Staunch fan
Author: Silhouette
Email address: silhouette_panther@msn.com
Web:
http://www.silhouette.cjb.net
http://www.thunderstormsenru.cjb.net
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.
Chapter 6 – Part III
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"I think she's awake, Rukawa."
"Eri…can you hear me?"
Eriko struggled to open her eyes, but they seemed to be glued together, her head felt heavy and her mind was groggy due to the anesthetic drugs.
"A…Akira?" She managed to call out.
"Thank god, Eri, you've come to. How are you feeling now?" The familiar voice seemed to clear her foggy senses a little; she managed to open her eyes. Images swam before her vision, until they settled and she could recognize the two tall boys beside her bed, and a doctor who looked almost identical to Rukawa.
Both boys looked as though they've been crying, and suddenly Eriko felt a warm feeling oozing up within her. She was never so touched and she felt like crying too.
Instead, she grinned, "Baka, don't cry."
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It was a long, long week in the hospital, as Dr. Rukawa insisted that Eriko stay to be observed, in case the wounds get infected. Many people came to visit her. The entire Ryonan basketball club, both male and female teams, her classmates and some of the teachers came. Her parents had rushed back upon hearing the news, her mother cried floods of tears about her 'poor baby' until Eriko assured her that it was a minor accident and nothing was wrong with her. Even the Shoyo team came to visit. The girl who had caused her to fall felt very guilty and was apologizing profusely.
Eriko had patted her shoulders, smiling, "It's not your fault, and you were a great opponent."
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"You like her." Rukawa stated blandly.
"Yes, I told her already." Sendoh scratched the back of his head, smiling a little.
"…"
/And? /
"She said no, she wanted to maintain our friendship as the usual, you know, buddies, and not lovers."
"Oh."
The two boys sat outside her ward, eating burgers. Eriko was to be discharged in a while and currently she is changing into her home clothes.
"Eriko likes photographing too, do you know that?" Sendoh suddenly piped up, the usual beam on his face. "When we were young she used to take this bulky camera, running around, taking shots of the neighborhood and stuff. There was this picture she took of me, halfway through some sushi." He laughed, "She laughed about it for days because I had this blank, stupid look on my face since I didn't know what was happening when she suddenly yelled 'Akira!' into my ears, she snapped the picture as I flung around, half a sushi in mouth and another half in my hand." Sendoh smiled fondly at those childish memories.
"You shared much memories with her."
"Yes…and I treasure every bit of that. But I didn't realize my feelings at all, then. She was the crazy tomboy while I was supposed to be the buddy of the crazy tomboy. Until that day, when she was telling me how the rumors were affecting her, and that I suggested being her boyfriend as a show, I came to realize that I actually mean what I said – to be her boyfriend. I realized that I couldn't lose her…you know, when that accident happened." He sighed, finishing his burger and scrunching up the paper.
Rukawa nodded.
The door opened and the tall, slender figure of Eriko came out, all smiles and bubbly. "Guys! I'm out! Ah, I can't wait to get out of here and smell the air of freedom!" She swung her arms around like a little kid, grinning and babbling on, "I'm going back to school, I'm going to gloat at your fan club," She smiled toothily at Sendoh, "I'm going gloat because they are probably disappointed I didn't die. Hey, Kaede, we are going to play another game soon, okay?"
"Now, no, no, girl," The anxious voice of Mrs. Watanabe poked through, "No more basketball games for you…"
She paused upon seeing the dismayed and upset expression of her daughter, and sighed, "…in the recent future, anyway."
"Thanks Mum!" Eriko smiled, "I know what I can do instead, I'll go photographing."
Sendoh and Rukawa looked at each other.
/Speak of the devil. /
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