Finding Obsolescence
A Day in the Life (and then some)

by Lavender Feline

With a new determination and his head held high, Daisuke marched down the halls of his high school. Sure, Miyako had dumped him. Sure, Ken had rejected him. It didn't matter! He was going to find a cute boyfriend and show them all! He was Motomiya Daisuke, the coolest guy in the freshman class! He could get any boy he wanted to date him! ...At least, he tried to think that way.

But as he sat through his classes that day, he became more and more aware a strong feeling of paranoia. Every time he walked down the halls, girls would point and whisper, and guys would point and laugh. Before the first period of the day a few senior boys he barely knew came up and punched him in the arm and said 'Sucks, man.' and 'Too bad.' (His arm was still sore. Did they have to punch him that hard?) But the worst were the whispers that were constant no matter where he went. He never quite made out what they were saying, but he had a feeling it had something to do with a certain two girls.

A certain two girls who'd been holding hands whenever they walked down the halls together. A certain two girls who'd been passing notes between every class. A certain two girls who's lips were locked more frequently than that weird senior couple that were already engaged. A certain two girls who, Daisuke was certain, had absolutely no shame.

'Not that they should!' Daisuke thought, sighing and turning to look at Hikari. 'But... do they have to be that obvious?'

Hikari had her cel phone in her lap, and was punching buttons on it furiously. A moment later she blushed and smiled, and then began typing on it again.

'But do they have to do this all the time?' Daisuke collapsed onto his desk, an arm hanging off either side, his chin resting on his math book, completely aware that he was missing a lesson that would be on the test. 'At least don't message each other in the middle of class...'

Daisuke sat up abruptly, glancing around the room with a scowl. Something had just hit him in the back of the head. His gaze landed on Takeru, who sat in the next row over and one seat back. The blond boy grinned and pointed towards Daisuke's feet. Looking down, Daisuke saw a ball of paper laying there. Ducking and picking it up while the teacher's back was still turned, he unrolled it and frowned, trying to read Takeru's messy handwriting.

'They pissing you off, too? Or are you just a voyeur?'

Daisuke smirked. 'Both,' he scribbled on the paper, then as an afterthought, he added, 'Sucks, though. Feels like everyone's talking about me.'

He tossed it back to Takeru and watched as the other boy read it and grinned. The note was quickly returned.

'They are. You should hear what they were saying yesterday. Guess they're talking about me too, huh? We should form a club.'

Daisuke smiled and tore a fresh piece of paper from the back of his notebook. 'Yeah. 'Ex-Boyfriends against Lesbians'. You think we'd be the only members?' He balled the new paper up and tossed it to Takeru.

Takeru's response was tossed back quickly. 'At least you are an ex-boyfriend. I just got rejected.'

'Ouch. I forgot about that. But my ex was Miyako. I think we're about even,' Daisuke jotted down, throwing the note back again. He winced when he saw the note go too far and Takeru had to lean far out of his chair to retrieve it from under another student's foot.

Takeru threw it back just as hard, but Daisuke was read and caught it. He unwrinkled it and read it. 'Maybe we should turn to each other. That'd make good gossip for everyone.' There was a winky face drawn next to the statement.

Daisuke paused and stared at it, considering. He looked up and grinned nervously at Takeru. Takeru grinned back. 'Is he serious!' He sat like that for a long moment, his eyes locked with Takeru's.

"Do you want to eat with us?" Hikari's voice cut into Daisuke's thoughts. "Miyako-san is going to meet me here." The teacher was already gone, and everyone was standing and pulling out their lunches.

Takeru jumped, apparently also brought out of a daze. "Sorry. I have to make up some work for art class or I'll fail. They're doing this remedial thing for all us unartistic people."

Daisuke laughed nervously. "Yamato-san is your brother, shouldn't you have inherited some of the artistic talent like he did?"

"Are you kidding? He got that from my mom's side of the family, along with an appreciation for classical music and hair gel." He smirked.

"Poor Yamato-san," Hikari said, giggling.

Daisuke laughed, putting away his books.

Takeru stood and grinned at Daisuke again. "See you in gym?"

Daisuke nodded, quickly stuffing the crumpled papers into his pocket. "Yeah."

Hikari watched as Takeru left, and she sighed. "I think he's still upset."

Daisuke shrugged, putting his pencils back in his pencil box and putting the stack of papers into his desk. "He'll be okay."

"What about you?" Hikari pulled up her chair and sat next to him, placing a hand on one of his. She looked worried. "I know... that your feelings were hurt..."

Daisuke blushed. Did she have to bring this up now? He'd gotten over her years ago! "It's no big deal!" 'Can't anyone let me forget that!'

"No, Daisuke-kun... I'm sorry." Hikari smiled sheepishly. "I shouldn't have said yes... I know how excited you were to date her... But I was just so happy, and-"

Daisuke winced. 'Oversharing!' "No, you don't."

She averted her gaze. "You... cared that much..."

"No! I didn't care at all! Hikari-chan, you can have her. Really." Daisuke leaned forward, giving her his best serious look.

"Gee, thanks for making me feel so loved!" Miyako shoved Daisuke's chair to the side and pulled up another one to sit between them.

Hikari smiled at her and scooted her chair closer.

Their eyes met. Daisuke could swear he saw pink sparkly bubbles floating around them.

"Can't you guys be all mushy somewhere else?" he asked, making a face. "It's ruining my appetite."

Hikari blushed and ducked her head. Miyako turned to glare at him. "If it bothers you, go away."

"I'm not gonna leave! This is my desk!" Daisuke stuck out his tongue and pulled out his bento.

"And besides, you're just jealous." Miyako said, opening her bento.

"Wh-what would I be jealous of! I didn't really like you!" Daisuke said, indignant. "You know that! You know that!"

"No," Miyako purred. "But I have a Yagami and you don't."

Daisuke felt his heart skip a beat. That smug knowing look on her face made him freeze. That look was enough to make any man's blood freeze in fear. 'What... how'd she know... damnit! I don't want Taichi-senpai! I want a boyfriend, and Taichi-senpai is... older and... he's a playboy, anyway! ...And I don't like him!'

"Miyako-san," Hikari scolded gently. "Daisuke-kun doesn't feel that way about me anymore!"

Daisuke let out a loud sigh of relief. "Yeah. That's right!"

Miyako smirked. "That's not what I-"

"So!" Daisuke said, cutting her off, eyes wide and innocent. "What'd you guys bring for lunch?" He forced a wide toothy smile.

Hikari peered at him. "Are you okay, Daisuke-kun? You look... pale."

"Ahaha! I'm fine! I'm just hungry! ...Really hungry." He picked up his chopsticks and gobbled up a large mouthful of rice. "See?" he asked, his mouth full of food. "My stupid sister made me a fancy lunch today!" 'Guess she felt a little guilty about yesterday after all... and she should!'

"Ewww!" Miyako made a face. "Get some table manners!"

"No!" Daisuke said, a bit of rice flying out of his mouth and onto her glasses.

They glared at each other for a long moment, sparks flying. Hikari sweatdropped, trying to ignore them both with patience that can only be gained from growing up as Taichi's little sister.

Finally, Miyako wiped off her glasses with a handkerchief that she pulled from her pocket. "Hikari-chan, don't you think that it would be nice if Daisuke had someone to eat lunch with? You know, besides us?"

Daisuke glared at her and took another bite of his food. 'Stupid evil girl.'

"I think that would be wonderful!" Hikari clasped her hands together and smiled widely at him. "Isn't there someone you like, Daisuke-kun?"

Daisuke choked on a slice of pickle, coughing loudly. Dropping his chopsticks and reaching for Miyako's canned tea, he chugged down half the can before slamming it back on the table and breathing normally again.

Hikari blinked at him. "Are... you okay?"

Miyako scowled at him. "That was my drink!"

Daisuke wiped his mouth on the back of his arm. "Hikari-chan, I really don't need any help-"

"So you do like someone!" She smiled. "Who is it? Miyako-san and I will help you!"

Miyako's scowl faded and she grinned. "Yeah. You helped me get Hikari-chan, after all. I owe you." She frowned again. "And you owe me a tea."

"Yeah, okay, I'll get you a tea, but-"

"Who is she, Daisuke-kun? It would be so nice if you had someone to be with!" Hikari smiled widely.

'She's practically sparkling,' Daisuke thought, feeling guilty. "Well, it's not-"

"Please trust me, Daisuke-kun. I want to help!"

Daisuke felt his mouth open and reply form of its own accord. "It's... it's... Ta... Takeru!" Daisuke spat out, then froze. 'Crap! Why'd I say that! I don't like him! But... I had to say someone, and... jeez, that was a close call!'

Hikari's mouth was agape and Miyako's eyes were huge, her chopsticks sticking out of her mouth. They blinked simultaneously.

'This is bad! This is really really bad! But at least I didn't lie and... it was easier than saying that I don't like girls! And... and Takeru's note...' Daisuke's hand went to his pocket and he felt the paper still there. "I... I mean..."

Hikari was smiling again. "That's so sweet, Daisuke-kun! Takeru-kun is very nice, and-"

"And he's cute!" Miyako added, drinking the rest of her tea. "You should go for it!"

"That's right!" Hikari gave Miyako an excited look. "We could set them up and-"

"NO!" Daisuke shouted, gaining stares from everyone else in the classroom. "I mean... no. No, thanks." He glanced down at his unfinished lunch. "I'll um... do it myself." He stood and grabbed his bento. "I'm gonna go get a juice. I'll see you guys... after gym."

Before Hikari or Miyako could insist on helping him again, Daisuke practically ran from the classroom. 'Girls are scary,' he thought, skipping down the stairs two steps at a time. 'Jun made me wear a fuku, who knows what Miyako would make me do.' He shuddered, wrinkling his nose.

"Hey, aren't you Motomiya-kun?" an older girl asked, grabbing Daisuke's arm.

He paused and looked at her. "Yeah. That's me." He pulled his arm out of her grip.

"Oh, he's the one I was telling you about! The one that got dumped by that lesbian!" she said, turning to the girl standing behind her.

Daisuke scowled at them. 'That lesbian! What's she mean sayin' it like that!' "Shut the hell up."

"Excuse me!" The girl gaped at him.

"Miyako and Hikari-chan are my friends. Don't say shit like that-"

"I didn't say anything that isn't true. They are lesbians." She looked smug.

"Yeah, and you're ugly, but that's obvious, so I didn't think I needed to say it," Daisuke said, suddenly wishing that he was that coherent when he defended himself and not just his friends.

The girls stared at him, mouths agape. "What... what the hell does-"

"Hey, aren't you girls supposed to be in the art room for that remedial class?" a voice asked.

Daisuke looked up. Taichi was standing on the stairs a floor above them. He came down them quickly, but by the time he'd reached Daisuke, the girls had run away.

"Taichi-senpai," Daisuke mumbled, his mind racing. 'Crap! I wonder if he still remembers yesterday... or maybe something happened! Maybe I'll be lucky and he'll have pissed Yamato-san off enough that Yamato-san coulda hit him on the head with a frying pan, and that coulda erased his memories!'

"Thanks, Daisuke." Taichi grinned at him. "I don't like hearing that shit, but I can't do anything to them anymore... not if I wanna keep my job. And Hikari would kill me if I lost it over picking on girls younger than me, even if it was for her."

"Probably especially if it was for her," Daisuke said, grinning nervously. "She doesn't like that kinda thing."

"Guess not."

Daisuke continued down the stairs quietly, then walked down the hall, heading towards the juice machines that were in the back yard of the school. Once he reached the doors they opened for him and he blinked, looking back up. Taichi was there, holding it open for him.

"You going out there or not?" Taichi asked, leaning on the door.

Daisuke blushed faintly and stepped outside, sighing. "Thanks, but I can open-" He froze, realizing where he'd just gone. The flowers were here, the cherry trees were ahead. This was where he'd caught Taichi only days earlier.

"You uh... coming out here for a reason?" Taichi asked, leaning against the outer wall of the school.

Ears red from shame, Daisuke shrugged. "Wanted a juice." He walked past Taichi to where the juice machines stood. Feeding it a quarter, a can of apple juice fell from the machine. He then walked back over and sat in the dirt next to his senpai, unpacking his lunch again.

They were quiet for a moment. Taichi leaning against the wall, Daisuke sitting and eating his lunch, occasionally sipping his drink. A breeze ruffled their hair, and Daisuke smiled, finally relaxing. 'I guess... this isn't such a bad spot. Even if I did see...' Daisuke's gaze flicked over to the spot where he'd seen his senpai and that boy making out. He shuddered.

"Yesterday..." Taichi started, glancing down at Daisuke.

"Huh? What?" Daisuke asked, trying to sound innocent. 'Yesterday you lost your memory! You don't even really remember who I am! ...And I'm not thinking about your ass!'

"The reason I was at Ken's..." Taichi grinned. "He called Yamato when he was at my house and asked if he wanted to come over for dinner. But Yamato... being Yamato... said he wanted to cook."

"Mmhmm?" Daisuke swallowed down a piece of food and looked up at Taichi, squinting in the suddenly bright sunlight. The sun must have just come out from behind the large fluffy clouds that were in the sky.

"So me, being me, decided to follow him." Taichi smirked. "Yamato's a great cook. I wasn't gonna miss a home cooked dinner... even if I had to break up their little date." His eyes sparkled mischievously. "And it's a good thing I did! Otherwise I woulda missed your little cosplay!"

Daisuke blushed brightly and looked back down at his almost empty lunchbox. "It... was just my stupid sister..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. But still." Taichi smirked. "Wouldn't wanna miss the seifuku cosplay. That's all. Lemme know next time so I can make sure to be there."

Daisuke scowled down at the dirt. "There's not gonna be a next time. ...And you don't have to make fun of me." 'I hate being made fun of... Taichi-senpai isn't supposed to...'

Taichi chuckled, kneeling in front of Daisuke. "I'm not making fun of you." He snatched a bit of squid from Daisuke's lunch and popped it into his mouth halfway, sucking on it.

Daisuke's eyes went wide, watching Taichi's lips. He felt his mouth go dry, all thoughts of hurt feelings completely gone. The way the squid moved with every small suck made his heart beat a little faster than normally. And when he looked up, trying not to think about what he was thinking about, he found Taichi's eyes focused on his own. He swallowed hard.

Taichi swallowed the squid and smirked. "So, I guess that means Ken rejected you, huh?"

Daisuke blinked hard. "Huh? Oh, oh, yeah... he did. Guess... he's dating Yamato-san."

Taichi grinned. "Yeah. They're pretty happy, though."

"Yeah..." Daisuke took a deep breath, feeling the blood return to his brain and leave... other places.

"But... you're not that happy about it." Taichi smirked. "Anyone else on your list to force yourself on?"

Daisuke scowled at him. "I didn't force myself on him!"

"That's not the way Ken told it," Taichi said, grin widening. "Yamato was pretty pissed. Especially when Ken mentioned that you kissed him...'

"I...I didn't know they were..." Daisuke tried to say, his throat tight, a sudden wave of guilt passing over him. 'Yamato-san, I'm sorry!'

"Yeah, he knows. It's cool." Taichi reached out and ruffled Daisuke's hair. "But I didn't know you were... y'know... like that."

"Like what?" Daisuke scowled and finished off his juice. "Gay?" He was tense. Where was this going?

"Yeah. Gay." Taichi wobbled and sat back, his ass landing in the dirt. He laughed.

Daisuke blinked at Taichi for a moment, then laughed as well. 'He's weird... but...'

"Y'know, if you ever need pointers," Taichi said, winking. "I've got a reputation."

"I noticed." Daisuke grinned. "Thanks, but... I'm not gonna be a..." Daisuke considered for a moment, trying to choose the best way to put it. "playboy... like you."

Taichi laughed again. "I'm a playboy now? That's great! I can deal with that image."

Daisuke shrugged. "Aren't you?"

"Well, don't tell anyone, but... not really." Taichi stole another piece of squid and chewed on it thoughtfully. "It's not like I'm a total slut or anything. I just... like sex. That's all. And anyway, dating's a lot of work. I don't have time."

Daisuke rolled his eyes, grinning. "Okay, Taichi-senpai. If you say so."

"Well, I do. And you always listen to what I say, right?" Taichi stood, brushing the dirt off his ass. He turned, wiggling his ass in Daisuke's face. "Did I miss a spot?"

Blushing, Daisuke kicked Taichi's butt and stood up as well. "I don't always listen to you."

Taichi chuckled and turned to grin at Daisuke. "Not gonna stop respecting me are you?"

"If I was gonna do that I would have years ago when I found out you flunked study hall." Daisuke smirked, folding his arms and turning to go back into the building.

"Hey! It only happened the one time!" Taichi exclaimed. He reached out and groped Daisuke's butt with one hand before running past him.

"HEY!" Daisuke called after him, feeling his face burn from the heat of the embarrassment. 'What was that for!'

"I was just brushing the dirt off!" Taichi called back. "And hurry! Gym starts soon and you'd better be on time!"

Daisuke sighed, scowling after his senpai. 'Pervert.' He stood there for a long moment, wondering if his senpai treated everyone this way, and wondering if he'd ever be able to keep his mind off of him again. 'His hand... felt kinda good... and his ass looked kinda good, and-'

The bell indicating that lunch was over rang.

Daisuke snapped out of it. "Oh shit!" He ran as fast as he could back to the classroom to drop off his bento, the thoughts about his senpai already forgotten.

Dribbling the ball across the shiny gym floor, Daisuke dodged the members of the other team. He could see the basket. He was going to make it! He just had to-

It was gone. The ball was gone! Where'd it go! He stood there, staring at his empty hands for a moment before spinning around.

'Takeru.' "Hey!"

The blond boy had stolen the ball from him easily, and was now traveling to the other end of the court. Daisuke ran after him, determined to steal it back. Finally getting in front of him, Daisuke smirked. "Gotcha now."

"Do you?" Takeru grinned and jumped, shooting the ball towards the goal. Everyone went silent.

"N-no way!" Daisuke turned, watching the ball sail through the air. "It's too far. There's no way you could-"

The ball sank through the basket perfectly.

Daisuke stood there, jaw dropped, staring at the ball as it bounced away, forgotten in the cheers of the winning team.

"It's okay, Daisuke-kun. I couldn't beat you at soccer!" Takeru said, all too cheerfully.

Daisuke glanced at him, glaring. "Shut up. That was a lucky shot."

"A lucky shot that I get every time." Takeru smiled. "Don't be a sore looser!"

As Takeru walked away to join the rest of his team, Daisuke sighed heavily. 'I'm just distracted, that's all! And I have good reason to be...' His gaze drifted from Takeru to Taichi.

His senpai was sitting on the bleachers, wearing his old gym uniform. He was doing paperwork, probably some sort of boring crap that the coach didn't want to do, but that wasn't what Daisuke was staring at. Taichi's shorts were short.

'Doesn't he have any shorts that are the right size!' Daisuke thought, moaning unhappily. 'There's no way to win with him sitting there looking like... like that!'

"Hey, Motomiya-kun! Get off the floor, give the other guys a turn!" the coach shouted.

Taichi looked up at the sound of Daisuke's name and flashed a grin at him. He shifted his legs, spreading them a bit more.

Daisuke's eyes practically popped out of his head. He could almost see up the pants leg. If he was only a little closer-

"Motomiya-kun!" The coach yelled at him. "Move it!"

Jumping, Daisuke nodded. "R-right! Sorry!" He jogged to the bleachers and sat down on the bottom row, far away from his senpai, far away from distraction.

Takeru sat next to him. He was still panting a bit. The other half of the class was now on the floor and the boys watched them play quietly. Daisuke thought after a moment, that Takeru really was better at this than any of them. 'No wonder he's the star of the basketball team. Wish I was that good at soccer. Taichi-senpai is. ' Daisuke sighed, his thoughts drifting away again. 'Taichi-senpai is really good... wonder if we could get him to practice with us... wonder if he'd wear those shorts if he did...'

"Daisuke-kun?" Takeru nudged him with his elbow. "Are you okay?"

"Huh?" Daisuke looked at him. "Yeah, why?"

"You uh..." Takeru averted his eyes and pointed at Daisuke's crotch.

Daisuke blinked, glanced down, and yelped. Pressing his legs together and blushing darkly, Daisuke gave Takeru a mortified look. "Give me cover," he hissed loudly, standing.

Takeru grinned. "We're just going to the bathroom, coach!" he yelled, standing in front of Daisuke and blocking the view to him.

The coach nodded and the two boys made their way carefully into the locker room, avoiding prying eyes. Although Daisuke was certain that no one saw the rather large bulge in his shorts, he thought that the way he'd waddled behind Takeru probably looked pretty weird.

In the locker room, Daisuke sat on a bench and stared at the floor, blushing hard. "Thanks..."

"It's okay." Takeru sat across from him, grinning, eyes sparkling. "Distracted today?"

"Yeah..." Daisuke mumbled, glancing up at him, embarrassed. "Stupid hormones."

"You can't blame hormones anymore, you're done with peuberty." Takeru smirked. "Who was it? The new kid? Or... Taichi-san?" Takeru's expression tensed in a way that Daisuke knew meant that he was trying not to laugh at him.

"Sh-shut up! His shorts are really tight, okay? And-" He blushed harder. "Damnit!"

Takeru laughed. "Sure, Daisuke-kun. It's okay. I knew already."

"...Knew what?" Daisuke asked nervously. He looked back down at the floor again, thankful at least that the embarrassment was helping his arousal to fade.

"That you prefer men." Takeru grinned. "Why else would I have said that?"

"That?" Daisuke frowned. "Oh. The note. I dunno, I guess-" His thoughts suddenly slowed. "You... meant that?" He paused, then frowned sharply. "Hey! What'dya mean I prefer men! You can tell!" Daisuke's eyes widened in horror. "How can you tell!"

Takeru laughed, shaking his head. "I only know because I know you, Daisuke. And..." Now it was Takeru's turn to be embarrassed. His face flushed a light pink. "Well... Hikari-chan and Miyako-san are both taken, and we're both free. I just thought..."

"Wait, do you LIKE me!" Daisuke asked, staring at him in shock.

"No! I mean... not exactly." Takeru sighed. "I'm just tired..."

"Of being single?" Daisuke grinned a bit, the shock fading. He was relieved. He could handle anything but being really liked. He'd never had that happen, he had no idea what to do if it ever did. And it helped to know that you couldn't smell the gay on him.

"Of being pitied." Takeru looked away. "Hikari-chan... I really cared for her. But she was different. I don't want another girl."

Daisuke's expression softened. "Oh... sorry, man..." He remembered the way that felt.

Takeru winced. "I said I don't like being pitied."

"Oh! Right. Um..." Daisuke flailed a bit. "Sorry!"

Smiling again, Takeru looked back at him. "And besides, it's boring being single."

"Boring?" Daisuke frowned, his flailing subsiding.

"Well, you know." Takeru looked back at Daisuke's crotch pointedly.

"OH! Oh, that! Yeah..." Daisuke blushed a bit. "I guess, but..."

Takeru shook his head. "Don't worry, I'm not serious." He grinned. "I know if you wanted someone to have sex with you'd go after Taichi-san. And if you wanted someone to date you'd find someone."

Daisuke sulked slightly. "I wouldn't..." He paused and gave Takeru a sheepish look. "Taichi-senpai really doesn't do the relationship thing, huh?"

"No. Oniichan told me that Taichi-san is a confirmed bachelor. He's happy like that," Takeru said, giving Daisuke an almost pitying look.

"Yeah..." Daisuke was silent for a long moment. 'Taichi-senpai doesn't date. I don't want random sex. I don't want to think about him every time I get a little horny... I just want... someone that'll... like me... who I can mess around with, too, I guess... someone nice...'

"We should probably go back-" Takeru started to say, standing.

"Go out with me." Daisuke's voice was firm and his eyes were locked on Takeru's. He looked serious.

"What?" Takeru blinked at him in confusion.

"Go out with me! I... I want a boyfriend, you want a boyfriend... we're already friends, so it wouldn't be that weird! ...We are friends, aren't we?" Daisuke asked, suddenly unsure. They'd been close for years now, but they'd never used the word like this.

Takeru smiled. "Of course we are." He considered for a moment. "I guess we could try it."

Daisuke brightened. "Really!" He beamed.

"Did you expect me to reject you?" Takeru asked, looking amused.

"I always expect to be rejected," Daisuke said, as if it were obvious. "That way if you say yes it's a happy surprise! And when you say no, I can just be like 'Yeah, I knew he'd say that!'"

"But I didn't say no." Takeru smiled.

"Yeah! You're crazy or somethin', huh?" Daisuke smiled back.

"I wouldn't call it that. ...Okay, then." Takeru laughed. "We can try it. But let's not let it get weird."

"Right. No weirdness. If it's too weird we'll just stop!" Daisuke stood, holding out his hand. "Deal?"

Takeru blinked at it, then shrugged. "Deal." He clasped his hand to Daisuke's and they shook on it.

"Hey, what're you guys doing in here?" Taichi poked his head into the locker room and looked at them curiously. "The coach is gonna be pissed."

Daisuke yanked his hand from Takeru's and smiled nervously. "Oh! Right! Um... we were just-"

"Daisuke-kun asked me out," Takeru said, wrapping his arm around Daisuke's shoulders and resting his head against Daisuke's.

Taichi stared at them blankly for a full minute before smiling and replying. "Nice choice, Daisuke. A locker room is really the romantic setting I'd go for. Now hurry up or I'll have to write you both up."

Takeru laughed. "Right, right, Taichi-sensei."

"Damn right." Taichi left again, chuckling.

"Well, we should go." Takeru began walking, his arm still around Daisuke's shoulders. "Daisuke?"

Daisuke was standing there, pale, eyes huge. "Do you think he heard... y'know... what we were saying!"

Takeru shook his head. "If he did he would have said something. His ego wouldn't allow him to be quiet about it. Now we should go back." He dropped his arm and grinned at Daisuke. "For the sake of both our reputations, we probably shouldn't be too obvious in school."

Daisuke nodded vehemently. "Yeah. Good idea."

Takeru grinned and led them back out into the gym just in time for their second skirmish.

Determined to beat his new boyfriend and prove that he was the man, Daisuke tried his hardest. Completely focused on the game, and not thinking about Taichi at all, Daisuke knew he was doing his best. (Of course, it helped that Taichi was now standing at the far end of the gym and his shorts were less obviously distracting, but Daisuke liked to think it had more to do with moving on.)

But when the last whistle sounded, and Takeru's ball was up in the air, Daisuke couldn't reach it to stop it from going through the hoop. Takeru had scored again, and his team had won again, and Daisuke was left to feel insufficient, and far from the man. As he showered and got ready for his next class, he made a mental note to be sure to make up for it on their first date.