Chapter 22

Life's open doors

Naoki put Chibi in the rear of the car and the dog quickly settled to sleep… as if all the holidays in which he was home he had done something different than that—besides eating and visiting the neighbors' Doberman.

He closed the door and his mother climbed into the driver's seat to return the pet to his grandmother.

"See you later, oba-sama!" Kotoko shouted waving her hand when his mother started.

"Good-bye, Chibi!" Said his brother, dismissing the dog like his girlfriend.

Naoki folded his arms and watched them disappear, before returning inside the house.

"I'm a little sad that Chibi's gone, but I'm happy of not having a dog at home," Kotoko said aloud, making Yuuki laugh, as he did from the first day, seeing her overreaction to the arrival of his grandmother's Saint Bernard, squealing when he rushed to meet her.

She had not spent much time in her room as that month, but after two weeks, she gave up and went out, forced to get along with Chibi because of Yuuki.

"Small," Kotoko muttered, shaking and clutching his arm, mocking the dog's name, which, ironically, had a large size, in opposition to the meaning of Chibi. "He almost ate my bracelet."

"Don't say nonsense," he replied, going to the stairs to continue reading in his room, ignoring the brightness of the bracelet that his mother left him at his desk on March 13; she bought it for White Day (as his present for his girlfriend). He only mimicked her actions and, at night, placed it beside the bed of Kotoko.

Being honest with himself, he hadn't been aware of the arrival of that day, immersed in his medical book and, at certain moments, distracted by the repetition of the event of his graduation night, already forgotten by her. Therefore, when he was aware of March 14 and thought about his resolution of the last month, he shrugged at seeing the silver bracelet, with a few trinkets, and used it as a present. He was going to buy some candy for her, but he supposed that she would be happier with the object acquired by his mother.

"Grandma should leave Chibi more time," Yuuki said, and Naoki saw him stick out his tongue to Kotoko, who jumped to catch his brother, but failed and fell to the floor. "Baka, who would think that tomorrow you'll be going to university?" Sneered his brother, as he watched her groaning and rubbing her chin.

Naoki laughed, finishing going up the stairs.

[…]

"Oh, I'm so nervous!"

Naoki glanced, briefly, to where Kotoko sat beside his mother, drinking coffee, and continued on his way to the door. She wore formal wear, both jacket and skirt of a light pink color.

"Onii-chan! Does Kotoko-chan look good with her suit, doesn't she?

He rolled his eyes by the enthusiasm of his mother; she clearly knew he didn't judge by the clothes.

"She really looks like an undergraduate," opined his mother.

"That does not depend on the clothes," he remarked.

He would not give the pleasure to hear that, indeed, she did not look bad as she was dressed; but that was not the Kotoko he knew.

"I'm leaving."

He heard the clatter of porcelain hitting each other. "I gotta leave too!" said Kotoko. "Don't want to be late in my first day."

Of course, or being lost on campus, he imagined, containing a snort.

Both left home and, strangely, the road was quiet from Kotoko; maybe her nerves were the reason. He thanked the quiet atmosphere to enjoy the tranquility, at least the first day. Although her talking didn't bother him anymore.

"Naoki-kun, we are undergraduates!" she proclaimed when the campus was in their sight. "The doors of our university days are opened!"

He made a sound of affirmation with his mouth; before, he hadn't believed he'd be there, as he had mulled over it and had a lack of security in what he would do.

"Try not to get me involved in your problems," he asked for uselessly, because she would make him, in one way or another (she thought of him as a part of her). He just hoped that college life kept her busy enough.

"Hey?" she replied. "Why are you so sure I'll get in trouble?"

"It seems to be part of your name," he expressed joyfully at her inflated cheeks. Or she got into them or caused them; the name suited her.

She pouted, crossing her arms.

"Kotoko!" Her two friends approached her at the time, making the aforementioned smile.

"We only want to wish you good luck on your first day!"

"Yes, as we won't be together," added the other." Can you believe that the Department of Literature has the reputation of being the F of college?"

"For real?"

"But you've abandoned us, Kotoko. Now you'll be a step up, as in the E."

"What?! Kotoko snapped. "And Naoki-kun will still be in the A!"

Naoki contained a laugh, continuing his way to the medical department.

"Where is Naoki-kun?!" He listened when he was already far away.

He sighed.

He went to the same building as the first time he asked for information and saw other young people taking the same way, many with thick books in his hands, which he had read already. Close to the building, the bustle of the main entrance to the university ended and the stillness reigned; he listened only the chirping of birds in the cherry trees beginning to bloom.

He entered the building of first year behind a group and went to the classroom where he would have his first class; the only sound was footsteps.

Already in a seat at the corner of the classroom, someone sat in the place next to him—sharing the table—when the teacher made his entrance.

"Students, today began his training as doctors. I hope the dedication of all of you from this moment, to the work you'll do in the future," began the doctor of gray hair, adjusting his glasses when they slipped on his nose, "but before starting the lesson, let me say how proud I am that the two best students in the national exam are today in our classrooms."

Doctor Iwamura, to whom he had spoken earlier, looked at the classroom until he found him.

"Yes, I'm glad to see that they share table. Naoki Irie and Seiichi Funatsu, we are honored to have you."

Naoki nodded and cast a surreptitious glance at the one at his side, frowning. He remembered the boy with lens from the day of the exam of Todai; Kotoko had hit him. Wasn't he accepted?

The teacher had said that was they were the best in the national exam, so it was unlikely.

He didn't matter.

He directed a nod to his classmate—who narrowed his eyes, clenched his fists—, and turned his attention to the front, to attend the lesson.

[…]

The cafeteria reminded Naoki the place full of young people in which he was, after peaceful hours he had in his department, where the study took precedence, as it did in high school. He already liked the classes; the teachers, without focusing solely on books, used their experience in the area to help their training.

As Kotoko said, he would have missed that if he had not attended college. And, of course, he wasn't naïve, believing that the medical profession was something he could do on his own.

"Naoki-kun, our rest matches, so good!" He sighed and nodded when Kotoko stood beside him at the counter. "How did it go?"

"Well," he said, watching the daily menus to decide what to order.

"The same with me, I have met many people, and teachers are very good, I was told I'll do practice towards the end of the year. And… what am I going to ask?"

"A lunch," he ordered aloud.

"I also want the same!" She said, with emotion, before continuing animatedly her talk about her day.

A few minutes passed and two trays of food, clearly disproportionate, were placed on the counter.

What mockery was that?

Kotoko also compared both trays with a stunned look.

"Here are your orders." Naoki felt his eyelids tremble, recognizing the voice. In his first day at the university, he could not found, precisely, that guy.

"Kin-chan? What are you doing here? Why didn't you give Naoki-fun his food properly?!"

There was the explanation for difference portions, he analyzed displeased.

"Kotoko, this is the food you need to take vitamins and energy to your learning. He doesn't need them," Kotoko's admired explained. He even could not be free of him there. How frustrating.

"Serve me my food, cook," he said with his eyelid shaking.

"You do have guts, Mr. Genius," scoffed Ikezawa, looking at him briefly before returning his attention to Kotoko. "And I work in the cafeteria in the day, at night I work with father."

"Kin-chan, he's not your father!" Cut Kotoko with a fist raised.

"I'm saving money so you see my dedication to you, to give you a good future. And…" Ikezawa leaned toward him, "…this demon will soon show his true face, I must be there to protect you and show you my unconditional love for you."

That stupid guy. He did not understand how stupid could he be, to say such nonsense. He'd better not lost his time, mostly if Kotoko was unhappy and not interested in him.

"Why are you so sure that there is another side of him? Don't say that, Kin-chan!" claimed his girlfriend. "Stop talking about that."

"I held my opinion," Ikezawa crossed his arms and lifted his chin. "Speechless, eh, Mr. Genius?"

"Great job," he said clapping, oozing sarcasm, picking up his tray to walk to another in charge of the kitchen, who served him the amount due and gave, to his satisfaction, a rebuke to Ikezawa.

"I don't understand Kin-chan," mentioned Kotoko appearing again on his side.

He raised an eyebrow; if she did not, closer to his ability, he did not know how he could do it. The only possible explanation was that his obsession with Kotoko damaged his mental faculties. It was almost a year and he still keep going.

"Where will we sit, Naoki-kun?" Kotoko asked. He did not respond, not interested in also occupying the same place as her there.

However, he changed his mind when he saw a hand waving at the entrance to the cafeteria and someone calling him. Sudou.

"Just take the nearest table," he gestured to Kotoko, but she put attention to the newcomer.

"Irie, here you are," greeted the man with black mustache and hair, stopping in front of him.

"Sudou-san," he said, sighing.

"I've been looking for you since I heard you stayed in this university," Sudou explained, smiling. "I must confess I was surprised."

"Uh, yes," he replied, going away slowly, followed by Kotoko and the coach.

"So… you know what I want, right?" Replied Sudou.

"No, I don't want…" he said, seeing an empty table, which he began heading.

"Naoki-kun?" Kotoko whispered.

"Please. Do not say that!" He rolled his eyes at Sudou's acting.

"I have other interests," he said, without being rude.

"Irie, I beg you!" he insisted in and a most irritating way. "Remember who taught you… you know what…," he whispered.

"I won't!" In which way should he say it? He was interested in the sport, but at the time, he wanted to get used to his career.

Sudou was in front of him, blocking his way.

"I need you! I WANT YOU TO BE MINE!" The noise in the cafeteria went down and Naoki felt his eyelids tremble, looking angered at Sudou, while people around him made assumptions about their sexuality, their orientation, and preferences.

"I knew you had something!" Cried at the distance the voice of Ikezawa. The vein in his temple throbbed.

"WHAT?!" Kotoko bellowed, approaching Sudou, who, in turn, positioned his hands on his biceps of both arms. He tried to pull away, but he did not want to throw the tray of food so his attempt was unsuccessful.

"I'm pleading, Irie."

"Stop," he ordered Sudou. Kotoko looked at the coach helplessly; her tray also occupied her hands. She could have taken him off, he regretted for one second.

"Leave him alone! Kotoko demanded then. "He is not yours, but… MINE!" she complained, very possessive. He suppressed a smile.

"NOT! I will not give up until you accept, Irie! I'll ask as many times as necessary!" Every content in Sudou's speech could be misunderstand, and he hated that in his first day happened that. Not that he cared what people thought of him, or his orientation, but he did not want to attract attention with scandals… or much less to incite innuendo.

He even had a girlfriend.

"LISTEN TO THAT, KOTOKO, MY FUTURE BRIDE!" yelled Ikezawa.

He also didn't want to raise the jerks expectations.

"Your're working, Ikezawa!"

"Shut up, Kin-chan!"

"I need you!" Keep going Sudou undaunted with the events around him. He could be insistent. "I want you to be mine! Irie-kun, please!"

All that for tennis? He had a problem, or much love for the sport, that he did not share.

He took the time to get a table and sit; Kotoko did the same, but occupied a place between Sudou and he.

He began taking his lunch quickly, for the time remaining.

"Stop chasing him!" defended her.

"This is between him and me, redhead," said Sudou in a firm tone. "Please Irie-kun!"

"All right," he mumbled to shut him up; he was tired of it.

"Thanks, thanks! You make me so happy just to have your name on the team and my club!"

Askance, Naoki saw that people stopped paying attention, finishing the show. He exhaled in relief.

"Wait," Kotoko interjected. "What did Naoki-kun accept? Who are you and why do you seem familiar?" Kotoko said, frowning. "What team?"

"He'll be in my tennis club! I am Sudou." Said the dark-haired man.

His girlfriend threw an exhalation. "Aihara. His girlfriend. Tennis Club? Can I join?!

Naoki sighed imagining her purpose. "Give me a break," he whispered.

But she didn't pay attention.

"Do you play tennis?" Nor the other did, enthusiastic about his damn team.

To think that he had gotten rid of the tutorials. Now he would occasionally see her at the club… when he decided to attend.

He decided to speak. "She's bad; she doesn't have good reflexes; she strikes the ball, at most, only once in a "match", and sends it flying when she's in service," he summarized, according to his observations of her training.

He saw Kotoko and Sudou's smiles disappear.

"The only point in her favor is that she does not miss training once," he said aloud. And that she faced all the training time with a smile, trying again and again with the belief that she could, celebrating to the four winds the single occasion that she hit, or, laughing at the fun of letting the ball escape, he thought, nonetheless.

In addition to enjoying it, as he did not really get to, unless he observed her absurdities and enjoyed the time.

"You don't have to be so mean," said Kotoko with a pout.

"Perhaps you want me to lie?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

She refused. It was better that Sudou didn't accept her on his club; although he only pretended to attend on tournaments, he had a feeling that her presence would mean shameful moments.

"But I want to belong to a university club," argued Kotoko.

"Find a club for you if you want both belong to one," he pointed and she scratched her chin, nodding until much later.

"Well, I already have the person I want; now I have another missing." Sudou's face changed from a happy smile, to a dazing one. He had a suspicion why. "See you tomorrow after class, Irie!"

"He's strange," Kotoko mused aloud. "But I'm glad he has no interest in you, Naoki-kun, he seems very determined."

He almost choked on the water.

"What are you trying to insinuate?" He spluttered, with no more hunger.

"Nothing," Kotoko said, with an innocent face. "Where did you know him?"

"I'm going back to classes," he said without answering, standing up.

"You finished!" He heard her as he walked away. "See you at the afternoon, Naoki-kun!"

[…]

"…and there were so many people, oba-sama, and… The campus was very big! It was such an exciting day!" Finished Kotoko during dinner. "Oh, it's true; Naoki-kun joined a club! And I decided to join one," she added, bouncing in her seat.

Naoki continued eating, not take the hint, while other dining seemed very pleased with the story of the first university day through the eyes of Kotoko, who had been very explicit in her description, ending with her general impressions, narrating backwards.

"It's great, onii-chan. And your day was very exciting, Kotoko-chan, I'm so happy for you, for both of you. Some college students. Soon will come the day I'm waiting."

"What day, oba-sama?"

His mother laughed at a very Machiavellian and suspiciously way. She took advantage that Kotoko looked down to give him a wink. How irritating.

"You'll know later, Kotoko-chan."

His father laughed as he frowned at his mother. That damn day could be one with wedding music.

"I'm pleased to know that your day was very good," said his father. "And you, Nao, how did yours go?"

"Fine, thanks."

"Are you comfortable?" He assented. "That's good. And you, Yuuki, why are you so quiet?"

"I'm paired with the new girl for the morning duties, and she is a fool, like Kotoko."

"Hey!" She protested.

"Yuuki, don't talk like that about Kotoko-chan, of your classmate," his mother chided.

"Is there a new girl in your classroom this year, Yuuki?" Kotoko asked with a smile too widely. "And you don't like her. Right?"

His otōto nodded, frowning.

"Why didn't you tell us when you started classes last week?"

"It's not important." Yuuki suited him better to keep quiet because Kotoko had a curious expression on her face that his brother could not see, concentrating on his dinner.

"Oh, I see. And it just bothers you having to clean the classroom with her."

"What's your partner's name, Yuuki?" participated his mother, who have an expression to make him fear, knowing her perfectly. "To talk to the teacher and investigate if she's appropriate."

Kotoko put a hand to her mouth and he raised an eyebrow at his mother, but Yuuki did not seem to realize their ulterior motives and replied: "Sawaga Konomi."

"Yuuki and Konomi, they kiss, they date," sang his girlfriend, making his brother, scowling, stood from his seat to follow her.

His parents laughed. "Children, finish your dinner," said his mother, without containing her dreamy expression.

Naoki stood, wiping his mouth. "Bon appetite."

He did not wish such a fate to his brother, but if it served to distract her some time from him, it was fine…though he felt sorry for his brother. Not that it was final in the case of Yuuki; he was just in fourth grade. The chances of ending with a girl he met in the elementary school were slim.

[…]

Naoki breathed out of relief when Sudou said they were all those who belong to the tennis club that year and proceeded to introduce them to each other.

"…and she is the beautiful Matsumoto Yuuko, who won second place in the last year's Kanto regional tournament," described Sudou the end, after him, pointing to the brunette he met the previous year, located in the seat beside him.

She tried to talk to him, but only managed to extract from him that he studied medicine and that he would not always come to practice, after asking to compete in a match. She insisted on being friends because they share club.

However, he already knew she was studying in the Department of Science and Technology and chose the university for its tennis team; as well, he knew some of her hobbies, similar to his.

Sudou busied himself a long time talking about his club, regardless of which were under the sun on the court and not on benches near a tree that gave shade.

"Now we proceed to a test for me to measure the skills of new members; I will not be very demanding with you if you have not played before." Of course, Naoki quipped, recalling the manic episodes when he played. "And it will only be an attempt per person, who passes the test, can play on the court. You just have to give a ball twice. Yey! I will ignore the list. Let's see." Sudou looked at the line that formed the new members, to point at a boy. "You! You will be the first to enter the court with your racquet and show me what you got!" He shouted with a friendly smile.

The boy nodded, smiling.

Then, Sudou picked up his racket and the expression on his face changed. Analyzing more, he thought he could be a real case of dissociative identity, and he had two personalities, one in which he was gentle and pleasant, and another that became known with rackets, violent, competitive and obsessive.

It was stupid; he gave that impression, though.

The boy chosen seemed to note that Sudou no longer seemed friendly and walked shakily to the court.

From there began torture for new ones, one by one, Sudou threw them away, being "lethal" in his hits, for which others were not prepared. Matsumoto was only able to return more than two shots because obviously, he was very nice with her.

"And then he wonders why each year few people join the team," Matsumoto commented when Sudou dropped his racket to drink water. Naoki nodded.

"Irie, you! Stop talking to Matsumoto."

"Hey! Naoki-kun!" Interjected at that time Kotoko's voice. He looked at where the sound came from the stands, to which she approached. From his position, he could see the expression that showed her face when she saw Matsumoto.

He could not help smiling sideways.

"Aihara! What a surprise!" Sudou said, approaching the wire mesh separating the stands and the court. "Are you here to watch the training?"

Kotoko nodded, but still looked at Matsumoto, who was looking attentively, in turn, at his girlfriend.

Sudou smiled gently at Kotoko. "Do you still want to join the club?" he asked, surely with a hidden meaning. If she had told him she was his girlfriend, he must do it to put her between Matsumoto and him, as the first was interested in him.

"Can l?" asked his girlfriend, with close attention to Matsumoto. "Even if I ain't good."

"Don't you dare," he warned; she didn't stand his own training. She would just do it to ridiculously follow him and humiliate herself. Moreover, she would end wounded, like the others.

Nevertheless, it would be interesting for her to join and realize that he would not attend regularly… And with her training there, he could get rid of her on Saturdays.

"You'll do the ridiculous," he said anyway, irritated because she wanted to follow him, "and you'll only gather balls." Because the older had commented that the worst ones did that.

Kotoko seemed to think for a moment, staring at him and then back to the other members, who repeatedly denied, forcing her to be hesitant.

"If you want it so much," he muttered, knowing it was useless to stop her if she truly intended it. She would deserve the lesson of suffering at the hands of Sudou; he had tried to be considerate of her, but she was so pushy and nosy, he was certain she would agree, against her own welfare, just to be with him.

She was a fool. Really, though it cost him to admit to himself, and he would not do it to others, he threatened her having in mind her physical safety… as a future doctor. And because, with her bruises, people would look at him as the one who did them.

Also, well, he wouldn't wish the training of Sudou to any novice.

"I …" Kotoko hesitated before answering.

"Kotoko-san!" Suddenly called a series of male voices, and she jumped, startled.

Three boys came up and surrounded her, one holding her hand to kneel before her. Naoki frowned. And who were those? he wondered, looking at the young men with lenses and hippie appearance, acting in a very personal way with his girlfriend.

"You're already part of our club! You don't need to accept!" So she had already joined a club? What nonsense could she have chosen?

"Oh, my!" Sudou blurted, surely, because his plan failed. "You cannot be in two clubs simultaneously."

"But I…"

"Let's go, Kotoko-san. You've given us a wonderful idea!" Said one of the guys to Kotoko.

"Irie, you're next!" he heard Sudou said, away from the mesh.

"Yes, Kotoko-san, we need you to come with us to appreciate you well!"

"Get one of those uniforms for you."

"Because to imagine you in one of them is not enough."

Kotoko's companions took her away holding her arms, while she shook her red face, moving her mouth, with words he could not see.

"All men will love you!"

Naoki eyes narrowed when the others disappeared, and wondered what was happening there, who were they? And what did they mean with 'appreciate her well' and 'all men would love her'? Why would they get her a uniform? What kind of club she had joined? In what problem was that silly now?

"IRIE!" Sudou yelled and he looked at the other side of the court, holding his racket. "I don't have all day!"

Neither did he.

He looked angrily at Sudou, determined to finish once that training, to find out what happened and know in what situation was she now… because he'd have problems later, that were accompanied by the signature of his mother.

He grabbed hard the handle of his racket and took position. Sudou made his service and Naoki looked at the ball, to which he gave a heavy blow that even his opponent almost couldn't hit back. He returned the ball, harder, and this time Sudou failed, as the other times they competed in the past.

The club applauded, but he ignored them, going for his belongings.

"Again!" ordered Sudou.

"I already ended here today," he said, and he waved his hands. "Only an attempt per person," he recalled, making him wildly. Sudou called another person, to whom he felt no shame as he retreated.

"Irie-san!" called Matsumoto, but he ignored her.

He pulled out his phone and looked up the number of Kotoko; he pressed it. She answered on the first ring.

"Where are you?"

"Naoki-kun!" He heard her voice in relief, though she didn't ask for help, making him wonder why he bothered in the first place. She always got out of her problems.

"Kotoko-san, pose for us!" He heard in the background.

"Where are you?" he repeated, taking his things from locker to change into a cubicle.

"It is embarrasing! I would not put such small clothes!" She said the other side.

What was happening there? He tried to think, but he couldn't guess what.

She was at the University. What kind of clubs it had? He didn't know. In addition, which would require small clothes? Obviously, it was not swimming. "I'm on the second floor of the club's building, in the first classroom, two hundred and fifteen."

He hung up without saying goodbye, undressing. What was that jealous reaction, out of place, of him? True, the way those guy of lenses had treat Kotoko and their words had been strange and made him suspect in disgust… but to think about it and go to where she was, it was very different.

However, he did. He went, ready, to the place not far from there and soon was to where she said, reading a sign on the road that said "Club manga and anime" in that department. Really? Kotoko in something like that?

He recapitulated the words… and thought about the kind of manga of great fame, they needed a woman and attracted mostly the attention of men.

He didn't like him.

Naoki knocked on the door of the classroom and it opened; there, the scene that greeted him almost made him laugh. It also forced him to feel ridiculous; those guys seemed harmless and didn't think of hentai manga with his girlfriend.

Kotoko was sitting in the middle of four guys with notebooks in hand, kneeling before her like paying her homage; she had bags of chips and a soda at a table, while the others prayed for her as his muse, as an honorary member, requests that the guy who opened him joined.

As far, they would do a shōjo.

"Naoki-kun!" Kotoko said. "They don't understand that they cannot portray me for a sports manga! I don't even know how to play tennis!"

He laughed and shook his head, running a hand across his forehead. He must have had a very active imagination.

"I'm going home, you coming?" he asked, and she nodded, rising from her seat to the lament of her club members.

"But…" replied the boys.

Kotoko made a hesitant face.

"I'd be interesting," he opined. It'd be to see what kind of things they'd do; they'd surely share it in college, to whom would listen to the 'manga and anime university club'. It could be the only time Kotoko played tennis well.

His girlfriend shrugged and looked at the others.

"Okay."

"You're the best, Kotorin!" Claimed the one with big glasses.

The others jumped. "That name is perfect," said one with long hair.

Naoki left the room with Kotoko, leaving those with their ideas, as she began her prattle about how they made her join when she mistook the classroom that Jinko and Satomi told her.

Club of manga and anime. That would be a safe choice for her, her new admirers would take care of her.

He looked at her askance, denying to himself.

Simply, she quickly get people to like her.