Ten o'clock in the evening, it was the time that was pictured in the clock that I made for my twin brother when we were just six years old. It has been two hours since I've returned home from watching both Shohoku and Shoyo train for the upcoming eliminations. For these two whole hours, I was just looking down at the seven numbers written down at one piece of post-it paper posted at this week's schedule page of my organizer. These seven numbers were Fujima's house number that Hanagata gave me with no reason at all. And also with no reason at all, I just kept staring at this paper while my heart was beating fast, no very fast.
At last, I sighed aloud after deciding that I'll call him. That's all to call him. God, what a lame idea I have in mind. Well, I wouldn't blame myself. When Hanagata handed this piece of paper, I suddenly felt like I'm in paradise or something, like I wanted to call him just…just to hear his voice over the damn phone that's all.
Now wasn't the right time to think about things. I turned down Coach Anzai's request today and I can't bear to turn down the only chance I have to say thanks for the free tutorial…free tutorial…that's right!
Having an enough reason to call him, I excitedly rose up my phone's receiver and dialed all seven numbers written down at the paper. Then, the phone rang and soon enough, the other line answered the call.
"Moshi-moshi!" a soft womanly voice answered. Since there's no other middle-age woman in their house rather than his mom (I hope), I swallowed hard and tried to reply in the most normal way I can.
"Domo. Can I speak to Kenji please…" I finally said.
"Kenji…" the lady answered back. "Chotto matte…" she continued in a genki tone before pulling the receiver off her mouth and I think, shouting aloud to call Fujima. Even though the receiver's down the table there's always this time that you would over hear what's happening inside the house and believe me, I do hear it very clearly.
"May I ask who is on the line?" his mom, asked.
"Ah…Natsumi…Shinomori Natsumi…"
As soon as his mom left the receiver at the table, all I can hear was her mom's voice and him yelling at each other from I think two different floors. It was a long conversation between the two of them and I thank God for it cause it gave me lots of time to calm my fast heartbeats down. From their long conversation, it crossed my mind that Fujima isn't prone to callers but surprisingly, after hearing my name from his mom's mouth, loud banging sounds can be heard from upstairs. After that, it only took five seconds for Fujima to answer the phone.
"Gomen, Natsumi…" was his first sentence upon answering. He was catching is breath which made me think that he ran all the way from Tokyo to Kyoto. "It's nice of you to call, what's up?" he continued with a rather shaking voice.
There was always a first time for everything and this was the first time that I ran out of words to tell anybody. "I…I…nothing…actually…I just wanna…talk to you…" I said in a very nervous voice.
"I see…By the way, how did you know my number?" he asked.
At this point, I felt a little at ease with him. He's a great man once you knew him, "Hanagata gave it to my without any particular reason at all." I said at a cool tone. "Actually, I was about to say thanks for the tutorial you gave me a couple of hours ago." I finally laid everything that came across my mind. Now I'm back to being speechless again.
I can very well hear him smiling over the phone; even his heartbeat was loud enough. "That's nothing…I really had fun this training and I have you to thank for that…" he replied.
I felt very happy with his words. I know at a glance that he was not lying like any other guys around. He was very sincere and for that, I truly respect him and well, like him in some way. "I just want to know if there's something I can do for you."
He was silent for a while, "I think there's something," he said in the most playful tone ever.
I have a funny feeling about this, but I bet it's a good one for as long as I'm with Fujima, I feel that I'm always safe.
