CAT CAUGHT MY HEART: DAY V—INUI SADAHARU
"C'mon, c'mon, Kisara-chan," Eiji looked back and coaxed once again. "We're going to miss the book sale. I've been waiting all these days for that set of manga to be on sale, I don't want someone else to buy it!"
"Eiji-kun," Kisara panted as she tried to catch up to the third-year's long legs. "Y-you're walking too fast. I-I can't keep up." Eiji looked back and tapped his foot, his expressions impatient.
"I don't it. You're plenty fast on the court, why are you so slow when you're walking?" Kisara stopped walking and narrowed her eyes.
"Because," she pointed out. "When I play tennis, I don't need to walk. I could jump and fly, twist and turn! Unlike here." She stomped her foot. A sly gleam flashed in Eiji's eyes.
"Let's do it this way, Kisara-chan. Let's race to the bookstore. You can jump and fly and twist all you want. Ready? Go!" He took off before Kisara had even had a chance to comprehend what was said.
"W-wait, Eijiiiiii!!!" Hearing nothing but the words "fly" and "jump," Kisara bounced after Eiji. And with her cat-like spryness, soon took over the senior's speed. Then she stopped, realizing that she did not know where the bookstore was. She turned around, and saw Eiji standing some ways back, laughing so hard tears were almost streaming down his face.
"Kisara!" he called. "The bookstore is right here! You went way too far!" He grabbed her hand as she neared. "Come on, come on!" With no warning, he plunged his way into the crowding store and began shoving his way around.
"Hey, there it is!" He shouted gleefully. "I see my manga set with my name written on it!"
Eiji lurched forward and reached for the books, but at the same time, another hand also reach out and closed on a set of books next to it. Eiji looked startled, then turned around.
"Inui!" He crowed jubilantly. "What are you doing here?"
"Buying some books." Inui nodded to the scientific set of books he was holding and pushed his glasses up. "This is a good opportunity to gather some valuable information."
"Not again, Inui!" Eiji sighed and eyed the green notebook critically. "Aren't you tired of that yet? You're always jotting things down in the notebook of yours, it makes me nervous, wondering what you're putting down about me."
"Nothing bad, nothing bad." Inui assured, though Eiji looked nothing close to being certain.
"Ah, Kisara, I didn't notice you were also here." Inui turned to the girl.
"Inui-sama," Kisara ducked her head shamefully. Out of the whole team, the one she was most unsure of was Inui. Sure, he was queer, though most definitely harmless. But, to Kisara, there seemed to be an erratic aura about him that she wasn't sure of.
"Oh, yes!" Eiji cheered as he paid for his mangas. "I've finally got these in my hands." They heard a sound, and Inui looked back questionably. "Hehe, that was my stomach, guys." Eiji ran a hand through his hair with embarrassment. "I was so worried I wouldn't get here in time that I didn't get any lunch. I know, let's go to that new café down on Main Street. I heard that they have the best pastries."
"I've got to get home." Kisara murmured softly.
"What's wrong, Kisara-chan?" Eiji leaned down and asked, concerned. "This is unlike you. You're usually very happy? What's wrong today?"
"N-nothing…"
"Then come with us!" His voice rang out and several passers-by turned their gazes over to him strangely. He winked his blue eyes, "My treat!"
"Alright." Kisara had no choice but to agree. When Eiji's heart was set, who could change it?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
"So what is in your notebook, Inui-sama?" Kisara watched Inui's every movement before finally speaking tentatively.
"Things. Information." Right now, Inui was busily watching Eiji pay for a dozen different pastries and jotting down information. He bounced back and set a tray down.
"Eat, guys, eat!" He plopped the icy glass bottle of milk in front of Kisara. "And here, your milk, as usual. White and never chocolate." Two weeks together with Kisara, all the members of the tennis team learned that instead of bringing water or drinking the water that were prepared for the players, the girl in white always brings a bottle of milk with her.
"Now try this one, Inui, it's heaven!" At that time, his cell phone rang, he pulled it on and clicked it on with a little toss. "Hoihoi??" Eiji said in a singsong voice as he picked up the phone.
"It's almost scary how similar you two are." Inui noted as he peered at them through his glasses. "If I didn't know better. I would have thought you two were related." Kisara looked up curiously and glanced at the notebook.
"Is there information in here about me, Inui-sama?" She inquired in a quaint little voice. Inui looked up from a fruit tart.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, there is a few pages on you." To both third-years surprise, Kisara looked delighted as she squealed in a childlike fashion.
"Really? Wowie! That's so nice!" Inui raised a dubious eyebrow.
"I wasn't aware that I was being nice."
"Nobody's ever written about me before." She stretched out her hand. "Can I read it?"
Usually, Inui would have refused. They were private notes and thought a scribbled down into the notebook. There were some for his eyes only. But one look at the eager child, and he relented, without truly knowing why.
Kisara's eyes scanned the page vivaciously. "Oh, this is so cool!" She giggled. "You have so much information. I never knew I always jump with my left feet. And I never noticed that 70% of the time I jump, it's counter-clockwise." She looked over at him. "Inui-sama, you really are a smart guy, aren't you? I wish I could be as smart." Her voice sounded wistful.
It was true. Inui Sadaharu was a smart guy, but the people who actually notices it, only came to the conclusion that he was weird. Perhaps a genius, but definitely eerie. This was the first time that anybody's ever taken his intelligence and made it into a compliment. And such an innocent, sincere one at that.
Speechless at her praise, Inui could only summon up all of his emotions and gratitude in two words.
"Thank you."