Disclaimer : Slam Dunk is owned by Takehiko Inoue. Rani is mine!
Note: Sentences in italics are thoughts.
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Laarni - here it is!
mskitsune - thank you! thank you! here's the continuation.
tensaispira - you do? I do too. LOL
arashi tissue - I am so glad you liked this work of mine.
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Madness
Chapter 2: Kogure's Dilemma
The ringing doorbell alerted her up from reading her magazine. Careful not to miss the page she was reading, she placed the magazine on the table then proceeded to open the door.
"Konnichiwa!" A tall man slightly bowed in greeting. She looked at the man and willed her mind to work and try to remember the name as she was sure she had met him before. He was one of Kogure's friends. Darn those Japanese names! So hard to remember. The tall man on the other hand silently stared at the frowning girl in front of him. He remembered her name. Rani, Kogure Kiminobu's housemate.
"Uh…gomen, I know I met you before but...umm… I forgot your name. You are---?" She tilted her head looking up at him and feeling stupid for not remembering his name.
The basketball player is feeling awkward at the question because he is not used to introducing himself. Almost everyone in Kanagawa knew him after all. "Rukawa. Rukawa Kaede."
Recognition reflected on Rani's face. "Oh hai, hai…Rukawa!" She bumped her fist on her forehead as she scolded herself. "Shesshh….I am getting old. Come in. Kogure-kun's not home though. He went to visit his granny." She led him to the living room. "How did you know where Kogure-kun lives?"
He went in and lowered himself on the couch. "I've been here many times before."
Rani gaped at him. "Really? How come I've never seen you?"
"Kogure-sempai said you were attending review classes or something like that."
"Uhuh…Oh….yes. I was always out on weekends before." She laughed softly. "Would you like to have some tea?"
Rukawa nodded and gave a little smile. "Tea would be fine."
When she left to get a pot of tea, Rukawa noticed the magazines lying at the table in front of him. He scanned them but placed them back hurriedly when Rani came back with two cups and the pot containing the tea. After she placed everything on the table, she filled the two cups and gave one cup to the visitor.
"Arigato."
She gave him a slight bow before sipping from her cup. "Hm."
"Astronomy magazines?" Curiosity got him.
"Hm? Yeah."
"Why are you reading those?"
She gave him a puzzled look and a mellow laughter. "What do you mean why? I like them that's why I read them."
He gave her a quizzical look. "Astronomy?"
"Yeah. I have always been interested in astronomy but I ended up to become a nurse hahahahah!"
Rukawa frowned. "Why did you not take up Astronomy in college instead?"
She let out a soft sigh. "I suck at Math. I love reading everything about astronomy but when I start seeing formulae and calculations, my head gets dizzy. That and I know I won't be able to get a job even if I was lucky enough to become an astronomer." She paused and took a sip. "I mean, how many astronomers does the world need anyway?" She grinned widely at him. "But I really like it. One day, I would get myself a big telescope and set it up on the rooftop of my house so I can do stargazing. But of course, I have to build a house first that's why I am here working." She chuckled and looked at him. "By the way, I am really sorry about not remembering your name. That was so rude of me."
He lifted up the cup and took a sip. "It's alright."
"I really don't know what time Kogure-kun will be back. Are you going to play basketball?"
"Hai." He lied. Ever since he got back from America almost a year ago, he visits his sempai every time he feels alone on a weekend. And he just came from his usual basketball practice with his national teammates.
"I see." She took a sip from her cup. "You speak good English." Her eyebrows lifted up to look at him.
"I've been to America for more than 4 years."
"Work?"
"I played basketball."
"You went to America just to play basketball?"
"I played at NBA."
Her face lighted up. "I see. I was glad I met Kogure-kun because when I came here I knew very little Japanese. He told me that he learned English in school. I was surprised that English is being taught at schools here too."
"Hmn."
"Oh I remember..." She paused as she thought of something. "I think Kogure-kun was referring to you when he mentioned one time that he has a junior who played at NBA. He even said that you were very quiet and indifferent before but you gradually opened up. He said you were not even smiling." She stopped talking and observed him.
He just shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I changed a lot."
"Hm. That's good!"
Feeling that the person in front of him already knows too much about him, he decided to turn the tide. "Why did you have to take review classes before?"
Rani looked up as if trying to search for the answer to his question. "So I can get the license to practice nursing here. I started out as a caregiver." She then looked at him and let out a smile of satisfaction. "Japan allows foreign nurses to practice if they pass the licensing exam. So now I can work without any problem." She smiled with pursed lips and proudly raised an eyebrow.
He gave her a nod and timid smile. "I see. Congratulations then."
She grinned. "Thank you!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Kogure-kun! Rukawa-kun dropped by this afternoon." Kogure just walked out of his room after changing into his usual house attire, a faded t-shirt and a pair of shorts. Rani has already prepared dinner for both of them.
The man wearing eyeglasses sat down and looked at her. "Ah…really? What did you tell him?"
"Told him you went to see your granny. Ne, how come Mitsui-kun never visits you? I thought you are closer to him?"
He was just about to take a bite when he heard her questions. "Umm…that's because he lives far from us. I was closer to Hisashi-kun because we were batch mates in senior high."
"Oh I see."
"Besides, Rukawa-kun lives just a few blocks away from us." He just had to add that. He had to sound convincing since he knew the real reason is that Mitsui is not the type who would frequently visit a friend. Especially now that he lives with Rani. For some reason, Mitsui isn't very fond of his housemate. As for the former cold ace, they had become fast friends as he learned that Rukawa is really a warm person after all.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kogure was dashing through the hospital hall looking for his friend when he saw her emerging out of Room 311. "Rani, she's there!" He whispered excitedly and pointed at the direction where he spotted the woman of his dreams.
Rani rolled her eyes at her friend. "So? Why don't you talk to her?"
"Nani!? I can't. I feel so nervous." Actually, he was shaking. [A/N: Awww…poor Kogure]
"Shessh…Kogure-kun. I have to admit you are good at everything but approaching girls!"
Ok, now he's red and shaking. "I know. I wish I am like other men who are smooth when it comes to women!"
"Really now, Kogure-kun, I don't know what's eating you! You look fine to me. In fact, you look handsome in your nerdy ways hahahahah!"
"Rani!!!"
"Kidding!!!" She grinned at him and made a peace sign. "Seriously, I think you should start working up your guts and talk to Maru. At least you could start out as friends, you know." She winked at him.
Kogure's glasses got fogged. "Shhhhhh….not so loud. Somebody might hear you."
"Alright then, let's go back to work before we both get fired." She once again rolled her eyes and walked away from her friend to proceed to another ward.
Kogure sighed. He had known Maru for quite sometime but he is just too shy to talk to her, let alone confess. Maru is also a colleague at Kitamura. They weren't on the same shift before but when she was assigned in his shift, he felt so happy but at the same time, his knees would always go weak every time he would meet her at the hallways. The only conversation they ever had was a simple 'hi' and 'hello'. That's all. He knew she was the one and wondered why he fell in love with a woman who is already involved with another man. Yes, Maru has a rich boyfriend who comes to the hospital to fetch her and drop her home everyday. Oh, how his heart would ache every time he sees them holding hands and she would ride in his car. Only Rani knows of his predicament and he is actually thankful that he has someone he could talk to about it.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The train's crowded. Kogure and Rani had to be contented standing up during the ride. The air is filled with the smell of the weary bodies of salary men and women. Some people are sleeping while a few are reading mangas. A child bellowed out probably out of exasperation. Rani looked at her companion beside her. The man has the look of someone who is traveling out in outer space as his eyes are focused beyond the horizon. He must be thinking about Maru again. She nudged him using her elbow. The bespectacled man woke up from his reverie and looked at her.
"Tell you what? Why don't I steal her rich boyfriend so that you can make your move?" She sported that silly grin after blurting out the equally silly proposal.
Kogure sweatdropped. "What are you saying?!"
Rani shrugged. "Oh well…."
Although a very easy-going person, Rani is deeply concerned about her friend. She wanted to help him. Kogure-kun deserves to be happy.