A surprise trip to Odaiba(W00T I finally caught her. Continue'd)
(Yoshi, we got started!)
If there was one time that Ken was glad about being able with computer, now was it. He tightened the grip on the white bag he held. Getting out two periods early(one before was PE) definitely had it’s merits, especially if it meant he could make it to his friend’s school unannounced. After all, what’s the fun in a surprise visit when the other person knew?
He smiled as he imagined the bright expressions his friend displayed every time they’ve spent of late. “Perhaps I should’ve called her during February.” He considered for a moment, but he shook his head. Being down in the dumps did no one any good, not to mention it made himself feel pathetic.
A drop of wet rain tapped on his nose, so the blue haired boy looked up. The clouds were gathering, and getting ready for a spring shower. He reached into his bag, and took out the slim blue umbrella, and opened it. He leaned against the gateway, listened to his mp3 player slightly bobbing his head up and down. Ken enjoyed this leisurely time spent waited for a certain brown haired girl.
Walking outside in the school courtyard, Hikari wound her scarf around her neck, smiling to herself. It had been a long day, so she was happy that it was over. Falling in step with her friends, she listened to their conversation.
"Oh, Aya-chan?" Said Sakura, a lithe girl with long dark hair. "Where'd you get that necklace? It's so cute!" The girl squealed.
Aya smiled brightly and twirled the necklace with her finger. "Thank you, I--" She stopped walking and looked over at something in the distance. She broke out into a smile, her cheeks tinged red. "Speaking of cute...look over there!"
Hikari and Sakura turned in the direction Aya was pointing. Hikari's eyebrows rose when she saw a lone figure standing there, headphones in his ears.
"Ken-kun..." she said under her breath.
Ken spotted Hikari, and waved, brightening up with a smile.
Waving back, Hikari smiled. Her friends gaped.
"Hikari-chan, you know him?!" Sakura exclaimed. "No way!"
"Introduce us! Introduce us!" Aya begged, bouncing up and down. "He's so cute~!" She peered at Ken again.
Hikari's cheeks burned. "Hush you two! That's Ken, he's a friend of mine! You two are acting like...like Yamato-san's groupies or something!" She put her hands on her hips.
Aya and Sakura looked at the ground shamefully. "Sorry, Hikari-chan." They said in unison.
Laughing at her friends actions, Hikari grinned. "I'll see you two later then! Ja ne!" And with that she skipped off to meet her friend.
“Hey, Hikari san.” Ken said, corners of his mouth still upturned.
“Is it okay?” He asked politely, turning his head to face the other girls. He nodded for a greeting, and they giggled in return. Totally oblivious to their reaction, Ken shifted his gaze back to his friend, and held umbrella over her head. “You’ll get wet you know.”
Hikari glanced up over her head. "Oh, you're right." She grinned. "Thank you! This is very thoughtful of you! How are you?"
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Meanwhile Aya and Sakura watched with bated breath as they walked away. They sighed.
"Hikari-chan always gets the good looking ones." Aya said.
"Yeah! First there was Takaishi-san and now--" Sakura paused. "Wait, was that?" She glanced back. "Oh my god, Aya-chan! That was Ichijouji Ken!"
"What?!" Aya gasped. "Oh my god it was!"
"That's it!" Sakura huffed. "Hikari-chan's gotta introduce us to one of them! Have you seen her brother?
-------------------------
“I’m great.” Ken answered eagerly. “It’s still a little odd living with Wallace-san, especially since he’s mostly sleeping whenever I’m home. It must be tough, having that jetlag.” He paused to breathe. “How’s life….no, math has been treating you?” He grinned deviously, recalling their last hang out.
"Wallace-san." Hikari remembered the blonde faintly. "I haven't seen him in...ages. It's so nice of you to let him stay!" She grinned brightly. "And math's going okay, not as bad as normal, but I don't have any high hopes for the future."
“Well, if you are in need of any help, you know you’ve got geniuses on the call list.” Ken tilted his head to side and raised a thumb. “Call me anytime. After all, I am highly prone to late night panic calls thanks to Daisuke.” He winked.
Hikari laughed. "I'll do that, don't worry. And thank you, I really appreciate it." She sighed inwardly. Ken was so sweet. "Oh by the way, to what to I owe this visit to?"
“I was waiting for that question!” Ken grinned widely. “Hold this.” He gave Hikari full access to the umbrella, and stepped outside. Before the considerate girl can motion to pull him right back in, he faced her straight and stuffed his hand in the white bag, bringing out a single stem of white rose, and a neatly packaged pink box. ”Happy White day!” He declared softly.
Hikari blushed and gripped the handle of the umbrella. How...how sweet! Accepting the gifts she smiled, still flushed. "T-thank you, Ken-kun!"
“No need to thank me. After all, it’s a return for your giri-choco.” He smiled, and walked back inside the umbrella. He placed a finger on his chin and wondered. “Is it still good to eat?” With a puzzled look on his face, he turned to face the girl.
"Hmm..." Hikari said thoughtfully. "I would hope so, but if not, I'll make you another one! Promise!" She held out her pinky to prove that she wasn't bluffing.
“The liar eats 1000 needles.” Ken smiled, holding out the pinky himself.
Taking Ken's pinky with her own, Hikari shook them. "It's a deal!"
“Deal.” He sealed the pact with his thumb, and continued walking.
It was nice, walking right by Hikari. There was something about this girl that put him at ease. Perhaps it was the talk over the swings, or perhaps it’s because she’s like a warm spring day. She was gentle, kind, and ever so bright, just like her name suggests. He embraced the air of peace he felt at presence of this special friend. Surely, it was a little odd, walking on the streets of Odaiba, instead of Tamachi returning from school (though it was not his on this occasion), and having a pleasant company instead of dragging his own heavy body, exhausted and overworked. He envied his friends living together in Odaiba. Walking alone, getting around places alone allowed for too much thought.
Walking alongside her friend, Hikari smiled to herself and sucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Ken was nice and her friends were right, he was good looking. She blushed at the thought and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.
"Stop it, Hikari." She scolded.
“Hn?” Ken turned to face Hikari at this verbal que.
Hikari glanced up and turned scarlet. "Oh! Oh, um, nothing, nothing!" She waved her hands up. "Just talking to myself!" She laughed nervously.
Taking a note that she seems nervous, Ken decided not to pry. The rain was starting to slow, and they were now walking beneath the street filled with scent of spring. Eyeing the cherry blossom buds, not yet reached it’s full bloom, he started in attempt to help her friend relax. “I’m glad the day’s clearing up.” He smiled. “I can’t believe it’s already spring, when winter only feels like yesterday.” A little too generic. He winced upon hearing his own words. “It’s nice seeing flowers again. After all, this winter felt much too long...”
Shaking off her embarrassment, Hikari nodded in agreement. "I know. But I'm glad it's over, winter's too cold for me." She smiled. "The flowers are always so beautiful. It's like...the signal of a fresh start."
Ken nodded in agreement. “Yeah. It’s almost time for the new school year too. I still can’t believe some of us are already taking the entrance exam.” The thought of Miyako flashed in his head, and he shook his head to rid of the thought. Fresh, new, focus on happy things. He forced a smile.
"Yeah...me neither." Hikari nodded. "It just seems like yesterday that we were all running around in the Digital World." She sighed.
Closing the umbrella as the rain has stopped, the soccer player agreed, and eyed the playground they were passing by. There were little kids riding on swings, kicking balls, and playing with the sandbox. “But honestly,” He started with a smile in his eyes. “I don’t really feel like I have grown up at all.”
"Me neither." Hikari said, watching a young boy pass a soccer ball to a friend. "At least, not really."
He turned to Hikari and smiled. “And here I was, thinking the world would magically change into something completely different when I turn 18. “ He looked down at his hands and closed his fist and opened it up, then turned around and patted his shirt, then shook his head. “What do you think? Have I changed into Kamen rider?” Ken looked at Hikari solemnly, with his hands gathered.
Hikari laughed. "No, sorry to say, but you're still Ken." She grinned. "And I'm happy for that."
Ken sighed in a melodramatic manner. “I guess time travel is impossible for Ichijouji Ken.” He nudged Hikari as he’s spotted young girls playing with plastic toys, yelling out “Rerizu”(Release) “What about you? Who did you think was coolest when you were little?” He smiled cheerfully.
"Besides my brother?" She giggled. "Sailor Moon, to be honest. She was a superhero, a princess and a mother, all at the same time. To me, that was remarkable. And she had a talking cat, along with Tuxedo Kamen as a love interest." She paused. "But now I have a talking cat too. Sort of."
“You’re right! And I have a talking bug friend instead of a bug suit.” Ken laughed.
"Guess we are sort of like our childhood heroes then, ne?" Hikari said cheerfully.
Ken nodded, smiling. Laughter of little kids was now heard from bit of a distance.
“But I’m a little surprised to hear your reasoning for choosing Sailor moon as a super hero.” Ken said, with his chin rested on one of his hand. “Super hero, and a princess would be the usual response I would assume to be the measurement of coolness at that age, but thinking being a mom is admirable…. I would’ve never been able to think of things that way at the time.”
"My mom took care of me a lot when I was little." Hikari said softly. "It wasn't always easy for her, so I knew it must have been a hard job."
The taller of the two glanced at the girl with admiration in his eyes. Recalling the proverb that a good tree is different from the sprout, Ken smiled a little. No wonder everyone loves her so much. Ken nodded in understanding, as they turned the corner.
He reflected back to the time when he was a little kid, when he was just Hikari’s age. He remembered that he was only trying desperately to keep up with Osamu, thinking his mother didn’t love him. He found his hero in time travelers, who changed history and made difference as he wasn’t able to do that in his life. He wasn’t able to escape, let alone face the real reality. Finding the digivice was finding a key was like opening the Pandora ’s Box, finally being able to escape while indulging in “first win” of his life. After all, Osamu wasn’t chosen at the time.
Despite all Osamu’s claims maybe, no definitely Ken instinctively knew the digivice was meant for him. Otherwise, why would it allow him to enter the digital world?
He raised a hand to his temple, and squeezed it hard.
The digital world. The digital world.
He wondered why he couldn’t remember what had happened in that trip.
Hikari looked at Ken. "You okay?" She asked, resting a hand on his arm in what she hoped was a comforting gesture.
“Ah, I’m sorry.” He snapped back into reality. “I was just…recalling what I felt back then.” Ken shook his head. “Thank you.” Ken smiled.
"If you're sure..." Hikari trailed off. She glanced at their surroundings. "Oh, we're already at my apartment. Come up for a bit, please! We can test your chocolate."
All a familiar procedure, Ken followed Hikari down the hallway and finally reached to her house. “Ojyama shimasu.” Ken bowed politely as he entered the place.
Hikari grinned and went to retrieve a pair of shoes for her guest. "Are you thirsty? I can make some tea if you'd like? Or I have juice...?" She called from the kitchen.
Ken sat himself down on the floor in seija.(Japanese kneeling…sitting position.) “Tea please.” He answered.
If there was one time that Ken was glad about being able with computer, now was it. He tightened the grip on the white bag he held. Getting out two periods early(one before was PE) definitely had it’s merits, especially if it meant he could make it to his friend’s school unannounced. After all, what’s the fun in a surprise visit when the other person knew?
He smiled as he imagined the bright expressions his friend displayed every time they’ve spent of late. “Perhaps I should’ve called her during February.” He considered for a moment, but he shook his head. Being down in the dumps did no one any good, not to mention it made himself feel pathetic.
A drop of wet rain tapped on his nose, so the blue haired boy looked up. The clouds were gathering, and getting ready for a spring shower. He reached into his bag, and took out the slim blue umbrella, and opened it. He leaned against the gateway, listened to his mp3 player slightly bobbing his head up and down. Ken enjoyed this leisurely time spent waited for a certain brown haired girl.
Walking outside in the school courtyard, Hikari wound her scarf around her neck, smiling to herself. It had been a long day, so she was happy that it was over. Falling in step with her friends, she listened to their conversation.
"Oh, Aya-chan?" Said Sakura, a lithe girl with long dark hair. "Where'd you get that necklace? It's so cute!" The girl squealed.
Aya smiled brightly and twirled the necklace with her finger. "Thank you, I--" She stopped walking and looked over at something in the distance. She broke out into a smile, her cheeks tinged red. "Speaking of cute...look over there!"
Hikari and Sakura turned in the direction Aya was pointing. Hikari's eyebrows rose when she saw a lone figure standing there, headphones in his ears.
"Ken-kun..." she said under her breath.
Ken spotted Hikari, and waved, brightening up with a smile.
Waving back, Hikari smiled. Her friends gaped.
"Hikari-chan, you know him?!" Sakura exclaimed. "No way!"
"Introduce us! Introduce us!" Aya begged, bouncing up and down. "He's so cute~!" She peered at Ken again.
Hikari's cheeks burned. "Hush you two! That's Ken, he's a friend of mine! You two are acting like...like Yamato-san's groupies or something!" She put her hands on her hips.
Aya and Sakura looked at the ground shamefully. "Sorry, Hikari-chan." They said in unison.
Laughing at her friends actions, Hikari grinned. "I'll see you two later then! Ja ne!" And with that she skipped off to meet her friend.
“Hey, Hikari san.” Ken said, corners of his mouth still upturned.
“Is it okay?” He asked politely, turning his head to face the other girls. He nodded for a greeting, and they giggled in return. Totally oblivious to their reaction, Ken shifted his gaze back to his friend, and held umbrella over her head. “You’ll get wet you know.”
Hikari glanced up over her head. "Oh, you're right." She grinned. "Thank you! This is very thoughtful of you! How are you?"
-----------------------------------------------
Meanwhile Aya and Sakura watched with bated breath as they walked away. They sighed.
"Hikari-chan always gets the good looking ones." Aya said.
"Yeah! First there was Takaishi-san and now--" Sakura paused. "Wait, was that?" She glanced back. "Oh my god, Aya-chan! That was Ichijouji Ken!"
"What?!" Aya gasped. "Oh my god it was!"
"That's it!" Sakura huffed. "Hikari-chan's gotta introduce us to one of them! Have you seen her brother?
-------------------------
“I’m great.” Ken answered eagerly. “It’s still a little odd living with Wallace-san, especially since he’s mostly sleeping whenever I’m home. It must be tough, having that jetlag.” He paused to breathe. “How’s life….no, math has been treating you?” He grinned deviously, recalling their last hang out.
"Wallace-san." Hikari remembered the blonde faintly. "I haven't seen him in...ages. It's so nice of you to let him stay!" She grinned brightly. "And math's going okay, not as bad as normal, but I don't have any high hopes for the future."
“Well, if you are in need of any help, you know you’ve got geniuses on the call list.” Ken tilted his head to side and raised a thumb. “Call me anytime. After all, I am highly prone to late night panic calls thanks to Daisuke.” He winked.
Hikari laughed. "I'll do that, don't worry. And thank you, I really appreciate it." She sighed inwardly. Ken was so sweet. "Oh by the way, to what to I owe this visit to?"
“I was waiting for that question!” Ken grinned widely. “Hold this.” He gave Hikari full access to the umbrella, and stepped outside. Before the considerate girl can motion to pull him right back in, he faced her straight and stuffed his hand in the white bag, bringing out a single stem of white rose, and a neatly packaged pink box. ”Happy White day!” He declared softly.
Hikari blushed and gripped the handle of the umbrella. How...how sweet! Accepting the gifts she smiled, still flushed. "T-thank you, Ken-kun!"
“No need to thank me. After all, it’s a return for your giri-choco.” He smiled, and walked back inside the umbrella. He placed a finger on his chin and wondered. “Is it still good to eat?” With a puzzled look on his face, he turned to face the girl.
"Hmm..." Hikari said thoughtfully. "I would hope so, but if not, I'll make you another one! Promise!" She held out her pinky to prove that she wasn't bluffing.
“The liar eats 1000 needles.” Ken smiled, holding out the pinky himself.
Taking Ken's pinky with her own, Hikari shook them. "It's a deal!"
“Deal.” He sealed the pact with his thumb, and continued walking.
It was nice, walking right by Hikari. There was something about this girl that put him at ease. Perhaps it was the talk over the swings, or perhaps it’s because she’s like a warm spring day. She was gentle, kind, and ever so bright, just like her name suggests. He embraced the air of peace he felt at presence of this special friend. Surely, it was a little odd, walking on the streets of Odaiba, instead of Tamachi returning from school (though it was not his on this occasion), and having a pleasant company instead of dragging his own heavy body, exhausted and overworked. He envied his friends living together in Odaiba. Walking alone, getting around places alone allowed for too much thought.
Walking alongside her friend, Hikari smiled to herself and sucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Ken was nice and her friends were right, he was good looking. She blushed at the thought and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.
"Stop it, Hikari." She scolded.
“Hn?” Ken turned to face Hikari at this verbal que.
Hikari glanced up and turned scarlet. "Oh! Oh, um, nothing, nothing!" She waved her hands up. "Just talking to myself!" She laughed nervously.
Taking a note that she seems nervous, Ken decided not to pry. The rain was starting to slow, and they were now walking beneath the street filled with scent of spring. Eyeing the cherry blossom buds, not yet reached it’s full bloom, he started in attempt to help her friend relax. “I’m glad the day’s clearing up.” He smiled. “I can’t believe it’s already spring, when winter only feels like yesterday.” A little too generic. He winced upon hearing his own words. “It’s nice seeing flowers again. After all, this winter felt much too long...”
Shaking off her embarrassment, Hikari nodded in agreement. "I know. But I'm glad it's over, winter's too cold for me." She smiled. "The flowers are always so beautiful. It's like...the signal of a fresh start."
Ken nodded in agreement. “Yeah. It’s almost time for the new school year too. I still can’t believe some of us are already taking the entrance exam.” The thought of Miyako flashed in his head, and he shook his head to rid of the thought. Fresh, new, focus on happy things. He forced a smile.
"Yeah...me neither." Hikari nodded. "It just seems like yesterday that we were all running around in the Digital World." She sighed.
Closing the umbrella as the rain has stopped, the soccer player agreed, and eyed the playground they were passing by. There were little kids riding on swings, kicking balls, and playing with the sandbox. “But honestly,” He started with a smile in his eyes. “I don’t really feel like I have grown up at all.”
"Me neither." Hikari said, watching a young boy pass a soccer ball to a friend. "At least, not really."
He turned to Hikari and smiled. “And here I was, thinking the world would magically change into something completely different when I turn 18. “ He looked down at his hands and closed his fist and opened it up, then turned around and patted his shirt, then shook his head. “What do you think? Have I changed into Kamen rider?” Ken looked at Hikari solemnly, with his hands gathered.
Hikari laughed. "No, sorry to say, but you're still Ken." She grinned. "And I'm happy for that."
Ken sighed in a melodramatic manner. “I guess time travel is impossible for Ichijouji Ken.” He nudged Hikari as he’s spotted young girls playing with plastic toys, yelling out “Rerizu”(Release) “What about you? Who did you think was coolest when you were little?” He smiled cheerfully.
"Besides my brother?" She giggled. "Sailor Moon, to be honest. She was a superhero, a princess and a mother, all at the same time. To me, that was remarkable. And she had a talking cat, along with Tuxedo Kamen as a love interest." She paused. "But now I have a talking cat too. Sort of."
“You’re right! And I have a talking bug friend instead of a bug suit.” Ken laughed.
"Guess we are sort of like our childhood heroes then, ne?" Hikari said cheerfully.
Ken nodded, smiling. Laughter of little kids was now heard from bit of a distance.
“But I’m a little surprised to hear your reasoning for choosing Sailor moon as a super hero.” Ken said, with his chin rested on one of his hand. “Super hero, and a princess would be the usual response I would assume to be the measurement of coolness at that age, but thinking being a mom is admirable…. I would’ve never been able to think of things that way at the time.”
"My mom took care of me a lot when I was little." Hikari said softly. "It wasn't always easy for her, so I knew it must have been a hard job."
The taller of the two glanced at the girl with admiration in his eyes. Recalling the proverb that a good tree is different from the sprout, Ken smiled a little. No wonder everyone loves her so much. Ken nodded in understanding, as they turned the corner.
He reflected back to the time when he was a little kid, when he was just Hikari’s age. He remembered that he was only trying desperately to keep up with Osamu, thinking his mother didn’t love him. He found his hero in time travelers, who changed history and made difference as he wasn’t able to do that in his life. He wasn’t able to escape, let alone face the real reality. Finding the digivice was finding a key was like opening the Pandora ’s Box, finally being able to escape while indulging in “first win” of his life. After all, Osamu wasn’t chosen at the time.
Despite all Osamu’s claims maybe, no definitely Ken instinctively knew the digivice was meant for him. Otherwise, why would it allow him to enter the digital world?
He raised a hand to his temple, and squeezed it hard.
The digital world. The digital world.
He wondered why he couldn’t remember what had happened in that trip.
Hikari looked at Ken. "You okay?" She asked, resting a hand on his arm in what she hoped was a comforting gesture.
“Ah, I’m sorry.” He snapped back into reality. “I was just…recalling what I felt back then.” Ken shook his head. “Thank you.” Ken smiled.
"If you're sure..." Hikari trailed off. She glanced at their surroundings. "Oh, we're already at my apartment. Come up for a bit, please! We can test your chocolate."
All a familiar procedure, Ken followed Hikari down the hallway and finally reached to her house. “Ojyama shimasu.” Ken bowed politely as he entered the place.
Hikari grinned and went to retrieve a pair of shoes for her guest. "Are you thirsty? I can make some tea if you'd like? Or I have juice...?" She called from the kitchen.
Ken sat himself down on the floor in seija.(Japanese kneeling…sitting position.) “Tea please.” He answered.