Author's Note: as I was writing this, I've realized this story has evolved from a Mimato story to a Chosen Children story. This chapter almost reached 5,000 words, and I have to say, wow. Writing these characters is truly fun and somewhat fulfilling. In light of Digimon Adventure Tri, I have decided to continue on with my plans, and whatever new canon stuff might come up, I'll try to consider them in my story. And yes, dear Scripturiens, soojinah, and the rest of Jyoura fans! It is definitely happening. So please watch out for it unfold!
As I've said, this chapter will be about Jyou, Yamato, and Taichi. It takes place the same day the Takeru & Hikari chapter happened.
The next chapter will mainly be about Koushiro and Hikari (and perhaps Sora & Mimi – I don't know yet, I'm still trying to find the right time with these two). Expect a Michi chapter soon, too! Enjoy reading and please drop by a review!
Salad Days
Chapter Twenty-four
Boyhood
.
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Monday evening.
.
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"What took you so long?!"
"Gahh," Taichi held his knees, panting after running from the eighth floor down to the main square. "Sorry, I was the last person to leave class. Professor talked me into something." "Hey, Jyou!"
"Taichi-kun," the medicine student snapped. "You do realize you made us wait for an hour and a half,"
"Hence, your treat." said the blond.
He didn't know when he became so sensitive, but he thought it was all too brutal for Yamato to suddenly oblige him. After regaining his breath, Taichi had refused. "You know I can't."
Yamato crossed his arms, looked at his wristwatch and then to Taichi. He sighed in defeat. "Okay, fine. Not today," gave in Yamato. He was reminded of Taichi's 'vulnerable' state. "But it's definitely on the tab."
"Feels weird doing this, just us three." Spoke Taichi. It felt weird too to be together with Yamato and Jyou at an unfamiliar setting. It was the first time the three of them got together at Todai; and probably only with the three of them for the whole year. It felt weird.
"Yeah.." slowed in Jyou. He agreed, it does feel a bit weird. He felt like a substitute or stand-in to Koushiro. After all, he did somewhat feel 'ostracized' for the past few months. Then again – it could just be my paranoia. "Did no one invite Koushiro-kun though?"
"I messaged him, but he didn't reply," replied Yamato, glancing at his phone. "Before we go, do any of you have a curfew to follow? I don't have any since I don't have any classes tomorrow."
"I'm free the whole night," said Jyou as he cleaned his his spectacles with the hem of his shirt. "I can squeeze in my homework during my break tomorrow."
"I need to be home by ten," said Taichi, looking at his phone as he tried to remember if he missed something out. "Ahh. You know. I take care of dad in the evening."
Yamato nodded . "Okay. 'til ten it is,"
"Let's just go look for my car," said Jyou. He started to walk towards the parking lot as he fiddled inside his left pocket. The two followed his suit.
"Where are we going anyway?" asked Taichi to Yamato, completely clueless of tonight's itinerary. They've reached the almost-empty lot, and saw Jyou's blue van from a distance.
"To the bar," replied Jyou instead. Originally it was only him and Yamato, but the blond thought to invite the others too. "I haven't had a drink since the summer."
Taichi laughed at this, completely remembering what Kido Jyou did during Mimi's birthday. "You didn't drink at all, Jyou!"
"He did take a sip or two – from Hikari's beer," went along Yamato as he watched Jyou open his car in amusement.
"I needed to be sober! You guys were all over the place!" he defended in the most typical-Jyou manner as he sat on the driver's seat. The two got in the van, with Yamato at the passenger seat. In a few minutes they had already exited the campus.
"I'm going to quit Physics." Blurted Yamato out of nowhere.
"Ha-ha-ha Ishida.. Laaaaame!" snorted Taichi as he playfully kicked Yamato's seat from behind.
"Idiot, I'm not kidding."
Jyou scratched his head, kept glancing from right, top, to left. "Ahhh.. is this for sure?"
"I don't know," replied the blond with irritation. The thought of still staying at Physics was agonizing. "I don't feel like it."
"Ahh.." the medicine student carefully tried to focus on the topic, and on the blind spot. "Do you find it boring?"
"Ahh.. No.." he rambled on, 'til he could no longer face Jyou and stared at his reflection at the side mirror.
"I mean, it's all fascinating, really. But it kind of gets.." Boring. Too Hard. Yamato just couldn't admit that he was considering running away from this one. To think, he was never really one to run away from his problems.
Even Taichi knew Yamato wasn't one to run away. He actually thought he'd be the first one to drop his major and choose an easier one. Taichi crossed his arms, unsure how to handle the news. "If you do quit, what do you plan to do? Music?"
"Maybe," replied Yamato nonchalantly. The idea seemed to be less ridiculous than it was as days passed by. "Mimi said I should try."
"Aha! I was right. In the end, you are going to take Music!" exclaimed Taichi. "I hate to say it but I told you so. And, how come you listen to Mimi and not me? This is really unfair."
Yamato rolled his eyes, tried his best to ignored him. "What do you think, Jyou?"
"Ahh.. Well, if things don't work out with Physics in the end, you can always come to that!" Jyou immediately thought it was a lame advice.
Yamato knew they weren't the ones to judge – but it really sounded awful that he was now thinking of quitting. The fact that Taichi is also unintentionally pulling off this working-class-hero act wasn't doing good to Yamato's ego.
"Ishida, did you hear me? I was right! I was right all along," Taichi stuck his head out from the back seat to get a closer view of Yamato's irritated face. "You are going to take Music and slam more guitars on the head,"
The blond clicked his tongue. "You know, for a Liberal Arts student, you aren't really that funny," said Yamato. Like always, the banter turned into a playful fight.
Soon it became a bit rowdy for Jyou, as Yamato started to shove Taichi's head all the way back. "You guys.. please, not here," pleaded Jyou, but he was unheard of.
"It's not like I'm trying to be funny, Ishida," continued Taichi from the back. "You don't even know how to crack a joke."
Jyou laughed, relieved he wasn't the butt of the joke – for once. "Sorry Yamato. It's a given fact Taichi's a natural."
Yamato begged to disagree. "A natural clown? Why, yes."
"You know what, Ishida? I don't even know why you're picking a fight with me, I have so many other things to deal with right now," said Taichi. His tone was different and more agitated than before.
What the hell..? Yamato and Jyou looked at each other, both confused at the sudden emotional outburst.
"Chill out, Yagami. We were just playing," replied Yamato in a calm yet stern voice.
"Are you okay?" asked Jyou. Typical bad cop, good cop tandem.
And when Taichi had realized what just had happened, he let out a groan, put a hand over his face. "Ahh. Sorry. I think I'm having my PMS now."
The two let out a snicker. Okay, fine, he is a natural, thought Yamato. "You're crazy."
"Of course I am.." replied Taichi in sarcasm. Yet, it wasn't enough to mask his embarrassment. "Ahh. Sorry. "
Yamato couldn't help to say it too. "Sorry." Who would have expected that the great Yagami Taichi was also meant to fall apart?
If things have been changing since then, it was surely drastic now. Exactly one year from now Yamato remembered having a conversation with Sora about their future. They promised how they'd always still make some time for each other even if college becomes difficult; that or they can just study at the same place so they'd never ever drift part. But in a few months, they actually did.
He ran a hand through his hair, a bit overwhelmed with the feeling. I guess this is the feeling Mimi was talking about. Admittedly, he did miss Sora at times. Despite things not working out between the two of them, she was still for keeps, even as a friend. If ever, he wouldn't mind her being back into his life.
Jyou, however, had noticed these little changes among them before. Not a really surprising reaction from Taichi – but that didn't mean Jyou isn't unsettled by it. The three of them were silent for a while, until Jyou hit the pedal when the traffic light went green.
"Taichi, you're starting to sound like Mimi," started Jyou, breaking the silence. He was growing hungry.
"In case you guys talk to Mimi, she doesn't know about the thing with my father," spoke Taichi. "She's becoming really clingy nowadays too.. she said she wanted to meet more often."
Jyou almost forgot that they were an item. I guess that's still happening.. he thought to himself. It was really unusual, but then again, it wasn't so impossible.
Yamato snickered, rolled his eyes to his side. Mimi must have taken his advice last weekend. "Anyway, Taichi, I wanted to show you something about Mimi. Since you two are exclusive with each other, I think you have the right to know,"
"What is it? Is she going to be there?"
"No.. but.." Yamato scratched the back of his head, glanced at Jyou, who was just as confused as Taichi. Now thinking about, Mimi better not be there. "Someone from her past will be."
Taichi could feel the tiny hairs of his arms stand up as Yamato said this. Uncertain he was, the fear was like an omen to him. His relationship with Mimi wasn't turning out to be as happy as he had expected despite his best efforts. He dreaded that they weren't enough. His heart continued to palpitate until they've reached their destination.
By the time they did, they immediately ordered meat-load of a dinner, spent most of the waiting time by arguing about Jyou driving like a grandmother. Yamato looked around to see any feature that belonged to Mimi among a sea of familiar faces. It didn't take him that long to realize she wasn't there, and a sigh of relief finally came from his mouth. He watched around a bit more, until he confirmed the presence of a certain green-haired man. There you are. Satisfied with the sight of him seemingly frustrated with the bartender, Yamato gazed no further and turned to his sides; he realized that two of his friends had been awfully quiet since they came in. They were both busy with their phones; and according to his peripheral vision, Taichi was talking to Mimi, while Jyou was to Sora.
He crossed his arms. Sora? He guessed she kept in touch with her favorite senpai. Frankly, he wanted to ask Jyou badly how she was doing, but no longer tried to, as he remembered he no longer had the right to inquire about her.
Eventually they had to order their drink after each of them had eaten 400 grams of katsu. As long as they won't be drinking Yebisu again – dear Lord, anything but beer! – Jyou and Yamato were okay to equally split the bill for a fifteen-year-old bottle of Yoichi, just enough to last 'til Taichi's curfew.
"So? What now? Yamato I'm tired of waiting," it had been an hour since they arrived in Town Ongaku Club, and much to Taichi's relief, there was no Tachikawa Mimi around. Or maybe that's what he'd want me to think?
Overthinking was never Taichi's best friend – but it's definitely Jyou's.
"Yeah, what is it, Yamato?" Jyou asked calmly, though he already prepared at least ten scenarios at the back of his mind.
"Just look at the stage," said Yamato, before taking a gulp from his glass. Definitely better than beer. "You'll know soon enough."
Taichi groaned out of impatience, poured himself another drink of whisky. Jyou leaned back against his chair, watched Yamato talk to some of his friends in the bar. He poured himself another drink too, was about to gulp it before his phone vibrated.
Sora, 20:04 :"Mimi's ex? I've only seen him from Mimi's photos."
Jyou: 20:04: "I haven't too.. but.. there was a guy here that looked exactly like her ex .. he looked a bit different though."
Sora, 20:05: "No way. I thought he was in America?"
Jyou, 20:06: "Well.. according to Mimi's story last summer, he might have gotten deported for all we know. Haha. Anyway. It seems that Yamato brought Taichi here for that.. I feel sorry."
Sora, 20:06: "Yamato meddling again. (;_;) ahh. But maybe there's a reason? I haven't talked to Mimi yet."
Jyou, 20:07: "I haven't too. Ahh. I just hope Yamato's doing this for the right reason. I'll try to find out."
Sora, 20:07: "Okay Jyou-senpai!"
Jyou put down his phone on the table, looked at Taichi who was just as busy with his phone. The doctor-aspirant crossed his arms, bit his lip as worry started to grow on him. Taichi had been too quiet the whole night. He was about to speak, already gathered his words, until he felt his phone vibrate again.
Sora, 20:10: "Ahh.. I visited Susumu-ji-san and ran onto Shuu-senpai earlier. It was the first time I met him at the hospital. He said we should have dinner with him some time. Kekeke. Have fun, senpai!"
Jyou, 20:11: "Of course, Sora-chan! Please have a pleasant evening too. :)"
Jyou wasn't aware that a smile had crept on his face.
"You seem unusually happier than earlier," came Yamato's voice, now sitting beside Jyou's left. He had just rejoined them from the crowd.
"Ahh.. Hehe. I'm alright I guess." Nothing made Jyou more uncomfortable than Yamato staring at him.
"Yamato," spoke Taichi, retreating from his phone as he shoved the gadget down to his pocket. Contrary to Jyou, he was rather sour. "What's up now?"
Yamato looked around, before pouring the three of them another glass of the whisky. "Ahh. Let's just wait for a bit."
They waited thirty minutes more before their guest-of-honor took over the stage. Both Taichi and Jyou's first impression was that Aoiyami Yoshioka, also known as Mimi's ex-boyfriend, was one hell of a mess.
"That guy," he said, pointing to the green-haired frontman. The fuck. He's becoming a regular here, he thought to himself.
Taichi stared at the man sourly. Aside from having green hair, what was so special about him? He looked sick, as if he hadn't eaten for days, and he completely looked like someone Mimi would run away from had this man offered to buy her a drink. So what the hell does he have to do with Mimi?
But as he sang and played, saw five minutes of his charm and talent, Taichi grew more infuriated. "What about him?" he spat, now trying to be his calmest.
"He's Mimi's ex," answered Yamato, as he looked to each of his friends. "Jyou, are you listening?"
"Ahhh.. Sorry.." said Jyou, looking up from his mobile phone. "Wait, what?"
"The ex Mimi talks about." Repeated Yamato, a bit annoyed. What's up with you, Jyou? He stared at him again, the one that made Jyou uncomfortable.
"I think I need another drink." spoke Taichi right after he emptied his glass. He was angry, didn't know how Mimi could still go to such a place as if he had made her lonely – what is it that I'm doing wrong?
Yamato stared at him, a bit sorry and regretful. "I just thought you had the right to know," he said. "I know I shouldn't be saying this but I kind of caught her going here a lot."
"I see.." he looked away from the guy, leaned on his chair as he closed his eyes. The problem was, he'd never confront Mimi about it. He didn't know how. "Thanks."
"Are you okay?"
"Yamato, how am I supposed to be okay? Haha." replied Taichi as he held his empty glass. It was incredible, how things in his life were completely heading downhill. A first for everything, I guess. "Just give me another drink, yeah?"
The night grew and so did Yoshio's songs. Taichi eventually got sloshed, also finally found the words he needed to let out. The thing about Taichi was he seldom had the tears. No one, not even Hikari or Sora, could remember the last time Taichi had cried.
For Yamato and Jyou, it was the first time in a long time since they've heard him talk about his feelings. Rare did such a moment came, for when Taichi does talk about his feelings, he becomes really, really, really fragile, that it was so impossible to crack in a butt joke.
He did cry at the end. A tear or two, noted Yamato.
"He seems to be handling it pretty bad.." said Jyou, staring at Taichi's flushed sleeping face and sloppy figure. "Was it necessary to bring him here?"
"I thought he should know," said Yamato as he took a sip from his glass. "He's Mimi's boyfriend, after all,"
Jyou looked back at Taichi, then to Yamato. "Ahh.. I know you're just doing this to look out for them but… ahh. Shouldn't you keep yourself out of it and just let them work on it?"
"But it won't work if it's just them, Jyou." Replied the blond as he motioned his head to Yoshio, who was still on-stage. Like Taichi, the insecurity in him was growing too. "They can be happy.. They just need some help."
"Ahh.. whatever you say.." replied Jyou. He took his glass and hesitantly drank from it. "I'm just warning you though.. you told Mimi in. She might find out and your friendship with her might.. you know."
"It won't, Jyou. Don't worry about it."
"Okay.." Jyou looked at the stage. I guess they're so popular here now. They watched Yoshio and his band play three more songs, before Yamato spoke to him again.
"Jyou,"
"Yamato?"
"Are you and Sora dating?"
To Jyou, the question was so outrageous, he almost dropped his glass. "Wha-what the hell?! W-wha..What? What a despicable thing to say – God, of all things Yamato you know I would – "
"Tch..You pretty much gave a lot with just that." replied Yamato with a sarcastic smile. "But no, really. Just be honest will you? You and Sora?"
For the first time the whole night, Jyou took off his glasses, placed them on the table. "No, Yamato," he growled. "There's nothing going on between me and your ex."
But Yamato knew better. And he was a bit angry that Jyou was actually lying to him. "Fine. I'll take that for now."
It was frustrating to be accused of such. How could Yamato even accuse him of something? Maybe there really is nothing left for me here. "We have, however, been hanging out quite frequently."
It was a cheap shot, Jyou had to admit – and rather immature of him as well, but he really wanted to get to know what Yamato could draw from him.
"Oh.." the sudden admission took him off-guard. "I see." It always starts from there, thought Yamato.
"I don't mean to offend you or anything, but is this why you called me in? For this?"
"Huh?"
"To try to get me drunk, and then ask me about Sora," spat Jyou. "Is that what this is all about?"
"What the hell?" he couldn't help but lean back out of disbelief. And Jyou, without his glasses, looked ten-times angrier than the usual. "Of course not! I only just noticed a while ago. You were so into your phone. I saw her name," defended Yamato.
Jyou's features softened, but he was still angry. "I see.."
"Why? What's wrong?"
"You tell me, Mr. Friendship,"
"Jyou.." Really, some more drama? "What is it? Just tell me."
Jyou took his glass again, drank and emptied it. He looked at the spectacles that he took off. Anger had turned into sadness. "I don't think I have friends."
What the fuck. The blond glared at him. Really, Jyou? Afte all this time? But Yamato just couldn't bring himself to attack him back. "That really hurt."
"Did it?" chuckle Jyou. "Good."
Yamato sighed, looked away from him; unable to read whatever the fuckery Jyou had been thinking. "Are you angry?"
"What does it look like?"
"I find it hard to tell, to be honest.." All Yamato could tell was that he's not all right. "Can you just say if you are or not?"
Jyou crossed his arms, still not looking at him. He looked to his right instead, where Taichi was peacefully sleeping. "I am. I'm angry.. what you just asked me.. it's condescending."
Yamato ran a hand through his hair, unable to release his frustration. "No.. I just care,"
"But do you, really?" Jyou snapped, now facing Yamato with calm yet furious eyes. "Care to think about it for once, Ishida..?"
Blue met blue. Such was the storm in Jyou's dark blue eyes. It was Yamato's turn to look away.
Jyou continued on. "I don't think it crosses in anyone's minds that maybe I need some comforting too.. No, scratch that. I don't need it.. Haha. No.. But it'd be really nice if my friends relied on me from time to time.. ever since I got into college no one had bothered to ring me or whatever.."
"Why is it like that though…" his voice came much calmer, sad than angry. "I'm just a year older than most of you and yet I can't help but feel so out of place… Takeru and Hikari don't seem to have a problem fitting in.." and when Jyou had said it, he realized soon enough how pathetic he sounded. Pathetic, but he couldn't give a damn about being pathetic now.
"If it weren't for Sora, I guess I wouldn't even be here sitting with you and him here.." he added with a smile, and Yamato noticed the slight curve on his lips when he mentioned her name.
"I don't know. Since Mimi's birthday, there's just so much that has changed." And I don't even know how they all got into that.. he took whatever that was left in the whisky, poured some of it for him, and for Yamato. "I hate to say this, Yamato, but it feels that I don't know any of you anymore."
"Ahh.." Yamato was still trying to register everything he said, completely shocked at this revelation. So shocked that he almost couldn't find some words to say.
"You're right." but he still felt that it was also a very harsh thing for Jyou to say. "Things are not the way they were.. But –"
"It just sucks to be left out, you know," cut off Jyou. "But maybe it's my fault as well. I couldn't move on. I'm still stuck with that adolescent mentality."
"No you're not.."
"I'm growing up too soon. I'm getting papers published, running parts of the family business, I'm on an excellent internship.." he started to play with his fingers, already running out of words. From sadness, Jyou could now only feel shame. "Ahh., I don't even know if this is what I want,"
"Ahh.." Yamato ran a hand through his hair, let out a really deep sigh. "I'm sorry."
It hurt. It was the cold truth that he could not understand what Jyou was going through, and probably never will, only until a year or two. Only when Jyou is over with his own problems - only will he truly understand, once he enters the same phase in a few months' time. The familiar feelings of helplessness and being unable to do anything for a friend – he really hated those.
"Sorry. It's not surprising though. I haven't really spoken about any of this 'til now.. Except Sora, I guess." he explained, putting back his glasses.
"Sora.." It was only now had it dawned to Yamato that it was only Sora who really kept in touch with him. "During our break-up.. You're the person Sora was closest to." Because, who else but Jyou? With Taichi too busy running after Mimi, and Mimi being too busy being his best friend; who else could withstand Takenouchi Sora and all of the feelings she have with her?
Sora and Jyou – they were both lonely.
"You're Sora's best friend."
"I guess you could call it that way," noted Jyou, as he looked over at Taichi – the known best friend of Takenouchi Sora. Then there's Mimi, too. "It just felt nice to be needed."
They shared a moment of silence, enjoying the rare calmness of the bar as the band had already finished playing. Jazz started to play. Jyou could hear the saxophones, then the sound of a harmonica, which made him remember the time he and Yamato got stuck in a restaurant at the Digital World. Some of those nights they stayed there, he'd hear Yamato play his instrument. He was no person of art or music – but he immediately recognized beauty whenever he heard Yamato play. Gomamon would tell him how different they are, and how he should learn a thing or two about relaxing from Yamato. There's no need, he'd tell Gomamon, for Yamato understood why he was such a worrywart. Gomamon would then tell him that Yamato is still more likable than him – especially with the girls – but will say that he preferred Jyou over anyone else.
The memory made him smile, and his heart ached a bit. That little bastard..
"Ahh…" Yamato leaned over the table, still trying to come to terms with what just happened. "You said quite a lot," he was so unguarded, unprepared for it. "I didn't know you felt all of this.. Ahh. I'm sorry."
The thing was, ever since Yamato learned Mimi's past and finally considered her a true friend, he had sworn to himself to give his relationships constant upkeep. So, what Yamato could not accept was how Jyou managed to say all those things, when they talked often even when he was already ahead of them for college. But I guess I just really never listened to him.
The blue-haired man could only feel disgusted of himself for having to put his friend in an awkward situation. Though, he could say the weight of his chest got lighter. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean any harm, you know. I didn't.. I didn't want to blow up like that all of the suddenly. But you kept asking, and you told me to be honest.. so.. haha.. there it goes, I guess."
"Ahh.. I'm sorry.." it was all Yamato could say.
"I'm sorry.. Ahh.. It's not a big deal now.." said Jyou, apologetically smiling. His smile fell suddenly as he took his bag with him and started to look for his medicine. "Ahh.. I hope I'm not drunk. I need to take you guys home."
Yamato snickered. Jyou and his paranoia. "Despite your uncalled-for emotional disclosure, Jyou, I don't think you are."
"He's right, Yamato," piped in a knocked out Taichi. "He can't get drunk,"
Yamato and Jyou exchanged worried glances. "Have you been listening to any of what we were saying?" asked Jyou.
"Of course I was," hiccupped Taichi as he lifted his head from the table. "That Yoshioka guy, right?"
They sighed out of relief as Taichi retreated to his former position. "Thank God he's a drunken idiot." said an eased Yamato.
"We should take him home," said Jyou, already taking money from his wallet to pay for the stuff they ordered. Yamato copied him. "Despite your good intentions, Yamato, this was a pretty terrible idea." He said with a smile.
The blond only smiled back.
On their way back to the van, Taichi managed to save some energy to talk about Mimi and his father half-Japanese and half-gibberish. One block away felt like twelve as Yamato and Jyou had to keep Taichi from falling and from vending machines.
Taichi immediately went back to sleep once he hit the backseat of the van. The ride on the way to the Yagami residence was quiet.
"Jyou,"
"Yes, Yamato?"
How bothersome, he thought, taking notice of how calm and polite Jyou was again. Everything Jyou had said earlier was ringing true. Here was the much more familiar Jyou, the Jyou everyone knows. And only now did Yamato realize, that this might be the last time he'd ever see Kido Jyou without the mask.
"I know I may not be able to understand everything.. Ahh.." he trailed off, trying his best to keep his eyes on the window. "What I mean to say is… I'm your friend. I think you already know that."
Jyou smiled. They were the words he never thought he needed to hear. "Remind me again when I forget."
Yamato chuckled, yet still felt bothered. He needed to save the friendships he had left. "I'll beat the hell out of you for it."