Disclaimer: Come to my house and you'll find me sitting in a bunch of rags, playing with my two wittle doggies… and you still think I own Slam Dunk?
Author's note: Well, I decided to put the Japanese words I used and their ramblings at the end of the story so scroll down if you're utterly confused ^.^ Sorry if they aren't accurate, drop me a line and I'll change it! By the way, if any of you are confused, Yuuka changed schools in the middle of junior high… they'd been best friends since grade school. This story is set somewhere around the first few months…. Sorry if it's confusing or anything ^.^ I'm trying my best here… as an amateur writer, so bear with me. ^.^ And… the party was on a Friday, so this chapter should start on a Saturday ^.^. And…. Thanks for the reviews people! ^.^!
Mainime : Serious!? *gets all starry eyed* Quick! How old is your bro? Got any pics? LoL… btw nice new fic of yours… really cute! Thanks a million for updating my fic with reviews! ^.^
Maemi : Really? Aww…. Sorry *hands maemi a tissue* Yup I made it ^.^ All of us who aren't perfectly shaped at some part or other can relate to that at some point in life… glad to hear that and hope you like this chapter too! Thanks for reviewing! ^.^
Frack : Thanks for the review, any guesses who that is now? =P
Nellie : Yup, he WAS an egoistic baka in his junior high days, ne? ^.^ thanks for reviewing!
Girl_sport17 : Lol…. Well I don't know what'll happen right now but yeah, he DOES deserve it! Thanks for continuing to review! ^.^
Tensaispira : Whoa, you're in the same form as me even! What school are you from? My PMR trials are on Monday… Wish me luck! Lol… Thanks for reviewing too anyway! ^.^
Ch0c0lat3 m1nt : Yo lenglui, ahh…. Stop the kacauing! ^.^ Oh
yeah… lol why don't you think of a *special* present yourself? He'll love it!
LoL ^.^ Thanks for the review, gurl!
Joy : Thanks for reviewing! Hope you like this chapter too… Lol your ramblings are interesting, you know that? ^.^ Well seems around here there're plenty of guys with absolutely no egos too! Lol… I dunno why but guys with egos are a LOT more interesting and a lot less infuriating than guys with none at all! ^.^ But that's just my opinion… lol I'll stop my rambling now..
Namee : Thanks for the review! ^.^
Lol honestly when I saw the amount of reviews, I almost cried in happiness! ^.^ Thanks people, you made my day! Well, I may be a little slow updating these few weeks cause of my PMR exams but if I do get to come online, I'll definitely update! Lol can't wait for my PMR to be over… my trials are on Monday… wish me luck! ^.^ Also, for some unknown reason, I noticed my chapters are getting longer. If you all don't like long chapters, just tell me and I'll split them up ^.^ Okayy.. sorry for detaining ya'll who actually bothered to read these ramblings… please leave a review! ^.^
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(Mai's house, 11.00 a.m.)
Refreshed and relaxed after a bath, Mai picked up the phone. She looked at the
small piece of paper in her hand and dialed the number written on it, cradling
the phone between her right ear and shoulder.
Ring! Ring!
Ring! Ring!
Someone picked up the phone.
"Moshi-moshi?"
Mai gulped, suddenly feeling a little nervous.
"Ano… May I speak to Yuuka?"
"This is her, speaking.."
"Yuuka-chan, this is Mai, remember
me?"
"Mai? As in Ishiiro Mai!?"
"The one and only.."
"It's been so long! How've you been? Ogenki desu ka? And… how's *Micchy*?"
Mai could practically hear the evil grin forming on her friend's face. Ignoring the comment, she swallowed a lump in her throat that had formed at the sound of his name.
"I'm fine and in good health… by
the way, what's the name of your school again?"
"Ryonan High. Why?"
"Well…. I *think* I'm going there soon!"
"Honto ni!? Sugoi! It'll be just like old times! Demo… won't it be a little messy for you? You know, you're underage and all…"
Mai let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She didn't know what she'd do if this didn't work out. She knew she couldn't face everyone again at school on Monday…
"Daijobu, I'll take care of it! So… how's Ryonan? Made any new friends?"
"Ryonan's great but a little boring… I've made friends but none of them are really close to me….. I'm really glad you're coming! Aikawa's here too, by the way…"
Mai smiled. So it would be just like old times before she became the reigning nerd queen. Yuuka was already rubbing off on her by making her think differently. Being all alone and friendless for half a year had taken its toll on her… She leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes, smiling. She felt like she was finally home.
"Soo… Aikawa, huh? Have you made any progress?"
"Nah, don't really like him
anymore… he's changed a lot… didn't grow much, and he acts like a total weirdo,
always muttering to himself for no reason! He quit basketball too… no one knows
why, though! By the way… the basketball club here's good! How's Shohoku's team?
The eliminations should be starting soon, though I don't think I can make it.."
"Serious!? Can't believe he changed that much… Good for Ryonan then… Shohoku's doing fine so far from what I've gathered… Why not? I thought you loved basketball!"
"Oh, sumanai, I forgot to tell you…
I took up swimming! You should try it too…. it's great to keep in shape and
it's a good way to take your mind off troubles too! At least, for me. Everytime
I swim, it feels natural, like I'm in my element! It's the best! Not to mention
there's a great swimming club here with a bishie instructor…"
Mai felt a little hollow in her chest. So her friend had got on fine without her. She pushed the little thought aside.
Well, it IS my own fault that I wasted the past half year… oh well, I can start over with Yuuka's help…
"Well, good for you then! I gotta go now, see ya on Monday!"
"Wait a minute… Monday!?"
"Yup, Monday! Ja ne!"
"Matte-"
Mai had already put down the phone before her friend could finish the sentence. Now for Stage Two of her plan.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
"Kaa-chan! Tou-chan!"
Mai ran down the stairs to greet her parents as they reached home from their fortnightly trip overseas. They looked in her in amazement, she hadn't been this enthusiastic since she was a little kid. Mai took their coats and hung them on the rack for her parents.
"Mai, what is it that you want?" her mom looked at her suspiciously.
So her uncharacteristic behaviour had been noticed. Mai tried to look as innocent as she could, her hands clasped behind her back as she fidgeted.
"We-ell….
Just a little favour…"
"And that favour is…?" her father chipped in.
"Umm…Can I switch schools to Ryonan High, onegaii?"
Mai put on her best puppy dog-eyes expression and looked pleadingly at her parents who were shaking their heads disbelievingly.
"Pleasee?" she wheedled.
"Dear, we talked to you about it before and you chose Shohoku, you know… we won't get a refund-"
"I'll work and pay you back! Besides, Ryonan is closer to home, ne? Please….this means a lot to me…"
Mai felt hot tears pricking the back of her eyelids. She tried her best not to cry. Her parents apparently noticed that too as their features softened. They exchanged knowing looks and her father spoke.
"Hnn… Well.. I just don't understand teenagers these days. Always fickle-minded. One moment so eager to go to Shohoku, the next to Ryonan. Well it's fine with us as long as you work hard to pay us back! You've got to learn the value of money from young…"
Mai rejoiced inwardly as she thanked her lucky stars.
Yoshi! Arigato, Kami-sama, arigato…
"Arigato Tou-chan, Kaa-chan! Arigato! I will, don't worry!"
And with that, she ran upstairs to sort out her wardrobe and plan for her debut into her new school.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
(Administration Office, Shohoku)
"And why, young lady, did you want to switch schools again?"
The stern-faced, bespectacled lady at the counter looked at Mai disapprovingly. Mai cowered slightly under the look but held on to her decision.
"Ryonan High is closer to my house. Besides, the syllabus there is wider and more suitable for me…"
The excuse sounded lame, even to Mai but to her surprise, the lady discontinued the questioning and handed her a slip of paper.
"Very well
then if you're sure, just fill up this form now and I'll call up Ryonan High
for you. Go to Ryonan's office tomorrow morning to confirm the transfer and to
receive further details such as your class, extra books etc."
"Okay.. arigato and sorry for troubling you."
Mai grinned inwardly and ran all the way home.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
(The next day, Administration Office, Ryonan)
Mai could swear the lady here was either the Shohoku lady's identical twin or they were the same person. They looked alike, talked alike… heck, they even dressed alike!
"The question here is, can you keep
up with the work here, young lady? You're one year younger than everyone else,
you know. Maybe you should wait until next year. The syllabus here is not going
to be as easy as Shohoku's."
"I know that and I've been doing fairly well in Shohoku so far. So I would say I CAN keep up with Ryonan's standards. They can't be THAT different.."
The lady looked at Mai disapprovingly and tsk-tsked.
"Well, it
isn't nice wasting your parents' money, you know, just for some rash decision.
Teenagers these days…"
"I told them I'd work to pay them
back and I've thought it through. I've made up my mind and I deeply regret my fickle-minded
decision earlier…"
Mai interrupted her hurriedly before she could start off on a tirade about 'teenagers these days'. She desperately wished the woman would see some sense or go to hell. She hated playing these adult games. Luckily, she had had lots of experience…
"Hmm… well I was skeptical when I received the phone call from Shohoku's administration office. Can you prove that it wasn't a phony call?"
Still not satisfied, huh?
Mai was getting irritated now. Rashly, she blurted out the first thing that came into her mind.
"The woman working there looks exactly like you, acts like you, dresses like you, speaks like you and is like you in every single way from the first white hair on your head to the tips of your ugly pointy bright pink orthodontic shoes! Except she's tons nicer than you and less pushy and much less irritating!"
Uh-oh. That was a bad mistake…Mai could see her visibly swelling in fury.
Oh well, she can't kill me, right? Besides, I could always call for the security guard…
"Very well
if that's the way you want it, but just remember. Few people are rude to Okashi
Hana and get away with it!"
The lady dumped a large stack of papers on the table and stalked off, muttering
something about impudent teenagers, smoke rising from her ears.
As soon as the lady was out of earshot, Mai collapsed on the floor in giggles.
I can't believe her name was Strange Flower!~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
(Mai's room, 8.00 pm)
Mai plopped down in front of the computer screen once again, letting out a sigh. She had pretty much managed to keep her mind off Mitsui the whole day but now in the silence of her room accompanied only by the silvery-white glow from her computer screen, Mitsui's words replayed in her mind once more.
**Flashback**
Urghh… where am I now? Mai opened her eyes as her vision blurred, then cleared. "And I assume you had to kiss her?" Huh? Akagi? What's he doing here? "Yeah… and it was HORRIBLE… she was sweating so much!" Mai's head was spinning as her thoughts recollected. Is that Mitsui? "Urusei!" She sat up and looked at the laughing crowd and the expression on Mitsui's face… and realization of what he said dawned upon her. Oh. My. God. He kissed me… and he hated it… Mai didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"And that fat nerd is your date?" she saw Mitsui smirk as he spit out the question to Akagi.
Kogure glanced at Mai and looked away. Then his head turned around properly. "Mai-chan! You're awake!" he exclaimed.
As the whole group turned to look at her, she recoiled in horror. Shimatta. This can't be happening. He kissed me. He hated it. He KISSED me! But he hated it… And he thinks I'm a fat nerd… and everyone is staring at me…thoughts ran through her head like wildfire.
"Mai, daijobu?" Akagi asked her worriedly. Mai nodded, her eyes focused on a figure opposite her. Mitsui. He wore a look of utter fury on his face. The whole group went silent as he stalked angrily towards her. Hnn.. he DOES look kawaii even when he's angry… Mai's mouth unconsciously formed a half-smile.
Suddenly, he stopped. His eyes locked onto hers as he pointed a finger at her. "You. Get out." He only said three words but his eyes showed the evident unspoken message : 'You. You've embarrassed me. I never want to see you again. Get out of my house and NEVER show your f***ing face here ever again.'
**End of Flashback**
That scene had been replaying in her mind countless times ever since and it hurt. A lot.
Mai shook those negative thoughts out of her head and stared at the computer screen, furrowing her brows.
What was it Yuuka said last time? Be positive…Life goes on no matter what… Yup, she was right. This memory'll be just a small fragment of my imagination soon enough…
Life goes on no matter what…
Mai repeated that sentence in her head like a mantra. Strangely, it helped slightly.
Yeah, mainly cause Mitsui would never like someone like me… I bet he's laughing his head off right now with his friends…
//You baka… he won't even be thinking about you right now! Stop thinking about him already, you're giving me a headache!// a little voice chipped in.
Little voice… you're back!!?
//Of course I am, you didn't think I'd let you rest in peace for long now, did you?//
Aww… You know, I actually kinda missed you! You baka no little voice…
//Hey, hey, don't get all mushy on me right now! I got some advice for you. Wanna hear it?//
Sure… Micchy…*sigh*
//Snap out of it! The advice isn't about Micchy, look at your computer screen right now. Ja ne!//
What the-
Mai looked at her computer screen. Without realising it, she'd entered the chat room again. And a private message flickered in the background again. Amused, she clicked on it.
Whoa, seems like I'm getting popular nowadays…
//Don't get too big-headed for your own good…// a little voice whispered in the back of her mind.
Teme little voice, I thought you were gone!?
The window flickered indignantly on the screen. Mai glanced at it:
^oLdiE^ : Hora, hora little girl, on a school night too?
Him again?
Laughing inwardly, Mai typed a reply.
Little_girl : Little girls like me look for oldies like you :)
^oLdiE^ : Really… this must be my lucky day!
***^oLdiE^ puts on a hentai grin***
Little_girl : Hehe. I was just kidding :) Stop it already with the hentainess!
^oLdiE^ :
Aww you're no fun… 0:) I'm an angel, see?
Little_girl : *Sweatdrop* Yare, yare… you act more like a small kid than an oldie, y'know that?
^oLdiE^ : Oh really, I never noticed! Everyone tells me I'm mature…
Little_girl : You gotta be kidding… and what school are you from anyway?
^oLdiE^ : No, seriously! Ahaha… *that* is a secret!
Little_girl : Aww you're no fun… lol :)
^oLdiE^ : Oh, I AM fun all right… in bed
Little_girl : You dirty old hentai! Lol I can't believe I'm talking to someone like you… :) Stop it NOW or I'll…
^oLdiE^ : You'll what? Be my partner for the night? :x)
Little_girl : …Yare, yare… where do you get your ideas…
^oLdiE^ : Ah, but of course, I AM the great, the smart, the number 1 rookie!
Little_girl
: Oh, now I've finally got something out of you! Number 1 rookie, huh? What
sport?
^oLdiE^ : Shimatta!
I shouldn't have told ya… :| O well, gotta go now, ja ne!
Little_girl: Yare, yare… What an oldie… ja ne!
***^oLdiE^ has logged off
Mai switched off the computer with a grin which had pasted itself to her face sometime during the chat.
Number 1 rookie, huh? Guess I'll find out soon enough…
In good spirits once more, Mai went to sleep early in preparation for the next day.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
*moshi moshi – hello
*Ano – uh…/um…
*Ogenki desu ka? – How are you? / Are you healthy?
*Honto ni – Really
*Sugoi – Great/good
*Daijobu – It's all right
*Sumanai – sorry
*Ja ne – See you/ Bye bye
*Tou-chan – Tou is short for Otou(father), chan is a term of endearment
*Kaa-chan – Kaa is short for Okaa(Mother)
*Yoshi – Cry of jubilance, eg. Yes!/Yeah!/Yahoo!
*Onegai – Please
*Arigato – Thank you
*Okashi – Strange
*Hana – Flower
*Urusei – Shaddup
*Baka – Idiot
*Teme – Why you
*Hentai – Pervert
*Yare yare – Oh boy…