KeruKeru: I had a bit of trouble with this chapter, mainly because it was just a lot of trying to figure out what I wanted to happen to give some kind of plot, even if it's background. It keeps the story moving. Anyway, please enjoy!
Disclaimer: Digimon is not mine.
2. Preparations
This had to be the most mind-numbing idea Sora's ever had. Yes, we needed to start thinking about colleges we wanted to apply to and seeing different campuses would certainly be helpful. However, those aspects didn't make being corralled like cattle through a bustling college campus by a monotone tour guide any more exciting. And, to top it off, Tai got lucky and had to miss our little excursion because of his soccer practice so I didn't even have a goggle-head to cuddle with. That meant I was stuck with (not that it was all bad) Sora, Mimi and Koushiro. Jyou was supposed to tag along, but judging by Sora's constant dejected looks whenever he was brought up, it was best not to dwell on that.
It was all a plan to get ahead on applications, entrance exams and the like. The four of us meeting at the train station and riding out to Tokyo for the day, explore TokyoU's grounds, maybe stop off for lunch and do a little shopping (Mimi's idea). This tour was killing any sort of drive I had to stay in Tokyo.
"Now, if you'll follow me to our university's extensive library…" God, was he still talking? Did he even go to this school? Judging by the sweater vest and balding scalp, probably not. Most likely he worked for the university. Could they not have found someone more… spritely? This guy didn't exactly scream 'time of your lives'.
I watched Sora elbow Mimi, pink head drooping a bit in her daze of boredom. "Huh, wha?!" She shot up, still wilted when she realized our torture wasn't over. The prospect of shopping wasn't enough to keep her awake.
Even the token ginger of our group was seeming less and less interested as time went on. This had all come of her recommendation since we older Digidestined, Tai excluded, had nothing planned for our Saturday. Jyou was mainly coming as a curtesy seeing as he'd already been accepted to a nearby medical school, but we all missed him and he wanted to be there to support us, especially his girlfriend. Of course, Sora took it hardest when we collectively got the "Sorry, I can't go" text.
The only one of us who seemed to be enjoying himself was Kou. Our computer genius was even starting conversations with the guide. It was usually something about their programs or whatever factoids he'd read online about the school. He was at the head of the prospective group.
"Sora, why did you suggest this?" I hissed at her, probably more venom in my voice than I'd originally intended. It wasn't her I was mad at, after all.
Her head fell back, staring at the sky for answers. "I thought this would be more fun! The brochure I got from school made Tokyo's tours seem like so much more." There was carpet beneath our feet as our group was filed inside for the next hour and a half of our tour. "One of the girls on the tennis team even said she had a blast!"
"I'd prefer actually being in school at this point." Mimi whined to us. She let her body arch downward in over-dramatic exhaustion. Theatrics were always her specialty.
We were in the library now. Wall-to-wall books. Students were in various stages of studying, or not studying as was the case for some. Most of those in the library had some kind of coffee drink with them and were talking quietly amongst themselves. It reminded me of Tai. I was really bummed he couldn't come along, but I'd never let him miss practice or a game just to come be bored with us. Bored with me, maybe. That usually turned into exercise all on its own, after all.
I could feel an idea forming. I think it was my inner-Tai bubbling to the surface. So much time with my goggle-head was causing us to act and think like one another. It was a quality we'd always had, but our deeper relationship was making it more prominent. "Let's ditch him." Yup, definitely Tai. I'd have to slap him later, much to his assured bewilderment.
My statement had the other two eyeing me in shock. "Matt, that'd be rude!" Mimi piped up.
"It's rude to make us tolerate this." She couldn't deny I was right.
"I'm in." Sora finally said, surprising us both as she was usually the one to call us (mostly Tai) out for such schemes. "Next time he rounds a corner we split." I think Tai had rubbed off on her, too.
Mimi let out a sigh, knowing she couldn't take us both on, especially when we knew she didn't want any more of this than we did. "Fine. But what about Izzy?"
"He seems like he's enjoying himself. I say we just text him and let him know. We can always meet up with him after." My plan seemed to pacify her. And as luck would have it, our guide was finishing up his history lesson on the library and was starting to lead our group back outside. He hung a left and, both taking hold of one of Mimi's arms, Sora and I tugged our pink friend back and ducked behind a bookshelf.
"That wasn't necess-mmmph!" Sora clasped her mouth to keep her quiet until the entire cluster had vacated. When she was again allowed to speak, Mimi's eyes burned in anger at the both of us. "Maybe I should've stayed with the tour." She harrumphed about as convincingly as she possibly could.
Sora and I just exchanged a glance. "Fine, then go catch up with them while we explore." I challenged her with a knowing smirk.
It took no time at all for her to cave. "Ugh, fine, you guys win. You're just lucky you're more fun."
"We're honored that you think so highly of us." The Love Bearer's voice dripped with sarcasm. "C'mon Mimi, this means we can all finally scope out college boys!"
The thought had Mimi's cheeks matching her hair. "But Sora… what about J-mmmph!" The red-head's hand couldn't have found her mouth any faster, cutting her last word short. Mimi glared daggers at her, shaking the muzzle off easily. "Stop that!" Her agitated voice caught the attention of the nearby librarian whom promptly shushed her.
"Let's get going." I cut in before anything further came of their altercation. "Besides, I really wanna check out the dorms to get a better idea of whether to live on or off campus." Not really, but it was as good a reason as any to get the two to quit their bickering. It was odd the two were so at each other's throats, or at least as close as any of us could come to such, lately. I made a mental note to bring it up with Sora later.
As we got outside, strategically choosing the long way out in case our former tour leader were to come back, the light dusting of early-winter snow seemed brighter than it was earlier. Mimi offered to text Koushiro and let him know of our daring escape, to which he complained about not being informed but he agreed to meet us for lunch at the nearby café. That left a little over an hour to explore and get our feet wet in the colligate world.
Our first stop was the campus residence halls. I had to keep up the charade of interest so the girls wouldn't break out into another fight, plus, they had intrigued me enough to at least think of them. Needless to say, though, they were extremely disappointing. The most common arrangement was four people to one room that barely seemed big enough to accommodate only two people. There was no question Tai and I would be getting an apartment nearby.
Oh… wait… Tai and I? That was weird… I'd never really spoken to Tai about this kind of stuff before, information about today's excursion notwithstanding. I mean, we'd only been together a month or so and I was already planning out our lives together? What kind of romantic fool had I become? Granted, I was always the one who needed a plan of attack and Tai just dove in head-first. Then again, I'd never been faced with a dilemma like this before. Tai and I could end up at different colleges. The fool would probably try to give up an excellent opportunity at another school to join me, as if I'd let him do that. Then we'd just get in an argument over it because he can be so bone-headed sometimes that I honestly didn't know what to do with him and- Was someone knocking on my head?
"Yoohoo! Earth to Matt!" That was Sora's voice, definitely.
"What?" I floated back down into my body with enough to time to hear myself snap at her. "Sorry."
She frowned at me, only slightly. "Tai?" My nod was all she needed. "Well, I think we're done checking out the dorms, unless you had something you were dying to see?" I couldn't think of anything.
"Oooh, where do you get this cute pendant?!" Mimi's voice carried over to us from where she was all but assaulting a young woman who just looked like she was cursing herself for having stepped outside.
"Th-There's a store by Yasuda Auditorium!" She squeaked by Mimi with her answer and immediately turned around, escaping back to wherever she'd just come from. It was obvious our pink airhead was going to fit in well.
"She's gonna make us go shopping." Sora whispered in my ear.
"Still better than that tour." I shot her a teasing glance and she nudged me.
Mimi pranced over, if she saw our exchange, she didn't mention it. "You guys, that girl had the cutest pendant! I think it's the school's insignia. Blue and yellow are so in right now!"
"Mimi, do you want to go the store?"
"Yes!" Without another word, she took both our wrists and dragged us along behind her. Neither Sora nor I could figure out where she got such strength, but given it was Mimi looking to spend money, it made sense.
It was a quaint little campus store. In one section were textbooks for the different classes offered, surely not all as there was a limited selection and TokyoU had quite the extensive list of courses. Another section had rungs of clothing in all different styles, usually baring the school's crest or made up in the same blue and yellow. There was only one person running the register, an elderly women, hair in a bun and an adorable old-person smile.
Mimi went straight for the trinkets, scanning each nook and cranny in search of the pendant she was hoping would be there. Sora was eyeing the books to get herself an idea of what classes she may be wishing to take. I did make a note of the fact that most of her choices seemed to be books on fashion, strange given I wasn't aware of her affinity for clothing design. I, on the other hand, was browsing through the school's clothing. There was nothing I could see myself wearing aside from maybe a scarf or gloves, I was mostly searching for Tai. While I was aware this would not necessarily be the school either of us were attending, plenty of high school students did wear clothing with college names on them. Surely I could find something for him. He would be happy if I got him anything, really.
I knew he wasn't normally one for a coat unless it started to freeze, in which case he had plenty of winter coats so that eliminated about half of my options. Sweatshirts, again, rather pointless with the walking furnace, even if part of me just wanted to give it to him and then steal it for myself. I was never positive pants-wise what he wore and without him here I did not feel comfortable choosing. That really only left T-shirts and… a vest? I had never seen Tai wear a vest before. It was in the school's blue, puffy to keep him warm and give me a piece of mind, but it was not so covering that he would burn himself out. I found the right size and immediately went to the front without a second thought.
"This seems a little big for you." The elderly woman spoke as she rung up my purchase.
I couldn't tell if she was curious or not. "It's not for me, really." Not that I wouldn't be stealing it from time to time.
She gave me a knowing smile but said nothing else as I paid as received the bagged item.
As I stepped aside, Mimi took my place with armfuls of commemorative drinking glasses, notebooks, a sweater; I think the girl was buying out the entire store. "A bit much?" I asked her in surprise.
"Not at all! It's to help remind me to do well so I can get accepted here!" She offered a toothy grin as the woman went about scanning each and every item.
I could see Sora had taken to browsing through clothing, but she did not seem to want to settle on anything or she was too deep in thought to really be considering it. "Something on your mind?" I strolled over to her.
"Hmm?" She looked when she realized I spoke. "Oh, nothing." Hardly convincing.
"Jyou?"
She let out a deep breath. "Yes."
"Talk?"
"Later."
Once Mimi's credit card had been swiped we were back on the quad. We only had about another ten minutes before Koushiro was done with the tour and I we were pretty hungry by now. Somehow, despite her shopping bags, Mimi let him know we would be at the café.
We were sat inside where the cool winter couldn't reach us. Sora and Mimi both had a hot chocolate while I ordered coffee. The inside was decorated with all different colors of wood from dark walnut to light pine and all colors in between.
Kou finally arrived, lighting a noticeable blush on Mimi's cheeks. "You guys missed a great tour. The computer labs here are phenomenal!" At least someone had a good time.
"I'm sure we did, Izzy." I chuckled as the waitress brought over another hot chocolate for the Knowledge Bearer.
"Where did you guys head off to, anyway?" He noticed the bags the sat next to both Mimi and I and found the answer to his question.
Sincerity had her own answer ready though. "Well, Matt wanted to go check out the dorms and then I found a girl with cuuuuuuuuuuutest pendant and…" She was suddenly digging through her bags, a frightened expression plastered over her face. "Oh… don't tell me I did this." Our table was being covered in Tokyo University memorabilia as she emptied her three bags.
"What's wrong?" Sora piped up, head tilted questioningly.
"Awwwwww… I forgot to grab one of those pendants… They were so adorable." The pink hair's bottom lip popped out in a pout. Leave it to Mimi to forget the one thing she wanted to buy in the first place.
Kou placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, the bleary-eyed girl lifting her head to him. "I'm sure you can order one online. I can even help you look." He offered with the softest of blushes on his tan cheeks.
Sora and I just glanced at one another at the display but said nothing.
"Oh, thank you Izzy!" Mimi suddenly had her arms wrapped tightly around him, squeezing the life out of our poor computer nerd.
He wasn't usually one fore affection so he seemed totally bewildered on what to do, hands resting softly on her back. "D-Don't me-mention it." His voice was shaky, probably due to lack of oxygen. It took a minute for her to finally release him, after which he took in a big gulp of air.
Having spent too much money at the campus store, Mimi decided it best forgo our initial shopping excursion and just head home early to recuperate. And so she could sneak her bags past her parents. So, we were riding the train back to Odaiba station. Kou and Mimi were sitting together on one side of the aisle with Sora and I on the other. The train was equipped with wifi so the red-head genius was helping her search online for that pendant she missed. Of course, Mimi was eyeing everything but as they scrolled through the university's 'swag' site.
"They're so adorable." Sora's voice was low and pensive, a compassionate sigh to follow.
I watched the two a moment longer before turning to said ginger. "I suppose." The look in her eyes was one of disappointment. "Are we gonna talk about Jyou?" I knew she was waiting for one of us to bring it up.
"Yeah… I guess." But it was obvious she wanted to with the way she stared at the other two.
"Have you spoken to him yet?"
"Not yet." I figured as much. "He's never around for us to talk about anything. And it's not like it's a conversation I want to have over the phone or through text." Yeah, it's not a conversation I'd want to have at all, honestly.
"Have you thought about what you want to say to him?" As good a jumping off point as any.
She turned to the window for a second, deep in thought as the outside world blurred by her. "Somewhat, I think. But most of it is just me complaining about how he's never there for me and I don't want to make myself seem petty and needy because he's doing whatever he can to further his career, but…" She paused, looking for a way to continue.
"But you want him there for you, too."
Her ginger head nodded. "I don't know, does it make me a bad person?"
My brow raised at that question. "To want your boyfriend to spend time with you? I don't think it does. But I can't say the same for Jyou." She visibly wilted. "Like you said, it is all for his future and, subsequently, your possible future together." They had only been dating few months so the 'future together' wasn't as poignant.
"I guess you're right. And, I'm not trying to keep him from that future. Feeling lime I'm his last priority, though. It's not the greatest thing in the world." Sora was like the mother of our group so seeing her so distraught was difficult, especially when love was supposed to be her area of expertise.
My hand enclosed around hers comfortingly. "What you need to do is talk to Jyou. Show up to his work, make a date, whatever you have to do." Showing up to a hospital may not have neem the best advice.
She was mulling over my suggestion. I gave her hand a squeeze. "You're right. I'll figure out some way to talk to him about it. We were supposed to go out last week… obviously that didn't turn out."
"Sora, everything will be alright, no matter what you choose to do." Another caring squeeze. She returned with an unconvincing smile that signaled her desire to stop talking about it. Then, a light went off in my head, mostly because I glanced to our fellow Digidestined. "So, what's going on with you and Mimi. You two seem… mad at each other for some reason."
I was greeted by an annoyed roll of the eyes. "I'm not the one mad at her. She's mad at me. Well, as mad as Mimi can be." Shoving your hand over her mouth a couple times probably didn't help anything. "See, we both applied for an… internship." She skittered around 'internship' without giving up the occupation. "They were only looking for three people. Mimi told me about her application so I thought I could try just to see what happens." Her eyes were on that occupied pink head. "I got chosen as a finalist, much to my surprise, and she… didn't." The forlorn tone told me she thought Mimi should have gotten said position.
"Well, neither of you have said anything else about it, clearly." I tried to be funny, hopefully lighten her mood. "You know Mimi, though. She's just in her pouting stage right now."
"I know, I just hate that she's mad at me. Especially when she deserved it so much more than I did."
My head tilted. "I'm sure you were both equally deserving."
The scoff she gave alerted me otherwise. "Please. Fashion has always been her expertise. I just sent in a few drawings of designs. I didn't even really expect anything to come of it."
"Are you disappointed about the opportunity?"
"Well, no, but-"
"But nothing. You got this far. You should be proud." My lips turned up in a smile. "Yes, Mimi will be mad. She may be on the same train of thought you are. But she'll get over it."
Sora's smile was a bit more convincing now, if not still carrying an air of sadness. "I hope so. I really want her opinion on a few things. The company is asking for more designs to help cement their decision on the winner." As she spoke, that melancholy in her eyes was overtaken by the fire of determination. "I don't think I've ever wanted anything more." That look in her eyes was another trait I found she and Tai shared, Sora's was slightly more wavering as she calculated her options more than our leader did.
"Since when have you been interested in fashion anyway?" I was curious since catching her with the books at TokyoU. "You've never really seemed like that fashionista type." Even her clothes were rather normal, just a pale blue sweater and jeans.
Her eyes rolled up to the ceiling. "Ummm… Forever, I guess? It's been more like a growing obsession since we finished middle school. I've been sketching out designs for a while just off things that inspire me." She dug her phone from her pocket and began scrolling through the pictures she had taken.
To say I was blown away would be a gross understatement. Completely and utterly flabbergasted at the unknown skill of one of my best friends would be more like it. Her designs ranged from flowing dresses, to blouses, she even dipped into designs for males which was more limited, but still stunning when done by her hand. I couldn't help but notice we, her friends, were the models in some of her sketches, most likely due to our varying body types. The faces weren't drawn, but it was obvious based on hair styles and colors. "Have you even shown these to Mimi?" I tried to blink away my shock.
"No, not yet. I figure once she starts talking to me rather than at me would be a good time." She passed by a dress with herself as the model, a simple red and orange number that reminded me of fire. Or the color of Sora's hair.
"Definitely show her the sketches of herself first, then." It was light-hearted, but it was also true. While a deeply caring person, Mimi had the tendency to pay more attention if something concerned her more so than other people.
The red head clicked her phone to lock it and nodded. "I will." She seemed much happier now, even if her impending conversation with Jyou was still on her mind. I had confidence in her.
Finally back in Odaiba, I needed to give Tai his present from our little trip. It was late afternoon, about three or so. The snow had started in, but nothing too bone-chilling, just a light flurry. I was walking up to the Yagami residence, shopping bag in tow I spotted Hikari on the phone outside the apartment. She seemed in deep thought or distress or something.
As soon as she spotted me she got into a low whisper. "I have to go, talk to you later." She may have said something after that, but I didn't catch it. The Child of Light turned back with the fakest of smiles I'd ever seen on her face. "Hey Matt. Here to see Tai?"
It wasn't my place to push his sister, even if she was dating my brother. "Yup, is he here?"
"Just got back, actually. Said he was pretty cold so he hopped in the shower." She opened the door to their family apartment and ushered me inside. "Shouldn't be too long though." The girl was headed down the hall to her own room. She and Tai used to share one, but since the two had grown, Mr. Yagami gave up his study and converted it into a room for the younger teen.
"Thanks, Kari. I'll just go wait in his room." I poked my head around the corner and found Tai and Kari's mother at work in the kitchen. She couldn't cook very well so I feared for what she was making. Sweet woman, terrible cook. Too much 'healthy' in her food and not enough flavor. "Hi, Mrs. Yagami." I grinned at my boyfriend's mother.
"Oh, hello Yamato." Her head turned to shoot a smile my way. "How was your day? I heard you and the others went to visit the University of Tokyo." She was putting… something in a plastic bag to marinate. It didn't look like meat, but I doubt it was any kind of vegetable.
"Yeah, it was… eventful. They have a great campus, but I still need to figure what I'm actually going to school for before make any life-altering decisions." I patted my own plastic bag. "Got something for Tai, too. Hopefully something to get his mind on the subject." We shared a laugh at that.
The woman was washing her hands, having finished with her meal preparation. "I really don't know how you put up with him, sometimes, Yamato." She spoke in mock fatigue.
"It's a skill, I guess." The squeak of the hall shower told me my wild-maned boyfriend had finished. "I'm gonna head back to Tai's room."
"Did you want to stay for dinner? We'll have plenty." Her offer was polite and one she made quite often with my semi-residency. The look of that 'meal' though left me feeling a bit queasy.
"I'd love to, but I promised my dad we'd go out to celebrate his promotion tonight." It wasn't a lie, really. We only had plans to order take out and watch movies though. Dad would gladly let me eat at the Yagami's, but it had been some time since we were both available, what with his work and my band.
Mrs. Yagami frowned a tad. "Oh, well tell your father congratulations for me!" I think the woman liked having me around because she thought I was a good influence on her son.
I nodded in response and snuck back to Tai's room, said brunette searching through his drawer in nothing but a towel. "Well, isn't this a surprise?" He jumped at the sound of my voice.
"Y-Yama! I thought you were out with the others?" He slid into his closet, barely used aside from a few nice shirts.
"Trip kinda got cut short, but we saw enough of the campus." I took a seat on his bed, gesturing him out of the closet as it wasn't anything I hadn't seen before. "It's a lot nicer than the brochures say, just not sure if it's the school for me."
He had his back to me now, dropping the towel and speeding into a pair of clean boxers. I still had time to ogle him. What? I may be collected, but I'm not dead. "Well, at least it was helpful." She smiled while slipping into a par of sweatpants and a deep blue t-shirt.
"Yeah, got you something too." I patted the bag next to me. My puppy reappeared as he eyed it with intrigue. I pulled his new vest from its plastic confines and held it up. "I hear from Kari you could've used it today."
He took the article, trying it on for size. "Hehe, thanks Yama. It was pretty cold out today. All I could think about was cuddling up with you." It was hard fighting the eye roll at his overly-sappy comment, but I managed.
"Well, I'm glad you like it. I was a little worried it wouldn't fit, but it seems perfect." I could never tell him I would be robbing him of it from time to time, especially after he heated it for me.
"It's the same color as your eyes."
I thought about that for a moment. "No it's not." Just a regular response.
"It is when you're playing guitar or doing something else that makes you happy." He grinned that stupid infectious one. "Your eyes get all bright and you don't look like you could get any happier." The blush on my face was unmissable. "It's one of the many things I love about my Yama!"
I played off my own embarrassment with a soft chuckle. "Whatever you say, Tai." He tugged me by the wrist into a tender kiss, something a bit out of the ordinary when we were alone. "I love it. And I love you." He smiled when our lips parted.
The pink of my cheeks gave away that I wasn't the 'cool guy' I pretended to be, but that didn't stop me from trying. "I love you too, you goofball." Very believable.
KeruKeru: I hope you all enjoyed chapter 2. One thing, while the story is based around Tai and Matt, most of the drama will come from outside sources like Sora. Tai and Matt will experience their own problems, but as I've written their relationship as only just starting out, they're on their best behavior with one another.
PS: If you have any suggestions for future chapters, please leave a review and let me know or PM me! I have a few ideas for future chapters, but not as many on a scale of what I want this to become.
