Chapter Two: Another Week
He had his hands tucked in his pockets as he walked nonchalantly into the elevator booth. He seemed light-hearted as if a thousand worries had been lifted from his shoulders. He leaned against the wall, waiting for his female companion to join him. She paused at the buttons and gave him a quick look over her shoulders, "TK, you look very happy." She pressed the number six to their floor. "Did Mimi make a delicious dinner tonight?"
He laughed, "She sure did." He looked thoughtful too, not only was Mimi's cooking was wonderful but their talk made him relieved and elated. Whenever he talked to her, he felt that Mimi could solve all his problems or lessen his worries with just her smile. Even though she was halfway around the world, living in New York City, their relationship never weakened.
"You should've joined us tonight, Hikari," he lied, because it would've been best without her there since the crucial topic had been about her.
She blinked at him, a bit shaken from the usage of her name. He used to call her "Kari-chan" before. This was the first time he was using her first full name. Did something happen at Mimi's place? There was certainly a change in him. She smiled nervously, hiding her thoughts, "Mimi's really into this cooking. I never thought she'd be into anything else besides shopping and fashion.
Her last remark struck a nerver in him. If everyone had gotten to know Mimi better, then they would not have that superficial stereotype of her. She was beautiful, and even more beautiful beneath with her warm, bright personality. She was a smart... well, more like witty girl when someone provoked her, like a certain brother of his who was torn apart by Mimi after a remark he made about girls -- that was some memory.
He smiled, inwardly.
"Too bad we can't stay a few more days," Hikari spoke, bringing him back to their current situation in the elevator, as it finally stopped on their floor. The doors opened, and she stepped out first with him following behind.
He was indifferent to her last statement because he already made plans. When they stopped in front of their hotel rooms, she turned to him about to speak, but he cut her short, "I've arranged to stay for another week, so have a safe trip back to Tokyo. Good night, Hikari." He unlocked his room and walked in without another word, leaving Hikari in her spot trying to figure out what had happened or was happening between them.
They were so close when they were little kids, always playing together. They were even in the same classes together too. But that night, it was different. She even felt the trip to New York City had been different from the very start. Sure, things happened during this trip, but after things returned to normal, something hadn't been right.
The name usage was a small shock, but now, staying in the foreign city for another week! What was he thinking? Was it because of the city? Or something else? Someone else? All they had here was Mimi, and wasn't Mimi involved Michael?
All the questions were driving her crazy, but why was she dwelling on them so much? It wasn't like she and Takeru were officially a couple. She wasn't ready to settle down, and then there was Daisuke. She liked his energetic, funny personality, which Takeru sometimes lacked. She honestly couldn't decided on who she liked more, but she was certain being tied down with a boyfriend wasn't what she wanted.
Though she wondered about Takeru... was he ready for a steady girlfriend? A committed relationship at their rather young age? Well, he was more mature than most boys at his age.
She wasn't too terribly sad about it, but an uncomfortable feeling nagged in the back of her mind. Takeru was a good friend, and that for sure would not change between them. Then he, as a potential boyfriend, would be the grounded, dependable type, which honestly any girl would love in a guy, but she honestly considered him as the backup that would always be there if no one else worked out. It was cruel, but she had been so used to him being there, supporting her from somewhere in her long lines of admirers.
In a way, she was sort of happy that it would not be how she thought their lives would become, but rather that he was now taking his life and relationships into his own hands. Finding his own happiness in someone else eased her guilt of 'using' him as a 'backup guy'.