Chapter 3: Best friends: Aratake and Bikyu

We continued walking together without saying a word. Minutes later, we reached her house.

"Bye bye Tabiki-chan!" Kurotatsu waved.

"See you at Seika tomorrow, Biyku-chan!" I said. I called her bikyu because her name was tabiki and kyuuri. I just joined them. I felt more comfortable in calling her that.

"Huh? B-bikyu-chan?" She looked confused and surprised at the same time. I don't know why and what's happening to her. She's been wondering about many things.

"Why? That's you. It just feels... More... I don't know. I feel comfortable with it. Anyway, bye!" I said.

Tabiki's POV

B-bikyu? How does he know my other nick name? And his name sounds familiar to me.. I just forgot when exactly I heard that name..

During their middle school...

"Ne, bikyu-chan! Where will you study when you reach high school?" The guy asked.

"I really want to go to Miyabigaoka. But It's really expensive there. I don't think I can go there.." She answered.

"You can! You're smart, you know? And you're strong too! You're my strong best friend! Unlike me..."

"Thanks... Gouki-kun.. You should study hard too! So when you reach high school, we can go to the same school again!" She patted his head. Aratake Gouki is her best friend. They are childhood friends and studied in the same Middle school.

Tabiki went home earlier than Gouki. While Gouki was on his way home, he accidentally bumped some guys near an alley. They bullied him and beat him up. Then two guys came and helped him. The blond guy beat up all those guys by himself. They were Shiroyan and Kurotatsu. From that day, he idolized them and promised himself that he would be smarter and stronger like his best friend, Tabiki. The next day in school, he was so excited on telling this to her.

"Bikyu-chan! I want to tell you something!" He rushed to her classroom during lunch time and went towards her.

"What is it Gou-kun?" She smiled.

"Yesterday, I was beat up by some guys-"

"What? Let me beat up those guys!" She raised her voice and pulled up her sleeves, preparing to fight.

"No, no. Listen! Then these two guys came to help me. The guy's name is Shiroyan! And the other was Kurotatsu! They were so cool! I want to be like them! In time, I want to be the one who's going to save someone in need!" He was very happy and inspired by Shiroyan.

"Shiroyan? I'd like to meet him!"

"He's in the same year as you, you know? It's possible that you could meet him anywhere here."

"Aww. We should've been in the same class. You could ask him and this Kurotatsu to go and meet me! I'd like to thank them for saving my best friend!" She said.

Hm... I really can't remember. Oh right. I have to return these tomorrow. wait, I still have to wash them! I have to hurry Or else It won't dry up tomorrow!

Ahh. Glad I finished it. I hope it dries up tomorrow morning. I already turned on the fan so It will be quicker To dry up. Now... I think I'll ask Gou-kun to go with me to Seika..

"Hey Bikyu-chan! It's been awhile since you last called eh? What's up?" He answered.

"Oh right. The last time was last week i guess? Hey, do you know where Seika High school is?"

"Of course I do! Why?" He asked.

"Will you take me there tomorrow? I have to give something to.. Someone.."

"Sure! Where will we meet?"

"Just go to Miyabigaoka after school. I'll just wait for you there. Is that fine?"

"Sure! Why not? You're my best friend!"

"Thanks Gou-kun. See you tomorrow. Goodnight."

"Goodnight!" Woah. He seems so hyped about it. What's up with Seika that he got so excited about it? Anyway, I need to rest.

The next day..

I checked the Gym class uniform from that Seika guy and thank goodness, it's dry! I thought something would go wrong. So I changed to my uniform and went to school. Today is the day that they show the ranking for the first term. I hope I get the top rank!

"Tabi-chan! Check this out!" Kurosaki called me. He is one of my friends in Miyabigaoka. I don't have much girl friends. I usually hang out with guys. It's less drama and it's more fun to be with them. But it's not like I really like them. I like them as friends.

"Look!" he pointed at the top of the list. Wait.. This is...

"I'm number one!" i hugged Kurosaki.

"That's our Bikyu!" My other friends went with me and bumped our fists with each other. Today's a very good day. after class, I sat on the bench near our gate to wait for Gouki.

"Bikyu! Need company?" Souta asked me. He's another friend of mine. He already has a girlfriend, but I don't know which school she's from. He doesn't talk about it much. It would be weird if he did.

"no, I'm fine. I'm waiting for my friend."

"Oh. Right. See you!" He waved his hand. few minutes later, I saw Gouki walking form a distance. I decided to walk towards him.

"Hey bikyu! let's get going!" He raised his fist towards me and we did our hand shake.

"Still not getting rid of that bandana of yours eh?" We continued walking.

"Nah. It feels weird when I don't have it. By the way, what happened to that ranking?"

"I was number one! makes me so happy." I shook his shoulders.

"That's nice!"

"Well, what about you? You said you would study harder?"

"It's not happening for me yet.."

"Oh. it better happen! Or I'll beat the crap out of you!" we laughed.

"What are you going to do in Seika anyway?" Oh right. I haven't told him.

"Well, I'm gonna return this uniform to some guy who helped me."

"Helped in what?"

"Hide my job from my school mates."

"What job?" Ugh. I forgot. I didn't tell him that either.

" Oh, sorry. I haven't been telling you things lately. I'm working part-time in a Maid cafe. doesn't suit me well right? This guy helped me find the job, beat up some guys while on it and lend me his gym uniform when our student council president almost saw me coming out of the cafe." I explained.

"Wow. You owe him much. Who's this guy anyway? I'd like to meet him! Feels weird though. That you wanted to meet my hero back then.. But I didn't have the chance to let you meet him." Hero? Oh right.. c-could it be...

"Hey! Who is it?" it's impossible...

"His name is.. Um..."

"Oh wait. I didn't realize we're here already! Hmm.. Where are those guys? I miss them.." Whoo. Saved. I just have to wait until he meets him. Oh, there he is..

"Bikyu-" He saw me and went closer. But after saying 'bikyu', he suddenly stopped walking.

"That's the hero I was talking about, bikyu!" What!?

"Aratake?" Oh god. What is happening?

"Hey! Shiroyan! Hey, bikyu, he's the hero I was talking about. Now you get to meet him." He walked closer.

"Bikyu? that's what I call her too! Hey, Where's my uniform?" He asked me. Now I have to thank him because he was Gouki's hero.

"Really? me too! Wait, You're the one who helped her? Wow, what a small world. she's my best friend! I was supposed to introduce you to her while we're in Seisen but I didn't have the chance."

"H-here.." I reached his uniform out.

"Thanks. It is a small world eh? So now I get to be her hero too!"

"Who said you are my hero?" I said.

"Thanks Shiroyan! For helping her. Man, I am getting confused." Ugh. Why did he thank him? Now I have to thank him too.

"Th-thanks.. for making Gouki strong and helping him.." I was looking away.

So this is what is really happening:

Shiroyan is Gouki's hero. Which is my best friend. And I happen to owe Gouki's hero because he helped me And Gouki.

It's like a triangular cycle. Ugh. I just want to smack my fore head, lock myself in my room and regret that I asked Gouki to go with me. *sigh

"I gotta go, I have to work." Right. It's the perfect escape!