Everyone watched Takuya and Zoe walked together to their lab table. Zoe noticed that Takuya no longer angled the chair to sit as far from her as the desk would allow. Instead, he sat quiet close behind her, their arms almost touching.
Mr. Broman backed into the room then—what superb timing the man had—puling a tall metal frame on wheels that had a heavy-looking, outdated TV and VCR. A movie day—the left in the class atmosphere was almost tangible.
Mr. Broman shoved the tape into the reluctant VCR and walked to the wall to turn off the lights.
And then, as the room went black, Zoe was suddenly hyperaware that Takuya was sitting less than an inch from her. She was stunned by the unexpected electricity that flowed through her. A crazy impulse to reach over and hold his hand just once in the darkness nearly overwhelmed her. She crossed her arms tightly across her chest, her hands balling into fists. She was losing her mind.
The opening credits began, lighting the room by token amount. Zoe's eyes, of their own, flickered to Takuya. She smiled sheepishly as she realized his posture was identical to hers, fists clenched under his arms, right down to the eyes, peering sideways at her. He grinned back, his eyes somehow managing smolder, even in the dark. She looked away before she could start hyperventilating. It was absolutely ridiculous that she should feel dizzy.
The hour seemed very long. Both of them couldn't concentrate on the movie—Zoe didn't even know what subject it was on. She tried to unsuccessfully to relax, but the electric current that seemed to be originating somewhere in Takuya's body never slackened. Occasionally she would permit herself a quick glance in his direction, but he never seemed to relax, either. The overpowering craving to touch his hand also refused to face, and she crushed her fists safely against her ribs until her fingers were aching with effort.
She breathed a sigh when Mr. Broman flicked the lights back on at the end of class, and stretched her arms out in front of her, flexing her stiff fingers. Takuya chuckled beside her.
"That was weird," he muttered.
"Time for Gym," Zoe stood with care, worried her balance might have been affected by the strange new intensity between them.
Takuya walked Zoe into her next class in silence and paused at the door; she turned to say goodbye. His face startled her—his expression was torn, almost pained, and so fiercely beautiful that the ache to touch his hand as strong before. Her goodbye stuck in her throat.
He raised his hand, hesitant, conflict raging in his eyes, and then swiftly brushed the length of her cheekbone with his fingertips. His skin was as sun as ever, the trail of his fingers left on her skin was alarmingly warm—like she'd been burned, but didn't feel the pain of it yet.
He turned without a word and strode quickly away from her.
She walked into gym, lightheaded and wobbly. She drifted to the locker room, changing in trancelike state, only vaguely aware that there were other people surrounding her. Reality didn't fully set it until she was handed a racket. It wasn't heavy, yet it felt very safe in her hand. She could see a few other kids in class eyeing her furtively. Coach Jerkins ordered them to pair up into teams.
Surprisingly, Koji came to stand beside her. (P.S. Koji and Zoe were on the same class)
"Do you want to be a team?"
"Thanks, Koji—you know, for yesterday, speaking of yesterday, where were you when I slammed the door?"
"I always knew that Takuya's going to ditched me so I followed you two."
"You mean—"
"Don't worry, it'll be our little secret," he whispered. He grinned. Sometimes it was so easy to like Koji.
It went smoothly. Zoe somehow hit the shuttlecock and slammed it to their opponent. She spent the rest of the hour at the front. Koji was pretty good as well; they won three games out of four singlehandedly. They gave at each other earned high five when the coach finally blew the whistle ending class.
"You're better than I remembered," he said as they walked off the court.
"I practiced a lot during vacations," she responded. "You're not bad as a player of badminton also."
"We made a pretty good team, huh?"
"Yeah."
"So," he said.
"So what?"
"You and Kanbara, huh?" he asked, his tone rebellious. Her previous of feeling of affection disappeared.
"Isn't it obvious?" She raised her eyebrows.
"I like it," he muttered anyways. "Actually, I'm definitely approved to you," he snapped.
"You look like…you're Takuya's most true friend," Zoe commented as she smiled.
"Some people don't think so," Koji choked back the hysteria that threatened to explode.
"But you are," Zoe giggled shyly.
Koji smiled at her. Zoe waved goodbye and fled to the locker room.
Koji dressed quickly, something stronger than butterflies battering recklessly against the walls of his stomach, his conversation with Zoe already a memory. While Zoe was wondering if Takuya would be waiting, or if she should meet him outside the building. She felt a wave of real excitement.
By the time she walked out of the gym, Takuya ambushed her just she reached the street.
"Hi," she breathed, smiling hugely.
"Hello." His answering smile was brilliant. "How was Gym?"
Her face fell a tiny bit. "Koji and I won three games out of four. I didn't know he's a good player of sports."
"Really?" He was unconvinced. His eyes shifted their focus slightly, looking over her shoulder and narrowing. She glanced behind her too Koji made a good-job hand sign as he walked away.
"What?" Zoe demanded.
His eyes slid back to hers, still tight. "He spied on us yesterday, didn't he?"
"Yeah," Zoe was horror-struck. All traces of her sudden good humor appeared.
"Do you like Koji?" Takuya asked innocently.
"You're unbelievable!" She turned, stomping away in the general direction of the street, though she hadn't ruled out walking at this point.
He kept up with her easily.
"You were the one who mentioned how I'd never seen you in Gym—it made me curious." He didn't sound repentant, so she ignored him.
They walked in silence—a furious, embarrassed silence on her part—to Zoe's house. But she had to stop a few steps away—his father's at home.
"My Dad's in," Zoe muttered.
"So what?" Takuya asked.
"I told you, he doesn't know anything about this."
"Then tell him."
"Do you want his go medusa on you?"
Takuya rolled his eyes, not looking at her.
"Are you still angry?" he asked as he carefully maneuvered his way out.
"You don't trust me! Why would I like Koji? I've got you!"
"You're quiet hot tempered, I never noticed."
"Are you insulting me?"
He sighed. "Will you forgive me if I apologize?"
"Maybe…if you mean it. And if you promise not to do it again," she insisted.
His eyes were suddenly shrewd. "How about if I mean it, and I agree to let you drive on my motor on Saturday?" he countered her condition.
She considered, and decided it was probably the best offer she would get. She always wanted to drive a single motor. "Deal," she agreed.
"Then I'm very sorry I upset you." His eyes burned with sincerity for a protracted moment—playing havoc with the rhythm of her heart—and then turned playful. "And I'll be outside your house bright and early on Saturday morning."
"Um, what if Dad hears your motor."
His smile was condescending now. "Leave it all to me."
"How—"
He cut her off. "Don't worry about it. I'll be here."
She let it go. She had more pressing question.
"Where are we going tomorrow?" She asked significantly.
He smiled. "How about amusement park?"
"Sure. I love amusement parks!" She kept her expression polite. "I'll see ya tomorrow."
And then he was gone, he was speeding down the street and disappearing around the corner before she could collect her thoughts. She smiled as she walked to the house. It was clear he was planning to see her tomorrow, if nothing else.
"About tomorrow Dad…," Zoe began while going to the kitchen.
Mr. Orimoto cringed. "Yes, Zoe?"
"I'm going out."
"That's your plan." He grimaced.
"I'm going out with Takuya tomorrow," Zoe closed her eyes tightly.
"Just be home before your curfew," Zoe met her father's eyes.
"Really?"
"Well, you're a big girl now. You can take care of yourself. You make your choices from now on," he patted Zoe's back. "Question, are you and Takuya doing something wrong?"
"Of course not, Dad!"
"Then if you really like him and he likes you more than anything. Then there's nothing I could do."
Zoe hugged him and kissed him on his cheek. "Thank you so much, Dad!"
"Smacked him on the face when he kisses you without your permission," He reminded.
"I've got it under control, Dad." She chuckled.
Takuya tossed and turned restlessly, waking often. It was only in the early hours of the morning that he finally sank into an exhausted, dreamless sleep.
When he woke he was still tired, but edgy as well. He pulled on his brown t-shirt and his blue jeans, sighing as he daydreamed of spaghetti straps and shorts. Breakfast was the usual, quiet even he expected. Her Mom fried eggs for Shinya; he had a bowl of cereal. He wondered if Shinya had forgotten about his relationship with Zoe.
"I can see my big brother's got a date with Zoe Orimoto…," Shinya teased, walking across the kitchen and turning the faucet.
"Since when did you learn how to wash the dishes?"
"I was thinking, after you graduate from Senior, you're might proposed to Zoe, now…who's gonna wash the dishes?" Shinya asked.
"Fine, Zoe's my girlfriend now, will you get over it?"
Shinya squeezed some dish soap onto his plate and swirled it around with the brush. "Mom, did you heard that?!"
"Make sure you finish your studies before you marry that girl." Mrs. Kanbara glared.
"Mom!" Takuya said. "I'm not like the other guys. I finish of course my studies before doing anymore stupid!"
"Well, you better be. Because if you won't, I'm gonna have to send you to military school," she warned.
Takuya widened his eyes to his Mom. "Yes, Mom, I'll behave myself." Embarrassed.
"Sending Takuya in Military School could be my happiest day of my life," Shinya teased.
"Will you shut up?" Takuya's tone was shy.