Disclaimer: I don't own Hikaru no Go. It belongs to Hotta Yumi and Obata Takeshi.

Uneasy

Akira's mother was the one who opened the door when Hikaru and Ogata arrived at the Touyas residence.

"Konbanwa Ogata-san, come on in." Akiko, Akira's mother, stopped her eyes at Hikaru. "You must be Akira's friend he told me about."

"Y-Yes, I'm Shindou Hikaru," Hikaru replied nervously.

She smiled in return and walked her guests to the guest room.

"Konbanwa, Touya-sensei, Akira-kun." Ogata said to Touya Kouyo who was sitting there with Akira. Hikaru greeted too politely.

Ogata seemed very comfortable and relax mingling with those two, meanwhile Hikaru felt awkward and nervous.

"I'm glad you can come," Akira smiled to Hikaru.

"Yes." Hikaru smiled back still felt nervous. Maybe it was because of Akira's father presence, but Touya Sr was quite welcoming, in his own cold-alike way.

When they were having the wonderful dinner Akiko made them, Hikaru thought that the situation will be silent. But on the contrary, Akira, his parents, and Ogata were chattering naturally. Hikaru felt more relax and joined their conversation.

"Shindou, I heard you're becoming popular among the pros because of your successful matches," Touya Kouyo said calmly to Hikaru.

"Ah? Uh, I don't know about popular, but I guess I've made it so far." Hikaru tried to find the right words.

"Akira, if you're not careful, Shindou might be better than you someday."

"I won't let him do that."

Slightly Hikaru saw Akira's eyes were flashing just like when they were facing each other with Go-ban between them. His father's words must've burned his spirit of competition.

"I think Shindou will be able to do that in no time. He's getting closer and closer behind your back, Akira-kun." Ogata took the moment to tease Akira. Akira's face turned into an upset expression.

Hikaru sighed carefully. 'What did you do that for?'

This friendly situation with Akira's parents that Hikaru thought won't come along everyday shouldn't be ruined by making Akira upset. Hikaru prefers to see nice Akira instead of flashing eyes Akira he had seen more than enough.

Along the dinner, topics about Go dominated the conversation. Ogata and Touya Kouyo were talking about Chinese pros and the competition going on there. Social issues that are non Go-related were only brought up by Akiko and Hikaru. Akira was in between those two topics.

After dinner, the adults walked their way to have some sake at the living room. Akira asked Hikaru to the separate way heading the terrace that was facing the lawn and the fish pool stuffed by colorful kois.

"How was the dinner?" Akira sat on the floor of the terrace with Hikaru beside him. Both of them were sitting comfortably, enjoying the cool night air and the lawn view.

"The dinner was great. Your mother is a very good cook, Akira."

"I agree with that." Akira smiled to himself. He looked at Hikaru, "I'm glad you can come."

Hikaru grinned, "You've said that before."

"I know. I just want to say it. I want you to know that I am glad that you're here."

Hikaru stared at Akira's eyes speechless. He thought he has to say something to the statement, but he didn't know what to say back.

Akira turned away from Hikaru and stared back to the lawn in front of him. Hikaru glad he did because Akira's stare was becoming irresistible made Hikaru felt drifted away.

"Umm…" Hikaru glanced at Akira, "Shouldn't we join your parents and Ogata?"

Akira slightly tilted his head to the right. "Why?"

"Huh? Uh… I don't know… I mean…" 'Yea, why??'

"Well, if you're interested in having sake with them and experiencing some adult boring conversation, that's fine with me, but I think I'll pass," Akira held his smile.

"Uh, no thanks," Hikaru grinned embarrassed, "I guess I thought of that idea because I don't want your father to think that I'm such an impolite kid."

"Oh, I see. That's okay, he'll understand. You're my guest, anyway."

"Okay…"

For about eight minutes later, Hikaru and Akira were still sitting at the terrace in silence. Hikaru couldn't think of any interesting topics to talk about while Akira couldn't find something to talk about beside Go.

"Ah, Akira…" Hikaru suddenly stood up.

"What is it? You want to go home?" Akira quickly stood up too as if he wanted to stop Hikaru.

"I need to go to the bathroom," Hikaru grinned awkwardly.

"Oh…" Akira slightly sighed in relieve, "Just go right from the kitchen."

"Okay."

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After he went to the bathroom, Hikaru headed back to the terrace. But Ogata suddenly appeared from the corner.

"Ah, Shindou." Ogata's face was slightly blushed in reddish shade. It must be the sake. "Where's Akira-kun?"

"At the terrace."

"Could you hold this for me for a minute?" Ogata handed Hikaru his glasses. Then he went to the bathroom to wash his face. He let the door slightly opened.

Actually, Hikaru didn't want to, but Ogata already stuffed the glasses in to his palm. Ogata could've just kept his glasses in his own pocket, but Hikaru thought he did this not for no reason.

Hikaru waited outside behind the door while Ogata washed his face and his hands.

"Shindou…" Ogata's voice mixed with the sound of the water running through the sink. "I was wondering… When you were with Akira-kun at the beach before, what were you boys talking about?"

"Umm, nothing special, actually. We were just enjoying the view."

"Oh… How was it?"

"It was beautiful. We were watching the sunset."

Ogata turned off the water. "And then?"

"And then… we went home," Hikaru grinned, "We didn't want to miss the shinkansen, so after the sunset, we straightly went to the station."

There was no sound of the water running anymore, but Ogata was still inside the bathroom.

"Shindou…"

"What?"

"You… since when you called Akira-kun by his first name?"

Hikaru raised his eyebrows. Suddenly something was making its sense in his head.

So that must be the reason why Ogata seemed slightly surprised when he was driving Hikaru to Akira's house.

"I… called him so since we left the beach that day…" Hikaru said in monotone. He was still processing why it was such a big deal for Ogata.

"Oh. Wonder why…" Ogata went outside the bathroom. He took his glasses from Hikaru. "Thank you," he smiled and stared straightly to Hikaru.

"Ah, you're welcome."

Then Ogata left. Hikaru stared at his back. This time Ogata didn't seemed creepy to Hikaru. Somehow, he looked… worried?

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"What took you so long? Were you lost?" Akira spoke as he saw Hikaru walked towards him.

"Uh, something like that," Hikaru grinned.

"Anyway, Hikaru, I was wondering why some years before you decided to join Go club at your school?"

Hikaru smiled inside. Akira must've tried hard to find something to talk about while he went to the bathroom.

"Other than that, I also was wondering about one thing." HIkaru sat beside Akira.

"What is it?"

"How long have you known Ogata?"

"Huh?" Akira seemed a bit surprised to hear the question. "Umm… for quite a long time, since I was very young."

"What do you think about him?"

Akira stared at Hikaru. In his head were running lots of questions why Hikaru suddenly brought up the subject.

"Well… I like him."

The short and simple answer sent a lump in Hikaru's throat, but he didn't understand why.

"Why you asked that, Hikaru?"

"Uh… just wondering, that's all," Hikaru threw a grin.

Akira was still staring at Hikaru when suddenly Ogata showed up.

"Shindou, do you still want to stay here or do you want to leave now?"

"Uh, I guess I'll just leave now," Hikaru stood up followed by Akira. Actually Akira wished Hikaru to stay a little longer, but Hikaru walked right away didn't give Akira the chance to say anything.

Obviously there was something Hikaru didn't want to share with him, but Akira thought it wasn't the right time to push him to talk with Ogata near them.

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"Thank you for the dinner," Ogata said to Akiko when he and Hikaru were ready to leave. "Thank you, sensei," Ogata turned to Akira's father.

Hikaru thank to both of them too politely.

After Ogata said goodbye to Akira, it was Hikaru's turn.

'I'll see you later, Akira."

"See you later. Thanks for coming, Hikaru."

Hikaru grinned, and then he followed Ogata to his car.

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Along the way in Ogata's car, Hikaru kept silent.

"Do you want me to drive you to your house?" Ogata asked.

"Huh? Oh, you don't have to. Just drop me at the station, thank you."

"You seemed more quiet this time, Shindou," Ogata slightly smiled.

"Huh? Oh… yeah. I'm tired I guess."

"It wasn't because of what I said, was it?"

"Huh?" This 'huh' word was becoming too usual. "What do you mean?"

"Well, maybe the questions I asked you before were too heavy for you to handle."

"What is that suppose to mean?" Hikaru felt annoyed.

"Maybe you got upset because you thought I was minding your business."

"No, why should I felt that way?"

"You shouldn't."

Hikaru snorted because of the silly questions Ogata gave him.

Finally they reached the station. Hikaru got off after he thanked Ogata.

When Hikaru was walking away for about three steps, suddenly Ogata called him, "Hikaru!"

Hikaru turned.

"I think Akira-kun likes you."

Hikaru's eyes widened. Then Ogata drove away leaving him in disbelieve.

Hearing Ogata said that was surprising enough, but the words that he said were more surprising.

Hikaru couldn't stop thinking why Ogata said that even until he reached his house.

tbc