Author's note: At this point, I think all of you should be informed that chapters 1-3 are pebbles. They pave the road for events that will happen in chapter 4 to the end. I really wouldn't call it a waste of time, but they may seem quite uneventful at the moment. I hope I did somewhat a good job to keep you entertained and didn't completely ruined the impression you have on this story! Please stick with it, you won't regret it. Now let your last torture before the fun begin!
The Phone Calls
Shindou puts the receiver down, and then stared absently at the phone. Where is he then? It is now almost seven pm.
Yes, I called Touya, but that doesn't mean anything. I just wanted to make sure that bastard returns home safely so I won't be responsible for anything that happens to the guy. Shindou reasoned with himself darkly. He wasn't ready to deal with his consciousness yet.
RING… RING… RING…
It was strange to be standing right in front of the phone and not be able to hear the urgent and impatient ringing. Shindou jumped a little, and then he heard his mother's soft voice from upstairs telling him to get it. Judging from the running of the water, she should be showering or doing the laundry.
"Hello? Who is this?" Shindou answered nervously. Is it Touya?
"Oh, Hikaru, you are home? I'm just calling to thank Shindou-san for the recipe of that chocolate pudding... is she there?" came a soft, refined soprano.
"Yeah, she is home, but she is taking a shower, I guess." Corners of his mouth turned up at the familiar voice. "Are you feeling alright? You sounded like you are sick or something." More like crying but I shouldn't start.
"I'm alright, Hikaru. You don't need to worry... So how are you? It's been a while since we last seen each other huh. We use to do everything together eh...now we barely see each other... once a month if I'm lucky. It's too bad really..." The voice sighed. "You seem to forget this best fri..."
"Of course not, what's up?" Shindou rolled his eyes. Jeez, dramatic much.
"Nothing… well, do you think maybe we could go for lunch together, tomorrow? If you are not too busy hanging with those serious adult people..." She asked hopefully.
What is the problem this time? She had the tendency of running to him when something goes wrong with her life. "I'm very sorry. I'm busy until next week. Why don't I meet you at the regular mall next Saturday?"
"Sure…I have waited this long. A week wouldn't make any difference... Thanks, Hikaru." They had come to an understanding that he will always be her refuge.
"Bye, Akari." Shindou hung up and then took his coat and walked outside, planning to go find his lost… wallet.
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I should head home now. I have been sitting here for the while. It's cold. I miss Shindou. Do I have a game tomorrow? Yes, but it's nothing big, nothing I can't handle... Broken thoughts came from a frozen, broken mind.
Touya Akira was sitting on the bench in the white park. His knees were brought up to his chest; his arms were around the knees and his head was resting on his arms. He looked like a giant snowball that some kid had left on the bench. Those envision had brought him into the park, and he sat motionlessly on the wooden chair covered with snow, facing the couple. Are they real? Who are they? That guy has the same hairdo as mine and the other guy has the same hair colors as Shindou…
"Oh, my! Akira-kun! What are you doing here? I was so worried when I receive Shindou-kun's phone call! I was just heading to his house! Are you okay? Are you hurt? What on earth are you doing in a park? Do you know that the blizzard started twenty minutes ago?" Akiko chanted tiredly.
Hikaru? He called? Maybe he isn't mad anymore? Maybe he will talk to me again? I should go and apologize! And then Hikaru would hug me and tell me everything is fine. Despite the wintry cold cutting through him, Touya was very, very warm. His forehead was burning; he was sweaty under his coat and his face was rosy. But those weren't all that was warm, his heart started to defrost too. Hikaru called!
"Gosh! I should get you to the hospital! You are having a fever! I should have known not to let you go today when there was a blizzard coming up! But, seriously! Touya Akira, I thought you were sensible enough to go home immediately!" Akiko pulled him up and started to drag him to their family van.
"Mother?" Strange, is this mother? She doesn't sound like my mother, she sounded like Shindou's mother, yelling at Shindou.
"Get in; I'm taking you to the hospital. Stay warm until then." Akiko pulled out a blanket and covered Touya up carefully.
"Bye…" He whispered to the couple in the park and closed his eyes. Drifting off to sleep wasn't so hard knowing that maybe, just maybe Shindou would forgive him.
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"Hello, I'm Shindou. I'm outside your house… Yes. Just to make sure if Touya came home…is that so… yes… oh… okay…no, that's fine. I'm heading home then. Wish him well for me…. No, don't worry… yeah, everything is fine…I'm sorry, that was my fault…Yeah… Okay. Bye" Shindou dropped his cell phone into his pocket and scratched his head frustratingly.
"What did I tell you? He is stupid!" Shindou murmured as he headed home, hands dugging deep into his pockets. The park, that park near my house? The one we… what the hell was he doing in there? What am I doing here? He is not my concern now. We are finished!
To Be Continued…
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Previewsfor the next chapter:
- Shindou felt his throat tighten and without noticing, he frowned.
-"I was thinking… maybe we should go visit Touya-kun.
- This afternoon, he realized one thing. It's impossible for him to look at a Goban or play a game without thinking about Shindou,
- He knew that deep in his heart, he was not angry. He was just frustrated and tired, maybe also scared about what's to come.
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Author's note: this chapter is short compare to the others, hope nobody minds. I usually find long chapters more fulfilling, but this chapter seemed just right like this, so I left it. Please leave a comment if this story grabs you, and come back for the next chapter!