Version #2: Chinese dialog [Switch language/version)]
仙流物語 — Senru No Monogatari
(Part 3)
Online Chinese dictionary: http://www.iciba.com
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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 gives 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: 我到觉得事情有点不对劲。
Mitsui & Miyagi: 什么？
Sakuragi: 因为你想一想，你不觉得那臭狐狸最近都没再看过他的手机吗？
Miyagi: 咦，你说的也对。
Sakuragi: 会打电话给他这种人的不只是”那个人”吗？
Mitsui: 喔～ 你说的没错。
Sakuragi: 这就是说。。。呵呵呵。。。他们俩一定是在吵架！
Mitsui: 喔～～！真不错嘛，樱木！
Miyagi: 你比我想像中有观察力嘛、樱木花道。
Sakuragi: 那当然！我可是天才耶！ Nyahahahaha!!
Mitsui: 但是这跟流川枫最近的进步到底有什么关系啊？
Ayako joins in the conversation: 他心情不好，所以就把所有的气都发在篮球上，对吧？
Miyagi: 哦！不愧是小彩！
Sakuragi stares at Ayako, displaying possessiveness over Miyagi. Ayako simply smiles at him.
Ayako: 我说的没错吧？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: 哦，仙道。
Sendou: 你好。
Everyone turns around to see Sendou by the door when they hear his name, and Sendou simply nods and waves back at them.
Miyagi: 你在找流川吗？
Sendou: 嗯，对。
Miyagi: 哎呀，你真是不走运。刚才练习一结束他就走了。大概是十五分钟前吧。
Sendou: 哎呀，是吗？
At that moment, Sakuragi comes out of the changing room and sees Sendou.
Sakuragi: 哦哦！！ 仙道！！
Miyagi puts a hand to his forehead and shakes his head, sighing.
Miyagi: 又来了。。。
Sakuragi walks over grinning and pats Sendou on the back a few times, hard.
Sakuragi: 仙道！Nyahahaha! 多亏有你啊！干的好，干的好！
Sendou sweatdrops, not sure what's going on.
Sendou: 。。。咦？
Sakuragi: 最近那臭狐狸打得越来越猛, 我们都很好奇发生了什么事。被我这个天才发现原来你们在吵架后，他就突然失去集中力了！这真是太好了！
Miyagi: 樱木花道。
Sendou: 吵架？._.?
Sakuragi: 就因为那样那个流川枫也被大猩猩大骂了一顿呢！Nyahahaha! 真可笑吧？？
Miyagi: 樱木花道！*smacks him in the head* 《你怎么可以对仙道说这种话！》
Sendou: 咦。。。请等一下。你刚才说的是真的吗？
Miyagi: 这个。。。我自己也不是很清楚，但流川他心情不好应该是真的。
Sendou: 是吗。。。知道了。多谢了。我现在就去找他。下次见。
He waves to everyone in the court as well before he leaves.
Miyagi: 嗯。下次见。
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: 《幸好他这一点不难猜。》
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: 你好。^_^ *waves*
Rukawa ignores him and reaches inside his bag for his water bottle.
Sendou sweatdrops: 《我被忽略了。。。》
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: 。。。不理睬我啊？
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: 你在生气吗？
Rukawa stares at Sendou for a few more seconds before he picks up his basketball for another round.
Rukawa: 才没。
When Rukawa has his back turned towards Sendou again, Sendou smiles.
Sendou: 《骗人。》
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* 看来你最近都没有带你的手机。
Rukawa ignores.
Sendou: 我这几天都一直打电话给你呢。
Rukawa ignores.
Sendou: 我不知道你家的地址和电话号码所以一直联络不到你。
Rukawa goes for another shot and it enters.
Sendou pauses for a few seconds before he continues: 我的外婆，她上个星期因癌症而过世了。
Rukawa pauses for a moment before he turns to look at Sendou, who still puts on a casual smile on his face.
Sendou: 因为她突然病倒，我妈很担心就叫我赶快回家去见一见她。
Rukawa now stands there listening to him.
Sendou: 所以我就急着回去，赶到医院见她。但结果外婆还是隔天去世了。事情虽然这样，但我觉得能够见到她最后一面已经很幸运了。
Rukawa looks down at the ground, quiet. He knows he's not good with words and he ain't about to screw it.
Sendou: 外婆去世后，我们为了葬礼忙了一段时间，不知不觉就过了两个星期。我也因为那么久没去篮球练习而被田冈教练痛骂了一顿呢。*laughs to himself*
Rukawa almost sweatdrops 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: 。。。你和你外婆很亲吗？
Sendou looks at Rukawa and smiles, glad that he's actually responding; he wasn't sure he would. LOL.
Sendou: 说的也是。我是由外婆从小带到大的。刚刚开始学打篮球的时候她也一直鼓励我，自持我。
He looks at Rukawa again to study his expressions but Rukawa remains quiet, staring at the ground.
Sendou: 你呢？你有婆婆爷爷吗？
Rukawa: 没有。
Sendou: 你不会感到寂寞吗？
Rukawa: 不会。
Sendou: 即使我不在？
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: 我这两个星期很想你呢。
Rukawa: 。。。。。。
Sendou: 但忘了手机这件事是我不对。
Rukawa: 。。。。
Sendou: 哦对了，在我来这之前我去了湘北一趟。然后我从樱木花道那里听了一件挺有趣的事呢。
Rukawa: 。。。？
Sendou: 看来他好像是误会我们在吵架，但他说你最近注意力不集中是什么回事啊？
Rukawa: =_=#。。。。 《大白痴。。。他到底说了什么废话？》 你要相信那家伙是你的自由，我才懒得听他的胡言乱语。
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: =__=# 你在笑什么？
Sendou: 哈哈哈。没什么。。。只不过，你现在的表情看起来那么认真，但我却觉得很可爱。
Rukawa: 。。。。。
Sendou reaches a hand out to ruffle Rukawa's hair playfully: 下次别忘了手机哦。要不然我又联络不到你呢。
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: 这次我一定会打败你。
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: 是吗？也好。*smiles* 放马过来吧。
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: 咦, 你怎么了，良田？
Miyagi perks up a little when he hears her: 哦, 小彩。
Ayako: 你看来没精神。
Miyagi looks at her for a second before he sighs again: 每当一到这个时期气氛就不知不觉地沉重起来。
Ayako: 什么那个时期啊？._.;
Miyagi: 下个星期不就是期中考试吗？
Ayako: 喔，你是说那个啊。^^; --> 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: 你别告诉我你还没开始复习吧？
Miyagi sweatdrops: 这个嘛。。。
Ayako sighs and lightly hits Miyagi's head with her harisen (paper fan): 真是的。难道你想要再进不及格军团吗？如果不及格你们可不能参加全国大赛耶。
Sakuragi gasps in shock as he witnesses the intolerable scene and drops his mop immediately before he runs towards them shouting.
Sakuragi: 啊啊啊 彩子学姐！你怎么可以打我的小甜？？ >_<!!!
Ayako: 打是应该的。你也是一样,所以你也给我小心点！
Then, Ayako turns around to face everyone else before she continues.
Ayako: 不及格军团的四个人！你们给我听清楚！
Rukawa and Mitsui flinch on the other side of the court.
Ayako: 下星期的期中考试绝对不能不及格，知道了吗？要是不及格。。。
The four problematic kids continue to stare at Ayako, anticipating what's to come.
Ayako: 你们都别再想见到你们的情人了。*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: 樱木花道！你是最不可靠的一个了。良田！你这两天最好在家好好地帮他复习。
Miyagi: 诶。。。为什么一定要是我啊。。。
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, 你也要小心哦。要是王牌不在, 我们在全国大赛中可会受到很大的影响的。
Rukawa: 。。。我知道。
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: 别挡路啦！让开！
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:? 《电话？是彦一吗。》*picks up the phone without checking the caller ID* 喂？
Rukawa:? 今晚可以去你家吗？
Sendou stops walking for a moment, stunned:? 。。。咦？
He then checks the phone's called ID and his eyes go wide at the name that shows on it.
Sendou: 咦咦 ？流川？？
Rukawa: 。。。你吃什么惊？
Sendou: 啊不是，只不过这是你第一次直接打电话给我所以。。。
Rukawa: 。。。
Sendou: ^^; 不好意思, 你刚刚说什么？
Rukawa: 。。。。。。*wonders if he should ask again*
Sendou: 。。。流川？
Rukawa: 。。。我正想今晚去你家复习。
Sendou: 我家。。。？
Rukawa: 不方便就算了。
Sendou: 啊不是，没问题。你随时来都行。
Rukawa: 。。。那我六点过去。
Sendou: 好的。
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* 欢迎回来? ^_^
Rukawa: -_-;? 。。。回来什么啊？
Sendou laughs and lets the boy in: 哎呀，我只是想说一说罢了。
Rukawa rolls his eyes and enters the apartment, taking off his shoes as Sendou closes the door behind them.
Sendou: 今天真是下了一跳。我从没想过你会想要来我家学习呢。
Rukawa: 。。。你那么介意的话我走算了。
Sendou: 咦？我什么都没说啊。
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: 那个。。。我刚才忘了告诉你, 我家没桌子。
Rukawa: 有地板就够了。
Sendou: ^^; 地板就够？
Rukawa: 反正我过来是要你帮忙，我没权利计较。
Sendou: 帮忙？._.? 读书吗？怎么这么突然？
Rukawa: 。。。我不可能在全国大赛都还没开始之前就放弃了梦想。
Sendou: ^^; 原来如此。
Rukawa looks through his textbooks: 英语和历史，你哪一个比较强？
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: 《最好还是让他继续睡吧。。。》
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: 。。。如果我睡这里你睡哪里？
Sendou looks away and thinks for a moment: 我睡在床边就可以了。
Rukawa: 。。。
Sendou: 我怎么能够让客人睡在地上呢？
Rukawa stares at him for a moment: 睡同床算了。
Sendou's eyes widen a little at Rukawa's suggestion. Really, no one could have expected that.
Sendou: 床太小了点吧。。。
He is about to protest but he eventually sweatdrops and gives in after getting glared at.
Sendou: ^^; 知道了。我等下才睡, 所以你还是先--
Rukawa: 要是你等下才睡我的身体一定会自动地霸占整张床。
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: 《手好麻。》
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: 《。。。冷静。。。现在最重要的还是先把流川的头移开。》
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: 不好意思。我一睡着就很难控制自己。
Sendou: 。。。没关系。。。我猜得出。
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: 我先走了。练习结束后我会再回来, 因为昨天只有读到英语。
Sendou: 啊，嗯。等一下见。
Rukawa steps out of the apartment as Sendou watches him leave from where he is.