Chapter 3: "After-Meal Revelations"

After the team finished their meal, they cleaned up. Hikaru and Saya helped Gouki with washing the dishes while Hayate cleaned the table. Ryouma and Hyuuga went to the stable to bathe and feed the horses.

Gouki made it look like he wasn't listening to the jokes Hikaru and Saya were telling each other during breakfast. But, he broke his silence when he said, "Hikaru, Saya, I just couldn't help but like those pop culture jokes. It may not have been obvious, but I was actually listening to you guys. I guess that's one way to keep up with the times. Although I didn't wanna chuckle or laugh out loud like Hyuuga and Bokku did at the table."

"Oh, thanks, Big Man. Yeah, from time to time, Saya and I would listen to those groups on her boombox," Hikaru replied.

"Awesome way to bond with each other there, too," Gouki quipped with a wink towards the two as he was scrubbing the cooking pans he used to cook breakfast with.

"If you say so," Saya took the compliment as she was wiping the clean dishes clean and putting them back in the cupboard opposite of Hikaru and Gouki.

The trio eventually finished with the dishes. Gouki went to Yuuta's room to check up on him.

"Hey, Buddy! Hope you like the omelette, fries, toast, and drinks I gave you!" Gouki happily exclaimed as he entered Yuuta's room upon knocking.

Yuuta was just wrapping up his English homework when he turned around to greet Gouki, "Yeah, Bro. They were awesome!"

"Glad to know, Little Man! Lemme take those dishes for you."

"No, it's okay. I'll wash 'em. I'm almost done with classwork, anyway."

"By all means!" Gouki said as he patted Yuuta's head. He then exited the room to make a phone call to Suzuko.

In the meantime, Hikaru and Saya went to a secluded spot around the house. He was going to ask something crucial to her. They stood to face each other when Hikaru whispered, "Saya, can I ask you that question I said I was gonna ask you?"

"Sure."

"Have you started puking especially before our meal? Like excavating your guts out kind of drastic?"

Taken a bit aback, she replied, "Why, no!"

Relieved, Hikaru slightly looked away, took a deep sigh, and remarked, "Whew. Thank Heavens."

Saya placed a hand on his shoulder and assured him, "Hikaru, I was on the pill. If you were wondering if I'd get pregnant at such a young age now after our special moment last night, I won't. Even I have standards I set for myself, you know!"

"I guess we were both scared. You're right. There's nothing to be really scared about," Hikaru replied in deep earnest as he placed a hand above Saya's. They slowly inched their faces towards each other to kiss when, suddenly, Hayate walked towards them. They stopped short when they heard Ginga Green's footsteps and gulped in a bit of panic.

Hayate cleared his throat to alarm them and piercingly asked them, "Hey, you two. What's this talk about pills? And, is it birth control? Sleeping? What?!"

Hikaru began to sweat in sheer nervousness as he saw Hayate place his hands akimbo to his sides and twitch his face in a combined bit of curiosity, frustration, and confusion (if not downright anger). He looked to his right and came up with a horrible excuse, "Well, Saya just got a little sick for some odd reason. I don't even know what caused it. She was about to tell me when you walked in on us."

Immediately ticked off, Hayate inched closer to Hikaru, pointed a finger at his chin from under, and snarled, "Don't give me that, Wolf Boy! You were looking to the right while saying what you said just now. As we all know, liars go to hell. So, spit it out, and don't make me beat it out of you!"

Saya intervened and pleaded, "Hayate, please. Don't beat him. We'll talk."

Hikaru frowned at Hayate's infuriated expression. He looked away from both Hayate and Saya to gather his thoughts for a bit. He then took a deep sigh and turned around.

"Alright. Truth – Saya and I were at Mizuoka Lake last night. Initially, it was just me, myself, and I when she joined me in my bath."

"And, then?!"

"We let loose on the spot, finally expressed our love towards each other, and...well...fucked each other's brains out."

Very shocked at what he just heard, Hayate looked away from Hikaru and Saya and slapped a hand on his face in sheer irritation. Nonetheless, he took a couple of deep breathes before asking, "Condom or bareback?"

"Bareback," Hikaru didn't hesitate as he told the truth straight.

"Jesus H. Christ, Joseph the Padre, and Virgin Frickin' Mary, Man! And, you, Young Lady – That's when the pill came into play, right? And, no pun intended on that!"

"Yeah."

Hayate laugh-cried on the spot at the biggest revelation he ever heard from two of his trusted teammates. He then placed both hands on the side of his head and pushed his head in from the madness happening around him when he exclaimed, "Dear Lord in Heaven, what the hell am I gonna do with both of you?!" He then stormed away from the pair and headed over to the stable to talk to Ryouma and Hyuuga about this urgent matter.

Saya was on the verge of tears when she leaned on Hikaru's chest and rested a hand there as well. Hikaru could only hug her in a bit of shock.

"Babe, I'm scared. For the first time in my life, I'm really scared," she whimpered.

"Me, too," Hikaru softly tried to calm her down as he sighed and kissed her forehead.