Chapter Text
"What's eating you, Yamato?"
Yamato blinked his thoughts away to reveal a curious-eyed Taichi sitting across the table from him.
"Final exams are about to start, right?" asked Jou, who sat beside Yamato.
"Yeah," said Taichi. "I can't wait until they're over."
The three young men each had an open bottle of beer and empty plates of food they had just finished eating. They had slouched back into their respective chairs and Yamato knew that the two felt just as full as he did.
Yamato had invited Taichi out to celebrate the announcement of his internship, and he had asked Jou to come along, too. He figured that it would also be a break from their daily grind of school assignments and other projects.
Although, contrary to Jou's suggestion, Yamato had not been thinking about his final projects or the big presentation he had been preparing for. In reality, he had been thinking about a big secret - the one that Koushiro and Hikari had been keeping, and that Mimi hardly contained the moment she stepped through his door on the day she found out.
"KoushiroandHikariaredatingandTaichihasnoidea," she had spilled out in a single breath.
Yamato wasn't as close to Hikari, but he understood why she and Koushiro kept this from Taichi. And, knowing Koushiro, who kept his relationship endeavors to himself, Yamato figured that Koushiro wouldn't tell Taichi about Hikari right away out of his respect for her.
Still, the discovery was intriguing for Yamato to think about, even if it distracted from hanging out with the clueless older brother.
"Things are going great, though!" Taichi said. "Once this term is done, It won't be long until Sora's lease is up at her apartment. We've been talking about finding a place together."
"Wow, that's great!" Jou said.
"That means you'll be moving out from Koushiro's apartment," Yamato observed.
"Yeah." Taichi's smile appeared to wane from the comment. "He'll be cool with it, right? I mean, I haven't been there lately and I'm always at Sora's place. It's like I practically live with her."
"So, you haven't told him, yet?" Jou asked.
"Not yet. I'm not sure how he'll react. But, he's my best friend and we've talked to each other about all sorts of things, even if either of us think it's hard to talk about."
The table fell silent. Taichi fell into a contemplative state while Jou eyed him with a small frown. Meanwhile, Yamato took in the conversation, finding irony in the grander scheme. Jou couldn't have known what Yamato and everyone else had known; otherwise, his facial expression and body language would not have appeared as relaxed.
Yamato took a swig of his beer and set the bottle down.
"You really need to talk to Koushiro," Yamato said.
"I know," Taichi droned with a sigh.
"No, Taichi. You really need to talk to him. I know you are at least responsible enough not to wait until the moment you move out. You two are better friends than that."
"You're right. Like, Kou wouldn't wake me up one day and announce that he's getting married and he needed me to be the Best Man."
Yamato pressed his lips together.
"Where… did you get that idea?" Jou asked, appalled.
Taichi burst into laughter. "Relax, I was joking! He never tells me anything about his love life, but I don't see him pulling something like that on me."
At that moment, the sound of ringing surrounded the table. The three of them took out their phones in unison.
"Oh, Hikari," Taichi said, and Yamato viewed the same name on the group chat message on his screen.
.
Hikari: I'm free from today's exam. Anyone Home?
Takeru: we're all here, come on over.
Miyako: Even the girls are all here! Hurry up!
Koushiro: I'll be over in a few.
.
At that moment, Yamato had an idea.
"Now's your chance, Taichi."
"Hmm?"
"You have your mind set and you know you won't change your decision. It's better for him to find out sooner rather than later."
"I agree, Yamato," said Jou. "Why not nip this in the bud now? That way, you wouldn't feel like you were keeping something from him."
"You're right," said Taichi. "You both are."
They waited until the hostess arrived to help with the bill, Jou and Yamato splitting the amount. Then, the three of them walked out and headed to the apartments, and Yamato couldn't help but think that the advice given to Taichi was also beneficial for Koushiro, and even for Hikari to hear. As the three of them left the restaurant, Yamato typed out a text to Mimi only and hit "Send":
Yamato: We're heading over there now. Do. Not. Tell. Anyone.
Mimi squealed as she read Yamato's text. She had been roaming around the boys' apartment, chatting and talking animatedly about her day that she did not realize that Yamato had sent her a message. Twenty minutes before she had actually read it.
"What happened, Mimi?" Sora asked.
Mimi froze, feeling Sora's and Miyako's eyes turning to her. She was sitting on the couch of Daisuke's, Ken's, and Takeru's apartment and was suddenly in the center of attention.
"Nothing," she said, more quickly than she realized would raise suspicion. Thankfully, the long strands of her hair fell over her face to hide her horrified expression from them.
Yamato coming over with Jou? And Taichi?! Everyone knew that Koushiro was still in his apartment, and that Hikari was with him. The fact that Yamato didn't want Mimi to say anything only meant one thing: that he intended to expose Koushiro and Hikari's secret.
Mimi knew that Yamato was not going to tell Taichi directly. He was a kind, honest person, and he wanted Taichi to find out for himself. Even if he had to deliberately force Taichi in the right direction.
Uggh! That boy…
"Did Yamato do something?"
"What?" Mimi looked to Sora, who tilted her head to the side, then laughed.
"Your reaction is a lot like mine when Taichi does something."
Mimi realized that she had groaned out loud.
"You're telling me! I just can't believe that Yamato has the nerve to come over-"
"Wait, did you say what I think you said?" Takeru asked from the kitchen. "Yamato's coming over?"
"No way!" Daisuke said. "Is he bringing Jou and Taichi with him?"
"Wait, what?!" Miyako cried, standing up from the couch.
Sora rose from her spot immediately. "Mimi. Do we have time to tell Koushiro?"
There came a knock at the door. Silence fell among everyone in the apartment as voices came from the other side. Mimi widened her eyes as she looked toward the door that opened from the outside.
"You know, you really didn't have to knock, Jou," said Taichi as he, Jou, and Yamato appeared as the door opened.
Yamato met Mimi's gaze, and she made sure that he noticed her displeasure. He didn't add any words to contribute to Jou and Taichi's banter, and no other words from him were necessary in directing Taichi - he had already done his job by telling Taichi to go here.
"Taichi!" Sora called, the tone in her voice with a note of apprehension. "You didn't tell me you would be here."
"Well, I guess you can call it a surprise, right? Even Jou is here!" Taichi slapped Jou's back before turning around and heading straight toward his apartment.
Sora tried to rush to him, but Mimi knew that she wasn't going to get to him in time. The rest of their friends began to move all at once, although it was as though they were going in slow motion. Daisuke, Takeru, and Ken fumbled with utensils and set them down before they ran out of the kitchen. Miyako followed Mimi as they hurried behind Sora, the first to reach the doorway. Everyone watched with intense anticipation. Yamato and Jou turned to face the door to the other apartment, Yamato watching with silent determination, and Jou with utter confusion.
When Taichi turned the knob and pushed to open the door, Hikari was already standing there to greet him. Mimi caught Hikari quickly running her fingers on the side of her head to flatten her stray tufts of hair, but other than that, Hikari looked as normal as she did when they saw her earlier that day.
"Oh, hey, Hikari," Taichi said. "Were you waiting for me?"
"Sure!" she said with a shrug and a smile. "I figured you were going to show up to your own apartment tonight, so I thought I'd hang out here until you did."
But it took a moment for Taichi to reply - one long, concerning moment that intensified the tension building in the dead silence over the whole group.
"Where's Koushiro?" Taichi demanded suddenly, and Hikari's cheerful expression turned dark.
One look was all it took for Taichi to figure it out.
Hikari saw it as Taichi stared at her after her greeting. She tried to flatten her hair and straighten her blouse and her skirt, but she knew that her hair wasn't as sleek as it normally was. She forgot to fasten the top button of her wrinkled blouse, and she was sure that the collar was crooked to reveal the strap of her tank top falling off her shoulder.
She had wanted to see Koushiro first before they walked across the hall together, but she couldn't help it. She couldn't resist the temptation to make out with him, his sweet lips on hers, his hands running free all over her. They let themselves get carried away again, carelessly forgetting about the unexpected. The moment they heard voices in the hallway, it took them only so long to fix themselves before they tucked their secret away again.
But as Taichi saw right through her, Hikari knew that she couldn't keep that secret hidden from him for very long.
"Koushiro!" Taichi yelled as he stepped forward, just as Hikari stepped in front of him.
"Taichi, hold on a minute," Hikari said. "Let me explain-"
"Koushiro!" he repeated.
Koushiro appeared from his room, his plain white shirt showing underneath his unbuttoned plaid shirt. His hair still had its spikes but showed signs of disheveling.
"Koushiro, tell me what is going on here?" Taichi's voice was lowered, but he seemed to be restrained.
Hikari glanced at Koushiro who stared back at her, his questioning eyes waiting for her to give him direction. She knew that Taichi needed to hear the truth from Koushiro the most, so she gave him a nod, and she watched as Koushiro took a deep breath.
"Hikari and I have been seeing each other for a few months," Koushiro replied. "I know this might come out of the blue, but we didn't want anyone to make a big deal out of this, and we didn't know how you would react."
Taichi's eyes flashed. "Why would you think I would make a big deal out of this?!" he asked with his voice raising in volume.
"Taichi-" Hikari started, and she saw in the corner of her eye that Sora and Yamato held their palms to their forehead.
""Why didn't you just tell me up front?" Taichi continued. "I can't believe you both have been fooling around behind my back! I don't believe this. My best friend and my sister…"
"None of us knew about them at first, Taichi," Sora said with an exasperated sigh. "You're not the only one they hid this from."
"So, then, if I'm not the first to know, and you all knew, then I must be the last. Geez! What gives?"
"Um, I didn't realize what was going on until Kou's confession to you," said Jou. "So, technically I'm the last to know…"
"Oh."
"Taichi, we aren't just fooling around," said Hikari, feeling guilty from her brother's reaction. But now that Taichi knew about her secret, she knew she had to pour out the rest of her feelings, whether or not it convinced him. So, she walked over to Koushiro's side and took his hand. "I love him."
Hikari's cheeks burned after her reveal, and she felt more vulnerable as Taichi kept his eyes on her. Then, she felt Koushiro's hand grasp hers tighter as he cleared his throat beside her.
"I love her too, Taichi," Koushiro said with confidence, though Hikari turned to see his cheeks tinge with pink.
Taichi stepped back from the two of them, his mouth hanging open in surprise. Everyone that stood behind him watched and waited in suspense. Hikari couldn't tell his reaction, and she gripped Koushiro's hand in anticipation.
Then, Taichi started toward her and Koushiro. Hikari had no idea what he was going to do. Was he going to grab her shoulders and scold her? Was he going to take a swing at Koushiro? She didn't know whether to step back or throw herself in front of Koushiro, but she was too panicked to even move.
But instead, with a jolt, she was pulled in against his chest. The others gasped from afar, but it took a few moments for Hikari to realize what was happening. Taichi had wrapped his arms around Koushiro and Hikari together, holding them together in a tight embrace.
"Taichi…?" Koushiro began. "This is a change…"
"I can't tell if you're still mad or not, Taichi…" Hikari added.
Taichi loosened his arms and the three of them pulled away to face each other.
"I'll be honest, I wish you both told me about this sooner. But, I realized something when you did. Neither of you are going to say things like that lightly. Hikari, when you say that you love someone, I believe it. Koushiro, I trust that you always mean everything you say. And I'm glad you said it to her."
"Taichi…" Hikari's eyes welled up as her brother stared back with a smile. She leapt into his arms to hug him once more.
Taichi laughed as he held them both, and Hikari noted a tone much more cheerful than before. "My best friend… and my sister… I can't believe this!"
"Oh my gosh!" Miyako whispered but loud enough for everyone to hear. "Is he crying?"
"And you aren't?" Mimi asked.
"I'm not," said Jou, who had been dabbing his eyes a few times already.
Sora joined Taichi's side soon after, kissing his cheek before giving Koushiro a hug, and then Hikari. The weight of worry on Hikari's mind lifted the longer she realized that Taichi accepted her choice, and that him finding out about her and Koushiro wasn't as bad as she thought it would be.
She felt Koushiro's hand slide around her waist behind her. With a smile, she held Koushiro closer to her, relieved that she no longer had to hide anything from her brother as well as all of their friends before them.
"Say, Taichi," Yamato said as he approached. "Weren't you going to tell Koushiro something?"
"Oh, right," said Taichi. "Koushiro, I've been talking with Sora about moving in together soon."
"You were?" Koushiro said. "That's great!"
"You really think so, Kou?"
"Of course it is!"
"You two were practically living together already, anyway," Hikari said with a giggle. She watched as Taichi laughed, and she noticed that he seemed to be more relaxed, maybe even relieved, than he was a few moments ago.
"Hang on a second," Daisuke chimed in. "If Taichi's leaving, then that means Koushiro will need to find a new roommate."
"I already have someone in mind," said Koushiro. "I was thinking that Hikari should move in with me."
"You were?" Hikari asked in surprise.
"You were?" Taichi added blankly.
"Not right away, of course!" Koushiro said, waving his hands frantically in front of him. "I could use the extra room as a separate office space whenever I work remotely. The idea of her moving in with me might be premature, but it was just an idea…"
"I can't believe you were thinking that far ahead," Hikari said, her heart fluttering.
"But they will be sure to tell you when it happens, right, guys?" Sora said slowly with almost an exaggeration. Both Hikari and Koushiro nodded simultaneously with vigor.
"Ha! I'm sure they will," Taichi said, his expression softened.
As Taichi turned away, Sora waved her hand gestures and facial expressions to Koushiro and Hikari, implying that neither of them should worry about any of Taichi's reactions.
Hikari turned to Koushiro and they shared a smile, followed by a laugh.
"Let's make sure that he's the first to know," Hikari said.
"Deal."