August 10th/ Once Again/ PG-13/ Closed.

[Max]

Character(s): Max Kimori and Hara Midori
Time: Around dinner time.
Location: Cafeteria.


As the line was growing shorter, Max could feel himself growing more and more hungry. The people in front of him weren't moving fast enough for his liking, and his stomach was growling a lot louder than he felt comfortable with.

The boy was convinced everyone around him could hear the rumble in his gut, and was suddenly very self-conscious, to the point that he dropped his head to avoid meeting the eyes of his peers. He was unbelievably hungry after spending most of the day locked in his dorm studying, which he hadn't done much of since he had started school, and only leaving when he had to take a leak.

Max was still in kind of a shitty mood -- reason unknown, again, probably too much studying -- and really had no desire to deal with the line he was in, but waited patiently instead of making a scene.

He took a step too soon, knocking in to the back of the person in front of him, and, comically, taking a step back and stepping onto the toes of the person behind him. Hastily, the boy whispered apologies to both people, turning to look down the line behind him.

While the brunette tried to decide if it was worth grabbing an apple and a bag of chips and making a run for it, Max's gaze landed on a familiar-looking head of greenish-blue hair.

I... I fucking know that kid! The brunette's eyes widened in horror, staring at the boy from across the room. Fuck, FUCK! Max tried to look away, but it was already too late.

[hara]

All the trouble that Hara was trying to cause all day made him hungry. He wasn't studying or doing any of his homework up until dinner time. His goals before the end of the day was trying to find more ways to cause mischief.

Hara went into the cafeteria and looked at the line with lazed eyes. Damn it. Well, whatever. I'll just wait until the line gets shorter,[/color] he thought as he went to the opposite side of the room to get an overview of which line moved faster.

As he was waiting, he plugged in ear buds and pressed play on his MP3. Hara went back to watching the lines and in the midst of the people in line, he saw a boy lose his footing while standing in line. He couldn't tell who he was just be viewing his profile. Who bumps into people while STANDING in line? Fucking idiot...[/color]

The line was shorter now and Hara decided to get ready to walk towards the other side of the room. That is, until he found a boy staring right at him. It was the same boy earlier who was being clumsy. Hara looked back and made his way towards the boy. Great. Will the fucking idiot trip while standing now? Wait... His face seems really familiar... Ah--[/color]

He unplugged his ear buds as he was walking. And now that Hara was closer to the boy, he lifted his chin a bit and he cocked his head to the right. "Huh," he started. "It's funny how you're still in school, Max. Figured you'd be a pussy and drop out after you ran and cried from me," he finished as he smiled wryly.

Hara meant no harm back then. Max was just easy material to pick on continuously. To Hara the more he attacks someone, the more he likes them. He doesn't have to know,[/color] Hara told himself. No one has to know.[/color]

[Max]

The green-haired brat made a show of approaching him, giving Max the feeling that he was in some sort of bad Western movie -- Mexican standoffs and the like --, lifting and tilting his head at Max, who stood, stock-still, panicking.

"Huh," the shorter boy said -- Hara? His name was Hara, right? -- "It's funny how you're still in school, Max. Figured you'd be a pussy and drop out after you ran and cried from me."

His smile was border-lining a bit on devilish, but Max could focus on nothing but the bile rising in his throat. This was the exact reason he never ventured out of his comfort zone -- that being his room and classes. The brunette looked down at Hara, his eyes still as large as saucers. Aozora didn't seem very concerned about the safety of their students, considering they'd let this potential-fucking-arsonist through the gates.

The again, Max had been a 'potential-fucking-arsonist' as well, not long ago. He sighed, no words to address the pint-sized terror that he actually had sprinted from, screaming, back at his old school. Max couldn't remember why exactly in that instant, but he was sure Hara would remind him given the chance.

Max turned to face the shorter boy completely, crossing his arms over his chest, bracing himself in case Hara swung at him or something. "Hara..." he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Shouldn't you be... I don't know, not here?"

The brunette was being just childish enough, in his opinion, but he really didn't expect to -- nor did I want to -- see Hara, or anyone from his old school, at Aozora. They were all burnouts and idiots, with no talent at all. What could Hara do? Acting was Max's thing... no one from his past needed to show up and fuck everything up for him.

Max took a deep breath, tightening the lock he had across his chest. Looking Hara right in the eyes, his voice still a pathetic whisper, he asked, "Why are you here?"

He wouldn't put it past Takashi and Satsuki -- fuck, even Sakura -- to still ask about Max, and the aforementioned boy wouldn't be surprised if they actually got in touch with Hara on purpose to get to Max -- they have to know by now where I disappeared to. Fuck! -- because... well, that's what they did. The brunette blinked a few times, his gaze moving quickly to the floor while he waiting for Hara's explanation.

[hara]

Hara didn't want to admit it, but Max grew. And he grew well. He remembered the both of them being the same height back then. It was easier to poke fun at the brunette because of that-- and along with his personality. But now, it seemed like Max had a little more power with his growth in height. Shit. If he's the same Max I knew, then... damn it all,[/color] he thought.

It's safe to say that Hara liked Max back then, but Hara hated anything having to do with love. He kept it one-sided and unspoken of all his life. It was a secret. A damned well kept one, too.[/color]

Despite his thoughts, Hara provided no signs of dismay as he kept the devious lips in position. His green optics looked at Max as if he was an insect that was going to get burned. Though, when Max faced him fully, his smile faded. He moved his hands and placed them into the pockets of the school blazer.

Within slothful eyes, Hara's insides wanted to burst into laughter when he heard Max say his name. Thought he'd run and hide again like a sissy.[/color]

"Shouldn't you be... I don't know, not here?" he asked.

He felt a muscle twitch somewhere on his face. "Not here? What, you think I'm like you? Running away without settling anything?"

Hara was getting twisted thoughts now as he saw the panicked expression on Max's face. He wanted to terrorize Max even more than he did back then now that he realized that he still looked like a reserved rabbit.

Another whimper came out of the insect, "Why are you here?"

The shorter male decided to pull his hands out of his pockets and shove Max on the shoulders. It was a gentle shove because Hara didn't want to ruin their first meeting after a while. As he shoved him, Hara had a wicked grin that was soon dispersed.

"My parents wanted to get rid of me since I was causing too much trouble," he said as he glanced at Max with devil eyes. "And just why the hell does it matter to you?"

Hara leaned in close to look at the boy as he was glancing at the ground. He stepped into his way and stood fixated. I can't believe this... guy remembers me. Shit-- That's going to make it harder for me to escape him, but I digress. It's just... whatever now.[/color]

[Max]

Hara's already devious smile twitched a bit, making Max all the more uncomfortable to be in the other boy's presence. "Not here? What, you think I'm like you? Running away without settling anything?"

Max should have expected that. Should have. Hara always jabbed at his personality, always. Max felt like enough of a coward without the green-haired runt rubbing his face in his personality flaws. The teen knew he was a shitty person, and it seemed like Hara got off on reminding him of that.

Out of nowhere, Hara leapt forward and shoved Max's shoulders, toppling him backwards. The brunette's ass hit his empty tray, knocking it clattering to the ground. The girl that had been behind him glared at him, and he sneered right back, telling her to, "go around, sweetheart!" in the meanest voice he could muster up -- which, admittedly, sounded more like a strangled plea.

The taller boy looked back to Hara, his sneer still in place, about to shout at him but the green-haired boy spoke up first.

"My parents wanted to get rid of me since I was causing too much trouble," he said as he glanced at Max with that devious look back in his eyes. "And just why the hell does it matter to you?" Hara leaned in close to Max while his eyes were stuck on the floor.

He didn't notice immediately, though, Max was too busying seething at Hara's words. Parents wanted to get rid of me. Heh. Mine too. Other than his last night at the warehouse, Max had never wanted to hit someone so badly in his life. The brunette's fists shook, clenched and unclenched at his sides.

"Don't fucking joke about things like that, Hara." Max said, his eyes still on the floor and his voice dripping with anger. Hara had no idea that Max had been literally walked away from as a child -- no one knew, except Sora and Asuka -- and he felt uncomfortable telling them about it, no fucking way he was letting this brat in on the joke.

The boy wanted to tell Hara that he had been at Aozora first, and he didn't want to share this little slice of almost-happiness with someone that routinely made his life hell for fun not even two years ago. Max was being greedy, possessive, but he didn't care. If the boy in front of him was the same old Hara, Max would rather eat glass that associate with him.

"And it's not like this place needs your trouble-making, just..." Max brought his gaze up to meet Hara's. "Just go away."

[hara]

Hara continued to look at Max with dreadful eyes after the shove. It was a gentle shove, but it seemed to have done a number on on the victim. The shove only gave him a show to watch for the time being. "Stupid girl. Can't she see we're in the middle of something?" Hara mumbled loudly for the girl to hear.

The girl was glaring at Max and Hara kept his eyes on both of the figures until the girl left. "Well," he began. "That was quite the show there, Romeo. I was really surprised when you yelled at her. It felt nice seeing you lose your cool again, Max," Hara sarcastically said. He wasn't even smiling as he said that. It was just a cocky lip tug that appeared.

Now that Hara has explained why he was at Aozora, Max showed a sign of temper. He didn't really know why his temper suddenly rise, but he rarely defends himself. Guess he grew up a little. Just a little.[/color] Hara waited for the boy to punch him, but all he heard was a voice of rage.

"Don't fucking joke about things like that, Hara," the voice said.

Hara bore his eyes at the brunette head that was lowered. A very, very thin string of guilt pulled on Hara's heart when he heard the shake in Max's voice. God damn it. What now...[/color] Hara couldn't break the emotion he was feeling. It made him want to do something out of his character, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

"I wasn't fucking joking, Max. Wouldn't I be laughing if I was joking? Don't lose your cool over something like that. That's not how I remember you," he admitted. Though, there was no ranges in his voice. It was all one tone and straightforward.

However, the next part made Hara feel a bit pissed off. Him? Telling me to go away? Who the hell does he think he is now?[/color]

Hara scoffed a bit and locked his eyes on his target with another twitch on his lips. A loud, "Tch," was made and he looked right back into Max's eyes. He could count this as another one of his trouble making, but chose not to. "Go away? I can't leave after I know where you go to school, Max. And I didn't come here for you, either. Besides, what's your fucking problem getting so pissed off all of the sudden? Or is that your new personality, Max?"

[Max]

Hara looked genuinely angry at the brunette now. "I wasn't fucking joking, Max. Wouldn't I be laughing if I was joking? Don't lose your cool over something like that. That's not how I remember you."

Not how he remembers me. How did he remember me? Max's hands still shook as he took a step away from the line and toward the other boy, suddenly not feeling so hungry.

The green-haired boy 'tch'-ed indignantly, glowering at Max. "Go away? I can't leave after I know where you go to school, Max. And I didn't come here for you, either. Besides, what's your fucking problem getting so pissed off all of the sudden? Or is that your new personality, Max?"

Max's eyebrows came together in confusion as he looked at Hara. His personality hadn't changed, Max was still the same cry-baby, coward, and closeted broken-boy that he hated being. The one that needed protection and needed someone to rely.

His eyes met Hara's, anger and confusion clashing with some sort of devilish desire. Max still wanted to hit him. "I don't have a new personality, Hara," he sighed, scrubbing a hand over his face. The brunette needed to calm down, he was causing a scene, and had never had any desire to draw attention to himself off-stage. "Look, I got pissed because of what you said, no big deal, alright? And I want you to go away because I can't trust you and you don't need to be around me."

New personality.

The words Hara had said tumbled around in Max's mind. To Max, it seemed as if Hara had changed as well, not an exponential amount, but enough for Max to notice just a bit. He was to embarrassed to ask what had changed for him. Max didn't need to know, his last memory of Hara wasn't a good one.

"There are a thousands kids here, at least, go annoy someone else, find a girlfriend or something -- I don't need the extra stress from you." Max told him, about to turn and walk away, but something about the look on Hara's face stopped him.

[hara]

"I don't have a new personality, Hara," Max said in a less angered tone.

His diction made Hara seize an irritated look on his face. He hadn't lost his cool yet, but he felt annoyed. Annoyed at the fact that Max wasn't running away yet. Annoyed how his last memory of him was a little different. It's not a big deal,[/color] he tried reprimanded himself like usual.

Max finished off with a, "Look, I got pissed because of what you said, no big deal, alright? And I want you to go away because I can't trust you and you don't need to be around me."

The students at Aozora were probably glaring at them for making such a small fracas in the middle of the cafeteria. They should be minding their own business in the first place. Damn these snobby rich asses.[/color] Despite the arena the two was in, that wasn't the problem here.

"Can't trust me... Hah, who can you trust? And who'd want to trust a weakling like you, Max? I'm not going anywhere at all. I'll stay right here at Aozora--" he paused and cocked his head in an arrogant way again. "--where I can make memories here," he completed with a look of leer.

No way in HELL am I leaving this guy's sight now. At least, not yet.[/color] Hara was getting more and more disturbed the longer he was around Max. All he wanted to do was make him cry. He hasn't thought about what would happen after that. He was too focused on the main goal.

His thoughts were broken off by the voice of his opponent. "There are a thousands kids here, at least, go annoy someone else, find a girlfriend or something -- I don't need the extra stress from you."

It sounded like Max wanted it to finish their first meeting then and there, but he stopped. For whatever reason, he stopped. 'Girlfriend', the bastard said...[/color]

"Haha-- Oh, Max. Why would I bother the other idiots when you're the same old Max Kimori I knew back then? Your method of handling situations amuses me," he tried to speak calmly. He couldn't let Max win just yet.

Amusing like slicing an ant up in half and smashing both his bodies at once, tch.[/color]

[Max]

Turning to face Hara completely now, not in the mood to give him that satisfaction of watching him walk away again, Max tightened his arms across his chest, if not to keep Hara out, it was to keep himself in. He hated that the boy in front of him wouldn't drop it. Sure, Max was a classic example of living in the past -- most of the time, it was all he could think about, but that was only because it had gotten him everything he has today. It was justifiable... -ish.

"Can't trust me... Hah, who can you trust? And who'd want to trust a weakling like you, Max? I'm not going anywhere at all. I'll stay right here at Aozora--" Hara paused in his attack, tilting his head again "--where I can make memories here." There was something akin to a malicious grin on Hara's face. Max's chest tightened.

There are at least two people I can trust now, Max thought. He had no desire to tell that to Hara, either, because he'd just try to use them against him in some way. You'll never touch them, or speak a word to them.

Max planted his feet, prepared to stare the boy down. He was tired of running away from people like Hara, people he handed control over to so easily because they mad a few nasty remarks. It was cowardly, and sickening, and Max hated that part of him. If he could stand up to Hara, maybe he'd learn to stop running away entirely.. eventually.

"Haha -- Oh, Max. Why would I bother the other idiots when you're the same old Max Kimori I knew back then? Your method of handling situations amuses me," Hara said, stirring up another bout of rebelliousness inside Max.

"I'm not the same old anything I was back then, Hara," Max said, eyes narrowed and jaw set at the younger boy. The rebellious feeling moved through him, attached to his blood cells and flying at the same speed. The adrenaline rush finally hit his brain, and, suddenly, Max had a lot to say to Hara. "I may look the same on the outside but because of everything that happened, I grew up, at least a little bit. I found the people I needed and left the ones I didn't behind."

The teen took a breath, wondering if he was ready for round two. He wasn't going to cry out of fear of Hara, not again, but Max wouldn't put it past himself to let a few angry tears slip.

[hara]

Max seemed quiet-- too quiet when Hara threw out his attacks. His silence made the boy clutch his side out of anger. No. It's making me anxious, he corrected. Max dismissed the case of change. "Found people you needed," he copied unamused.

Damn it, he cursed. Hara knew-- he knew that Max had changed more than him. His physical appearance make him seem like he went through a lot of problems. Which, he probably did, but Hara didn't bother with small details.

The teen relaxed himself and took a breath before saying something unnecessary words again. Ever since he saw Max, he felt uncomfortable, but then again, who would get comfortable around someone they disliked? "Are you sure those people aren't similar..." he paused to snicker a bit. "...your old ones?" A sinister smile was held. It was filled with evil intentions, and always will be.

Sure, Hara had seen Max running around with unfamiliar faces back then. Hara didn't like getting involved with a so many people at once-- especially around Max, so he just watched from a distance. He caused trouble from far away that would impact damage somehow; just like a firework or a C4.