CHAPTER 9
"Eh? Where's Yashiro and Waya?" Hikaru looks around curiously.
"Ah... washroom... probably..." Isumi is sweating.
"Really?"
"I think so..."
"Hm... Honda, you brought your camera right? Isumi, let's take pictures together." and he pulls Isumi towards the national statue.
Back at the alley, Yashiro and Waya still haven't settled their problems yet.
"Few months? Give me an exact answer!!! How many months is 'few months'!?"
"I don't remember..."
"What? You can't even remember when you first met him!?"
"It should be at the Hokutohai selection competition..." (Well in fact he remembers this because he and Hikaru had had a very interesting match at that time)
"Hn." Waya is still not satisfied.
"Listen to me. Last night—"
"I don't want to hear it." Waya closed his ears. If Yashiro is going to tell him what they did in the room to hurt him, he will not listen to it.
"No, what I want to say is that—"
"Waya, Yashiro! Come on, they are moving!" Isumi shouts at them.
"Coming!" Waya answered and run towards Isumi. Yashiro sighed and followed them.
"How is it going? What did he say?" Isumi asks anxiously.
"He was trying to tell me what they were doing last night but I refused to hear. If he's going to brag to me about Hikaru, I won't accept that." Isumi walks with his head down. He is the only one whom Waya entrust with his secret. Although he felt bitter but he supports his friend. As from he understands, love is not about possessing it... it's about seeing the one you love happy.
"Maybe he was trying to explain yesterday's incident was a misunderstanding."
"What misunderstanding? I don't believe him!" well, seems like there's nothing could be done! Waya got the wrong opponent! At this time Akira do feel glad Waya is not sticking to Hikaru for a change.
It was a day full of joy but everything has to come to an end. After dinner, everyone retreat back to their room and rest. Honda follows Kurata with a heavy heart. Earlier, he had requested for exchange but everyone refused. Honda blame Ochi for causing him this misery but Ochi pretends as though he hears nothing (It all happens when Kurata is not at the table).
Back in the room, Akira switch on the television and took out his book. He's learning Chinese (basically he's the only who can speak and understands Chinese in the group, so he acts as the translator. However, his Chinese is not perfect and he plans to sharpen his language skill)! Hikaru was impressed but soon got annoyed because he couldn't understand a single thing. He took out his manga and starts reading. Both of them do their own work till Hikaru finally dozes off. His manga resting on his chest.
Akira too, feels tired and decided it's enough for today. Switch off the television and turn around to see Hikaru sleeping like a child. He puts the manga on the table and pulls the blanket but his eyes are fixed on him. Without realizing, he's ruffling Hikaru's hair softly, touching his hands and lip slowly... but all of a sudden he stops. He felt as though he's a bird toying with his prey (which is a very crazy thought). Akira turns off the light and climb to his bed, sleeping close to his life-time rival...
Early next morning...
Akira felt someone holding him. It's a warm feeling... so comfortable... so soft and light... could it be Hikaru?
"Hikaru..." he mumbled...
And then he woke up with a start. He was shocked!
Hikaru and him they are hugging together on the bed! His head is leaning on Hikaru's chest and Hikaru's hand is resting on his waist. Akira blushed so red he can feel smoke coming out from his ears. This can't be true... this is just a dream... but his touch is so real... could it be an imagination?
Akira did not dare to move... he's afraid it might wake Hikaru... this feeling of excitement and happiness. His heart went doki doki doki doki doki... He felt it for the first time. Yes, it's even better than winning Go. If it's a dream he wished that god would stop the time. He felt he could sleep forever in this way.
"Um..." Hikaru stirred a little. Akira panicked. What if Hikaru wakes up? He didn't know what to do and how to face him ...so he closed his eyes and pretend to sleep.
But Hikaru did not wake up. In fact, he pulls Akira even closer to him and hugging him tighter! Akira could feel his heart about to explode. It's thumping so hard and loud that he thought there's a possibility it will wake Hikaru. Akira steals a glance at Hikaru... but the boy is sleeping so soundly as though nothing in this world will wake him up...
However, after a while...
"Hm..." Hikaru woke up. He can smell a strong fragrance of flower on the bed. He opens his eyes and saw a boy in his arms. He's hugging a sleeping Akira! Upon realizing that, he blushes. He didn't know he was THAT desperate! What should he do? If he moves, he will surely wake him up (he has no idea Akira is already AWAKE!). But finally he decides that it's better to start preparing himself. It's already morning. The others might have awakened and if they (him and Akira) are not awake yet, the others will come banging their door. He cannot imagine what will happen at that time...
Slowly and gently, he lifts Akira's head... then placed them on the soft feathered pillow. He was relieved Akira did not stir nor move. Hikaru tip- toed to the bathroom and washed his face. Gosh, he needs to be calm!
By the time he comes out from the bathroom, Akira is already awake. Their eyes met and both quickly turn away, leaving an awkward silence.
"You... you can use the bathroom now..."
"Ah... em... Thank you..."
"Ok now, let's go to the Ki-In. but remember, behave yourself." It sounds more like a reminder to himself since Kurata tends to act more childish than these young kishi. They are inside a private van which they rented for use for these two weeks.
Hikaru tries to act normal but did not realize he's actually avoiding Akira.
"Hey, Honda you look fine today."
"Haha yea... I was so tired yesterday that I collapse on the bed and sleep till morning. I don't think I hear Kurata-san's snores at all!"
"That's a miracle." Yashiro chirped in. The others laughed while Kurata threatens to leave Yashiro at the hotel. The small van heads to the Ki-In with challenges ahead of them...
doki doki—is the Japanese word (not a formal word though, mind you) describing the sound of heart thumping (in excitement, fear etc).
"Eh? Where's Yashiro and Waya?" Hikaru looks around curiously.
"Ah... washroom... probably..." Isumi is sweating.
"Really?"
"I think so..."
"Hm... Honda, you brought your camera right? Isumi, let's take pictures together." and he pulls Isumi towards the national statue.
Back at the alley, Yashiro and Waya still haven't settled their problems yet.
"Few months? Give me an exact answer!!! How many months is 'few months'!?"
"I don't remember..."
"What? You can't even remember when you first met him!?"
"It should be at the Hokutohai selection competition..." (Well in fact he remembers this because he and Hikaru had had a very interesting match at that time)
"Hn." Waya is still not satisfied.
"Listen to me. Last night—"
"I don't want to hear it." Waya closed his ears. If Yashiro is going to tell him what they did in the room to hurt him, he will not listen to it.
"No, what I want to say is that—"
"Waya, Yashiro! Come on, they are moving!" Isumi shouts at them.
"Coming!" Waya answered and run towards Isumi. Yashiro sighed and followed them.
"How is it going? What did he say?" Isumi asks anxiously.
"He was trying to tell me what they were doing last night but I refused to hear. If he's going to brag to me about Hikaru, I won't accept that." Isumi walks with his head down. He is the only one whom Waya entrust with his secret. Although he felt bitter but he supports his friend. As from he understands, love is not about possessing it... it's about seeing the one you love happy.
"Maybe he was trying to explain yesterday's incident was a misunderstanding."
"What misunderstanding? I don't believe him!" well, seems like there's nothing could be done! Waya got the wrong opponent! At this time Akira do feel glad Waya is not sticking to Hikaru for a change.
It was a day full of joy but everything has to come to an end. After dinner, everyone retreat back to their room and rest. Honda follows Kurata with a heavy heart. Earlier, he had requested for exchange but everyone refused. Honda blame Ochi for causing him this misery but Ochi pretends as though he hears nothing (It all happens when Kurata is not at the table).
Back in the room, Akira switch on the television and took out his book. He's learning Chinese (basically he's the only who can speak and understands Chinese in the group, so he acts as the translator. However, his Chinese is not perfect and he plans to sharpen his language skill)! Hikaru was impressed but soon got annoyed because he couldn't understand a single thing. He took out his manga and starts reading. Both of them do their own work till Hikaru finally dozes off. His manga resting on his chest.
Akira too, feels tired and decided it's enough for today. Switch off the television and turn around to see Hikaru sleeping like a child. He puts the manga on the table and pulls the blanket but his eyes are fixed on him. Without realizing, he's ruffling Hikaru's hair softly, touching his hands and lip slowly... but all of a sudden he stops. He felt as though he's a bird toying with his prey (which is a very crazy thought). Akira turns off the light and climb to his bed, sleeping close to his life-time rival...
Early next morning...
Akira felt someone holding him. It's a warm feeling... so comfortable... so soft and light... could it be Hikaru?
"Hikaru..." he mumbled...
And then he woke up with a start. He was shocked!
Hikaru and him they are hugging together on the bed! His head is leaning on Hikaru's chest and Hikaru's hand is resting on his waist. Akira blushed so red he can feel smoke coming out from his ears. This can't be true... this is just a dream... but his touch is so real... could it be an imagination?
Akira did not dare to move... he's afraid it might wake Hikaru... this feeling of excitement and happiness. His heart went doki doki doki doki doki... He felt it for the first time. Yes, it's even better than winning Go. If it's a dream he wished that god would stop the time. He felt he could sleep forever in this way.
"Um..." Hikaru stirred a little. Akira panicked. What if Hikaru wakes up? He didn't know what to do and how to face him ...so he closed his eyes and pretend to sleep.
But Hikaru did not wake up. In fact, he pulls Akira even closer to him and hugging him tighter! Akira could feel his heart about to explode. It's thumping so hard and loud that he thought there's a possibility it will wake Hikaru. Akira steals a glance at Hikaru... but the boy is sleeping so soundly as though nothing in this world will wake him up...
However, after a while...
"Hm..." Hikaru woke up. He can smell a strong fragrance of flower on the bed. He opens his eyes and saw a boy in his arms. He's hugging a sleeping Akira! Upon realizing that, he blushes. He didn't know he was THAT desperate! What should he do? If he moves, he will surely wake him up (he has no idea Akira is already AWAKE!). But finally he decides that it's better to start preparing himself. It's already morning. The others might have awakened and if they (him and Akira) are not awake yet, the others will come banging their door. He cannot imagine what will happen at that time...
Slowly and gently, he lifts Akira's head... then placed them on the soft feathered pillow. He was relieved Akira did not stir nor move. Hikaru tip- toed to the bathroom and washed his face. Gosh, he needs to be calm!
By the time he comes out from the bathroom, Akira is already awake. Their eyes met and both quickly turn away, leaving an awkward silence.
"You... you can use the bathroom now..."
"Ah... em... Thank you..."
"Ok now, let's go to the Ki-In. but remember, behave yourself." It sounds more like a reminder to himself since Kurata tends to act more childish than these young kishi. They are inside a private van which they rented for use for these two weeks.
Hikaru tries to act normal but did not realize he's actually avoiding Akira.
"Hey, Honda you look fine today."
"Haha yea... I was so tired yesterday that I collapse on the bed and sleep till morning. I don't think I hear Kurata-san's snores at all!"
"That's a miracle." Yashiro chirped in. The others laughed while Kurata threatens to leave Yashiro at the hotel. The small van heads to the Ki-In with challenges ahead of them...
doki doki—is the Japanese word (not a formal word though, mind you) describing the sound of heart thumping (in excitement, fear etc).