YOU MUST READ THE FOLLOWING NOTE! DO NOT SKIP! IMPORTANT!
OOOOOkay! How exciting! After SUCH a long wait I am FINALLY releasing the sequal to Pushing the Limits of Our Friendship (or PtLoOF, as some of you may know it)! I know you were all expecting there to be another bonus chapter for PtLoOF, but I just couldn't do it. I don't really know WHY, I just couldn't bring myself to write another. However, there is always the offchance that I'll write another so don't be surprised if in a few months or something you see another chapter!
BIG NOTE: To those of you who are first timers to this story/universe thing I've got going, it is NOT AT ALL REQUIRED that you read PtLoOF! This story can stand by itself, though I am definitely going to encourage you to read the other story. If you want to, it's a SxA story, but if you don't want to, the explanation of what happened in that one is written into this chapter for you so you don't need to read it. For that matter, if you want to read PtLoOF, don't look down at the story because it'll give it away! ALSO, This takes place in the alternate universe shown in episode 25. If you havent even SEEN that episode, you can still read this story without feeling like it was spoiled at all.
Another note: Previously, my chapters weren't seperated into scenes. It never caused any confusion (that I know of) but the reason for that was that ffnet got rid of my separators. SO, I have a phrase I'm gonna use to seperate sections "...Fades out to black...Fades in... ". It's a little dumb but I didn't want there to be the potential for unnessecary confusion! In one of my Naruto stories (read it if you're into that!) the seperations were really important and when they dissapeared in the final copy it was hard to understand.
Ummm...I'd like to say for the record that at some point in this story, one of the chasracters says "Ohayo" at night or something, unless this is the version in which I edited it out (I have like, 5 copies of this!). The correct term would be "Konnichiwa" or something since Ohayo means good morning. My native language is english and all I know of japanese is from anime so I don't nessecarily have the best grasp on that language. Further, the names, if sticking to Japan's custom, would be in the opposite order of how I use it (I think) which is the american version. I apologize to anyone who gets annoyed by that. I know I myself do get annoyed by that on occasion, so I sympathize!
BTW, Thank you to everyone who favorited PtLoOF and Other Peoples Thoughts, PtLoOF, and also to those of you who put me on alerts! What a great confidence booster, ne? Just so you guys know, there WILL be an Other Peoples Thoughts, CTY, so look forward to that. The sections are much longer (though it takes a few chapters for me to really warm up) and better written too.
Italics are thoughts. Bold is stressed words. Bold italics is stressed thoughts! And brackets are instant messages. Well, I've said all that I needed to, except for "Please enjoy", "Review" and "Thanks for reading"!
CHAPTER 1:
"…You're in love?"
"And then, he kissed me!" Asuka squealed delightedly. Hikari gasped and shot up from the low cement wall they were sitting on.
"He did? WOW! I didn't know Shinji was so bold! Congratulations for you, Asuka!" Hikari said happily. Asuka got up and took her wrists.
"He's a really good kisser, too!" she whispered conspiratorially. "It was…for lack of a better word, magical!" she straightened up. "I have no clue how he became such a fantastic kisser…was he with anyone when I was in Germany…? If he was…ARGH!" Asuka yelled.
Hikari grinned. "No, he didn't date anyone. How old were you then, eight?" she laughed. "No, you're lucky. Your…boyfriend?…is a naturally good kisser! Most girls can only hope that practice really does make perfect!"
Asuka smiled. "That's good." She said sincerely. At that moment, Shinji walked up to the pair, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.
"Um…ah, good morning, Hikari." He said. Hikari grinned.
"Hi, Shinji." There was a short silence. Asuka waited for Shinji to look at her before latching onto his arm and kissing his cheek. Shinji blushed.
"Shinji and I are going to go over there, Hikari!" Asuka said happily, pointing to a cherry blossom tree with long branches. Hikari grinned, knowing exactly what Asuka was planning.
"Hai. See you two later!" Hikari strolled off in the opposite direction of the couple. She walked back to the front of the school.
"I can't believe it took Asuka only a day after she realized she liked Shinji to ask him out!" she whispered in disbelief. "I've known that I like Touji for years and nothing has gotten any better! Even if Shinji did say he liked me! It was probably one of Kensuke's jokes that made Shinji think he felt anything for me!" Kensuke was always teasing Touji about Hikari. It was definitely plausible that Shinji had gotten the wrong idea.
Hikari walked towards an obviously gossiping Kensuke and Touji. "G'morning." She interrupted. Kensuke had a huge grin on his face, but Touji jumped at the sound of her voice.
"Did Asuka tell you the whole story?" Kensuke begged. "Shinji mumbled some information to us, but it was so garbled that my camera didn't get a very good audio recording!" he sighed with disappointment and turned on the camera and pointed it at Hikari.
"Yeah, she told me everything that mattered." Hikari responded with a wave of her hand.
"Well?" Touji asked. She turned to look at him with exhausted eyes. It's going to take me forever, isn't it?
"Well, after we left they did homework for awhile. Then they were going to go to bed, but there were no sleeping bags so they shared Shinji's bed." Hikari said, in a tone that clearly indicated she was morally against such things. Touji and Kensuke gasped loudly.
"Wow!" Touji stretched the word out in a high voice as was his fashion. Hikari dropped her dismissive façade and grinned a bit.
"Tell us more!" Kensuke asked desperately. Hikari complied.
"Shinji had some sort of perverted dream about Asuka while laying on her." She said, thinking how scandalous it all was. The boys laughed in response. Hikari's smile grew and she hurried back to the story before they could say anything. "She didn't tell him she knew he was dreaming about her, so neither can you!" she ordered. "She asked him if he thought she was pretty. He said yes." Hikari finished with a wistful sigh. The boys raised their eyebrows skeptically.
"Shinji wouldn't say that." Touji said slowly.
"Well, it took him forever to, but Asuka eventually got him to respond. And then—this is the big part—she asked if she was dateable! That girl's so daring!" Hikari exclaimed. "Shinji avoided the question for awhile before saying that Asuka was."
"So? That's all? And they're dating now?" Kensuke wondered aloud.
Hikari shrugged regally. "No. I wasn't finished." Hikari patted down her skirt. "She asked him if he would date her. He said yes, so Asuka asked him to…date her, I guess." She sighed again. "It's so romantic! I'm really jealous!"
"Jealous…?" Touji asked tentatively after a moment. Hikari turned to Touji and stared into his eyes pointedly.
"Incredibly jealous, yes." Her voice was heavy with meaning. She could sense Kensuke's grin at getting this on camera. Touji anxiously shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
"Why? Did you want to date Shinji?" Touji asked with a frown.
Hikari hit his arm hard while Kensuke snickered joyfully. "NO! No, baka-Touji! I just want someone to…"she sighed hopelessly. "…like me. To want me back!" she frowned angrily.
"Wait! You like someone?" Touji hissed at her.
"Of course I do! Do you?" she hissed back.
He grimaced. "Yeah, but…"
"Well, then, am I not allowed to like anyone?" she yelled at him.
"N-no!" Touji said abruptly. "No you're not!" all three were shocked.
After a long, tense silence Kensuke spoke quietly. "I'm so glad I taped this!"
Touji bonked him on the head with an aggravated frown, then stalked off. Hikari and Kensuke watched his back for a moment. Hikari hit Kensuke before walking off in the opposite direction herself.
...Fades out to black...Fades in...
School was tedious. Hikari felt like a ton of bricks was resting on her head, and her thoughts varied from flinging one of the metaphorical bricks at Touji and just letting herself drift off. Her head just felt so heavy. Her heart even felt so heavy! And it wasn't even lunch yet!
I can't believe he actually said that! If he's allowed to like some girl, why aren't I allowed to like anyone? What would Touji think if he knew it was HIM I liked? Hikari sighed hopelessly. What to do? What can I do about this? I'm NOT about to apologize, seeing as I obviously am not the slightest bit to blame!
She turned a bit in her desk in the front of the class to look at him. Hikari was surprised to find Touji staring right at her with his arms crossed, apparently deep in thought. He jerked a bit after a moment, colored, and looked out the window. Hikari slowly turned back to her laptop.
Maybe he's thinking of saying sorry? Oh, I hope so! I don't want to eat lunch alone today! I know I can't sit with Asuka or Shinji, that'd be weird, and Kensuke will sit with Touji, and I'll be stuck alone, or tagging along with some of the others. She frowned. I could always sit with Ayanami. But that might be weird, too. Hmm…
Hikari? Appeared on her screen. She turned around again to look for the sender. Touji lifted his hand a few inches off the desk and gave her a small wave. She turned back to the front and bit her lip anxiously.
Yes?
Are you really mad at me?
Hikari paused. She was, wasn't she? But… Not so mad, no. Just irritated.
She faintly heard a relieved sigh from the back of the classroom. Good. I didn't mean to insult you…
Yeah? What DID you mean, then?
Touji was very slow in responding. It seemed wrong for you to like someone e was his answer. The lone 'e' was confusing, but Hikari put it away as a simple mistake for now, deciding that she could mull it over later. She quickly saved the conversation for future reference.
Then, what he had written sunk in. Do you think I'm incapable of liking someone? she sent, glaring at the screen.
She could imagine Touji spluttering if she said it to him, stumbling over a quick answer. Hikari could see his hopeful face, fearing that he may have responded incorrectly, anticipating either a blow or a pat on the head.
NO! Stop jumping to conclusions and twisting my words! Popped up almost immediately. It's just impossible for me to think that you might have a crush on someone! It doesn't seem to fit. I can't place it with my idea of you. She received a short while later.
She seethed. It's not a crush! I might even love him! I don't know!
…You're in love? The reply, which Hikari believed would be said in a soft, quiet voice, appeared.
I said I don't know! And how does it not fit? Liking him is such an important part of me!
A pause. I never see you fawning over ANYONE. How could you almost love this guy? Who is he, anyway? Touji pestered.
Not saying. A moment later, she heard an aggravated groan.
Fine, don't tell me. He messaged Hikari. I think it's because you don't openly (I suppose?) admire him that I can't imagine it. I've always thought that maybe you…had a secret crush or something. She considered it for a moment, which Touji took as confusion and continued. A long time ago, we all used to think you had a boy you sent valentines to, and blushed whenever he spoke to you…but…that part of me didn't grow up, I guess. Hikari twisted around in her seat discretely and caught his eye. A small, affectionate smile conveyed the things she couldn't possibly put into words.
I always thought you'd offer your crush a hand-picked flower myself, Touji. She grinned as he looked very self-conscious.
Well, you were right. I almost gave my secret crush a flower once, but I decided she didn't really like me back, even though Shinji seemed to be certain the girl adored me. When Hikari got the message, a small frown took over her lips and jealousy flooded her veins. No one else should deserve such attention from Touji!
You were right about me too. When we had to make the whole class valentines, I'd make a special one for him. And—I collected anything of his that didn't matter, for awhile. I still have some bits and pieces from old obsessions!
Kensuke was always one to collect. We'd go home after school and he'd have me record him speaking about what had happened and holding the pencil or whatever delicately! They grinned simultaneously.
Asuka has always been a go-getter. She'd tell the guy pretty quickly that he liked her. I think it scared most of them off! Asuka'd tell me about how a boy had politely told her he didn't like her like she liked him. It really discouraged me—she's been so kirei forever but she never really dated! (Kirei equals pretty!)
But she's dating Shinji now. Shinji was a real blusher! He was really afraid of girls, it seemed!
The bell for lunch rang and covered up her giggle. She swiftly saved their conversation before grabbing the lunches she had made them both. Touji walked up to her with a friendly smile. Hikari beamed back up at him, and they set off for the back of the school.
She distinctly heard Kensuke scramble to tape them.
...Fades out to black...Fades in...
"Who was it that you had a crush on?" Hikari asked after the last bite of her rice ball. Touji chewed for a minute on the remains of the meal she had made for him."…The only girl I feel comfortable telling you about would be Arashira Kayo." He told her. Hikari fought a frown.
"Go on?"
"Well, I was so nervous around her—Kayo-chan had a really cute smile, I remember. I was tongue-tied around her, and it was even harder to choose words if she smiled at me. I tripped over my own feet in front of her a lot, too." He colored with embarrassment. Hikari remembered the seven year old Touji, stuttering as Arashira flashed a big white smile at him, and practically falling when he tried to shift his weight. Hikari laughed jovially. He glared calmly at her.
"I remember how Kensuke would whisper to me as we watched that you wanted to marry her and I always hit him!"
Touji grinned. "Who was one person you really liked?"
"Masaharu Tachi." She frowned. "I thought he was god's gift to mankind. I imagine I was unbearable—hanging off his every word and blushing if he actually spoke to me. And when people said anything bad about him I'd whack them!" Hikari gave Touji a small smile. "I hated it when he got a crush. I'd notice him staring and I'd glare at whichever girl it was. I was so envious of anyone who got his attention. He mostly pretended I didn't exist! I'm glad he moved at the end of the year. I was really sad then, but…eh." She shrugged.
"I never liked that kid! He was a real snob. I resented him for being so rude to you. And I hated how he'd lead a girl on for awhile before selecting another!" Touji fumed.
Hikari smiled delightedly that he had such a reaction. She couldn't read into things too much—last time she had, she was certain she'd been wrong— but… "He was a terrible person." They nodded.
A minute later, Touji spoke quietly. "I never liked it when you had a crush. It wasn't obvious when we grew up a bit, but when we were little I'd hate the boy's guts for some unrelated reason. Like…he didn't hold the door open for someone or something like that."
She blushed. "I-I never liked the girls you had crushes on, either. Even if I had liked her before I noticed you paying her the ultimate attention. I was jealous—that you didn't pay as much attention to me. It felt like you were bored of spending time with me and wanted to be friends with someone else instead." She bit her lip and tilted her head up at him.
Touji looked stunned at her confession and reddened. "I kind of felt jealous too, but it was because you never were treated like I thought you deserved." Hikari blushed. A moment later though, she frowned.
"How is that jealousy?" her voice could be described as careless, but her tone was decidedly confused. Touji avoided her eyes for a moment, but eventually turned them back on her. She wondered exactly what shade of brown they were. She always made comparisons to the dark russet sea glass her father had collected as a child.
"I-I felt that I could have done a better job than those useless jerks. I was jealous that you—you gave them all these opportunities which they wasted, and… I wasn't given a chance to prove myself to you. I've…" he trailed off at the end, but Hikari knew that she would have dreams tonight in which he confessed his everlasting love instead of quieting. She flushed happily, and dimly wondered if either of them could be any redder.
"That's—that's a really considerate thing to say, Touji-kun." She whispered. Whispering just seemed so appropriate for the moment.
And they stared at each other unintentionally for a minute. Then the bell rang.
Dratted bell! Hikari whined as Touji got up. It always seems to stop our conversations!
They returned to the classroom, minds swarming with what had just passed.
(I do not know for certain how old Mari Suzuhara is. I'm guessing nine—third grade—so if you are a Mari-chan aficionado, please don't be offended!)
Kensuke was currently listing the physical attributes of some battleship he had researched during free time to Touji. She could feel Touji's eyes on her, and a quick glance told her he was staring at her shoulder, of all things. But Hikari was much too distracted by the couple nearby to care, or to pretend she was paying attention to Kensuke. Asuka and Shinji were smiling at each other over on a short wall not unlike the one the girls had sat on earlier. Asuka said something to Shinji, who tentatively took her hands in his. Hikari sighed.
She truly was happy for her friend. Very happy! But she was overwhelmed by jealousy. How come Asuka—who hadn't even know she liked Shinji until Hikari had told her—could so quickly become his girlfriend? It was unbelievable. Was Asuka-chan some sort of super-human? Or was it just that Shinji's so obvious that once she saw the bait she grabbed it?
"So now I'm going to make a 3-D model of it. It'll keep me busy until late tonight, so you'll have to find someone else to go home with you." Kensuke told Touji, with a suggestive nudge. Touji pushed him.
Hikari frowned. "Make sure you have time to do your homework, Kensuke." She said sternly.
"Hai hai, Class Rep!" Kensuke straightened up and saluted her. Hikari fought a smile. "See you two tomorrow!" he gave a small wave before hurrying off to hide behind a tree. Hikari guessed that Kensuke didn't know she could tell where he was hiding, taping them and the couple nearby like always. Touji, who should be able to realize that sort of thing by now, was completely unaware of their watcher.
Hikari suddenly felt shy, for no real reason. Touji was adjusting the straps on his backpack. She shifted her weight slowly from foot to foot, and when she looked back at Touji, he was smiling at her affectionately. She gave him a tentative smile back.
"So…was Kensuke going to go home with you today?" she asked stupidly, for lack of something better to say.
"Yeah. Mari wanted us to help her with a project this afternoon." He hung his head. "I don't know if Kensuke is afraid of a third grade level project…or really did find that ship during free period like he claims." Hikari giggled. They were quiet for a moment, and Hikari remembered that she had been watching the new couple. She turned to look at them and Touji followed her eyes.
Shinji had said something to Asuka, and she gave him an impressive kiss. Hikari blushed and turned back to Touji. She wasn't too surprised to find that he, too, had colored. Touji wouldn't meet her eyes.
"Wha-what's the project on?" Hikari asked. Touji finally stopped staring at the sky to look down at her.
"She's supposed to write a story or something. She was really frantic when she mentioned it this morning. I think it's due tomorrow." He frowned. "Silly Mari-chan; should've done it earlier!"
"You're one to speak! If I didn't remind you about upcoming assignments and such, you'd never do anything!" She chided.
"Mmph." Touji muttered. "Well…would you—would you mind coming to my house—to help Mari-chan?" He asked in a nervous voice.
She bestowed upon him a delighted smile. "Nothing would make me happier! I haven't seen Mari in quite a while!"
Touji himself looked like nothing could make him happier. "Let's go, then." He started walking. When Hikari didn't immediately follow him, he looked over his shoulder at her.
Hikari had turned to glance at Asuka and Shinji. Oh, it must be so nice! Not a confession, maybe, but to be trusted friends forever… Hikari smiled. At that moment, Touji hesitantly reached for her shoulder. She turned around and felt the concern in his gaze. But geez! To be no more than friends…I don't want that!
She shook her head and started walking to his house. Touji's arm brushed against hers teasingly the whole way there.
