Doot doot...
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I walk into the living room and sit down on the couch behind Max and Takao, who are battling in some fighting game or another. Neither looks back but Max says "Hi Kyouju." And Takao asks me why I'm not using that program or "whatever I was using earlier."

Just because I'm frustrated I launch into a long rant on the program's code being wrong, the default code being wrong, and the general stupidity of the whole computer. They both seem to realize that I don't actually care if they pay attention or not and just give me an occasional "That sucks" or something along those lines when I pause.

I finish and I'm panting lightly, trying to regain my breath since that rant took too long.

"Aww man!! Again! Why do you always win?" Takao whines, flailing his arms about and accidentaly throwing the controler at me.

Luckily I catch it and offer it back to him. He shakes his head and grins.

"You try!" He suggests in a happy voice that makes you think he'll cry if your refuse. I try to refuse gently.

"I don't play video games often, so I'm sure I'll be no good, and the controlling is probably going to be confusing for me, so I don't think I should-" Takao glares at me and I suddenly change my mind, deciding to play.

It's surprising how scary that was. I think he just wants to make Max forget how many times he lost. Takao points to the various buttons showing me what the basics are, moving, and what buttons actually do stuff.

I play a round of it and do ok, but I still lose. What did you expect? It's my first try!

I keep trying and eventually beat Max. Once.

Unfortuanately it's one of those games where you have to win twice. And... I lose the second and third time.

Oh well.

I stand up, hand the controller to Takao, and say a quick thanks. Takao flashes a thumbs up just before I leave.

Takao... He's arrogant. But... It's really in a good way more than anything else. He knows that people are better than him. He knows that there are millions of people better than him, but he still tries his hardest.

Rai once asked him if there was anyone stronger than him after he told Rai that his 'Scale was too small.' Takao had just grinned and said 'Yeah! Lots of them, of course!'

It doesn't bug him that he can't be the best. He always says "I want to be the best beyblader in the world" But it's in the sense of. . . I don't know, kind of like exaggurating what you know you'll accomplish but keeping your hope the same. It's what you want, and you want it a lot, but there's really not that big a chance of getting it.

No matter how good you are, there's always a level up.

Takao knows that but it doesn't discourage him at all. He just keeps trying. He doesn't know when to quit, which can be good OR bad. It's just a matter of luck. A lot of times he'll keep trying when we tell him to give up and he'll pay the price for not listening to us. But what also happens often is when we tell him to quit and he proves us wrong despite the horribly uneven chances.

Just now, that was an example of his friendship. He likes having happy friends, and tries really hard to keep everyone happy. Except Kai. Takao tries to make Kai angry. I might be the only one who notices, but every chance he gets, he'll point out you're his friend.

Like, when Rei was in the hospital he said "You don't have to worry so much." And Takao's immediate response was "Of course I do, you're my friend."

It's almost like he's afraid that we don't know he wants to be our friend.

One of the reasons he gets along with Max so well, is because Max is always so happy. Takao doesn't have to put special effort into keeping him happy, because Max is always happy.

I earlier mentioned that... I have a crush on him. I'm positive it's just a crush. I mean... If it wasn't would I be able to start liking someone else?

Because... I dunno, I am.

And the new object of my affections is currently... Trying to pull on Rei's "Tail."

Um... I have to go stop Rei from strangling Hikaru now, so, if you'll excuse me...

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Err, yeah. I really don't like Takao much. I mean, he's okay, I've got nothing against him, but... I pay very little attention to him.

Oh, and on the pulling on Rei's tail thing, I mean his hair. ^^