I'd like to throw a question out to anyone reading this: how is it so far? Anything you like about the story? Anything you dislike? Writing is a process of perpetual improvement, and I would love to know what you all think. Give me all your thoughts on the characters, the structure, the length, my writing style, the dialogue, whatever. Feel free to leave a review to give me your comments/criticism on absolutely anything. The opinions of my readers mean the world to me.


Unlike Tadashi, GoGo was far more reserved about the nature of their relationship. Of course, their group of friends and Tadashi's aunt knew about the two of them, but she, for some indiscernible reason, felt a curious anxiety about informing her parents that she was dating Tadashi. It wasn't as if they would disapprove, she thought, as Tadashi more or less completely fulfilled every requirement they felt GoGo's prospective boyfriend should meet. (Her mom also asked her on more than one occasion what she thought of Tadashi and one time referred to him as "that cute Shimada boy") So it was a given that she was slightly hesitant about bringing an intoxicated Tadashi to her home for the night. But she was a dutiful girlfriend, and she would repay Tadashi for rescuing her in her time of need not that long ago.

"Alright, we're here. Just please try to keep it dow-" GoGo advised Tadashi to keep silent as she opened the door when she was interrupted by Tadashi nearly collapsing on top of her. "Not now, Tadashi. Please."

Despite her warning, Tadashi took the opportunity to wrap his arms around GoGo's stomach and press his face right up against the side of her head. "Mmm," He mewled. "You're so soft and cuddly," He took a deep breath pressed against her face. "And you smell wonderful."

GoGo shifted her weight to prevent Tadashi from completely collapsing. Now was not the time for cuddling, as appealing as the idea sounded. Right now she would have to get Tadashi through the house, up the stairs, and into her bedroom all without making sufficient noise to wake her slumbering parents. The mortification of bringing her drunk boyfriend into her room in the middle of the night would most likely be fatal. "We can cuddle later, c'mon."


With her heart racing, GoGo had managed to maneuver Tadashi to the exterior of her bedroom. Before she could indulge in victory, she was interrupted by a mutter from her delirious boyfriend. "Eyegottapee."

She turned to hear him more clearly. "What?"

"I gotta pee."

Tadashi had quite a bit of alcohol presently flowing through his system, so it made sense that he had to use the restroom, and there was no way she was going to let him into her bed in his current state. "You gotta pee first? Alright. Let's make it quick." She ducked under his arm, boosted him up, and delicately maneuvered him to the restroom. As soon as she clicked the lights on, Tadashi shuffled over and began to unzip his trousers.

"Up-up-up! No you don't." She gripped Tadashi's shoulders and spun him around to sit him down. He was completely docile in his present state.

"What's wrong?" He mumbled.

"I know you're a guy and you would hate this sober, but I don't really want your peeing all over everything. I don't trust your ability to aim right now," She almost laughed at the absurdity of the statement. Tadashi attempted to make some sort of objection, but GoGo quickly silenced him. "Just shut up and go. I wanna go to bed." Being careful to maintain her gaze on Tadashi's face, GoGo propped him up by his underarms as he sat down. She found this whole scenario pretty amusing, in a way. Something about Tadashi being in this state of vulnerability made her smile. He felt comfortable enough to go to the bathroom in front of her and she felt comfortable enough to be present, which had to say something profound about their relationship. Despite her tough front, vociferous rage, and acid tongue, she struggled valiantly to connect with and trust those around her. She had spent a good portion of their friendship secretly pining after Tadashi, but she conceded that there were a wide variety of fears that nipped at her confidence even when he revealed he carried similar feelings for her. Exposure, vulnerability, weakness, each were things that GoGo feared deeply, but Tadashi was so welcoming and so open that she no longer held any qualms about falling for him.

"Are you a freaking camel? How much did you have to drink tonight?" GoGo burst into a fit of laughter. Tadashi had been using the restroom for at least thirty seconds and showed no sign of slowing down.


"Give me one second and I'll pull the covers o-"

Before GoGo could even finish her thought, Tadashi flopped onto her bed. She knew that attempting to get him up at this point would be totally pointless, so she would have to improvise. "Alright. We don't even need the blanket. We'll just have to keep each other warm. Would you mind scooting over a little bit, you drunk?" She gave him a playful shove to stop him from sprawling his body all over her bed. "There we go. Now we can cuddle." She felt that wonderful storm of emotions she often felt when Tadashi wrapped his arms around her. It was beyond rare for her to reveal the soft, caring, compassionate portion of herself, and Tadashi had proven to be more than worthy of her affection. She nuzzled her head onto his shoulder, sighed contently, and gave him a light kiss on the cheek as she drifted off to sleep to the rhythm of Tadashi's heartbeat.


"Oh, shit."

GoGo hopped out of bed and dashed out the door as soon as she acclimated to the real world and realized that Tadashi was no longer an occupant of her bed. Before she could speed downstairs, her intense quest was interrupted by the rumbling of voices below, one of which she was almost certain was Tadashi's. With a heavy sigh and a heavy heart, she made her way downstairs to confront fate.

"We may be first in the N-L West, but you can never be too comfortable." GoGo's father stated as she took in the smell of coffee.

"I'm just arguing I have a right to be optimistic. Derek Law has been phenomenal so far and Hunter Strickland has stepped his game up considerably." Tadashi retorted. The two looked over at the newly arrived GoGo.

"Oh, morning, Leiko. I was just explaining to your boyfriend that he shouldn't get his hopes up about the Giants. I know that better than anyone."

GoGo's eyes and eyebrows jolted up and her heart stopped despite her preparation. Tadashi continued to drink his coffee.

"What did-how did you know?"

He looked over at her curiously. "Your mother told me ages ago."

"And how did she know?"

"Aiko told her ages ago. They talk quite a bit on the phone, you know."

GoGo felt her face burn as Tadashi continued to laugh.