Version #1: Japanese dialog
仙流物語 — Senru Monogatari
(Part 3)
Online Japanese dictionary: http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/cgi-bin/wwwjdic.cgi
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Two weeks has passed and Rukawa hasn't received a single phone call from Sendou. He doesn't seem to care as he knows how to busy himself with basketball and sleep, but inside, he's pissed off. It was right after that day when they went out for a stroll that Sendou stopped calling him.
He still clearly remembers what happened. He still remembers what Sendou almost did but which he didn’t. Why did he do that? Why did he end up not doing it? What is he thinking after all? And worse, what is Rukawa thinking?
Rukawa is annoyed. He finds it frustrating that something this insignificant is bothering him at all. No, it’s not about the fact that Sendou no longer calls him. It’s the fact he’s bothered by the fact that Sendou no longer calls him. It’s confusing. He doesn’t get it. And he hates it.
After those two weeks, he stops bringing his cell phone and leaves it at home turned off, in case it rings. He's got a lot to catch up on basketball if he intends to be 'Japan's number one high schooler' (let alone MJ junior), and he needs to give it a hundred percent focus. He now starts playing even more aggressively, often challenging the senior regulars, surprising them with every move and turn. Most of them assume that Rukawa's just excited about the nationals, but Sakuragi sure has a different idea.
Sakuragi: 俺は違うと思うぜぃ。
Mitsui & Miyagi: 何？
Sakuragi: だーって、よく考えてみればあのバカギツネ、携帯見なくなったんだろ？
Miyagi: そいえばそうだな・・・
Sakuragi: あいつなんかに電話する人って言えば「あいつ」しかいないだろ？
Mitsui: おおー 確かに。
Sakuragi: ってことは・・・へっへっへ・・・あいつらはケンカ中に決まってる！
Mitsui: おおー！やるじゃねーか桜木！
Miyagi: 意外と観察力あるな、花道。
Sakuragi: 当然！俺は天才だから！にゃぁははは！
Mitsui: でもよ、それは流川のスキルアップとどう関係あるんだ？
Ayako joins in the conversation: 機嫌悪くなって気持ちを全部バスケにぶつけるってとこかな？
Miyagi: お！さすが彩ちゃん！
Sakuragi stares at Ayako, displaying possessiveness over Miyagi. Ayako simply smiles at him.
Ayako: そうでしょ？天才。
That pretty much makes Sakuragi smile for the rest of the day.
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A few days later, Sendou comes by Shohoku after school. He goes to the gym to check the team out and finds Miyagi leaning against the wall near the door. Miyagi notices Sendou and greets him.
Miyagi: お、仙道じゃないか。
Sendou: やぁ。
Everyone turns around to see Sendou by the door when they hear his name, and Sendou simply nods and waves back at them.
Miyagi: 流川を探してるのか？
Sendou: あ、うん。
Miyagi: 残念だね。あいつは練習が終わったらすぐ行っちゃったよ。約１５分前かな。
Sendou: あら、そうか。
At that moment, Sakuragi comes out of the changing room and sees Sendou.
Sakuragi: おおーー 仙道！！
Miyagi puts a hand to his forehead and shakes his head, sighing.
Miyagi: またか・・・
Sakuragi walks over grinning and pats Sendou on the back a few times, hard.
Sakuragi: 仙道！にゃぁははは！全部お前のおかげだぜ！いいことしてくれたな！
Sendou sweatdrops, not sure what's going on.
Sendou: ・・・はい？
Sakuragi: 最近あのキツネがやけにバスケに激しくなったと思ったら、お前たちケンカしてることがバレて逆に集中力なくなって良かった！
Miyagi: 花道。
Sendou: ケンカ・・・？._.?
Sakuragi: そのおかげで流川はゴリにまで叱られて にゃぁははは！笑っちゃうだろ？？
Miyagi: 花道！*smacks him in the head* ＜仙道にそんなこというかよ！＞
Sendou: あれっ ちょっと待って。今のは本当か？
Miyagi: まぁ・・・俺たちにもよく分からないけど 流川が機嫌悪いのは確かだな。
Sendou: そうか・・・分かった。サンキュ。あいつを探すから、じゃな。
He waves to everyone in the court as well before he leaves.
Miyagi: うん、じゃ。
It actually isn’t hard to guess where Rukawa can be. Sendou has only checked out the first place he can think of and there he is, practicing alone at the usual basketball court.
Sendou: ＜分かりやすくて本当良かったぜ。＞
The court’s empty except for him this time. Sendou closes in quietly as he watches Rukawa, who hasn't felt his presence. He is almost going to call out his name, but then he decides that he should just watch him quietly like that. Rukawa continues to play by himself, entering almost every shot he makes. It's a wonder to most people how he could have had the stamina to be playing for hours and hours in a row, but Sendou understands that isn't all that odd for someone whose life revolves around the sport, himself included.
After entering a dozen or so more shots, Rukawa finally pauses for a rest and turns around to walk towards the bench when he sees Sendou. They stare at each other for a few seconds in silence until Sendou finally breaks it.
Sendou: やぁ。^_^ *waves*
Rukawa ignores him and reaches inside his bag for his water bottle.
Sendou sweatdrops: ＜無視されてる・・・＞
Rukawa turns his back at Sendou as he drinks from his bottle. At the same time Sendou casually walks over towards him with his hands in his pockets.
Sendou: ・・・シカトか。
Rukawa closes the cap on his bottle and glares at Sendou again. To be honest, he's got nothing to say. Sendou tilts his head a little and looks over at Rukawa again.
Sendou: 怒ってるのか？
Rukawa stares at Sendou for a few more seconds before he picks up his basketball for another round.
Rukawa: 別に。
When Rukawa has his back turned towards Sendou again, Sendou smiles.
Sendou: ＜嘘つき。＞
Rukawa continues to ignore him as he resumes with his practice. He knows he's slightly distracted with Sendou around but whatever. He's been gone for so long (well it feels kinda long after having met so often previously), he might as well not be there.
Sendou: *While watching Rukawa play* 最近、携帯持ってこないようだな。
Rukawa ignores.
Sendou: この数日、何度も電話してみたんだよ。
Rukawa ignores.
Sendou: お前の住所と家の番号分からないからずっと連絡とれなくて。
Rukawa goes for another shot and it enters.
Sendou pauses for a few seconds before he continues: うちのおばあさん、先日癌でなくなったんだ。
Rukawa pauses for a moment before he turns to look at Sendou, who still puts on a casual smile on his face.
Sendou: いきなり倒れただから母さんが心配して 実家に戻ってって言われた。
Rukawa now stands there listening to him.
Sendou: 急いで帰ったからなんとか間に合ったけど、おばあさんは次の日になくなった。まぁ、おばあさんの最期が看取れるだけでありがたく思うけどね。
Rukawa looks down at the ground, quiet. He knows he's not good with words and he ain't about to screw it.
Sendou: それで葬式のことで忙しくなって、あっという間に二週間が経った。おかげでそれだけの練習もミスして、田岡先生にさんざん叱られたんだよね。*laughs to himself*
Rukawa almost sweat drops at the way Sendou keeps his calm as usual, but he knows that's a good trait. It's something he admires in Sendou even if he can never see himself like that. Seeing that Sendou is waiting for a response, Rukawa quietly sits on the bench with him, though at the edge.
Rukawa: ・・・親しかったのか、おばあさんと。
Sendou looks at Rukawa and smiles, glad that he's actually responding; he wasn't sure he would. LOL.
Sendou: そうだな・・・幼いころはおばあさんと一緒に住んでたからな。バスケを始めたあのころもおばあさんがいつも応援してくれた。
He looks at Rukawa again to study his expressions but Rukawa remains quiet, staring at the ground.
Sendou: お前は？おばあさんやおじいさんいない？
Rukawa: いない。
Sendou: 寂しくない？
Rukawa: 寂しくない。
Sendou: 俺がいなくても？
Rukawa goes silent again as he stares uneasily at Sendou, who only returns him with a smile. He has actually planned to piss him off by not talking to him, like it's revenge for the past two weeks of no contact. But here he is, entirely defeated. That is not part of the plan, and it quite pisses him off, only, he's not really.
Sendou: 俺は会いたかったよ、この二週間。
Rukawa: ・・・・・・・
Sendou: でも携帯を忘れた自分も悪いか。
Rukawa: ・・・・
Sendou: そうだ、ここに来る前湘北に行ってみたんだけど、あの桜木に面白いこと聞いたよ。
Rukawa: ・・・・？
Sendou: 俺たちケンカしてるって勘違いしてるみたいだけど、お前はそれで集中できなくなったってどういうこと？
Rukawa: =_=#.... ＜どあほうめ・・・何言ってやがる？＞ あいつの言う事を信じるのはお前の勝手だが俺は知らない。
Sendou studies Rukawa's expressions carefully. Rukawa knows and dislikes it, but he really doesn't know what Sakuragi or Sendou's talking about so he's just gonna shrug it off as usual.... until Sendou starts laughing softly.
Rukawa: =__=# ・・・何笑ってる？
Sendou: いや・・・ははは・・ただ、お前がそんな真剣そうな顔してるけど かえって可愛く見えるから。
Rukawa: ・・・・・
Sendou reaches a hand out to ruffle Rukawa's hair playfully: 携帯、持ってけよ？でないと電話できないだろ？
Rukawa stands up abruptly and walks over to the post to pick up his basketball, and then he throws it at Sendou who curiously looks at it in his hands.
Rukawa: 今度こそ倒してやる。
Sendou smiles. For some reason he kinda saw that coming. After closing his eyes and taking a deep breath for a second, he gets up and starts dribbling the ball slowly.
Sendou: そうか。じゃ、お手並み拝見としようか。
The two end up spending the rest of the day playing against each other. Sendou has missed that feeling so much it now feels nostalgic. It feels good to see Rukawa again, to see him standing there in front of him, always trying his best to beat him. Most of all, he misses just being with him. He has to admit, it was slightly awkward for a while, especially since what happened that day. It had taken him so much courage to do it, yet it took him even more courage to stop it. He’s realized that he treasures Rukawa more than anything, and he’s not about to let a moment’s temptation ruin it all. He wishes to could express it somehow. He hopes he could convey it to Rukawa some day. But it’s not that day, not yet. To be honest he doesn’t even know if that day will ever come. Maybe things can get complicated. Maybe he may just realize that it’s better to stay this way. But until that happens, he decides that he wants to keep what he has at the moment, this bond that he shares with Rukawa that no one else has.
Rukawa's pissed to have lost to Sendou by two shots, again. It’s not fair that he’s driven himself so hard the past fourteen days, only to still be beaten by the man with a two-week blank. He’s annoyed at himself, annoyed for still being unable to defeat Sendou, annoyed for realizing how different Sendou is to him than everyone else. Sometimes he even thinks to himself about how much easier it would have been for him if he had just never realized. But reality is that he has... and that is something he’ll have to learn to accept... eventually.
Sendou can see the frustration in Rukawa’s eyes from his 14th defeat. He knows he shouldn’t be laughing or smiling, but he can’t help it. He’s glad to know that they’re back to normal. He’s glad to know that he's been forgiven even without words.
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One Saturday just as Shohoku's practice session ends, the first year students are picking up the balls and clearing the gym when Ayako hears Miyagi sighing as he walks past her.
Ayako: あら、どうしたの リョウタ？
Miyagi perks up a little when he hears her: あ、彩ちゃん。
Ayako: 元気なさそうだわね。
Miyagi looks at her for a second before he sighs again: あの時期が来るとなんか雰囲気重くなるよね。
Ayako: あの時期って？._.;
Miyagi: 来週はとうとう前期試験なんだろ？
Ayako: あ、あれか。^^; --> What the hell was she thinking? XD
Hearing the two talk, Sakuragi starts watching them closely as he continues to mop the floor. Deep inside he knows that there's nothing between the two of them, but somehow he still can't help but to be wary. Miyagi doesn't like that, he knows, and that's why he's trying his best already not to be cutting into their conversation at this moment. But that sure doesn't stop him from glaring at them with narrowed eyes and pouted lips.
Ayako glares at Miyagi a little: まさか あんたはまだ勉強してないの？
Miyagi sweatdrops: ええと・・それが・・・
Ayako sighs and lightly hits Miyagi's head with her harisen (paper fan): まったく。あんたまた赤点軍団に入りたいわけ？もし落ちたら全国行けなくなるじゃない？
Sakuragi gasps in shock as he witnesses the intolerable scene and drops his mop immediately before he runs towards them shouting.
Sakuragi: あ、あ、あ、彩子さん！！リョウちんになんてことをー！？ >_<!!!
Ayako: だってそうでしょ？あんたもそうだから注意しなさいよ。
Then, Ayako turns around to face everyone else before she continues.
Ayako: 赤点軍団の四人ども！よーく聞きなさい！
Rukawa and Mitsui flinch on the other side of the court.
Ayako: 来週の前期試験は絶・対・に落ちてはならないよ！もし落ちたら・・・
The four problematic kids continue to stare at Ayako, anticipating what's to come.
Ayako: 二度と恋人に会えると思うなよ。*a sparkle appears to the side of her eye*
Sakuragi: @_@!!
Miyagi: .__.
Mitsui: >_>;
Rukawa: -_-
Everyone else sweatdrops.
(Note: In case you can’t tell, Miyagi’s reaction is the smallest cos’ he’s wondering how Ayako’s threat can ever apply to him and Sakuragi. And Sakuragi’s got the biggest reaction cos’ he’s an idiot and he doesn’t realize the same.)
Ayako: 花道！あんたが一番頼りないから リョウタ！あんたはしっかりとこいつの勉強を手伝いな！
Miyagi: えぇ・・・なんで俺が・・・
Rukawa sighs to himself. He has almost forgotten about exams next week. Well actually, he did forget, but let's not get into that. He knows he hasn't been studying all that hard, especially when he'd rather spend all that time on basketball than to waste it on some mathematics studies and crap that isn't going to practically get him anywhere in the future. But he should be okay, he thinks. He did fine the last time the four of them had a study session at gorilla's... uh he means Akagi senpai's place. It's not like studying is that hard. What's hard for him is trying not to fall asleep while at it. He is about to leave the court for the locker room when Ayako reminds him.
Ayako: 流川、あんたも落ちないように気をつけてよ？うちのエースがいなくなったら全国でどうなるか想像したくないわ。
Rukawa: ・・・分かってます。
And so Rukawa walks home after he finishes packing up; he has taken the bus to school today after waking up two hours late for school. As he walks, he thinks about how he's going to last a few hours of studies that night. Well, a few hours would be way too optimistic; he doubts he'd even last an hour. While waiting for the green light at a junction, he stares blankly at the ground across the street, his mind clear of thoughts until a few seconds later when he remembers something.
He pulls his sling back around and reaches in for his phone. Sendou hasn't messaged him, and that probably means that they're not going for outside practice today. He continues to stare at the phone screen until someone pushes him from behind.
Passerby: 邪魔だ。どけ。
The green light is on and everyone walks by him impatiently. Thanks to the push from that bloody stranger, Rukawa drops the phone onto the ground. He frowns at the asshole and is tempted to return him an eye when he decides that it's more important to save the phone first. After crossing the road, he stops to check and see if it may be broken, but luckily it didn't. Sighing to himself, he continues to walk home with the phone in his hand, cursing to himself why he didn't just ride his bike to school this morning since he's already late and there's nothing he can do about it.
He sighs even more when he remembers that there's studying to do. He admires Akagi for being able to cope so well with basketball and studies at the same time. Sometimes he wonders how that's even possible considering how little time there is to spare for the other if you try to concentrate on one. After thinking to himself for a few more moments, he flips his phone open to dial a number.
Sendou has just finished practice over on his side and is walking home alone whistling to himself when he hears his phone ring.
Sendou: ＜電話？彦一か。＞*picks up the phone without checking the caller ID* もしもし。
Rukawa: 今夜お前ンとこ行っていい？
Sendou stops walking for a moment, stunned: ・・・あれ？
He then checks the phone's called ID and his eyes go wide at the name that shows on it.
Sendou: ええ？流川？？
Rukawa: ・・・何驚いてる。
Sendou: あっいやぁ、直接かけてくれるの初めてだからつい・・・
Rukawa: ・・・
Sendou: ^^; ごめん、さっきなんて言った？
Rukawa: ・・・・・・*wonders if he should ask again*
Sendou: ・・・流川？
Rukawa: ・・・今夜お前ンちで勉強しようと思ってる。
Sendou: 俺の・・・うち？
Rukawa: 不便ならいい。
Sendou: あいや、いいよ、いつでも。
Rukawa: ・・・じゃ六時にそっち行く。
Sendou: あ、分かった。
Rukawa hangs up, and Sendou continues to stare at his phone. Well that's a surprise. A pleasant one in fact. Wondering what the reason could have been, Sendou smiles to himself as he resumes walking home.
A few hours later...
Sendou: *opens the door and smiles* おかえり。^_^
Rukawa: -_-; ・・・何がおかえりだ。
Sendou laughs and lets the boy in: いやぁ、ただ言ってみたくて。
Rukawa rolls his eyes and enters the apartment, taking off his shoes as Sendou closes the door behind them.
Sendou: でも今日はほんと驚いた。まかさお前がうちで勉強するなんて。
Rukawa: ・・・そんなにいやなら帰る。
Sendou: え？俺は何も言ってないよ？
Rukawa: ・・・
Sendou: ^^; ・・・
Then, Rukawa sits on the floor and puts his bag in front of him pulling a few textbooks out. Sendou watches curiously until he remembers something.
Sendou: あの・・・さっき言い忘れたけど、俺ンとこテーブルがないんだな・・・
Rukawa: 床さえあればいい。
Sendou: ^^; 本当にそれでいいのか？
Rukawa: お前に手伝ってもらうから文句言える立場じゃない。
Sendou: 手伝い・・・？._.? どうしていきなり？
Rukawa: ・・・全国で優勝する前 夢をつぶすわけにはいかない。
Sendou: ^^; なるほど。
Rukawa looks through his textbooks: 英語と歴史、どっちの方が得意？
Sendou: ^^;; ・・・
And so the two of them end up studying on the bed with the books on top as they sit right by the edge (it's a frameless bed, just two mattresses piled together and stuck against a corner). Sendou has got exams next week too but only later in the week. He has planned to study only early next week but since Rukawa's here, he may as well study along with him.
Right before he begins he's asked Rukawa what makes him want to study at his place. Rukawa casually answers that having someone else with him may just help him stay awake a little longer. But well oh well, that so totally does not seem to work, for he's now fallen asleep on the bed right after about three hours. But hey, mind you, three hours is a great deal of improvement as far as Rukawa's concerned.
Sendou quietly laughs to himself when he sees Rukawa bury his face under an arm. He wonders if he should wake him up but scratches the idea when he remembers what he's heard Rukawa's capable of if disturbed during his sleep.
Sendou: ＜このまま眠らせた方がいいか。＞
Slowly, he gets up and quietly moves the textbooks away from the bed. Once it’s clear, Sendou takes a deep breath and bends over to carry Rukawa up as slowly as possible. After all, he can't possibly let him sleep that way till morning. Carefully, he carries him up onto the bed and puts him down, making sure that his head lands on the pillow. He aware he's a tad nervous, but at least he's not guilty. He knows he won't do anything cowardly like he almost did before.
After putting him down, he continues to stare deep and long at Rukawa's sleeping face. He's still as beautiful as ever. No, he's even more beautiful today. As far as Sendou's concerned Rukawa only gets more and more beautiful each day, just like the way his heart longs more and more for him. But he knows how to suppress that now. He knows how to keep things the way they are, the way they should be. He's contented with the relationship he currently has with him, he won't dare ask for more.
Sighing, Sendou turns around to put the books away nicely when he feels a tug on his shirt. He looks down to see a hand, Rukawa's hand. He’s staring at him with his head turned towards Sendou, his expression blank as usual.
Sendou: ・・・流川？
Rukawa: ・・・俺がここで寝たらお前はどこで寝る。
Sendou looks away and thinks for a moment: 俺はベッドの側でいいから。
Rukawa: ・・・
Sendou: ほら、客を床で眠らせちゃ悪いだろ？
Rukawa stares at him for a moment: 同じベッドでいい。
Sendou's eyes widen a little at Rukawa's suggestion. Really, no one could have expected that.
Sendou: 小さすぎるじゃ・・・
He is about to protest but he eventually sweatdrops and gives in after getting glared at.
Sendou: ^^; 分かった。でも俺は後で寝るからお前は先に・・・
Rukawa: 後で寝たら体は自動的にベッドを独占する。
Sendou: ・・・._.;
In the end, Sendou quite has no choice but to join him in sleep at the same time. He has to admit, it is awkward. And worst of all, it's making him nervous. It's strange why Rukawa would insist on such a thing. Is he just being childish? Or is he just trying to cover up his want to sleep on the bed without being too in-your-face? It's only nine plus at the moment and Sendou doesn't even usually sleep until midnight. But now he's certain that he won't be able to sleep at all tonight. Though at least, it's good news for him that Rukawa falls asleep quick. And this time, he's really asleep.
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The next morning, 7am, Sendou wakes up... only to find Rukawa overlapping him in his sleep. He stiffens up immediately, his heart pounding. Rukawa has his head over Sendou's left arm, his right hand over his stomach. What the hell is this? Sendou can't even begin to think.
Rukawa's still asleep; his breathing is normal. But over here Sendou's having a hard time trying to even keep his heart at a pace that’s safe from heart attack. If it races any faster, even Rukawa may just wake up from it. Sendou looks to his side to see Rukawa still sleeping peacefully. He gulps to himself, wondering what he can do, what he should do. He carefully studies their situation once more when he realizes that he can't feel his left arm.
Sendou: ＜腕がしびれてる。＞
He tries to move the fingers on that hand; they can hardly move. He sweatdrops to himself and tries to breath normally, figuring that this is what Rukawa means by “his body tends to automatically hog the bed”.
Sendou breathes in: ＜・・・落ち着け・・・今は流川を腕から移動するしかない。＞
And so slowly, Sendou moves his right hand over Rukawa's head and very carefully tries to shift him away from his arm. What are the chances that he won't wake up from this? Who knows. He can only pray that he's a deep sleeper. Sendou gently slips his hand under Rukawa's head from the back and slowly moves him away... and it is a success. Sendou heaves a sigh of relief and lets go of Rukawa's head when that very hand hits Rukawa's hand that's lying against his own stomach while he's pulling it back. And Rukawa wakes up. (D’oh!)
Sendou freezes on the spot when Rukawa half opens his eyes. He wants to quickly get off the bed but his numbed arm isn't helping. Rukawa wakes up to see Sendou's face close to him, and he blankly stares at him like he has no idea what's going on until it eventually clicks. Abruptly, he gets up on the bed and looks back down at Sendou who seems to be anticipating some sort of reaction.
A yawn comes out of his mouth first, however, and then he looks at Sendou again to say.
Rukawa: 悪い。眠ったら体はコントロールできなくなる。
Sendou: ・・・気にしなくていい。なんとなく分かったから。
And then Sendou gets up as well, his arm getting slightly better now that the weight is off. He sits on the edge of the bed waiting for the numbness to clear completely while Rukawa borrows the bathroom. In that time, Sendou looks down at his arm, his hand, and then his palm. He tries to move his fingers again and succeeds a little. At the same time, he can’t help but think to himself. How does Rukawa manage to keep a cool face like that? How is he able to act like it’s no big deal, like it’s really just an accident, not that he thinks he did it on purpose. Of course, he knows why. He always has. The answer is simple if he would just stop hoping for the unlikely.
Rukawa isn’t the one who seeks something more than friendship.
A few minutes later, Rukawa gets out of the bathroom, all ready and prepared for practice.
Rukawa: 俺先に行く。後でまた来る。昨日は英語しか勉強できなかったから。
Sendou: あ、うん。じゃ。
Rukawa steps out of the apartment as Sendou watches him leave from where he is.