The two lads were sitting by the park in their school uniform, watching the
pigeons trances before their eyes. Both of them were deep in thought, and
were confused about their poor fate. Rukawa, in Sendoh's body, who's
forehead was against his palms, broke the silence between them.
Rukawa : I can't believe this!
Sendoh, in Rukawa's figure, looked at him and smiled
Sendoh : hey I do look good when my hair's not spiked. *smiles smiles* I think I better do it more often. *niko niko*
Rukawa : *quite pissed* I can't belive you still can say that… We're in a serious situation right now, Akira.
Sendoh : *lifts up hands* Whoa, Kaede-kun… You better start calling me 'Kaede' and get used to my kind of life. And I'll do the same too.
Rukawa : *stands up* I can't believe I took a day off school just because of this!!
Sendoh : *smiles, a sweatdrop beside his eye* Aah… Sumimasen… Okay, okay, let's get serious.
Then the two stopped their talk. Rukawa sat and was again, deep in thought. Back then they decided that they'll take a day off school and gather for some reasons to settle.
Sendoh : *smiles and stands up* let's go to a coffeeshop. I think it'll be better to talk there, rather than here. Come on, Akira-kun… It'll be my treat… *smiles wider*
Rukawa : (in a low voice) *clears throat* ehm… That money actually belongs to me!
Sendoh : *shrugs* Well I now had to act like Rukawa Kaede and enjoy Rukawa Kaede's life…
Rukawa : *follows Sendoh to the coffeeshop* whatever…
In the café, they ordered a few drinks and started to talk.
Rukawa : Tell me about your family.
Sendoh : Oh well, I'm the oldest, next is my sister, Chizu, we don't get along quite well, and there comes Keisuke, an annoying kid who'll always stick with you and bothers you. And then… There's Nanao, my favorite one among the others, and she's just so charming and cute, usually at night times she'll come to your bed and ask you to read her a bedtime story… And there's Machi… a little boy who just likes to play around with his brothers and sisters.
Rukawa : Umm… *cough cough* Sendoh… I called her bitch just this morning… *buries his head*
Sendoh : You WHAT?! Oh no… What I think you should do is go to a candy store, buy her a popsicle and say sorry to her. Or else she'll hate me! I'll be doomed!
Rukawa : *sighed* Okay okay… And then…?
Sendoh : Ka-san goes to work in an advertisement company, therefore you gotta pick your little bros and sis at their school. And also… You gotta part-time work at an Esso gas station, just 3 block southwest from the middle of downtown. Got it?
Rukawa : What do I do there? And what school does your brothers and sisters are in?
Sendoh : Hmm.. Well, at the gas station you just change your uniform, and your locker's number 7, my favorite number… Well, I bet Chizu can take care of herself since she's studying in Ryonan too, and the other three all went to the Sakura junior school and elementary school. You know where that is, right?
Rukawa : *muttering* Hai, hai…
Sendoh : I believe Rukawa Kaede hasn't got much things to do, right?
Rukawa : Well, yeah… I don't have any family here so I'm quite free…
Sendoh stirred his ice lemon tea.
Sendoh : Kaede-kun… I say this… I got an idea that'll quite help you, but if you agree, though…
Rukawa : What?
Sendoh : Ummm… I'll register my name in Shohoku Highschool, but I'll use your money… Will it be okay?
Rukawa : (silent for a while) What about that Chizu? She's studying at Ryonan too, right? What if she hears the news and said it to your mom?
Sendoh : nah, she wouldn't care much about me, we barely talk, and she usually comes home late and never talk to any of us…
What problems could have landed between them? Rukawa wondered to himself.
Rukawa : Okay, if you insist…
They finished their drinks and paid the bills at the cashier. The waitresses were all drowning in their charms. Who could've resist to stare at two gorgeous young lads walking together? They're so appealing to the community especially to girls, with their height and their face.
Sendoh : What are you going to do the rest of the day?
Rukawa : I don't know… (not looking at him)
Sendoh : *hands pounded together* I know… Kaede…! Let's go shopping…! And besides you still need to get Nanao-chan a candy or two. *winks*
Rukawa : *sighed* whatever… Just remember I still got to pick MY little brothers and sisters up…
Sendoh : Okay okay… We'll go together at 3 pm… That's when they were dismissed.
Rukawa : Okay…
Sendoh : Let's go and get changed~! It feels awkward to go shop in school uniforms, especially at school time.
Rukawa : We'll go to my house, I have plenty shirts that we both can wear…
Sendoh : Wait, WHO's house?
Rukawa : Mine! Well, yours for now…
And they went off.
***
After the two were carrying bags full of clothes, a shoe, towels, etc, they put their belongings at each house, and meet again at the park that they went to in the morning.
Sendoh : *looking at Rukawa who's running towards his way* what took you so long?
Rukawa : I don't know where to put all those bags in your house…
Sendoh : *laughs* Oh my house is small but it's humble…
Rukawa : Whatever… Let's go…
They walked towards Sakura Junior and Elementary School, and in front of the gates, Sendoh Akira's brothers and sisters were already waiting.
Sendoh : Nanao-cha- *covers mouth with hands* Umm.. I mean… Now's what time? *face full of sweat, rubs the back of his head with his hand. Pokes Rukawa at the ribs*
Rukawa : Uh.. Oh.. Um… Hello Na… Nanoa… (in a stiff voice), Keisuke… And… and… *whispers to Sendoh* who's this kid?!?
Sendoh : He's Machi! And it's NANAO not NANOA! (voice whispering)
Rukawa : Uh… Hi Machi… *sweating*
Nanao : Oni-chan… My name's Nanao… (voice cold as ice)
Rukawa : *digs his pocket to find a lollipop* Gomen, Nanao-chan… Here's a candy… for you… sorry to call you bitch… (voice still stiff, and his smile looks out of place)
Sendoh : (to himself) Oh my god he's horrible…
Nanao smiles widely and jumped to hug Rukawa by the neck.
Nanao : Arigatou, Oni-chan…!! I love you…
Rukawa was surprised by her reaction. She is a cute girl indeed, just like what Sendoh had said. Rukawa hugged her back gently and smiled, this time the smile comes from his heart. This is what the kind of warmth he had longed for. Carefully she took the candy from his hands and gave a peck on his cheek.
Rukawa : *stands up* Okay… Let's go home, kids…
He hold all of their little hands by his, and walked them home. Sendoh waited outside for him.
Sendoh : Hey, Kaede-kun… I think you'll make a great brother… *smiles* Please take care of them for me…
Rukawa : *blushes lightly* Well… I'm just trying to be you…
Sendoh : Well, Ja ne… We'll meet again tomorrow… You'll be joining me tomorrow at Shohoku High…
Rukawa : Okay… See you…
Sendoh : *waves hand* Remember, do your best, and I'll do my best too…
From afar, Rukawa only nodded, and then he rushed in to play with his new brothers and sisters in the living room of the small yet warm house that he live in for now.
Rukawa : I can't believe this!
Sendoh, in Rukawa's figure, looked at him and smiled
Sendoh : hey I do look good when my hair's not spiked. *smiles smiles* I think I better do it more often. *niko niko*
Rukawa : *quite pissed* I can't belive you still can say that… We're in a serious situation right now, Akira.
Sendoh : *lifts up hands* Whoa, Kaede-kun… You better start calling me 'Kaede' and get used to my kind of life. And I'll do the same too.
Rukawa : *stands up* I can't believe I took a day off school just because of this!!
Sendoh : *smiles, a sweatdrop beside his eye* Aah… Sumimasen… Okay, okay, let's get serious.
Then the two stopped their talk. Rukawa sat and was again, deep in thought. Back then they decided that they'll take a day off school and gather for some reasons to settle.
Sendoh : *smiles and stands up* let's go to a coffeeshop. I think it'll be better to talk there, rather than here. Come on, Akira-kun… It'll be my treat… *smiles wider*
Rukawa : (in a low voice) *clears throat* ehm… That money actually belongs to me!
Sendoh : *shrugs* Well I now had to act like Rukawa Kaede and enjoy Rukawa Kaede's life…
Rukawa : *follows Sendoh to the coffeeshop* whatever…
In the café, they ordered a few drinks and started to talk.
Rukawa : Tell me about your family.
Sendoh : Oh well, I'm the oldest, next is my sister, Chizu, we don't get along quite well, and there comes Keisuke, an annoying kid who'll always stick with you and bothers you. And then… There's Nanao, my favorite one among the others, and she's just so charming and cute, usually at night times she'll come to your bed and ask you to read her a bedtime story… And there's Machi… a little boy who just likes to play around with his brothers and sisters.
Rukawa : Umm… *cough cough* Sendoh… I called her bitch just this morning… *buries his head*
Sendoh : You WHAT?! Oh no… What I think you should do is go to a candy store, buy her a popsicle and say sorry to her. Or else she'll hate me! I'll be doomed!
Rukawa : *sighed* Okay okay… And then…?
Sendoh : Ka-san goes to work in an advertisement company, therefore you gotta pick your little bros and sis at their school. And also… You gotta part-time work at an Esso gas station, just 3 block southwest from the middle of downtown. Got it?
Rukawa : What do I do there? And what school does your brothers and sisters are in?
Sendoh : Hmm.. Well, at the gas station you just change your uniform, and your locker's number 7, my favorite number… Well, I bet Chizu can take care of herself since she's studying in Ryonan too, and the other three all went to the Sakura junior school and elementary school. You know where that is, right?
Rukawa : *muttering* Hai, hai…
Sendoh : I believe Rukawa Kaede hasn't got much things to do, right?
Rukawa : Well, yeah… I don't have any family here so I'm quite free…
Sendoh stirred his ice lemon tea.
Sendoh : Kaede-kun… I say this… I got an idea that'll quite help you, but if you agree, though…
Rukawa : What?
Sendoh : Ummm… I'll register my name in Shohoku Highschool, but I'll use your money… Will it be okay?
Rukawa : (silent for a while) What about that Chizu? She's studying at Ryonan too, right? What if she hears the news and said it to your mom?
Sendoh : nah, she wouldn't care much about me, we barely talk, and she usually comes home late and never talk to any of us…
What problems could have landed between them? Rukawa wondered to himself.
Rukawa : Okay, if you insist…
They finished their drinks and paid the bills at the cashier. The waitresses were all drowning in their charms. Who could've resist to stare at two gorgeous young lads walking together? They're so appealing to the community especially to girls, with their height and their face.
Sendoh : What are you going to do the rest of the day?
Rukawa : I don't know… (not looking at him)
Sendoh : *hands pounded together* I know… Kaede…! Let's go shopping…! And besides you still need to get Nanao-chan a candy or two. *winks*
Rukawa : *sighed* whatever… Just remember I still got to pick MY little brothers and sisters up…
Sendoh : Okay okay… We'll go together at 3 pm… That's when they were dismissed.
Rukawa : Okay…
Sendoh : Let's go and get changed~! It feels awkward to go shop in school uniforms, especially at school time.
Rukawa : We'll go to my house, I have plenty shirts that we both can wear…
Sendoh : Wait, WHO's house?
Rukawa : Mine! Well, yours for now…
And they went off.
***
After the two were carrying bags full of clothes, a shoe, towels, etc, they put their belongings at each house, and meet again at the park that they went to in the morning.
Sendoh : *looking at Rukawa who's running towards his way* what took you so long?
Rukawa : I don't know where to put all those bags in your house…
Sendoh : *laughs* Oh my house is small but it's humble…
Rukawa : Whatever… Let's go…
They walked towards Sakura Junior and Elementary School, and in front of the gates, Sendoh Akira's brothers and sisters were already waiting.
Sendoh : Nanao-cha- *covers mouth with hands* Umm.. I mean… Now's what time? *face full of sweat, rubs the back of his head with his hand. Pokes Rukawa at the ribs*
Rukawa : Uh.. Oh.. Um… Hello Na… Nanoa… (in a stiff voice), Keisuke… And… and… *whispers to Sendoh* who's this kid?!?
Sendoh : He's Machi! And it's NANAO not NANOA! (voice whispering)
Rukawa : Uh… Hi Machi… *sweating*
Nanao : Oni-chan… My name's Nanao… (voice cold as ice)
Rukawa : *digs his pocket to find a lollipop* Gomen, Nanao-chan… Here's a candy… for you… sorry to call you bitch… (voice still stiff, and his smile looks out of place)
Sendoh : (to himself) Oh my god he's horrible…
Nanao smiles widely and jumped to hug Rukawa by the neck.
Nanao : Arigatou, Oni-chan…!! I love you…
Rukawa was surprised by her reaction. She is a cute girl indeed, just like what Sendoh had said. Rukawa hugged her back gently and smiled, this time the smile comes from his heart. This is what the kind of warmth he had longed for. Carefully she took the candy from his hands and gave a peck on his cheek.
Rukawa : *stands up* Okay… Let's go home, kids…
He hold all of their little hands by his, and walked them home. Sendoh waited outside for him.
Sendoh : Hey, Kaede-kun… I think you'll make a great brother… *smiles* Please take care of them for me…
Rukawa : *blushes lightly* Well… I'm just trying to be you…
Sendoh : Well, Ja ne… We'll meet again tomorrow… You'll be joining me tomorrow at Shohoku High…
Rukawa : Okay… See you…
Sendoh : *waves hand* Remember, do your best, and I'll do my best too…
From afar, Rukawa only nodded, and then he rushed in to play with his new brothers and sisters in the living room of the small yet warm house that he live in for now.