The fast food establishment that Yohei brought him to was only half packed by teenagers, which was odd to Maki since it was a weekend. After they received their purchase, the two young boys walked to a table by the window and sat down.
"I thought a place like this is always full," Maki commented as he popped his straw into his soft drink.
"Yeah," Yohei replied, "This place always packed, but since that new gaming arcade opened up, people have been going there to hang out. Might as well, anyway."
"What do you mean?" the older boy asked.
"They don't normally buy anything," Yohei told him, "Sometimes just a drink. They came here to hang out. Sakuragi said it was a waste of space coz he always have to fight for seats. If you ask me, I think he's just sick of the lot who always stare at his hair."
Maki smiled as he sipped on his drink. Picking up his burger he asked the boy sitting opposite him, "So, what year are you in?"
"One," Yohei said, "And you're at year three, right?"
"Aa," Maki nodded, taking a bite from his burger.
"When is your next game?" asked Yohei.
The player chewed down his food before replying, "Three weeks from now."
"Hmm," Yohei nodded, as he dipped his frenchfries in the sauce, "You lost against Misawa, didn't you? Tough luck."
"Yes," Maki answered, annoyed and amused at the same time at the bluntness of the boy. Like Sakuragi, Yohei had no qualms of speaking out what was on his mind with lack of guilt, but compared to the redhead, the dark-haired boy spoke with more restraint and objectivity that he knew one had to appreciate it to not mind the barb in the truth. Maki told Yohei as such.
The younger boy gave a wry grin, probably sheepish or just surprised at the comment.
"Gomen. I'm not usually this loose in the mouth with someone I just knew. I guess it's coz Sakuragi's not here to temper me."
Maki smiled, "You're better than Sakuragi ... and Kiyota, I think. Anyway, individualism is as attractive as the norm of the collective society..."
Suddenly, he stopped when he saw Yohei look at him oddly. He laughed, "I'm sorry. I must sound boring."
Yohei shook his head, "No, not at all. Sounds like some organisational behaviour stuff I hear and read in the news. It's just that no one's ever talked with me about it. Y'know, about the group, the individual ..."
Maki looked at him in surprise, "You really get all that from the news? It's practically a scientific, public management field. I plan on doing it when I get into the university for a human resource management career."
Yohei shrugged and picked up his burger, "I may be just a highschool year one trouble-maker, but I do read and listen to what people say."
"Yes, of course. Gomen nasai. I don't mean to assume-" began Maki quickly.
The dark-haired boy waved it away, "Don't worry about it. I'm used to all that."
"Hm. But you must be pretty good in school," guessed the player.
"Actually no," Yohei replied and this time Maki was sure he looked sheepish, "I failed three subjects last month. But I got better since I failed four the last time."
Maki stared, "Why?"
"Why I did that bad? I just don't like school all that much y'know. Sure, I like thinking about all those scientific management stuff but I suck at other things like maths and history. The fact that the senseis hate me doesn't help either."
"That maybe so," Maki told him seriously, "but you've got to understand that to get to the university for higher education, you've got to graduate highschool first."
"Eh," shrugged Yohei carelessly, "Forget about it. You're probably all the human resource manager Kanagawa would need."
"No!" Maki protested, suddenly incensed, "Why must you give up so easily?!"
Yohei's eyes went wide, "Eh, c'mon, man. It's not that bad..."
"You don't get it," cut in the older boy, "It's about your future. You can't just throw it all away because of a few boring subjects and bad sensei."
The brunette stared at Maki for a moment before he rested his chin on his palm to regard the basketball player closely.
"Yeah, it's my future," Yohei simply said.
Maki dropped his burger and leaned back on his chair, matching the boy's look with his own, "Yeah, you're right."
Yohei nodded and was about to continue with his meal when Maki spoke again, "I tell you what. Let me tutor you in your weaker subjects and if you still can't pass them by the time I've done with you, I'll drop the matter. We'll also talk about some scientific management theories if you want."
The younger boy blinked, "Why are you so persistent about this? You hardly know me."
"I know a person who's more than he thinks he's worth when I see one," Maki replied.
"You've got the basketball winter finals to practice for and then there's your revision for your university exams," Yohei reminded him.
Maki shrugged, "I have my own schedule for basketball and for studying. I can squeeze you in before I start my own revisions. C'mon. What do you say?"
"And if I say no?" Yohei asked.
Maki shrugged again, "As you said, it's your future."
Yohei nodded and bit into his food. Maki took that as a sign that the conversation was over but after a few minutes, Yohei spoke again,
"Alright. I'll take your offer."
Maki couldn't help but grin in triumph, "Good."
"Where are we going to study?" Yohei asked, "May I remind you we live far away from each other."
Maki thought for a while before answering, "Well, there's a good library in the next suburb. It's between our places, I think, so that's fair. We both can take the train and meet there."
"Ok," Yohei nodded, "But on one condition."
"What?"
"After this we go to that gaming arcade and you're paying."
"What?!"
"Hey," grinned Yohei, "If I'm to be seen in the library, we'd have to play for at least three hours to balance it out. Besides, I paid for lunch."
"Twisted logic," commented Maki dryly, "Besides, you bought lunch because I helped saved your ass just now."
"And that I am grateful," Yohei replied, "But you know I could've taken them without your help."
"After they cut you up, probably."
Yohei scratched his cheek, "True.... but we're still going to the arcade. My bad-boy side insists upon it."
Maki sighed in indulgence, "Alright. Fine."
Yohei chuckled.
Three hours later, Maki and Yohei walked out of the arcade near penniless. The shorter boy turned towards his companion and laughed, "I can't believe you beat me at the Rally! You said you've never played before!"
"It's all in the wrist," Maki smiled, quite smug with his reply, "And me being a basketball player, my reflexes are better."
"I beat you in Street Fighter 2 though," Yohei reminded him.
"Three out of two," scoffed Maki, "And that's because I haven't played that game for a long time."
Yohei looked at the other boy in puzzlement, "I thought you said you've never played in a gaming arcade before."
"No, I haven't," Maki replied, "My parents bought me a Playstation before I entered highschool. I think it's somewhere in my room gathering dust since I don't have time to play with it anymore."
The brunette whistled, "Really? I remember those consoles cost a lot at that time. You must be one rich brat, Maki."
Maki covered his wince with a small smile, "That's Maki-sempai to you, Yohei."
Yohei grinned, "Right. Sorry."
Maki shook his head in amusement and then stopped to remind Yohei, "The study group. Every weekends. Starting tomorrow. Nine-ish at the library?"
Yohei groaned, "That's way too early."
Maki rolled his eyes, "Fine. Not later than ten in the morning, then. We try to cover what we can and we'll eat lunch outside."
Yohei stuffed his hands in his pockets and tilted his head in thought, "You're serious about this aren't you?"
"If you want it to be," replied Maki.
The younger boy smiled, "Yosh. Tomorrow then."