Disclaimer: Slam Dunk is not mine. Notes: This fic is not edited properly so pardon the grammatical errors and such.
"Hana," Akira cried out from his room. "Where are my socks?"
"They're in your drawer," Hanamichi answered with an exasperated sigh.
"Where's my jersey?" Kaede yelled from his room.
"In your closet. Tuck beneath the faded blue Levi jeans," Hanamichi yelled back. He was in his school uniform and a white apron. He's currently in the kitchen and making breakfast for the three of them. And his two roommates were not helping him, because none of the two knew how to cook even a decent egg meal.
Hanamichi walked around the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. He took out a bag of beacon, a gallon of milk, and five eggs. He placed the ingredients for breakfast, and then returned to the refrigerator to take out the lunch ingredients. He sighed, as he did his duty as the 'housekeeper'.
During first year in college, Hanamichi was offered by Kaede and Akira to live with them in a three-bedroom apartment. Hanamichi was a little low in cash so he agreed. The first day was hell for Hanamichi. Everybody who was close with the redhead knew that he's a neat freak, but his companions were not. The apartment resembles that of a pigpen. Hanamichi immediately packed his bags to leave but Akira begged him to stay, on bended knee and all. Hanamichi was dead-set to leave, and then suddenly, Mister Silently- Watching offered Hanamichi to be their housekeeper. The redhead raised an eyebrow at the off-handed offer. Kaede explained that Hanamichi would stay in the apartment without paying for any bills, and would get a monthly allowance too. Hanamichi looked at Akira for confirmation, and the spiky- haired basketball player nodded his head violently. So Hanamichi stayed, and just bit his tongue whenever the apartment went more than a little dusty.
Hanamichi smiled as he remembered why the two raven-haired men asked him to stay. The owner of the apartment complex was threatening to kick them out if they didn't maintain the working facilities of their apartment. In case of Kaede Rukawa, he didn't give a shit. He had money after all. It's the same for Akira Sendoh. But the owner of the apartment complex was the ex- wife of their coach in the college basketball team, and their coach was more than willing to expel the two troublemakers from the team if they didn't do what the ex-wife says. Hence, Hanamichi was their option.
Everyone from their school knew of the crazy arrangement, and even gave a burst of malicious gossip about the three of them. Nonetheless the three just shrugged their shoulders at the gossips. It's not true anyways. Akira became the campus most known playboy, with a ratio of 9:1 date per week. Kaede would have outnumbered Akira's date per week if he had been not so picky; his ratio is 6:1. Hanamichi, on the other hand, was known in the whole campus as the chemistry nerd. His date composed of three volumes of books per day. In his two years in college, he never had a date. Akira tried to blind date him once, and it ended up in disaster. Hanamichi still shuddered every time the date was brought to mind.
"Smells good!"
Hanamichi's reverie was cut as Akira began sniffing beside him. He playfully whacked Akira's head with a wooden spoon.
"Quit doing that, Akira." Hanamichi pushed Akira away from the stove, and gestured to the gallon of milk. He smiled when the player made a face. "We don't have any coffee anymore."
Akira grudgingly sat down on one of the chairs. "Why didn't you tell us yesterday? We could have bought one last night." He pouted like a kid at Hanamichi. He was wearing their college uniform. Navy suits, with a light blue necktie.
Hanamichi just raised his eyebrow before turning back to the stove.
Just then Kaede ran into the kitchen then sat on the chair opposite Akira. He nodded a greeting at Akira before pouring himself a glass of milk. He was also wearing their college uniform.
"What's for breakfast?"
"Beacons, scrambled eggs and milk." Hanamichi turned around and placed two plates of eggs and beacons in front of the two. He briefly turned back to the stove to reach for his own plate before sitting down on his chair between the two raven-haired men. He glanced at the frowning Akira. "Don't you like it, Akira?"
Akira straightened in his chair. "Not that I mind your cooking, Hana, but don't you think we've had too many eggs and beacons lately?"
Hanamichi nodded in agreement. They had eggs and beacons yesterday, though Hanamichi had added cheese into the meal. "We're out of stock. I already made a list, but I need money."
Kaede reached on his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He unceremoniously took out his credit card and gave it to Hanamichi. "Buy anything you need." He then turned to his plate and ate the food quickly.
Hanamichi smiled brightly at Kaede. He turned to face Akira.
Akira frowned before pulling out his wallet too. He pulled out a few bills and handed them to Hanamichi.
Hanamichi smiled wider. This was one of the reason why he enjoyed being the two's housekeeper. Not only did he have free lodging, but he got to get extra money out of the two as well (salary not included).
"Itadakimas!" Hanamichi happily shouted as he tackled his food.
Akira had to smile at the redhead. He stole a glanced at Kaede and was not surprised to see the once stoic young man smile at their genki housekeeper.
"How are your studies, Hana?" Akira asked when he noticed that Hanamichi had wolfed down his meal.
"They're fine," Hanamichi replied. He poured himself a glass of milk and drank it all with one go.
Kaede drank his milk slower than Hanamichi. He secretly smirked at Akira's concern inquiry.
On cue, Akira moved closer to Hanamichi. "Are you free tonight?"
Kaede nearly lost it there, and swallowed to contain his laughter.
Hanamichi narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Akira. "You're not thinking of blind dating me again, are you?"
"No. No, of course not," Akira denied. "But I met this beautiful girl the other day and…"
"Hold it, mister," Hanamichi warned. He mentioned for Akira to shut up then glared at the hopeless puppy blue eyes. "Forget it."
"But I haven't asked yet," Akira cried a soft plea. "Hear me out first before you say no, okay?"
Hanamichi skeptically looked at Akira. Akira knew it to be a 'go ahead' signal.
"As I said, I met this very beautiful girl yesterday," he began.
"I thought you said the other day," Hanamichi interrupted.
"Hana," Akira plead softly again. "Please hear me out first okay? And no interruption, please."
Hanamichi rolled his eyes then nodded. Kaede was now openly smirking at the two. The redhead glared at him too.
"I met this girl, and I guarantee you, she's beautiful." Akira gave a sigh. "But she's a little wary of me."
"Any sane female should be wary of you," Hanamichi said bluntly.
Kaede couldn't help but laugh.
Akira pouted his lips. "I was hoping for moral support from you, Hana."
The redhead rolled his eyes again.
"Anyways," Akira continued, undaunted at the redhead's lack of enthusiasm. "I asked her out, and she agreed on a condition that I brought a chaperon for her."
Brown eyes widened. "Excuse me?"
Kaede bit the insides of his mouth to stop laughing. He met the girl last night too. The girl demanded that Akira brought Hanamichi along with the date because she was doing a thesis on organic molecules. Hanamichi's reputation as one of the best young chemist in the school had been running in earnest still.
"She needed a chaperon," Akira repeated.
"A chaperon?" Hanamichi asked incredulously. "What is she? A Maria Clara?"
"No, not exactly," Akira replied. He frowned. "What's a Maria Clara?"
"A Filipina," Kaede answered. "The old fashion one."
"Oh. I want to meet one."
"Forget it," Hanamichi snorted. He stood up and started gathering their plates.
"You mean meeting a Maria Clara, right?" Akira asked hopefully.
"I mean both." Hanamichi walked to the sink and placed the plates carefully on the water. He began washing the dishes.
Akira looked at Kaede for help. When Hanamichi turned his back from the conversation meant that he's done with it.
Kaede shook his head. In his opinion, the girl was too stupid to suggest such a thing. Hanamichi would not help her anyway.