So, I actually split this chapter into two while thinking they're too long. Turns out while scrolling through this on my computer: IT'S WAY TOO SHORT! Anyway, this "mega" chapter, so to speak, will introduce a new ship! I myself would think it's way too obvious, but I let you viewers (as if I'll ever have any though, lol) be the judge of that! On with the chapter!
The second day of the Arizona trip for Ryuuji, his friends and his girlfriend. 8:15. No one is awake except for Ryuuji, who has already gotten up fifteen minutes ago, busy with texting Yasuko and scrolling through his social media feeds. Of course, he's doing it as quiet as he can to not wake the slumbering Palmtop Tiger beside him. After a while though, he decides to finally get out of bed.
He immediately goes to the storage room, checking on his engagement ring he planned for his future wife. Of course, he cannot help but be mesmerised by the form again. His admiring of the ring was cut short though.
"Hey." Ryuuji suddenly hears behind him, which makes him turn around to see Max at the entrance of the storage room. "Can't sleep anymore?" he asks, Ryuuji simply shaking his head as an answer. Even though his English skills are mediocre, his understanding is quite good.
The boy in the wheelchair would come into the room, looking at the ring in Ryuuji's hands. "It's wonderful...For Taiga?" Max asks, to which Ryuuji nods. "Quiet. She's sleeping." He simply whispers, making Max smile. "If only I was as good at love as you." He mutters, making Ryuuji tilt his head. "You're in love?" Ryuuji asks, the raven haired boy sighing hopelessly. "With Emily." Max responds. "Maybe go to a party or something?" Ryuuji suggests, making his new friend shrug. "Well, I don't know any parties nearby. Maybe Yusaku knows of a party-" Max tries to explain before:
"Ryuuji..." Both boys hear a sleepy voice, Ryuuji immediately recognising the voice and fumbling to get the ring out of sight, luckily succeeding. "Yes?" He asks, Max getting out of the way to reveal Taiga standing in her white pyjamas. Before Taiga could answer, her stomach answers. "Fiiine, I'll make you food..." Ryuuji mutters as Max, Taiga and Ryuuji go to the kitchen.
As Ryuuji starts cooking, Taiga would turn towards her boyfriend. "What were you two talking about?" She asks as Ryuuji translates the question into English for Max, Max explaining everything he told Ryuuji before, leaving out the ring of course, before Ryuuji had to translate that into Japanese for Taiga. Even though they started learning at the same time, Taiga's English was quite...meh.
As they kept talking, Ami comes into the kitchen, still in her pyjamas...Well, "pyjamas".
Actually it's just a bra and panties. Everyone would turn around at the footsteps, including Ryuuji.
Morning, Kawa-" Ryuuji says, turning around before coughing and blushing, looking away from Ami to respect his girlfriend. "KAWASHIMA, COVER YOURSELF!" He yells. "Hey, how dare you try to seduce MY dog, stupid chihuahua?!", the Tiger yells, letting out her infamous roar and attacking Ami.
That's when Kitamura also comes in with water dripping off his body. It was obvious he just got out of the shower. If only there wasn't another problem. "WHY DID EVERYONE FORGET THE MEANING OF MODESTY?!" Ryuuji yells as Taiga blushes hard as well and looks away, stopping the attack on Ami. "He's right, get some clothes on RIGHT NOW!" She says. If this was around a few years ago, she'd faint at Kitamura's exposure, but she has a boyfriend now after all.
Even though everyone shouted in Japanese and Max didn't understand a word, he couldn't help but laugh his ass off at the fiasco, making the rest blush in embarrassment. "I really am a klutz, I forgot the towel!" Kitamura says as he runs out of the kitchen, Ami following with an annoyed sigh. "No kidding..." Ryuuji mutters.
At all the noise, Sumire couldn't help but stride into the kitchen, Minori following suit. "Could you all explain why you all are SO DAMN LOUD AT 9 IN THE MORNING?!" Sumire shouts as Minori stretches, obviously still tired. "Really guys, what's the deal?" The pink haired girl asks, Ryuuji explaining the entire situation in the kitchen, earning blushes and annoyed sighs from Sumire and a hysterical laughing fit from Minori.
After they all, including a clothed Kitamura and Ami, settled down and ate their breakfast, Kitamura asks Ryuuji. "Hey, I've just decided: How about we bro out? I know I called you all to get over here, but still, some time among best friends wouldn't hurt!" At the request, Ryuuji simply smiles and nods. "We shouldn't forget Max then, he's a bro too!" Ryuuji says, Kitamura nodding. "I'll ask him. 1 PM?" He asks as Ryuuji nods. "You know it."
As afternoon came around, Ryuuji clothed himself fittingly enough for the weather in Arizona, being clad in a white muscle shirt and grey sports pants. "Ryuuji~, do you really have to go?" Taiga, who lays on her and her boyfriend's bed, asks with a pout, making Ryuuji sigh. "We won't be long, I promise." "What if I'm hungry?!" The Tiger asks, making Ryuuji pinch the bridge of his nose. Even though he loves her to the moon and back, she can be a real pain in the ass. "Kushieda learned how to cook at Kawashima's beach house, you'll be fine.", the dragon says.
After a deep kiss, Ryuuji bids farewell to Taiga, meeting with Kitamura and Max, both in fitting clothing, outside the house. "Pretty cool you two invited me." Max says as Kitamura and Ryuuji nod, walking around the neighbourhood up until they see a basketball court. "Hey, this looks great! Now I'll show you what a boy in a wheelchair can do with balls!" Max says as Kitamura stifles a laugh at the wording, Ryuuji simply shrugging. "Okay..." He answers as he pokes Kitamura. "Look, I need to show you something before we join him."
As they sit down on a bench while Max was shooting some hoops, Ryuuji pulls something out of his pocket: The ring.
"Yooo, what is that?" Kitamura asks as he looks over the ring. "Beautiful, isn't it? I'm planning to propose to her during the trip. Perhaps at the end of the trip." Ryuuji explains as Kitamura smiles. Ryuuji could've sworn that tears of happiness were welling up in Kitamura's eyes before:
"AY, GET YOUR ASSES OVER HERE!" Max yells as Ryuuji and Kitamura laugh. "CHILL OUT, DUDE, WE'RE COMING!" Kitamura answers as Ryuuji puts the box back into the pocket, and so they were playing basketball up until 3 PM.
It doesn't even take one step into the house before Taiga immediately tackles Ryuuji, yet less aggressive than usual, so he manages to keep his balance. "Idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot, never leave me again!" She says as the Dragon immediately hugs his Tiger. "Don't worry, see? I haven't been hit by any balls and you didn't die of hunger, we're both fine!"
The Palmtop Tiger pouts. "It's not that...But I just missed you..." She says as Kitamura can't help but let out a quiet "Awww...". After the ToraDora pair pecked each other on the lips, Taiga rushes into the living room, along with the other girls, including Emily, who immediately looks at Max, making him blush.
"Dude, you're getting all red, you good?" Kitamura asks as Max looks at Ryuuji. "You haven't told him what I told you?" He whispers, making Ryuuji shake his head. Thus, Max immediately rushes Kitamura into his room, telling him about his feelings for Emily. All that's audible from the living room was a shocked and loud "WHAAAAAAAAAAT?!", making everyone turn their head in confusion.
As Kitamura and Max leave the room, they go to the living room, sitting down on the couch. "Sooo...what was this noise, darling?" Sumire asks as Kitamura clears his throat. "Max just told me a funny joke. What was that joke you told me, dude?" Kitamura asks as Max thinks. "Right, so...why couldn't the pirate boy watch the movie? It was rated ARRRRR..." He says as you could basically hear the crickets chirp.
Luckily, the awkward staring at Max and the awkward silence stopped when Kitamura got a message. "Finally..." Kitamura secretly thinks as he checks his phone. "What is it?" Emily asks as Kitamura shows everyone the message. "There's a disco having a grand opening tomorrow night!" Kitamura explains as Ryuuji translates for Taiga.
"Hell, yeah!" Taiga says, making the gang from Japan chuckle as Max smiles. "Well, a new disco, an opportunity to show off my moves!" Max says with a smile, making everyone giggle. "And an opportunity to confess..." He adds in his mind.
"Well, isn't that great! More time to get to know you all!" Emily says as Minori pumps her fist into the air. "BUT ALSO MORE TIME TO PARTAAAAY!" She shouts, making the others roll their eyes in an amused way. "Never change that optimistic attitude, Kushieda." Sumire says with a laugh.
So, yeah, I hope to Valhalla that the fixes on this chapter didn't make it short...Also, the parts where Max was playing basketball and proclaiming to show his moves, IT IS NOT DISCRIMINATION, I JUST WANT TO SHOW WHAT PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS CAN DO #WHEELCHAIRGANG...Okay, I'm out before I make a clown out of myself.
