Title :A game of lost and found

Warnings : I am not sure where the story is gonna head, and I do not know which pairing I'm putting or if there's even a pairing… though I did receive suggestions… I'm just writing according to my flow and mood. And plz review, whether to insult me or whatever. Will love you if you do :) Domo!!

Summary :Set after the Hokuto Cup, where Hikaru still trying to go on. This time around though, he has Sai back with him. But life isn't that easy, not when another Go genius other than Akira had his sights set on him. Life is definitely not easy nor simple for him.

Disclaimer :I do not own Hikaru No Go, its characters, and what-so-ever I used in this fic that associates with HnG. It's solely for my own entertainment... and yours if you enjoy it. :)

Foreword: First of all… this fic is NOT beta. And I am NOT a native speaker of English. As someone already pointed out, I do have grammatical errors, horrible usage of verbs, yada, yada… in my fic. So if you were to read this and find my English a disaster, please do not say I did not warn you. As for getting it beta, I don't think so as I am only writing this for fun and to release some tension. To get it beta seems a bit too troublesome… and I had other commitments. Anyway, I'm still trying to improve my English… so for those still wanting to read my fic, thank you and please bear with me. Arigatou!!

p/s: I reloaded this chapter with some explanations on the Japanese words (look below) I used for those who does not understand Japanese. Also because I earlier re-uploaded the wrong one =p!!! Sorry for my ignorance. It's just that most people around me are quite used to short Japanese phrases and we used it naturally. Sorry!! =p

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Chapter 5: An Enigma

RIIINNGGG!!!

The shrill ringing of the alarm can be heard throughout the whole room. A hand slowly reached up blindly before finally landing on the alarm's button, shutting the alarm off. Hikaru slowly pried open one of his eye glaring at the offensive alarm clock, before groaning and closing it again, quite deciding that it is definitely not the time for a normal person to be awake yet. Besides… he was having such a good dream….

"Hikaru? Ne, Hikaru. It's time to wake up if you want to go to school."

"…. Sai?"

Hikaru opened his eyes again, both of them this time, in bewilderment and focused towards the voice. Sai was sitting peacefully besides his bed giving him a small smile.

'Oh yes… I forgot… Sai came back to me yesterday. He had been gone too long that I can't remember that he came back…although I spent whole day with him yesterday, it still felt like a dream…'

"Hikaru… Daijoubu?"

"Aa… Genki, genki. Daijoubu."

"But you look sad and distracted just now. Not a usual expression for the Hikaru I know."

"Iie, betsuni. It's just that… you came back… after all those time… I guess I still could not believe it… no, not that, I guess you could say I still dare not believe it. But I suppose it's just stupid ne?"

"…….. Iie, Hikaru, it's not stupid. I believe it is called being human." Sai said quietly to Hikaru, giving him a soft smile. Hikaru slowly gave a smile back to Sai.

"Nn… Saa, I better get ready to go to school. I do not want to be late, even though I always seem to be late one way or another…" Hikaru trailed off, getting up from his bed to change and prepare for school.

"Ne Hikaru, why did you enter senior high? I remembered you adamantly said that you did not want to continue your studies after junior high if you made it as a professional Go player. At least that was what you told Waya."

"I'm not too sure myself. I suppose you could say I drifted around during the graduation ceremony from junior high. Sensei then stopped me while I was waiting for okaa-san and asked me what was my plans." A small sad smile appeared on Hikaru's lips.

"I guess I cause a lot of trouble and uproar when I was in junior high. That was right after you left. Sensei then was very worried for me and I, according to him, was stuck at the crossroad with no direction at all. He then gave me some extra tutoring and materials to study. Or maybe I should say, made me study. He counseled me a lot also, mostly trying to find out what was wrong. When he realized he could not find out anything, he instead started to get me interested in attending senior high and other professions besides Go…"

Hikaru's hand paused in his motions of halfway dressing, eyes showing that he was lost in past memories and thoughts. Sai was slowly digesting what Hikaru had said not to realize that the boy had stopped talking. When he finally realized the silence, he looked across the room to a brooding Hikaru. Sai was struck dumb by the look on Hikaru's face. Suddenly the young boy whom he been with for years seems so old, an air that was bittersweet and melancholy surrounding him. Disturbed by the air that was surrounding his young friend, Sai tried to get Hikaru's attention back to him. Hikaru looked startled for an instance before slipping his blazer on and buttoning it.

"… ah, gomen, I must have trailed off." Giving a sweet smile to Sai. "Anyway, during the graduation ceremony sensei told me that I passed the entrance exam quite well, surprisingly, and that I was accepted in Haze Senior High if I decided that I want to continue my studies after all. So here I am."

"Sou ka? Hikaru… what you said just now… what exactly happened after I left?"

"… Betsuni. It's not important."

"Demo… Demo, Hikaru!! I want to know! Tell me!"

Suddenly, Mrs. Shindou's voice was heard shouting from the stairs. "Hikaru! For once can't you get downstairs before I need to shout for you? As usual you're going to be late! You're going to make Akari wait for you again!"

"AH! Come one, Sai! We're going to be late. One screaming female is more than enough, I do not need Akari screaming at me as well."

"Aa... Hai!"

Immediately forgetting the conversation they were having earlier, Sai rushed out of the room after Hikaru. Inside, Hikaru was glad for his okaa-san's intrusion. Sai knew about him suffering after he left, but what he did not know was that Hikaru had stopped playing Go completely and did not even go for any of his pro's games for half a year, almost to the point of quitting. Somehow he had thought that if he stopped playing, maybe Sai would come back. After that it was guilt that was holding him from playing again, believing that he was betraying Sai just by playing. Looking back now, it had seemed so pathetic and self-destructive. Even if it was all over and in the past now, he still did not want Sai to know about it.

'Gomen Sai. It's not like I want to keep it as a secret from you, but having you back now paid for all the sufferings back then. There is no point bringing it back up. It'll only make you unhappy ne? I can see all the regrets and sorrows in you when you realized what I had been through since you were gone. I do not want to add another cause to your regrets.'

Hikaru quickly gulped down a glass of milk and grabbed a piece of toast running towards the front door.

"Okaa-san! Thanks for the breakfast. I'll take my leave now. Itte rasshai!"

"Itte mairimasu."

Mrs. Shindou smiled as she watched her son quickly slipped on his shoes and ran out of the door. That son of hers grew up pretty fast since picking up Go. He was still the same brash, impatient, naive and loud boy everyone had comes to love, but he had become more mature and polite. Her only regret was that he had grown up too fast for a sixteen year old boy. She shook her head, unable to comprehend the enigma that was her son. Every year he still manages to surprise her at every turn. Her biggest surprise this year should be the fact that her capricious son had decided to continues his studies and as a pro as well. Suddenly she frowned, thinking that there was something different about Hikaru… and pondered what was different about Hikaru as she picked up the plates and glasses and moved them to the sink. Comprehension slowly drawn into her eyes as she realized what was different. The air of deep sorrow and incompleteness that had accompanied Hikaru since almost a year ago was gone. She sighed happily, placing a hand over her heart, somewhat gladden at the small change. Silently she sent a prayer of thanks to Kami-sama, thanking him for whatever reason that had made that aura gone.

Outside, the sun seemed to shine brighter, as if in answer to the small prayer.

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Waya, Isumi, Nase and Honda were at McDonalds for lunch. They had agreed to meet up there at midday to have lunch before proceeding to Waya's apartment to have a group study. More of their friends were going to meet them up at Waya's apartment later for a group study.

"Waya… I don't understand why have to meet up for lunch since we are already going to meet up later today. And at McDonald again! Don't we already have enough of McDonalds, since we come here all the times after practices or games?" Honda was complaining good-heartedly.

"Yeah… you practically twisted our arm just to get us to agree… there must be something you want from us. All right now, spill!" Nase demanded, looking quite terrifying.

Waya sweat-dropped while Isumi, who was sitting beside him, smiled nervously as they looked across the table at Nase. Even Honda looked a bit scared when he saw the expression on Nase's face. Knowing her for so long still did not lessen any of the boys' fear for her when she is in one of her I-know-you're-hiding-something-and-I-demand-to know-it mood. They thanked their lucky stars that Nase was not a curious person by nature, and she only get into that particular mood whenever it directly involved her… like for instance, now.

"Heh heh… Nase, don't look at me like that… Kowaii!" Waya exclaimed suddenly, getting quite freaked out by the look Nase was pinning on him.

"Nani??! You said I'm scary? Mou… how could you… Hidoi!" Just as suddenly as she got the look, it is now replaced by one that was on the verge of tears.

"Wa! Gomen gomen, Nase. Yurushite! I did not mean it… Onegai?"

"…… Honto?"

"Honto honto!"

"Saa… then tell us why you dragged us all out here today." A sunny smile now graced Nase's lips, having extracted an apology from Waya.

"That was fast… girls…" Waya mumbled softly, and then spoke up louder. "Actually I was hoping all of you could help me with a little favor today."

"Favor? What favor?" asked Honda between bites of his burger, causing Nase to look a tad scandalous at Honda's lacked of table manners. Waya and Isumi pretended not to notice anything and continued eating. Waya swallowed another bite before answering, not wanting to be on the receiving end on another of Nase's look again.

"I need you guys to go shopping with me. I need to buy a birthday present for Shigeko-chan and I'm hopeless when it comes to things like that. Besides, I also need to stock up my food and house supplies…"

Isumi smiled slightly at Waya all the while thinking along the same lines as Honda who was complaining quite good-naturedly and fervently that Waya was just using them as servants or something like that. Nase on the other hand was looking quite thoughtful as she slowly bites into her fries. Mischievously, she looked at Waya.

"Ne, who is Shigeko-chan? Koibito?" That question definitely caught the other two boys' attention and they immediately turned to regard Waya with interested looks.

"Wh… What? No, no… don't think nonsense, Nase. She's Morishita-Sensei's daughter." Three pairs of very interested and disbelieving eyes was still facing him, making him more uncomfortable. "I treat her just like a little sister!!"

"Uh huh… whatever you say, Waya-kun." Nase replied with a big grin.

"It's true!!" Waya almost yelled out, causing patrons nearby to look over to their table.

"Yare yare… Nase, stop teasing Waya." Isumi, ever the peace-maker, decided to intervene before it got even bigger. Also because he did not want to attract so many attentions… not that Waya were not doing a good job at it already. Isumi cringed as he saw at all the curious faces facing their table. "Let's hurry up and eat so we can do Waya's shopping. We are all supposed to meet at your house at four p.m. right?"

"Aa… mostly at four, but some of them are coming in early." Waya replied slowly, grateful for the change of topic, though Nase was looking a bit disappointed but smug.

"Waya, why didn't you call Shindou along?" asked Honda, as if suddenly remembering the blond bangs boy. "I haven't seen him in ages. No, that's not right, I should say I haven't talk to him in ages. I just saw him early this week during the pro games, only he disappeared right after the game. I believe he totally crushed his opponent, seeing he left the room in about an hour. I pity his opponent, the poor guy was in such a shock that he was still sitting in the hallway dazed when I finished my game later on."

Isumi and Nase looked sympathetic while Waya was trying to hold in his snicker.

"Obviously, imagine being crushed by a first dan that had a reputation for not attending any of his pro games for half a year." Waya told Honda, a big grin still on his face.

"Ah… yes. I have forgotten about that. Anyway, back to my question, where's Shindou?"

"………. What? Did I say something weird?" Honda asked again, noticing that all three of his friends were giving him weird looks.

"Do you really don't know… or are you just pretending?" Asked Isumi finally, since Nase and Waya was still more inclined in shooting Honda looks of disbelieve.

"Don't know what? Hey hey, don't keep me in suspense… did something happened to Shindou again?"

Honda was looking quite worried now. Like most of Hikaru's friends, he was worried that Hikaru may lapse back into the state he was in about more than half a year ago. Hikaru had stopped playing Go then and did not attend any games with no explanations given. Not only that, Hikaru had run away whenever he had seen or bumped into one of them. It was like as if Hikaru was trying to cut himself off from anything and anyone who had connection with Go. Just as suddenly, Hikaru came back to the world of Go, more determined and much stronger. Most of them did not know that it was Isumi that had finally pushed Hikaru back into Go. Only Waya knew that Isumi had went to find Hikaru the day before Hikaru started attending his games again, but even Waya did not know what had actually happened between Isumi and Hikaru, since all Isumi was willing to tell him was that they played Go.

"Daijoubu, nothing so serious Honda. Relax." Isumi gave a sweet smile to Honda, realizing that his carelessly spoken words had cause a bit of harm. "Nothing happened to Shindou. It's just that he had decided to continue his studies into senior high after all."

"Sou… sou ka?" Relieved that Shindou was not going to relapse again, he finished his burger in one bite before speaking up again. "Ano, didn't Shindou said that he's not going to continue his studies so he could focus more to Go?"

"I have no idea. Every time I asked for an explanation, the baka just smiled at me and said that he changed his mind or because he wanted to. You can ask him later if you want to. He promised me to come today. In fact I'll help you ask, maybe with the two of us combining our forces, he'll give us the reason." Waya said in an irritated tone, attacking his fries quite savagely.

"Hoi hoi. Calm down Waya. Shindou has his right to keep quiet about his decisions, we can't force him to tell us. Even I am surprise about his decision, especially in the elective subjects he took in senior high."

"Are, you know what electives Shindou is taking?" Waya asked, surprised that Isumi knew. Then realized that he had never asked Shindou about that since he tended to focus more on the reason Shindou went back to studying.

"You never asked Shindou about that, Waya."

"Yeah… I just realized. So what electives are he taking in senior high? Must be something very easy, seeing he's such a lazy bum."

At his own comment, Waya snicker, then quickly chucked fries into his mouth in an effort to stop, hoping that Isumi would not frown at him. Looking around, he saw that his actions wasn't necessary as Nase, Honda and Isumi smiled good-naturedly, obviously in total agreement that Hikaru was a lazy bum.

"You are not going to believe this, but he took classical Japanese literature and ancient Japanese history as part of his electives. And if I remembered correctly, he even took up an extra elective which he needed to study on his own as his school was not offering that particular subject."

All of them looked dumb-founded as Isumi told them about Hikaru's choices in electives. For one, the boy they all knew was a very modern and up-to-date kind of person, proven by his bleached bangs. For another, Hikaru does not liked to think much when it does not involved Go. Hearing that Hikaru took literature, classical at that, and history was very… enlightening, to put it mildly.

"Ne what is the extra subject he took, Isumi-san?" Asked Nase.

"A language subject. Ancient Japanese language as a matter of fact. It seems that he wanted to learn that olden language in depth."

"…Eh??!! Are you sure about that? Normal people don't take that kind of subject!" Exclaimed Waya loudly. Honda was nodding quite fervently at Waya's comment.

"Hey… I don't think it is nice calling Shindou-kun abnormal…" Nase told Waya off softly, even though she quietly agreed with Waya's statement as Isumi shrugged.

"But, but… why on earth would anyone take those kind of subjects? I can't believe Shindou would just go back to studies with those kinds of subjects. Hell, I bet even Isumi would not!" Eyes glaring and finger pointing at Isumi, Waya was daring Isumi to deny his accessions. Isumi was holding both hands up as if to ward of Waya while laughing nervously.

"Waya… cool down. Here, have a drink." Isumi quickly passed Waya's coke to him and sighed in relief when Waya accepted it. "True, I definitely would not take those subjects… but that's because I have no interest in them at all. Shindou must have interests in it, otherwise he would not take up those subjects, right? Waya, respect his decisions."

"Demo…" Waya trailed off, unable to put up an argument, knowing full well that Isumi was right.

"Shindou-kun had always been different, ne? He had always seems so simple and naïve, but I think he is actually a very complex person. Even more so after he became a pro." Said Nase quietly, more to herself than to her companions.

The whole table fell silent after Nase's words, each thinking about Hikaru and the enigma that he was. Every one of them still did not know the cause of Hikaru's disappearance from the world of Go then and all the other events that leaded up to this day. The Hokuto Cup event was even more confusing. Suddenly Isumi spoke up.

"After the Hokuto Cup, Yang Hai-san met up with me. He told me something about Shindou. It seems that the Korean player, Ko Yongha asked him why he play Go." Startled by Isumi strange remark, all of them looked at him expectantly.

"Shindou had answered, 'To link the far past with the far future'."

The three listeners looked stunned, not knowing how or what to think with that strange remark.

"To link the far past…"

"With the far future…?"

"Aa… that was what Shindou said. Therefore I believe it can quite well explained Shindou's choices in those electives. Besides, I'm sure all of you all noticed that Shindou's Go had always been alike to Shuusaku's. Maybe Shindou is more into the past than we are."

"I suppose you are right… as usual. Isumi, you're too mature for your own good." Stated Waya, and finished his drink in one gulp.

"… I'm going to be twenty soon, you know…" Said Isumi in defense to Waya's statement.

"Ne Waya-kun. If we don't make a move now you won't be able to do your shopping." Nase was looking pointedly at her watch.

"Eh? Ah!! It's one o'clock already! Saeki said he is coming at three thirty. Let's hurry up!"

Soon the four friends were walking out of McDonalds, joking and teasing each other as they went off to help in Waya's shopping expedition.

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On the other side of the town in Kaio Senior High, Touya Akira was sitting under a tree eating his bento. Now that his okaa-san is back, he has bento to bring to school for lunch. Truthfully, he had missed his okaa-san's cooking very much. As he ate, his mind slowly drifted back to yesterday.

"Tadaima!"

"Okaerinasai, okaa-san, otou-san."

Hearing the shout from the front door, Akira answered habitually as he slowly got up and moved towards the hallway. Upon reaching the hallway, he nearly had a heart-attack as he saw who was standing behind his parents.

"Akira! It's so good to see you again." Akira's okaa-san exclaimed as she went forward to give her son a small hug. "These are the guest I had been talking about. Let me introduce you. Gentlemen, this is my son, Akira. Akira, these are Im Seon-keun and his kouhai, Ko Yongha. They are both pros in their country… matte, I believe you had met Yongha-san during one of your tournament right, Akira-kun?" A small nod from Akira, which caused his okaa-san to smile happily. "Then I believe you have no problem getting along then. They are here for some sight-seeing and relaxation. For how long they are not too sure themselves either."

All three of them bow to each other. Akira, being Akira, regained his composure immediately and welcomed his parents' guests warmly. After all, Akira was never one who would ever forget his manners.

"Yoroshiku. Welcome to Japan. Please allow me to show you to your rooms so you could freshen up."

"Ah… yes. I'm sure both of you are tired after the long trip. Please follow my son. I'll be glad if you could join me for breakfast tomorrow." Touya Koyo smilingly told the two Korean pros.

"Arigatou. Touya-sensei. True, we do need a rest after the long flight. Let me thank you again for inviting us and hopefully we would not out-stayed our welcome." Seon-keun replied.

As Akira waited to show the two guests to the guest room, he appraised Im Seon-kuen. Seon-kuen seems to be in his late twenties, with dark brown hair cut in a neat style. He was spotting a pair of small square frame glasses, which quite show off his friendly eyes. In fact, his actions and demeanors show a person who is totally at ease with himself and the world and extremely easy-going.

'Which was totally at odd with Ko Yongha' Akira thought as his eyes shifted to Yongha. Ko Yongha was standing beside his sempai, with a small smile that looked more like a smirk, as his sempai asked a few questions to Touya Koyo and his wife, every once in a while contributed a sentence or two in Korean to his sempai. Like it was during the Hokuto tournament, Yongha had an air of cockiness and self-assurance around him. As if realizing Akira's eyes on him, Yongha turned to face him, locking the younger boy in a staring match. After a while amusement entered his eyes and he smirked at Akira before turning back to his sempai.

"Seon-kuen, give it a rest already. You can ask all your questions tomorrow. It's getting pretty late. Besides, I believe we are making Akira-san wait." Yongha gently rebuked his sempai, who looked embarrassed and smiled apologetically at Akira.

"Gomen nasai, Akira-san. I guess I got carried away again, huh? Please lead the way."

"Iie, betsuni. Please follow me."

Akira waited for the two guests excused themselves from his parent before leading the way to the guest room. Although his expression did not change, he was quite surprised to hear Ko Yongha speaking in Japanese. He remembered that Yongha did not speak Japanese back then during the Hokuto tournament, even though he did seems to understand the language quite well. Although he did not want to, Akira was in awed of Yongha's ability to pick up the language so fast that he now spoke almost like a local. Soon they reached the room and Akira slide the door open, showing them in and told them the location of the bathroom. Seon-kuen thanked Akira profusely before entering the room cheerfully. Akira stared after the older man with fascination, unable to imagine that a man of that age was so… childlike, until he noticed that Yongha did not followed his sempai into the room. He turned to find the said boy regarding him silently.

"It there something you need, Yongha-san?" Enquired Akira politely, although his eyes were silently challenging Yongha. Somehow Yongha seemed to grate on his nerves.

"Iie. There's nothing I need." Yongha replied in a mocking tone. "But there is something I want to know."

Akira raised an eyebrow and waved his hand in a gesture to ask Yongha to continue.

"How is Shindou Hikaru?"

Akira's whole body froze, as he stared at Yongha, wondering at the nature of the question. From the doorway they could hear Seon-kuen calling out cheerfully to Yongha that he was going to use the bathroom first. Akira's eyes slowly harden and turned icy as he glared at Yongha.

"What do you want with him?"

"Heh… Quite protective of him, aren't you? Well, since there is no harm, I'll let you know. I want to meet him… and I believe you can help me in that."

Eyes narrowed, "What made you think I'll help you?"

Yongha chuckled slightly, "I have expected you to say that. Never mind, I have my own ways. Was just trying my luck with you. Saa… then, oyasumi, Akira-san." Yongha then walked in to the room and silently slide the door close without waiting for a reply from Akira. Just before the door was fully closed, Yongha turned and smirked at Akira, "By the way, please send my regards to Shindou Hikaru. I'm sure that you'll be able to do, ne?"

By the time Akira finished replaying his memories, he had already finished his bento and was lying against the tree with his eyes closed. Frankly speaking, he was very worried about this turn of events. He knew that Hikaru had a grudge against Yongha ever since before the Hokuto tournament started, thanks to the incompetent reporter, Kosemura and Yongha bad-mouthing Shuusaku, but if yesterday were anything to go by, Hikaru seems to have recovered from it. Not that Hikaru were likely to ever forget about the insult, but at least Hikaru was back from being moody and depressed.

Akira sighed deeply. Everything always seems to come back to Shuusaku when it concerned Hikaru. And Sai too of course, but Sai is more intangible, seeing that he had no proof of any connection between Hikaru and Sai except some wild guesses… and maybe his otou-san. Shuusaku is more real, since Hikaru often used his moves, although Hikaru had modernized it, it is still very unmistakably Shuusaku's. Akira also remembered that Kurata 6-dan had even said that Hikaru was a Shuusaku's calligraphy expert. Shindou Hikaru is one Go player that was fully entrenched in the path of Shuusaku.

Although Hikaru is still quite far from being on par with the legendary Go player, he was slowly getting there. Every time there is an obstacle, Hikaru managed to improve and get stronger to overcome it. Each stumbling block only served to raise Hikaru's determination, competitiveness and strength. There is no telling the limit of Hikaru's Go. Thanks to Hikaru, Akira's Go had grown as well, but even Akira had to admit, Hikaru's growth is much faster than his. One day, Hikaru may even surpass him… but that is for the future.

Returning back to the present time, Akira gave another troubled sigh. Having Ko Yongha here right now doesn't seem to be good news. He might put Hikaru back into his depressed mood again. There was also the business of Yongha wanting to see him. Akira frowned, wondering why Yongha would want to see him. And making it sounded like it was his sole purpose for coming to Japan, instead of just plain sight-seeing and, although his okaa-san did not mention it out of courtesy, Akira knew it was also an excuse to meet some Japanese pros for games.

He had found out right after the Hokuto tournament that Ko Yongha had said those insults to rile Hikaru up and the earlier mix-up was due to a bad translator, thanks to Suyon. When Akira had explained that to Hikaru, with Suyon as a backup, Hikaru had patiently listened. It seems that Hikaru had believed them, but he had also said that he could not forgive Yongha for the insults, whether he had meant them or not. Even after all the begging and explanations, they were still back to square one, unable to get Hikaru to forgive Yongha… not that Yongha was asking for forgiveness then. In fact, Yongha couldn't have care less about the commotions he had cause in Japan and grudges he had made with Hikaru… so why the sudden interest in Hikaru?

And now his mind came back to Hikaru. Seems like he could never stop thinking about the boy, maybe it is because Hikaru is the only friend he had that was of the same age. It is nice to worry about someone else, since most people he knew are much older than him and are very capable of taking care of themselves and him. And worried he was, wondering about Hikaru's reactions once he knew that Yongha is in the country. He was also wondering whether to tell Hikaru that Yongha was here, in Japan, or not. He did not want to be the bringer of bad news to Hikaru, not to mention being in the risk of putting him back into his depressed mood. But on the other hand, he also did not want to betray Hikaru's trust by keeping such a secret, if it can be called a secret, from him. He knew Hikaru will never forgive him if he found out that Ko Yongha was in Japan and staying at his home and he had neglected to tell him about it.

Distantly he could hear the bell ringing, signaling the end of lunch break. He picked up his bento box and got up slowly, walking back to class.

'Either way, this is going to be one messy event.'

-owari-

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Finally, a chapter up. Sorry for the late update, but I had a project (which kept back-firing at me and my teammates), an assignment (which I am sure that it is meant to either kill us or maim our brains) and two exams to deal with before I can come back to my fics. As I had mentioned earlier, someone just told me of my off timeline, so to fix it, I put Hikaru in senior high. So this chapter was mostly to explain in detail about it, though I think I had gotten a bit too long-winded about it… ;;

Anyway, for those who reviewed, thanks a lot. And again, especially to tati1 and Cyhirae, I would like to apologize for my disastrous use of the English language. I know my English is not good, so please bear with me. I would be honored if you were to continue to read my fic, but it does not matter to me whether you do or not. As I had said, all this is in fun to me. Sorry, but I had a weird sense of humor and my idea of fun is… different, according to my friends.

A few seems to want this fic to turn into a Yongha and Hikaru pairing. Seriously I do not know. I know that I am putting up a Yongha that is quite obsessed with Hikaru, but to pair them up… well… I really don't know. Please give me some suggestions.

Ja ne!

Explanations:

Daijoubu – are you all right? Also used to answer if you are fine.

Genki – literally means happy. Also used to assure someone you are fine.

Iie – no

Betsuni – it's nothing/it's all right

Saa – so/then/okay… somewhere along those lines

Sensei – teacher

Gomen – sorry

Sou ka / sou da ne – is that so

Demo – but

Itte rasshai and itte mairimasu – 'I'm going' and 'have a good day' =D literal translation. Hey! I'm lazy…

Kowaii – scary

Hidoi – cruel

Nani – what

Yurushite – forgive me

Onegai – please

Honto – really

Koibito – boyfriend or girlfriend

Yare yare – something like hey hey or the likes. Japs n chineses have plenty of those intonations.

Tadaima and okaeri(nasai) - 'I'm home' and 'welcome back'

Matte – wait

Yoroshiku – please to make your acquaintance

Oyasumi – good night