Disclaimer: The absolute undeniable fact that cannot be doubted is this: I do not own Slam Dunk. Pero pwede pa rin akong tumingin diba?
Coffeemaverick: hehehe… thanks! Well, yeah, miyagi kinda figured that one out… hehehe
Kalyope Medina Burato: really… hehehe… fairly odd parents? Heard of that show, watched a few episodes, but not the one they got hyper with coffee… hehehe, its just that I wanted a funny scene of her being hyper… hehehe… kinda contrasts with what is about to happen with all the applying stuff…
Simmic: hehehe, actually, I don't know… it may be different for other people… once I drank coffee, it was like only one, but after that, I really really wanted to sleep… hehehe… I was like at trying to keep myself awake rather than having temporary insomnia… anyways, I portrayed her situation as her being hyper, cause it's fun, but I do based this actions on the little research I did… I found out that there's this chemical, that well increases heart rate, and like almost as if you've been given a shot of adrenalin or something, or make you feel restless… well I guess it'll work if you need to study, but at the moment, she's doing nothing, and so this kinda stored energy gets released through talking… hehehe… I actually had a classmate who got drunk because she didn't know that the punch had some liquor added to it… and she's like, hmm… it tastes good, and she drank so much… but she wasn't like that… she was more like asking every one to dance with her, and she couldn't even stand up straight… I think when you're drunk and you can't handle it, it makes you do more reckless things than just being hyper and talkative… anyways, we're the same, haven't indulged myself in a lot of coffee, or drink liquor, cause I don't like the bitter taste, hehe…
A/N: I know this might be wrong, but I placed the location of Miuradai in Kamakura… if it was ever mentioned in the manga, please correct me and I will immediately correct it… thanks…
The Writing On The Wall
"Guess what?" I was getting excited that I had just applied at the coffee shop, and just now I received a call that I could have my interview this coming Saturday. I was getting ready for the big reveal. "What?" My aunt asked coming from the kitchen. "I'm having my job interview this Saturday!"
My aunt walked towards me and gave me a blow to the head. "You're not going to that job interview. Besides, we're transferring to Kamakura this coming Monday. Start packing your things."
We were transferring this Monday. She didn't want me to work. "Why?" I couldn't help but ask. "Concentrate on your studies, I've already found someone who's interested in buying the house, we're moving, oh, and I've already discharged you from school." It pierced me with a coldness that seeped right into my bones. I was leaving Shohoku. And to think I'll be graduating this year too.
"I've already enrolled you to Miuradai High School." My aunt left me standing in the living room while she headed upstairs. I didn't even have the time to properly say goodbye. And here I was thinking of Shohoku as my second home, I guess happiness is short-lived.
I went back inside my room to pack my things. After all, it's already Saturday and most of our possessions weren't packed yet. I stopped folding my clothing and picked up the phone. I called Ayako.
"What? You're leaving? When?" I knew that it was an unexpected occurrence since I had been going to Shohoku for almost three years now, the straight only to be broken. "Hang on, we'll have a three-way with Mitsui."
I waited until I heard the phone ring. "Are you there Karin?" After I replied yes, Mitsui picked up. "Hello?" Ayako wasted no time in greeting him and immediately sent forth to the latest news. "Karin's leaving!" She exclaimed in a voice that even I had to move my ear away from the earpiece for a bit.
"I already knew." Well that was new. My aunt called his parents, his parents told him, go figure. "Look, I'll hook us up with Miyagi." Before I could even protest, Ayako momentarily disappeared before her voice reappeared after the first ring. "Miyagi? That you?"
Her question was answered by a yawn instead. "Yeah, it's me." We went to the routine of informing him of my departure and once again there was another commotion of what's, when's and where's. "We better call Jin too," Ayako suggested. Just what I was going to do, I almost said. Mitsui's cough overcame her voice.
"You all right?" She asked, obviously concerned for his well-being. "Oh I just choked on my chips." There was silence for a few moments, when Ayako finally got the message. "Well, you'll visit us tomorrow, right Karin?" I couldn't say no. I couldn't risk a yes and then at the last minute change it to no. "Well, anyways, mom's nagging at me to put down the phone, so yeah, see you guys tomorrow! Well, good luck Karin." The line went dead.
I still held the phone in my hand, wanting to call Jin, when I heard my aunt yell from the kitchen, "Karin! Help me will you!" I placed the phone as it perfectly joined with its receiver, and ran downstairs. I quickly got some boxes and placed our kitchen utensils inside. I grabbed for the pots, the rice cooker, the toaster, the microwave, and all the appliances that I could fit in it. Then came the delicate job of wrapping the plates, and glasses. "I'll finish up here, go to the living room."
I did, and found myself, packing carefully the picture frames, and paintings on the walls, I saw the telephone on the side table, and kneeled beside it. I stretched out my hand to hold it, though I recoiled and ran upstairs to my room instead.
I sat on the floor, my back leaning against my bed, my cordless phone in hand. I proceeded to dial Jin's number. I listened as the first ring rang, waited and heard the second, hung around for the third, and on the edge of the fourth someone picked up. "Hello?" It was Jin who answered the phone. "He-llo" I struggled as if I didn't know why I called. "I just called to tell you that we're transferring to Kamakura." I forced a laugh. "Which school will you be transferring in?" He sounded interested. "Miuradai-" I almost spat with hatred, I guess school spirit still resides in me. "They're good –" Jin replied, sounding as if he knew what he was talking about until he added, "I guess."
Quite to be expected. They weren't put in the same block as we were in during last year's preliminary games. "Though I heard that Shohoku won during your game with them." Damn right we did, and I'm proud of it. "Well, good luck then on your new school, by the way, are you still up for the job interview?"
Good question, but you didn't have to remind of the predicament I put myself in. "About that, my aunt sort of forbade me to work. I'll be sure to come though sometime next week to properly apologize."
"Don't worry too much about it. Did you start packing now?" I looked at the newspapers loitering the floor, and at the boxes that lay half-filled, half-empty around me. "Yeah." I grabbed a photo album and started to flip over its contents. "I guess you've got a lot of work to do. Look out your window." I stopped for a while to recall what he had just said. "Look out the window." He repeated.
I walked to the glass-paned window and pulled back it's curtains. My gaze met the balconies and rooftops of other houses. "Down." There was a black car parked on the other side of the street. The passenger back seat door on its back opened and out came Ayako followed by Mitsui. On it's right Miyagi came into sight. Not too late after did Kiyota came into view from the front passenger seat. And out of the driver's seat came Jin, holding his cellular phone to his ear.
They crossed the street to our house, opening the gate, and as I guessed, standing in front of the doorway where I could not see them. "Aren't you going to let us in?" He said. I placed the phone down and ran downstairs to meet them.
As soon as I opened it, Ayako immediately drew forward to embrace me, tightly. "I can't believe you're leaving! I mean, how long have we been both classmates and schoolmates? We didn't go to the same Junior High, but that doesn't matter right now!" I too wonder, how long has it been?
"Visitors?" My aunt wiped the sweat off her brow as she approached my friends. "The more hands we have, the faster we can get this done." We immediately set out to work, only stopping when we had to eat. I could see that the food was well enjoyed, since we came from the workout of packing, and after that, a quick rest, not too long so that we wouldn't fall asleep, and it was back to packing again. We finished late into the evening, and as I watched them try to relieve their muscles, with one glance at the clock, they immediately excused themselves, and almost hurried though reluctant, to leave.
They piled themselves on the doorway, and bowing once, they left in the direction of the car. It had been a short yet long goodbye. I succeeded in sleeping that night. The exhaustion pushed me to it. And on the morning, as the truck arrived to pick up our things, and as we ourselves, exited through the door, I locked it behind me, and as I held the doorknob in my hand, I pulled it slowly, closing it fully, hearing the unalterable sound of the door confirming that it was now locked and closed, so I walked away from it.
Haven't been able to review for a while, internet connection went down on me, it was not an easy ordeal, but I managed to survive almost 2 weeks without it… hehehehe… anyways, more surprises to come… hehehehe…