Salad Days

Chapter Ten
Showmanship

Takeru scrunched his eyebrows, unamused at the sight of Hikari talking to Daisuke. Daisuke was asking her to take some pictures for their football match later today. It seemed that Hikari had already agreed, since she's a photographer for their school paper.

Motomiya Daisuke is one of Takeru's closest friends in his class, having already spent a lot of time with him when he came back to the Digital World. Though a bit brash and tactless, Daisuke was a better leader than he was, and he respected him for it. Takeru had already figured him all out. Daisuke was a happy kid going for the simpler things in life, unamused by questions that start with "what if" and "maybe". Unlike his own reference-based humor, Daisuke knew how to make people laugh, effortlessly. Takeru liked everything about him, except the fact that Hikari had seen all his good qualities, too.

He had noticed Hikari disappear in the room. Huh.. where could she have gone to..

His searching eyes then met Daisuke's. He was happier than the usual. It was no secret he has a crush on HIkari, and something must have happened, he thought. Daisuke waved at him, and Takeru waved back.

Not much longer Hikari had entered the room and then went back to Daisuke's table. Well, this is annoying.. there she was, giving away free smiles at him. Takeru looked back to his book, trying to divert his attention.

After a little more chitchat, Hikari was now on her way towards his table. She was always on Takeru's radar, and he kept up his façade, looking cool and uninterested.

"What is it?"

"Can you come with me later? Dai-kun asked me to cover the game later," she asked, faintly blushing.

"Hmm."

"Takeru-kun," she scolded, her arms now crossed.

"Dai-kun, is it.."

"What now.."

"Nothing.. Hehe. I bet you'd want to see him in his jersey shorts, am I right?" the blond joked.

"You're weird," she turned her heels, now returning to her seat.

"I always am," he snickered.

It has been a month, and surprisingly, neither had made their move – to ask and beg the other to stay. Sora had bought most of Mimi's free time, spending time away from the group's lunch table to be together alone. Yamato still took his lunch along with the others, but was out of sight after school. Koushiro had resumed joining them every lunch, still kept being friendly with Taichi, but was having a hard time to face Mimi.

Yamato turned around as he felt a force against his back.

"Mimi," Yamato was in queue for purchasing bread, lazily thinking how mundane his life is, until a certain little brunette started to push him from the back. She was glaring like at him like a child that had been robbed of candy.

Mimi was looking upwards, obviously frustrated by his tall physique. "Ishida,"

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, ignoring how crowded the lunch line was. She didn't say anything and continued to glare at him, as if she was attempting to burn him with her stare.

"You're being ridiculous," said Yamato, now turning his back on her as he put his hands in his pockets.

"Am not! You are making Sora miserable,"

"For the record, princess, she broke up with me," he retorted.

"But why do I have to be miserable too? I haven't gone anywhere except to that ice cream shop Sora keeps taking me to! I'm getting a lot of belly fat, must you know," she complained, her arms crossed.

He turned around as soon as she mentioned the ice creamery; reckoned Sora was just as miserable as him. She's probably regretting, he thought. But he had already made up his mind; despite how miserable of a person he will turn out without her, he wouldn't give a dime on coming back as her lover. He'd rather deal with his demons than her having to put up with them.

"Yeah, you look chubbier," he taunted. She looked at him with horror, her hands ran through her blouse and coat.

"I am, aren't I? My arms are turning into batwings with all the sugar," she said. "I can't help it though, the sugar compensates for my nicotine craving,"

"You're becoming a lot more shameless with me, aren't you?" he snickered.

"The next thing you'll know you'd accompany me to shopping," she said, going along with his sarcasm. His face turned darker.

"Hell no,"

"Oh, who knows," she giggled. He turned his head, threw her a look.

"Have you talked to Taichi?"

"No," she replied, her mood changing. "Why must you remind me?"

"He told me earlier he'd talk to you one of these days,"

"He's probably scared of me right now," she lamented. "I mean, I'd understand why the others would rather keep off my grass,"

They talked a bit more about Taichi, and what was going inside Koushiro's head until they both reached the counter. Yamato had bought her the bread she wanted as a little token of their blossoming friendship. They were now out of the queue. Sora was waiting for Mimi at the leftmost corner of the area.

"I kind of know you better, and like you better now," he admitted, now unpacking his bread. He took a bite, awing at the taste of cheese. "It was so annoying when you seemed so perfect,"

She rolled her eyes. "But I am perfect, Ishida. I'm smart, pretty, nice, it's totally understandable why you'd feel as if the world's so unfair,"

"You really can stop doing that," he mumbled, his mouth full of food.

"Oh, but I am," she teased, before going to a more serious, sadder expression. "Well, I used to be,"

"Tch," He flicked her forehead playfully. "Well anyway, tell Sora I said 'hi',"

"You're evil,"

"I know," he said with a wink, then went over to their table. Mimi returned to her table, and was greeted by Sora's anxious face.

"Were you talking to him?" she asked, trying to speak normally.

"Yeah,"

Sora slowly took up the courage to ask Mimi further. "What did he say?"

"He says 'hi',"

"Mimi," scolded Sora.

"Sorry. Nothing much, we just talked about how things were going," replied Mimi, who was eating her bread. "I think he's doing okay now, Sora-chan,"

Sora played with her soup, now disinterested. "He is, isn't he.."

The redhead guessed Yamato really had let go of her for good. Maybe if she showed any regret, he'd think otherwise? No.. I did this. I made my bed, argued Sora.

"Well, you don't have to worry about him anymore, right? Maybe we can go back to eating lunch together with everyone!" encouraged Mimi. Sora gave an awkward smile, then nodded.

A few meters away, overlooking to Mimi and Sora's table was Taichi.

"So, she really didn't say anything else?" asked Taichi. Yamato groaned, annoyed that he had to repeat his answer.

"No."

"Then what about Sora?"

"What about her? She's fine," the blond snorted, biting from his bread. He had already aced his disguise, and he knew how to cover his unhappiness very well. While he and Taichi are now back to normal, talking about Sora with him was still hard. He turned to his other side, where Koushiro was silently eating his meal.

"Say, Koushiro, how do you manage to get so rich at Civilization?" he asked, hoping he'd fire up a conversation.

"I thought I already told you that, Yamato-kun," replied Koushiro, surprised. They were talking about the strategy game that he, Yamato, and Takeru played together online.

"But every time I choose to play as a war country like Japan, I get bankrupt eventually despite my very small number of units and fast production in cities," he argued. "Takeru seems to be doing fine playing as the Aztec civilization, which is more of a warmongering civilization than I am,"

"You should create more happiness in your country – get more luxuries or be allies with city-states," he suggested, now interested with their conversation. "Whenever I play a warmongering civilization I make sure I get lots of happiness. Hehe. Everything else will just follow,"

"Why am I not included in this conversation," said Taichi, out of the blue. The camaraderie between Koushiro and Yamato made him feel insecure. Since the day Koushiro found out his feelings for Mimi, he could tell that he became cautious of him, despite his friendly nature.

"Because you keep complaining and losing," spat Yamato. Taichi didn't have the patience to play long games like they did, and every Civilization game that Yamato, Koushiro and Takeru played had lasted for two to three days. On said weekends, Taichi would be at the school field, training with the rest of his team.

"Koushiro-kun said he'd teach me the tricks, but it never happens," complained Taichi. "How can you always be coincidentally busy whenever I ask you?"

But Koushiro shrank from his seat, hiding himself in Yamato's figure. He sheepishly smiled, did not say a thing. He did not know how to talk to Taichi without stuttering or running out of words, much more they both have not talked about their similar feelings for Mimi.

"Ahh, I'll just take these back," he excused himself, taking his tray with him. Taichi grunted, ran a hand through his hair out of frustration.

"I think you should talk to him." suggested Yamato, as he ate up the rest of his bread. Even he had noticed Koushiro tiptoeing around Taichi.

"What do you think I'm doing?" spat Taichi, his hand toying his fork. "He's obviously avoiding me."

Yamato sighed. He turned around, successfully got a glance of Sora's face. She was a painful sight, but he remained his eyes on her.

Hikari was absentmindedly doodling at the corner of her English textbook. Two seats on front of her, Takeru was fluently reciting an excerpt from the book.

How can onii-chan say Takeru likes me? she debated. Takeru's always pairing me up with Daisuke. Earlier today she had just asked Takeru to accompany her later. The fact that it took her a lot of guts and one trip to the bathroom was already a big move for her. In the end she didn't know if Takeru had accepted or not, and the uncertainty was distracting.

She glanced at Daisuke, and caught him staring at her. She gave a sheepish smile, opened her textbook and tried to avoid looking at either of the boys.

It wasn't until the lunch bell that she managed to ask Takeru again.

"So, are you coming with me, or not?" she asked, as she, Daisuke, and Takeru walked on their way to their 'usual' spot. Along with them are their own bento boxes. They'd exchange food; Daisuke would usually get half of Hikari's rice; Hikari would get the abundance of vegetables present in Takeru's box; and Takeru would get half of Daisuke's fish.

"You should come, Take-kun, watch me do my striker moves!" encouraged Daisuke. The blond laughed.

"Alright, alright, I'll go," he said. "But only because you guys asked me to. Football matches make me sleepy," But mostly, it was because he wanted to study Hikari's behavior around Daisuke. If she'd turn into a fangirl later, he will have to rethink his own pursuit of Hikari.

"How could you even get bored with the greatest sport on earth?!" exclaimed Daisuke. He knew Takeru was never in to sports, but he reckoned football and baseball would be his exceptions, since Takeru only liked things that made sense.

"I don't get bored of football, Dai-kun," replied Takeru. He glanced at Hikari upon using the nickname. "I get bored with bad football players,"

"Are you mocking me now, Takaishi?" he snapped, and Takeru, as always, just laughed.

"Just make sure you'd entertain me," he chuckled. The other boy scowled, turned to walk beside the brunette. Takeru looked away as he caught Hikari giggle because of Daisuke's gesture.

"So.. you're coming later?" Hikari repeated.

"I just said I will, Kari-chan,"

She smiled at him, genuinely, and it made him fluster. "Okay. Help me take good shots then!"

By the time the last school bell chimed, the blond was waiting outside the girls' lavatory, where habitually Sora and Mimi would be together after school.

Sora was stunned at the sight of him. "What are you doing, Yamato-kun?"

He looks at her direction, surprised as well. "Ahh.. sorry, it's not what you think,"

A group of friends had passed them by, staring at Sora and Yamato as some poorly volume-down whispers had reached the then-couple's ears. Their separation has become one of the most talked about in school, especially among the girls.

"Sora-chan, do you think I should cut off my hair or –" Mimi had just went out of the bathroom, cut off at the sight of Yamato with Sora. She smiled at them both, turned around to give them some privacy.

"Okay, I'll just get going then—" but Yamato had already caught her wrist.

"Hey, Ishida! What are you doing?" She stared at him, puzzled what was going on. Sora was just as confused, too. The little commotion had earned them quite an attention – even Taichi's, who just got out of the classroom.

"Mimi. I need to talk to you,"

"Talk about what? We can talk later! Text me or something!" Yamato turned to Sora, ignoring the brunette's protests.

"I'm sorry, is it okay if I borrow Mimi for today?" Mimi had kept complaining, while Sora, too shocked, just nodded.

"Thanks," without any dillydallying he dragged Mimi with him as they both disappeared from the stairs. Mimi's shrilly voice eventually faded as well.

He wasn't looking for me? Sora felt as if she got slapped on the face, having her expectations disappoint her yet again. For the past month Yamato had stood firm along with her decision – a now seemingly reckless decision – and as more days have passed, the more she had regretted.

No, forget regret, what probably hurt her more was that he looked for Mimi. And he'd probably look for any other girl than her, and those girls will probably be more important than her now.

The thought had made her mind blank, and her eyes sting; she was just about to give in to her feelings until a familiar heavy hand suddenly rested itself on her shoulder. She looked at the tanned, calloused hand, then titled her head to the side.

Taichi heaved. "I know what you're thinking,"

"Mind telling me what's going on?" she said out of bitterness. There was one thing she was sure of: Yamato was still in her life, and she was already out of his.

Where is he? she frantically thought. Takeru told her he'll just run an errand for the English club, but that was already forty minutes ago. The game was about to start in five minutes, but not a sign of him was seen. Hikari peeped through her camera, zooming over Daisuke's team and the rival team of the other district in the junior league.

She saw Daisuke, in his football uniform and cleats, run towards her direction. She waved at him.

"Where's Takeru?" he asked.

"I don't know," she replied.

"Try calling him,"

"Ahh.. I did not think of that.." whispered Hikari. She took out her small phone from her camera bag, dialed Takeru. He had picked up after four rings.

"Where are you? The game's about to start," she shouted, as the crowd and the cheering squad were getting louder.

"I'm sorry, I need to go," Hikari reckoned he was already at downtown as she heard motors and jingles.

"What?!" Or, translation, are you ditching me?

"Aniki called, said he needed me for something,"

"Okay." And so he did, she thought.

"Sorry. Give Daisuke-kun my good luck!" She ended the call, not giving him the opportunity to say goodbye. No way she would, right when just he blew her off.

Takeru was not coming, and Daisuke could tell by the deadpan expression Hikari was making.

"I'm going to go now, Kari-chan,"

"Mhmm. Good luck, Dai-kun," she gave him a v-sign, and a contrasting smile. The boy returned her smile, then ran back to the field.

Hikari took her camera, remained her focus on taking pictures. By the end of the day, she knew she had no right to be angry at Takeru. She was not at the right place.

I. Must. Not. Cry.

It just couldn't be helped.