Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you all have been waiting for! Also this is the first instance of some implied sexual content, nothing too graphic however.
Chapter 4 : The Man That Boy Could Be
Odaiba
The subconscious is a mysterious thing that in the end can not be ignored. It does not care about what's happening to us now. It is filled with thoughts people have tried to repress for so long. Most of the time, one succeeds in repressing these "unwanted" thoughts. But on occasion, these thoughts manage to escape. They show themselves in a dream, where the subconscious is free to reign over, leaving the person shocked when they wake up.
Sora's dream last night was no exception to this rule.
The sweet touch of his calloused hand on her face, skin-to-skin, she knows she's blushing but damn does she love this sensation.
"Six years….It took six painful years...but this is worth it." she whispers to him, her maroon eyes staring into his chocolate-colored eyes as they embrace.
He kisses her, a sweet sensation that she never felt before. They hold each other, alone in their own little world, no plans to let go now. Not after all this time.
The first thing that aroused Sora Takenouchi from her slumber were the sounds of the birds tweeting merrily on the branch near her window. Long before the alarm set for six-thirty in the morning or the sun rays peeking through the window could wake her up. As Sora regained her strength and let her eyesight clear up, she nulled over the dream from the night before. Looks like Mimi's influencing me...great. Sora thought to herself, blushing intensely at the slightly steamy dream. Mimi had been arguing a few nights before how Sora needed to get back into the dating game, the redhead firmly but gently refusing. After all, dating could wait. She wanted to get an education first, cliche as it sounded. Mimi wasn't quite sold on Sora's 'denial', as she called it.
Focusing her attention to the song the birds were tweeting, she thought to herself in amusement : The birds are making sure I'm not late for today. It was like the beginning of that musical called Hairspray that Mimi was crazy over. The one where the leading heroine wakes up with the birds singing and singing about how wonderful today would be, passing through homeless bums, rats, and streakers. Horrifying.
After stretching her body and turning off the alarm clock, it's services not needed, she grabbed her selected-clothes for this special day and a bath towel, heading for a nice morning shower.
Twenty minutes later, Sora came out of the bathroom, towel-drying her damp hair, now back to it's normal shoulder-length cut. She had no plans to cut it in a bob cut again in the foreseeable future. Her clothes consisted of a pink v-neck shirt with elbow-length sleeves, and her baby blue jeans. Casual and maybe not as stylish as what a few others would wear. Sora was pretty sure Mimi wouldn't be too pleased, after all she always claimed 'The first day of something is a fashion show.' But Sora didn't mind the more casual style at all, thinking she looked fine enough. Presentable and maybe cute for some. Maybe. Then again, a little addition to the outfit wouldn't be a bad idea either.
Going into her room, Sora opened her jewelry box and studied them. The necklace her beloved jiji gave her for her seventeenth birthday back in September, the anklet with dolphins dangling around it that her father bought during a vacation, the bracelet Mimi gave for her sixteenth birthday that they nicknamed the 'Cleopatra' bracelet because of the snake design. They were all very nice but at the same time it wasn't what Sora was looking for. Sora raised an eyebrow, debating over the possibilities.
Then something caught her eye.
She gently picked it up. Buried under the numerous accessories was a hair barrette Sora hadn't worn for a long time. Not because she hated it. Far from it. But because wearing it had proved a little painful due to the memories associated with it at times. But maybe with the passage of time, she could wear it now without the slight heartache.
A yellow sunflower with a red center, supported by a silver clip. Sora smiled slightly in her nostalgia. How Tai had given it to her, how they had gotten into an argument over it, a stupid argument Sora realized in hindsight, and how they made up with Sora even wearing it to show Tai she was no longer angry at him.
"I wonder…." Sora thought as she placed it in her hair. She couldn't help but grin slightly as she looked in the mirror. It didn't look too bad. In fact, it looked great! The pangs of a slight sadness hadn't returned either, much to Sora's relief. Satisfied with her fashion choice (as Mimi would call it) and more concerned with being on time, she exited her room.
The redhead headed down the hallway, as she had a whiff of someone cooking something. "Something smells good", Sora called out, a grin on her face as she took a seat. Her mother, in her yellow flowery apron, was making breakfast. Her father was reading over his notes for the anthropology class he was teaching back in Setagaya, a move he willingly made to be closer to his family. The radio had begun playing an important news bulletin about a man by the name of Akihiro (Sora didn't get to hear the last name) from Edogawa going missing. Apparently, he had been missing for three days and his disappearance was reported by a drinking buddy of his.
Toshiko said, as she finished up cooking, a small smile, "Well, it isn't everyday you start your first day of college, Sora." Sora smiled, "Thanks, mom."
"Nervous, sweetheart?" Haruhiko said gently, as he set down his notes.
"Sort of but I know I'll be fine." Sora said, giving a bright smile as she gratefully got the plate her mother handed to her. "It'll be like high school, but with more tests and homework."
"Do you have everything?" Toshiko asked as she put the milk back into the fridge.
"Yup. My books, my student I.D." Sora noted, as she took a bite of her piece of ham. "And my schedule. I made sure to print it out the night before. Also copied it on my cell phone just in case."
Haruhiko grinned, "Sora, color me impressed. You've taken quite the extra mile for this. I'm so proud of you. Most people wouldn't do that."
"It's my first day of college. I'm supposed to take the extra mile for it", Sora stated. "This is the big leagues."
"What's that on your hair?" Toshiko asked curiously as she took a seat, a coffee mug filled with that black coffee that only her mother liked.
Sora wiped her mouth with a napkin as she replied, "Oh, that's the hairpin Tai bought for me for my eleventh birthday." Greeted by her parents glancing in...concern maybe, Sora grew worried as she anxiously stated, "If it looks bad on me, that's okay, I'll take it out…"
Toshiko shook her head, "Goodness, no! It doesn't look bad, Sora. It's just that it's the first time in a while you've worn it."
Haruhiko nodded, "Your mother's right. I don't recall you wearing the hairpin in your hair after...well, Taichi and Hikari left."
"I...thought that it wasn't fair to waste something that an old friend gave me like that." Sora said, convincing her parents, as well as trying to convince herself.
Waseda University was filled with life as students walked past one another, in a hurry to get into class. Sora was in awe as she and Haruhiko stopped by the entrance. Haruhiko had volunteered to join Sora in her first day, even though the latter tried to insist to her father that she would be fine.
"Do you know how to get to your classes? Do you remember what you promised your mother and I? Do you-?" Haruhiko started, anxiously looking over the students.
"Daddy, you asked that a couple of times. Don't worry, I do. I remember how to get to my classes and I'm not going to do all those crazy parties and drugs." Sora said, firmly and gently.
Haruhiko smiled sheepishly, "Sorry, just trying to get over the fact my little girl isn't so little anymore."
Sora gently smiled, "Daddy, I'll be fine. You guys have taught me well. I'm positive I'll be on the path to success." Giving her father a hug she said, "Now you better get going. Or you'll be late for your own job."
Bidding goodbyes for now, Sora walked on, focusing on the buildings and glancing down her schedule.
It wasn't long before Sora finally found the building of her first class, a good thirty minutes before the class started but Sora didn't care. Being early may seem as 'sucking up' to some, but Sora disagreed, feeling it was better to be prepared and certainly better than being late.
The first day of biology class was filled with at least a hundred students shuffling in, anxiously grabbing notebooks and laptops as the professor, a middle-aged woman with her greying hair in a bun, introduced herself and the teacher assistants, or T.A.'s as she called them. After those introductions, the professor went into a lecture about the procedures of the class.
An hour and fifteen minutes. That's how long the class lasted. And Sora loved every moment of it. As the professor dismissed her class for the day, Sora got her things and slightly smiled to herself. This is it. I'm here. Sora thought.
Her other class, Readings in Culture and History, started at one-thirty. Sora glanced at her clock, eleven-forty five. Opting for a lunch break and then a stroll around the university, Sora headed off to the cafeteria, looking over the food options. After making a decision and buying it, she sat down on one of the tables, ready to enjoy her food. As she took a bite out of her sandwich, she heard a conversation going on in the other table next to her.
"Do you think that the interview went well?" a young female voice asked.
"Honestly, it's hard to tell. I mean, she looked impressed but I don't know. Luckily, I've got a few more coming up next week. Two from the local markets and one in the mechanic shop." a male voice replied.
"Maybe this university has something of a job here. If it does, try to apply. I actually like it, it's so beautiful."
"I'll admit it isn't shabby." the young man chuckled, before his tone growing serious, "Sorry that you'll be missing school for a week...since I registered late and all."
"Hey, at least, I'll go to school regardless. And it was so nice of them to let me in when the school year was about to begin."
"I suppose. Let's just hope they don't find out we're staying in a hotel of all places."
Sora wanted to hear more in this conversation but then scolded herself over how rude that would be. As she reached for her backpack, preparing to read for her biology homework assignment, she then noted something familiar about the two sitting at the table. The girl, who had to be no older than fifteen, with her pink eyes and brown hair that was lighter than her male companion, who appeared to be of Sora's age. I wonder….Sora thought before shaking her head and scolding herself, Stop it. Come on, focus on school.
Distracted over grabbing her book, Sora unconsciously knocked over her thermos.
"Crap!" Sora exclaimed as she reached futilely for it. However, the young man quickly grabbed the thermos before it could fall on the ground.
"Man, aren't you the clumsy one?" the dark brown haired man smirked at Sora as he handed her the thermos, before his eyes widened in realization.
Sora was just seconds away from either thanking him for his kind act or scolding him for insulting her when she realized why she looked familiar.
"Taichi?" Sora ventured, anxiously.
"Sora, is that you?" Taichi asked back. Sora nodded barely. Kari's mouth dropped in surprise.
Cliffhangers! Don't you just love them?! But hey, it's finally happened. Tai and Sora reunited!
There are a couple of reference notes :
The chapter's title, "The Man That Boy Could Be" is a reference to Avril Lavigne's "Sk8ter Boi", where the singer tells off the titular character's ex-girlfriend for not choosing to look past his appearance.
The anklet with the dolphins is a reference to Sora's first voice actress, Yuko Mizutani, who had a love for dolphins. I thought it would be a nice homage to Mizutani.
Waseda University is an actual university located in Tokyo, not far off from Odaiba.
I headcanon Sora gets a job in botany instead of a fashion designer. I just feel it's a bit more in character for her. This explains why she's taking a class in biology.
I can not stress this enough but I don't own the characters. I do however appreciate reviews, especially constructive ones. I hope this chapter pleases my readers. ^^