Fan Fiction |
by Sheen and Smile :)
“Mama, they’re not even in the same class. How can they be running together?” Yuki broke in impatiently, annoyed with his mother. Then he glared at me as if it was my fault. I glanced quickly at Irie Kun hoping to see some kind of reaction. However, he was just eating away silently as normal, ignoring the rest of us at the table. I heaved a silent sigh.
“Kotoko can’t run anyway,” Dad contributed helpfully, “they’ll definitely come in last!” I scowled at him angrily – how’s that for loyalty? Thanks heaps Dad! Yuki started laughing, “my brother always gets first.” He threw me a scornful look as I pretended not to be affected, scooping more vegetables into my mouth. Yuki can be such a brat. However, there is no denying that Irie Kun shines at all types of sports, especially tennis. He’s the school’s star player and the only one with the privilege of turning up for practice when he feels like it. I have been, okay I still am, one of the girls who swoon over him each time he plays at any competition intra or inter school. I remember several times when he beat the coach effortlessly – that’s the only reason why he can escape practice. Just as he hardly ever studies, Irie Kun also doesn’t have to practice to excel in sports. That’s what I call really gifted. There has always been fierce competition between my class and his class. Although it seems stereotyping, my classmates are very interested in sports and spend most of their time playing sports. The people in A class are typically nerds except for a few like Irie Kun. Thanks to this handful of them, they’ve actually managed at times to steal several trophies from us. Suddenly, I thought of a plan to make Irie Kun take notice of me – I’ll take part in my class relays and beat their class!
I put my plan in action the very next day. I started training very hard every morning and evening, getting all kinds of useful tips and advice from anyone and everyone. Whenever I bumped into Irie Kun, I was always in my tracksuit and pants. However, the most extreme reaction I got out of him was a lifting of his brows when he saw in the same get up early one Sunday morning. To my own surprise, my stamina started improving, as did my speed. Then I put the next part of my plan in action, I started getting my classmates to train just as hard.
“Kotoko, please can I have a break?” Satomi was panting as I jogged merrily in front of her, Kinnosuke and another guy.
“Nope, come on you can do it!” I cheered her on. “I want to beat A class this year.” Kinnosuke was all for it as well.
“Come on Satomi, we will beat A class and show those arrogant bastards who are the best,” there was an unholy gleam in his eyes. I knew he had something against A class and one especially Irie Kun, probably because of my liking for the latter.
I was jogging back one day when a basketball bounced onto the road and a little kid ran out to get his ball. Unfortunately, there was a cyclist riding up and he couldn’t see the kid from where he was. Almost as a reflex action, I ran and pulled the child out of harm’s way as we both toppled to the ground. The next thing I knew, I felt an acute pain in my ankle as the cyclist rode over me, unable to stop in time. He was very apologetic and quickly took me to a doctor who told me that it was a fracture. A fracture? The sports day was next day! I really wanted to rant and rave, but what good would that have done? I quietly limped home, hiding my injury from everyone, gritting my teeth each time my injured ankle touched the ground.
Naoki’s POV
As I was walking to the school field, I suddenly felt a heavy hand on my shoulder as the most irritating voice sounded near my ear, “you think you’re so great? Watch F-class whip your ass! Isn’t that right, Kotoko?”
I tried to contain my irritation when I saw that big idiot Kinnosuke with the largest sneer on his face. I ignored his taunting as usual, putting it down to the weird quirks of the intellectually challenged. Why on earth do these morons in F-class want to challenge me all the time? Obviously, they can’t find anything else better to do in their spare time. Unfortunately for them, your truly here have much better things to do then converse with half illiterates.
“What’s the matter with you, Kotoko,” I suddenly heard Kinnosuke say loudly as that fellow stopped walking. Yes why was the chatterbox keeping a death-like silence? I looked past Kinnosuke at the baka who was staring at her feet. I frowned slightly, what was up with the baka? As if sensing my gaze on her, Kotoko suddenly seemed to pull herself together as she lifted up her head and stared defiantly at me.
“You wait and see, we’ll beat your class!” A small smile made itself across my face.
“I await the results of this competition with bated breath,” I said with mock politeness as I turned away and left them, tired of this conversation that was leading no where. I left Kotoko behind, looking after me with a defeated expression on her face … …
“Come on Kotoko! You can do it!” The idiot Kinnosuke was again jumping up and down like a mad person, suddenly with more vigour than before. Was she really here? I looked in the distance and saw her alight figure stumbling along unsteadily, gripping a fence for leverage. Something wasn’t quite right, she was dragging her left leg behind her. Comprehension flooded me instantly. She had injured herself – that was why her training didn’t appear to pay off. How on earth did she get hurt though? She was closing the gap, reaching us when suddenly, she thrust the baton into my face.
“Irie-kun,” her face twisted in pain, yet there was a slightly dazed smile on her face as she continued waving the baton at me. I felt a puzzled frown cease my forehead. Did that baka have the misfortune of losing her mind on top of everything else? Why on earth was she passing the baton to me?
“What are you doing?” I asked her. As if waking from a dream, she looked bewilderedly from me to Kinnosuke. That silly fool was grinning at Kotoko like a lovelorn calf. Slowly, comprehension dawned on her face.
“Baka,” I bit out.
“Indeed, I really am one,” I almost reached out as a reflex action as she laughed weakly, sinking onto the ground as her injured ankle finally gave way. Then a determined expression appeared on her face as she handed over the baton to a worried Kinnosuke, “Kinnosuke, do your best! Ganbatte!.” A resolute expression appeared on his face as he took the baton from her.
“I definitely will win the relay.” With a battle cry, he was off as she stared after him.
Kotoko’s POV
I was still staring at Konnosuke’s disappearing figure when there was a tap on my ankle that sent intense pain flooding through my leg. “Ouch!” I shrieked gripping onto my leg with both hands as I turned to see Irie Kun squatting next to me. He was the one who had touched my ankle.
“This hurts?” He asked casually.
“Of course it hurts!” I said vehemently.
“Well if it hurts, then you’re an idiot for running … …” he concluded.
“But, but if I were to give up, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life!” I poked my chin stubbornly in the air as he sighed and shook his head. Before he could say anymore, there was a light touch on his shoulder.
“Our classmate has arrived,” Reiko said as a fellow classmate ran slowly up to him, panting.
“Irie-kun, remember to do your best.” I cheered him on and I knew he had heard me even though there was no reaction from him. He simply took the baton from the poor skinny fellow calmly and started running. A slight smile formed on my face when I saw how fast he was running … … sigh – no wonder he is the athlete of the year. The result of the race was a foregone conclusion thanks to Irie Kun. The A class beat us again and I had quite a job trying to comfort a distraught Kinnosuke. I was limping home when I saw a familiar figure in front of me. “Irie Kun,” I shouted as I half hopped, half jogged to catch up with him.
Naoki’s POV
I continued walking but slowed my pace slightly, allowing the baka to catch up with me. I was curious to know what she wanted.
“Congratulations,” again there was this huge smile on her face. “I’ve lost again. Well, as one says – a genus is indeed a genus.” She kept up her bright grin as she quickened her pace in order to pass me, obediently keeping to our agreement that she was to keep a distance of 3 metres from me. I was somewhat taken aback by her cheerful attitude – boy is she one good loser. Then I thought I saw her pause. The next thing, she appeared to sway on her feet. Instinctively, I ran forward and caught her slight figure in my arms as she slumped to the ground. My elbow that was cradling her head smashed into the curb when we both fell onto the road. An intense pain shot through my arm and I gritted my teeth, not wanting to scream from the agony. “Must be dislocated… …” I sighed at my misfortune as I maneuvered her limp body onto my back, and piggybacked her to the house.
Kotoko’s POV
I felt myself holding onto something warm and there was something tickling my cheek. Slowly my eyes opened and I felt a gentle rocking motion. “Am I on a ship?” My head started to clear and I realized to my shock that I was sitting on someone’s back. Glancing down, I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw that it was Irie Kun! A mindless joy swept over me as a sigh of joy escaped my lips. He immediately knew I had woken up from my sudden movement.
“You are such an idiot.” His disgruntled voice broke into my daydreams, sending me back to earth with a crash. Hot embarrassment flooded through me at the thought of being carried and I started to struggle.
“Let me down, let me down! I can walk … … I … …”
“Stop moving!” He ordered, irritation clear in his voice as he continued holding onto me. “It’s difficult enough to carry you without you squirming around.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered softly as I stopped struggling. Slowly and hesitatingly, I wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders as I held onto him, laying my head back against his. For the first time, I experienced pure happiness. “Let time stop now,” I wished dreamily as we plodded home. ‘Regardless of what happens, I will remember this moment for the rest of my life.’