Need to stress some things before we go on. :) First, this is not a chat fic; please consider the conversation between Junpei and Izumi to be just like dialogue, as though they were speaking on the phone. Second, this is obviously Junzumi. I don't care if you don't like that coupling. If you don't, feel free to leave now. Third, this story is clearly alternate universe, as Junpei and Izu only met last chapter--and because it is already AU I have tried to give it a contemporary feel, especially in the interaction between Takuya and Junpei. They're about age sixteen or seventeen and the story takes place in Japan. Despite the contemporary style I've tried to make everyone as in-character as I can imagine they would be five years later, but without the Digital World.

Enjoy.

~Goggle Envy~
Chapter 2

"Sorry, not tonight. I've got a date."

"...you've WHAT?"

"You heard me." Junpei puffed up self-inportantly. "I have a date tonight."

"Not with your sister, I hope." It was a joke of course, for Junpei was an only child.

"Takuya!" Junpei glared menacingly, though his friend could not see his expression through the phone.

"Okay, okay!" Takuya laughed. "I was just wondering if you wanted to come over; I needed some help with my English." It was no secret that Junpei wanted to be a schoolteacher someday, and he usually jumped at the chance to practice his fluent English with anyone who cared to speak with him for more than two seconds.

"Well...maybe I could come over afterward."

"You'd better, dude! I want to hear all about this girl--preferably NOW, but I guess I can wait until we're procastinating later. Come on, I'll even buy the pizza if you help me cram for my test."

"...I'm in. See you at nine."

[07:16] *** GoggleBoy (ikazuchi@43.sunflower.com) has joined #Digital-Frontier
[07:16] <PixiedeVento> Hi Goggles!
[07:16] <GoggleBoy> Hi! What's going on?
[07:17] <PixiedeVento> Not much; I was wondering if you'd come :)
[07:17] <GoggleBoy> Ah, yeah. I just got home from a big party.
[07:17] <PixiedeVento> Cool, me too.
[07:17] <GoggleBoy> Bono! Bono!
[07:18] <PixiedeVento> !!
[07:18] <PixiedeVento> Sugoi!
[07:18] <PixiedeVento> You know some Italian?
[07:18] <GoggleBoy> Yeah. I've been to Italy with my dad, he's a Baseball Player
[07:19] <PixiedeVento> Minor? Or big leagues?
[07:19] <GoggleBoy> Just the minor ones.
[07:20] <PixiedeVento> You must be a big sports fan :D
[07:20] <^GreYmoN^> so he's a n00b ?
[07:20] <GoggleBoy> Oh, yeah. I love sports!
[07:21] <PixiedeVento> I love sports too! I mostly do soccer and swimming, but I'll play most anything
[07:22] <GoggleBoy> Sugoi! I love soccer too!
[07:23] <PixiedeVento> we have a lot in common!
[07:23] <GoggleBoy> I think so too!
[07:24] <GoggleBoy> Do you watch any of the anime?
[07:24] <PixiedeVento> Oh, yes!
[07:25] <PixiedeVento> I like shoujo mostly
[07:25] <GoggleBoy> Really? What are your favourite?
[07:25] <PixiedeVento> Hm...Gundam....Sailormoon...Dragon Drive...
[07:26] <GoggleBoy> Ah! I like the big action adventure ones! I wish I could have an Adventure!
[07:26] <PixiedeVento> Yeah! ~^_^~
[07:26] * ^GreYmoN^ is away -( >:D )- at 11:58a -( P:On / L:On )-
[07:26] <GoggleBoy> Dragon Drive! I like that one!
[07:26] <PixiedeVento> It's my favorite :)

[07:26] *** GoggleBoy is now chatting privately with PixiedeVento
[07:26] <PixiedeVento> So, what's your real name?
[07:26] <PixiedeVento> If you don't mind?
[07:27] <GoggleBoy> That's so cool how they go into that virtual world
[07:27] <PixiedeVento> (hai!)
[07:27] <GoggleBoy> Shibayama Junpei
[07:27] <PixiedeVento> I'm Izumi, Orimoto Izumi.
[07:28] <GoggleBoy> It's a pleasure to meet you, Izumi!
[07:28] <PixiedeVento> Yoroshiku ne!
[07:28] <PixiedeVento> :)
[07:28] <GoggleBoy> So, can I call you Izumi-chan? ;)
[07:28] <PixiedeVento> Sure!
[07:28] <GoggleBoy> Grazie, Izumi-chan!
[07:28] <PixiedeVento> *giggles*
[07:29] <PixiedeVento> That sounds so cute! I like it!
[07:30] <GoggleBoy> Oh, man. I have to go. My friend just called, he's kind of a loser. He wants me to help him with his studies.
[07:30] <PixiedeVento> Oh, OK. There was something I had to tell you, though--a surprise.
[07:30] <GoggleBoy> Oh? What is it?
[07:30] <PixiedeVento> È un segreto. A secret until tomorrow--same time? :D
[07:30] <GoggleBoy> Hai!
[07:30] <GoggleBoy> Bye!
[07:30] <PixiedeVento> Sayonara, Junpei~!
[07:31] <GoggleBoy> Oyasumi, Izumi-chan!
[07:31] *** GoggleBoy has left Private Chat
[07:31] *** GoggleBoy (ikazuchi@43.sunflower.com) has left #Digital-Frontier

When Junpei finally knocked on the Kanbara's door, Takuya's mother greeted him warmly and told him he could join Takuya in his room. Junpei thanked her and stepped into the familiar house, sliding his feet into the guest slippers in the hallway.

Takuya (as Junpei had assumed he would be) was lying on his stomach with his hands wrapped around a Famicom controller, playing old video games. "I see you're engrossed in your English."

"As English as Transylvania gets," Takuya replied mildly, pausing his Akumajo Dracula game. "How was your date? WHO was your date?"

"You don't know her," Junpei grinned. "But her name is Orimoto Izumi, and the date was excellent! We're meeting again tomorrow."

"Wow." Takuya looked impressed. "So I'm finally starting to rub off on you, am I?"

"Shut up, you jerk."

"Touchy, touchy...so, tell me more?"

Junpei felt guilty all of a sudden about the things he had told Izumi about himself--or rather, the things he had told her about Takuya. He didn't really want to talk about her. "I'll tell you when I find out more. Come on, it was only our first date! Besides...your test?"

"Aw, Junpei..."

It's not like it matters, a relationship with that kind of girl would be impossible...

though it sure felt good to call her my 'first date'...heh.

Orimoto Izumi, huh...?

~to be continued...

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Shi-chan: More thank-yous to Cyber, who roleplayed the chat scene with me in the summer of '02. Oops. ^^;