Chapter 16: Strong
Chiaki and Chihiro went to school early together as Chiaki had a student council meeting. After they separated ways, Chihiro found Taka sitting in class early. Chihiro cheerfully asked Taka, "Hey, Taka! You remember your promise?"
"Huh? What promise?" Taka asked in a shocked tone.
"Did you forget already? You promised that we could talk about you this time! You really did forget..." Chihiro said in a disappointed tone as his shoulders sagged.
I headed to Chihiro's room.
"O-of course I remember! So cheer up, okay?" Taka tried reassuring Chihiro.
"...Then can we talk about you today?" Chiaki dejectedly asked.
"Sure, I don't mind at all!" Taka cheerfully answered.
"Really? Great! Then come and sit down." Chihiro beamed as they sat against a wall.
"Okay, let's go! I wanna hear all about you!" Chihiro chirped as his face gleamed with excitement.
Taka awkwardly laughed and asked, "I'm happy to talk, but what do you want to know?"
Chihiro looked up a sky thinking intensely and an idea popped up, "Well, let's start with a question. What do you like to do in your spare time?"
"Well, you know... usually I just study or go for study sessions... sometimes I would help my family out." Taka answered.
Chihiro had a shocked expression and asked, "Huh? What about sports?"
"Oh, I don't really play anything. If I play sports in my free time, I would he humiliating my family's name even more. The only time I run anywhere is during physical education class or when I'm running late in the morning..." Taka elaborated.
"Really? And you're still so strong?" Chihiro asked in confusion.
"N-No, I'm pretty much on the bottom rung of masculinity!" Taka answered as he awkwardly laughed.
"You're on...the bottom rung? Oh..." Chihiro's shoulders drooped as he said that in a disappointed tone.
"Hey, what's the matter?" Taka asked genuinely concerned.
"Well, it's just... I'm looking for someone strong." Chihiro answered in a sad tone.
Taka's eyes lit up as he suggested, "Someone strong? Well, what about Sakura...?"
"...No, I mean a guy." Chihiro explained.
Taka thought for a long time in silence as he gave up and said, "Hmmm... I honestly just can't think of anyone stronger than Sakura." Taka's comment left Chihiro in disappointed silence.
" Does it really absolutely have to be a guy?" Taka asked.
Chihiro nodded and said, "Yeah..."
"Okay. In that case...umm... Maybe Byakuya...?" Taka suggested Togami Byakuya, the Ultimate Affluent Prodigy.
"Byakuya? You think so...?" Chihiro asked in a surprised tone.
Taka nodded, "Yeah, no matter what kind of problems he runs into, I've never seen him get rattled or anything. If you can believe in who you are no matter what happens, that must take a certain kind of strength..." Taka explained.
Chihiro nodded in agreement, "Yeah, that's true... But I don't think Byakuya's the one..." Chihiro sadly said.
Astonished, Taka asked, "Huh? What do you mean?"
Chihiro jumped a little and asked again, "O-Oh, it's nothing. Does anyone besides Byakuya come to mind?"
Taka thought for awhile. Taka thought that Chihiro was looking for someone who is physically strong, not emotionally. Without hesitation, Taka suggested. "Then what about Mondo? He's the Ultimate Biker Gang Leader, right? He's gotta be the strongest guy here."
Chihiro's eyes lit up and he nodded vigorously, "Mondo... Yeah, that's it!"
"But why are you looking for a strong guy? Are you, like...into tough guys or something?" Taka asked in curious and suspicious tone.
Chihiro stayed silent for awhile to carefully choose her words, then finally, "I want to...start training. I'm so weak..."
"...Huh?" Taka asked in a shocked tone.
"I thought if I could talk to someone strong about it, it might help motivate me." Chihiro explained with tears forming.
Taka had a worried look on his face and apologised, "So that's why, huh? Sorry, I wish I could help somehow..."
Chihiro wiped away his tears and asked, "... Hey, Taka...? Do you have any kind of, um...inferiority complex?"
Taka asked in a weirded out look, "Inferiority complex...?"
"You know, some part of you that you can't stand. Something you absolutely hate..." Chihiro explained.
"Well, I guess so... For me, it's how I was born into my family. I've been made painfully aware of this part of me ever since I came here. The rest of you all have nice families with a good reputation so you guys have freedom, but I don't." Taka explained in a sad tone.
Chihiro's head perked up and asked, "And...how do you overcome that kind of feeling?"
"I'm not sure I can... That's why I decided to just accept it. It's how I feel, and there's nothing I can do about it. And if I find myself thinking about it too much, I just find something else to do with my time. If I throw myself into something hard enough, I can forget about it for a little while." Taka explained.
"Throw myself into something... I see. That's a good idea. If I don't do something, nothing's ever going to change. Yeah, I think your advice has helped me understand!" Chihiro beamed.
Taka's face flushed red as he said shyly, "Advice? I'm not sure it was anything like that..."
"Ehehe... Thanks, Taka!" Chihiro then ran away from Taka.
"Chihiro...! Geez, we're she's off to...?" Taka muttered to himself.
YOU ARE READING
I Can Take My Panties Off!
RandomIt tells of a story of a guy named Chihiro Fujisaki who wants to "take off his panties" as a symbol of wanting "freedom"; wanting to not be bullied for being weak. Chihiro was always bullied for hanging out with girls all the time especially a girl...
