Kitty: HOYO! It's starting to get better! I'll be able to do a time skip soon! Believe me, time skips are good things! Time skips mean Izzy gets closer to a lemon scene, lol. It also means Iori-kun can start dating without his partner looking like a pedophile.
To Mystical: Don't worry about being late! My computer was doing the same thing! For a whole two days it didn't show the reviews I got for chapter nine, even though I was reading them on Don't worry, your confusion should be ending soon. Of course, what am I going to do then? Oh right…hazing, MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
To Lord Pata: Who said she ever changed her mind? Oh, no, Hikari-chan knows exactly who she wants. She's just a subtle enough person…no one else can really tell her mind's made up… Poor darling.
To Cool-Hanyou: Such harsh words! I'll admit, however, that she was rather stupid. /le sigh/ I really hate making her stupid, but I think I make it pretty in character. I hope so anyway, you'll understand soon, and then you can judge whether or not it was in character.
To Rokutagrl: I'm sorry to say Iori-chan and Takeru-san are not in this chapter, so you can't know for sure yet what happened when they went to get the cake. Next, chapter, however, I'll be able to fulfill my own wish at last.
To DarkNekogirl: For once, a non-Takari fan! I've never known anybody to actually say that. I, myself, think it's a very cute coupling, though canon. It's really hard for me to make anything but Takari. I hope the story continues to be a good one, no matter what couples pop out.
To anonymous: thank you for your corrections! I didn't know –kohai was insulting! I just figured it meant younger student. I'll keep it in mind. Jyou-kun is going to get over that older student/young student thing right now! Lol.
To IronReaver: I thought something was funny when you were late reviewing. Thanks for remembering to review! I would've been so heartbroken if I didn't get my chapterly dose of IronReaver! Your review somewhat confused me…but I got the gist and grinned. The whole time skip thing…yeah, the really fun stuff won't be able to happen until then. I had this whole…pedophile deal with my friends. They all seem to think I am one… I tried to prove them wrong and realized a lot of my characters are having sex underage…damn it. So…I want to make Koushirou-kun at least sixteen before he gets too sexually frustrated. LOL.
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon. …hm…no words to add to make myself laugh…how sad.
This has been edited as of 04/08/12. =w=b
Chocolate Covered
Chapter Eleven
Chocolate Covered Lips
Tai grumbled angrily under his breath.
"Tai, stop it. You know you have only a few days left. You should be more worried that everything will be out of stock," his mother scolded.
"I hope it is," Tai retorted lowly. His mother looked down at the list in her hand.
"There sure are a lot of books. The uniform itself is going to make a huge hole in my wallet. Hikari's books are going to be expensive, too," Yagami-san sighed sadly. She really didn't want to go secondhand with school things like she did with clothes and other household items.
"You can use my allowance," Tai offered pulling out his wallet.
"What? No, I couldn't possibly!" Yagami-san blushed and glanced around quickly to see if anyone had heard.
"I have a bit of cash coming soon," Tai shrugged nonchalantly.
"You're a high school student, you can't have a job!"
"It's not a job…kind of a paying club. I'm the new member of the Teenage Wolves, thanks to Yamato-kun," Tai told her shoving the money into her hands.
"I had no idea…" Yagami-san stuttered.
"It wasn't by choice," Tai muttered darkly.
"What about school lunches, then? Are you going to have cash by then?" Yagami-san asked, still hesitant, the bills in her outstretched hand.
"Ah…" Tai blushed and looked down at his shoes. "Izzy said he'd make me bento boxes."
"Ooohhh, how darling! My little boy's all grown up and in love!" His mother squealed throwing her arms around him. "You're growing up so well!"
"Mom," Tai whined pulling away a little.
"We better hurry up and finish school shopping. I want to invite Koushirou-san over for dinner tonight," Yagami-san said happily, shoving the bills in her wallet. With this, she would have enough for the books and uniforms.
"R-Really?" Tai's eyes widened.
"Yes. I'm sure your father will be fine with it. I'll call him now while we walk." She linked her arm through his and pulled him forward. Tai pushed the cart while his mom dialed on her phone to talk to his dad.
How cool! It'll be like Izzy's is really accepted by my family! It's one thing to just say it and another to actually look at it. Tai felt a whole lot better about shopping now.
.
Mimi led Jyou-kun through the mall chatting gaily. Jyou-kun had protested at first, but Mimi learned that looking up at him through her lashes and pouting her lips just a little bit did wonders for her babbling friend.
I wonder if he's going to ask me out? He probably won't because he's a little to old for me and he's so shy. But I think…I think I would say yes. Going out with Koushirou-san was different…not just because of him. I was always watching what I said, making sure I looked just perfect, and trying to be a completely different person almost! I love dressing up and looking good, but being snotty or showing too much leg or letting my shirt fall too low, it all seemed almost against the rules around him. I couldn't even flirt with him very well. I kept thinking he was judging me and I was coming up lacking. Which is completely stupid, one: because he's not like that at all. Two: he's dating TAI-SAN.
Jyou-kun looked down at her as she giggled quietly. "What are you thinking?"
"I just realized what a goober I've been." She covered her mouth with her fist and laughed harder. "I've been so silly! I was in love with Koushirou-san, but it wasn't a very…mature love, I guess. It was puppy love." She smiled up at Jyou-kun brightly. "He was so different from anybody I'd ever met, anybody I'd ever liked, I thought that difference was something more than it was." Her eyes became sad. "I hope he'll accept my apology in the future so we can be friends again. I have the feeling that if I hadn't been so blind to begin with we would've been very good friends."
"He always said he really liked you. It's one of the reasons he ended his relationship with Tai-san before it even started," Jyou told her, patting her head awkwardly.
"What do you mean?"
"He told me just the other day what had been going on since he moved here from Edo. You won't be sad if I tell you, will you?" he asked, his expression wary.
"No, I'm fine. Tell me," Mimi replied shaking her head fiercely.
They continued shopping while he told her what he had been told.
.
Daisuke lay back on the twin-sized bed. He twisted his head and gazed down at the comforter blankly. While he waited, he traced the bold lines that made up the wolf howling with steaming breath. He turned his head as the door opened.
Miyako-san walked in with tray of cookies and two big glasses of cold milk. "I made them this morning!" Miyako-san announced proudly.
Daisuke eyed the cookies speculatively. "Are you sure they're edible?"
"OI!" Her eyebrow twitched and her mouth curled into a snarl.
"Okay, okay! I'll eat them!" Daisuke laughed. "I was just joking, sheesh!"
Miyako-san placed the tray on her desk and then bonked him upside the head with her fist. "Jerk."
"YUM! I love snickerdoodles!" Daisuke took another huge bite, grinning up at her.
"Really?" Miyako-san's anger evaporated with delight. "I'm glad! I like them, too. They're actually the only cookie I know how to bake," she confessed.
"Oh, well, cool, as least you know how to, ne?" Daisuke shrugged and took another, shoveling it down.
"When does your school start, Daisuke-san?"
"Monday. I went and got my books today. I didn't have to get a lot. The school gives out most of 'em, but my electives I had to buy."
"What are you taking?"
"I'm taking intro to nutrition and health and a carpentry class."
"You're taking a cooking class?" Miyako-san asked, astonished, taking a cookie of her own.
Daisuke glowered at her with his mouth full of milk and cookie. He swallowed. "You trying to make fun of me?"
"Iie! I just thought it was kinda funny. You don't seem the person who'd want to spend the time learning how to cook the things you eat."
"I liked helping my dad out when I was kid. He cooked a lot when he was laid off a long time ago. I wanted to grow up and be a chef and cook with my dad again." He blushed. "Guess that's kind of stupid."
"No, it's sweet." Miyako-san smiled at him. "So…ano…if you don't mind me asking…why were you sitting out in the rain?"
Daisuke glanced at her mutinously. "Just 'cuz I'm eating your cookies doesn't mean I havta tell ya."
"Iie…but…I would like to know…" Miyako persisted gently, barely managing not to take him by the shoulders and shake the story out of him.
Daisuke sighed. "It's gonna sound stupid…"
"It's all right, I promise to try not to laugh."
He glared at her, but decided to tell her anyway. If he was honest with himself, he really wanted someone to sympathize. He wanted someone to tell him he was right.
.
"The day you've been dreading, ne?" Yamato's smooth voice drawled. Sora flashed him a quick smile as she walked to the door.
"I'm sure I'll be fine."
"Takenouchi-san said she would finish opening the store if I felt like walking you to school," Yamato commented still flipping through the list of orders for the day.
"Thanks," Sora muttered with a faint blush, "but I'm fine. Really."
"Thought that's what you'd say." Yamato grinned as he looked towards her. "Since you're such a trooper, I thought about a Plan B."
"Nani?"
Yamato edged around the counter and pulled a small slip of paper out of his pocket. He presented it to her with a flourish. "A backstage ticket to the upcoming show of the Teenage Wolves."
"N-No way!" Sora squeaked grasping the ticket and staring at it. "You'd….You'd really give this to me? Why?"
"Because…you won't let me help you." Yamato's slim fingers brushed through stray ginger hairs and lightly skimmed her forehead. "I want to do something for you."
"Th-Thank you." Her lips trembled just a little. She quickly pulled away and spun around to collect herself. "I thought you lost your bass player." Her voice was a little low and hoarse, but otherwise fine.
"He's been replaced, no worries. We got lucky. Don't you have high school to get to?"
"Yes, um… have a good day, Yamato-san," Sora mumbled backing towards the door and tucking her hair behind her ear nervously.
"You too, Kirei-san."
Sora barely contained her smile before turning and pushing out the door. She barely managed to keep from skipping down the sidewalk. Behind her, Yamato watched her walking away, smirking a little.
.
"It's really weird."
"It is not that weird, Taichi."
"No, so weird, really weird, like, bazooka weird."
"Bazooka weird… are you sure you've grown up in the decade I've not been here?"
"Izzy! It's so weird. You have to agree that there's definitely weirdness," Tai whined. Koushirou sighed in defeat. Hikari-san watched with amusement.
"It is a little strange, I'll admit. I don't believe it is…bazooka weird, however."
Hikari-san giggled quietly behind her hand.
"Aw, shaddup, Kari. I'm sure you can't wait to get to your turnoff so you can wet your pants laughing at me," Tai snapped at her, making her laugh only harder.
"I don't think the situation itself is funny, just the way you're reacting."
"Oi! C'mon, my boyfriend is one year younger than me, but he's walking me to school, gonna pat me on my head 'good bye', and then head off for college at Tokyo U of all places!"
"I think it's more you're going to miss him than anything, Tai. You always whine whenever someone takes away something you're not finished with first." Kari teased.
"OI! Izzy ain't a toy or food or something…" He glanced at the silently smiling redhead and grinned. "Though…you do taste like really yummy food."
"What? Taichi! We're in public!"
"So? It's just Kari."
"I am so offended by that," Hikari sniffed regally. Tai ignored her and wrapped his arms around Izzy's waist before the smaller boy could duck away.
"I think I should get a kiss from those chocolate covered lips before I get stuck in learning prison all day."
"You watched one too many romances while you were attempting to woo me, Taichi." Koushirou sighed again.
"You have no idea. I couldn't tell if I was dreaming or watching TV by the end of it," Tai muttered darkly. He grinned his big, unforgettable grin. "All the more reason I should get a small, little kiss."
"Nothing you do is small," Koushirou protested.
"Fine, a normal kiss, nothing sloppy."
"I do not kiss sloppy!"
Hikari let out another short laugh at Koushirou's outraged exclamation.
Before Koushirou could say anything more (and waste valuable time) Tai leaned down and planted a firm, word-stealing kiss. It was all Koushirou could do to keep standing on his own two feet and not slither towards the ground and lean into Taichi like a love-drunk buffoon. He didn't even notice that his hands involuntarily reached for Taichi's thick dark hair and dragged his mouth back for a second, wilder kiss.
Tai's schoolbag fell to the ground with a 'thunk'. He wrapped his arms tighter around Izzy's slim frame. His lips pressed harder against Koushirou's mouth, egged on by Koushirou's slight gasp, and licked that pale soft lip. Always…just like the first time, only better and better. Tai's numb mind managed to think before his tongue delved into Koushirou's mouth.
"OI! OI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING! PUBLIC PLACE, DORKOFF!" Hikari's voice quickly brought them back to the present.
Tai's brown eyes blinked rapidly as he pulled away breathing heavily. Koushirou seemed to be in worse shape. His eyes remained half-closed and his breath was coming out in little puffs. Concern began to leak through the numb buzzing in Tai's head.
"You okay, Izzy? You breathing all right?"
"N-no, not r-really. It's not your fault, however," Koushirou managed to reply in a faint, breathy voice.
"I didn't think so. I was thinking it was that illness you had as a kid. The reason you went to Edo," Tai said his dark hands on Koushirou's flushed face.
"I'm completely healthy. I was just…breathless. I'm sorry if it troubles you, but I won't be able to help it. Oscillation tends to leave me breathless." A blush bloomed all pretty-like over his nose and cheeks.
"Ossa-whut?" Tai said dumbly. Koushirou flushed brighter.
"Kissing."
Tai felt his grin return full force. "I kinda like that-ITAI!" Tai clutched at the back of his head in pain.
Kari stood behind him holding up his schoolbag like a really big slingshot. "Don't make me slug you again, you stupid lummox." He blinked at her, lost for words. She rolled her eyes. "SCHOOL, YOU BAKA! SCHOOL!"
"Ah…yeah…" Tai glanced down at his sports watch. "Well…damn. Let's start running, then."
"What?" Koushirou squeaked. Tai grabbed his thin wrist.
"Have fun on your first day of junior high, Kari!" Tai called out as he caught the schoolbag she flung at him moments later. He tore downt he street, dragging poor Koushirou behind him.
"Yeah, right," Hikari muttered to herself quietly as she turned away from the two ridiculously happy boys she loved dearly. If only she had something like that to look forward to at school.
.
Mimi straightened her short green skirt nervously. A loud call of her name made her look up and a smile lit up her face. More and more voices called and more hands waved towards her. She had been dreading running into Tai and Sora so much she forgot about all her other friends and… those people who knew her name… She eagerly began to chat with a young girl she knew to be in her fashion designing classes. She thought she would miss them, but, then he was Tai.
"Is that Yagami-kun? It is. Who's that?"
"Is that a he? Or a she?"
"Whoever that is, she's not wearing a uniform."
"He. It's a he."
"You can't mean-?"
"They're holding hands, ne? Why are they gasping like that?"
"You didn't see them run in like all hell was loose?"
Mimi turned with an anxious jitter in her knees. Sure enough, Tai's large hair was seen over the crowd and he was leaning towards a smaller, slighter figure with bright red hair. Nothing knocked into her chest or tightened her belly. No flutters, nothing. Just guilt, a sick, horribly sick, guilt.
Phaggot! Phaggot! Phaggot!
Mimi swallowed and hurried towards them before the younger boy left for college.
"You all right? Sure?"
"Taichi! Daijoubou desu! You need to get to the soccer field before the bell rings, don't you?"
"Yeah, but…you're all sweaty and pale, koishii."
Mimi felt a smile tug at her lips at the tender concern in the rash Tai's voice. The look that filled Koushirou's face and lit up those dark eyes pulled at her heartstrings as well. A sort of regret and still that burning guilt.
"Excuse me, but I believe I've never introduced myself properly." Her voice was calm, but so quiet.
Koushirou's back became instantly straight and his face blank. It hurt something so badly inside her to see his savagely polite expression. Tai's, however, was confused and apprehensive. Obviously, Koushirou didn't tell Tai what she had said.
"My name is Tachikawa, Mimi and the last time we spoke there was a terrible misunderstanding, you see?" Her voice was getting faster and breathy. "I…said something…very wrong to you, without knowing who you really were. I want to apologize and hope we could be friends."
Silence met her. Then, his beautiful black eyes met her own glossy chestnut gaze. She clasped the green fabric of her skirt with trembling hands.
"You have nothing to apologize for, Mimi-san. I should have…I should have been more open with you…and more honest with myself." He glanced swiftly up at his boyfriend. Just with that one glance, and Mimi saw something that made her breath stop. It was something deeper than she could comprehend…something sweeter than she had ever felt. And the regret that had touched her when she saw him smile at Tai, the regret that he couldn't love her or be happy with her, vanished without a trace. The only thing she felt was relief at the smile that turned the corners of his mouth up.
Their hands reached forwards and clasped warmly.
"Thanks," she whispered.
"Thank you very much," he whispered back.
"What's going on?" Tai's voice interrupted angrily.
Mimi knew exactly what emotion promoted his reaction: jealousy. She always wondered where his possessive streak disappeared to when he started dating Sora. He couldn't spare any for her…not in the way he used it with Koushirou. Even his arm automatically wrapped around the slim young man's waist to draw him away from the threat. Mimi giggled.
"Don't worry, he's all yours. He's… not my type." Mimi winked at the furiously blushing and captured redhead before walking back towards her group to keep an eye out for her other friend who deserved an apology.
.
Hikari took a deep steadying breath. She may be pretty to some people's eyes, she may be intelligent by school standards, she may even be considered kind by a few, but she didn't have a multitude of friends. In this school, only Daisuke-kun spoke to her and liked her. Many of the other kids thought she was uppity when she really just didn't know them and was too shy to talk. Other kids thought she was too pretty or too smart to talk to and were intimidated by her quiet manner.
"I don't think this is going to go well," Hikari muttered to herself as confused glances came her way. She knew exactly why they were confused.
Daisuke-kun had never let her walk alone before, not since kindergarten.
"Don't worry, just keep your chin up. It'll be all right. If you don't mind, Yagami-chan, I'd like to think of us as friends…and I'll be here for you to rely on."
Hikari held Ichijouji-sensei's words close to her heart desperately. If only I had Tai's courage!
Laughter reached her ears and she swung around, her hair sliding over her face. Her hands clutched at the straps of her backpack as he walked through the gates with the other soccer players on his team. A large bubble of feeling swelled just under her heart. It got bigger and bigger as he neared until it lodged somewhere in her throat. It became hard to swallow. Her eyes were locked on his face, so dear and familiar. His laughing dark brown eyes were hidden from her behind his eyelids, but his lips, lips she couldn't forget, were parted widely as he laughed uproariously.
As if he didn't have a care in the world…for her…
Her breath hitched dangerously and she felt so young again. Young and ill and weak, the Hikari Daisuke-kun had never met. She had been well by the time she started school.
And then his eyes opened and met hers.
But she couldn't… she couldn't face him, couldn't let him see her desperation, her need, for him. So she turned and began to walk away. She left him before she started crying in front of people she didn't know. Her damn pride refused to let her show her heart.
She didn't see the sadness cloud his normally cheerful features.
.
Sora picked at her bento box sadly. She knew it was going to be lonely, but it was worse than she thought. Everyone else in the classroom was laughing and teasing each other over their food. Mimi, however, was nowhere to be seen. Sora sighed and popped her octopus-shaped sausage in her mouth. Lunch was the worst time of the day. Just eight more months of it to go. Until next year. The door to the classroom slid open and Sora glanced up half-heartedly. She blinked as glowing chestnut eyes met hers. Next to the happily smiling Mimi was Tai, looking confused and almost mutinous.
"Konnichi wa, Sora-chan!" Mimi-chan called out over the students' heads. She dragged Tai over and set her own bento box down on the table. "Did you know Tai-kun is in 1-E?"
"N-No."
"Yup, he's a whole three classes down the hallway. I thought I'd miss him in the lunch rush to the cafeteria, but apparently he's eating in class now."
"I have a bento…" Tai-kun grumbled.
"What are you two doing here? I thought you both hated me now?" Sora finally managed to force out.
"Oh, don't be so melodramatic. Jyou-kun told me a lot of stuff. Stuff you guys shouldn't have kept from me." Mimi-chan pushed her desk next to Sora's and sat down. "Oh, sit down, Tai-kun, you're being silly."
"She's the reason Izzy cried… why he dumped me."
"You shouldn't have cheated on her first," Mimi replied shortly.
"Damn it." Tai looked away, his fingers tight around his bento box.
"I thought you did…Koushirou-san can give stuff away sometimes." Sora smiled bitterly. "It was my fault, though. I should've told you the truth a long time ago. At least, I should've broken up with you when he came back. I knew how you felt about him."
"Yeah, well…" Tai-kun rubbed the back of his neck and glanced around. He pulled a desk over and plopped down. "Sorry about kissing Izzy while I was dating you Sora-chan."
"Sorry about telling him a bunch of crap."
"It actually wasn't a bunch of crap." Mimi interrupted suddenly after swallowing. "How does your team feel about you being gay?"
"Well…I haven't announced it or nothing, but a lot of them saw me hanging over Izzy this morning. I got some crap, but nothing serious. I think my coach might have more crap to say at practice, though." He frowned down at his teriyaki beef strips. "As long as he doesn't take away my captaincy, I think I can deal with his bitching."
"Oi, Yagami-san! I heard you're a fairy," called out a voice.
"Crap like that?" Mimi murmured jerking her head towards one the 1-B students.
"Yeah," Tai muttered back. Sora threw a deadly glare towards the jerkoff who had shouted. He ignored her, however, when the whole class went silent.
"What you doing over here, fairy? Ain't your class 1-E?"
"Why? You my new stalker, Kazimaki? I know I'm so studly, but I didn't think I'd turn every guy 'round here fairy when I started liking boys," Tai drawled lazily. He took another bite of his delicious boyfriend-made bento and almost cried from joy. I'm going to marry that boy! He cooks better than anything I've ever tasted! He ignored the giggles that erupted after his comeback. Kazimaki was flushing angrily.
"I heard your coach was going to knock you off the team?"
"I hope not. I'm the best thing that ever happened to this school, fairy or not." He leaned back and eyed Kazimaki with a raised eyebrow. "Especially if they put a loser like you on the team to replace me. You couldn't even kick a stationary ball before I started being captain in junior high."
"Har har. Real funny. At least I don't like checking out my teammates butts in the shower."
"I would do no such thing," Tai sniffed arrogantly. "I definitely wouldn't be checking out yours, so you shouldn't have anything to worry about." He returned to his bento box and dismissed Kazimaki without a second thought.
Sora and Mimi shook their heads simultaneously.
"You really should keep your mouth shut, Tai-kun. You're going to get yourself hurt," Sora scolded.
"'Har har, real funny,' Sora-chan. The guys on the team wouldn't use me for a punching bag unless I get kicked off the team. Worry then, kay?" Tai grinned his famous grin and began to shovel in more rice as he tipped the box back.
"Are you sure, Tai-kun? Kazimaki-san didn't make the high school soccer team. He and his friends wouldn't give a damn about your captaincy," Mimi said in a low voice. She glanced at the fuming ex-soccer player warily.
"I could take on that can of trash, no problem. He has no sense of coordination or balance at all. He'd be flat on his back trying to kick me." Tai-kun popped open his soda can and took a deep swallow.
While he was drinking his soda, a girl with spiky reddish hair and a familiar-looking face sidled up. "Hi, I'm Motomiya, Jun. You remember my little brother, ne?"
"Oh, yeah, hey." Tai-kun turned his charming grin on her and took another swig of soda.
"I saw you with that cute little redhead. Do you think I could interview you for the school paper?"
Soda fizzled out of Tai's nose as he fought to keep from spraying it over his two female friends. "NANI?" He coughed savagely, barely able to breathe.
"I'm a newbie in the journalism class and I wanted a really good article for my first assignment. If I can get you to agree before someone else on the paper approaches you, I'll get really good brownie points for next year."
"Er…" Tai looked back at the two equally-surprised girls across from him. They shrugged back at him. "If-If Izzy doesn't mind…I don't see why not…he's kinda shy, though."
"Well, I could ask you the questions, instead. Just a one-on-one interview, whaddya say?"
"I…guess so…I mean…sure?"
"Sugoi! Let's start now!"
"NANI?" The three friends cried at once.
Motomiya-san pulled up another desk and perched on top of it. She seemed unaware of the growing attention the small group was gaining. Tai, Sora, and Mimi, however, were not unaware. "So, how old are both of you? When did you first start dating? What school does the red head go to? Have you two kissed yet?" Motomiya-san asked with lightning speed, her pencil ready.
"Eh…say again?"
"Ugh…jocks," Motomiya-san groaned. The bell, mercifully, rang at that exact moment.
"Gotta go." Tai hopped up and bolted towards the door clutching both empty soda can and empty bento box.
"WHAT ABOUT MY INTERVIEW?" Motomiya-san shrieked.
"TRACK ME DOWN LATER!" Tai bellowed back.
Mimi and Sora giggled behind their hands as they began to clear up.
.
Hikari glanced over at him surreptitiously. He was frowning hard at a piece of paper, his tongue held between his teeth. She barely managed to hold back a smile knowing he was really concentrating on a doodle, not notes for their math class.
"Yagami-san!" barked Serada-sensei suddenly. Her back stiffened in surprise, and her eyes met those dark brown eyes as he looked up when her name was called. She spun away and looked towards the front.
"Hai, sensei?" She rose.
"Come to the board and do problem sixteen."
"Sixteen, sensei?" She knew it was one of the harder problems of a new lesson.
"Hai. I know you are capable of it. To the board."
"Yes." Hikari quickly walked up to the board and worked out the problem with just one slight hesitation where she carried the wrong number. She fixed it quickly and circled her answer. She dropped the chalk into the tray and faced her teacher with a bowed head. "I am finished, Serada-sensei."
Her teacher looked it over and nodded. "Good. Now, maybe you could work it out step by step for the class. They don't seem to understand me." She glared at the class.
"It is the first day," Hikari pointed out softly.
"No excuse. If one of my students can understand, all of them can." Hikari once again repressed another facial expression, only this time a grimace.
I hate teachers like that. Just because one understands, doesn't mean all of them have to! We all learn differently. She bowed anyway and began to re-work the equation, explaining each step in a way her fellow students could understand. It was easy after teaching Daisuke-kun for two years how to do the harder homework problems.
Daisuke watched her work and let her quiet, precise voice calm his confusion and pain. It hurt him, knowing it was her voice and it wasn't directed at him, but it made him feel good at the same time. He closed his eyes and let her words sink in without really listening- which was probably stupid of him to do as she wouldn't be helping him later. As his eyes closed, her pretty amber eyes were looking at him again and he wondered if he had imagined those two fleeting glances he had caught. Why would she be looking at him when she had that Terada-san?
"Hey, Motomiya-kun?" hissed a voice. As he opened his eyes, he could almost swear her quiet, smooth voice hesitate for just a second…a very small one.
"Yeah?" He whispered back.
"Isn't that your girlfriend?"
"Yea-oh, uh, no…no…she's not…" It tore him up inside just to say it and know how easily the word 'yeah' almost slipped from his mouth. He hadn't said 'no' in two years…
"No talking during the lesson!" squawked their teacher angrily. "A warning for you two. Another warning and it'll be detention."
Daisuke frowned at her when she looked away. Old bat.
Hikari gripped the chalk tightly between her fingers and stared hard at the board. Serada-sensei's words ended, but Daisuke's were still ringing in her head.
No…no, she's not.
She forced herself to finish the problem and dropped the chalk into the tray again. She bowed wordlessly towards her teacher and walked back to her desk. She didn't hear Serada-sensei ask the class if they now understood. She didn't hear the 'thank you' they all chorused monotonously. She just heard the words of Daisuke-kun ringing in her head. She felt like sliding under her desk and disappearing into the floor, disappearing anywhere, just away to where she could cry and he couldn't see how much he had hurt her.
And it was all her own damned fault.
Finally, the last bell rang and the students all around her began to pack up. She woodenly grabbed her things, automatically put them away neatly, and zipped up her bag. She swung it over one shoulder and began to hurry towards the door. She weaved through the students and emerged in the hallway. More and more students were filling the hall. She wanted out, she wanted out now. The tears were building up, and she didn't see Daisuke desperately trying to catch up with her.
He pushed through protesting students and tripped with a loud crash. He looked up in time to see her push through the front doors.
"Damn it!" He pushed off the ground ignoring the angry cries of pain as his bag hit students who got in the way of its wild swinging. He shoved through the doors and looked around desperately.
He finally caught sight of her.
Hikari tightened her grip on the straps of her bag. She could see kids she recognized from elementary school pointing her way. She knew what they were saying, still gossiping.
She had finally ditched her loser boyfriend. She finally decided she was too good for him. She dumped Motomiya-kun, school legend just behind her own brother. Of course, he wasn't as good, so he wasn't good enough for her. She was finally fed up with a boyfriend more stupid than her.
All of them were so stupid! They didn't know anything! She didn't want to break up with him! Ironically, he had broken up with her! Hikari felt hysterical laughter bubble up within her. She pressed her lips tighter together and looked towards the gate. Her footsteps slowed as a familiar figure stepped forward and raised a hand awkwardly. Then, her feet were moving again and she felt cut from her body. She was racing towards the wide-eyed figure, tears falling from her eyes, and her arms outstretching at the last second, but she was strangely numb, watching the scene from somewhere outside herself. Then, his clean laundry smell filled her noise and she was back in herself, sobbing silently into his shirt and clutching him tightly.
"Why are you here?"
"I thought…I thought your first day back would be rough on you. It is the least I could do for my friend to be there for her," his calm voice explained.
"I-Ichijouji-san, I'm so sorry! I just…I just couldn't help it. I saw you and thought…you'd keep it a secret if I cried today."
"Yes…Yagami-san, I will keep it a secret, you don't have to worry. I promised, didn't I?"
"Y-Yes." He led her away from the school with one arm around her shoulders.
Daisuke stood staring after the retreating pair.
"Wh-why…why was she with him?" He murmured. His fingers tightened around the thick strap of his bag convulsively. "What's going on, Hikari?"
