Chapter 18: Duplicity

When they first dropped off Lantis in a modern high-rise apartment in Hakusan, Hikaru realized that he did not live so far away from her. In fact, the distance easily explained how they could have met by chance in the same park. Their homes are both located in Bunkyo-ku, but unlike her who lives near Gokoku-ji , he lived in the high-end and quiet neighborhood of Hajusan, right in the center of college life in the city. He had mentioned before that his family estate is in Nagano, so she supposed he and his brother, Zagato-sensei, are just renting the place for its proximity to Sefiro High and its accessibility to everything.

Hikaru let herself stare out of the car window and watch the sprawling lights of Tokyo go by. She tried to forget the excitement of earlier and concentrate on the passing scenery as the car cruised along Tokyo's raised urban motorway. Technically, it was nothing but a concrete jungle full of neon lights and skyscrapers, but she derived comfort from the familiar sight. The mega-metropolis was still ablaze with fall colors thanks to its artistic placement of trees, plants and flowers, and watching its beauty whiz by lulled Hikaru to a light sleep.

When she opened her eyes, it was in response to the sound of the car door slamming.

"Hikaru, wake up. You're home now." Eagle declared as he gently nudged her awake. He was leaning in and holding open the car door, and from behind him, she could see the pitch-dark night and the glow of her living room lights. The car was parked right outside her home.

She stifled a yawn and looked around the car interior. It was already empty of passengers. Fuu and Ferio were probably dropped off to their homes during her short nap earlier and Eagle opted to leave her for last.

"What time is it?" she asked groggily, wondering if she was coming in at a late hour and if she'd have to explain to her brothers.

"Almost midnight. Do you have a 12 o'clock curfew? Should I start calling you Cinderella now?"

"I don't, but it's highly likely my brothers are still up. They will grill me if they catch me still outside way beyond bedtime." Hikaru replied, absorbed with searching for the release button and unstrapping herself from her seat belt. When she finally managed to free herself, Eagle held out a hand to her and helped her get out of the car. The crisp air greeted her face as her shoes touched the ground. "Thank you very much for earlier, Eagle-senpai. I had a lot of fun!"

"Fun? Do you really mean that? You and Fuu were absentees in our little baseball party for majority of the time you were in the house. I'd say that doesn't speak much of my hosting abilities," Eagle called out her bluff with a smile on his face.

Hikaru shook her head. "No, really. I did enjoy it! The food and the company. It's always fun to explore other people's houses. Gave me an insight, too, as to what you are all like outside of school."

"Well, I suppose you could say it really had been fun. I mean, after your moment with Lantis earlier, I wouldn't put it past you at all if it set your heart aflutter." Eagle said with a small smile.

Hikaru froze at this sudden remark. She was not expecting that one at all. They were standing right outside his car, a few feet away from her front door, but she couldn't leave without responding to that somehow.

"So are you going to start dating Lantis, now that your crush has finally noticed you?" Eagle pressed on, despite her silence.

Alarm rippled through Hikaru's face. This was the third time already that Eagle has pertained to her little infatuation. The first was when he caught her staring at the captain during kendo. The second was during their dinner date in Ginza, when he had asked so bluntly what she liked about Lantis that she choked on her piece of steak. Hikaru responded with a little exasperation in her voice. "Why do you keep insisting that Lantis-senpai is my crush, Eagle-senpai? He isn't, okay? Whatever gave you the idea?"

"The ogling. And the stuttering." He replied casually. "Do you swear on your parents' grave that he isn't your crush?"

Hikaru knocked on wood to stave off the bad luck, out of force of habit. "Hey, don't go killing off my parents while they're still alive!"

He laughed at the agitation in her face. "Fine. Do you swear it on the results of our upcoming tournament? Mind you, if you lie, it's going to cost us our win."

That made her pause. "Wha- No way! Why would I do that? Stop making me swear on important things like that. It's bad juju!"

"See? You can't even do it! Because you're scared it'll bring bad omen if you deny the truth." Eagle pointed out.

Hikaru shook her head in resignation. "I really don't know what to say to you."

"Hikaru, please. You wear your heart on your sleeves. Your feelings are glaringly obvious. It's almost an insult to my intelligence if you keep denying them."

"Glaringly obvious? I haven't done anything to make you think that way. I assure you, he's not my type at all." Hikaru said heatedly.

Eagle laughed out loud. "If we were in court, where you're the witness and I'm the lawyer, I can easily prove that you've just committed perjury. You know how I can tell? Because you're being defensive and your face turns to this adorable shade of red. If you're going to lie to someone, don't go shirking eye contact or wringing your hands from anxiety."

Hikaru looked at her reflection in the car window and realized he wasn't fibbing. Refusing to give in to his taunts, she kept her silence.

"I think I was wrong about you," Eagle told her frankly, when she didn't fold under the weight of his scrutiny.

"Huh? What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means I thought you were pretty brave. That cowardice has never been a part of your personality. I never took you for someone who's too afraid to admit she's into a guy. What's the point of even lying to oneself?"

Hikaru's jaw hardened. His words just hit a nerve. He was posing a challenge for honesty or bravery (and not even a veiled one, at that), from which it was hard to back down. He let the words hang in the air, waiting for her to deny it.

"Fine. You win." She spoke through clenched teeth. "So maybe I am into him. A teeny, tiny bit. Happy now?"

Eagle's grin broke free. "Yes. Sheesh, was that really so hard?"

She crossed her arms stubbornly. "I don't see how my admission will benefit anyone."

Eagle looked at her from the corner of his eye. All throughout the car ride, he had been thinking hard about how to turn the odds in his favor. Though he was never a believer in the friends-to-lovers paradigm, he decided after much deliberation that friendship was the only course left available to him after her rejection. Though it ran counter against his firm belief that attraction and sexual chemistry determined the possibility and beginnings of romance, this approach seemed somewhat necessary for someone innocent like Hikaru. If he can just manage to convince her of their strong compatibility and supplant Lantis's hold on her heart, then settling with friendship for the time being would be totally worth it. He just had to disillusion her of Lantis' perfection, or at least take away the rose-tinted glasses with which she viewed him. Phrasing was the key. And maybe a little mudslinging.

"Oh, it actually does matter. A lot. Because if Lantis knows that you're interested in him, then he'll take advantage of it. He has the benefit of knowing you won't counter his advances. He'll assume you're easy prey. Guys are a little opportunistic, you know? When the opportunity presents itself, guys tend to grab it. Like earlier in the kitchen… What do you think brought that moment on?"

The flashback of that scene evoked only positive feelings in her. But with Eagle's words, her happiness diminished. "I don't know... I mean, I'm not even sure what brought it on. But how am I easy? I didn't ask for it and I swear, I wasn't deliberately flirting. I was simply talking to him…"

Eagle waited for her to finish. "Of course, I know without a doubt that your intentions are entirely pure. I'm just saying he knows you like him and you were both there, alone. Caught up in the moment, and with the perfect ambience staged, he probably decided to give kissing you a try, because you were there willing, anyway. If you can't keep calm around him and act all frazzled at the slightest touch, then you are making it too easy for him. Men are all about the chase, Hikaru."

"I don't think Lantis-senpai knows. I mean, I haven't even confessed to him that I like him."

"Oh, he knows."

The absolute certainty in his voice startled Hikaru. "No, he doesn't."

Eagle looked at her and decided against sugarcoating his words. He slapped her with the truth that majority of the girls didn't know. "Maybe you don't want Lantis to know that you're into him, but a guy always knows when a girl wants him, Hikaru. Believe me, he knows. You don't have to spell it out for him to catch on to the vibes you're sending out." He beamed. "Hell! It only took three minutes for me to figure you out. Guys can just sense this kind of thing. With the exception of the truly dense, of course. And that is just a very small percent in male demographics."

The idea of Lantis knowing what she thought of him caused her heart to race from panic. "But I never even go out of my way to make him notice me. And he doesn't seem to be the type to assume…"

"That he's God's gift to womankind? Oh yeah, that much is true. He never gives much thought to his looks. But, I'm sure you've noticed that Lantis is quite perceptive. His mental discernment is first-rate. I would even go far as to say that he's quite punctilious. It doesn't surprise me in the least if he knew just what kind of effect his presence has on you."

This statement only served to increase her anxiety. If Lantis knew, then what did that moment in the kitchen mean? "Even if he catches on…Is it really that bad if he gets the hint that I like him? I'm not doing anything bothersome and he can always just ignore me. Or reject me."

Eagle raised an eyebrow. "So you're satisfied with the status quo? Don't you want to know if his actions towards you is something borne out of kindness or real interest? And not forced because he sees that you're into him and he has nothing to lose? He won't court you or date you if he can just go straight for the good stuff… Like a kiss, you know? You'll just be feeding his ego with your blatant admiration if you don't act."

"Don't you want him to take you seriously and ask you to be his girlfriend for real? I can help you, you know. I am, after all, his closest friend."

Hikaru mulled over his inquiry. "But I… I haven't really thought that far. I mean, I was content just to admire him from afar... What is it you're suggesting that I do?"

Eagle grinned. "Go out with me. Let him see you having a great time without him."

"Huh? Why?!" Hikaru asked, flummoxed.

If there weren't a lot of things riding on her answer, he would have found her reaction amusing. But he just shook his head, amazed that she hasn't made the connection. "Because…women get an attractiveness boost when other men fancy them. It'll spring him to action. And Lantis only hangs out with the same crowd –Geo, Zazu and me. If you want an excuse to be with him, then being in our company is the way to go."

Hikaru remained skeptical. "And you think if I go out with you, he'll magically be interested in me? With the hours we put into practicing kendo, I doubt he'd appreciate spending his free time outside of school with the same people in club."

"It will definitely help your cause. Also, I forgot to tell you that there's actually something else that intrigues guys even more than the chase."

Hikaru knew she wouldn't be able to guess what that is, even if her life depended on it. "What's that?"

"A woman who's out of reach. People want what they can't have." Eagle answered, remembering Geo's mention of the old adage. "If you go out with me, it'll drive Lantis crazy. Make you seem more unattainable."

Hikaru thought hard. She was sure there was still that matter of the other shoe dropping to worry about. "But, it can go the complete opposite way, right? He may see me with you and it'll drive him further away. He'll veer off, and to my baffled dismay, never talk to me again. Because you're his best friend, he wouldn't want to have anything to do with me."

"Hmm…that's a remote possibility. But we're only doing this to goad him into action. Mark my words, a competition in sight will make him rise to the challenge. Ever heard of the quote: All is fair in love and war? In the battleground of love, there are few weapons more powerful than jealousy."

Hikaru went quiet, chewing on her lip as she considered Eagle's proposal.

"Think about it." Eagle coaxed. "If we go out together, he'll see how desirable you are. He won't be able to resist, trust me."

"I don't know, Eagle-senpai…Didn't he already know that we went on a date? Not that I went through with it for that purpose, but it didn't seem to work then or even push him into action. Isn't that a clear sign that he's totally not interested?"

Eagle froze. Hikaru was right. She may not know it but it did set things into motion. Fortunately for him, Lantis was hard to read and she was getting the signs all wrong.

Hikaru continued, pondering. "Also, I don't know if I have it in me to do that. To get his attention that way or try to make him jealous of another guy, it seems a little devious of me. Something that will send warning bells and make him go running the other way. He may see through the obvious attempt at lying and the manipulation."

Eagle raked a hand on his hair, agreeing with the veracity of her statement. She was pretty wise to consider it from that angle. "That's true. You really are admirable. You're just totally free of artifice, aren't you?"

"Uhm, no…I just feel like it won't end well if I use any kind of ploy. But you are completely right in saying my feelings are too obvious. I'm always nervous and flustered when he's around, and I tend to run my mouth, scrambling for words to fill the silence. I don't act like my usual self at all." She confessed a tad sadly.

"Well, don't go beating yourself up over it. You can still turn everything around by not being too available. When he asks you for anything, don't jump immediately at the opportunity and say yes too eagerly. You have to make him sweat for it a little bit. When men work hard for something, they tend to treasure it more, as compared to something they got too easily."

"Eagle-senpai, is this your go-to move in reeling in the women? Did you just let me in on your big secret?"

A smile crept into his face. "What? You mean playing hard-to-get and acting disinterested? That's right. It's not entirely foolproof, though. Lately, I've been having serious difficulties with someone."

Hikaru looked stunned at hearing this. He did not look like someone who'd have problems making a girl fall for him. "I don't think you need to go through such lengths, Eagle-senpai. You're already pretty wonderful, with your long list of desirable qualities. You just have to be yourself."

"Oh yeah? Care to name some of these "desirable" qualities? My self-esteem is kind of low at the moment." He asked, wondering if she can even see his strong points. He suspected that Lantis's good attributes overshadowed his by a great deal in her brain.

Hikaru obliged his request and enumerated what she has always noticed about him. "Well, apart from being extremely good-looking, you are a naturally witty and funny person, Eagle-senpai. People always have to give you their full attention if they even hope to match your wit in a conversation. From what I've seen in the club, you also display great leadership skills. You draw people effortlessly to you like a magnet because of your likeable personality. On top of that, your intelligence practically oozes out of your pores with every clever repartee that you throw. This splendid gift of gab, along with the fact that no one has ever managed to beat you out of the top spot in school, is more than enough to catch anyone's eye. I'm surprised that you even need me to tell you all this, Eagle-senpai."

Eagle's eyes softened at her shining recommendation. If she thought of him like that, why the hell hasn't he gotten to her yet? "I really wish things were as simple as that. If everyone chose their partners based on the number of good qualities someone possessed, then no one will ever end up staying with the wrong person. Unfortunately, the world doesn't work that way. Most people value one quality over the others and people tend to idealize." Turning a sharp look in Hikaru's direction, he couldn't help adding: "With some people…you just have to do something drastic about their blindness."

"I'm sure she'll come to her senses soon." Hikaru offered in consolation, thinking that he has already moved on to another girl.

He kicked the pebble from under the sole of his shoe. Up to now, he was counting on Hikaru's childish innocence, but it seems she was difficult to sway in a lot of matters. She had her own deeply-rooted beliefs. "I'm kind of stumped right now. Really, Hikaru, what do you even see in that guy? You're so full of life and he's so…outwardly cold and impassive. You couldn't be anymore different from each other. Does he even make you laugh when you're together?"

Hikaru threw a surprised glance his way, feeling confused at the sudden shift in subject. "I think you're the least qualified person to ask me that, Eagle-senpai. Why would you stay so much in his company, if you didn't like him a lot?"

That caused Eagle to chortle out loud. "You're right. You're right. How hypocritical of me. I'm like a pot calling the kettle black."

Her face relaxed into a smile. "Is everything all right between you guys? When I left you two, you were…"

"Yup, everything's fine. It's just our usual tiff. Nothing to worry that pretty li'l head of yours."

"Okay." Hikaru replied, believing him.

"I'm sure you know this, but don't go putting Lantis in such a high pedestal, Hikaru. He's still just an adolescent like the rest of us. He may not seem like it, but he's riddled with flaws just like all the boys our age. He's not immune to raging hormones and he's not this prince you envision him to be. You might be surprised to discover some things about him that you didn't think he was capable of."

"Eagle-senpai?" Hikaru asked hesitantly. It sounded to her like Eagle resented Lantis for something, or he would not be talking so negatively like this.

"It would be a mistake to deify him like some celebrity. His thoughts and desires are a mystery to us, only because of his reserved personality. For all we know, his type must be somewhat similar to his brother's. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, after all. Have you seen doc Emeraude?"

"Yes. She's the school physician who treated me on my first day."

"And what did you think of her?"

Hikaru recalled her first impression. It was easy, considering doc Emi left such a strong one. "I was starstruck. Her beauty borders on the celestial. She is like a Goddess, with her soulful blue eyes and long curvy golden hair."

"I agree. If truth be told, Zagato-sensei's girlfriend kind of reminds me of royalty. Prim and proper, delicate and feminine. Don't you think Lantis would have the same exacting standards in women as his older brother? She kind of sets the bar extremely high. Most guys would deem her as way out of their league."

Hikaru pouted. "I know I'm not dainty and girly like her, so you don't have to tell me this. Are you saying Lantis-senpai is interested in Doc Emi?"

"No. I'm just saying this to emphasize a point. Not to discourage you or anything, but there's a reason Lantis has been single for such a long time. He's extremely picky, like Zagato. Any fling he may have is just practice for his ideal woman. So don't get your hopes too high with him."

"Do you know who she is?" She couldn't help asking. She was literally burning with curiosity.

"Of course. But I'm not going to say who. That's for Lantis to tell, if he ever plans to."

Her shoulders slumped. "I see. Well, thanks for the advice, Eagle-senpai. I'll take your counsel to heart. I'll hide my feelings better by acting cool and calm around him, although I think the cat might be already out of the bag. I'll also try to keep my distance so that I won't seem too desperate for his attention."

"Yeah, watch your body language so he doesn't suspect. Just don't put too much distance. You can at least agree to go to group outings with us, his friends. You know what they say: Out of sight, out of mind. Don't stay away to the point he forgets about you. Just split your focus, and don't give him your undivided attention."

"Okay!" she agreed, regaining her energy.

"So does that mean you're feeling up to doing some Halloween celebration with Geo, Zazu and me in Roppongi Hills? There's this Halloween parade that turns into a huge street party, right near my home. Of course, I'll persuade Lantis to be there, and you can also invite your friends. This might be a good chance to dress up for Lantis and make him look your way. Show him that you can clean up pretty good."

Hikaru hesitated. "A costume party? But isn't that just a few days from now? I don't have much time to prepare…"

Eagle smiled. "I've no doubt Umi-san and Fuu-san will help you choose the right outfit. It's going to be fun. Won't you go?"

Hikaru knew she was going, even if her wardrobe choices were limited and she didn't have the slightest idea what to wear. "Okay…I will. I better get on it now though, or else I'd end up wearing something unimaginative as a white sheet."

"A white sheet…Really? That's kind of daring, even for you. Planning to seduce Lantis by going nude underneath?"

"Huh?" It took a few seconds for Hikaru to understand his words. When she finally caught on, she blushed involuntarily at his bold suggestion. "Eagle-senpai! I meant, I was going as a ghost! You know, a white blanket over my head and entire body, with holes for eyes. Geez, why can't you be wholesome, for once in your life?!"

His infectious laughter filled the air. "I know, I know. It's just the first thing that came to my mind. What's so wrong with that? I mean, it makes for a passable last-minute costume. Just a little sluttier than the usual playboy bunny suit. All you have to do is wrap it around your bare torso."

"You're unbelievable." Hikaru shook her head.

"Are you regretting being my friend now for always corrupting your brain? "

"No, I'm already used to it."

Eagle grinned.

Hikaru remembered the time and started to bid him farewell. "Anyway, thanks for the ride, Eagle-senpai. I better go before you make any more outrageous statements like that. Have a good night!"

She turned on her heels and walked to the front door, waving one hand to signal goodbye. He smiled at the gesture and watched Hikaru fumble for her keys in her bag. She went inside without looking back. But when his car backed up and moved out of the driveway, he thought he saw a shoji move with her silhouette casting through.

Little by little, Eagle was getting to her. He could see it in the way she blushed and laughed at his flirtatious jokes. Maybe she didn't like him as strongly as she liked Lantis, but the attraction was there. It may be small and inconsequential – like a quietly burning candle flame compared to the conflagration that Lantis seems to inspire, but it was enough for him to hope and go on. Under the guise of friendship, he could stoke the embers of attraction until it grew into a full-blown blaze. If he could just be patient a little longer, he was confident he could convince her to see him in a different light. Make her see that he was a better match for her in every way. Lantis may be a real eye candy, but his taciturn personality was a barrier to his compatibility with Hikaru. Love wasn't all about chemistry. If he can just convince her to give him a chance, someday soon, he wouldn't be leaving her front door without a goodbye kiss.

As the car entered the Metropolitan expressway toward Kasumigaseki, Eagle tried to stamp down his remorse at lying by convincing himself of the need for duplicity earlier. If Geo so much as heard the piece of advice he gave to Hikaru earlier, he had no doubt at all that his friend would shake his head in disapproval and admonish him. He issued a silent apology to his Lantis in his head. Sorry Lantis. I had to do a little mudslinging.

His effort of misleading Hikaru may not amount to much, but at least it won't make Lantis think that he's already got it in the bag. If Hikaru heeded his advice and avoided his friend like he suggested, then maybe Lantis will get disheartened to make any further move. At least, that was the plan, if it doesn't get awry.

Author's notes: To those who are wondering if I am ever planning to finish this story in a few chapters, the answer is: No. Haha…I guess you knew this already because 18 chapters in, our main couple still has to hook up!

I intend to end this around the 30th chapter. Why? Because 1) Being a huge fan of novels, I'm not really inclined to write a short story. I gravitate towards plots that are carefully built over time, and I just enjoy writing about daily snippets of their high school life too much. Hopefully, I won't get lazy midway. 2) The plot here is mostly character-driven (at least, I hope so), and it's actually difficult to pick up the pace when you're working with a personality like Lantis's (brooding) and Hikaru's (naïve). Add in Eagle as a huge impediment, and it actually gets harder to make it happen. I don't want them to act too much out of character, so I try not to force moments. As I write this, I am letting my imagination guide me based on how I think they will act in certain situations. It isn't perfect, I know, but I try my best because I truly like them as they are in the manga and anime. The ending I envisioned (back in college) still hasn't changed, but I can see it clearly now: how I'm going to bring it to that conclusion. There will be more "moments" or action in the next two chapters, which I'm very excited to put into writing. I am also considering raising the rating of this story to T or M.

Lastly, I want to apologize for the long delay; I have a lot of things going on in my life, which takes priority over my little pastime. Rest assured, this fanfiction is not going to be abandoned like before. It's a good thing I was able to guess the username and password I used in this platform, otherwise I'd never be able to complete this little project which I started a decade ago.