? We don't just allow anyone in our band practice."
Mimi laughed uncomfortably, fidgeting with the guitar case. What was she suppose to say? "I don't know, I guess you'd have to ask him yourself."
"Well it's not important anyways," Sutikku shook his head, "but since you're not with Yamato, I was wondering if maybe you'd like to go out with me after school sometime? There's this boba café that just opened in Odaiba, and— "
"Sutikku," Mimi interrupted as politely as she could.
"Akira, my friends call me Akira," the raven-haired boy smiled charmingly.
"Akira—"
"I'm not sure if you know him, but my older brother is a second year history teacher at Odaiba High School. Maybe you have him? His name is Akira, Saburo."
Recognition dawned on Mimi's face at the mention of his name. "He's my homeroom teacher actually!"
"Really?"
"Yes! And now that you've mentioned it, you two do look alike: the dark hair, pale skin color, good looking—" the last part came out in a rush but she realized it too late. There was already a smirk on Akira's face.
"So you think your homeroom teacher's cute huh?"
"Well, he's good looking for a guy his age…" she immediately found herself on the defense.
"But more importantly, you think I'm cute?"
Now she was blushing, again, and her heart was racing a mile a minute. Mimi supposed she did feel a tiny bit of satisfaction being flirted with after having her heart broken. Guys still found her attractive, which definitely boosted her ego, but…
"So what do you say? Want to go to that café sometime next week?"
But it was definitely wrong to be seeing someone this soon. Especially with one of Yamato's band mates no less. She came to support him and his music, not find a potential boyfriend.
"That's not going to happen Akira," Yamato finally returned much to Mimi's relief and Akira's disappointment.
"Yamato!" Mimi greeted him with a smile, "You had me worried there. Are you feeling alright?"
As he approached Mimi's side, Yamato swung one arm over her shoulder while taking his guitar case with the other. "I didn't bring Mimi here so that you two can hook up," he teased the drummer.
"Ah come on Yamato, she's not seeing anyone. There's no harm in flirting if we find each other attractive."
Yamato eyed Mimi suspiciously who then broke off into a rather hasty explanation about what occurred between the two of them. Sighing, he interrupted her midsentence, "Let's go inside."
Akira held the door open with Yamato stepping inside first and Mimi following behind. As she passed the chivalrous drummer, he winked at her before entering last.
It was barely an hour later when The Teenage Wolves ended their practice early. Despite Yamato's insistence to continue, Hideki and the others felt nothing could be accomplished with the sore throat he was developing. His voice would crack halfway into a song or he'd cough so much that he would excuse himself for some water. The blond tried so hard to be professional, but sometimes, even professionalism wasn't enough if the body failed to cooperate.
"I'm sorry," Yamato apologized as he and Mimi walked to his car, "I invited you because I wanted to try singing a song with you. There was another piece I was working on and I think it would sound better as a duet. I was hoping you could sing the girl's part."
Mimi was quite flattered that he'd consider her. "Wow Yamato, I didn't know… there's no way you can put me on this track!"
He smiled softly, "It's just a demo Mimi, nothing's official."
Mimi mentally slapped herself, she had given herself too much credit. As they approached his car, she asked, "Are you sure you're feeling okay to be driving?"
"Yes I am. It's just a sore throat for now… a fever's working up, but I won't pass out while driving."
"You know, I can drive," Mimi commented as she walked towards the passenger seat.
He stopped to look at her from the opposite side of the car, "You can drive now? When did you get your license?"
"I got a permit one week after I came back from New York. I've been keeping it a secret because I hardly practice."
"If you've hardly been practicing, what makes you think I'll let you drive my car?" Yamato raised a brow.
"I was just being nice," Mimi stated as a matter of fact, "but since Mr. Ishida is quite capable of driving himself, let's go on home!"
Starting up the car, Yamato felt the vehicle come to life under him. As they drove back to Odaiba, he barely just noticed that the sun was setting. The red-orange sky painted the horizon as they drove across a bridge. The vibration of his car and the radio was making him feel better despite the cold he was developing. It was either the change in season or the allergies that were making him react. Damn them.
Mimi was keeping herself quiet, listening to the radio and texting Paru-san she was coming home after being with Yamato. After a few songs, the brunette tried to start a conversation. "Did you know that Sutikku's older brother is my homeroom teacher? Akira, Saburo."
At the mention of his bandmate's name, Yamato slightly frowned. All throughout practice, the drummer was showing off, doing unnecessary solos to undoubtedly impress Mimi. He'd hit the cymbals for some comedic effect and Mimi would find it amusing, giggling at it, while the rest of The Teenage Wolves carried on in annoyance. On weekends, Hideki-sensei didn't attend their practices, usually leaving somewhere after recordings, so it was up to Yamato, Yutaka, and Takashi to tell Akira to stop being such a dumbass.
"It's such a small world," Mimi continued, "I wonder if they ever see each other at school."
"I highly doubt they do," the blond answered, albeit unenthusiastically.
"I suppose they wouldn't since Sutikku has classes on the first floor and Akira-sensei works on the second."
"Today's practice was completely unproductive," Yamato lamented. "I shouldn't have brought you today."
"Oh come on Yamato, it wasn't so bad," she tried to cheer him up.
"We didn't accomplish anything."
"That's not true," but when Yamato turned to face her with skepticism, she clarified, "well at least before you got sick you guys finished recording that song."
Yamato scoffed at that.
"What's the rush anyways? Why are you making new songs if you're still promoting your current album?"
He didn't want to reveal future plans, so he kept his explanation vague, "It's for future projects and we have deadlines."
"Well that doesn't sound much fun."
"Trust me it isn't."
"But with Sutikku around, it's not so bad right? He's a really fun guy," Mimi said remembering the way he was playing his set so enthusiastically.
"That's because you were there," he replied almost bitterly. "Normally he complains a lot."
"Hmm, well I like the way he moves when he plays the drum—he's so into it."
Yamato glared at the road before him. Every time she complimented him, he felt a sharp jab at his torso. It was his pride as both a performer and… a man. To be compared to someone else, well, that never felt good unless you were the one being praised.
"What makes him so great at performing that Yutaka, Takashi, and I don't have?" he included the other two to not make him sound so vain.
"Well, for starters, Akira's the only one who sits the entire time. You three can move around but since he's sitting, he has to perform more with his upper body more."
'Akira', so now she's referring him on friendlier terms. He clenched the wheel tighter making his knuckles white, not that he noticed. "We have to perform just as much with our bodies since we can't just hide behind our instruments," Yamato argued.
"I'm not saying you're not," Mimi retorted back.
"I'm just as a great of a rockstar as he is," he muttered to himself.
"Well of course you are," she obviously heard, "you're lead singer of The Teenage Wolves. Almost every who listens to your songs will think of you first because it's your voice they're hearing. Not Yuu's, not Ash's, and definitely not Akira's."
Yamato remained silent, wiping an arm across his forehead as sweat began to perspire. He was getting caught up in the moment and he finally admitted to himself that he hated feeling this way: jealousy.
"Why are you getting so worked up over this?" Mimi questioned after a few seconds of silence. But when Yamato didn't answer immediately, she asked again in a more demanding tone. She wasn't about to be ignored after all that.
"It's nothing. I just don't like how Akira was flirting with you the entire time."
"We weren't flirting!" Mimi cried out in protest.
"Come on Mimi, he was practically performing for you. He was showing off right in front of you, doing snazzy hits and going off beats with his own solos. To him, you were enjoying it."
"What? No I wasn't! I thought everything that was happening was part of the song. You invited me and I was enjoying it. Why are you making me sound like the bad guy here?"
Yamato sighed heavily, trying to regain his exasperation with the whole Akira and Mimi thing—and the jealousy. "Right, you're right. I'm overthinking it. I'm glad you had fun, I'm sorry for acting like a jackass."
Mimi chuckled lightly, hoping to appease the situation. She genuinely was having a good time with The Teenage Wolves and somehow Yamato had seemed to have made her the villain. But that was what made Yamato… Yamato right? He overreacts when he's concerned for his friends. It's happened before—she dealt it with it firsthand. And Mimi was sure that other people in Yamato's close circle would agree.
"Something's wrong with your head," she teased, poking him in the arm to turn his frown upside down. "The fever must be making your head ten times hotter."
He chuckled a little.
"Don't be mad Yama-kun," the passenger teased, poking him more.
"Alright I'm not mad, just stop poking me," he instructed with a smile of his own, turning onto their street.
Passing the street leading him to Takeru's apartment, he continued driving onto Mimi's. He wanted to say something, his mind going over it a hundred times since they began driving, and his heart beating against his chest as he thought about it. Jealousy… a trait he hadn't felt towards a girl in a long time. He thought he was better than that—more mature than that. But why did he feel pangs of sharpness poking into him as he thought more of Mimi with other guys?
Pulling into Mimi's driveway, Yamato turned off the engine and left the silence to air around them. Mimi however, didn't take long before she grabbed her belongings and proceeded to unbuckle her seatbelt, readying herself to go home.
"Thank you for today Yamato. I feel all special now being invited to see you practice," she giggled to herself, "but I had fun. Truly."
"Maybe next time we'll actually get to sing that song."
Smiling, Mimi reached over to Yamato's forehead and placed the back of her left hand on his heated skin. "Make sure Takeru or your Okaasan do something about this fever of yours. I don't like seeing you so sick."
At the touch of her skin, Yamato felt a shudder run through him. Was this a sign? To act on his instincts?
"Mimi," he started nervously, turning to face her.
"Hmm?" her innocent caramel eyes staring back into his blue ones.
The feeling of apprehension overwhelmed him. "Good night."
"Thanks you too," Mimi responded, smiling, opened the door and took one step out of his car.
"Wait, Mimi," he blurted out, mixed emotions clouding his judgment.
Mimi stopped and stepped back into the car, closing the door after she settled in. She was concerned for Yamato now after that sudden outburst. "Seriously, Yamato, what's wrong with you? Do you want to come inside for a bit and lay down?"
"No, that's not necessary," he remained seated, eyes locked with hers. "There's nothing wrong with my head."
"What?" Mimi questioned with utter confusion. That was a weird thing to say.
"I don't like how Akira sees you after barely knowing you for less than a day," he said seriously, looking deep into her pupils, causing Mimi to blush.
"What? Yamato… I'm not… we're not! What are you trying to say? I'm so confused."
"What I'm saying is..." he paused and found himself unable to carry forward. What did he want? Obviously she wasn't getting it. He sighed, "Never mind."
"No!" she frowned and crossed her arms in defiance. "I'm not going to leave until you tell me what is exactly going on? You're acting different than normal. What's—"
"Would you understand me if I said I wanted to be the only rockstar in your life?"
Confusion was evident in Mimi's eyes.
"You don't understand. Forget it," he turned away from her, humiliated with his confession.
"What's that suppose to mean? There is no other rockstar in my life. Figuratively speaking, maybe there are some people, but a real life rockstar? Yamato you're the only rockstar I know."
He smiled at that, although it wasn't what he wanted to hear.
"Please tell me," Mimi pleaded quietly, almost as if she was speaking to herself.
Yamato coughed, twice.
"Are you sure you don't—"
"I want to be your only rockstar Mimi, just like how I want you to be my only cheerleader."
Mimi was set to question him again, but Yamato spoke before she could voice her thoughts.
"I don't let people in because I have a narrow view of life, relationships, and friendship, but you're different Mimi—really different. Whenever I'm with you, I've never felt so many emotions at once, I'm scared shitless sometimes. I thought I had it all controlled, but just today, I'm actually jealous of you and Akira possibly being together."
"Yamato…"
"I like you Mimi," he finally admitted. It was simple, it was clear, it was concise. There was no doubt in the intensity of his declaration; he was serious.
"It happened," Yamato continued, "I didn't know what it was at first, but the truth is, I really do like you."
Mimi's breath was caught in her throat. This was… entirely… she was at a lost for words, but she knew one thing and that was she wasn't ready. "Yamato, I don't know… I just… Jyou broke my heart and I'm not ready for this…"
He could have accepted the excuse, but he didn't. "I know, I kept telling myself it wouldn't work and that it's too soon, but the more I try to ignore it, the more I think about it when we're together. I thought studying would give me the space to get over it, but…"
"It didn't," Mimi finished for him.
"I'm not the childhood love you wanted, or the club-loving person, or the cool drummer," he said each resentfully, " but I'm me and you know me. I let you in because you've become special to me."
Mimi remained silent.
"I just want you to give me a chance," he said, losing confidence when she hadn't respond to any of his cries. "But if you don't, I understand. I mean we're so different you and I."
She wasn't looking at Yamato as she spoke. "If I say yes, what are we working towards? I want to be with someone I know I can love one day, but you don't even believe in it," Mimi sighed. "It would take a miracle for us to work out."
"I don't know," he answered, "but sometimes miracles require a little faith."
Mimi turned to Yamato as he spoke those words. There was something in the way he said it that made her heart drop. He was just as lost as she was with relationships, but he was willing to face rejection even when he didn't believe in love and she did. Naturally, she should be the one to have more faith in relationships, but she was too consumed with herself, wallowing in self-pity and hurt, to not have considered everything he had done prior to this moment was to protect her.
She realized something, did he start to like her before the Jyou incident? Was that why he acted the way he did?
"Maybe we should just forget this happened," Yamato whispered.
"I don't want to," Mimi spoke just as softly as his whisper.
Yamato looked at Mimi speechless. She was smiling at him, almost shy now.
"This weekend I'm going back to Tokyo with Otousan and Paru-san, but maybe we can try next Sunday?" she offered.
The smile on Yamato's face was beautiful—just as sincere and genuine as his confession—and Mimi knew she'd do anything to keep it there.
[…]
The End. Happy Holidays Everyone.