Disclaimer: I do not own this story. Not planning to own it, but I love the story.
All setting and characters are taken from Hotta Yumi and Obata Takeshi's Hikaru no GO
Author's preamble: This story is different from the original story, although some settings are taken from the original and use here.
Chapter 7: I used the -sama when referring to shindo's family and -san when i refer to other people older than Hikaru's age or with status like teacher
nOTE: I'm still struggling making the characters personality. So read them carefully, I might leave some clues or not
ALSO I'll tell you beforehand that the story may progress slowly, as I need time to think, explain, introduce, whatever writer oddity I need when progressing the story.
*BOWS*
Chapter 7
Observing
Sai's POV
Hi! hello! Ohayo Gozaimasu! Hey! Wazzup!
I tried every form of greeting, I've learned after Hikaru got me out of the Goban.
There are so many, I tried repeating it again and again until i'm completely satisfied with it. Even if nobody notices me, as long as Hikaru knows me, allows me to play GO. That alone is enough. or is it?
HIkaru is a polar opposite of Torajiro, who was kind, gentle, respectful, elegant and understanding. Hikaru is more like a prince in the Edo peroid. A person who looks like he have everything and doesn't care about anything, But since I am able to tap into Hikaru's thoughts. I learned that he's not like that at all.
He cares deeply for his family and friends, he worries about them and think of them alot. He worries all the time on how to appear and act infront of his family, the Mitani Household and the Fujisaki household, how they think of him, how they treat him.
Hikaru shows a cold, poker-face at times, this is basically true both inside and outside. When he makes that face, he's calculating everything, putting value to every person and relationship he's making.
He smiles and appear laid-back in everything he do, but behind that carefree persona, hides a scheming, serious, calculating and manipulative person. I notice it when he lost to Oyabun and acted as if it didn't bother him at all, but it did. He knows how it feels to lose, and put pressure to himself everytime he loses, vowing to win next time.
Mitani often gets annoyed about Hikaru's no-big-deal-cause-I'm awesome-personality, but this get thrown aside since he has respect for Hikaru's strength and the 2 of them being sworn brothers. He thinks of himself as the older brother and Hikaru being the younger brother, even if the 2 are of the same age. even though Mitani think highly of Hikaru, Hikaru think of Mitani as his bestfriend, but even bestfriend can't be trusted fully with your secrets cause they are the worst enemy you can make when the relationship fails. That is why Hikaru may seem close but he's always careful of Mitani. Hikaru may appear to be easily approachable, but infact he's so far and out of reach. Being a ghost, he allowed me to see he's thoughts and feelings, but the other fact, is because he has no choice.
Also I notice this. Akari is always paying attention to Hikaru and steals glances at him, everytime Hikaru's not paying attention to her. her eyes would look longingly at Hikaru, and when hikaru pays attention to her, she acts all timid and indifferent, since they're friends. What she didn't know is that Hikaru pays attention to her, but he does that to almost everyone. That's why Hikaru can read even the slightest affection from her, that's why he maintains his distance from Akari, not to affectionate, not too close, and draws that line, Because he knows he could never return Akari's affection. He has never fallen in love before, for love is unpredictable, uncontrollable, and beyond his calculations. It's the most annoying puzzle he can't solve.
Even if he seem like an expert about love, or has felt loves affection, to him those are just parental affection, brotherly affection, friendly affection, respectful affection, admiring affection.
Hikaru knows that when a person says "I love you", it means " I can't do anything for you" and that kind of feeling is useless for him for there is no benefit from it. "A groundless Affection", as he describes it.
I find him this way cold, cruel, merciless, and calculative.
It's even worse because Hikaru has a photographic ability. He gives hint sometimes how he never forget anything he sees. People just think that it's because he's smart, but it's because of his ability. Hikaru hasn't told anyone about this even me, but because I can read his thoughts, I discovered it. Hikaru is also curious about how much I can read into his thoughts since I latch unto him, but he never brings it up and I just act's like I don't know about it.
I also know about Hikaru's growing attraction to "Go" and Touya. He pretends not to be interested but I can read his thoughts about how he's always thinking of playing Go and meeting Touya, he insist he's not attracted but only interested of him, both for my sake and his. I find him this way as considerate and cute.
How do i know this?
1- He's mind is like an open book
2- I'm with him 24/7
3- I'm the 3rd person in this story (any problem here)
4- I'm Hikaru's Go-playing genius ghost
Sai's POV
Hikaru was dragged everywhere by Mitani and Akari. The Canteen which is the size of a great hall is packed with students. Girls this day's wear short skirts which is preposterous, but who am I to argue to time. You can see both elegant and competitive atmosphere from the students that come from high society family or celebrity status.
When the 3 of them entered, All eyes were on them. The canteen was still noisy but the topic of conversation was the 3 of them. The students talk about Mitani being the youngest son of the Yakuza household. [There family is infamous all over Tokyo and has connections to International Mafia.] That's why if you value your life, don't mess with him or go against him. In that school the Hierarchy has already been decided, starting with Mitani as No.1.
I noticed Akari greeting students on the way. She's popular with the girls and guys.
I heard whispered gossip, that Akari is the eldest daughter of the Fujisaki household and rumored to be Shindo empire youngest son fiancée, since the President never allowed arranged marriage talks for the eldest son and daughter, that includes his youngest son, whose identity has remain hidden. Even during wealthy parties, the President attends with his wife, son and daughter, but he never brings his youngest son. There are talks that the president hides him to the world, so he's son can have his freedom while he's young. He will only be revealed to the world when his youngest son turns 24. That's why the girls from top families beg their parents to find out the identity of the youngest son and banned suitors and marriage talks until 24, but they never find out. The president is meticulous, careful and tends to erase any proof, evidence and information regarding his youngest son identity.
Shindo empire eldest son is already betrothed to the woman he likes, the woman's identity is kept hidden, even the media is forbidden to pry further than this.
The eldest daughter is off limits, she's fierce, selfish, and competitive and she doesn't like to be bound or be dependent to a man. Being an old maid is on her top list of future possibilities, but that's just my prediction, may it could still be changed.
My ears perk at the mention of Hikaru, not he's name, but how he was referred.
"Whose that kid together with those 2?"
"Is he a son of a big name industry?"
" How come i've never seen him before?"
"Do you know his name?"
"he's cute"
"I like him"
"He's also good-looking, so unfair"
" he's the new transfer student, the one who miss school for 2 weeks cause he was in the hospital. don't know the details'
"Oh! The person who won the International Karate Championship. I remember, he's name is Shindo Hikaru-I remember cause he's family name is the same as the Shindo empire."
"Dummy! Shindo is a common name. Don't tell me everyone whose last name is Shindo is related to Shindo Empire's president, then why are there Shindo in the lower class then? Huh!"
"Yah- I guess if the empire son wouldn't even tell the world his name is Shindo right"
"right"
"I heard he got in from his Karate credentials"
"Mitani is also in Karate, maybe that's why those 2 knows each other"
"But even Mitani isn't close with his teammates in karate. He is hard to get along with, since he's by far the strongest in the karate club, that's why he looks down on them and completely ignores them."
"Oh i remember. Mitani lost to him at the Final round of the tournament, couldn't even touch him and got floored completely"
"maybe that's how the 2 knows each other. I heard both of them have an undefeatable record but after the tournament. Shindo Hikaru has mark 1 lost to Mitani's undefeatable record"
"During the interview, Mitani called him his rival"
"so what about shindo?"
"he didn't call Mitani his rival, but he said this, 'he's someone i like to have a match again', maybe that's how strong players think of people who calls them their rival. That personality which says , "If you've got guts, fight me if you can"
"right! right!"
"Maybe that's why Mitani is sticking close to him, to find out he's weakness"
"wow! what a bold move. get close to him, find his weakness and then use it against him'
"What a rivalry"
"but why is Akari also with them?"
"haven't you heard. during the opening ceremony. Mitani announced to the whole school. he's Akari bodyguard and protector. That's why the guys is afraid of getting close to Akari for fear of Mitani finding it out."
"I heard he even beat the 2nd year sempai when he ask Akari out, he was in the hospital for 2 weeks"
"I heard from my parents that Mitani is bestfriend with Shindo empire youngest son, and since Akari is betrothed to him, Mitani acts as her protector for his friend sake"
"Wow. that's deep"
"I heard the Mitani Yakuza household and Shindo Empire has a long time relationship, even my parents wants to be within their circle"
"I heard that when you get in that circle, you'll never worry about taxes or money ever again. It's like money just grows on trees even if you don't do anything"
"but that's impossible. Nobody has ever entered that circle. even if the shindo empire president attends party's and has a lot of connections, he never invited anyone to his house. he held birthday's, business meeting, Company events on hotels and resorts. Only the Mitani's Oyabun and family and Fujisaki family is allowed to come and go in the Shindo Mansion without any invitation"
"I heard you are considered within the circle, when you can come and go inside the mansion, without any invitation. That's a solid proof, even if you force your way in, uninvited guess are thrown out, no matter who you are in society, that's why the other big name companies, force their way in, but is reported in the news the next morning for illegal activity and trespassing. That's how they announced to the world that they were not invited but force they're way in. Only the Mitani household & Fujisaki House, can get in and out without being in the tabloid the next day"
"they're so lucky"
"even i wanted to be friends with the youngest son"
" Guys don't tell me- that Shindo Hikaru - if even Mitani calls him his rival and hangs out with him, then he would be invited to the Big 3 circle!"
The students got quiet and look at Hikaru, who simply ignores them as he ate the meals Mitani got for him.
Their expression was even hilarious as they thought Mitani drugged or poisoned the food he gave to Hikaru. Hikaru continued eating and after a while, nothing happened to him, the students returned back to their chattering.
"Nah! That's impossible. if I was Mitani, I wouldn't introduce him to my oh-so-powerful-influential friend. he might steal him from me"
"Are you a girl? why are you thinking like that?!"
"think about it? Shindo defeated him, humiliated him in that tournament. Mitani couldn't even score a point. then the Empire youngest son, saw it in the Telly. He became Shindo Hikaru instant No. 1 fan. Then Mitani introduced him to Empire son. Mitani is at a lost here."
"Come to think of it. you may be right. That's possible"
"Then what Mitani is doing now, is keeping him under surveillance"
"that's just plain scary. I think being ignored by Mitani is a good thing than being paid attention to"
Everyone agreed, and they continued on.
I think the reason Hikaru claimed that even if he tried not to stand out. People just paid attention to him, wherever he goes. Akari called it natural charisma. Mitani calls it he's presence is like he doesn't belong there. both are right. but hikaru just calls it "He gets notice by the people he's around with" and he's right, I just witness it now.
"If you only knew, you wouldn't be saying those things", i told them, but I know they couldn't hear me.
"Sai, What are you doing over there? Are you into gossip now", Hikaru called me mentally.
He was looking to the group of students I was listening to awhile ago. Eyeing them curiously. I momentarily left Shindo's side but maintained a close proximity of 10 meters from his side, He's gonna be fine.
"Nothing! Just checking out what other kids do inside the canteen." I told him, giving him my puppy eyes.
"Hmmmmm", he shrugged and continue eating.
I sighed with relief, Hikaru is very observant. VERY. Before entering the school premises, he asked the head butler to give him information about all the kids from 1st year to 3rd year, including their breast size (girls)...(he's really into D-cup, no question there), weakness, and concerns. Nothing is to be missed, and calmly read it on his Ipad, while inside the car. His parents knew about it, but he just look like a kid reading manga(comics), looking excited and pleased. He scanned it for 2 hours, checking and absorbing every detail.
The moment the car arrived in the school, he already knows everyone and everything that lives and breathes inside the school grounds...
When Hikaru wasn't looking, I glanced a peck at him, and he was smirking while entering the school.
"Sai"
"Yeah"
"School is exciting"
I pecked into his thoughts, saw a hazy figure of a boy and I asked "why?" curious of the boy's identity.
"Just because"
"what? Hikaru tell me!" I pleaded, putting on my cute face to persuade him.
Hikaru just smirked, and shrugged.
"Because it's my 1st time entering school with a Ghost attach to me", he grinned, "History Exams, I'll be counting on you Sai"
I shake my head, "Oh Hikaru, not that-" I scolded him, but I asked no further. I know this is how far I can persuade him, further than this, it's prying, he'll realize I peck into his head and saw that.
"Sai! Sai!", I heard Hikaru called me and I was pulled back to reality. "Tours Over. It's time for class"
I perk up with delight! CLASS! I'm so-so in it
The 1st time I went to class-
"Not again! I heard that story a million times now", Hikaru complained mentally, I didn't realize I was talking loudly, when I got excited.
"Sowee!" I showed him an apologetic-childish-adorable puppy eyes.
How I can do this – because Hikaru is weak to my puppy dog eyes. I don't use it often cause Hikaru will get immune to it. Although, I fear he's adapting quickly.
"Come on! We're gonna be late!" Hikaru called while walking, I floated after him and we were off.
Just then, from the corner of my eye, I saw a familiar figure walking along the crowd, alone but stood out among them. He's short hair swayed as he walks. I glance at Hikaru. He was pre-occupied with keeping his eyes on Mitani and Akari, so he won't get separated from them, and because Mitani knows where his class is.
I quickly glanced at the other kid direction, and followed Hikaru.
I couldn't see the person's face in Hikaru's mind, since I just took a quick peck, but now I know why he was smirking.
"So he's the reason. What a small world this is to have met again in this circumstance", I look at the 2 of them. These young talents, one is a genius who plays according to instinct and predictions, while the other became a genius through hard work and experience, meeting again, in different circumstances. What are you planning God?"
Tune up for the next chapter: Shindo and Hikaru meeting
Note:
Mitani Yuki- youngest son of the Mitani Household
There family is infamous all over Tokyo and has connections to International Mafia
-I forgot but i think i did mention he was absent for 3 weeks, since he collapsed
-10 meters= I wasn't bringing a ruler so I just guessed the distance, but I would be glad to accept suggestions, so I could change this...
Note;
i mentioned at the chapter ...
that Shindo got invited to model for His mom's designs, but he is introduced to her co-workers and audience as her relative.