Version #1: Japanese dialog [Switch language/version)]
仙流物語 — Senru Monogatari
(Part 1)
Online Japanese dictionary: http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/cgi-bin/wwwjdic.cgi
Need to refresh your memory on the characters? Click here.
----------------------------
Note: All lines that are bracketed with < > are thoughts.
-----------------------------
It’s 5pm, Saturday. After a long day of fishing, Sendou packs up his gear and proceeds to walk home slowly. He’s caught three fish earlier but he let them all back into the sea. It’s not like he plans to cook them at home. After all he's not exactly big on seafood; he's more of a lemon person. It’s weird, he knows. Everyone in Ryonan says so too, but for some reason he likes the taste of sourness.
He bites on a slice of lemon as he walks home, wondering what kind of excuse he should give Taoka sensei tomorrow for having skipped out on practice today (even though he typically ends up just telling the truth anyway). And as he walks, he bumps into two familiar faces walking in the opposite direction.
Sendou: ＜あっ あれは湘北の・・・＞
Miyagi: このバカ！おめーがおごってくれるって言ったくせになんで結局俺が払わなきゃならねんだ？
Sakuragi: ほんとにごめん、リョウちん！まさかこんなに高いと思わなかった！
Miyagi: 信じらんねー。大体お金が足りなきゃなんでこんな豪華なレストランを選んだんだよ？
Sakuragi: だって！花のある道の側にあるレストランはこれしかないもん。
Miyagi: 花はどうだっていいだろうが。
Sakuragi: だめだめ！この方がよっぽどロマンチックだから！それに・・・
Miyagi: ・・・それに・・・？
Sakuragi: 俺は「花道」だからな。
Miyagi: はぁ・・・？？バカかお前！*hits Sakuragi in the head*
Sakuragi: あ痛ぇー！*notices Sendou walking towards them* ・・・あれ？仙道・・・？
Miyagi: あっ・・・本当だ。
Sendou: よ。*smiles and waves*
Sakuragi: おおー！！仙道！お前は俺が倒す！！
Miyagi hits him again: バカいうな！*turns to Sendou* 奇遇だね、仙道さん。
Sendou: そうだね。けど敬語はよしてくれ。「仙道」でいいから。
Miyagi: はぁ・・・ *notices the fishing gear* 釣り・・・してたのか？
Sendou: *looks at his gear* そうだね。朝からやってて、今は帰るところ。
Miyagi: 朝からって・・・綾南は今日練習ないのか？
Sendou: まぁ・・・^^; あるにはあるけど・・・とにかく、そちらは？ --> Totally averting the question. LOL.
Sakuragi: おお！よく聞いてくれたぁ！俺たちぁデートーー
Miyagi interrupts: うるさい！！*blushes a little and hits him again* 俺たちはただこの辺で晩御飯を食べてた。
Sendou: 晩御飯にしちゃちょっと早いんじゃ・・・？
Sakuragi: それはこれからロマンチック映画をーー
Miyagi: おめーは黙ってろ！*stares fiercely*
Sakuragi: なんでだよ、リョウちん・・・*pouts*
Sendou: ははは・・・楽しそうだな。＜この二人、できてるのか・・・でも桜木は確か赤木の妹にメロメロじゃなかったっけ？＞ それじゃ、俺はこれ以上邪魔してはいけないね。
Sakuragi: *looks at watch* おっと！まずい、リョウちん！今急がないと映画に間に合わないかも！
Miyagi: あぁ、分かった。じゃ、またね、仙道。お互い頑張ろう、バスケを。
Sendou: おう。じゃ。
Sendou watches them as the two walk away, smiling to himself when he witnesses Sakuragi trying to hold Miyagi's hand only to once again get whacked in the head. ＜ラブラブだな、彼らなりに。＞ Then, he is about to turn around and continue his way home when he hears someone shout.
Passerby: ああっ あぶない！！
Sendou immediately turns around to see someone asleep on a bicycle riding towards him. They were almost going to crash when Sendou tactfully grabs and pulls the guy off the bike to prevent either of them from crashing into anything. The bike crashes into a tree upfront while the boys fall to the ground.
Sendou: 流川・・・？
Rukawa: 痛てて・・・*rubs his eyes as he wakes up*
Sendou: ＜こいつ まさか寝ていながら・・・＞
Rukawa: ・・・仙道・・・？
Sendou: 大丈夫か？
Rukawa studies the surroundings and mumbles to himself: ・・・寝ちまったか・・・
Sendou sweatdrops: ＜悪癖・・・か・・・＞
Rukawa shakes his head a bit to clear the dizziness in his head when he sees his crashed bike and gets up on his feet.
Rukawa: ・・・ありがとう・・・止めてくれて。
Sendou: どうってことない。だが今度は眠ったまま乗らない方が身のためだぞ。
Rukawa: ・・・
Sendou: 自転車はもうだめみたいだけど、家に帰る途中だったのか？
Rukawa: ・・・うん。まだ歩けるから大丈夫。
Rukawa then picks the bike up, its wheels slightly out of shape. Sendou watches Rukawa and Rukawa stares back after getting the bike back on its wheels. After an awkward moment of silent staring (cause both of them doesn't know what else to say next), Sendou smiles and casually asks.
Sendou: 湘北は今日も練習か？
Rukawa: 昼までは。
Sendou: そうか。さて、お前はそれから今まで一人で外で練習してただろ？
Rukawa: ・・・
Sendou: ははは。本当バスケ一筋だからな、お前はー
Rukawa interrupts: やろうか、ワンオンワン。
Sendou: え？
Rukawa: 俺たちの決着はまだついていない。
Sendou: あ、そう・・・だったな。＜そうだったっけ？＞ 俺はかまわないが、お前はいいのか？体力尽くしたはずじゃ・・・？
Rukawa: かまわない。
Sendou: 疲れてる相手と勝負するなんて不公平じゃーー
Rukawa interrupts: 疲れてない。
Sendou sighs inaudibly and smiles: ＜こいつ、やる気満々だな。うちは全国へ行けなくて決着つけることにこだわっているだろう。＞ 分かった。今からやるか？
Rukawa: 今から。
Sendou nods: じゃ、行こうか。
And so they go to a nearby public basketball court, the one that Rukawa just practiced at actually. Half the court is already taken by a few middle schoolers, but at least they are able to get the other half to themselves. While Sendou take a few seconds to warm up, he smiles as he watches the middle schoolers play.
Sendou: お前は確か富ヶ丘中だったな。
Rukawa: ・・・そうだけど？
Sendou smiles at the kids again: あの子たちを見るとなんかお前の中学生の姿を想像したくなるなぁ。
Rukawa sweat drops: ・・・
Sendou: それじゃ、勝負するなら賭けをしよっか。
Rukawa: 賭け・・・？
Sendou: そうでもしないと面白くないだろ？
Rukawa: ・・・
Sendou: いやならいいけど？
Rukawa: ＜ やろう・・・なめやがって＞いいよ。条件は？
Sendou: 十ゴール先取りだ。条件は勝者が決める。どう？
Rukawa: ふん。いいだろう。
And so they start playing, and from the moment they do the middle schoolers stop their own game to watch the two challenge each other. Though just a one-on-one, the two look like they're in their own world where they can only see each other and the ball. It is a close match, but unfortunately for Rukawa he still loses by two shots. Tired, Rukawa bends over with his hands on his knees as he takes a breather while Sendou casually rests on a bench.
Sendou: ははは・・・惜しかったな。
Rukawa: ＜やろう・・・＞・・・
Sendou: でも体力万全の相手と勝負してただ二本差とはさすがだな、流川。
Rukawa remains stubborn: 俺は疲れてねぇって。
Sendou smiles: はいはい。
Rukawa continues to rest for another minute before he asks: ・・・で、条件は？
Sendou: あ、そうだな。*pauses to think as he stares at the sky*・・・湘北は明日も練習があるだろ？何時に終わるんだ？
Rukawa: ・・・一時。＜・・・だと思う＞
Sendou: ＜よし、うちと同じぐらいだな＞じゃ、明日２時、ここで待ち合おう。
Rukawa: ・・・再戦するのか？
Sendou: いや。*He smiles as he points to his fishing gear* 釣り、付き合ってもらうよ。
Rukawa: ・・・釣り？＜さっき釣り具持ってたっけ・・・＞ --> totally didn't notice
Sendou: そう。いいだろう？
Rukawa: ・・・いいけど。
Sendou: よっし。決まりだな。*Smiles, happy that he's finally 'found' himself
someone to go fishing with* そいや、ご褒美にジュースおごってやろうか？今日はよく頑張ったから。
Rukawa: =_= # いらねぇよ。 ＜どあほう。＞
-------------------------------
The next day during practice, Shohoku, 10:00am.
Sakuragi: リョウちん！パスパス！
Guarded by center Akagi, Miyagi finds no good chances of passing the ball to Sakuragi and thus passes it to Rukawa, who's in a much better position, instead.
Sakuragi: あああ、リョウちん！なんで流川なんかにー？！
Rukawa rushes for an offense. He’s ready and goes for a shoot when Sakuragi leaps and smacks the ball away with his ゴリ直伝ハエたたき... which makes everyone narrow their eyes.
Miyagi sweatdrops: 花道・・・
Akagi: このバカたれが！！*punches Sakuragi in the head* 同んじチームの人に何ブロックしとるんじゃぁ！！
Some of the people start laughing. On the side, Ayako chuckles to herself while thinking.
Ayako: ＜あの子ったら・・・もう晴子のこと気にしないのになんでまだそこまで流川にこだわるのかしら。＞
Sakuragi: ああ ゴリ！＞＿＜！わりぃわりぃ！わざとじゃないんだ！俺はただつい・・・！
Akagi: *strangles/chokes him* 何がついだ！明らかにわざとだろうが このたわけもの！
Rukawa sighs: どあほう・・・
Ayako: 赤木先輩！安西先生は発表することがありますって！
Akagi: おお、分かった。集合！！
All: おう！
Anzai: 皆さん、最近はよく頑張りましたね。いきなりですが、今日は１時に隣のXX高と練習試合をすることになりました。
All: ええええ？！
Akagi: 安西先生、どうしていきなり・・・？
Anzai: ほっほっほ・・・向こうの監督がわざわざ直接申し込んできましたのでお断りしたくないんです。それで今日の練習は遅くなりますが、用事のある人は帰ってもいいですよ。ほっほっほ・・・
Akagi: そうですか。じゃぁ、用事のある人はいないか？
Rukawa raises his arm... low.
Ayako: お、流川・・・＜この子にバスケ以外の用事があるなんて思えないわ＞ --> LOL
Rukawa: 練習試合には出ます。でもその前に電話を・・・
Ayako: あ、そうか。じゃ 今電話しといて来な。
Rukawa: んでも・・・
Ayako tilts her head at Rukawa's hesitance.
Rukawa: 相手の電話番号が分からねぇです。
Ayako almost falls over while the rest sweat drops. Indeed, Rukawa doesn't know Sendou's number.
Rukawa: 先輩は綾南バスケ部の人の電話番号を知らないっすか？
Some people start whispering: 綾南・・・？
Ayako: ええと、マネージャーの相田彦一ならあるけど・・・
Rukawa: それで十分っす。
And so he gets Hikoichi's number from Ayako and walks out of the court to the nearest phone booth when the some of the boys start gossiping amongst themselves.
Mitsui: 綾南？いったいどんな用事なんだろ。まさか敵との秘密特訓とかじゃないだろな。
Akagi: ありえるものか。
Miyagi: いや、綾南のことならたぶん あいつ だろ。
Mitsui: あいつって・・・
Akagi: 仙道か。
Sakuragi: なにぃぃい？？仙道は俺がたおーーすっ！！
Akagi: お前にできるものか！*punches him again*
Mitsui: ははは！そりゃ夢のまた夢だな！
-------------------------------
At the phone booth, Rukawa calls Hikoichi (cell phone) and luckily, he picks it up. It seems like they're having a short break time as well. (The power of fanfics... =P) While still on the line, Rukawa asks Hikoichi to get Sendou to pick the phone....
Sendou: もしもし。
Rukawa: 俺だ。
Sendou: O_o! 流川？
Rukawa: 今日の練習遅くなるから釣りには行けそうにない。
Sendou: あ、そうか・・・
Rukawa: ・・・うん。--> He really doesn't talk much, does he? Poor Sendou.
Sendou: じゃ、来週の土曜日は絶対に来てくれる？
Rukawa: ・・・たぶん。
Sendou laughs softly on the other end: ははは。「たぶん」・・・か。分かった。じゃ、練習頑張れよ。
Rukawa: ・・・・*and then he just hangs up*
Sendou: o__o.... *sighs* ＜一言も言わないか・・・あいつらしいな。＞
As Sendou hangs up Hikoichi's phone, he remembers something and lightly face-palms himself.
Sendou: ＜あっちゃぁ・・・携帯番号聞くの忘れた・・・＞
-------------------------------
Back in the court, some of the boys start teasing Rukawa, especially Mitsui.
Mitsui: よー、流川。気になるのは当然だから素直にバラしちゃいな。いったい綾南とは何の用だ？
Rukawa finds it annoying. Mitsui's practically being a busybody, even though it's not hard to understand why they'd be, but still, it's annoying. Right here right now, he could choose to either tell the whole story or make a poor excuse. But to him, it’s troublesome either way. He’d rather just cut the answer so much shorter.
Rukawa: 秘密です。
Most everyone else who heard them: おおーー
Mitsui: ほぉ？やっぱりこそこそとあっちのキャプテンと何か人に言えないことをしているな？
Miyagi: それぁ三井さんには言われたくないよ。翔陽の誰かさんとこそこそ会ってるのは誰だっけ？
Mitsui goes red in the ears and cheeks: なっ なに言ってやがる？
Sakuragi: おぉ！ミッチーも恋してるのかぁ？
Mitsui: バカ言え。俺はーー
Akagi interrupts: 何ごちゃごちゃ言ってる？？練習中だぞ！おしゃべりする暇があったらコートを五十周走れ！
All: ええええ？！
And so they are all forced to run fifty rounds, and Mitsui blames Miyagi for it while Miyagi in turn blames Mitsui. LOL
Rukawa sighs inaudibly: ＜やれやれ・・・＞
-------------------------------
A week later on Saturday, close to 2pm, Sendou’s playing basketball with a few middle schoolers at the basketball court as he waits for Rukawa. Neither of them have talked or seen each other since last Saturday, and to be honest Sendou isn’t even sure if Rukawa would come. After all Rukawa hasn’t called again to confirm anything and god knows if he remembers about today, but it doesn’t hurt to give it a chance.
Sendou scores a ball again, laughing casually: これで十五本目だな。
Kid#1: ずるいよ！お兄ちゃん背が高すぎ！
Sendou: そうか？ *naturally puts a hand on the top of his head*
Kid#2: こりゃ勝負にならないぜ。そもそも、お兄ちゃんはプロなんだろ？
Sendou looks somewhat surprised: プロか・・・ほめすぎだね。
Kid#1: 違うの？俺たち一本も入れられないじゃん？
Sendou: ははは。俺は一応高校生だから。
Kid#2: なんよそれ！*pouts*
Sendou continues to laugh and joke with the kids when one of them points a finger at someone behind them.
Kid#1: 誰かがお兄ちゃんを睨んでるよ？
Sendou turns around to see Rukawa resting against a tree with his arms folded.
Sendou: 流川！*walks over towards him* 来てたのか。なんで声かけてくれないんだ？
Rukawa: ・・・楽しそうにやってたから。
Sendou: なんだ、来てたら声くらいかけてよ。待ってたんだから。
Rukawa looks over at the kids: ・・・まだやるの？
Sendou: あ？あっいや、遊びながら待っていようかって。
And so Sendou tells the kids that he has to go and waves them goodbye before he proceeds to go to the jetty. He’s brought two fishing poles this time and he’s wearing very casual – a white t-shirt and a pair of blue Bermudas. Rukawa, on the other hand, continues to wear Shohoku’s jersey pants along with his own black t-shirt. Obviously, he’s too lazy to change everything.
Sendou: 正直言って、お前が来るとは思わなかった。
Rukawa: ・・・なんで？
Sendou: あれから一度も電話してくれないもん。
Rukawa: ・・・電話は一回だけで十分だろ。先週確認したんだから。
Sendou: そうだっけ？＜うそつけ。お前は「たぶん」って言った。＞
Then suddenly he remembers something.
Sendou: あっそうだ、この間お前の携帯番号聞くの忘れた。
Rukawa: 携帯は持ってない。
Sendou: え？持ってないの？
Rukawa: 持ってない。
Sendou: ええと・・・なんで？
Rukawa: =_=; 持ってないから。--> Uso desu. He actually has a few reasons but is too lazy to explain.
Sendou: そうか。それじゃ自宅の番号は教えてくれない？
Rukawa: なんで？
Sendou sweatdrops: なんでって・・・念のためだろ？
Rukawa: ・・・後で教える。
And so they get the jetty and settle down their things. Sendou prepares their fishing poles and baits for them as he explains to Rukawa what and how to do it, even though it's written all over Rukawa's face that he's confused. Sendou can't help but laugh at Rukawa's indifference while Rukawa ignores him.
Sendou: 準備できたから今は待つだけ。
Rukawa: ・・・待つだけ？＜マジで？＞
Sendou: そう。忍耐を鍛えられるね、これは。
Rukawa: =_=;・・・＜時間の無駄だけだ。＞
And so they both sit along the edge of the jetty with their legs sticking out, and they wait... and wait. It's a good day today – sunny but a third cloudy, just enough so that they won't get sunburn. There's also the cool sea breeze to keep them comfortable... except... the silence between them is awkward, hella awkward.
Sendou chuckles: お前ほんと無口だな。
Rukawa: -__-・・・
Sendou: 時間たっぷりあることだしゆっくりと話しようよ。
Rukawa: ・・・何を話すんだ？
Sendou: 何でもいいから、例えば趣味とか。
They stare at each other awkwardly in silence for a few seconds before Sendou continues.
Sendou: 例えばさ、俺はバスケ以外の趣味は釣り。お前は？
Rukawa pauses to think for a few seconds before he answers.
Rukawa: 寝ること。
Sendou laughs a little: そうか。＜それはなんとなく分かった気がする。＞ じゃ、好きな食べ物は？
Rukawa: ・・・知らねぇ。
Sendou: 好きな色？
Rukawa: ・・・青。
Sendou: 誕生日は？
Rukawa: ・・・元旦。
Sendou: ヘェ・・・そうなんだ？
Rukawa: 尋問か、これ。
Sendou laughs again: バスケに関係ないものは興味ないっ か。
Rukawa: ・・・ *looks into the horizon, his hand still holding onto his pole*
Sendou: じゃぁ、今朝の練習はどうだった？
That reminds Rukawa of all the annoying teasing he has to put through ever since last week. This morning was no exception, even though no one knows what plans he has for the day. They just sorta assumed, and went on and on about it, especially Sakuragi. Yeah, especially him.
Rukawa: ・・・いつも通り。
Sendou: そうか。赤木たちは絶好調だろうけど、桜木のやつはどう？いつも俺はあいつが倒すってがんがん言ってるけど期待できそうかな？
Rukawa: ・・・どあほうに何期待してる。お前は俺が倒す。必ず。
Sendou sweatdrops: ＜あ、こいつもそうだってこと忘れてた。＞
And then they're back to silence, which makes Sendou feel awkward again. He knows Rukawa doesn't talk much to begin with, but in a situation like this he can't help but feel like they should talk, like it's the best scenario to get to know each other. Just because Rukawa's known to be a cold prince doesn't mean no one should try being his friend. The way Sendou sees it, Rukawa hides a flood of unpredictable thoughts beneath that stoic mask, and he's curious to see it.
Thirty minutes later, Sendou is just about to open another conversation when he feels something on his right shoulder. Rukawa has fallen asleep. Sendou naturally stiffens at the thought that he now can't move, but then he sighs and smiles to himself. ＜趣味は寝ることか・・・意外と無防備だな、こいつ＞ Carefully, he takes the fishing pole from Rukawa's hand and holds it himself, just in case he hooks something and there goes the flying pole.
About an hour later, Sendou feels a tug on Rukawa's pole. The tug pulls at Sendou's arm, jerking it and waking up the sleeping one. Rukawa has just opened his eyes when he hears Sendou's voice close to him.
Sendou: 流川、引っかかってるぞ。
Sendou hands his pole back to him and that's when Rukawa finally clicks. He now has the pole back but he sure doesn't know what to do next. Seeing Sendou get up his feet, he follows and tries to keep the pole steady in his hands. It feels weird to have something tug at you continuously and Rukawa's actually worried if the pole would snap when suddenly he's surprised to feel Sendou's hands around his, his body behind him. Rukawa has never had anyone invade his personal space before outside of basketball and it's totally awkward, but it's not like there's anything he could do so he tries to ignore it just so he can get it over with. (By the way, he totally doesn't realize he just slept on Sendou's shoulder. =P)
Sendou: 俺が導いてやるから、お前はしっかり竿を捕まえてフォローすればいい。
Rukawa: ・・・分かった。
With Sendou's help, they manage to pull the fish up. It isn't a tough one, and it shows when they see what fish they caught. It's a common fish around these waters, the size of a shoe perhaps. Nevertheless, Sendou is proud that Rukawa's able to catch something on his first try and puts the fish in a bucket of water, temporarily.
Rukawa: それで？
Sendou: それで？
Rukawa: 魚をどうするんだ？
Sendou: あぁ、俺はリリースするんだな、普通。
Rukawa: ・・・・はぁ・・・？？-__-
Sendou: 俺はただ釣りが好きだけで、別に食べようとは思わないよ。それに、ベジタリアンじゃないけど自分の手で生物を殺すのはあんまり好きじゃない。
Rukawa: ・・・それじゃ、釣りに意味ないじゃない。=_=
Sendou: あるさ。どんな魚が釣れるか、引っかかっても引きあげることができるか、楽しみじゃないか？ (Doesn’t this sound like a metaphor to something else...? =P)
Rukawa:・・・--> obviously doesn't agree. LOL
Sendou: お前が食べたいというなら魚住さんに渡して何か料理してもらってもいいけど？＜板前だから＞
Rukawa: いや。-_- *waves his hand* いい。
Sendou chuckles softly: じゃ、もう一回釣ってみようか。それとも魚を海に戻して終わりにする？
Rukawa doesn't take a second to respond: 終わりにする。
Sendou isn’t surprised to hear that: オッケイ。じゃ、お前が魚を海に戻しな。
Rukawa: 俺が？
Sendou: お前のキャッチだろ？
And so Rukawa throws the fish back in as Sendou watches. Sendou has got to admit, it’s enjoyable to have Rukawa fish with him, even if it’s only for a couple hours. He may not talk much, but knowing that someone’s there with him is good enough for Sendou.
Sendou watches the fish fall: あっ、石に当たった。
Rukawa: 当たってねぇよ。-__-;
Sendou: ははは。冗談・・・
Then suddenly, it starts raining a little. (Oh thank you lord? =P)
Sendou: あれ、雨か。＜さっきまで晴れてたのに。＞
He then quickly pulls his line back in and packs up his gear.
Sendou: やばい。雨が強くなってきた。お前このまま帰るか？家が遠かったら俺ンちに来ない？シャワーも着替えもあるから。
Rukawa pauses to think. He is about to say that he can run home while the rain’s still small when it starts pouring heavily.
Rukawa: -__-;・・・仕方ない。
-----------------------------------
Sendou’s place isn’t very far from the jetty. It is about a ten minute run before they got there. Brushing his now-downed hair away from his face, Sendou opens his door to reveal a small studio apartment.
Sendou: 狭くてごめんね。 今すぐタオル持ってくるから。それと、かばんはどこにでも置いていいよ。
Rukawa looks around the house before he takes off his shoes at the entrance. The place looks pretty empty except for a TV, a few drawers, a wardrobe and a bed, typical of a lone tenant perhaps, but at least it's not dirty, or messy.
Rukawa: ＜一人暮らしか・・・＞ お邪魔します。
Soon enough Sendou comes back with a towel and some clean clothes for Rukawa. He insists that Rukawa showers first and so he does. When Rukawa steps out of the bathroom wearing his slightly oversized t-shirt, Sendou chuckles internally to himself thinking how adorable he looks. On the other hand, Rukawa pretends he doesn’t hear a thing. Before Sendou steps in to a take a shower, he points to the drawers beside the little TV.
Sendou: 引き出しの中に去年のNBAのビデオがあるから好きに見てていいよ。それと、一番下の引き出しに雑誌もあるから。
Rukawa: 分かった。
And so Rukawa starts popping in the videos while Sendou’s in the shower, switching the tape every half minute until he finds one with Michael Jordan. He then lays his back against the side of the bed and continues to watch until Sendou comes out. He smiles to himself when he sees Rukawa quietly watching and walks over to sit right beside him with a towel over his head. They sit there staring at the TV in silence for a few minutes before Sendou finally speaks again.
Sendou: あれがお前の目標か。
Rukawa spaces out for a few seconds before he responds: あれって？
Sendou: マイケル・ジョーダン。
Rukawa doesn’t reply and continues to stare at the TV. He probably doesn’t know the answer himself. This is Michael Jordan and the NBA they’re talking about and it is Shohoku he’s in. He can’t say no cause he does want to join the NBA someday but he can’t say yes cause he doesn’t want to be too farfetched as to say he wants to be the next MJ.
Sendou: やっぱりすごいな、あの人は。マイケル・ジョーダンのレベルを目指すなら日本全国制覇どころか、世界制覇だろう。
Rukawa: ・・・
Sendou: だが、お前たち湘北は全国へ行くんだから うちと違って世界制覇に近づくチャンスはある。
Rukawa: 何言ってる？俺はまだ一度もお前に勝ったことないぞ。＜だからムカツク・・・＞
Sendou laughs: ははは！それは当然さ。
Rukawa: =__=##........ ＜やろう・・・＞
Sendou: 俺だってお前に負けないよう必死に頑張ってるからな。
Rukawa: ＜何が必死だ。いつも練習サボってるくせに。＞
Sendou: それはなんでだと思う？
Rukawa: 知るか。
Sendou: 負けたらもう追ってはこないだろう。
Rukawa: ・・・・
Sendou: 図星か。
Rukawa stares back at the TV, not answering Sendou again. Sendou know he’s got it right, but while it’s not an encouraging answer, he internally pats himself in the back for knowing Rukawa this well enough. However, the next moment of silence is broken when the door bell rings. Sendou answers the door only to be greeted by a familiar face.
Sendou: リナ・・・？ [Note: Rina’s a random original girl.] どうしてここに？
Rina: これ *throws him a cell phone* 忘れたでしょ。
Sendou: あ *grabs the phone* サンキュ。まさかこれを届けにわざわざ？
Rina: あんたのもの見たくないわ。
Rukawa glances for a second at the person at the door before his eyes go back to the TV.
Sendou: ^^; あ そう・・・まだ怒ってるのか。
Rina: いまさら怒っても何もどうにもならないわ。
Sendou scratches his head innocently, not knowing what else to say. That’s when the girl peers into the apartment to see another guy inside. She can tell he’s watching those basketball videos from the noise of the TV.
Rina: バスケの知り合い？
Sendou: あ、うん。
Rina frowns: またバスケか。
Sendou: まぁ・・・
He pretty much knows what she’s gonna say next.
Rina: やっぱりあんたの眼中にはバスケしかないわね。朝起きたらバスケ。学校に行ったらバスケ。放課後もバスケ。家にもバスケ。バスケバスケばっかりでやりすぎだと思わない？？
Sendou sweat drops: そう言われても・・・
Rina: もうあんたのこと知らないわ。携帯も返したからあたし帰る。
She is about to turn and leave when Sendou adds on.
Sendou: リナ、いつも怒らせてばかりでごめん。お前はいい人だから俺よりずっとふさわしい相手が見つかるよ、きっと。
Before she leaves, Rina shakes her head and sighs as she mumbles the words “Baka…” With that, Sendou closes the door and sits back beside Rukawa, and the two stare at the TV again in silence. Sendou can tell that Rukawa’s curious but hesitant to ask about the girl, and so he deliberately teases Rukawa by not starting a conversation. (LOL) It was only after five minutes of mind-fidgeting does Rukawa finally ask.
Rukawa: ・・・さっきのは誰？
Sendou smiles to himself when he hears Rukawa initiates the question, smug.
Sendou: あぁ、リナか。俺の元彼女。
Rukawa: ・・・・・
Sendou: 気にすることはない。もうずいぶん前のことだ。＜本当は前月だけど。＞
Rukawa: ・・・・
Sendou: お前は？
Rukawa: ・・・？
Sendou: 彼女いるのか？
Rukawa: そんな暇はない。
Sendou laughs at how blunt Rukawa is about it: やっぱり。
Rukawa: -_-;・・・ ＜何がやっぱりだ？＞
Sendou: おっとごめん。俺が言いたかったのは、お前は確かに格好いいし将来も輝かしい。普通の場合じゃ女は誰でもお前にほれてしまうだろう。けど、これほどバスケ中毒じゃ女は自然と避けるものだ。
Rukawa looks at him with an expression that’s hard to describe, but Sendou can tell that he doesn’t quite get it and that he could probably mistake it as an offense and so he continues.
Sendou: リナはね、ああ見えてももともとバスケの大ファンだったんだ。
Rukawa: ・・・＜へぇ・・・＞
Sendou: 学校は違うけど、俺と付き合ったのも俺のファンだったから。
Rukawa: ・・・
Sendou: でも時間が経てば問題はだんだん見えてくる。お互いバスケが好きなのに彼女は自分をバスケと比べてしまう。そして男の方もいつかは「バスケと私、どっちの方が大事」だと聞かれる。「両方とも好き」という理性的な答えをしたら怒られるし、とにかく女の人にとっちゃそれは取り返しのない言葉のようだ。まったく手に負えない。
Rukawa: ・・・＜だから女はめんどくさい。＞
Sendou: まぁ、俺の場合じゃ自分のせいでもあるけどな。本気じゃなかったもんな。
Rukawa sweatdrops internally: ・・・・
Sendou chuckles a little: このままじゃ俺たちのような人間は一生も独身の運命なのかな？
Rukawa: ・・・興味ないし。
Sendou laughs: そうだな。でもお前の場合、百人も超える女子親衛隊がいるから問題ないだろ。湘北のマネージャーと赤木の妹もいるし、ね？
Rukawa sighs. He really can’t be bothered to answer that. Sendou then gets up to toss his towel away when he realizes he still has the cell phone in his hand, which reminds him…
Sendou: あそうだ！
Rukawa: ・・・？
Sendou: お前携帯持ってないだろ？これやるよ。
Rukawa: は・・・？ *looks at the phone in Sendou's hand*
Sendou: 俺二台持ってるんだ。＜これはリナ専用だったけど＞ これもう要らないからやるよ。
Rukawa: いらねぇよ。
Sendou: いやぁ、これぁ俺のわがままでもあるんだ。
Rukawa: ・・・？
Sendou: 携帯持ってればいつでも連絡できるから便利なものさ。
Rukawa: ・・・
Sendou: ほら、写真も撮れるぞ？
Sendou sits back down beside Rukawa on the floor and puts an arm around his shoulder before taking a quick shot of them without permission. Rukawa frowns but doesn’t say a word. As he stares at him wondering why he did that, Sendou goes ahead and sets that photo as the wallpaper before he shows it to Rukawa with a smug look on his face.
Sendou: ほら、面白いだろ？
Rukawa stares at the screen blankly.
Sendou: とにかくお前にやるから黙って受け取れよ。
Rukawa holds the phone in his hand, still wondering whether to take it or not. Sendou smiles at the fact that Rukawa’s willing to hold onto it at all.
Sendou: 家を出る時は必ず持っていけよ。でないと意味なくなるから。
The corner of Rukawa’s lips curls into a small, practically invisible smile.
Rukawa: お母さんみたい。
Author's note:
The metaphor that could apply to something else that I was talking about earlier on is this:
どんな魚が釣れるか、
With love, no one can tell who they'll fall in love with.
引っかかっても引きあげることができるか
Or whether they can win that person's heart even if they found one.
楽しみじゃないか？
Don't you think that's why love is worth looking forward to?