Author's note: I don't know if I should be writing anything like this. You may say that this is just an utter silliness out of the diseased, aggregate system of my philosophical and literary tendencies, if I have any. But then again I write stupid stories, and most probably that's all there is in my inclination to put to words what I have in mind; to exploit the stupid mistakes people make in life. You may learn something or be poisoned by the insinuations of this work but heck, you can read or not.
Disclaimer: I don't own SD boys, Inoue does. The events that follow are not included in the original plot but enjoy anyway.
I walk home unaccompanied by any living presence in this lifeless, inviolable neighborhood where everyday is spent to wait for the next one. I was supposed to ride with Jin on his mountain bike but Maki said he has an important matter to discuss with Jin and coach. So damn him for leaving me in this pathetic state.
I reach the corner of the street and hop over the fence to gain access to the garage. It's empty. Mom and Dad aren't yet home from work as usual. I help myself to what's left inside the microwave and head upstairs to my room. It's not yet sun-down.
I lay quietly on my bed, silent as an empty casket in a funeral shop waiting to be purchased. Rrrrring...rrring...rrrring...the phone screams. I pick it up and there flows a cold, solid voice from the other line. It reminds me of a voice I've heard from a suspense movie, something that I wouldn't be accustomed of hearing in this world I'm in; that of a serial killer.
' 'afternoon, Nobunaga.' It says.
'Er, hi. Who's this?' I ask, trying hard to be polite.
'No one important. Just called to say hi.'
'Okay. So hi to you and goodbye,' I say, this time, without formality.
'I haven't said 'hi', boy. You can't hang up yet,'
'Oh yeah? Well, guess what? I am, and good day to you, loser.' I say, my finger already touching the receiver's switch.
'Wait wait wait wait! I've something to tell you, it's important,' The voice suddenly transforms itself into something very familiar, something I'm used to hearing everyday.
'JIN! What the fuck's that for? Calling like a maniac and mmmph, never mind...what is it?' I say, relieved to hear his voice.
'Hehehe. Well, let me apologize first for, well, that silly shit I just gave you. hehehe. I'm a real voice actor, ain't I?' Jin smirks annoyingly and goes on 'Anyway, somebody turned up today after you left. You wouldn't believe who it is,'
'I've no idea.'
'Kaede Rukawa.' he says.
'And?'
'Well, it wouldn't have been that weird if he didn't ask me for your number,'
'Interesting. Just as I want it; to have a long chat with Kaede Rukawa over the phone and have a girly good time,' I say with a biting tinge of sarcasm and boldness.
'Mmmmh. So you don't like him one bit, do you?'
'He's a complete bore, Soichiro. I wouldn't be surprised if a friggin' icebox turns out to be more exciting than that cocky prune slash super jock. And besides I've got enough friends to entertain without him,' I answer without any trace of hesitation. It's true, I wouldn't go near that Mr. Vixen; not if he's the last person to have a one on one game with.
'Never mind about making friends and all. But d'you think he's the one who stalks you?'
'Stalk me? I haven't said anything about a stalker, Jin, because I have none. I just said I saw somebody outside my window and that doesn't make him/her/it a stalker. He/she/it probably was just having a goodnight walk along Izanaghi Street and happened to pass by in front of my house.' I say. An impending fear suddenly takes possession of me at the recollection of the image. My trembling arm reaches for the lamp switch at the head of my bedside as the sun beyond my bedroom walls starts to be swallowed by the contour-less horizon. A few minutes more and no light will pass through my open window and I will be alone in this staid, colorless building.
'Yeah. But what you saw made a mighty impression on you, right? So you're now making a farthing out of it and say goodbye to it just like that, am I making sense here?'
'Yes. I'm maybe just scaring myself stiff bleating over what I saw. But if it was Rukawa coming after me at midnight, I say he's wasting his time because I leave my pants and shirt on when I sleep,' I say. Something tells me that that's what I want to be known but then, it's absolutely stupid and assuming to say something so rotten and shameless.
'Hahahaha. Wonder what he'd say if he hears it,' comes Jin's hearty laughter and, 'And hey, he might give you a ring sooner or later,'
'Come again?'
'I gave him your number. Scribbled it on a piece of paper.'
'Why'd you do that for?' I snap.
'If he didn't look as though he'd knock me down if I refused, I would've walked away on the spot. And besides, I think it's kinda important otherwise he wouldn't take the trouble visiting Kainandai University after having a tough game with their basketball team,' Jin's explanation doesn't comply with anything specious. What does he think he's playing at giving away my number like it's a hotel brochure?
'Don't be crackpot bugger, Jin. You could've just given an invented combination of numbers, why not do that?'
'I didn't have much time to entertain that sort of idea. You can't imagine how odd it struck me. I was standing there in front of him like I was a hostage or something and when he asked me for your number I just gave it away without saying anything and off he went on his girly bike,' He says, forgetting the purpose of using periods between sentences.
'Well, thanks a lot. Now I'll just have to wait for his call because I've been looking forward to it. Great.' I say sarcastically.
'Ok, I'm sorry for having done something so stupid. But you shouldn't go squabbling over a cursed phone call. Just act cool like you've met him a thousand times before. He's just probably goin' to ask you a mindless question anyway.'
'Let's just hope that would be the case. Apology accepted.' I say. Man, Do I have to get bugged over silly phone calls?
'Sigh. Thanks. So, bye then?'
'Right. Bye.' I hang up.
I stare at the spatial void outside, trying to make sense of the world and all its contingencies. One more step out of its ordinary bounds and I'm going insane, crazy as a mad cad in a lost dream world. I can't make anything out of the so-called order it harnesses upon its saddle. Or is there any order at all in this random array of things and events? What part do I play in that arrangement? What role is there available for Rukawa? Or that figure who haunts me?
Silence. Rrrring...rring...rrring..
Oh, Rukawa.
TBC