Daisuke awoke the next morning after a series of reoccurring dreams of Satoshi. After washing his face and accomplishing other morning activities, Daisuke walked downstairs for breakfast.
"Good morning, Daisuke!" Emiko served Daisuke a plate of chocolate chip pancakes and a glass of soymilk. "I noticed that your sheets need washing after last night. I'll have them ready by the time you get home from school. Ah, my little boy is growing into a man right in front of my eyes." Daisuke blushed a bright fuchsia and downed his soymilk before walking out the door and braving the harsh Japanese winter. It was his first day off, and he decided to visit the arcade. When he arrived, he went to his favorite game Dance Dance Revolution where he was approached by the person he had been thinking of ever since the "event" yesterday.
"Ah, Daisuke! Fancy meeting you here!" Satoshi stuck out his hand for Daisuke to shake. Daisuke took it, and the handshake lasted just a few seconds longer than a typical handshake would. "Wow, Daisuke, what powerful hands you have. I'm sure they would come in handy should a poor soul need help carrying groceries home. How about it, Daisuke? Care to help a friend out?"
"Of course, Satoshi. I would love to help." Daisuke took two bags, one in each hand, and started after Satoshi towards the Hiwatari residence.
The two walked past several decorated lampposts before making a turn onto Mockingbird Avenue, the street where Satoshi resided. Not one single word was said until the boys had walked a few more blocks. Finally, Satoshi said, "So, Daisuke, have you ever been here before?" Daisuke shook his head, and Satoshi responded, "It really is a nice place to live. I'm sure you'd find it very satisfactory as maybe…a home away from home."
Daisuke continued to follow Satoshi until they reached a large gate. "And this is where I live. We'll just take these inside now."
Daisuke and Satoshi walked past the gate and up the stone steps to Satoshi's front door. When they entered, the lights were off, so Daisuke knew they were alone. He had secretly been hoping this.
"Wow. What an incredible house! Do you live here all by yourself, Satoshi?"
"Just during the winter when my dad is away in China at his company's headquarters. I get lonely sometimes. VERY, VERY lonely, Daisuke."
Satoshi led the way into the kitchen and placed his groceries on the counter. He gestured for Daisuke to do the same. "We'll put them up later," Satoshi said. "Meanwhile, would you like some coffee?"
"That would be very nice. Thank you." Daisuke sat down at a bar stool facing the kitchen.
"The coffee will take a little while. While it's boiling, would you like to come into the den with me?"
Satoshi led the way into a spacious den with a large leather sofa in the center. Satoshi and Daisuke sat on opposite ends of the sofa and faced each other. They both knew what they wanted. Neither of them knew how to go about making the first move.