Disclaimer : I don't own Hikaru no Go.

"Blahblahblah": character's normal conversation

"Blahblahblah": telepathy

Blahblahblah : character's thought

/blahblahblah/ soundtrack

Chapter 3: Thank you…and sorry…

On the roof,

Damn it! Damn it! Resting his head against a cold iron fence, Mitani puffed resignedly. After he had heard the shocking news, he rushed off and panted up the stairs to this highest floor. He wanted to be alone for a while.

Mitani liked to scare people off, he was sick of people getting bossy him around, just his big sister was plenty enough. Everything worked well, he chased them away, they avoided him and contacted him as less as possible. Except one girl, a girl who had the most sincere smile he had ever seen. That was right, that girl was Hikaru.

He didn't know why Hikaru wasn't afraid of him. He assumed that maybe the lively girl was too thick to notice his deadly glare, still, she was the first one who ever dared to look directly at him into the eyes. That was enough to make him like her.

The science room became his favorite place because Hikaru was always be there smiling at him. Since they weren't in the same class, the Go club was the only place where they could actually spend some time together. Now she was leaving…

" This day will come sooner or later," Tsutsui uttered calmly from behind, " You knew it,"

"…….."

" She always says that she wants to become stronger," he continued, " And she's getting better and better everyday,"

"………"

" You can't hold her back," Speaking in serious tones, Tsutsui advised prudently, " You have to let her go,"

"...I know but…," Gritting his teeth, Mitani's voice shook with many emotions, " She's right here, in front of me…but I can't reach her,"

" Mitani-kun,"

" I just can't," he spoke with no hope, " She is a girl who wanna be a pro, I'm a boy who plays for money," he snorted scornfully, he didn't want to admit it but… " We're too different,"

" Mitani-kun," Hikaru and Sai eventually made it to the roof , " Tsutsui-san, may I..," she didn't have to finish the line, the older boy knew what he should do in this awkward situation. He didn't want to be the 3rd wheel anyway so he went back to the club letting these two had some privacy.

And now they were alone.

" Err…" Hikaru spoke up but she didn't know where to start. " Sai, what should I say?"

" Honestly, I don't know," Sai smiled kindly," It's between you and him,"

" Oh! So, now, it's between me and him? Since when did you stop butting in my business anyway?" The pretty girl retorted. The nosy whinny ghost always interfered in her life without her asking him to, now when she needed him to, he just butted out!

" Butt in? I've never butted in," the purple-haired mentor denied, " I guided you,"

" Okay then, give me your guidance…a wise one, please!"

" Err…," he stuttered.

" You're so useless!"

" What? Hikaru! You're so mean!"

" So, you're going to be an insei, huh?" Mitani interrupted the unvoiced fight.

" …Yes," Looking away, Hikaru tried to hide her guilty look. " Sai, I feel so bad, I'm so selfish,"

" Hikaru,"

Heaving a deep sigh, the brokenhearted boy turned around to face her, " Good luck, do you best," he smiled sadly.

" Mitani-kun, I..I," Hikaru stammered, " I'm sorry," her voice was almost inaudible.

" You go join the insei class," Mitani told her, " If it's too hard, come back to us,"

" Mitani-kun," the golden-bangs girl nearly cried. He's so sweet.

" And I'll laugh at you till my jaws broken," the cunning boy smirked.

Hikaru's and Sai's mouths fell open in shocked surprise. Why did this boy suddenly change his attitude?

" Wow, where did that come from?" the smiling Hikaru chuckled, " Or you finally show your dark side?" she teased lightheartedly.

" In fact, this is the real me," the difficult boy grinned back, " Like it?"

" !"

"Oh My!" Sai flushed behind his white fan, "Did he just do what I think he did? Did he just ask you if you liked him? Hikaru, Hikaru, Are you listening to me?"

Frankly, Hikaru weren't, she only felt her cheeks flushing feverishly, " I…I…,"

" Tell him! Hikaru!" Sai cheered, the silly ghost didn't when he should shut up.

Sighing, Mitani knew what the answer was. It means No. " Fujisaki must be worried to death now, you should go back to her," he uttered without looking at her, " I'll be here for a while,"

" Mitani-kun, I.."

" Hikaru, we should leave him alone," the dead brother serenely suggested, " Let's go,"

"………." Taking a deep breath, the schoolgirl decided to follow the advice, " Am I still welcome at the club?" she asked before she went downstairs.

" Don't be silly," Mitani sniggered, " Of course, you are,"

" Telling you the truth, the real Mitani-kun is quite interesting," Hikaru told him blissfully, the boy didn't say anything back, he simply shrugged his shoulders in reply.

" Thank you for everything, Mitani-kun," she turned back, " And sorry," then she left.

……….

……….

Slowly leaning against the cold fence, Mitani looked up to the sky and sighed again for the third time, " Now, I gotta find another girl to fall for,"

Shindou Hikaru officially resigned from Haze Go Club that day.

A/N : Don't get so depressed, Mitani, you're only 13!

Kathy : The story starts in year 1999, so she's still 13. Haha, Sorry about Mitani, he remind me of Renji and Lukia in Bleach...a star and a stray dog :( So sad.