Chapter 3

Takashi and Arashi walked down the sidewalk with a takeout dinner from a popular noodle place. Both carried a bag each - Arashi had the drinks in one bag and Takashi carried the food in the other. They were halfway to the apartment complex and had spent most of the time sharing small talk about various subject matter from video games to sports to some other otaku related matters. Both discovered they were big baseball fans whether it was Nippon Professional Baseball or Major League Baseball and they both made a pact to go to some games eventually.

They talked about their respective families and backgrounds and what they had planned for their futures. Both young men found it easy to relate and talk to one another. Something that was a relief for both of them given how they both had small circles of friends throughout most of their lives. They both agreed that living in Hakodate was a nice change off pace and a welcome challenge. It definitely helped that they had wonderful women that they were married too that made things easier.

"So, your friend Ryu is son of the famed Dr. Mochizuki, huh?" Takashi asked.

"Yes, he's been a major part of my life since I was kid." Akashi replied with a nod. "He's the one who took care of me after the accident that Ryu and I went through."

"What happened?" Takashi asked curiously while also trying to be careful to not overstep his boundaries.

Akashi paused for several seconds, but it felt longer than that. It was a sensitive matter and he ran his hand up and down on the lengthy scar on his right arm. It was a traumatizing experience for him and it took quite a while to recover from it. The stresses and the fact that he came close to giving up took a tremendous toll on him. If it wasn't for the support of Sayo he may never have come out on the better end of it.

"Arashi?"

Akashi shook himself from his thoughts and cracked a smile. "It was a longtime ago. It's not something I need to talk about anymore."

Takashi paused for a moment and then simply nodded his head and decided to table the discussion for now. Instead he decided to ask the question he's been wanting to ask since he and Saeko met Arashi and Sayo earlier in the afternoon.

"Can I ask you something about Sayo?"

Akashi shrugged, he didn't seem the least bit bothered by the question. "Sure."

"How old is she?" Takashi asked slightly surprised by the nonchalant response.

"Twenty-eight."

Takashi looked at Arashi. "Really?"

"Really."

"I didn't think she was that much older." Takashi stated with some surprise, though he figured out early on that she was, he didn't think it was that much. Maybe three or four years, but not seven.

"I know - it sometimes surprises people that she is." Akashi replied matter-of-factly like it was the oldest of old news.

Takashi swallowed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be that intrusive."

Akashi laughed it off and waved his hand to dismiss the apology. "No, don't be sorry. You're the not first person to ask. Never bothered me at all, nor did it ever bother her."

Takashi laughed too. "That's good. Sake is only a year older."

Arashi nodded his head and was about to open his mouth when his phone buzzed. They both stopped walking as Arashi pulled his phone out of his pocket and read the text message.

"Who is it?" Takashi asked.

Arashi chuckled and shook his head. "It's Sayo, she said 'Where's our food?! Saeko and I are starving and thirsty and sweating our butts off here!'

Takashi laughed, "Well, we better hustle then."

Arashi finished his response and went into lockstep with his counterpart. "Yeah, wouldn't be such a bad idea."

As they reached the apartment complex they both saw Saeko and Sayo waving and smiling from the balcony. Sayo yelling out how hungry she was and how she was going to punish Arashi later for taking to long and Saeko just laughing along.

Both looked at one another and laughed as they ran up to the stairwell.

Notes: A long, long, long, long wait for something. This was too short, but it wasn't ever going to be long. Another chapter is coming, eventually, sooner or later.