~One of these days~
“Ne, ochibi,” shouted an excited Eiji after tennis practice, “Let’s go get something to eat!”
“Ah, gomen, Eiji-sempai,” muttered a crushed Echizen, who Eiji had taken the chance to jump on. He thought momentarily about a starving Karupin without food, then answered, “I need to buy something.”
“Mou! O chibi!”
“See you tomorrow,” Echizen said in English as he walked out the gate and headed towards the pet store.
Thus, Eiji walked out the gate by himself and stopped at the ice cream store instead of the hamburger joint. He hesitantly checked his wallet and strolled in.
“Irrashaimase,” a young girl welcomed. “What would you like?”
“Nya?” he stared inquisitively. She looked too young to be working, but looks could be deceiving… like Akutsu’s mother…
She stared back with the “he’s a weirdo look,” but recomposed her smiling face and said, “You’re wondering why I’m working while I’m only in my second year of middle school right?” she replied as cheerfully as she could, trying her hardest to hide her irritation. “My dad owns this ice cream store and went grocery shopping so I’m looking after it for now.”
“Sugoi!!” Eiji exclaimed, “So, you get free ice cream!”
“Ma ne…” *sweatdrop “Anyhow, what would you like?”
“mmmm… there are so many flavors to choose from.” He closed his eyes and randomly pointed to one.
“Eheh… good choice,” the girl said shakily. She scooped it up and handed it to him.
“Eeeeehhhh!! What flavor is this?!” Eiji screamed slowly backing away after a taste, coughing with a look of horror on his face.
“Ehehehe..” the girl said nervously, “it just arrived.”
Eiji looked closer at the sign in front of the purple ice cream- “Inui –Ju-ice.”
“Geh! I-Inui Juice flavored!!!” and with that, he fainted.
The girl rested her head on her hand and sighed. Then picked up the phone, annoyed and dialed for the ambulance. The paramedics came a few minutes later and took him to the hospital. The girl closed the shop and went along.
~
“Nya? Koko wa doko?” asked a confused Eiji when he awoke.
“You’re at the hospital,” replied a familiar voice rather coldly.
“Ah! You’re that girl from the ice cream shop!”
“ , yoroshiku,” she tilted her head slightly.
“Kikumaru Eiji desu!” he shouted happily shaking her hand hard.
The doctor came in with a smile and said “You may go if you feel better.”
“Yay!” Eiji shouted with joy as he grabbed ’s hand and bolted out the hospital doors.
“You don’t like hospitals?”
“Of course not! They’re so scary with needles and medicines!!”
~Elsewhere~
“Uwah! That’s Kikumaru-sempai and a girl,” Momoshiro said as he peered around the wall at the pair.
“Heheheh… Ii data desu,” whispered Inui as he scribbled in his book next to Momoshiro.
“Ah! Inui-sempai! When did you get there?!”
“They’re leaving, let’s go,” said Inui, carefully avoiding the question.
“Mmm...” Momoshiro nodded and followed.
~
“I’ll walk you home, where do you live?” Eiji asked, out of kindness and no other objective.
“It’s ok, I can go home by myself,” replied independently.
Ironically, clouds came in out of nowhere and thunder and lightning struck!
“Sh-Shinjuku,” she replied stiffly, obviously scared of the thunder.
“Yosh! Ikou!”
~
“Sugoi!! You have so many stuffed animals!!” Eiji said amazed
“They just accumulate over the years… they were from my brother…” her voice trailed off. Her parents were divorced; her brother went with her mom. He used to send stuffed animals to her every month, but not anymore.
“Your big brother is really nice to you!” Eiji said with a grin.
Then, a voice called out from downstairs, “Tadaima.”
“Okairi nasai, otou-san,” she said, getting up from the bed and walking down the stairs to greet her dad.
Eiji stuck his head out the door cautiously.
“Oh! I’m so glad you finally have a boyfriend, I was getting worried,” her dad chuckled jokingly.
“K-kareshi ja nai!!” stammered blushing.
“Would you like to stay for dinner?” her dad asked Eiji graciously.
“Mmm…” Eiji nodded, “do you need any help cooking?”
“Any help would be appreciated since can’t cook very well,” her dad winked. Eiji hopped down the stairs and ran to help unload the groceries.
~
“Oh, Eiji, why haven’t you told me about your girlfriend?” Oishi asked in a motherly tone the next day.
“H-how did you find out?!”
Glasses popped out of nowhere and shone maliciously. “It was me.”
“I-Inui!!” yelled a surprised Eiji, pointing to the evil man with glasses.
“How long has it been?” asked a somewhat curious, smiling Fuji.
“I-I... ahhhh!!” Eiji yelled scratching his head, confused.
“What are you doing?”
“Ahhh!! Tezuka buchou!” yelled the regulars.
“The tennis club is not a place for gossiping! 10 laps!”
“Aww… do we have to?” “Noooo!”
“20 laps if I hear any more complaining!”
~
“Irashaimase,” a familiar voice greeted. “Ara, Kikumaru-kun.”
“-chan!’ he shouted flinging himself onto her which cause her to lose balance and fall down.
Outside, the regulars (excluding Tezuka) watched intently.
“They make a cute pair,” Fuji commented
“Gurreaato!!” yelled Kawamura, flames in his eyes.
“Ah, sempai, I want ice cream,” Ryoma said bluntly.
happened to look out the window at that moment and saw the regulars huddled together watching.
“Kikumaru-kun-,” she started to say, pointing her finger in the direction of the regulars.
“Ano, -chan, ore-ore…”Kikumaru muttered blushing.
’s eyes widened slightly, Wow, confession already eh…
“Ore… Kikumaru tried to say it again, “arahete” (I’m hungry)
The regulars “fell over” when they heard Kikumaru’s stupid comment, so did . Che, all that suspense built up for nothing. Oh well, one of these days…