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

by Lavender Feline

Smug. That was the word, Daisuke thought, fit him best today. Slinging his backpack over his shoulder and walking with his head held high, he made his way to school. Sure, he was a little tired. He had gotten home late last night after all. He smirked and scratched his nose sheepishly. Now he knew why people (Taichi!) had so much sex. It was fun.

And hey, now he had plenty of experience. After all, the first Monday after he'd been rejected by Taichi he'd picked up a random boy from his class. He hadn't even known the boy's name before then, but he knew him a lot better now. Everyone avoided that kid, Daisuke had noticed, and he was pretty sure it was because he wore his clothes tight and hung around with the wrong crowd. 'So, maybe I'm part of the wrong crowd now!' Daisuke laughed and kicked a pebble along the sidewalk, thinking about their little encounter. Sure, a bathroom stall wasn't the best place for a blowjob, but he'd enjoyed it. And he was pretty sure the other guy liked it when he'd jerked him off. At least, the loud noises he made made Daisuke think he might not be so bad at this sex stuff after all.

Word traveled quickly. By the end of the day he'd already made out with two other guys, one of which was a senior! Sure, exchanging saliva wasn't sex, but it was fun anyway. And then he'd felt confident. So confident in fact, that by that weekend he'd actually done it. Daisuke blushed and looked down at his feet, biting his lower lip. So, he hadn't been perfect. But being the top was really hard work! He wondered how people (Taichi!) kept doing it all the time. It was exhausting... but worth it in the end, he supposed. He didn't want anyone going back there again any time soon. Not after what happened with his senpai.

But it had been quite a thrill when he'd gotten that phone call. The boy had called him. Where had he gotten his home number? Daisuke wasn't sure, but it didn't matter. "Wanna come sleep over?" the boy had asked. Daisuke knew what he'd meant. When he'd arrived the boy was already half undressed, wearing only his underwear. Those were removed quickly. After making out in the doorway for a few minutes, Daisuke found himself on top of the other boy on the couch. He shuddered at the memory. No, it hadn't been perfect. But it'd felt good.

The only award part, he thought, was when they were done. The boy had grinned at him and cleaned himself up. "See you at school," was all he said. Daisuke had felt odd walking home alone after what they'd done. There hadn't been a goodbye kiss or anything. He'd felt... empty.

'But that's just 'cause I'm new at it! That's all!'

Gritting his teeth, Daisuke looked back up and saw the school in the distance. It was Monday again, and Daisuke was ready to face high school for the first time again, this time as his new and improved self. His blatantly gay and not-liking-anyone self! Not because of the sex. He'd been fooling around for a week now. But because... he was happy now! He was comfortable and happy! He didn't need a cute boyfriend. He just needed hot guys to fuck around with! And when he entered the school that morning, Daisuke was sure he'd found his place in the world. So what if some people didn't approve? They just didn't understand.

"Daisuke-kun!" Hikari called after him as he walked down the halls to their classroom.

Daisuke turned and glanced at her. 'What's she want?'

Hikari smiled when she reached him. "How was your weekend?" She looked nervous.

"Good. I fucked a guy." He smirked. "How was yours?"

There it was again. That look. Like she disapproved of him and worse, she was worried about him.

Daisuke's eyes narrowed. "You're not gonna lecture me." It was a statement, not a question.

"No, Daisuke-kun, I'm just-" she began, looking suddenly upset.

"Worried?" Daisuke laughed. "Why? I'm having a great time! Lots happier now, too. You should try it!" Daisuke said, grinning smugly.

"Hey, Daisuke," a boy's voice said.

Daisuke turned and spotted one of the many older boys he'd now made out with passing him. The older boy winked at him. Daisuke grinned back.

"You... are using protection... right?" Hikari asked cautiously.

Daisuke frowned. "Yeah. See?" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of condoms. "Always be prepared." He smirked and turned again. "See you in class."

He felt a tinge of guilt in his gut. He'd treated all of his friends like that since the week before. Even Hikari-chan. Even Takeru. Even Ken. He frowned, remembering the conversation they'd had only a few days earlier. Ken had called to talk. That in itself was strange. Daisuke always called Ken, not the other way around. Not that Ken wouldn't call him. It's just that Daisuke was so enthusiastic about their nightly conversations that Ken never had a chance to dial first.

But this time two days had passed since they'd talked. The night after the... thing with Taichi, Daisuke hadn't felt much like picking up the phone. And the next night he hadn't felt like talking to anyone. After all, what would his friends think of his new... hobbies? But on the third night, Ken had called. He'd asked right away why Daisuke hadn't called him first.

Daisuke sighed, remembering how he'd snapped at his friend. 'Why didn't you call me?' he'd asked bitterly. Ken was taken aback, he knew. But he hadn't stopped there. 'I've been getting blowjobs. Guess you're not the only one.' But when Ken had asked if it was because he'd gotten a new boyfriend, or maybe he and Takeru had gotten back together, Daisuke had snapped. 'Boyfriend? Who the fuck needs a boyfriend!'

It had gone downhill from there. It was depressing to think about. Daisuke decided he wouldn't. Not right now. Right now he was supposed to be happy.

Continuing down the hall, Daisuke knew that people were staring at him. Okay, so maybe he'd gotten a reputation. So? At least this time it was one he deserved. And he'd worked hard at it, too! So now when he heard people whispering when he passed, he knew what it was about. And he wasn't ashamed.

'Why should I be ashamed? Not like I'm hurting anyone. And anyway, lots of cool people have random sex!' Daisuke's smile froze in place when he saw a familiar head of hair bobbing through the crowd. 'Like him. What's he doing here?' He'd sort of assumed that Taichi had quit, or that something had happened. After all, his senpai hadn't been seen in the school since... that day.

"Not sick anymore?" Daisuke asked as Taichi passed him. He forced a grin, trying to look much more relaxed than he felt.

Taichi tensed and turned to find Daisuke leaning against the wall, grinning at him. "No," Taichi muttered. "All well now. You?"

Daisuke shrugged. "Just thought it was weird that you didn't show all last week. Couldn't you lose your job?"

Taichi smirked half-heartedly. "Can't help it when you get sick."

"Funny. I didn't catch anything. And we were pretty close that day," Daisuke said, smile widening to show his teeth.

Taichi stared at him quietly for a moment. "Heard you've made friends with a certain group."

"Yeah. They all speak highly of you, of course." Daisuke's smile faded.

"You left these at my house," Taichi said, pulling something out of his pocket.

Daisuke stared at what was in Taichi's hand. 'My goggles...' He reached for them instinctively, then yanked his hand back. 'No! I don't care.' "I don't want them anymore. Keep 'em."

Now Taichi look hurt. He hesitated, then pocketed the goggles again. "If you change your mind-"

"Why would I? I'm all grown up now, anyway. What use do I have for those?" Daisuke forced himself not to smile. 'Wow, I sound really evil! Cool!'

Taichi grinned sadly. "Yeah. Guess you have."

"Only thanks to you." Daisuke smiled now, brightly. "Thanks, Taichi-senpai!"

"I have to go get ready." Taichi turned and stalked down the halls, quickly leaving Daisuke behind.

'Serves him right. ...I don't need those stupid old goggles. I don't.' He frowned and looked around. 'What'd he mean 'get ready'? Get ready for what? Am I missing something?'

But the moment he'd entered the classroom he knew. 'Sports Day,' Daisuke thought, groaning. Sports Day was his favorite day of the year usually! It was better than Christmas! An entire day dedicated to playing games? Class against class, brother against sister, this was the day for healthy competition! Races, soccer, even weird stuff like the bread eating competition! And, Daisuke didn't like to admit it but, he sort of even liked the traditional dance that they always did at the end. Not that he was any good at it. But somehow this year he'd forgotten about it.

'Guess I was thinking about other stuff,' Daisuke thought, hesitating in the doorway. Hikari and Takeru were sitting together and talking, and the boy he'd jerked off the week before even had a few people to hang out with. But he didn't. He'd already blown off his friends, and he knew they'd treat him weird. Daisuke sighed and backed out of the doorway. He had to go home. There was no reason for him to be here.

He felt his new pride fading fast as he walked down the halls to go back the way he'd come. 'Some friends,' Daisuke thought, sulking. 'All I've heard from them since last week is 'you've changed' and 'is something wrong?' and 'this isn't like you'. How do they know what's like me! They're all able to live their stupid mushy lives, holding hands and kissing, good for them. But I can't... I can't do that. No one wants...' Daisuke blushed softly and sighed, staring down at the floor as he slowly walked along. '...to hold my hand.'

"You asshole!" a girl's voice cried.

Daisuke frowned and jerked his head up. He knew that noise. It was all too familiar. That was - but it couldn't be.

"I'm going to kill you!" it cried again.

'It IS! I've heard that too many times to not recognize it! It's aniki!' Daisuke sprinted down the hall to where he could hear the voice more clearly. 'The boys' bathroom!' Daisuke wrinkled his nose. 'What's she doing here!' Yanking the door open, Daisuke stepped inside quickly only to be faced with something he never thought he'd see.

His sister was pointing a finger in Taichi's face - who was leaning back away from her as far as he could, pressing back against a sink. Ken was standing next to Jun with his arms folded, and Yamato was glaring at Taichi as well.

'What the hell!' Daisuke gaped at them, but they hadn't noticed him. He wasn't surprised about that part. His sister was distracting when she was like this. 'What are they all doing here!' Daisuke stepped back quickly, glad that the entryway to the bathroom was badly lit and in a corner. He hugged the wall and watched with wide eyes. 'Don't let them see me! Don't let them see me!'

Luckily for Daisuke, Jun was far too distracting for anyone to notice anything but her.

"What do you mean you didn't do anything! I know better! My poor little brother's been acting like some sort of... male slut!" Jun yelled at Taichi, jabbing his chest with her finger. "It had to be you!"

Daisuke scowled at them silently. 'I'm not a slut!'

Taichi winced at the jabbing. "Why does it have to be my fault! Can't he just have-"

"Just what, Taichi?" Yamato's voice asked, dry and cold. "Decided to be a big slut like you for fun?"

"It's not like him to act like this," Ken added softly, frowning. "And he told me not to lecture him because it's what you do, and no one lectures you."

"Hey!" Taichi frowned at them all. "I'm not a slut!"

"I'm gonna strangle you!" Jun yelled, grabbing the collar of Taichi's shirt. "My little brother's always been a brat, but at least if he's gay he'll be a CUTE brat! But now you ruined him! I found used condoms in the trash, you asshole! With... STUFF in them! He's been..." her eyes watered up. "He's been with people. Lots of different people from what I've heard, and- No one hurts my little brother!"

Daisuke blushed, his eyebrows raised. 'I dunno if I should be touched or freaked out... and used condoms? Those were just from practicing putting them on.' He sweatdropped. 'I wouldn't have sex at home! What does she think of me! And so what if I got a little turned on after I put them on... I had to know what it felt like with them, right?' He blushed and pouted.

"You have to do something," Yamato added.

"I can't! It has nothing to do with me!" Taichi said as Jun shook him violently.

"Of course it has something to do with you, Taichi-san," Ken said coldly. "Everything Daisuke does has something to do with you."

Shoving Jun off, Taichi looked guilty. "Look, I can't do anything. We had sex, but-"

"You raped my little brother!" Jun lunged for Taichi again, but Yamato and Ken held her off.

'Stupid girl! He wouldn't rape me! And... I'm not girly enough to be raped, either!' Daisuke pouted. 'What the hell does everyone think of me!'

"I didn't rape anyone! I asked him if he was okay with it and he said yes! ...I thought he understood, but..." Taichi frowned. "Anyway, it doesn't matter anymore. He doesn't like me. He even gave back the goggles."

"Taichi, if I have to I will kick your ass," Yamato said, glaring at his friend. "What kind of idiot are you! Of course he likes you!"

"No, he doesn't! He gave the goggles back, damnit! 'Course he doesn't like me!" Taichi looked at them like they were stupid.

"We could just let Jun-san go," Ken said in a tone of voice that made them all shudder. He was beginning to sound like a certain alter ego of his.

"It's not his fault," Daisuke said, feeling the words stick in his throat.

Everyone looked over suddenly to find Daisuke standing in the doorway.

Daisuke forced a grin. "Let him go. He didn't do anything wrong."

Taichi's eyes were huge. Jun looked slightly less rabid. Ken's evil glow faded. Yamato's disapproving scowl disappeared.

"This isn't 'cause of him." Daisuke laughed shortly. "Can't I just be having fun?"

Ken let go of Jun and approached Daisuke, giving him a pitying look. "But you aren't having fun."

Daisuke bit the inside of his cheek. He could feel Ken sensing his emotions. Damn jogress. He took a deep breath and cleared his mind as best he could. "I'm having loads of fun!"

Ken jerked back, as if Daisuke had just slammed a door in his face. "Daisuke..." he said softly, eyes large.

Yamato walked past, patting Daisuke on the shoulder. "If you need to talk, you know where I live. C'mon, Ken."

Ken frowned. "But..."

"We can't force him to talk to us." Yamato grinned at Daisuke. "Just be careful, okay?"

Daisuke forced a matching grin. "'Course!" He watched as his best friend and his best friend's boyfriend left together, hand in hand. It hurt to see. "What were you guys doing here, anyway?" He turned to give his sister a look. "Why are you at my school? In the BOYS bathroom!"

Jun gave him a hurt look. "Because I know you've been slutting around and-"

"I have not!" Daisuke glared at her. Ah, anger, much easier to deal with. Anger made sense. Anger was easy. "And anyway, you're the one that wanted me to crossdress! I didn't think you'd care!"

"Of course I care! You're my little brother!" Jun approached him, grinning sheepishly. "I know I haven't been there for you, but... I have to say something when you're in trouble. I have to do something."

"So you rounded up Ken and Yamato-san to attack Taichi-senpai!" Daisuke rolled his eyes. "Good job, neesan."

Jun scowled again. "Actually, that was coincidence. They were already on their way to kill him." She jerked her head at Taichi. "I just joined them. And anyway, it's sports day! I told you I was gonna come!"

Daisuke made a face. "I forgot it was today," he mumbled. He couldn't think of anything else to say.

"I noticed." Jun grinned. "So you'll stop doing this, right? Stop making us worry?"

Daisuke glared at her. "Why are you worried about me now, anyway! No one was worried about me before! Just fuck off!"

Jun slapped him. It wasn't a hard slap, nothing Daisuke couldn't handle. But it was enough to jar him. And he gaped at her, feeling his eyes water up from the sting.

"Stop being such a brat! Everyone is worried about you now and that's what matters! But if you wanna fuck yourself over some more, go ahead! I've done what I can!"

Daisuke watched, mouth hanging open, as his sister stormed out of the bathroom. "Wha..." He rubbed his cheek gently and turned back only to realize that Taichi was still there.

They stared at each other quietly. Neither made a move to leave or to speak. A full minute passed.

"Is it safe to come out now?" A boy peeked his head out from a stall, his eyes wide. "Is that scary girl gone!"

Daisuke looked over and sweatdropped. "Um... yeah. She's gone."

The boy came out of the stall and scratched the back of his head. "Sorry... just... she seemed kinda crazy so I hid. Didn't mean to listen in..."

Daisuke shrugged at him and watched as he left the bathroom quickly, obviously feeling awkward.

"I have to go home," Daisuke said, turning to leave as well.

"What about sports day?" Taichi asked, approaching him.

"I don't feel like playing games today." Daisuke opened the door to leave. "Like I told them, you didn't do anything. So just... stop looking so guilty. It makes you look dumb."

Taichi's eyes widened. "Never heard you talk like this before."

"Guess I never felt like this before." Daisuke turned and grinned at him. "See you."

He left the bathroom before he could start to cry. He didn't want Taichi to see him cry. Running through the halls, Daisuke knew he had to find a quiet place to hide or he'd be dragged out to participate with his class. Outside he could hear the beginnings of the festival, loud cheers and people shooting off small fireworks. He had to hide.

Finding a darkened classroom, Daisuke ran into it and shut the door behind him, sliding to the floor. The tears finally built up and overflowed. 'I don't like him. I don't! I can't... Taichi-senpai... doesn't like me. So I'm just not gonna like him. I'm not.' He pulled his knees to his chest and rested his head on them, feeling his chest heave in a sob that he'd been holding back for the last ten minutes.

Images of the past week raced through his mind. The feeling of another person touching him. The way it felt to touch them. The strange sensation of not knowing the name of the boy that was sucking him off. The sick feeling in his stomach when that boy had spat his cum out into the toilet. He'd wanted to throw up.

He shuddered, digging his fingers into his legs and rubbing the tears off on the knees of his pants. 'But I don't care! I don't! I'm doing it all right, aren't I! I'm doing it all... I'm having sex with people I don't even know! Isn't that supposed to make it all go away?'

Images of the boy's ass that he'd fucked the night before. It had taken him a minute to get the condom on, and it was tight. It almost pinched. Were they supposed to do that? And then the feeling of sinking into the other boy... or rather, the lack of feeling. It was hot, he knew that. But... the condom blocked out a lot of it. Instead of feeling overwhelmed with pleasure, he'd just felt... tense. After a few minutes it had felt good, sure. But... only after he'd shut his eyes. He didn't want to see who he was fucking.

'Fucking... what a great word. That's exactly what it was. Fucking. Nothing more.' He wasn't thinking of the night before. He was thinking of when he'd been the one on bottom. 'So, I was a fuck. Just like that guy was to me last night. Only... I didn't kiss him like he kissed me.' He squeezed his eyes shut tighter, trying not to think of the way it had felt when Taichi had kissed him afterwards. The way it felt to have the older boy's lips pressed to his own, but so gently. They'd both been too tired for fiery kisses then.

Daisuke let out a frustrated moan. "I fucked around just like he does! Isn't that supposed to make me a heartless bastard, too!"

"I don't think it works that way," a voice said from a little ways in front of Daisuke.

Jerking his head up, Daisuke shivered. The air was cold on his wet face. "What are you doing here!"

Katashi grinned, his odd small eyes narrowing with his smile to where Daisuke could barely see his pupils. "Hiding from sports day."

"Oh." Daisuke sniffled. "Me too, I guess."

"You were crying." Katashi cocked his head.

"...Yeah." Daisuke looked away. "You shouldn't just... watch like that."

"I should have said something sooner, but I wasn't sure what was wrong." Katashi's grin faded. "Someone broke your heart?"

Daisuke glared at him. "No! I don't like anyone. So no one can. I just... wanna fuck around. Like you and Taichi-senpai."

Katashi raised his eyebrows. "Then why are you so upset?"

Daisuke bit his lower lip, considering. Katashi wasn't bad looking. "I'm not." He launched himself forward, throwing Katashi off balance so that he was flat on his back, and Daisuke kissed him hard.

Katashi responded quickly, placing his arms on Daisuke's shoulders. He kissed back willingly.

'This is better... this is way better than crying. Not worth crying over, anyway! Just make out with cute boys and don't worry about the rest.'

Opening his mouth and pressing his tongue into Katashi's, Daisuke deepend the kiss, sliding his hands down the older boy's chest. 'He tastes... familiar. All the guys have tasted kinda different, but... he tastes like something...'

Katashi moaned softly and ran a hand through Daisuke's hair, pulling him closer.

Daisuke's eyes opened wide suddenly and he jerked back and away, scooting back until he was pressed against the far wall, panting. "You taste like Taichi-senpai."

Katashi wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. "Well, there's a reason for that."

Daisuke shut his eyes tightly and covered his ears with his hands. "No!"

Katashi scooted over to sit next to him. "No what?"

"No!" 'I don't want to hear it... don't tell me!' Daisuke felt the tears building up again and his stomach clench up.

Katashi sighed and sat back, straightening out his shirt. "I was just going to say that Taichi loaned me some of his gum earlier. I ran out."

"...gum?" Daisuke opened one eye and pulled his hands away slowly. "That's... all?"

Katashi nodded. "Peppermint. I prefer strawberry myself, but-"

"So you weren't having sex!" Daisuke blurted out, sitting forward, feeling suddenly desperate.

"Of course not!" Katashi laughed. "I haven't slept with Taichi in over a year!"

"But..." Daisuke frowned, looking down at the floor. "I saw you two... making out..."

"Oh, he was just teasing me." Katashi shrugged. "We were just goofing off. Clothing was never removed."

A wave of relief passed over Daisuke and he sighed. 'What am I so happy for? It's not like it matters anyway.'

"But he slept with you, I see." Katashi nodded. "I thought so. He's been acting strange."

Daisuke looked up, eyes wide and innocent. "Me?"

"But something went wrong," Katashi mused. "That's why you were crying, isn't it?"

"...He uh... sorta said we couldn't do it again." Daisuke laughed and scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "I guess I wasn't very good!"

But Katashi didn't laugh back. His eyes were wide and his eyebrows were arched. "He said what?"

"That we couldn't do it again... somethin' about losing his job, I guess..." Daisuke held the smile as best he could, but he could feel it fading.

"Taichi wouldn't do that." Katashi was frowning at him.

"What?" Daisuke made a face. "I'm not lying! He did!"

"He's never done it before," the older boy said, peering closely at Daisuke.

"Oh." Daisuke blinked hard, feeling his eyes well up again. "Guess I'm... just that bad, huh?"

"No! That's not what I meant." Katashi grinned. "You like him, don't you?"

Daisuke opened his mouth to deny it. He wanted to tell the older boy that he must have done some nasty things to become the captain of the soccer team if he was stupid enough to think THAT. Only then he remembered that Taichi had been the last captain, and they had been doing nasty things. And then he remembered that now he'd been doing nasty things. And when he finally spoke, he couldn't help what he said. "I don't like him! I love him!" Daisuke cursed under his breath, rubbing the tears out of his eyes. "I'm so stupid! I've always felt like that and... and I finally tried to tell him and all he said was 'I don't date' and then I... I ran off and... and fucked a bunch of random people that I don't even know and... and I yelled at all my friends and everyone hates me ESPECIALLY him and I didn't even get my goggles back and-" He couldn't speak anymore. He just cried, burying his face back in his arms, and hoping that Katashi would go away and leave him alone.

Daisuke felt both relieved and depressed when he heard the door to the classroom open and close. 'He left. Good. I don't want him here. I just wanna be alone. I don't need anyone. Not him, not Taichi-senpai, not friends...'

"Daisuke?"

Daisuke looked up sharply, eyes blurry. "Ken?"

Ken wrapped his arms around Daisuke's shoulders and pulled him into a hug. "Are you okay?"

Daisuke sniffled loudly. "I'm so stupid."

"You're not stupid," Ken said firmly, loosening his hold on his friend.

"I've been a huge jerk." Daisuke's eyes watered up more. "I'm sorry."

Ken smiled and shook his head. "I'm not angry. No one's angry."

Daisuke's eyes widened and he smiled just a bit. "Really? You're sure?"

"I'm sure. We're all just worried about you." Ken let go of Daisuke and crossed his legs in front of him.

And suddenly, those words didn't make him angry anymore. "Sorry."

Ken shook his head. "Don't even think about it. You would do the same for me."

Daisuke's smile widened and he wiped his face on his sleeve. "Guess so." He sniffled again and cocked his head at Ken. "But why were you here, anyway? Don't you have classes today?"

Ken nodded. "I skipped class and Yamato and I came to talk some sense into Taichi-san."

"You did that for me?" Daisuke sighed heavily. "Yamato-san, too?"

"Of course! You're our friend. And... you're my best friend, Daisuke. I couldn't let this happen to you." Ken smiled. "But I'll have a lot of makeup work to do, so you'd better appreciate it."

Daisuke finally smiled for real. "I guess I do. Tell Yamato-san thanks, okay?"

"Um," Katashi cleared his throat loudly to get their attention.

"You're still here?" Daisuke asked suspiciously, looking up to see the other boy standing near the door.

"Yes." He grinned. "I just wanted to tell you... Taichi's never told anyone they couldn't do it again."

Daisuke scowled. "I know! I suck, okay! Just leave me alone!"

"No, no. Taichi's slept with people who were absolutely terrible from what he's told me. It's not that." His grin widened. "Taichi is afraid of commitment."

"I could have told you that," Ken muttered.

"So?" Daisuke scowled more. "I suck more than anyone else!"

"No! Taichi runs from commitment and his feelings. He's never slept with anyone he liked. I'd say... his rejecting you was probably because he was scared."

"Taichi-senpai doesn't get scared," Daisuke retorted without thinking. "That's a stupid thing to be scared of, anyway!"

Ken frowned. "You know he gets scared. Everyone does."

Daisuke looked back at his friend. "I guess..." Daisuke grinned, remembering the time a spider had landed on his senpai's shoulder when they were sitting under the bleachers after a game one day. He'd pointed it out only to see his senpai go sheet white and scream like a girl. He'd had to brush it off, squish it, and show Taichi the dead spider to prove it was gone. And even after that Taichi never sat under those bleachers again. "Yeah... guess he is scared of some stupid stuff..."

"So," Katashi said, opening the door to leave. "I'm going home. But if I were you, I'd talk to Taichi one more time. And the sooner the better... he's pretty good at forgetting things on purpose."

Daisuke watched as the older boy left and he sighed, turning to Ken with a determined look. "I have to talk to him."

Ken smiled. "Yes, you do."

"But... if he says no..." Daisuke hesitated. "You'll keep me from doing more stupid stuff, right? 'Cause..." he shuddered. "I don't ever wanna do that stuff again. It was... gross."

Ken chuckled. "I'll tie you down if I have to."

"No thanks, I'm not as kinky as you and Yamato-san." He stuck out his tongue and hopped up, laughing when he saw Ken's face turn red. "I'll call you later, okay?"

He didn't wait for a reply before he dashed out the door. He had to find Taichi. And he had a feeling he knew exactly where his senpai would be. He ran outside, hoping that after his dramatic confrontation there would still be time for him to join his class' team. He didn't want to miss his first high school sports day after all.