Chapter Seven
Nino was starting to dread the English retest that he was gonna take in less than an hour. An odd feeling, since he seldom associated the word ‘dread’ with taking tests — he usually did well in his subjects after all — and ‘dread’ seemed to be more appropriate when it came to Nino having to go on some boat because that would mean he was bound to get seasick. Granted, he did get help from Sho, who was definitely a much better teacher than Yamapi — and he made a mental note to himself to rub it into his best friend’s face should he pass the test — but he still didn’t feel all too confident. Failing this retest would mean that he would probably lose his spot in the regulars, not to mention, disappoint Sho.
Why was he worrying about such things anyway? Considering that he has done badly in English more often than not, why the sudden panic? Maybe he was hungry, Nino thought to himself, as the smell of something delicious swept over him upon his entrance into the basketball team’s locker room.
There was a paper bag hanging on Nino’s locker, nicely taped on with lots and lots of sticky tape to ensure that the paper bag wouldn’t fall off. Curious, Nino tip-toed his way towards his locker, as if he was being cautious in case it was some sort of prank some idiot wanted to pull on him. As he neared his locker, he read the note that was pasted on the paper bag.
Nino! Here’s a ‘Ganbatte!’ bento specially made for you and to be consumed before your test! I thought of making the bento for you by myself but I decided to spare you of my incorrigible culinary skills. So instead, I got my mama to make one for you. Anyway, she kept saying that you’re too skinny and need some beefing up. By the way, I got this heated up in Kimura-sensei’s microwave not long ago so make sure you eat it while it’s hot. :)
“Eh…” Nino smiled to himself as he pulled the sticky tape off to open the paper bag. Slowly, he opened the bento that Sho gave him, his mouth watering at the sight of food that was ten times better than what was served in their cafeteria. He remembered the dinner he had at Sho’s place last Friday, the thought only making him hungrier than he already was. Closing the lid and placing the bento back into the paper bag, Nino whipped out his mobile phone.
Sho-kun, arigato!! ^________^
With that, he stuffed his textbooks into that monstrous thing called his locker and, after managing to keep his locker shut, hurried out with his bento so that he could dig in before Yamapi could pop up and tag along to steal some food.
* * * * *
“So it appears that you can actually pass when you put in the effort.” Nino’s English teacher remarked as he handed over the script back to Nino. He and several other students who had to retake the test had been waiting impatiently for their scripts to be marked for almost an hour. Nino was sure that it didn’t really take that long to mark about ten plus scripts, and that it was just the teacher’s way of being annoying by taking his own sweet time to look through every script, maybe even try to find fault so as to fail the student again.
Nino looked at his script and saw that he had passed by ten marks. Not a perfect grade, but he wasn’t complaining, considering that he had already made a 59 mark improvement in this retest. He heaved a sigh of relief, before taking out his phone to inform Sho of the good news.
Sho-kun, I passed! Yappari, Pi is such a lousy tutor. Anyway, wanna give ya a treat, or just do something in return for your help. Go think about it and lemme know soon. The offer won’t last long!
When he had sent the mail, he checked his watch and realised that basketball practice had just ended. To think that taking the retest and waiting for it to be marked actually took up as much time as his training. Nino decided that he might as well pop over at the gym.
“Pi!” Nino called out as he saw his friend lying flat on the gym floor, no one else in sight. “What are you doing slacking over there?”
“Nino!” Before Nino could escape, Yamapi ran towards him like a tornado and glomped him. “Practice was sooooooo boring without you around.”
“Well if you don’t let go I’m going to get a backache and then I can’t go for training in future either.”
Pulling himself off of Nino, Yamapi pinched his friend’s cheeks. “So did my favourite tensai pass his test this time?”
Smacking away Yamapi’s hands and rubbing his cheeks, Nino retorted. “Of course. The tensai never fails twice.”
Yamapi laughed. “I thought a tensai never fails.”
“Whoever said that there was such a rule?” Nino stuck his tongue out. “Where’s Sho-kun?”
“Oh, he and Okada-senpai have gone for some meeting with Kimura-sensei. Haven’t seen them since.” Yamapi shrugged. “Don’t worry, you won’t be going home alone today.”
“You’ve got no date today?”
“Nah. I must stay loyal to my Nino after all.” Yamapi said melodramatically. “Just wait for me while I take a quick shower and then we can run off to the sunset together. Or do you wanna join me in the shower?”
The image of Aiba Masaki dragging off Sho towards the showers resurfaced in Nino’s mind. Nino shook the thought away, as he made a face at Yamapi. “Thanks for the invite, but I’d rather just wait for you.”
“Nande? Nino and I always bathed together.”
“Not always. Don’t exaggerate.” Nino rolled his eyes. “Go! Everyone else should be out of the shower by now.”
“Yes, sir.” Yamapi saluted, as if Nino had given him an order. “But you must promise me something first.”
“What?”
“Don’t run off with someone else while I’m gone.”
* * * * *
“Here.”
Nino looked up from his manga to see Sho standing in front of him, holding out a paper bag.
“Eh, Sho-kun? It’s rare to see you on the same train when we go to school.” Nino commented as he took the paper bag from Sho. “What’s this?”
“A ‘Congratulations!’ bento.” Sho smiled. “Left home later today cos I had to get this for you.”
“Aww, Sho-kun, you should stop being so nice to me or I’ll become a spoilt gaki.” Nino joked. “Anyway thanks! But shouldn’t I be the one doing something for you in return for your help?”
“Of course. Nino has to let me go to his house today to play his computer games.”
“Are? Sho-kun wants to play computer games? When were you ever interested in such things?” Nino asked, curious.
Sho shrugged. “Just thought I’ll try. What? You’re rejecting my request? Ah… if that’s the case then I’ll just have to think of something else…”
“I never said that. I just thought that maybe you’ll ask me to treat you to a meal or something. It’s perfectly fine with me if you wanna come over to my place to play games. Just don’t spoil any of them.” Nino warned. “If you do, I’ll hate you forever.”
Sho chuckled. “Last time you said that if you failed your retest you weren’t gonna talk to me anymore. Now you threaten to hate me forever should I break any of your games.”
“Hey, my games are my second most precious possessions.”
“And what’s the most precious to you?”
“Jibun desu.”
Sho laughed as the two stepped off the train and headed towards the pillar that Nino always stood at to wait for Yamapi.
“And what’s the most precious to you?” Nino returned the question.
Sho pondered, before giving Nino a wink and a smile. “Same as you.”
* * * * *
When Sho came up with the idea of playing computer games with Nino, there were only two reasons to it. One, was to spend more time with Nino. The other was to see if he could get interested in playing computer games and thus have a shared interest with Nino other than basketball. He accomplished his first task, but found that he wasn’t too good at playing computer games in the end. There were some things that he couldn’t do after all.
Nino, meanwhile, found his lack of talent at playing computer games highly amusing, and had gone about announcing it to everyone they knew. From tensai, to laughing stock. But Sho wasn’t angry with Nino at all. In fact, he loved hearing Nino’s child-like laughter as the latter went about telling the others how he had trashed Sho in every game they played. Nino looked so delighted at having found something Sho was weak in, that Sho couldn’t help smiling like a baka, and even started thinking that it was alright even he lost all the time if it made Nino happy.
“Sho-kun, I still can’t believe how you can not even win once when we play!” Nino commented, wiping a tear away from his eye after laughing too hard.
Sho shrugged, a smile still on his face. “Well, maybe I should go to your house to practise then? So that next time I’ll become much better at computer games.
“Ok, but you’ll never defeat me.” Nino grinned. “Oh, but not today though. I just remembered that I’m gonna go buy some baseball equipment with Nagase-senpai.”
Nagase-senpai again. Sho couldn’t help feeling a little jealous. It seemed to him that Nino was hanging out a lot with Nagase lately, and couldn’t help thinking that Nagase was interested in Nino as well. It was just a gut feeling, or maybe he was being paranoid and overly-jealous. He was starting to hate this side of him.
The bell rang then, signalling the end of their break as the students sauntered out of the cafeteria and back to their classrooms.
“I guess Sho-kun can come over after training tomorrow?” Nino asked, as Sho nodded. “Ja, see ya during practice!”
* * * * *
“Should I get a new glove? I think my current one looks like it’s gonna fall apart any time.” Nagase asked Nino as the two browsed through the baseball section in the sports shop they were in.
Nino shrugged. “Up to you. As I was saying, I even tried to give way to Sho-kun once but even then he still couldn’t win!”
Nagase nodded, though he really wasn’t paying much attention to what Nino was saying. He was getting a little tired of Nino going on and on about Sho and something about computer games. Nino didn’t even look interested in buying anything, happily talking about what had happened yesterday.
I should be getting worried, shouldn’t I? Now that I might have a rival… Nagase thought to himself.
“Nagase-senpai, did you listen to anything that I said earlier?” Nino asked suddenly.
“Huh? Uh, yeah. You were talking about Sho losing all the time at computer games.” Nagase replied hurriedly, afraid that Nino might get angry.
“Yeah, but that was before I asked you if I should get these baseball cards.”
“Isn’t that kinda waste of money?” Nagase asked, glad that Nino had finally changed the topic of conversation. “Sorry, I’m not the type who collects baseball cards.”
“Ah, I guess they’re not really important.”
“You’ve got nothing you need to buy?”
“Not really. Just wanted to look at some stuff that’s all.” Nino took out his wallet and stared into it. “Ah, okane ga nai.”
Nagase laughed. “If you really wanna buy something, I can pay for it. Treat it as a gift.”
“Nani? Iyada. I can’t let Nagase-senpai pay for my stuff.” Nino shook his head. “Anyway, there isn’t really anything that I have to buy, so it’s ok. I’ll just look.”
Nagase smiled, before reaching out to take the baseball cards that Nino had talked about earlier, and heading towards the cashier with his own items.
“Eh, Nagase-senpai, what are you doing?”
“Paying for my stuff and getting the baseball cards for you.”
“But didn’t you say they were a waste of money?”
“Well, if Nino wants them, why not? Like I said, treat them as a gift.” Nagase said, before adding. “They don’t cost that much anyway, so don’t you even start going on about paying me back.”
Nino had opened his mouth to protest, but decided to give up in the end. “Alright, it’s your decision. Don’t come complaining to me in the future.” Nino chided as he took the cards from Nagase. “Arigato, ne, Nagase-senpai.”
“Anything for you.”
* * * * *
“Sho-kun, you’re coming over today right?” Nino asked as they packed up their stuff after practice.
“If you’ll allow me.” Sho smiled.
“Of course.” Nino remarked. “But, if you don’t mind, Nagase-senpai will be joining us, k? He’s got this new game that I wanna try out, but he’s so scared that I’ll break it so he insists that he be there to make sure I don’t spoil it.” Nino rolled his eyes.
Sho chuckled, though slightly disappointed that Nagase would be with them this time and it wasn’t only the two of them.
On the train ride back, Sho found himself having only Yamapi to talk to, with Nino busy chatting away with Nagase. Yamapi and him didn’t really have that much of a conversation, because the both of them were too distracted by Nino and Nagase to really have a proper conversation. While Sho was starting to feel a little envious of Nagase for being able to captivate Nino’s attention, he could see that Yamapi was giving death looks towards Nagase. Sho couldn’t help but wonder if Yamapi often gave him such similar death glares as well when he talked to Nino.
When Yamapi had dropped off at his stop, Sho felt lonelier as Nino and Nagase went on about some baseball match. As Sho looked on, he realised something. Nagase liked Nino. His senpai was so obviously interested in Nino, and as Sho thought more about it, it made sense, especially how Nino seemed to be spending more time with Nagase.
So didn’t that mean that Nagase was his rival?
And Nagase seemed to have lots more in common with Nino as well. A love for baseball, computer games, etc. It suddenly occurred to Sho that he would probably make a fool out of himself later when they played computer games. He’d probably lose really badly to Nagase as well.
It wasn’t looking too good for Sho after all.
* * * * *
Sho hadn’t seen Nino at all the next day. If he had a choice, he’ll have basketball practice every day just so that he won’t have to worry about not seeing Nino for a day. Then again, Nino might argue that there was a need for some days off so that he could play baseball. Sho smiled to himself as he entertained that thought.
In the distance, he spotted a tall lean figure walking towards the school gates. As Sho squinted, the familiar dyed blond hair and pretty boy face confirmed that it was Yamapi.
“Yamapi!” Sho called out.
Yamapi turned, glancing around to see who had called out for him. Sho raised his hand to wave as Yamapi caught sight of him and headed in his direction. “Hai?”
“Nah, just thinking we should walk back together.” Sho smiled. “Unless of course you’re on a way to a date?”
Yamapi shook his head. “Nah. Hm… it’s rare that Sho-kun and I walk back together without Nino around.”
Sho nodded. “You’re right… I never realised that. Ah, where’s Nino anyway?”
“He said something about going somewhere with Nagase-senpai.” Yamapi made a face as he said that last two words. “Left hurriedly before I could ask where.”
Sho wanted to ask if Yamapi had something against Nagase, but decided against it in the end. “Nino has been hanging out a lot of Nagase-senpai recently huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Uh, Yamapi, you’re not upset or anything, are you?” Sho asked, concerned.
Yamapi shrugged. “Ah, I guess I’m just not used to being the one that’s abandoned. Now I know how Nino feels when I go on my dates and leave him alone.”
Sho nodded as the two reached the station and their train pulled in then. “Nino and you are really close, huh? It’s nice to have such a close friendship.”
“Nino…” Yamapi began, before trailing off, pausing for thought. “…I can’t really describe how important Nino is to me. I’ve known him since forever, so he’s almost like family, I guess. Maybe slightly different.”
“Do you… maybe like Nino?” Sho blurted out. He couldn’t deny the fact that this has come across him mind more than a few times.
“Ore? Yeah. I love Nino.” Yamapi stated matter of factly. “But not in that way of course. And I’m sure Nino doesn’t love me in that way either. Sho-kun, have you been listening to too much of the gossip that goes around in school?”
“Hey, it’s just that you two look kinda… well, I don’t blame people for coming up with those conclusions.” Sho protested, although slightly embarrassed.
Yamapi laughed. “It’s ok. It’s not the first time people have thought of Nino and I as a couple. We find it really amusing actually.”
“Well, thinking about it now, I guess it’s kinda funny.”
“But y’know, this rumour actually helps keep away those scary, hentai senpais because then they think they’ve got no chance with us.”
“…”
“Don’t worry, I wasn’t referring to you.” Yamapi winked.
“…”
“Ooh, my stop. Ja ne baby.” Yamapi waved as he stepped off.
“Well, I guess I could take comfort in the fact that at least they don’t see me as a ’scary, hentai senpai’.” Sho said to himself as he leaned against the glass pane and watched as the scenery go by.
* * * * *
© Copyrighted by O-Baka! | Home
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Didn’t you say your muses had gone on strike? *ggg* Glad to see they returned to you ^o^ *gives them an other cookie* (and an extra one for squeezing in some PiKame love ^.~)
Nino is so cruel by playing hard to get at the end *laughs* And by teasing Sho and making him repeat himself.. poor guy *pats Sho-chan* *lol*
But at least they FINALLY ended up together… somehow… I hope… XD”"”
The part about Ryo interrupting Pi’s date with Kame made me crack up X3
I’d soo~ love to read about this in detail *nudge nudge*
And I need to bribe your muses in favour of the sequel ^_______^
Konnichiwa..i’ve read the whole fic already and I have to say that I am impressed. I love your writing style a lot and the pairing is refreshing. The way the everyone was portrayed in here is great and makes the story smooth going. Keep up with the good work. Ganbatte XD
P.S I luv Kame-kun lol Of course I love others as well. They are so cute but if possible could you finish the sequel. I’m so excited