(Three warnings:
Rambling chapter, curse words, and FUCKING LONG.
I think that's the only REAL curse word. But CRIPES, this thing bounces EVERYWHERE. You only get a sense of what time it is by looking at the dates of the emails! I'm just thankful it's finally written out so I can start working on chapter four...
Oh yes, before I forget... Kichijiro is a semi-main character in the book "Silence" by Shusaku Endo. It talks about how Christianity was being stamped out in Japan, and it's a really great book. Read it, even if you're not Christian, just to read an awesome book.
And with that being said, ONWARD!
Characters(except Kichijiro) © Nintendo)
--------
New Beginnings
Chapter Three- Will You
--------
Sidney had a problem.
Business was boring.
He absolutely refused to give it up, though; he was far too stubborn to admit defeat. But that didn't take away from the fact that he wished he was doing something else with his life.
"Kasaru-san!"
Sidney looked up to see Kichijiro enter the room.
"Ah! You look sad. What wrong?" the Japanese student asked, frowning slightly as he sat down.
"...I'm going through a mid-educational life crisis," Sidney sighed, very frustrated with himself.
"...a what?"
"I have a really big problem."
"Ohhhh."
"I told my family that I would do business," Sidney began to explain. "But it's really boring. I'm not going to give it up, but... I wish I was doing something more engaging with my time."
"...I see, I think," Kichijiro nodded.
Sidney started to think about his brother, who was still in America. At med school...
"...maybe I should have done medicine, like Greg did," Sidney muttered, staring at the ceiling as he lay on his bed. "At least he's doing something interesting..."
"Medicine?" Kichijiro suddenly perked up. "You say you want to do medicine?"
"Yeah... I think I'd like that, but they don't have programs here-"
"Not here, yeah, but Sapporo Medical University, they have!"
Sidney glanced at Kichijiro, almost disbelieving.
"You're telling me there's a medical school here, in this city?"
"Hai!" Kichijiro nodded enthusiastically. "It maybe... uh, thirty minute away on train? Not far at all!"
Sidney sat up again, intrigued...
"How do you get in? Is there a test or something?"
Kichijiro's face suddenly fell.
"...yeah, there test... but only in Nihon. My language. You not understand, yeah? So, you not able to take... sorry, Kasaru-san. I thought I help..."
A medical school near him... with a test in a foreign language?
Well, Sidney was never one to pass up a good challenge...
"Kichijiro, do you know when the test is?"
"When? Uh... end of month six... you call June? Why you ask?"
"June... that gives me a little over four months to learn Japanese. Will you teach me?"
"Whaaaa?!" Kichijiro's eyes widened in shock. "You think you can do it? No way! Not possible."
"Yes it is," Sidney countered. "Don't you dare argue with me on this one. I will learn Japanese by the end of June, and if you won't teach me, I'll find somebody who will."
Kichijiro sighed.
"I teach you, but you have no time for sleep anymore. I only can teach at night. You sure that okay?"
Sidney grinned.
"Of course I'm sure."
--------
-"Kasama-sensei gave us a lot to read tonight, didn't he?"-
Sidney quickly scribbled his reply.
-"Yes, he did. I'm going to do it during dinner tonight... assuming I don't fall asleep at the table."-
Kichijiro read the note carefully.
"You do very good, Kasaru-san!"
It was only the beginning of March, and already Sidney's written Japanese was completely understandable- the result of many sleepless nights spent practicing. The younger Kasal twin grinned as he fixed his glasses.
"I'm going to go eat. I'll see you later, Kichijiro."
"Okay. I see you, Kasaru-san."
Sidney left for the cafeteria, listening to his stomach protest mightily. After he purchased his tempura udon, he sat down at an empty table...
"Sidney?"
"Oh, hello, Victoria..."
Victoria smiled as she sat down next to Sidney.
A week after they had gone to the theater, Sidney had admitted to Victoria(while stuttering, which is something that nobody, especially Greg, would ever need to know) that he had a "slight" crush on her.
They had started going out once she revealed that the feeling was mutual.
"I haven't seen you around much," Victoria commented as she opened a book. "Where have you been?"
"I sort of... forced my dorm mate to start teaching me Japanese," Sidney admitted as he began eating his food. "I'm going to take the entry test to Sapporo Medical University in June, and apparently the test is only in Japanese."
"...you're leaving?" Victoria asked, a look of sadness starting to come over her face.
"I never said that," Sidney replied.
"...you're going to attend two colleges at once?!"
Sidney shrugged. "I once knew someone who did it. They said it wasn't easy, but they proved that it can be done."
"...you're going to wear yourself out," Victoria commented, concerned. "Are you sure that this is what you want to do?"
"I've already made up my mind on the issue," Sidney nodded. "But this means I'm going to have less time for you... I'm sorry about that, Victoria."
"it's alright," Victoria smiled. "It's not like I can't find a way to contact you, is it?"
"Right," Sidney nodded.
--------
"That not what you just said."
"...do I even want to know what I said? I probably don't..."
Sidney quickly learned that while writing in Japanese was not that hard for him, speaking was a different story altogether.
He had especially found a way to hate words where the meaning changed depending on how you said it.
"You need to be careful with word like that," Kichijiro informed. "One word, you say wrong, you go from talk about wind chime to... how you say... prostitute girlfriend."
"Well then, remind me to never talk about wind chimes."
Kichijiro laughed.
"Hey, you go to Hanami?" he asked, quickly changing the subject.
"What's Hanami?" Sidney frowned slightly.
"Big flower festival near Shinto temples," Kichijiro explained. "Most people go to get drunk, but very nice sakura and ume trees. Not next weekend, but one after. You go with your girlfriend?"
"Shut up!" Sidney scowled, fighting back a blush.
"Nearest temple ten minute on train," Kichijiro grinned. "Stop three. You go with... how you say her name... Deru-san?"
"...who, Victoria? ...and what are you trying to suggest, Kichijiro?! She's not my--"
"You no lie, Kasaru-san! I see you and her many time together!"
"...ugh, fine. Yes, she's my girlfriend... now DROP IT."
Kichijiro laughed.
--------
"Hey, Victoria..."
"Oh! Hello, Sidney..."
Sidney slid into the chair next to Victoria, who was studying in the library.
"How are your Japanese 'classes' going?" Victoria asked in a hushed voice.
Sidney held up a copy of "The Idiot's Guide to Japanese."
"Slowly."
"Ohh... surely you could have found a book with a better title, at least..."
"Mm... but there was something I wanted to ask you... in two Saturdays, there's supposed to be a festival near the local temple..."
"Yeah?" Victoria seemed interested.
"Mhm... would you like to go with me?"
--------
"...oh, wow..." Victoria breathed softly.
Sidney let out a low whistle.
They had never seen cherry blossom trees, let alone ones in full bloom; the sight before them could be described as nothing short of amazing.
They were seated at the far end of the line of trees, but that was okay; Sidney had taken Victoria here to see the trees, not the drunkards.
"Thank you, Sidney..." Victoria smiled, resting her head on Sidney's shoulder. "Thank you for bringing me here."
"You're welcome," Sidney replied, fixing his glasses.
"...why do you do that?" Victoria asked, curious. "Fixing your glasses, I mean."
"Oh... I suppose it's a nervous habit?" Sidney chuckled. "Really, I don't know why I do it... I just do. I always have."
"Oh..." Victoria pondered that for a moment.
"...what about you? Any unusual habits that you have?" Sidney queried.
Victoria suddenly blushed.
"Well... when I'm really happy, sometimes I do... spontaneous things," she began slowly. "Like... I'll start singing really loudly, or just get up and start dancing."
"Really?" Sidney looked at her. Victoria nodded, looking up at Sidney as she scooted closer...
"And sometimes... if I'm really, really happy... I do this..."
--------
When Sidney finally got back to his dorm, he was still in shock at what had happened.
He collapsed onto his bed, trying to remember exactly what and how it had occurred.
The laptop on his desk beeped; Sidney sighed, slowly getting up to check and see who had just emailed him.
On 3/30/2002 at 9:40 pm gkasal(a)uofc.il wrote:
SIDNEY WHERE ARE YOU. IT HAS BEEN TWO MONTHS oh GOD don't tell me you're dead. Are you dead? Please tell me you're not.
For some reason, Greg's senseless rambling put a smile on Sidney's face instead of a usual scowl of frustration.
On 3/30/2002 at 9:47 pm skasal(a)siu.jp wrote:
I'm dead, Greg. My funeral was five hours ago. Shame on you for not being there, what kind of brother are you?
Greg checked the email address again.
It was Sidney's, all right...
On 3/30/2002 at 9:52 pm gkasal(a)uofc.il wrote:
Wow, Sidney, you must be in a really good mood. What happened?
The smile on Sidney's face widened.
On 3/30/2002 at 9:56 pm skasal(a)siu.jp wrote:
Five hours ago, something major happened.
Greg quickly checked his email archive.
On 3/30/2002 at 10:04 pm gkasal(a)uofc.il wrote:
Did it involve the girl you were trying to impress?
On 3/30/2002 at 10:08 pm skasal(a)siu.jp wrote:
Yes it did. By the way, your advice worked very well; I thank you for it.
On 3/30/2002 at 10:11 pm gkasal(a)uofc.il wrote:
You're welcome. Now... what happened that could put you in such a good mood...
On 3/30/2002 at 10:13 pm gkasal(a)uofc.il wrote:
OH MY GOD. YOU'RE NOT A VIRGIN ANYMORE.
Instead of being mortified beyond all belief, Sidney nearly fell out of his chair laughing.
On 3/30/2002 at 10:16 pm skasal(a)siu.jp wrote:
Not... THAT major, Greg.
On 3/30/2002 at 10:22 pm gkasal(a)uofc.il wrote:
...OH MY GOD. YOU KISSED A GIRL. WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND. I NEVER THOUGHT THIS DAY WOULD COME.
On 3/30/2002 at 10:26 pm skasal(a)siu.jp wrote:
Gee, it's nice to see my own twin had such high confidence in my ability to have a love life.
Greg laughed.
On 3/30/2002 at 10:30 pm gkasal(a)uofc.il wrote:
Well, congratulations, Sidney. I gotta go now; the cafeteria is calling me. We will talk again... before two months have passed.
On 3/30/2002 at 10:32 pm skasal(a)siu.jp wrote:
Alright. Later, Greg.
--------
Sapporo Medical University was surprisingly large. Sidney had nearly gotten lost three times just trying to get to the main lecture hall.
But now he had a seat, constantly taking off his glasses and cleaning them, then putting them back on as he and several hundred others waited anxiously for test time.
Finally, the moderators began passing out the tests to the potential future students.
-"You have two hours to complete the test. You may begin as soon as you get it."-
Sidney glanced over his test as soon as he got it.
...really, did they think he would need two hours for this? This wouldn't be hard at all!
Smiling to himself, Sidney began answering the first question...
--------
On 7/12/2004 at 11:11 pm gkasal(a)uofc.il wrote:
Hey, Sidney, sorry for the extremely delayed response, but congrats on getting your business degree in 3 years!
On 7/12/2004 at 11:15 pm skasal(a)siu.jp wrote:
Thanks, Greg... you're going to have to start sending your emails to (a)smu.jp now.
On 7/12/2004 at 11:20 pm gkasal(a)uofc.il wrote:
Oh yeah, you still have another year of med school, huh? You overachiever, doing in four years what most people don't do ever. :)
On 7/12/2004 at 11:23 pm skasal(a)siu.jp wrote:
Yep. Looks like we'll be graduating together again... only not quite.
On 7/12/2004 at 11:27 pm gkasal(a)uofc.il wrote:
Must be that twin thing, huh?
So, when are you going to ask her?
On 7/12/2004 at 11:30 pm skasal(a)siu.jp wrote:
Tomorrow... it has to be.
On 7/12/2004 at 11:34 gkasal(a)uofc.il wrote:
Alright then. Let me know what she says!
--------
It was a warm, quiet night, so Sidney and Victoria had decided to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful weather.
"It's such a pretty night," Victoria sighed happily.
"Yeah..." Sidney agreed as he slowly took her hand.
"This is where you might say, 'It's not as pretty as you', like in a cheesy romance novel," Victoria joked, looking at Sidney with a smile on her face.
"But I've told you, I'm more a man of action than words," Sidney replied, also smiling gently.
"Yes... and I don't think I could forgive you if you said that god-awful line, anyways."
They both laughed.
"Hey, Victoria... when you were a kid, did you ever get your palm read by a psychic?" Sidney asked once he had calmed down.
"Oh, yes," Victoria nodded, "I did, once."
"Well, have you ever gotten a hand reading?"
"What's that?" Victoria's expression was one of curiosity.
"It's a secret form of palm reading that's been passed down the Kasal family line for generations," Sidney answered, smiling. "Would you like to try it?"
"Sure," Victoria chuckled, extending her left hand. Sidney took it and began examining the back of her hand.
"Oh... I see your life will be full of happy moments, along with sadness... and health along with sickness," Sidney observed. "But... there's something else..."
"...what is it?" Victoria asked.
"It says here that the happy times would far outweigh the sad ones, and you would be cared for in your moments of sickness... but that depends... on your answer to the Question."
"What is the question, Sidney--"
Victoria suddenly froze as Sidney slipped the silver ring onto her finger. For a few moments, she started at it, shocked.
"Victoria..." Sidney began, still gently holding her hand. "...will you marry me?"
Tears began to flow down Victoria's face as she smiled.
"Of... of course I'll marry you... Sidney."
--------
(End chapter three.
NOW WASN'T THAT ROMANTIC. God I'm good at spoiling moods.
This chapter was WAY TOO LONG. Next chapter will be at least ONE PAGE SHORTER. My notebook is almost full, I might not have room for the PD bonus chapter if I keep writing this much. Damn my lust for excessively long scenes!
Now... if you can figure out which manga/anime I quoted in this chapter, I'll give you a cookie. If you can name the character, too, I'll give you a truckload of cookies.
Also, who here loved when Greg totally began spazzing after Sidney got back from Hanami? -raises hand-
Next chapter will be up soon... vague, I know, but deal with it.
Please review!)