Finding Obsolescence
A Day in the Life (and then some)
by Lavender Feline
Chapter 6
Mashing buttons on the controller violently, Daisuke jerked from left to right. Link was just about to beat the final temple. Then it was on to the boss fight, and-
"Daisuke! Get the door!"
Scowling at the television, Daisuke yelled back, "No! I'm winning!"
"Well I'm on the phone! So you get it!" Jun's voice yelled back.
"NO! You get it! It's probly someone for you anyway." So close, so close, just a few more hits, and...
The TV went blank. Daisuke stared, jaw dropped, for a long moment at the black screen before looking down at his PlayStation. Jun's foot was resting on the power button.
"No, YOU get it." She smirked, walking away, going back to her conversation on her phone.
"Wha... you... you have the CORDLESS phone! You could have gotten it! " Daisuke glared after her, wondering if his parents would really notice if she disappeared without a trace.
Then he heard it, too. There was a knock at the door. Planning to kill her after he'd sent the intruder away so that there'd be no witnesses to his heinous crime, Daisuke hopped up and went to the door, scowling. After all, whoever was at the door was partially to blame for the fact that Link had just DIED.
Takeru smiled when the door swung open. "Are you ready to go?"
Daisuke glared at him further. "Go where?"
Smiling a bit less, Takeru replied, "On our date. Remember? The one we set after school yesterday..."
"Our..." Daisuke thought for a long moment. "Our date! Oh, man, I forgot!"
"Nice to know I'm that important," Takeru said, grinning.
"Sorry." Daisuke scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "I'll uh... just change, and..." He glanced down at the dirty sweatpants and old baggy t-shirt he was wearing. He had been planning to spend a nice quiet Saturday afternoon playing video games, undisturbed by such things as 'going out' or 'cleanliness'.
"Unless you want to be seen in public like that." Takeru smirked. "Really, Daisuke, I think it's you!"
"Shut the hell up." Daisuke scowled and turned to dash down the hall. "It'll just take me a second!"
In his room, Daisuke found a clean pair of shorts, a clean t-shirt that actually fit him, and as an afterthought, clean underwear. 'Just in case,' he thought, blushing a bit and pulling his clothes on.
He glanced in the mirror, running a comb through his hair. 'So, maybe Takeru's not exactly my type. But he's an okay guy, I guess... so I might as well enjoy it, right?' With a grin, Daisuke dashed back down the hall where Takeru was waiting.
The blond boy was peering at some photos that were hanging on the wall. "You were cute."
Daisuke scowled, glancing at the picture Takeru was looking at. "Damnit, I told my parents to take that down!" He yanked the photo off the wall and glared at it.
"Why? I think you look great." Takeru chuckled, trying to put the photo back.
"No! Anyway, I was just a baby, it's not my fault they did this to me!" Daisuke walked over to the couch and stuck the framed photo under a cushion, hiding it neatly.
"Don't worry, Daisuke, all parents take embarrassing naked baby photos of their children," Takeru said reassuringly.
"...Really?" Daisuke grinned, feeling slightly better and much less embarrassed.
"Yes, but most of them don't put those right next to the front door for the whole world to see," Takeru finished, grinning evilly. "Or maybe that's just the best picture they had of you?"
"Sh-shut up!" Daisuke glared at him. "I'm not gonna go out with you if you're gonna be all-"
"Okay, okay," Takeru said, chuckling. "Come on. I'm hungry, aren't you? We can get some lunch."
Smiling again at the thought of food, Daisuke nodded. "Okay. Lunch sounds good." He slipped on his shoes and followed Takeru out the door.
The walk to the ground floor was quiet. Neither boy said anything. Neither boy looked at the other. Both boys just stared at their feet and continued down the stairs. Daisuke began to wonder if this was such a good idea after all.
'Takeru is my friend. He said so. So this shouldn't be so weird, right? I mean,' Daisuke finally glanced out of the corner of his eye at Takeru as they reached the front door and stepped out into the warm sunny day. 'I can just act like we're friends. Yeah! I can just forget the whole date thing! That's all dating is, right? Being friends and making out! So... so I can do that. Yeah. It's no big deal. And the making out part,' Daisuke blushed faintly, looking back at the ground. 'That'll be okay. I mean, Takeru is pretty cute, so... by the time we get to that... it'll be really easy and normal! So I'll just... act normal. Totally normal. And relaxed! Totally normal and relaxed.'
Takeru reached out and put an arm around Daisuke's shoulders.
Daisuke jumped. "Agh!" He yanked away, giving Takeru a wide eyed frightened scare. "D-don't do things like that all of a sudden!"
Takeru looked confused. "Well, we are on a date... aren't we?"
"Yeah, but..." Daisuke wrinkled his brow, disheartened. 'I thought I just figured all this stuff out! He's not supposed to... DO stuff! Not when I decided we were gonna be normal! ...Damn him!'
"Then we should act like it." Takeru smiled and wrapped his arm back around Daisuke's shoulders. "See? This isn't bad."
Daisuke felt his face go pink as he saw people walking by and giving them strange looks. "Y-yeah... that isn't so bad." He reached up and put his own arm over Takeru's shoulders.
Takeru winced, bending over slightly. "Daisuke... you're pulling my arm."
"Huh?" Daisuke dropped his arm and frowned. "But... but you just said-"
"We can't both do that," Takeru said, laughing. "Your arm should go around my waist, see?"
"Then let me do the shoulder thing! You can do something else!" Daisuke pulled away again, nervous.
"Why?" Takeru blinked at him. "I am taller than you, so-"
"You are not!" Daisuke folded his arms. "You are NOT taller than me!"
"Daisuke, I'm visibly taller than you." Takeru looked amused.
"...Not if you count my hair!" Daisuke yelled back, pointing to his hair. "See!"
"...I don't think hair counts. Anyway, what's the big deal?" Takeru asked, looking innocent.
"The... the big deal... is 'cause... that's how... that's how GIRLS do it!" Daisuke blurted out, blushing.
"That's how girls do what?" Takeru's amused expression faded into one of confusion.
"The waist thing! Girls always put their arm around a guy's waist and guys always put their arm around the girl's shoulders!" Daisuke retorted, feeling smug. "And I'm not a girl!"
"Neither am I," Takeru said, clearly repressing a laugh. "But we can't both have an arm around each other's shoulders, it's uncomfortable. And it has nothing to do with masculinity, Daisuke, it's just height. So relax, okay?"
Daisuke blushed and looked down. "Oh." He felt stupid. 'Of course it's 'cause of height... and I guess Takeru is a little taller than me...' "I guess... that's okay, then." He stepped back next to Takeru and tentatively put his arm around the other boy's waist, feeling only somewhat weird about it.
Once Takeru's arm was back around Daisuke's shoulders they set off again. Takeru was smiling, apparently happy and having a good time. Daisuke, on the other hand, looked like he'd just eaten a bug. His eyes focused on each face that passed them on the sidewalk, measuring their response to seeing two boys walk together like this. Some people ignored them, and that was okay. Some people looked like they though it was cute, and he guessed that was alright. Some people looked upset, and that pissed him off. However, he kept his cool, until they got to the bus.
Flashing his bus pass and finding a seat next to Takeru, Daisuke stared out the window. Their arms to themselves finally, Daisuke relaxed. This would be okay. This would be just fine. Then he felt Takeru's hand on his leg. His eyes widened and he looked down sharply. The other boy's hand was resting on his bare knee innocently. Looking from the offending hand, all the way up the arm, to Takeru's face, Daisuke looked shocked and confused.
But Takeru's expression was blank. In fact, his eyes were focused across the bus, looking out the far windows.
Daisuke bit his lower lip, trying to relax and ignore the strange feeling of another person's hand on his leg. 'He's just resting it there... these seats are kinda small,' Daisuke thought. 'Yeah, that's probably all. I'll just make more room for him and... his hand.' Sweatdropping, Daisuke scooted over all the way until he was pressed tightly against the wall of the bus, his cheek against the window.
The hand was still there. Noticing the sudden absence of Daisuke's side against his, Takeru looked over at him. "Something wrong?"
"No... just thought... you needed room," Daisuke said, glancing down at the hand and then back at Takeru's eyes. 'C'mon, you just needed room, right!'
Takeru grinned. "Uncomfortable?"
"No! I mean, this wall is really comfy! Really!" Daisuke smiled nervously, leaning his head against the window. "See?"
"No, I meant with me." Takeru finally pulled the hand away. "It's okay if you're nervous-"
"I am not nervous!" Daisuke said sharply. "I'm just... you looked... squished, so..."
"Okay, then." Smiling, Takeru put the hand back. But this time, he also leaned over and rested his head on Daisuke's shoulder.
Daisuke froze, every muscle in his body tensing. 'Wh... what's he think he's doing!' His body frozen, Daisuke glanced at the people on the bus that he could see. Once again, a few people ignored them, a few people looked like they thought it was cute, and a few people looked disgusted. This time, however, a group of schoolgirls a few seats towards the front saw them. And the schoolgirls laughed.
Feeling his face warm with a blush, Daisuke trembled slightly. He hated being laughed at. He could deal with people thinking he was weird, but not this. More than anything, he hated being laughed at. He looked away, trying to ignore them, but their giggles just grew louder.
Takeru didn't seem to notice, as he was too busy rubbing his hand gently over Daisuke's leg.
Not sure how else to react, Daisuke finally jumped up, knocking Takeru off of him and sending the blond boy falling to the floor. "Shut the hell up!" he yelled, pointing at them. "You think we're funny?"
The girls blushed, their eyes went wide, and they looked away, whispering to each other.
Grumbling, Daisuke sat back down, folding his arms and scowling at the seat in front of them. 'Stupid girls...'
"Daisuke?" Takeru asked, pulling himself back onto the seat with the help of an older man sitting across from them. "You okay?"
"Huh?" Daisuke looked back at his date and blushed. "Oh! Sorry!"
"I'm fine." Takeru sat back next to him, this time leaving his hands on his own lap. "But what did you do that for?"
"They... they were laughing at us," Daisuke mumbled, suddenly feeling stupid. "Never mind. It doesn't matter. ...Sorry," he added as an afterthought.
The rest of the ride was silent. The other commuters on the bus seemed too shocked by Daisuke's outburst to talk amongst themselves, and the girls who'd laughed at them got off at the next stop. Takeru, for his part, said nothing more. Daisuke fixed his gaze out the window and watched as buildings passed, trying not to think.
Finally arriving at their destination, Takeru and Daisuke made their way off the bus. Once they were back in the sunlight, Takeru took Daisuke's hand. Trying not to overreact this time, Daisuke responded with his own hand, their fingers intertwining as they walked down the sidewalk.
'This is okay. This kinda... feels nice, actually.' Daisuke grinned a bit, relaxing for the first time that afternoon. He glanced at Takeru and stared at him, considering. 'Yeah. He is cute. And... his hand feels pretty good. And I don't feel weird around him! ...Well... not especially. Maybe... this could be good.' Daisuke's grin widened and he squeezed Takeru's hand gently.
Takeru glanced at him and smiled back.
Unsure as to what to do now that Takeru was looking at him, Daisuke averted his gaze quickly and relaxed his grip. "So, um... where's this place we're gonna eat?"
"It's just up the street a ways," Takeru said, nodding in that direction. "I hope you like Italian food."
"I like all food." Daisuke grinned again, feeling better now that he wasn't being stared at. "Where'd you hear about it?"
"Oniichan told me it was a good place for dates," Takeru said, grinning.
"You... asked him about date spots, huh?" Daisuke asked. He wasn't sure why the idea of Yamato knowing he was dating Takeru bothered him, but it did.
"Yes, just last night. He told me this was the best time for it, and even made reservations for us! I guess he knows someone that works here so he could get us a table at short notice," Takeru said, leading them towards large polished wood doors. "This is it."
Daisuke's eyes widened. "This um... looks pretty fancy." 'Crap! Reservations! Lookit this place! It must cost a crapload of money!'
"Yeah, but Oniichan insisted that it was the best place." Takeru pushed the doors open and they entered the building.
The inside of the restaurant was air conditioned, Daisuke noticed, and he shivered slightly at the sudden change in temperature. There were red leather booths circling the outside of the room, and large tables with fancy lacey tablecloths in the center. Mirrors ran along one wall, and hanging pots dangled next to each window, dangling vines from the plants inside down above the tables there. Most of all, Daisuke noticed the smell. Cheese, garlic, herbs, he could smell them all. He licked his lips and grinned.
"This is really nice!" he said, taking it all in.
"Mmhmm," Takeru agreed, nodding. "But there's something odd."
"What?" Daisuke frowned. "You don't like it? I think it's pretty swanky, but-"
"Where are all the customers?" Takeru cut him off, giving him a look.
"What do you mean, they're..." Daisuke looked around the room again. "...not here." He frowned again. "Well, maybe it's a slow day?"
"Niichan said it was always busy at lunch time. He said he had to make us reservations." Takeru frowned. "Something isn't right here."
"Hello, sirs, would you like a booth?" A man asked from behind them.
Daisuke jumped nervously, whipping his head around to see who'd just snuck up on them.
Takeru smiled at the waiter. "Yes, please. We have reservations,"
"Yes sir, you're Takaishi-san, are you not?" The waiter smiled, picking up menus from the small podium next to the entrance. "Let me show you to your table."
Takeru frowned and followed him quietly. Daisuke, on the other hand, had no intention of being quiet.
"Hey, how come it's in his name? What about my name?" Daisuke scowled after the waiter, following them to the booth. 'I'm NOT a girl, damnit!' "And what's going on here, huh? Where's everybody else!"
Takeru sat down on one side of the booth and the waiter placed a menu on the other side, indicating for Daisuke to sit as well. The redhead did so, albeit suspiciously, and slid into his place. "Somethin' weird is going on here."
"I will return in a moment with some beverages." The waiter turned and walked towards the doors that presumably led to the kitchen. The two boys were left in the silent restaurant.
Daisuke looked around, frowning, before leaning across the table and whispering to Takeru. "I've heard about stuff like this."
Takeru blinked at him. "What do you mean?"
"Y'know... we're gonna be fattened up. Like those kids. And they're gonna eat us." Daisuke's expression was serious.
Takeru rolled his eyes, grinning. "I don't think that's what's going on, Daisuke."
Daisuke frowned and sat back. "I guess... maybe."
"Maybe," Takeru began.
"I know!" Daisuke said, sitting forward again, eyes wide.
Takeru sighed. "Yes?"
"It's one of those TV shows! Y'know... with the secret cameras!" he hissed loudly, half whispering.
"I doubt it, Daisuke, why would anyone want to put us on television?" Takeru ran a hand through his hair. "I'm afraid it's something far worse than that." He sighed heavily.
"Well," Daisuke said, sounding disappointed. "If we're not gonna be eaten and we're not gonna be on TV, what do you think's goin' on?" He sat back and folded his arms, nose in the air, daring Takeru to come up with something better.
"I think my dear brother set us up." Taichi scowled, peering around Daisuke towards the front doors.
Daisuke scoffed. "No way! Why would Yamato-san wanna do this? I mean, maybe if he wanted us to have a nice quiet lunch? But I don't think he'd go to all the trouble just for that."
"No. But he would..." Takeru sighed heavily. "If he wanted to spy on us."
Daisuke opened his mouth to reply but was cut off.
"Hey, Yamato, look who's here!"
Daisuke's jaw dropped, hitting the table. 'Oh, no. Oh please no. Don't do this to me!'
Takeru gave a sickly smile and nodded. "Taichi-san. Funny running into you here. And you, too, Oniichan."
Daisuke sunk quickly, sliding as far down into the booth as he could, hoping he could slink underneath the tablecloth before Taichi or Yamato saw him.
"Hey, you're here with Daisuke?" Taichi's voice asked from above the table. "At least, I think that's Daisuke."
Daisuke squeaked and sunk lower, embarrassed to realize that his hair had still been sticking out from under the tablecloth.
Takeru sighed and lifted the tablecloth, giving Daisuke a tired look. "It's too late, Daisuke. They've found you. You might as well come out."
Forcing a smile, Daisuke slipped back out from under the table and sat back in the booth. "I uh... dropped my fork."
"This fork?" Yamato asked, holding the bundle of utensils that was next to Daisuke's plate up.
"...Um... yeah," Daisuke mumbled, snatching it back and holding it in his hand like a weapon. "My mistake."
Taichi smirked and nodded. "Right. So, what're you guys doin' here?"
"I don't know, Taichi-san, what are you doing here?" Takeru asked in a tired tone of voice.
"Well, y'know, Yamato was gonna bring his widdle Ken-chan out, but boy genius had to study or some crap. SO! I came along!" Taichi smiled widely.
Daisuke couldn't help it when his lips turned up into a small grin. "Couldn't resist the food, huh?"
"Damn right." Taichi nodded. "I usually don't have an excuse to blow money on a place this nice, but when my good buddy Yamato is in trouble," Taichi said, wrapping an arm around Yamato, "I had to come to his rescue."
Rolling his eyes, Yamato reached up and brushed Taichi's hand from his shoulder. "Yes, Taichi. Whatever you say."
Daisuke's eyes widened at the motion and turned to give Takeru an accusing look. 'Hey, man, if Yamato-san doesn't put up with that shoulder thing then I shouldn't have to! Yamato-san's way girlier than me!'
Happily ignoring the strange looks Daisuke was giving him, Takeru nodded at his brother. "And why did you have reservations to come here today, Niichan?"
"Well, I promised Ken I would take him out." Yamato gave Takeru a wide eyed innocence look. "I date too, you know."
"At the same time and the same place that I do?" Takeru asked dryly.
"Oh, Takeru, I just forgot, that's all! And anyway, it was easier to make two reservations at once!" Yamato slipped into the booth next to Daisuke. "But since we're all here, why don't we all eat together?"
Daisuke made a face and scooted away from Yamato. "You forgot and it was easier? ...That doesn't make sense, and-"
"Don't worry about it, Daisuke, Yamato's just bad at explaining." Taichi smiled and slipped in next to Takeru. "So, what're you guys gonna order?"
"Hey!" Daisuke scowled, unhappy with the sudden seating arrangements. 'If they're gonna break up my date, can't I sit next to Taichi-senpai!'
"Yeah?" Taichi asked. The three other boys stared at Daisuke, waiting.
"Um... well... y'know. How come there's no one else here?" Daisuke grinned nervously.
"Oh! That. I know the owner," Yamato replied, picking up his menu. "He owed me a few favors, so I asked him to book the whole place for this afternoon for us." He smiled at Takeru, looking pleased. "Isn't it nice to have the place all to ourselves?"
Takeru grinned back weakly. "Gee, thanks, Oniichan."
Yamato beamed and looked down at his menu. "Hmm... I wonder what I'll order..."
Daisuke sighed. 'This is some kinda set up, I just know it. Oh, well... at least now there won't be any weird date stuff goin' on. I don't know if I coulda handled any more of that stuff.' Noticing that everyone else was looking at their menus, Daisuke decided his attention could be focused on food as well. He picked up the large leather bound menu and opened it, and proceeded to yelp.
Everyone at the table jumped at the sound. It was a sound they would later decide was that of a cat being run over. "Daisuke?" someone asked. Daisuke wasn't sure who's voice that was, he was too far in shock.
"Th...the menu..." he finally croaked.
"Yes?" Yamato leaned over, glancing at Daisuke's menu. "What's wrong with it?"
"Wh...what's WRONG with it!" Daisuke dropped the menu onto the table and pointed to an entry. "A bowl of soup is $15!"
Yamato blinked at him clulessly. "Yes."
Takeru grinned. "I told you it was a little pricey."
"A... a little pricey!" Daisuke gaped at him. "A little pricey is ramen that comes in a real bowl instead of styrofoam! This is... this is crazy! No soup is that good!"
Taichi was laughing. "Yeah, that's what I thought, too, but-" He stopped when Yamato and Takeru glared at him. "Y'know. It is pretty good soup."
Daisuke sulked miserably. "I... guess I can just get an appetizer," he mumbled, not wanting to turn the page to see what the actual meals cost.
"I can pay, Daisuke," Takeru said, smiling.
Daisuke's eyes went wide and he looked up, first checking Taichi's expression before moving on to Takeru. "No way."
"No, it's no trouble at-"
"NO!" Daisuke exclaimed. "No way! I can... just... get something smaller, and..."
"Oh, you're both ridiculous," Yamato said, smiling. "Taichi and I are going to pay for your food. It's your first date and we interrupted. Right, Taichi?"
Taichi was gaping at him. "Are you kidding!"
"Taichi," Yamato said in a warning tone of voice. "It's their first date and we interrupted."
Scowling, Taichi nodded. "Yeah, I guess. But I'm paying for Takeru. He eats less."
"Fine." Yamato smirked. "I'm paying for Daisuke. Takeru has expensive taste."
Watching as Taichi shot Yamato a glare before turning back to his menu, Daisuke sighed and went back to his own. 'Free food is good, I guess... can't turn that down... and Takeru doesn't seem to care.'
A moment later the waiter returned to take their orders, and placed in front of each of them, two goblets. One contained water, Daisuke knew that. 'But what's that weird yellow stuff?' He frowned peering at the glass. 'It's kinda bubbly but that's not soda...'
"Daisuke?" Yamato nudged him. "It's your turn to order."
Yanking his head up sharply, Daisuke grinned. "Oh, right! I just want the spaghetti."
The other boys stared at him.
"You... just want spaghetti? Daisuke, this place is pretty fancy, so-" Takeru began.
"I like spaghetti!" Daisuke frowned. "What's wrong with it? Anyway, I don't know what all this other crud is!"
Taichi smirked, shooing the waiter away. "Shoulda said I'd pay for Daisuke," he muttered.
Takeru and Yamato chuckled in response.
Daisuke frowned at them. 'What's the big deal?' He turned back to his glass of funny looking liquid and lifted it, peering into it suspiciously.
"Oh, good, this is just what I asked for," Yamato said, taking a sip from his own glass.
Taichi took a long swig of his and shrugged. "I guess it's okay."
"Taichi, you must have no taste buds," Takeru said, smirking at him. "Did my brother's awful cooking ruin them or something?"
"MY awful cooking?" Yamato glared at Takeru.
"Just kidding!" Takeru said, taking a sip of his own glass. "Hey, this is pretty good."
Daisuke watched this exchange with wide eyes. 'Guess I should try it, too.' Lifting the glass, he took a long gulp, and even managed to set the glass back down before coughing violently.
"Hey, are you okay?" Takeru sat forward, concerned.
"Did you choke?" Yamato patted Daisuke on the back, lifting the glass of water to his lips.
Daisuke took the glass and chugged down the entire contents before setting it down, gasping for air. "What... what was that stuff!"
Yamato blinked at him, confused. "That was a chardonnay."
"A charda-what?" Daisuke wrinkled his nose at him. "Is that even a real word?"
"It was wine, Daisuke." Takeru smirked.
Seeing how amused everyone was, Daisuke sunk into his seat a bit again. "Oh. I've never had it before."
Taichi chuckled and reached across the table, snatching Daisuke's glass away. "Then you probably shouldn't drink anymore." He poured the rest into his own glass. "Don't want you getting drunk so Takeru can take advantage of you."
Daisuke scowled at him, blushing brightly. "I'm not drunk!"
"No, but you would be," Taichi responded, drinking more of the wine.
Takeru rolled his eyes and shrugged at Daisuke, grinning.
Daisuke stared back at him suspiciously. 'Take advantage of me! What's that supposed to mean!'
Yamato chuckled and turned to Daisuke, smiling sweetly. "So, you asked Takeru out, hm?
Daisuke leaned away from him nervously. "Um... yeah. Yesterday."
"How sweet." Yamato's smile widened. "And the both of you are happy?"
"...Yes?" Daisuke squeaked, leaning further away. 'He's scary like this!'
"Oniichan, be nice," Takeru said, scowling at him. "Daisuke isn't going to do anything."
"No, but are you?" Taichi said, giving Takeru a sharp look.
Everyone was silent for a long moment, but Daisuke's mind was racing. 'Yamato-san is worried 'cause Takeru's his little brother, right? But why's Taichi-senpai worried? ...Oh, man, he thinks of me as his little brother, doesn't he!' Daisuke sighed heavily and hung his head.
Taichi laughed. "I was kidding! Just kidding!"
Takeru relaxed and shook his head. "You're not funny."
"I'm sorry, Takeru," Yamato said, grinning sheepishly. "I just worry about you."
"Is that why you came here to spy on me?" Takeru asked, eyebrow raised.
"I... I didn't do that! I told you, it was-"
"Yeah, I know. An accident, only on purpose." Takeru grinned. "You're bad at lying, Oniichan."
Yamato sighed softly. "I am, huh?"
"Terrible," Taichi said, nodding. "Really terrible."
Yamato frowned at them both. "Well, forgive me for worrying about my little brother!"
"Hear that, Daisuke? I told you he came to spy on us."
Daisuke nodded slightly, still staring at the tablecloth and not looking up. "Yeah."
"Are you okay?" Takeru frowned and cocked his head at Daisuke.
'A little brother... that's all he thinks of me as.' Daisuke's gaze finally lifted, meeting Taichi's. The older boy grinned at him. 'I guess... that's kinda good. I mean,' he finally grinned back. 'At least that means I'm somethin' special, right? Not like it matters, anyway! I've got a cute boyfriend and I like Takeru, not Taichi-senpai.' Daisuke finally smiled properly and turned back to Takeru. "Yeah, sorry, just spacin' out!"
Takeru grinned at him. "Sorry my brother ruined our date."
"Nah, we get free food!" Daisuke beamed. "How's that ruined?"
Takeru nodded. "That's true."
"Hear that, Yamato? They just want us here for our money!" Taichi said, looking offended.
Yamato smirked. "And you're surprised why?"
"I'm not." Taichi smirked back. "But you owe me for this. It was your idea, blondie."
Takeru snickered. "He's got a point there, Oniichan."
Daisuke nodded. "It was your idea, right?"
Yamato looked flustered. "Well... yes! But Taichi chose to come along! So he still has to help pay!"
Taichi sighed sadly. "Oh, fine. You guys better appreciate it."
"We do!" Daisuke said, beaming.
Finally returning, the waiter pulled a small dolly behind him, on which were various plates full of good smelling food. Daisuke perked up and peered at them. "Whoa, lookit all the stuff!"
A plate of crab alfredo was placed before Taichi, chicken parmesan before Takeru, and a large bowl of minestrone before Yamato. Daisuke looked curiously at all their dishes for a moment, but was happy when a huge plate of spaghetti was put before him. The waiter left, leaving a plate full of garlic bread in the middle of the table, and refilling their water glasses.
Licking his lips, Daisuke stared in awe at his spaghetti. More noodles than he could eat in a week, delicious smelling red sauce, and three huge meatballs on top. His stomach growled loudly.
Taichi laughed and Takeru grinned at him. Yamato shook his head. "I still think you should have gotten something nicer."
"Why?" Daisuke asked, using his fork to get a mouthful of noodles. He chewed on them for a moment, then slurped noisily, the noodles sucking into his mouth quickly and leaving red sauce on his chin and the tip of his nose. He chewed for a minute as everyone stared at him, and then he swallowed and continued, "This is the good stuff. You can't do that with soup."
Yamato sighed and handed Daisuke a napkin.
"What's this for?" He frowned at it.
Takeru laughed softly. "Your face is a mess, Daisuke."
"Oh." Daisuke grinned, licking all the way around his face, wiping the bit of sauce from his nose and sucking it off his finger. "That better?"
Yamato shook his head. "Such graceful table manners, hm?"
Taichi and Takeru both stared quietly, expressionless.
"...AHEM," Yamato said loudly. "Such graceful table manners, HM?"
Taichi and Takeru jumped, both nodding. "Yeah."
Daisuke shrugged, going back to his food. "Whatever, you do it your way and I'll do it mine." He slurped up another bunch of noodles, then his eyes widened. "Ooh! Do they have desserts, too?"
Yamato sighed heavily.
"Wish you hadn't come now, Niichan?" Takeru asked, smirking.
"Just... let me eat," Yamato replied, lifting his spoon. "The point was to have a quiet lunch.
"Yeah, right," Taichi mumbled, his mouth half full of food.
"Taichi!" Yamato moaned.
"What?" Taichi's eyes were wide. "What'd I do?"
"I'm never eating with you people again," he grumbled.
Takeru chuckled. "Sure, niichan, whatever you say."