Fan Fiction |
by Sheen and Smile :)
“Tea break!” Noriko announced cheerfully as she stepped into the room with a tray. She was secretly delighted when Naoki apparently volunteered to tutor Kotoko for her exams. Sometimes, Naoki’s frustrated voice echoed so loudly through the house (yes even though the door was shut) that it made her wince. Well, it’s good for him to learn patience. She prepared endless trays of goodies to keep the ‘romance’ going. She stopped and a wide grin threatened to split her face as she looked at the scene that met her eyes. Both Kotoko and Naoki were fast asleep on the desk, their heads next to each other. “Camera, camera!” She thought excited as she put down the tray and fumbled for her sony XIV that was always with her so that she could capture such memorable moments. The pair slumbered on peacefully, unaware that photographs were being taken of them.
Naoki’s POV
“Okay, now the answer to this sum.” I couldn’t believe it when she started to improve. My goodness, she was so hopeless at first, taking 5 hours to do a simple sum that I could do in a minute and still getting it wrong. I saw her face screw up in concentration again and heaved a sigh as I flipped open my science fiction, might as well have a quick read when she makes her pathetic attempts. However, I must commemorate her on her stamina and determination. Must be difficult to be so dumb … …
“Well, that is correct,” I started saying when she finally pushed her notebook over to me. Suddenly, a pair of arms was flung around my neck, almost choking me.
“Yay! Thank you thank you!” That baka was practically screaming in my ear. I quickly pushed her away.
“Don’t deafen me, now do this one.” I didn’t look at her. I could imagine her expression, she would be biting her lip and looking hurt. Soon, I heard the sound of her pencil scratching on paper again. I didn’t realize that my ever trigger-happy mother had captured the picture of her hugging me on film yet again.
“Naoki,” I looked at her coolly noticing that she was breaking the rule about not talking to me in school. I had been walking along the corridors to my classroom for the test. Well perhaps she had a last minute question to ask me, so I paused and glanced at her.
“Thank you.” Her large eyes were filled with gratitude. I decided to bite back my sarcastic remarks for once – don’t want to make her lose her confidence just before she takes the exams and waste my efforts tutoring her.
“Do your best.” I turned away and walked into my class.
Kotoko’s POV
I stood there frozen to the spot. Did I hear him just say “Do your best”? A feeling of great happiness filled me and I could almost feel tears starting in my eyes. Just for that Irie Kun, just for that I will do my best or die in my attempt. I quickly rushed off to my own classroom, more confident than before … …
At last it was over, I shouldn’t do too badly – quite a few of the questions that Naoki had taught me actually came out for the exams. I stretched and started looking for the envelope that Mrs Irie had handed to me this morning before the exams, telling me that it was for good luck. It was gone! Shucks, I tried to look around for it but I couldn’t find it. Well, guess that’s too bad. Being my happy-go-lucky self I shrugged and forgot about the whole incident.
“Kotoko, the results are out!” Before the words were fully out of Satomi’s and Zinko’s mouths, I was out of the classroom, making my way to the notice board. Everyone was crowding around the board in excitement, eager to see how they had performed in the recent exams. With great determination, I elbowed my way to the section revealing the top performers.
“What’s Kotoko doing?” Satomi looked at Zinko in confusion as Kotoko tried her hardest to squeeze through the crowd.
“What are you doing Kotoko? That’s the wrong end of the board, you’re looking at the top results in the exam!” Zinko exclaimed in exasperation as I totally ignored her and continued to struggle through the large crowd. I never mentioned to anyone but I was worried that the sleepless nights would affect Naoki’s performance. If he hadn’t gotten first … … Finally, finally I found myself looking, no staring at the black characters that took a while to sink in. The top student in the exams was – IRIE NAOKI. A wave of relief swept through me immediately followed by great joy. Irie Kun was still number one! I shouldn’t have doubted his abilities. I was so emotional at the moment that I wanted to scream, cheer and cry. That’s my Irie Kun!
Naoki’s POV
When I heard that the results were out, for the first time I was in a hurry to get to the board. Geez, I never knew that so many people were interested in knowing who were the poorer performers on the boards. Number 70, 71, 72 … … 84 the numbers were increasing.
“Hey Naoki,” I glanced at Watanabe who was tugging my arm, looking extremely puzzled. “Naoki, you’re looking at the wrong side of the board,” he continued as I pulled free of his arm and continued on my quest. Please, would I make such an idiotic mistake, obviously I must have wanted to look at the lower scores if I was headed in this direction. I thought he would have credited me with more brains than that. I pushed my way determinedly through the crowd until number 100. It wasn’t Kotoko, not her. I stared disbelieving at the board, feeling deflated and strangely disappointed. “Should have known that she was too stupid to accomplish this”, I thought as I strode back to class, leaving an extremely puzzled Watanabe behind. I didn’t need to check the board for myself, I found the exam really easy. When I was walking towards the school building, I saw a slight familiar figure emerging from the crowds and walking towards me.
“Congratulations! You’re first again Naoki … …” I don’t know what she had to be happy about. As I continued staring at her blankly, the cheerful expression on her face faded and her voice slowly died away. “I’m so sorry, I’m too stupid … … even with your help I didn’t manage to … …” I walked away from her bent head, not wanting to hear what she said. “Idiot,” I was thinking when I heard voices from the staff room. It was rarely that I was so put out because of anyone, I believe that’s because it has indicated that Irie Naoki is not infallible as I sometimes liked to think. “What a waste of my time … … Knew she was always hopeless… …”
“… Kotoko indeed did make it …” the sounds of argument drifted through the half opened door and I stopped short as I heard that baka’s name.
“We have never placed a single F-class student’s name on the notice board before and we have no intention to do so … …”
“However, she did indeed tie for the 100th position with the other student … …” Not bothering to hear any more of the argument, I strode off with a totally unconcerned expression on my face. However, I didn’t realize that there was an almost indiscernible uplifting of the corners of my mouth, and that I was feeling much happier. “Once again it has been proven that you’re a genus. If even that Baka can tie for the 100th position,” I thought to myself. That’s the only explanation for my delight.
It was lunchtime and I was walking to the gardens when I caught sight of an isolated figure standing on the slope, looking down at the scenery below. It was HER again … … I hesitated for a split second as Kotoko appeared to be lost in silent contemplation, no sign of the usual huge grin that appeared whenever I was in proximity. A trifle reluctantly, I walked towards her. “I need my photo back. Otherwise, goodness knows what she will be doing with it.” I told myself very firmly as I got near her. She turned with a start as I approached and immediately, the expected idiotic grin appeared on her face.
“Just like an idiot,” I thought irritability. “Well have you heard?” I said aloud.
“Heard?” A puzzled expression appeared on her face.
“You know, the news that you tied for the 100th position?” Strangely, she nodded calmly, not showing the least surprise. ‘Darn so she already knows.’
“Yes, I heard. It’s all thanks to you!” Immediately, she was bowing to me again. ‘Goodness, if she keeps doing that she might as well maintain that horizontal position every time I come near her. Easier than to keep bobbing up and down, distracting too!’ My irritation showed.
“Give it back,” I stretched my hand out to her.
“Huh?” Again, she was puzzled.
“The photo, our agreement.” I was always extremely economical with my words.
“Right, right.” She dug in her bag frantically before handing it over to me with a bow as I rolled my eyes and rudely snatched it from her hand. I hid it in my bag immediately with a furtive glance around to ensure that no one had noticed. “Thank you.”
Kotoko’s POV
“Well, even though you ARE stupid, you’ve got determination.” He suddenly said as a parting shot before coolly walking towards the gardens. I stood there for a few moments before it hit me. Then, tears started to gather in my eyes and his departing back became blurry. I hardly dared to believe my ears as I continued staring as he disappeared. “Did he just say I’ve got determination? Way to go girl!”