A/N : Sorry again for not updating for a while. I started to feel both guilty and have no responsibility by abandoning this daily update fic. I want to keep updating daily, as for my target to reach more views, but my health isn't supporting me now.

Well, I am not going to say any bullshit started from now. I know that I'm going to have late update again later, so I'm not promising you all that I'll update soon. Please understand.

And I almost forget : this fic has reached its 2 month-versary! Yay! Although, well, the updates I have are kinda crash, but hey, I'm working hard to keep one fic for one day, right?

Another note : Chapter 70 is a special chapter. Please stay tuned!

Enjoy!

Chapter 59

Conviction

Being the youngest in the group didn't mean that Iori was the childish member in it. Although the brunette boy sometime had some contradictive mind, he would always be able to solve it by himself, something impressive that could be found inside a nine-years old boy.

"Iori is more matured than we are,"

As for the closest friend of him, Miyako's remark wasn't just gone out with no reasons.

Whenever Iori had determined with something, he would do anything to reach it. Even it meant he had to run through tough times, clashing with some problem, Iori would do it. He was just a smart boy to think about what consequence or responsibility he would have during the progress, and after he had done with it.

Kendo wasn't only a normal practice for Iori. He didn't love it, but he didn't hate it either. He had to concentrate and focus was the only thing in his mind. So, he could ease his mind, relaxing, but at the other side a bit exhausting. He was still nine, after all.

Sometimes, he wondered to himself ; was he able to reach his future?

"Obviously can," a soft, soothing tone of voice made the little boy gasped.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you," Hikari sat beside him silently.

"Sorry. I guess I'm mumbling too loud," Iori apologized politely. This made Hikari giggled more.

"No need to sorry, Iori. I'm glad I can know what the things that bother you," she smiled warmly, making Iori smile too.

"Hikari-san, what do you mean with 'obviously can'?" Iori asked for her question.

Hikari gave him a sidelong glance, then her gaze was back at the sky.

"Your eyes tell me everything. You have faith in yourself. You have lot of potential. You have an endless determination," Hikari smiled, again. Talking with him seemed amusing for her.

"What's the thing that should be doubted again? You're just underestimating yourself, Iori," she gently patted the smaller boy's shoulder.

Iori smiled, widely. He sniffed a bit, but then squeezed the brunette girl's hand lightly.

"Thank you,"

"Uhm…" Hikari stammered. After all, she did come here not just to convice him to believe in himself.

"Actually…" she flustered, and blushed a little. Iori just kept his stare on her.

"… I come over here to pick some… ohagi…" she finished, rubbing her cheek shyly. Iori's ohagi was out of words when it came to its taste.

Iori was practically laughing, but he only smiled then.

"Sure," he left the place, running down his apartment.

Two things that made some certain that Iori was not a child ; his determined footsteps that always echoed through the hall he passed, and the flash of responsibilies in his bright eyes that he bear, same with his late-father.