A/N: Sorry for the slow updates. It's writer's block. Expect the wait time between updates to expand.

On another note, to 'K' and 'David' (yes, you anon. reviewers), thank you for the input about the scores. I'll keep that in mind next time, and might go back and change the scores around. I don't maim, bite, or threaten if you decide to give critique, and if you do happen to have accounts on I most definitely won't harass you either. So don't be wary of leaving a signed review. :P It's easier to contact people with answers, explanations, etc, if there's some way to reply.

Friends

Initial greetings with Hikaru over, Waya turned back to his opponent, shortly apologizing for the rude interruption in their game. The teenager accepted the apology with no fuss and the two resumed their game. More and more stones were placed onto the board at a moderate pace, with a few minutes of pause in between moves on the side of the teenager. It was another half an hour later when the teenager stopped and bowed to Waya in resignation.

"Makemashita," he said to the pro Go player, head bowed over the board. "It was an experience playing against you Waya-pro."

"Arigatou gozaimasu," Waya responded to the teenager, bowing his head as well. "It is always a great pleasure to play against players like yourself. Would you like to have a discussion on the game play?"

"It would be greatly appreciated," the teenager replied, smiling brightly at Waya.

Returning the smiled, Waya looked sheepishly over at Hikaru to apologize. "Sorry, seems like you'll have to wait for me this time."

Hikaru laughed out loud at the declaration, and smirked over at Waya. "Don't worry. I'm sure I can find something to occupy my attention for the time being."

"Or you can join the discussion," Waya prompted, grinning at Hikaru. "Having some input from a bystander's point of view may bring to light some oversight we may have missed."

Hikaru mock sighed at Waya's suggestion, and answered in a dramatic manner, "If you insist, then I suppose I must; if not for my sake, but for yours."

Waya just nodded back to Hikaru, "Of course, it's always about you."

Turning his attention back to the teenager, Waya smiled kindly at him and started commentating on the teen's play starting from the beginning. He pointed out the well thought out moves that were played, explained how they could be used more efficiently in a different manner; and the not so well placed moves that could be improved on if the teen had thought about it a bit more, rather than just stubbornly pressing forward aggressively. The teen nodded at Waya's critique with each significant move that was played on the board, asking a few questions along the way to whether something else could have been done instead.

Silently listening to the side was Hikaru, along with some of the watchers who stayed behind for the discussion, following the Go pro's words and nodding at a few places while making a thoughtful look at others. There were a few moments in between when Hikaru would interrupt Waya and put in his own thoughts, giving a different view of how the move could have affected part of an outcome on some region on the board if played congruent to another set of moves. Waya would then become silent and study the board for a few moments before either agreeing with Hikaru's analysis or disagreeing that the move would be too risky and that it would only work in set conditions.

The teenager would nod at what the two older men were saying, when he understood, and ask when he didn't. Soon enough, the people in the small audience would speak up and ask questions as well. Things such as what kind of strategy would have been better to use to overcome the one the trap that Waya-pro had laid in such places. The discussion started to die down when the teen made some excuses to leave that he had to leave soon for another meeting. Waya agreed that he too had other matters to attend to and the discussion ended soon after. The two players put the Go stones away into their respective bowls, and stood up to leave.

"Thank you again for the game Waya-pro," the teen thanked, bowing again before leaving in quick strides.

"And you as well," Waya replied in response to the teenager. Turning back to a waiting Hikaru, he grinned and said, "So, fancy seeing the convention grounds first or you up for a game?"

Grinning back Hikaru answered playfully, "I think I'll let you wait for that game and tour the grounds first."

Grasping at his chest in mock anguish, Waya answered in a very fake hurt tone, "You would let me suffer so?"

"Come on Waya," Hikaru chuckled, grabbing Waya's arm along, "I have to meet up with someone first."

Grumbling at being pulled along, Waya sighed and let Hikaru take him where ever it was they were headed.

As they walked along the makeshift pathway that the lined up stalls created, Hikaru stopped at various vendors examining the many things on display. At a small souvenir stand, Hikaru picked up a cell phone charm in the shape of a miniature size Go board and bought it, putting the thing into a small bag and pocketing it. At another stand, he bought a book pad for recording kifu. At Waya's questioning look, he explained it away as a friend needing the book pad. Waya took the answer at face value and didn't inquire about the rest of Hikaru's purchases, assuming them all to be for friends and co-workers alike, maybe even for his two little disciples.

Soon enough, the two reached the destination Hikaru had in mind. Eyes quickly searching the crowd, Hikaru located Akari soon enough and promptly pulled Waya along once again in the woman's direction. As they neared her, Hikaru called out, "Akari!"

Said woman turned around the sound of her name being called out in the crowd. She smiled as she recognized Hikaru, waved at him and gestured for him to meet her at the side of the stage where there were less people about. Getting the message, Hikaru tugged Waya along once again.

"Come on, Akari's over by the stage," Hikaru informed Waya as the two headed towards the stage.

As the two approached the stage, Waya noticed a cute looking woman around his and Hikaru's age standing there waiting for them. Stopping just before Akari, Hikaru smirked, "Hey Akari. Got any good stuff to write about for your article?"

"Just barely," Akari glared at Hikaru, "If I don't get good responses from this article I'm holding you responsible. You're an adult now Hikaru, you shouldn't need me to make sure you're not waking up late each day."

"It's a day off for me," Hikaru pleaded with a puppy dog expression, "Cut me some slack. It's natural that'd I would sleep in late."

"Don't count on it," Akari continued glaring in a menacing manner.

"Okay, okay," Hikaru lifted his hands up in surrender, backing slightly away from the annoyed woman before him. He suddenly changed topics and he gestured to a stock-still Waya who was staring fervently at Akari. "You've met Waya haven't you?"

"Yes, at the game last time," Akari nodded. She turned to Waya and gave him a bright smile, "It's nice to meet you again Waya-san."

"L-likewise," Waya stuttered out. He continued to stare at Akari. Noticing Waya was acting a bit stiff, Hikaru smacked Waya's back.

"Come on Waya, no need to be nervous," Hikaru grinned, "Akari won't bite, usually. Non-relatives at least."

"I'm sure that will make a good impression Hikaru," Akari growled at Hikaru, and grabbed at his ear in punishment.

"I-it's no problem," Waya answered, trying to calm Akari down, "I'm sure Shindo's just joking around as usual."

"Fine," sighed Akari, letting Hikaru's ear go but not before giving him one last glare.

Well, I had a revelation (back when typing out chapter 2) that this story seriously isn't going anywhere plot wise.