Disclaimer: The characters featured are in no way related to me, and not that I want them to be since it would be pretty disgusting that I'd want to elope with one of them and it turns out that we're related. Ack. I'm digressing here. Anyhow, I guess I've made myself clear- they don't have anything to do with me though I wish they did.
Pairings: It revolves mainly around my favorite unconventional pairings of MitSen and MitRu. If you don't like the notion, well, I won't beg you to read this. It's a free world and everyone has a right to do what they like. Agreed?
Well, here goes nothing.
"I'm a little lost here. Could you run that by me again?" asked a befuddled Mitsui.
Kogure gave what appeared to be a long-suffering sigh. Not that anyone could blame him. Anyone who had known Mitsui Hisashi for as long as he had would be suffering as well.
"I'm going to have to leave Japan awhile," he repeated for the umpteenth time.
Mitsui cocked his head to one side. "So? What's that got to do with anything? You're the one who's leaving here, not the house. Why can't I rent your house while you're gone?" he asked.
Kogure couldn't help but stare at his friend incredulously. "Mitsui Hisashi, you never fail to amaze me. We've gone through this a million times already. I can't lease my house to you because I won't be in Japan."
"That doesn't make any sense!" scoffed Mitsui, "Most people rent out their places BECAUSE they're not in Japan!"
Kogure shrugged, "My parents don't want the house rented out all right?" 'Especially not to you.'
"Why ever not? It's not like I'm gonna trash the place or anything!" protested Mitsui indignantly.
Kogure winced. Bingo. "Well, they just don't. I'm sorry Mitsui, but renting out my house to you is out of the question," he smiled apologetically. He really did want to help but he couldn't go against his parents now, could he?
Mitsui released a frustrated sigh. "Swell. I'll just find some place else then."
"I'm really sorry--" Kogure began, but Mitsui waved him off.
"Forget it. It's not your fault. Take care of yourself when you're there all right?"
"I will," Kogure promised.
"Say…….where is it that you're going to again?"
Kogure face-faulted.
Mitsui kicked a stray can aside as he strode down the deserted alley. He didn't know why, but dark, dirty alleys appealed to him- maybe because it reminded him of his old gangster days. Not that they were old exactly. Was it only several months ago that he gave up all that for basketball? It seemed so long ago………………
He felt a slight pang of guilt as he realized that he was reminiscing about the old days. Well, hell, he did miss it all. It was fun hanging out with the boys. They lived on a precipice- they could have been caught or convicted for many offences and he came so close to expulsion from school. Not that he'd cared. Truth be told, he didn't care much about anything then. Then Anzai sensei came…………………..
"Screw it man!" he cursed angrily at himself, "you sound like some fag getting all mushed up and sentimental!"
His sudden outburst was met only by silence and that comforted him little.
"Know what? I'm going home!" he told the silence.
Sendoh Akira whistled cheerfully as he came out of the store lugging bags of groceries. It was his turn to do the shopping that week and he'd gladly obliged- anything to avoid babysitting the neighbor's kid. He had nothing against children of course, just this particular one.
Besides, it was fun choosing all those vegetables.
He caught sight of a new outlet that had opened- Sundaes Everyday- where every day's a Sundae! Sendoh couldn't help but snort at the lame name. Still, the ice cream parlor looked inviting, so he caved in to temptation and entered the store.
Mitsui knew he was supposed to go home. He should be at home and getting ready for work, but he didn't feel up to it. Not when he was supposed to work at that stupid new store which sold ice cream sundaes. It was the only job available, and seeing that he was desperately in need for cash, he had grabbed it without thinking twice. Till now that is.
"Stupid yellow aprons. Stupid little bunnies. Stupid smiling sun," he grumbled as he thought of the uniform hanging in his cupboard.
Sighing, he followed where his feet, and head, led him- home.
Minutes later, a none-too-pleased Mitsui reported for work, arriving just in the nick of time. The manager welcomed him with a wide smile and told him, very nicely, that he was to serve at the counter.
"I'm so glad you're here! And on time too! I'm impressed at your punctuality! Just go and take over from Takeshi there- his shift's before yours- and serve the ice creams! Easy peasy! I'm sure you'll get the hang of it in no time!" squealed the manager excitedly.
Mitsui forced a smile and did as he was told. Takeshi gave him a wink as he took over.
"Smile!" he chided Mitsui.
Mitsui rolled his eyes. Good grief, he just stepped into loony land.
"A triple fudge sundae with cute little sprinkles on top please!" the little boy ordered.
"One triple fudge sundae with cute little sprinkles coming right up!" Mitsui beamed at the boy and immediately busied himself with preparing the order. As much as he hated to admit it, this was fun. The children's smiles as they ordered were contagious- and he'd found himself smiling in no time.
"Here you go," he gave the boy his sundae, "that'll be 300 yen please!"
The boy counted out his cash and, finding enough, handed them over to Mitsui proudly.
"Thank you! Please come again!" Mitsui bowed slightly. His next customer was a girl. Mitsui gave her an extra-friendly smile. Girls always fell for that smile. And, true enough, this one was no exception.
"Anou……….." the girl stammered, cheeks turning red, "can I have a vanilla ice cream please?"
"Most certainly!" Mitsui bowed, and returned with the order only seconds later.
"Arigatou…………" the girl was visibly trembling now.
"Please come again!" he curtsied teasingly.
The girl nodded and scurried out of the shop.
"Teasing little girls I see," said a voice.
Mitsui glanced up from his curtsy. He felt his cheeks turn red.
"Sendoh. What are you doing here?" he said, straightening up immediately.
Sendoh laughed good-naturedly. "I came in to see you curtsy one more time and," his eyes twinkled as he took in the apron Mitsui was wearing, "to see you in that cute little apron."
"Urusai!" Mitsui flushed, more than a little embarrassed. Of all people to see him in this state it just had to be Ryonan's ace! He was Mitsui Hisashi- the cutest MVP of all time! Not some…………erm, this person that he was, selling sundaes and donning an apron!
"It's part of the uniform," he found himself saying in self-defense. Even to his own ears it sounded lame.
"Oh? I thought that was your everyday ensemble," Sendoh chuckled.
Mitsui shot him a glare that would have melted ice. "Haha. Very funny. What do you want?" he snapped.
"A triple fudge sundae with nuts, cherries and some cream on top. And maybe some M&M's."
Mitsui grunted. "Right." He set to work on the order immediately.
"Or maybe not."
"What? Okay, what do you want then?" he bit back a caustic remark. There were kids in the shop.
"Mocha with little chocolate bits on top would be nice."
"Mocha and chocolate bits. Got it," Mitsui repeated, "Cup or cone?"
"Cup."
Mitsui reached out for a cup.
"No. Make it a cone."
Mitsui's arm veered for the cone instead.
"Um, no. Both?"
Mitsui almost lost it. "Will you make up your mind?!!!!!!!!"
"I want both," sniffed Sendoh.
"You can't have both you idiot! It's one or the other!"
"You decide then," pouted Sendoh.
Mitsui glared at him in disgust, completely ignoring the cute little pout on the Ryonan player's face.
"Here. And for that you owe me 1 000 000 yen!" Mitsui thrust the cone at the other boy.
"1 000 000? Demo………….I don't have that kind of money Mitsui-san!" whimpered Sendoh pathetically.
"Good grief! Are you really Sendoh Akira?!!!!" Mitsui threw his hands up in exasperation.
"You doubt my identity?"
"I doubt my sanity," came the sarcastic reply.
Sendoh laughed. "All right all right! Here's 500 yen. Keep the change," he relented.
Mitsui rolled his eyes. "And what am I supposed to do with the extra cash?"
"Go buy yourself some water or something," Sendoh replied nonchalantly, as he opened the parlor door.
"Water?" Mitsui blinked, "Why water?"
"To cool your temper."
"NANDATO??!!!!!!!"