Disclaimer: I don't own anything Eyeshield 21, but if I did … oh man, look out if I did.
Lonely and Oblivious
"Takami, what's bothering you?"
Sakuraba plopped down onto the floor in front of Takami. His friend had been looking troubled for the past few days but only now had he found a private moment to pry a little.
Takami glanced at Sakuraba, surprised to see him. He wondered briefly how Sakuraba got into his home, but it was short-lived because the younger man insisted on being persistent and getting the answers he was looking for.
"Stop thinking, Takami," Sakuraba said with a small laugh, "Tell me what you are worrying about."
"I'll be fine, Sakuraba."
"I didn't ask if you'd be fine, you silly boy." Sakuraba mocked, with a smile.
Takami sighed; anger rising very slowly due to Sakuraba's never failing curiosity.
"Oh, don't be such an old man, Takami. You are far too young to be this lethargic."
"Sakuraba, go away, please."
"Nope, not leaving, Takami." The joking in Sakuraba's voice was slipping away, being replaced by frustration and worry.
"You wouldn't understand, Sakuraba. Please, just let it rest." Takami paused and shook his head lightly. "Do you want to go out for lunch or something? Get out of here?"
Sakuraba sighed and stood. "Fine then, let's go for lunch. I know a good place you will enjoy."
Takami smiled softly at Sakuraba and stood as well. He followed the younger man out into the day light. He matched Sakuraba's gait to keep up with him. For the longest time they walked silently, an almost awkward silence of Takami wanting to talk but not, and Sakuraba wanted to push Takami further but contemplating whether or not it would be useful.
Before Takami realized it, they were standing at the doorway to a little restaurant he had never noticed before.
"Does this look alright?" Sakuraba asked as he walked through the door.
"Well, I don't have much of a choice," Takami mumbled, following Sakuraba yet again. It was starting to get to him, his little secret, but he didn't want the guilt and shame of sharing it. Once he shared it, it would be true, right? As soon as someone else knew, there would be no more denying it.
They were seated and were reviewing the menus when Takami suddenly laid his down.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly, "I'm sorry for being so depressing. It's just … It's just that I found out something …"
Sakuraba looked up slowly from his menu, concern slowly filling his patient eyes. Takami noticed the concern and believed it to be there because Sakuraba thought something terrible had happened.
"Oh no, not something serious; something stupid …" Takami was looking at the table, refusing to meet Sakuraba's eyes again. He shook his head lightly and Sakuraba watched a tear fall to the table.
Sakuraba moved to sit beside his friend, within distance to, at the least, pat his shoulder reassuringly. He leaned closer to Takami, trying to regain eye contact but Takami turned his head away again.
"Takami, please," Sakuraba whispered in despair for his friend's pain, "What happened?"
"He doesn't love me" was all Takami whispered with a heaving sob that he tried his best to conceal.
Yes? No? Too out of character? Too sappy? Not sappy enough?
Please read and review because reviews make my plot monkeys do back flips which is good
