He wasn't sure when it happened.

Was it the time spent together on fortnight weekends when they gathered at each other's place? Or was it the time when Daisuke openly pursued her with such ferocity that it woke him out of his own oblivion? Maybe it was the Dark Ocean episode! He knew instinctively something was wrong with her, and that must be a sign, right? Or, it could be the moment when she held onto his wrist and refused to let him be taken by Piedmon?

No, that couldn't be it. I was just 8. I couldn't possibly like her that way.

But Takeru Takaishi knew it had happened. She was sitting opposite him across one of their university's cafeteria table, blushing slightly under Miyako Inoue's interrogation about a boy, and all the blond could feel at the instance was how much he did not want to know what was going on.

Yet he had to. He couldn't help it.

"When did this happen? Why don't I know what this conversation is about?"

He had said it too quickly. It had slipped out of his tongue before he could think of whether it was appropriate. The blue-eyed blond swallowed hard and hastily attempted a quizzical expression. He hoped the two girls did not find his sudden interjection strange and demanding, because Takeru Takaishi do not do brusque.

"Well…" Hikari Yagami started, a shy grin slowly appearing whilst her brown eyes widened with excitement. "It was a few weeks ago. Sorry Teeks, I really didn't think it was a big deal. Truly!"

Hikari bit her lower lip and looked pleadingly at him, and all he could muster at the moment was a smile to feign his forgiveness.

"Yea, until he started dropping you secret love notes, and that you actually like him!" Miyako exclaimed with such enthusiasm, it almost made Takeru looked like a scrooge for a best friend.

But he did feel like a scrooge. He was not very welcoming of this news. Not a bit, not at all. His insides felt like tightened knots, and he became extremely conscious of his posture and movement. His body was in a constant struggle of tensed and relaxed, and his throat and mouth were going dry.

He was trying very hard to process all the information that was thrown to him just a minute ago – There's a boy pursuing Hikari. His name is Shoji Harada. He's two years their senior, and the pitcher of their university's varsity baseball team. And Hikari liked him.

She likes him! Takeru thought angrily.

To say he was baffled was an understatement. His best friend had never really shown much romantic interest towards the male population she had come across, even through high school. She had rejected all her suitors including Daisuke Motomiya, who pursued her fervently for two full years. It became such a challenge for boys to win her heart that most people gave in to the thought that Takeru was the reason for all the rejections she had made. Slowly, but surely, Takeru had gladly accepted the idea that they were both waiting for the other to break the silence on taking their platonic relationship to the next level. Yet, he held back. He was too afraid, too contented with how things were. He was not ready for change if change was not necessary. Until this Shoji person appeared from thin air to ruin it all.

"I'm so happy for you, you have absolutely no idea! Do you know how long I've been waiting for you to go on a double date with Ken and I? Now it's going to come true!" Miyako sighed loudly, gazing into nothingness with a big silly smile.

"But – Hikari isn't dating the guy yet," Takeru added. "They are not together or anything… Right?" His gaze switched from Miyako to Hikari, half of him wanting to reaffirm this fact, while the other half desperately wanted his best friend to soothe his fears.

Instead, she did the opposite. She tilted her head down shyly, and her face started to flush again. "I agreed to a date next weekend with him, Teeks."

"B-but how long do you guys know each other?! I don't even know who this person is and you just agreed to go on a date with a stranger two years older than you? He could be dangerous." Takeru spat, his words flowing out fast and his voice rising a little too high then it should have. He immediately regretted it.

Miyako's eyes widened in shock at Takeru's sudden outburst, and Hikari's smile faded.

"I'm sorry Teeks, I really am. I wanted to tell you. We briefly met when I was rushing my assignment in the library that night when you had basketball practice. The library was packed and I saw an empty seat next to him so we shared the table. We talked and we clicked, but I didn't think much of it. We were all so busy with school," Hikari sighed. She was hoping Takeru would be as excited as she was. Shoji would be the first boy she ever agreed to date, and it was nerve-wrecking as it is without the pressure from this or her brother. "Shoji didn't start messaging me until few days back. We really connected. I wouldn't say yes to the date if I know it wasn't right. You know me…"

"I'm… sorry, too… I just… It took me by surprise. You know I'm always watching out for you, right?" The blond said, smiling ever slightly to hide his now broken heart.

Hikari brightened up. "Just as long as you don't become like Onii-chan," She teased him.

Not knowing what to say, he forced a smile right back.

I won't… I want to be more than just an Onii-chan, I want to be more than just your best friend. I want to be more.