Chapter 3

"Shindou-kun, did you forget something?" Ichikawa asked as Hikaru entered the sliding door of the Go Salon, panting. He looked as if he had ran here. He had since he wanted to get to his grandfather's place as soon as possible.

"Hn, I forgot my wallet," Hikaru nodded slightly at the receptionist and looked around. His eyebrows knotted in curiosity when his eyes landed on the table where he and Akira had played earlier. The table was where they always played their weekly games. It was almost like a reserved seat. From where he was standing, he could only see Akira's face and his opponent's back. Hikaru found the girl's long violet hair particularly familiar.

The pro walked toward the intense game as he wondered if he knew the girl. Before he had a chance to take a peek at her, he was drawn to the game in progress. It was definitely not just a tutoring game between a pro and a customer, but one between two high-dans.

The game had progressed beautifully. Akira knew after a few hands that his opponent's strength was of a pro's. Not just any pro, but at least a 9-dan pro if not higher. He placed a white stone on the goban, wondering why this girl was not a pro if she had such amazing skills. The style was familiar. It almost felt like deja-vu. When he and Hikaru first met six years ago, he had almost the exact same feelings. Hikaru, someone who had never played a game before, was able to beat him not once, but twice. No one could believe such a kid could exist. Akira looked up at Sai intensely, as if it would give him some answers if he stared at her long enough.

Pa-chi. Sai placed a black stone gracefully on the goban, a slight smile formed on his face. The move had already determined the result of the game. He had to admit that Akira had improved a lot since he last watched him play that he had almost underestimated him. After moments of observation, the pro resigned. The 18-year-old was not exactly expecting a defeat when the game began, but then again, it wasn't his first time losing to someone that was not a pro.

"Thank you very much," Both players bowed.

"What a game," Hikaru commented, eyes still fixed on the board. Both players looked up. Neither of them had heard Hikaru come in or walk up as they had been too concentrated on the game.

"Shindou, when did you - " Akira began but was interrupted by Sai's exclaim.

"HIKARU!!!!!!" The former ghost jumped up and hugged the boy. "I missed you!"

Hikaru was taken off guard. He had never encounter a situation like this. Who was this girl? His closest female friend was Akari, but even she wouldn't hug him like that so suddenly. "Ummm...excuse me?"

Sai pulled away but his hands still grabbed onto the pro's sleeves. "Hikaru...you forgot about me already?" He pouted and looked as if he was going to cry.

The girl did look very familiar. No. Hikaru knew this face. He had seen this face everyday for three years beginning with the day he had found the goban at his grandfather's attic.

"S..S..a.." It was so unbelievable that Hikaru was speechless, while Akira watched their interaction closely and jealously. He wondered what the relationship between this girl and his crush had.

Sai nodded violently (and happily). They embraced. Hikaru pulled away this time after a few moments. There was a puzzled look on his face. He stared at Sai's face, then his gaze sank toward his breasts, "All these years, you never told me..." The boy mumbled as he shook his head slowly.

"No! Hikaru! It's not what you think!!" Sai protested.

"So they are fake?"

"No, they are real! Just that...I never had them before!"

Hikaru looked confused. He was about to ask more questions as Sai's stomach interrupted: Gorrooooo

The girl blushed and confessed with an embarassed smile, "That was me, haha. But Touya ordered some pizza! We can eat together."

"Awesome!" Hikaru smiled at Sai. He had prayed for Sai's return for ages and finally, his wish had come true. "So you are going try pizza, eh?"

The hell? Akira thought. Didn't Hikaru not want to have dinner with me? Now that this girl's here, he wants to stay?

Throughout the night, Hikaru and Sai chatted happily that they almost left Akira out completely. They talked mainly about Go and the people Hikaru knew. It was really a cruel thing to do to poor Akira.

"Sai, where are you staying?" Hikaru suddenly asked as he took a bite of his pepperoni slice.

Sai?! Did he just say Sai? Akira's head jerked up and stared at Hikaru, then abruptly turned his head to Sai.

"I don't know, Hikaru. Can I stay at your place?" Sai pouted.

"Sai?" Akira asked in a small shaken voice. No wonder her Go was so strong. No wonder he found her style of Go familiar. No wonder Hikaru and her were so close. "You are Sai?"

Akira dragged himself through the main entrance of his house. "I'm home," he mumbled monotonically.

He almost wanted to cry. He had had a crush on Hikaru for a long time now. They had spent a lot of time together, most of them were spent on games of Go, others arguing, eating, studying kifus etc. He never knew that Sai would reappear out of nowhere. On top of that was the fact that Sai was a girl.

Sai is my only competition. No. I can't even compete. She's prettier. She's better in Go. Most importantly, she's a girl.

Akira could think no more as he dragged himself along the hallway upstairs. He noticed that there was still light coming out from his father's Go room. Normally, he would greet his dad politely, but tonight, he was afraid that he would burst into tears once he voices.

Unfortunately, things never happen the way one wishes to. "Akira," the former Meijin summoned.

Akira had no choice but slid the door to the room open. "Father," he greeted politely and slid the door close once entered. His father was kneeling on a tinted yellow silk futon in front of his goban. It seemed like he was replaying a game.

"How was your game with Shindou-kun today?" Koyo asked, placing a white stone on the board.

Akira wished he had not mentioned that. He made a futile attempt to hold his tears back.

Koyo turned his head toward his son when he heard sobbing. "What's wrong?"

"S..Sai," Akira could say no more as a drop of tear roll down his cheek.

Upon the sound of his long-searched opponent, Koyo turned his entire body toward his son. "Sai?! Akira, did you say Sai?? Sai was at our Salon??"

But the boy had a chance to say more, Koyo grabbed him by the shoulders and demanded more information "Akira, answer me."

"Yes, Father," Akira figured that his father had no interest in his game with Hikaru anymore. He probably did not notice his son's grief clearly shown on his face anymore either. "Sai was at our Salon. Hikaru left with her."

"Her?" Koyo sounded puzzled. "Sai is a female?" Talk about stereotype, the former Meijin never expected a woman can be as good in Go as he was - or better.


A/N: Yes, I'm sorry!!!!! I really do not have time to update anymore, but I would try my best. :)