A/N: Itazura na Kiss does not belong to me.
A/N2: Since this timeline advanced the romantic story of the lead characters, I slid time for the nursing students as well. I hope this action doesn't offend too many purists.
"He's so cool!" sighed Tomoko.
"More like cold," muttered Keita, wishing that the members of his study group would act like serious nursing students instead of idol fans.
"Oh hush, Keita," scolded Motoki. "Don't rain on our parade just because you're the only one who's not interested in dreamy-looking people with a Y chromosome!"
"You know, there's no indication that he's gay," he pointed out. "So don't you think that your effort is wasted?"
"Nothing is wasted as long as there is love!" she proclaimed, throwing a dramatic arm wide. "And even if he doesn't swing that way, he is still extremely easy on the eyes."
"Yep, he can park his boots under my bed any time," asserted Tomoko.
"Well, I'm most interested in the fact that he will be making scads of money once he's a physician," remarked Marina. "You know, they approved his admittance into medical school before he actually took the transfer test!"
"I heard that he has an IQ of 200! Any school would be happy to have him."
"In that case, why is he here at Tonan?" asked Keita in a reasonable tone. "Wouldn't you think that he would have attended a more rarified institution such as Todai?"
"Who cares, as long as he's here now?" sighed Motoki.
Keita repeatedly banged the back of his head softly against the wall as Irie Naoki's voice filtered out of the door. "Furthermore, the iris, contained in the vascular tunic of the eyeball's anterior segment, itself consists of internal layers…"
"Wow! I never realized the medical department was so far from the central campus!" Kotoko complained out loud as she finally ascended the handful of steps in front of the entrance. Although it does make sense to have it attached to the hospital, she thought, eyeing the multistory facility to her right. Oh well, she shrugged, at least I had the good sense to wear flats today and carry my heels. The aforementioned dressy shoes currently resided in the roomy leather satchel suspended from her shoulder.
As she walked the halls, searching for the correct room number, she felt distinctly over-dressed. After her errand she was meeting Dylan for a business luncheon with the owner of Kimura Collectibles, a company which produced high quality artistic figure sculptures. Apparently the owner's son was a great fan of the Racquet Warrior video games and had persuaded his father to contract with Pandai. That enamored young man was going to be attending the luncheon today, as a stipulation in the contract was that he meet the actual Kotorin. Great! She heaved a sigh at the thought then was immediately distracted by her fashionista's eye. It was a shame that the medical uniforms were so pastel and…bland. The halls of this serious building were quiet and stodgy enough. Surely the students could at least be allowed to show some personality by wearing clothing of varying colors and designs. Hmph! she thought, if I had my way this place would look much brighter.
According to the photo of Naoki's schedule on her phone (she didn't dare trust her memory when going into an unknown location) she thought she must be drawing near. Based on the room numbering system, he ought to be in…that one! She stopped in mid-stride, cocking her head at the sight before her. Outside that room's door, were three females, one rather tall, huddled around as if fascinated by something—or someone—inside. Leaning on the hallway wall opposite was a slender male, looking anything but excited. Ignoring him, Kotoko advanced on the group and tapped on the shoulder of the nearest girl.
"What's so interesting in there?" she asked.
The trio turned around as if choreographed. "Shh!" said the tall one. Kotoko squinted her eyes. Those features looked…
"We're watching Irie-san's first oral presentation to the class," said one of the other girls, her features attractive but slightly predatory. Kotoko was immediately reminded of Matsumoto-san.
"He's doing so well, considering that he transferred into the department two years behind the others." The last one sighed after she commented in a soft-spoken voice.
"Irie?" Kotoko raised herself on tiptoes, trying to look around them. "I'd like to see it too."
Lightning sparked from the trio's eyes as they rounded again on her. "I just bet you would! Coming in here in your prissy little fashionable outfit!"
Prissy?! Kotoko looked down at her navy bolero jacket over cream blouse and slightly flared green ombre skirt.
"Irie-san is off-limits!"
"R-really?" Kotoko stared at them wide-eyed.
"He is the property of the medical department! Don't come over here wagging your little behind to catch his attention."
"Yes! He will be a most exemplary doctor, and deserves to have a wife who understands his challenging profession and can support him in the field!"
"Not a tiny little doll who's probably just here to get her M.R.S. degree!"
"M.R.S…?" By now Kotoko had been backed the width of the hall, and she bumped into something a little bit softer than the wall. "Oh! Excuse me!" She moved to the side and bowed quickly to the young man, then turned to the others. "You must be mistaken. I'm not familiar with that degree. I'm taking courses in fashion—"
One of them snorted. "That I can believe!"
My! Kotoko thought. Are these the type of people who are planning to be loving caretakers of sick persons? I'd better keep taking my vitamins to stay out of their hands! "So, this…Irie," she began, "he is very popular in this building?"
The tallest girl clasped her hands together and leaned her head to the side against them. Kotoko had a sudden flashback of Mrs. Irie in that same pose. "Yes! He is the husband that all the nursing students dream of!" She broke off and glared at Kotoko. "Remember—WE have first crack at him."
"No!" Kotoko shook her head. "I promise—I'm not competing with you." She then stepped forward and boldly patted the other's tight curls. "You have some split ends forming here." She dug in her bag and pulled out a small envelope and handed it to her. "This is a great hair treatment that will keep them under control between trims."
The other stared at the packet then at Kotoko and lowered her head when Kotoko beckoned.
"You're a man dressed as a woman, aren't you?" Kotoko whispered. Motoki's eyes fired and she opened her mouth to begin her practiced explanation but before she could get a word out, Kotoko pressed a business card onto her. "Call me for a free consultation! I think I can find you a makeup that won't irritate your beard area so much. There's a little rash forming here." Her fingertips fluttered along the jawline. She winked and grinned. "My name's Kotoko!"
"Why…why thank you!" she managed. "It's very nice of you. I'm Kikyou Motoki, and these are Shinagawa Marina and Ogura Tomoko, and this great lump—or hunk—of a man is Kamogari Keita!"
The silent man nodded at Kotoko then straightened from his reclining pose. "Are you idiotic females—and yes, Motoki, I include you—through gawking at the poor guy yet?"
"Oh! His speech!" The girls turned quickly back towards the room, but to their disappointment the students were rising and pushing their chairs in. "Darn, we missed it!"
I didn't, Kotoko thought. I heard it four times last night. I don't know why he was nervous though; he had it memorized from the get-go. Maybe because this course of study is new and different… "Ack!"
She found herself squashed against the wall as the three girls positioned themselves for a perfect view of the exiting medical students. Her nose drew an invisible line across the back of Marina's scrubs as Keita dragged her to the side out of the stack of bodies.
"Thanks," she muttered as she smoothed her bangs down.
The students emerged in clumps of twos and threes. Naoki's eyes glided idly across the line-up then reversed direction as he focused on his wife. "Kotoko?" he asked.
"Hello, Naoki!" She stepped forward. "Okaasan asked me to deliver a bento after you called saying you had a late afternoon lab."
"It was Mom who prepared the meal, right?" he asked as he placed a hand on her elbow and led her down the hall toward the entrance.
She swatted him with her free hand. "Of course, silly!"
"I still have a bad taste in my mouth from your last culinary attempt! Ouch!" He jumped back as she slapped his arm again then continued to walk beside her. "Why are you so dressed up?"
"I have a late lunch date with Dylan-san and a potential client." She sighed as she glanced at her Mickey Mouse watch, a souvenir from their honeymoon. "I have to hurry now." Her eyes twinkled up at him. "Sorry I can't give you a good-bye kiss. It would mess the makeup."
Naoki snorted. "As if I'd do that in public anyway!" He tapped her on the head with the folder holding his presentation notes, none of which he had referred to in the previous class. "Take care. I'll see you later."
The trio of girls observed the encounter with greedy eyes. Keita laughed at their expressions. "Not in competition with you, eh? It looks like she swept the event!"
"Wait! Who is she?" Motoki raised the business card nearer her face. "'Reinvent Yourself – Training in Charm, Conversation, Countenance by Irie Kotoko.' Irie?!"
"Must be his sister." Marina stood, one hand holding the elbow of the opposite arm, forefinger of the other hand tapping her lips. "No visible signs of great affection, teasing, little body contact…"
"Talked about 'Okaasan'…" mused Tomoko.
"Plus she has a lunch date with another man," added Keita.
The girls turned to him in unison. "Now you're interested?!"