Chapter 14: November 24
As the days passed, Daisuke and Satoshi fell into a sort of pattern. The school's whispers about the two of them being together slowly died down as the students lost interest and moved on to more exciting rumors, such as the one about the art teacher and Kaseda-sensei, the gruff cooking instructor. The two Harada twins continued to ignore both Satoshi and Daisuke with equal coolness. As a result, Daisuke went out of his way to avoid speaking with either Riku or Risa. Satoshi simply returned their glares with icy glances of his own, and the twins soon began to avoid him.
Daisuke would usually eat lunch on the roof with Satoshi, to keep up appearances. One day, however, that was not to be.
"Daisuke!"
The redhead turned just in time to see Saehara come bounding up to him. "Come eat with us today!"
Nishimura stood a pace behind Saehara, but was nodding as well. "We don't get to talk to you much anymore."
"Okay," Daisuke said slowly, casting a glance at Satoshi. The commander shrugged and headed up the stairs toward the roof.
"Well," the redhead said, turning back to his friends, "What do you want to talk about?"
Both of the boys smiled.
Oh, that can't be good, Dark observed.
Saehara grabbed one arm, and Nishimura walked on Daisuke's other side, effectively preventing escape. They led him outside. The courtyard was practically deserted, with only a few other students scattered on the various benches.
Daisuke shivered slightly. "Isn't it a little cold to eat outside?" he protested.
Saehara raised an eyebrow as he sat down on the nearest bench, pulling Daisuke down next to him. "I'm sure it's just as cold on the roof, which is where you were going anyway."
Nishimura sat down on the other side and shrugged. "Besides, we don't really want to be overheard."
"What do you want to know?" Daisuke asked warily as he pulled out his lunch.
"Well," Nishimura began hesitantly, "We've been wondering…you know, ever since we found out…"
"Tell us," Saehara continued in a low voice, leaning toward him, "How did you know you were gay?"
"What?!" Daisuke jerked back so much that he nearly fell into Nishimura, and his fish roll went flying onto the ground. As he grabbed the edge of the bench to regain his balance, he noticed several of the other students looking at him curiously. He flushed and lowered his voice. "What?"
Saehara grinned conspiratorially. "Why did you decide to ditch elder-Harada for Hiwatari?"
Daisuke flushed again, deeper this time. "Uhhh…."
Eloquent, Daisuke, Dark commented dryly.
Dark! Help me, what should I say?! Daisuke asked, panicked.
Well, it should be something that they'd believe, something to satisfy a person as romantic as Saehara is… The thief paused to think. Make something really sappy up, like…Dark's next words were spoken in a kind of overdramatic sing-song. Tell them that you and Hiwatari are soul mates, and that you don't think gender matters as long as 'the soul is one.'
"Uh…" Daisuke began, but the words stuck in his throat.
The thief sighed deeply. Tell them that you think he's cute or something.
Daisuke's flush deepened to the point that it was painful. "Uh…."
"C'mon, Daisuke," Saehara said, "You can tell us. We're your friends, and we want to know."
"Why?" The redhead eyed the reporter suspiciously.
Saehara shrugged. "We want to know if the whole gay thing just hit you or if it's been something you gradually came to know. After all," he said, looking down to rummage through his bag, "there were always those rumors."
"What?!" Daisuke rocketed up and glared at his friend. "What rumors? What do you mean?! I'm not—"
Careful, Daisuke, you'll blow your cover!
"I'm not…I'm not that obvious, am I?" Daisuke trailed off lamely.
Saehara and Nishimura shared a knowing look over Daisuke's head. "It's okay, Daisuke. We're still friends with you anyway."
"Uh, I, um…" Daisuke stammered for a moment. "I…remembered something I have to go do. I'll see you guys later."
The two shared another look. "All right, Niwa. Whatever you say," Nishimura said soothingly.
Saehara leaned back against the bench. "Yeah. Tell Hiwatari we said hello."
Daisuke didn't even acknowledge the comment, much less try to deny it. "Bye."
He headed into the school, though his steps slowed considerably as soon as he was out of his friends' sight. Dark… he began miserably. Do I…act gay?
Not all the time.
Daisuke's face fell.
The thief apparently realized that he'd given the wrong answer and tried to make amends. I mean, you're really confident when you're thieving…except when there's trouble. Then you get kinda wimpy.
Dark!
Dark heaved a deep sigh. Calm down, Daisuke. So you're not macho, you don't act like a 'manly man.' Big deal. Very few people do.
You do, Daisuke commented dejectedly.
Daisuke… the thief said gently, You have to remember…I've had a few hundred years to practice.
Daisuke found himself pushing open the door to the roof before he ever made a conscious decision to go up.
Satoshi glanced up from the book he was reading. "I thought you were eating with your friends today."
"I wasn't comfortable," Daisuke replied softly.
The commander looked at him questioningly.
Daisuke noticed the look and quickly forced a smile. "Besides, it's quiet up here. I don't get that often."
Satoshi eyed him for another moment. His gaze softened a little and he nodded once. "All right," he said neutrally and let the subject drop.
