Aishiteru
Chapter 8: F.FDisclaimer: If I owned Slam Dunk, Koshino would have played a bigger role and he would have more screen time in the anime. But unfortunately I don't. -_-"
Notes: Apologies for taking so long to update this. I've been pretty busy with basically everything. *sweatdrop* Anyway, enjoy this chapter.
This chapter is dedicated to members of Kooky, Delusional Lady, and Koyasu [Not forgetting lil William too! ^^]
"…." Indicate conversations
//…// Indicate inner monologues
"So that's about everything I know Sendoh-san." Hikoichi Aida exclaimed as he sat down on the wooden bench, beside his senior and captain. He had revealed the details of the conversation between his to other seniors without missing anything out, even to the point of informing Sendoh what his two teammates ate for lunch. That was Hikoichi: precise, significant, and very informative.
Staring out into space, Sendoh didn't know what to think. All his thoughts are jumbled up together in a confusing knot. Minutes slowly passed by without him saying anything. Hikochi on the other hand, was starting feel worried towards the spiky-haired lad, wondering if telling Sendoh was the right thing to do.
As if sensing the other's distress, Sendoh looked at Hikoichi with a wide smile on his face.
"Don't worry about a thing Hikoichi. You've made the right decision of informing me of what Hiro-kun and Fukuda have in store for the near future. It's pretty funny come to think of it". Chuckling, he stood up and stretched his arms. A plan was forming inside his head.
"Funny?"
"Yeap. Very funny…. And silly too. It's just like a wild goose chase if you ask me. I think it's about time me and Hiro-kun end this once and for all don't you think? " A mischievous smile made it's way to his handsome face. Just by seeing that smile, Hikoichi knew straight away that his captain was up to something. There was also this strange twinkle in Sendoh's eyes that Hikoichi has not seen for quite a while.
"So Sendoh-san, what do you have in mind for Koshino-san?".
"Oh nothing special…but I do need your help"
*Meanwhile*
"He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me. He loves me not"
Sitting on the steps of his house, Fukuda was trying to find out if the object of his affections will return his love or not …….by pulling out petals of Daisies. His feelings for the Kainan Shooting Guard was growing larger and larger with each second that ticked away, making Fukuda's heart feeling like it's about to burst anytime in the near future. Thinking about Jin triggered memories of the past as he remembered….
//Flashback//
"You can do it Fukky! Go Fukky! Go!" ten year-old Jin Soichiro cried out supportively to his best friend who was participating in 50 meterx1 race that was organized by the school teachers for the school's annual sports day. Huffing and puffing his way to the finish line, Fukky was confident that he would win.
//Just a few meters to go!// he said to himself as he was leading the race by three body lengths. As he was running, he turned to his left to catch a glimpse of Jin-Jin and smiled at the other boy. That was when he tripped over a stone and fell down, flat on his stomach, leaving another runner to pass him by and clinch first place.
"Fukky!" Running as fast as his thin legs could carry him, Jin-Jin went to his best friend's side, a look of concern on his angelic face.
"Are you alright? Fukky?"
"Ooooooowwwww…" Fukky moaned, his voice laced with pain. Soon, both of Fukky's parents and some teachers gathered around, trying to give the injured boy some medical attention. Luckily, his injuries weren't serious, no broken bones or sprained muscles, just a nasty looking graze on his left knee.
Before you know it, Fukky was up and about, enjoying ice cream with Jin-Jin. They ate in complete silence, each savouring the taste of their favourite ice cream flavour, Fukky with chocolate fudge, while Jin-Jin mint.
"Idiot" Jin-Jin exclaimed, breaking the silence.
"Eh?"
"You heard me. You should have paid more attention na Fukky? You could have won the race if you weren't so busy smiling at the crowd AND you WOULD have avoided getting that graze if you would just be a little more aware of what's on the ground." Jin-Jin exclaimed.
"But Jin-Jin" Fukky started. "I was smiling at you as a sign of thanks for all your support"
"You should have thank me after the race was OVER" Jin-Jin replied.
"But….I was over excited?"
"Yea right" snickering, Jin-Jin took another lick of his mint-flavoured ice cream.
"And come on Jin-Jin. Even if I did pay attention, I couldn't have avoided that wretched stone. The thing was huge I tell ya"
"You're exaggerating" the other boy butted Fukky's claim. "It wasn't even a pebble. Even a toddler couldn't have fallen over such a small thing."
"That's not true Jin-Jin"
"It is"
"Not!"
"Is!"
"Not!"
"Is times infinity plus one!" the thinner boy exclaimed, grinning wildly as a sign of victory over their little spat. Knowing that he lost the battle of words, Fukky's eyes started to water. Rapidly, the tears made its way down his face.
" Jin-Jin…you kno-know that I can't win if you u-used the infinity thingy. E-Even though that I'm right" he stuttered, sobs racked his body. Sighly softly, Jin-Jin put hand on his friend's shoulder and tried his best to calm him down.
"I'm so sorry Fukky. Don't cry na? Please? I'm really sorry for using the infinity thingy okay? I promise to never ever use the infinity thingy against you ever again." He stated, hoping that this will compose Fukky.
"Yakusoku?"
"Yakusoku! Zutto!"
….and the memory faded away…..leaving Fukuda alone to ponder on things to come.
*Later*
" Now how do I do this again?" Koshino Hiroaki inquired himself, flipping through a thick book that looks to be a manual of some sort. He was actually sitting in front of the computer, trying furiously to solve the mysteries of HTML. He was handed the responsibility of creating Ryonan High's Basketball club website about a month ago and he still couldn't make anything. And who said that HTML was easy?
As he was figuring out how to upload graphics onto his web host, a message popped up at the far lower-corner of his monitor than indicated there was a new e-mail waiting for him. Clicking on the message, a window opened and he began to read the mail.
To: k_hiro@basketball-junkie.com
From: sensen@basketball-junkie.com
Date: 21st July 2003 at 5.30 PM
Subject: Sayonara..
Dearest Hiro-kun,
I just wanted to say how much I love you. Although you're with Fukuda now, I want you to know that I'll always love you my Hiro-kun. Thank you for always being there for me through thick and thin. If I were to die today, would you treasure the memory of the times we had together, or would those precious moments be forgotten in the midst of love that you have for another. I cannot bear to see the day you could not recall the epoch of our bond. That is why I've decided to leave this world for I have no other reason to live other than to share my lifetime with you my love. This is my final farewell.
Remember me always….
Sendoh Akira.
Koshino couldn't believe what he was reading. Sendoh took all of this seriously? But it was only a joke!
//This can't be happening! No! It can't!// Not caring about anything else, Koshino dashed out of his room and ran as fast as his legs could carry to the direction of Sendoh's residence, his heart thumping wildly.
//Please don't let anything happen to Sendoh. Please God!// he exclaimed inside his heart, offering a small prayer to God to keep his true love safe from any harm that the latter will inflict on himself.
The five minute journey from his house to Sendoh's house felt like lightyears away as he bumped and shoved everybody that came into his path, determined to get to Sendoh.
Finally, after what it seems as an eternity, Koshino arrived at Sendoh's house and banged on the door. Nobody answered. That was when he remembered that Sendoh's parents were away for the day. But there was still the spare key that the Sendohs kept for emergencies. They had entrusted Koshino the hiding place of the spare key, but amidst panic and horror, Koshino couldn't think.
//Shit! Where did they put the spare key?! Think Koshino! Think!// Moments later, he figured the exact location and fumbled to put the key into the lock. Once the key was in and turned, he rushed upstairs to Sendoh's room and opened the door.
There was Sendoh,lying on his bed looking pale and lifeless, his wrists seemed to be slashed and blood could be seen everywhere on the bed covers.
Koshino screamed.
To Be Continued….