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Puzzle Pieces
[Chapter 1]
"get over it, we're having a party and you're gonna be the star of the show."
- Yagami Taichi
*.*.*.*
She flicked her pencil erratically as the professor droned on in front of the class.
"… and as you can see here, this late 19th century design features the emblematic hourglass style. Note the distinctive wide shoulders, cinched waist—"
A loud grumble from her stomach shattered what little concentration she had left. I hope I have enough food at home, I'm starving.
"… note how the crinoline skirt accentuates the slim, corseted waist…"
Her eyes drifted toward the window, surveying the sky as twilight covered the last of the orange rays. Any minute now.
"… remember your textbooks for our next lecture. You'll be having an open-book quiz on 18th and 19th century—"
Sounds of chairs scraping against the hardwood floor drowned out the professor's voice, startling Sora out of her stupor. Following the lead of her classmates, she rose from her desk, gathered her things, and rushed toward the lecture hall exit, desperate to get home. Not a moment too soon, she found herself on her own doorstep and hastily headed inside, eager find something to eat.
"Mimi, I'm back!" she called out into the foyer.
"Sora!"
"Hey, Sor!"
"Evening, Sora."
Slightly caught off guard, Sora took a quick look around before setting her belongings down in her bedroom. Her eyes first trained on Mimi busying herself in the kitchen with what looked like a large helping of food. On the other side of the room she found Taichi lounging on the couch, chatting animatedly with Koushiro, both of whom Sora was mildly surprised to see.
"I didn't know you guys were coming over today, usually one of you sends a text," she said, returning to the living room and sliding into the small space on the couch that wasn't already occupied by Taichi's legs. She settled herself into a position where she could see both boys and the kitchen.
"Yeah, we weren't planning on coming over today, but Taichi—," Koushiro stopped, shooting a glare at the brunette, "—thought he'd drag me into his car today as soon as I got home."
"It was absolutely necessary," Taichi quipped as Sora distractedly strained to see into the kitchen. I wonder what Mimi's making…
"Absolutely necessary, huh?" scoffed Koushiro. "Debatable."
"Aren't you even going to ask us why we're here?" Taichi whined, directed at Sora. He stretched his leg, effectively poking her in the knee.
"You're always here," she said, swatting at his foot, "why is this any different?"
"Because we're about to blow your mind with fantastic news!"
Koushiro scoffed audibly and Sora raised a questioning eyebrow at the redhead.
"Oh don't pout Koushiro, you know you're gonna have the time of your life," Taichi boasted confidently, raising both of his arms and interlacing his fingers behind his head. He closed his eyes, ignoring the icy glare that was being directed at him, but the sigh of defeat that escaped Koushiro's lips did not go unnoticed by Sora.
What are they talking about?
"Sora, don't make anything to eat tonight, dinner's on me!" Mimi called out, interrupting Sora's thoughts. "Also," she added, peering her head around the corner of the kitchen, "the guys are throwing a party the Friday of finals week, so we've got some shopping to do!"
"Mimi, I was gonna tell her!" Taichi cried indignantly.
"Well, Taichi, you were taking forever," she huffed, expertly whisking away at the saucepan she was holding. "That's what happens when you wait too long, you miss your opportunity." After a moment's silence, she ducked back into the kitchen, apparently finished with her declaration.
"Party? Is this for your birthday, Koushiro?" Sora asked, secretly celebrating the fact that she had the best roommate in the world.
Koushiro bowed his head, cheeks tinged pink. "Yeah, I guess," he admitted.
"Oh come on, Koushiro, get over it, we're having a party and you're gonna be the star of the show. It's not every day that you turn 21!" Taichi picked up a pillow from the couch and chucked it carelessly in the younger boy's direction, missing by a foot.
"We really don't need to throw a party, though," Koushiro started, picking up the pillow and placing it neatly behind him. "There's no need to go through so much trouble, especially with final exams going on all week."
"Absolute nonsense!" Mimi exclaimed poking her head out of the kitchen once again. She yielded a spatula in his direction and chided, "We're throwing you a party, and that's final!"
Sora giggled, shaking her head at her friends. "Hey Mimi, are you almost done in there? I'm starving!" she complained.
"Gimme about five more minutes!" was the muffled response from behind the wall.
Sora turned her attention back to the boys. "So Koushiro, who do you plan on inviting to the party? …Or should I say," she supplied with a smirk, "who is Taichi inviting to the party for you?"
"Everyone!"
"Well, besides you guys," Koushiro said, throwing another glare in Taichi's direction, "I dunno, maybe Jyou and Hikari?"
"Which means Takeru is invited," Sora presumed.
"Pbbbt."
"Taichi, be nice."
"Oh, and Miyako as well," Koushiro continued.
"That reminds me, I'm inviting Daisuke, too. I like that kid," Taichi declared.
"You only like him because he idolizes you," Sora teased. "You just want someone to fawn all over you and make people think you're cool."
"And take the stage away from our dear friend over here?" he cried in response, putting on his best attempt at an innocent face. "I would never!"
Sora opened her mouth to continue their banter but stopped suddenly when she spotted Mimi making another appearance from the kitchen.
"Dinner is ready, my darlings!" she said with a flourish, beckoning the trio towards the food.
Taichi was already halfway to the dining table before Sora and Koushiro even had a chance to register Mimi's announcement. The redheads both shook their heads fondly, but as Koushiro turned to follow Taichi's lead, Sora gently grabbed at his wrist, pulling him to a halt.
"Are you really okay with having a party, Koushiro?" she asked in a low voice so the other two couldn't overhear them. "I don't want you to feel forced into anything you're not comfortable with," she added delicately.
Koushiro furtively turned his head, but she still caught the blush that stained his cheeks.
"I mean, I'll admit, a party is way out of my comfort zone, but…" Koushiro stammered before turning an even deeper shade of red. "I… I really am kind of excited about it. I feel like I've been so strung up lately, and everyone always talks about how much fun they have at parties, and I mean, college is the time to let loose and try new things, right? It can't be that bad… I think."
Sora smiled warmly, causing Koushiro to scratch the back of his head bashfully.
"Don't worry, Taichi's right, you'll have the time of your life… assuming you remember any of it," she added teasingly, effectively making Koushiro blanch at her words. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding!" she laughed. "You'll be fine, I'm excited for you! It's going to be a blast, don't you worry."
Koushiro replied with his own tentative smile and twisted back to face Sora. Before he could say anything else though, Taichi's voice floating over to them from the other side of the room interrupting their exchange.
"Hurry up, you two! Mimi won't let me eat until we're all at the table. I'm dying over here!"
Sora grinned at Koushiro as they both bit back laughs. Giving him an affectionate squeeze on the shoulder, she tilted her head motioning him to follow her.
"Come on, let's go before Taichi gives himself a heart attack."
"A fine idea, indeed," he said, still chuckling to himself. "... thanks, Sora."
*.*.*.*
