A/n: Well another week has passed us by… sadly my weekend was taken away because of a Sports Day thingie… but I do get tomorrow off. I am going to sleep! SLEEP! Something I do not get much of… but seeing how I have a more strenuous job, I need to get. Damn it! I miss the days of staying up till 3am and getting up at 7am and being perfectly fine! Not happening here… maybe it is due to the fact I have a death march to do everyday… twice. I am SO getting a scooter once I get my Japanese license!
Now- I pose a question, is it sad to get the same model as an anime character I love? Or is that too sad and pathetic? If it is ok, then it is either a Vespa like in FLCL, or Gintamas ghetto-tastic scooter!
Anyway- on to the chapter. Thanks for the reviews!
The next day at practice Sora was having trouble concentrating. Yesterday had been an emotional roller coaster. She had wanted to take Mimi and her other friends out for a simple day of shopping, but that became impossible as every once and a while there was a reporter or fan coming up to her.
On the front page of every newspaper and gossip magazine was a picture of her and Tai from the banquet. Things got pretty bad at one point where the girls gave up on trying to shop, and returned home to the small apartment.
The pestering didn't stop there. On her way to practice that morning, a reporter seemed to be following her. She was nearly late for practice because she went to hide in a restroom at the station to see if the person would still be there when she got out.
He was.
Asking Yui about the extra attention, her seasoned friend tired to give Sora some important advice.
"What do you mean move?" Sora asked.
"You need a place with better security and you also need to tell those reporters to get lost." Yui said simply as she motioned for Sora to hurry up.
"But I like my apartment." Sora said as she ran to catch up.
"You are no longer a college student Sora, change is usual. You don't have to leave your roommate or anything, just move to a better location. You have enough money now."
"Well, yeah, but..."
"The attention is only going to get worse if you continue your relationship with Tai. You need to make some choices if you want to stay safe, and balance everything else."
"I guess..." She said a little defeated. She had never even thought of moving out. But she could afford a nice place now.
"So, can I ask how your evening went after the banquet?" Yui smiled devilishly. "Are the tabloids true? There was a reporter that said you went to Tai's condo, and didn't leave till the morning..."
"Um... wow, look at the time! Gotta get running those laps." Sora said as she ran at the head of the team.
Sora was sweaty and tired as the practice was finished. The four hour high endurance preparation, and then squad drills that took another good hour or so for the weekends game was finally over.
Feeling especially drained Sora sat down on the field and laid down, placing her sweat towel over her forehead. Getting her breathing back to normal took a little time since she had been running non-stop all morning.
Yui and the others had gone ahead to the locker room to change and then get lunch. After that they would usually spend some time in the lounge before calling it a day.
Sora was hungry, but she didn't feel like going with the girls, who had been especially interested in her and her date at the banquet.
It was weird, she didn't love Tai any less because of the teasing and attention, but she kind of wished that he wasn't so much of a super star at times. Yui was right; choices had to be made if she was going to keep her sanity with everything that had been happening.
Deciding that she could call Mimi a little later and ask about apartment shopping, that was if she would talk to her after what was going to happen today… Sora looked at the clock on the scoreboard of the stadium. A little after noon, she sighed. Her plan would be in action in less than ten minutes.
A little set up between Mimi and Joe was in the works. Sora called Joe and asked if he wanted to go to lunch with her, and then this morning she asked Mimi if she was free for lunch. The two would be forced to sit and talk. She had already clued Joe in on what Mimi was like that morning... he seemed just as shaken. He had confessed he didn't know how to talk to her after that, so a little help was in order.
Smiling, she hoped that those two would work things out. She knew they would.
"Hello good looking." A voice from above her made her notice the figure kneeling near her. His smiling face and big hair made her smile all the more. He looked so cute with that boyish face of his.
"Hi." Sora said sitting up. "I'm all sweaty, so I don't recommend any close contact at the moment, unless you want sweat all over you." She warned as she saw him move in for a hug and what she hoped to be a passionate kiss.
"I think I can deal with that; that is if you can deal with a sweaty boyfriend for a little while?"
"We would match then." She replied as she allowed him to hold her. The kiss she had been longing for came and then several more.
"I came thinking you might want a picnic or something for lunch."
"A picnic?" Sora looked at him with a funny expression. She had not expected this... then again Tai was very charming. He had been ever so the night of the banquet; she hoped that was his real personality and not some front. She had a feeling he was just being himself, charm and all.
"Well, yeah. It is a nice day out and all... so you want to eat here or try to go outside?"
"With those reporters following me? Not going to happen." Sora sighed as she lay back down on the pitch and looked up at the sky.
"They have been giving you problems again?" Tai asked taking her hand in his. He was angry.
"Yeah, I was followed this morning and they kind of ruined a shopping day yesterday with the girls."
"Want me to talk to them?"
"Won't that make it worse?" Sora wondered aloud. "Well, Yui told me that I need to make a few decisions now that I have been catapulted into the spot light..."
"Decisions such as?"
"Moving..."
"You could always move in with me." Tai said before he could stop himself.
"Thanks, but I am not ready for that... I do love you, but things have been going a little too fast... could we you know? Date a little more first?"
"No problem at all. Just sitting here with you makes me happy. We can take it as slow or as fast as you want."
"Thanks Tai." She smiled. "Now, what about that offer of a picnic?"
"Ready done my dear." Tai said as he pointed to the basket he had at his side.
"Tai, you amaze me you know that?"
"That is what I am here for." And with that he unfolded the blanket and he and Sora enjoyed a light lunch on the field.
"SORA!" It was Mimi's voice as she entered the door of their apartment. Sora kind of cringed noticing the tone was a little unpredictable... it sounded a bit angry... and yet not...
"Hi Mimi, so..."
"I love you!" Mimi squealed as she rushed to hug her roommate. "Thank You! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!" The girl giggled as he latched onto Sora and made no show of letting up.
"I take it things are good with Joe..."
"Better than good!" Mimi smiled letting Sora breath once again by letting go of the vice grip around her neck.
"That is good news." Sora sighed glad that her plans did not back fire. "So, are you back together and everything?"
"Yes!" Mimi smiled showing her roomie her hand. "He gave me a promise ring!"
"You got engaged?" Sora was shocked.
"Not engaged yet... but soon! He said when I was ready he would officially propose to me."
"I am glad." Sora smiled.
The two talked for a time about Joe and Mimi and their lunch they had together. Sora was glad that Mimi was no longer depressed.
"So, I was wondering... would you like to move somewhere better?"
"Move?" Mimi asked.
"Yeah, I was thinking that since we can afford a better place, we should do it."
"But I can't afford to pay any more than I do for this place."
"Don't worry- you can pay what you can, but I was thinking we should move to a place with better security and all... and I can make up the difference."
"Are you sure? You loved this apartment, right?"
"I do, but with all the press about me and the hype of me and Tai..."
"Say no more. I will call a friend and we will have a house hunting party tomorrow!" Mimi smiled and got on the phone.
The very next day Sora, Mimi, Kari and Yolei all got together and went to the housing agency Mimi had called.
Sora had wondered why the other girls had to come, but Mimi insisted that the more people there, the better they could assess the places.
"Welcome," a rather stoic man said as they girls entered the office. "My name is Ken, and I will be helping you find an apartment. This way please and we can begin."
Sora and the rest smiled at the man with darker hair. Kari giggled seeing Yolei eye the man who looked to be about their age. Sora caught on and smiled too.
After viewing floor plans and assessing the locations of several places, the girls with the help of Ken had decided on three they wanted to tour.
Getting into the company's van, with a blushing Yolei in the front passengers seat, the girls began their day of house hunting.
"Sora, I really like this one." Mimi said looking at the spacious and open apartment they were in.
The apartment complex was ten stories tall and there were about four apartment/condos on each floor. Each had more room that Sora and Mimi knew what to do with.
"Say, you know, there are two extra rooms, if you guys want to come in and live here too- it would be great!" Mimi smiled as she looked to Kari and then Yolei.
"You know, that does sound kind of fun..." Kari added, "we could each have one of the rooms as a bedroom, leaving the huge bathroom, living room and gorgeous kitchen for us all to use."
"If you want to." Sora said looking out the living room's balcony. It was nothing like Tai's, but it would be a lot better than what they had at the moment.
"It's settled then," Mimi squealed with delight. "We'll take it!" She said as they all nodded in agreement.
The day ended with a new apartment, new roommates, and Yolei with a phone number she would have to call later.
A/n:
Well- we finally see the entrance of Ken. And the others get some much needed time in the fic.
Review!