Man, I'm trying my very best in updating as quick as possible, but school's almost over and the teachers are pouring in all the homework and projects NOW so it'll be pretty hard in scrambling everything in. I'll try my best though!
DISCLAIMER: Only the plotline's mine
NOTES: I just finished reading Imadoki Nowadays and after reading the last one a billion times I decided this fic is going to be a five-part fic. Therefore, this one is going to be 4 of 5! Almost to the end minna-san!
WARNING: OOC-ness
Chapter 4School life continued to march on. Ibu Shinji continued to work hard in his studies. Unfortunately, it was the day before mid-term exams that he was attacked so he had to make up for it. He had much studying to do and four exams to take. However, with the help of his classmates he managed to do a smooth job on the exams. After all, he was a second-year tensai.
Apart from his academics, Shinji picked up tennis and an amazing rate. Ever since his first match back he picked up his skills quickly, only this time his shots were sharper and his 'Spot' seemed to be able to keep his opponents' arms paralyzed longer. The only problem that he seemed to be having was doubles. Since he could no longer see his doubles partner he tended to knock into speed demon Kamio who had difficulty speeding across the court without knocking into Shinji.
"Game set and match Ishida-Sakurai 6-3!"
The four second-years walked up to the net and shook hands before heading for the bench. Kamio and Shinji had failed once again at another attempt to improve their doubles. Both were frustrated for despite the fact that they were able to win 3 games they were still screwing up even after a week.
"Shinji, are you sure you want to continue playing doubles?" asked Tachibana. "You've been tripping at it a lot."
"Hai, Tachibana-san, it's not like I completely lost it. I don't know where people get these crack-headed ideas from even if one of the players-"
"Shinji shut up!" yelled Kamio. Even if he was blind, Shinji still hadn't given up on his habit of mumbling. Well, that was one thing that didn't change even though it bothered everybody. The redhead couldn't see how his friend's parents could put it up with all this.
"Sumimasen."
"Practice dismissed!" called Tachibana.
Everyone gathered the equipment and the tennis balls and went to get changed. Kamio led out Shinji toward the front where his mother would take him home.
As he let his blind friend out to the front of the school Kamio couldn't help but realize that ever since the attack he had gotten closer to Shinji. He went with him every day to class and to tennis practice. He felt that as Shinji's doubles partner and best friend that he should look after him.
"Shinji, why don't you drop by at the street courts sometimes?" asked Kamio. "We haven't played too much doubles together apart from practice."
"What do you mean we don't play doubles too much? I believe we played doubles many times at the street tennis courts, during the City Tournament and the Kanto Tournament, and during practice so don't tell me-"
"Shinji you know I mean!" retorted the redhead. "Ishida and Sakurai told me that you're considering in asking Tachibana-san to play singles like you did in the District Tournament. Hey, do you want to come over and study for tomorrows Math test? 'Kaasan's making those rice balls you like."
Shinji didn't say anything as his mother pulled in and opened the door. Instead he said, "Get in."
Curiosity got the better of him and Kamio joined his best friend in the back of the car closing the door as he sat down. The engine started up and the car started moving down the busy road. The whole time Kamio was either staring out the window or staring at Shinji. However, the other boy had fallen asleep so he gave up on trying to start a conversation.
Finally the car pulled in its destination. The redhead stepped onto the pavement and closed the door. He stared at the sign towards the top of the building they were parked in front of. This wasn't what he expected.
"…Here?"
Shinji said nothing as his mother helped him get out. Gripping the handle of the racket 'eastern grip' he walked off with his mother. Kamio stared at the two Ibus for a moment before gathering himself together and hurried after them. The three went past the desk at the front, up two floors in the elevator, and down the right corridor until they arrived at a door with 'Ibu' written on it.
"'Kaasan! Shinji! Akira-kun! What are you three doing here?" said the surprised occupant of the room. Kamio was staring at the occupant his eyes wide as saucers. This person was familiar. It was Shinji's sister! Kamio had seen her before plenty of times, but this time she was even paler.
"Nee-san, o genki desu ka?"
"Hai, genki desu. Shinji, you worry too much."
"You're my nee-san, we're family, how can I not care about you? Well, there's always those very abusive parents, but honestly, it's not like I get a beer bottle thrown at-"
"You're mumbling again," said the older woman with a small chuckle. "Seems like you haven't changed much either. You haven't changed either Akira-kun." Kamio suddenly remembering his manners hastily nodded his head.
"Oh, sumimasen, I-I didn't know you were sick," said the redhead.
"Iie, you couldn't have known," replied Shinji's sister waving her hand from side to side in front of her pale face. "You two have been busy with school and tennis anyway." Kamio tugged on his friend's sleeve.
"Shinji, come with me," was all he said before he dragged Shinji out of the hospital ward and out in the hallway. The other youth didn't even struggle or protest, as he was lead away from his sister and out into the hall where nurses and doctors rushed about. "What's your sister suffering from?"
"Oh, you mean Ibu-san?" Both boys turned to see a doctor heading their way. He was dressed like all the doctors were with the white coat and was carrying a clipboard. Shinji recognized that voice. It was the doctor who was taking care of his older sister.
"Doctor Yamazaki," said the blind youth bowing slightly. The doctor nodded his head toward the boy. He knew Shinji. Shinji visited his sister at least twice a week checking to make sure she was all right.
"Ahem, anyway, you were asking about what Ibu-san is suffering from?" said the doctor pointing at the redhead. Kamio nodded. "Ibu-san is suffering from diabetes mellitus."
"Can she recover from it?"
"Sadly, no, we have medicines that can help, but she has a bad condition so they can only prologue her life from ending. The only way for her to recover is to have a kidney transplant, but so far we haven't found one that can be suitable for her." Kamio stared at Shinji.
"You don't have that. How come she does?"
"Nii-chan!"
There was a flash of black and Shinji lost his balance and fell on his butt as a mini version of himself gave him a big hug. Kamio quirked an eyebrow at his best friend and the elementary kid who had a strong resemblance to Shinji who were both on the hospital floor.
"Because of him."
That only got Kamio even more confused as to how an innocent elementary kid like this one could get a young woman a serious case of diabetes mellitus. It didn't seem right and it didn't make sense plain and simple.
"Hiroki!"
Shinji's mother came running frantically and picked up the mini Shinji. The boy didn't protest as he was lifted off the ground. Kamio finally got to see the full details. The Shinji look-alike had dark hair that was shoulder-length and dark eyes. He was wearing a dark violet shirt over a black jacket and black shorts.
"Who's this?"
"This is Ibu Hiroki, Akira-kun. Hiroki-chan, this is Kamio Akira."
"Your nephew?"
"That would be my nephew, Kamio."
The redhead turned to Shinji who had now picked himself off the floor. Once again Kamio quirked an eyebrow. This was getting more and more confusing. It was like Shinji's mumbling; he asks a question and then suddenly it drives into random directions.
"Your…nephew?"
"Hai, Akira-kun, that's Shinji's nephew. He probably didn't tell you this, but Rika (A/N: I don't know what Shinji's sister's real name is so I'll just use that) got married when he was seven. After that she got pregnant, but the father didn't want to have the responsibility of a father so he divorced her.
When she was two months pregnant she suddenly said that she wasn't feeling well. I brought her to her room and called the doctor. That's when we found out that after she got pregnant she also got diabetes mellitus. The doctor said that probably she'd only have it as long as she was carrying a baby. We thought that after Rika gave birth she'd be better.
We were wrong. She was having lots of trouble when she was in labor. Thankfully, she held on and was able to give birth to Hiroki. However, when were allowed to see her the doctor said that she would have diabetes mellitus forever. We also learned from the doctor that Rika had badly damaged kidneys and would need to be replaced. We've been searching for a donor ever since, but to no avail."
"So this is what Shinji's going through as well, thought Kamio as he heard about how no one could help Shinji's sister and that she was going to face death soon.
X-
Shinji took whatever notes he could hear through his ears. He wasn't concentrating today. It had been a month since he told Kamio about his sister. What he didn't tell him was that she only had a month left until she died. Almost a month has been up. Shinji didn't know if he'll be able to take it when Rika passes away.
"Thanks to what the brat made her go through just to have him her life's going to end before I even get to high school," thought Shinji as he kept one ear open as to what the teacher was saying.
Finally the bell rang signaling the end of class. Shinji was lead out of the bustling classroom and out toward the tennis courts where afternoon practice was about to start. Somehow, he didn't feel like playing tennis, like when…
Shinji shivered slightly at the memory, when he was beaten by those high school idiots and went blind before he even hit the age when he was supposed to. It left a permanent mark on himself.
At the moment his phone rang. Kamio stopped and after rummaging around in Shinji's bag he put the phone in the blind youth's hand. Shinji held the phone to his ear and started talking. From the sound of things it probably was his mother. Abruptly, Shinji suddenly hung up the phone.
"Kamio, I need you to take me to the front."
"What is it?"
"It's nee-san."
To Be Continued…A bit longer than the normal. Sorry it was kinda rushed since I want to finish the last chapter. I've got a few knew ideas you can wait for. Review kudasai! No flames kudasai.