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Arcade [ Hiro & Kisa (Fruits Basket) ]
Word Count: 369 (ack)
Posted: 2004.5.29
Note: written for self-imposed 30-minute fic challenge
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It used to be so easy to be with her, to know what was on her mind when he was with her. Now everything is too crowded, too noisy, too wrong.
"Not here?" he asks her, feeling his chest tighten at her vehement nod. "You don't like it here?"
She turns deathly pale at the sudden blast of sound from a nearby machine, then shakes her head. No. Not here. Feeling irritated at himself for making another mistake, he jams his hands into his pockets and marches out of the arcade, aware of her frantic near-stumbling after him.
It used to be so easy to turn back and take her hand; now he moves on without looking back. They emerge at a busy street, carefully thread their way through the crowd, then find a safe spot in front of a shop window. After a few minutes of pointedly staring at passersby, he finally turns to her. "Sorry," he says, too sharply for an apology.
Her eyes are downcast.
"I thought you wanted to go someplace fun. Sorry."
"...I-I'm sorry too."
"It's my fault, not yours."
"No...no, I mean..." Her head bows even lower. "I know you wanted to play a game, but you weren't able to because... because I was afraid---"
"Don't be sorry."
It used to be so easy to say if you're not having fun then what's the point? I want us to have fun together.
She lifts her chin and looks at him, and he averts his gaze and keeps his eyes on anything but her.
They used to be so close, they could read each other's mind.
"Hiro-chan," she timidly says after some time, "where do we go next?"
"I'll walk you home."
"But..."
He is convinced she doesn't want to be with him.
But then her fingers touch his.
"But Hiro-chan," she says slowly, "I want to stay with you a little longer."
He stares at her.
"Is that all right, Hiro-chan?"
It's so easy to look at her and remember the first time he thought, here is the one person I will want to be with for the rest of my life.
He smiles, a slow shy one. "No arcades, I promise."
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