CHAPTER 2
By id62000
"Yashiro?"
"………"
Shindou looked around and found the boy stretched over the armchair in the Touyas' living room . His eyes were closed but his fingers were gripping the arm of the chair in a death grip.
"Well?" Akira entered, "Tea or juice?"
"Juice for me." replied Shindou immediately.
"Tea." Yashiro muttered.
"I'll be back in a minute." Akira left and reported to his mother.
"What's wrong?" asked Shindou startled by the sudden silence of his team mate.
"It's all right for you!" glared Yashiro.
"What's alright for him?" Akira asked as he re-entered.
"Everything! His family, his friends, his environment, his parents! It's the same for you, Touya!"
"That's right", realized Shindou "Yashiro's parents don't want him to be a pro!"
"I thought that the Hokuto cup was the perfect chance to show them the meaning of 'international competition' and 'Japanese representative'. But by now they'll know that I lost…."
"I lost TOO" Shindou said stupidly.
"But your parents don't mind! They won't force you to go to high school!"
"Then go without force" Akira stood in front of the long boy.
"What?" Yashiro got up from his lying position.
"Beat them to it." continued Akira.
"Beat them to it?" Shindou repeated.
"High school isn't going to eat you or your Go. Too much free time is dangerous. So kill two birds with one stone."
"Akira san" Akira's mother called.
"Coming Oka san" Akira left the room.
"Touya is right, you know." Shindou pointed out to the surprised boy.
"High school? Pros don't go to high schools." snorted Yashiro.
"These two do" grinned Shindou as he pointed one thumb at himself and the other at the doorway at which Akira chose that moment to enter with refreshments.
"You? I thought you said-"
"Yeah, I know. But I thought about it the other day. It didn't seem a bad idea. So I phoned up Mom and told her. She got me into Akari's school straightaway."
"Straightaway?" questioned Yashiro.
"Yeah! My grades weren't bad for a guy who missed more than half his schooldays. And besides I'm a pro."
'So that was what he was thinking about that morning. He wasn't lamenting over his loss…or his past! He was thinking of his future!'
"Why?" Yashiro questioned.
"Why? Why I want to continue school?"
Yashiro nodded.
"Because…I guess, because I think Mom would be happier that way. She always used to say that I'm too young to work, that I should be in school like everyone else. And besides it's more fun. Plus I'm not letting Touya get ahead of me. If he can do two things at once….so can I!"
It was at this moment that Yashiro thought that he had finally had a glimpse at the meaning of true rivalry.
"Please." Akira pushed the tray in front of Yashiro, shocking them both.
"Thanks" said Yashiro, still recovering.
"Geeze, Touya!" muttered Hikaru, hands on his chest, "You're very, very bad for the heart."
"Please" repeated Akira as he held out the tray to him.
"Thank You" Hikaru picked up the cup of tea.
"The juice is yours." Akira glared at him.
"But the tea smells better." said Hikaru as he took a long sip.
"Why can't you just admit you picked up the wrong glass?"
"Because I did not do that ridiculous act" Insisted Hikaru.
Akira shot draggers at him but picked up the juice.
"I know you're the host and all, but there's no need to respect us by standing."
If looks could kill, Hikaru would have died nine times over. But he ignored the look and looked up at Yashiro instead.
Akira fell down gracefully next to him, juice still at hand.
"So you think I should continue with school" Yashiro looked like the thought of school reminded him of Chinese delights.
"What we think doesn't matter. You have to choose for yourself." Akira picked up the Weekly Go and flipped through the pages.
Hikaru finding no better thing to do craned his neck to glimpse at the article.
"Kurata san looks like a king or something." Hikaru pointed at the large blown up picture of the team managers.
"Don't point! You're obstructing my view!" snapped Akira.
"I was just showing you where--"
"There is nothing wrong with my eyesight thank you!"
"But I-"
"Shindou there are only two pages clearly visible if I hold the magazine open like this-and when one is fully covered with a blown up picture of Kurata san, did you not think that I'll see it? Or did you think that I have completely forgotten how my team manager looks like?"
"Sheesh! There's no need to be all sarcastic about it!"
Yashiro was staring at the two. What was this? This friendly but deadly rivalry? How is it possible for the calm and cool of a collected person to break into a million fragments with just one word uttered through the lips of Shindou Hikaru? Why Touya? What do you see in Shindou that I don't? The cold wall that you're famous for, shatters when you are with him. Him. The boy with no mentor… only three years of practice. What is it that makes you stronger than me…Shindou….Who are you? Who are you? Who? WHO ARE YOU?
"Huh?" Shindou looked up from the magazine they were arguing over, "Did you say something?"
"NO!" Yashiro got up quickly, "It's time for my train, I better get going."
"I'll come with you" offered Hikaru getting up.
"No need. It's a short journey since I'm taking a taxi. Thanks for having me Touya"
Touya got up and bowed.
"Well?" asked Hikaru eagerly.
"I'm going to high school" Yashiro walked through the door with his bag slung over his shoulder, "I can always drop out if I want to."
"Ah!" said Hikaru.
Yashiro turned back and saw a smiling Hikaru waving at him.
'This isn't goodbye' thought Yashiro as he watched Akira and his mother walk up behind Hikaru.
"I'll be back! And I'll defeat you … Shindou Hikaru." He threw the words at the blonde as he opened the taxi door.
Shindou Hikaru not Touya Akira. Shindou…
"I won't wait! I'm behind already. I'll be stronger too! Much stronger. I'm running already, Touya will be able to hear my footsteps soon." Hikaru yelled laughing.
Touya not Yashiro…. NO! I WON'T be left behind!
The door slammed and the engine started. Yashiro watched the enthusiastic figure wave energetically. He had fallen! But somehow, somewhere Shindou had unconsciously taught him how to pick up something with each fall. Yashiro had a feeling his pockets were full. He cannot…should not…will not fall again.