As Luck Would Have It…
It's been five years since Sawada Shin left for Africa and now he's back with every intention to make Yamaguchi Kumiko his. Let's see how he would fare with that with his rival being Yankumi latest crush, Natsume Seichi, the school doctor of Akadou. But Sawada Shin does not need luck, he can already tell Kumiko is affected by his presence and in a way that's hardly what you call ex-student/teacher relationship…Wait a min-Shin! Where are putting your hands on Kumiko?!
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Tap, tap, and tap.
Shin was leaning against the wall by the gates of Akadou High, waiting for the hands of the clock to strike the dismissal of classes. Shin was pretty glad the season was beginning to warm up and that he didn't need to wait in the cold.
While waiting, Shin left his mind wander and thought about how Kumiko would act when she sees him again. Holding back a laugh, he can pretty much imagine how she would react. First when she sees him, he'll probably see his (and probably the whole class) favorite reaction from her. Her stopping with wide eyes before smiling in delight at seeing her ex-student, than she would say his name in a loud voice before running up to him and than she would ruffle his hair like she always do. Than next would be- Shin shook his head and snaps himself out of his thoughts. While thinking so intently, the bell rang and students were filing out of the school like a swarm of insects.
And when he came to, he had two curious audiences at the other side of the gate, looking at him like he was some sort of rare specimen. To Shin, it seems like they were guessing why he was here or whom it was that he was waiting for. Looking away and at the school's entrance, he hid a small smile, the scene reminded him of his friends back in high school.
It was a while before the two students scurried off to do something else but still had lingering curious gazes on him. Shin smirks right after they left, the one who he had wanted to see stepped out from the entrance in her usual red jumpsuit and two pigtails, furthermore the usual carefree smile on her face.
Than the carefree Yamaguchi Kumiko walked right past him. Shin watches the woman freeze just a few feet away from him before walking backwards until she stops right in front of him and turn with disbelieving eyes.
Shin only smiles before he caught himself quickly and gave his usual arrogant smirk of his that Kumiko were so familiar with.
"Sawada Shin?!" Kumiko asks with an incredulity voice, her eyes wide and looked at him like he was some sort of ghost. "When did you get back? Why didn't you tell me? How did you know I work here?" Her loud voice drew some curious onlookers but the two ignore them. Shin wasn't about to let some curious people interrupt Kumiko's greeting intended for him.
"You haven't changed one bit, Kumiko." Shin said, voice deeper than Kumiko expected. "I came back just now and I wanted to see your reaction. Kuma volunteer to help me, so he told me about your new school."
"Wah!" Kumiko smiles and Shin can see just how happy she was to see him. He was about to smile a bit but grunted when her hands reaches to his head to ruffle his hair. "I'm so happy you're back! Come on!" Grabbing Shin's arm by hooking hers around his, she dragged him towards her home. "Tell me all about your days in Africa while you have dinner in my house. I bet you didn't eat anything yet."
As Kumiko ramble off, Shin finally smiles without holding it back. It was worth it to have her hold him close to her voluntarily like this. Let her ruffle his hair, drag him without asking if he plans, treat him like he was still her student, to him it was worth it. Though he had plans changing the last view sooner or later, preferably as soon as possible. He wasn't about to let some doctor she just met date her, not when he's been planning for more than five years.
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Unexpectedly, Shin found himself sitting in his apartment with Kumiko on the opposite side of his coffee table and instant noodles in front of them. Kumiko looked quite embarrassed, her ears tinted with red and her eyes looking elsewhere.
"This reminds me of that time you came to my apartment unannounced five years ago," Shin started with his face quite emotionless though a tiny smirk were placed carefully when Kumiko do look at him. "You tried to cook and burned it instead and we had cup noodles. Today was just like a repeat of that day. This kind of tells me your cooking skills is still the same as that day, years ago."
"It doesn't matter," Kumiko tried to pass it off as something else, "What matters is that we get to bond as teacher and student!"
"Kumiko." The short and crisp pronounce of her name rolled off his tongue and made Kumiko cough a bit.
"Anyways!" Kumiko diverted his attention from her cooking or at least try to, "Let's eat before it gets cold! And you got to tell me what happened in Africa." Then Kumiko slyly smiles, "Did you find a girlfriend? Was it because of that she stayed for so long?"
"I don't have a girlfriend," Shin said almost too quickly but caught himself. It wouldn't do well for Kumiko to get an idea of that in her head. He needs to wipe out any doubts and make her understand he was single and available. "Nothing really happen in Africa. I just studied and things like that. It was too hot to do anything, much less get a girlfriend. Besides, I have someone I like in Japan."
"Oh!" Kumiko smiles, "Is that why you came back to Japan? Have I met her?"
Shin didn't say anything and only wanting to hit himself in the head. He had forgotten that Kumiko doesn't do subtlety. He needed to clear her misunderstanding soon. Shin was only digging a deeper hole he dug on his own. Damn.
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Shin woke up. The morning sun shined brightly through the window bindings. Shin swore when he opened his eyes to only shut it less than a second later.
Groaning, Shin thought back to the events that happened yesterday.
Sure he spent time with Kumiko the first thing he done on his day back, in his own apartment no less but he also remembered that nothing changed between himself and the stubborn teacher. He needed to rethink some of his plans and approach her differently but not too differently.
He thought back to yesterday before Kumiko left and she found some hidden stash of alcohol and saw her hinting to have a heart to heart drinking between ex student and teacher. Cursing, Shin should have just gave in and had her drink with him but no, he had to make sure she got back to her home before it turned midnight.
Turning to his side, Shin stayed still for a moment before looking at the digital clock. It was only eight in the morning, still early but sighed deeply before letting out a groan and sat up. He had work to do.
Though he can make Kumiko fall for him by himself, it would take longer than he would like. Therefore, he needs help. What's better than going to Kumiko's family and make them like him. More. They already like him but he hadn't spoke nor seen them for the past five years. He needs to rebuild their 'trust' on him and make them come over to the dark side. His side, he means. Shaking his head, Shin swore to not watch stupid American shows right before bed with beer and his mind thinking about Kumiko.
Yeah. He needs to work on that.
Later.
He has to conquer a bunch of harden yakuza first.
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End of Chapter 2
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A/N: Thank you very much for reading and telling me your thoughts. I was pleasantly surprised about the reviews I got and am very, very happy many of you like/love Shinkumi 3
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