A/n: Well, it is definitely not Monday… but since I will be away from my computer on Monday, I decided to be a nice author and update (you all did such a good job at clicking those review buttons, so this is my THANK YOU). This time with TAIORA FLUFF! And Oh baby is it good!

I will be away on an anime dream week up in Tokyo, which happens to be Golden Week, which also happens to be my b-day week! I can justify blowing my money on toys and otherwise useless trinkets! Go ME!

Ok- back to the chapter. Here is a present from me to you!

You want it? You really, really want it? You really, really, really (want me to stop using really) want it?

Have at it!

It was already a week into the new soccer season and Tai had still not made up his mind on what to do about Matt, Sora and his own feelings.

Matt would ask him at least once a day about if he had talked to her or not, but Tai kept telling him the same thing. But he knew Matt would not wait forever.

Gathering up the courage, he found out some very important information from Joe. It seemed that Sora stayed after practice to do extra laps and work on her footwork.

Tai decided it was now or never. Entering the now empty training ground, Tai found her there, just like Joe had said.

Watching her work for a moment, Tai could not help but be amazed at her talent and determination. In the short week of regular league play, she had been crowed the Princess of the Pitch, from the play they did on the last day of training. It fit her well. She was an instant celebrity and idol for women players all over Japan. That was rare for such a young and rookie player.

They had won their first real game no problem. The game was so exciting that the television networks replayed it due to popular demand after the evening news highlighted the new players on the team. If they kept things up, the rest of the season would be given a permanent time slot every week.

Along with the team's new success, Tai smiled every time he saw a picture or head line about Sora. She was one her way to being a big success. And he was glad. If anyone deserved it, this girl did.

Snapping out of his own stupor, he decided to go down and talk to her before she either left or thought he was a stalker.

"Hey!" He called out as she took a break from running.

"Um… hello." She smiled back. Tai could tell she didn't know what to say, and that she was already looking for an excuse to leave.

"Wait." Tai said before she could take off or say anything more. "I just want to apologize for anything that I did wrong or said before. I didn't mean for things to kind of get blown out of proportion, I didn't say your name because I didn't know if you wanted the spotlight or not… so it's not like I wanted to snub you either." He needed to get that all out.

"Calm down. I figured as much." She laughed at his nervousness.

"You did? Then why haven't you talked to me once since then?" He asked.

"You were right, I didn't want the spotlight, but I kind of got that and more… I guess I just didn't want to cause problems within the team… you know you and that blond have a pretty strong fan club even from within the girls team…"

"Oh… did anyone give you a hard time?"

"Sort of, but I dealt with it. Actually, I don't think I would have played as well if they weren't so openly hostile towards me…" She said as she wiped the sweat off her face with her hand towel.

"Is it better now?" Tai asked feeling bad she went through all that because she talked to him.

"Yeah. They see me as a good player and not some girl who sucked up to stars on the men's team." She said. "You guys have gotten a lot better. I was surprised at how fast you did that."

"Matt would be happy to hear that." Tai said remembering that Matt was a main reason why he had even come there.

"Really? He does strike me as the selfish type, so praise from anyone would make his day…" Sora said before she realized it was more of an insult on Matt. "Sorry." She quickly said while looking at the man at her side to see if he was mad.

"You seem to understand him rather well." Tai smiled.

"Well, he is kind of annoying… and he likes to talk about himself a lot." Sora said thinking back on all the times he had approached her with a comment about his skill, his looks, or whatever.

"He's a nice guy." Tai added.

"What are you, some Matt Ishida fanboy?"

"Well, I…"

"You know what?" Sora said before Tai could finish his thought. She was going to go for it. Kari and Mimi had all told her to be more aggressive with men. And this one was really nice and cute. So what if he wanted to talk about his friend… maybe the topic of conversation could be changed. "How about I let you take me out for coffee, and we can talk all about your best friend there?"

Thirty minutes later, and Tai was standing in front of the girl's locker room waiting for Sora to shower and change.

He had not thought in a hundred years that he would be taking anyone out for coffee again, let alone a gorgeous, funny, smart and over all perfect woman like Sora.

He kept telling himself that he was there to talk about Matt, but he hoped that would not be the only thing they would talk about.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." She smiled as she exited the locker room in a clean outfit. Tai smiled at how pretty she was in a pair of tan Capri pants and a nice fitting tee shirt. Her hair, that was still a little damp from her shower, was nicely combed and a small clip was used to keep some of her bangs off her face.

As she walked in front of him, Tai was hypnotized by the floral scent that wafted off her body.

"So, shall we go?" She smiled once more as Tai stood there and did not move for a few more seconds. "Do I have something on my face?" She asked as she dug into her bag for a compact mirror.

"No, it's just that you… you look really nice." He smiled.

"Um, thanks." She replied with a faint blush. She couldn't help it. There was something about him complimenting her, just being near her that made her stomach feel all a tingle.

"Tai, can I ask you something?" Sora asked as she put down her large cup of tea. They had been at a small coffee shop that she had frequented during her college days for a good hour now… and all they seemed to talk about was soccer, her and Matt. Where the first two subjects were interesting and she was having fun, the last topic was just something she was not interested in.

"Um, sure what?" He questioned while not looking at her. Was she going to ask for Matt's number now? Was she falling for his best friend? Tai couldn't take it.

"Why are you so interested in talking about your roommate?"

"He… well you see… he likes you." Tai finally confessed. It was so not what Matt had coached him to tell her, but it was finally out.

"I see." Was all she replied. Tai still could not look at her. "What about you?" She asked looking down at her tea.

"Me?" Tai said trying not to look or sound like a nervous idiot.

"I don't have any interest in Matt. In truth that wasn't the real reason I invited you to come here with me… but I guess if that is all you are interested in… I had better go then." She said a little disappointed. She looked up at him and how he couldn't look at her. I see, she thought. It always is like this, isn't? She finally finds a nice guy, and he doesn't see her as anything…

Sora picked up her bag and stood. She had only taken a single step when she felt a strong but gentle hand on her wrist.

"I am…" He said looking up at her with determination in his eyes. "I mean, please wait… I…"

Sora sat back down and looked at the man before her. His chocolate orbs were a glow with emotion and she smiled faintly.

"Matt asked me to talk to you, but I guess I also came here to see if it was me you might be interested in… I know I am not the kind of guy that is exciting and cool like Matt, but if you give me a chance, I…"

"That's exactly the reason I would love to get to know you. You aren't Matt. From what I have heard about him and seen, I could never put myself into a situation like that…"

"So…"

"Yeah…" They both blushed as they realized what everything meant.

"I well, you know there is a banquet for the team and all… in a few days… it is a rather formal event, and I was wondering if… if you would maybe… think… that you might want to… with me… I mean…"

Sora smiled at his fumbling way of asking her to accompany him to the banquet. Finding that it was awfully cute and very sweet, she leaned in closer and kissed him on the cheek. It shut him up.

"I would love to go with you. Pick me up at 7:30 then?" She asked standing up again.

"Yeah." He said in nothing more than a whisper touching his cheek where she had kissed him.

"I have to go. I had a great time." She smiled brightly at him. "Oh, I almost forgot." Digging into her bag again, she pulled out a notebook and pen. Scribbling down something she ripped out the sheet and handed it to him.

With a wave she was gone, leaving him still dumbstruck there holding the piece of paper.

Forcing himself to snap out of his little daze once again, he looked down at the paper and found an address, and phone number. What started as a little smile grew and grew. He felt as if his face would permanently be stuck with a big smile on it because that is all he wanted to do.

Getting up from the comfortable chair, he walked out of the coffee shop and felt like screaming with excitement. He decided to hold it in and instead ran all the way home instead of taking the bus.

A/n: SQUEEEE!

Ok, so there it was the first true moment of fluff. But do not worry, you thought that this fluff was cute, wait my friends... more to come!

But first Tai has to figure out how to break this to Matt... will there be problems? Oh you bet your buttons there will be! Just not exactly where you think there will be... you will have to wait and see.

Next chapter- the first date!

Review!