True or False
Part 3: True
By: Snakey
The sun is shining brightly in the morning, and the sky is blue without a cloud in sight. Golden Week has arrived. I want to continue my sleep, but I can hear my mom's footsteps coming near the door. 'If she sees me asleep she'll annoy me 'til I get up…' Trying to avoid that, I crawl out of bed and change out of my pyjamas. She opens the door, and sees me already awake.
"Oh, you're up already?" She seems surprised… She says it as if I only wake up at noon everyday. Okay, I can't say I have the best record, but I don't wake up at noon everyday, just sometimes.
"Yeah, it's such a nice day out, I think I'll go out today and hang out with my friends." I quickly slip on a white shirt and a pair of jeans with my back towards her.
"Oh, why don't you call Akari-chan too? I'm sure she'd love to go with you!" She seems enthusiastic about this, maybe a little too enthusiastic.
"…I guess… but I still have to go to Touya's Go salon to play a game later."
"But that doesn't happen till later. Now go downstairs and eat and call Akari-chan." She walks out humming a quiet tune to herself.
I let out a big sigh. Lately, my mom's been constantly telling me to call Akari for this or ask Akari about that. I know Akari's mom is her childhood friend, but she's trying to hard to get me and Akari together. Mothers… I walk down the stairs slowly, still a little sleepy, when I realize Akari still owes me a meal for being late last time. 'Perfect, I can call her to make up for the meal.' Now re-energized, I jump off the last few steps of the staircase and pull up a chair to start eating.
"So, where are you planning to go today?" My mom asks.
"No where in particular, really, but I would love to get Akari to treat me to some ramen, maybe even soba." My mom doesn't look too happy about my statement.
"Hikaru, it's not very nice to make a girl pay for your meal, besides, you haven't seen Akari-chan in awhile."
"'Kaa-san, she owes me, and she promised she'd treat me."
With that said, my mom turns her attention back to the dishes she started washing previously. I finish eating, and walk over to the phone to call Akari.
"…Hello?" Akari's mother answers the phone.
"Oh, Fujisaki-san, it's Hikaru. Um… may I speak to Akari?" I can almost feel her grinning.
"Of course you can, Hikaru! Hang on, just a moment; I'll get her right now." She leaves the phone, and I listen to the sounds coming from the other end. I hear hurrying footsteps, and Akari picks up the phone.
"Hi Hikaru! So, what'd you call for?"
I grin, take a deep breath, and shout, "You still owe me lunch!" I can just her falling over from my shout.
I wait for a bit, and she finally responds. "W-WHAT?" That made my ear hurt. "That's what you called for? Hikaru, stop thinking about food for once!"
"Fine, I'll think about Go then." It's always fun to mess with Akari.
"So, you want me to treat you today?"
"Yup! I'm dying for some soba in this heat!" It's around 35° C outside, and the sun is killing everyone outside by shooting its UV rays at them.
"Okay… meet me outside my house at 1 o'clock, and you lead the way to the restaurant!"
"Deal, see you in a few."
"Bye Hikaru!"
I hang up and go upstairs to get ready. I decide to check my wallet to see if I have enough for soba, just in case of an emergency and Akari can't pay. When I pull out my desk drawer, I find my fan beside my wallet. Golden week…Today was May 1st already, and four days from now would be May 5th… Sai…Feeling depressed all of a sudden, I grab my wallet, check to see if I have enough money, and walk downstairs to the door.
Around five minutes later, I come back into my room, grab my fan, and leave the house. My mom must think that I'm forgetful.
I arrive at Akari's house at 1:10 PM, since I had to go back to retrieve my fan. Akari had just finished preparing, and is putting on her shoes at the door.
"Mom! I'm going out today! Call me if you need anything!" She walks out the door and looks at me, cheerfully. "Good afternoon, Hikaru!"
"Good afternoon, now, let's go get some soba!" I give a punch towards the sky just to show my enthusiasm.
We walk quietly towards the train station. Akari is walking behind me like she used to when we walked home together in grade school. And for some odd reason… it feels comfortable having a familiar presence walking behind me. Now that I think of it, ever since I was a child, I've had someone behind me. First it was Akari, and then it was Sai.
We continue to walk peacefully in the sun, with Akari complaining now and then about my walking pace. I'd turn around and tease her for having short legs. It feels nice to turn around to talk to a whiny friend again.
"Thanks for the meal!" I call back as we left the restaurant.
"Hikaru…" Akari seems angry.
"Yes, Akari?" I grin at her in a wicked sort of way.
"Hikaru… How come we ended up eating ramen?" She shouts as she points to the ramen shop after we finish our meals. I swear I saw some of the pedestrians laugh at us.
"Well, the soba shop I wanted to go to is in this district, but the smell of ramen was irresistible when we walked passed the shop!" That was convincing…
"Next time you say we're going to eat soba, I'm going to lead the way." She sighs, and we continue our walk back home.
"Hikaru… your addiction to ramen hasn't changed, has it?"
"Nope, and I don't think it ever will."
The rest of the walk remains in silence. Akari is still trailing behind me, but she doesn't complain about my pace this time. When we reach the train station, we stand far apart while we wait for the train. It feels kind of awkward.
"…Akari… how come you're standing so far away from me?" The space between us was wider than usual, so I can't help but be curious.
"What? Oh." She takes one step towards me, but that doesn't make it any less awkward.
The train comes, and we get on board. It doesn't seem like many people are taking the same train as us, so I pick a spot and sit with a more relaxed posture. Akari takes the seat directly across from me. It's so quiet… I decide to stare out the window, since Akari seems unwilling to disrupt our uncomfortable silence. It's still pretty bright out, and I see the flags resembling carps tied onto poles, waving as the wind blows. So people are already prepared for Children's Day…
Sai…The train stops to pick up more passengers waiting at the station.I reach into my pocket and pull out my fan. I should probably go to Hiroshima again this year…
"I want to see you again, Sai." I speak my mind as the train starts to move again.
"Sai? Did you say something about Sai?"
"GAHH!" I'm practically leaning against the window as I stand up in shock. "T-T-TOUYA!"
"Hello, Touya-kun." Akari makes a polite bow even though she's sitting down.
"Oh, you're here too, Fujisaki-san, Hello." Touya nods to her and takes a seat beside me.
"What are you doing here, Touya?" I finally regain my composure and sit back down.
"Don't change the subject, what were you talking about Sai before?"
"What…er… Argh!" I don't know what to say. Why does this guy always pop up at the most unexpected time!
"Shindo…" He looks at me with curiosity burned into his eyes.
"Er… um… ahh…" What am I supposed to say…? Am I ready to tell Touya about Sai…?
"Well?"
"… I'll tell you someday, Touya, but that someday isn't today." I'm not ready.
"I understand." He turns away from me, and says, "You know, we still have a game to play at the salon today."
"Yeah, I know, I just didn't expect that you'd be on the same train as me." I let out a sigh. "I was going to go home before heading to the salon, but I guess I'll just take the train with you all the way there."
"Oh, you're not getting off at the station near our houses then?" Akari asks.
"Nope, sorry Akari, but you'll have to walk home by yourself." I grin at her.
"Hikaru! Stop making it sound like I still need someone to walk me home!" As she says her line, the train comes to a halt, and it's Akari's stop.
"See you next time, Akari! Thanks for the meal!"
"Good-bye, Hikaru! See you next time, Touya-kun!" She waves good-bye to us as she steps off the train.
"Good-bye, Fujisaki-san." Touya says politely before the doors close.
And yet again, there is another awkward silence, except this time it's with Touya instead of Akari.
"…So… were you two on a date? I'm sorry to have interrupted it if you were." Well, so much for the awkward silence.
"What? No! She just owes me that meal for being late the other day!" I can feel my cheeks flushing.
"I see." I don't think you do, Touya! Not with that grin on your face!
"… That's it; I am so going to beat you in our next go game." I cross my arms on my chest.
"In your dreams, Shindo."
I'm thankful that we weren't kicked off the train for having another one of our shouting matches.
To be continued…
Author's Notes: I don't update often, do I? Short chapter, but at least it is an update. The next chapter will probably be the end of this entire fic, but I have no idea when it will come out. But since it is summer, let's hope I'm not actually too lazy to type.
(June 28, 2005)