Having Company
Rukawa: Why do I have to accompany her for her daily checkups? What a waste of my time. It's not like she contracted cancer or whatever… sheesh.
Shina: Why is such a big fuss being made about this? For goodness' sake, it's not like I'm handicapped, I can go by myself.
Both: This is making a mountain out of a molehill.
Rukawa: Are looks really that important to a woman? I wouldn't really mind if I had ten scars. Besides, looks aren't important. Akagi looks like a gori, but he's still an excellent player. On the contrary, Sakuragi may be better-looking, but he's an airhead!
Shina: I'd be lying if I said looks weren't important to a girl. I bet it must be flattering to be as pretty as, say, Haruko. But oh well, at least Heaven is fair. God gave be brains. So I may be plain, but I am definitely not an airhead!
Rukawa: And Shina is definitely not an airhead.
Shina: Ugh, contact lenses are so uncomfortable. Why did Maki stop me from getting the exact same pair as my previous one? Were they really that monstrous?
Rukawa: But anyway, she looks better without those glasses - they were monstrous. I'm actually quite glad I broke it, I couldn't stand the sight of it.
Both: No… looks aren't important.
Shina: Zzzzz…
Rukawa: ……
Rukawa poked her shoulder with a finger. No response. He couldn't believe that HE – the undisputed King of Sleep, would have to wake someone up. He shook her gently. No response. No, he didn't like this. He didn't like it when people didn't wake up. Could she have passed out? NAH. He hit her face.
"Mother… mother!" She awoke with a startle. Everyone was looking at her as if she were alien.
Rukawa frowned at her. "Are you alright…"
"Ye… yes," she said breathlessly. "Sorry."
It was their (well, Shina's turn, strictly speaking) turn to see the doctor. The doctor advised her to continue these daily checkups until the wound healed fully – they had to make sure it was healing properly. If it got inflamed, that would be worse.
*** the journey home ***
"You can drop me here," Shina said, when they were in front of a restaurant.
"Ok." Rukawa stopped his bike, and she got off.
"Thanks for accompanying me today."
He nodded, and rode away.
(( Rukawa: She works in a restaurant? ))
He turned round, and saw her entering the shabby-looking music store beside it.
(( Rukawa: … ))
Shina had looked a far cry from that day. Of course losing her glasses didn't make her pretty overnight – she was still rather plain – but at least she looked quite normal. She had high cheekbones, so he noticed, and a perfect posture. Somehow she exuded a quiet intensity and forcefulness that made her quite an impossible person to overlook. You either liked her or hated her, and he decided on the former.
This routine followed for two weeks. He couldn't explain it, but Rukawa found himself starting to enjoy these trips to the hospital. Having someone around him was a rather nice change from being alone, or being with twits like Sakuragi on the team. Shina was a quiet presence – she never did speak much, but Rukawa treasured that silence very much.
Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I'll try my best to stick to the characters' personalities. It's quite difficult, but I'll try harder! Thanks for all the useful comments, Alexia! Sometimes I get quite mixed up with all the tenses :P