[Fic] The Dented Fender - Chapter 5
Title: The Dented Fender
Pairing: KoKame
Rating: PG
Genre: AU; Humour, Romance
Summary: When pro-soccer player Koki drove under the influence and knocked down a go-go dancer, that marked the start of a beautiful relationship built upon blackmail.
Disclaimer: I don’t own anybody.
Author’s Note: Prompt by mrs_koki which can be found here.
The Dented Fender: Chapter 5
The moment practice let up, Koki rushed to the showers. He had declined going out with the rest for yakiniku, citing that he needed to visit an injured friend.
Are we really friends though? Maybe he sees me as nothing more than bad luck.
From what little the doctor had told Koki, the fall this time had undone Kamenashi's healing over the past few months. Unlike the previous time though, surgery would have to be involved this time. He didn’t want to leave Kamenashi at the hospital alone, but there was practice in the morning and he couldn’t afford to miss it.
Perhaps if I hadn't been so rash… Oh god, have I learned nothing these few months?
Koki scrubbed at his face in dismay. He wondered if he should let Taguchi know of this; his manager was off elsewhere doing something (Koki wasn't his only charge), but Koki had no doubt that his best friend wanted him to cease contact with Kamenashi.
I'll let Taguchi know when I've more information myself.
Convincing himself as thus, Koki left for the small private hospital. He reached it in record time without flouting any traffic rules, and Koki went straight to Kamenashi's room, only to find it empty.
"He requested to be placed in a normal ward, Tanaka-san," the nurse searched Koki’s face as she replied to his query, releasing a small 'oh!' as though she had recognised him suddenly. Koki thanked her and took his leave, wondering why Kamenashi had done so.
Was it to avoid me?
“May I know where he is reallocated to?” Koki went back to inquire.
“I’ll check for you,” the nurse replied politely.
Reaching the multi-bed ward where Kamenashi had transferred to, Koki tried to think of an excuse as to why he was here. He only had time to send one message off earlier, but that had been met with silence on Kamenashi's end. Koki remembered Ueda's anger at seeing him earlier; even Koki's 'number one fan' Nakamaru had been hesitant to come to Koki's aid. Surely Kamenashi himself wasn't blaming Koki for the fall; the other man had even assured Koki that no, this wasn't Koki's fault, and that there should be no mention of compensation on Koki's part.
"Don't flatter yourself, Tanaka," Kamenashi had told him earlier on with a smirk, "You're not famous enough that seeing you waltz in will make me swoon."
Koki had taken the teasing to be an indication of Kamenashi's non-anger. Or maybe it was the pain meds making the latter play nice. Whatever the case, Koki hoped Kamenashi still wanted to interview him for his assignment after the surgery.
I don't even know why I want to be interviewed by him… I've to let Taguchi know of that, right? Crap, this is going to be so much trouble.
Reaching the corner where a curtain separated Kamenashi from the other patients, most of them elderly, Koki was surprised to see that Kamenashi was asleep. Koki's eyes travelled to his leg, which once again, was in a familiar looking cast and propped up on pillows.
There was a small post-it by the bedside, written in a scrawl that stumped Koki for moments before realising the characters were still Japanese.
"Call me when you're up. Yucchi & I have to work tonight."
That must be why he's alone.
It hit Koki then why Kamenashi had requested for a transfer. If the three of them had to work seemingly all the time, a private room was probably out of their budget, especially since insurance wouldn't provide for such luxuries.
Urgh, now they must think me an insensitive jerk, if they haven't already.
Having run out of things to distract himself with, Koki finally let his gaze rest on Kamenashi. It felt weird, staring at someone like that like some kind of creep, but Koki realised with a start that he really didn't know much about Kamenashi, except that he was a journalist student. And even that was a newly learned fact, though Koki had guessed as much since Kamenashi mentioned interning with Yomiuri before on their first meeting.
As was to be expected, Kamenashi looked very different now than when he was working. With makeup, Kamenashi took on the role of Kazuko, one of the most popular dancers in his nightclub (Koki accidentally brought up Kamenashi’s work place in front of his colleagues, and he was amazed that some of them had actually frequented it before and were mesmerised by Kazuko. Koki wondered if they knew ‘Kazuko’ was actually ‘Kazuya’, but he decided not to pop their happy bubble). Koki remembered thinking her, no, him pretty too, attention being drawn to Kamenashi's eyes unconsciously. The meticulously angled and winged eyeliner, the carefully curled eyelashes, the ingenious blend of silver and black eye shadow, creating the perfect smoky eye look…
Without the makeup though, Kamenashi was just another college student. What with his pale complexion, Koki wondered if Kamenashi ever did sports.
He looks kind of peaky too.
Dark circles shadowed Kamenashi's eyes, and Koki felt bad (he could hear his inner voice screaming: it isn't your fault this time, Koki!) for compounding the former's problems.
Suddenly feeling conscious for staring so unabashedly, Koki felt his face heat up in embarrassment. Even if Kamenashi would never know of this, Koki had a sudden urge to look elsewhere.
Right, I could take a seat and read the papers, or something.
In his haste to seat himself, Koki clumsily knocked the bed side chair over, resulting in a loud crash.
At that moment, Kamenashi stirred.
Koki watched as Kamenashi tried to turn, only to end up groaning. Brows furrowing even as his eyes started fluttering open, Kamenashi looked to be in a lot of discomfort.
"Hey, are you okay?"
Each encounter Koki had with Kamenashi had given Koki the impression of someone strong and self-assured, and seeing Kamenashi so disoriented made Koki uneasy. By then, Kamenashi had squeezed his eyes shut, mumbling something inaudible, but still looking to be in pain. Feeling helpless, Koki called for the nurse, who soon arrived with a cocktail of pills.
If seeing Kamenashi dizzy and vulnerable was unsettling, it was even worse trying to soothe him when he was throwing up the pills and god knows what the moment he tried swallowing his medicines. Following the nurse's advice, who assured Koki that such a reaction after anaesthesia wasn't uncommon, Koki rubbed small circles into Kamenashi's back with one hand while the other held up the pail that Kamenashi was retching into. On the other hand, Kamenashi didn't appear to have registered Koki's presence at all.
"Feeling better?" Koki chanced his question when Kamenashi seemed to have a better grasp of reality.
The other man didn't reply, but nodded absently before trying to sit up. Koki hastened to help, and finally, Kamenashi noticed Koki.
"Eh? What are you doing here?" Kamenashi asked feebly, before squeezing his eyes shut. “No, I have to lie down, my head is spinning…”
Koki tried his best to place Kamenashi back gently on the bed. Kamenashi didn’t say much, but tossed and turned on his pillow, as though he was looking for the best position to rest his head on.
“Do you need me to help you drop Ueda and Nakamaru a call?”
“Handphone is in the cupboard. I’ll just rest for a little while more. If Ueda and Yucchi managed to make it here before visiting hours are over, please call me?”
Is Kamenashi indirectly allowing me to stay by his side? No Koki, you’re probably reading too deeply into things. You have an imagination that works overtime.
Koki made to reply, but Kamenashi seemed to have drifted off. Retrieving Kamenashi’s mobile from the cupboard, Koki wondered at the gadget. He had never seen anything as ancient as the piece of contraption in his hands. How can a phone without colour still exist in today’s technologically advanced society?
Don’t be a jerk, Koki. Not everyone is as rich as you are. Be more understanding.
Scrolling through Kamenashi’s contact list, Koki realised that the younger man had an incredible list of friends. Curious, he wondered what name Kamenashi had saved his number under. He was sorely disappointed when he saw his number by the name ‘Tanaka (Soccer)’.
So that’s where I stand…
***
Struggling to the back alley, Ueda emptied his stomach into the drain. The female guests had been downing him with so many glasses of alcohol that it had been only fifteen minutes before Ueda needed to hurl. How was he going to survive the night?
As Ueda was bitterly reflecting on how awful his life was, his mobile vibrated.
Message from Kazuya’s phone (Koki): Hello, this is Tanaka Koki. Kamenashi woke up earlier and he doesn’t look too good. Is there any effective way to lift his giddy spells?
Ueda blinked twice. What was Koki doing with Kamenashi’s phone? As the gears in his head slowly turned, Ueda was surprised at how Koki was caring for his friend unconditionally.
So that man isn’t as bad as I thought him out to be…
Message to Kazuya’s phone (Koki): Grab the newspwaper and read him ‘bout Giant’s win in the frenli match if he wakes agn.
Ueda was too disoriented to sort out the mistakes and the shorthand he didn’t normally use while texting.
Message from Kazuya’s phone (Koki): I’ll try. Thank you!
Hopefully, Koki is smart enough to figure out what I’m writing. I hope that little scoundrel (Kamenashi) is okay. Why does he always make me worry? I’m already in accountancy and balding is inevitable. I don’t need another stress factor to speed up the process!
Message from Nakamaru’s phone: I’m going over. Are you?
Message to Nakamaru’s phone: Too busy slutting meself out. Most prob in the morn. C u if u still thr.
Nakamaru ought to be familiar with my drunken texting style. He’ll get it.
With that, Ueda let out a long suffering sigh, before going back into the host club.
***
It was morning when Kamenashi woke up again. Both Nakamaru and Koki were sleeping by his bedside. How long had they been here? Kamenashi had zero recollection of any memories with regards to the night before.
I never knew general anaesthesia would have such a big effect on me.
Struggling to pour himself a glass of water, he was embarrassed when a nurse had to stop him (Kamenashi’s hands were trembling so much the nurse was probably afraid he would break the glass pitcher and disturb the other patients), and do it for him. Kamenashi hated feeling useless, but his limbs were still weak and much of his energy had yet to return to him.
Setting the glass of water on the bedside table, he began nudging Nakamaru lightly. Kamenashi watched in slight amusement as his senior mumbled something incoherent, scratched his head in frustration, before finally starting to stretch and rejoin the world of the living. It was the first time he saw Nakamaru getting up; usually Nakamaru was the earliest to wake in their apartment. It was quite a comical sight.
"Ah, Kame! You're awake, finally!"
Kamenashi nodded.
"Was Tanaka by my side the whole night?"
"Yeah…” Nakamaru looked impressed. “He didn't have to. Doesn't he have a wonderful heart? We ought to wake him up too; soccer practices start early, no?"
"What time is it?"
Nakamaru showed him his watch, which read six in the morning. Koki, an acquaintance with completely no reason to remain by his side throughout the night, had accompanied him for the past twelve hours. Kamenashi felt oddly touched. Sure, he appreciated Nakamaru's presence too for the past ten hours or so, but Nakamaru had been his senior since middle school and their relationship was rather tight, so no surprises here. However, Koki’s case was different… Kamenashi didn't know what to think of it.
What's that warm fuzzy feeling I'm experiencing? Could it be a side effect of the medicine they had injected into me earlier?
"Tanaka, get your ass up, you have soccer practice soon!"
At the word 'soccer', Koki sprung up.
"Kamenashi! How are you feeling? Damn, my neck feels so stiff and my back hurts."
"I'm fine, thank you. You better hurry off to soccer training."
"You're getting discharged today right? Shall I get Taguchi…"
"I think you've done too much, Tanaka-san. I'm really thankful, but I don't deserve so much attention and kindness from you…"
“Why?”
Kamenashi bit his tongue. He can’t possibly insinuate that Koki is still more of a stranger, than a friend, could he?
"Is it because we hardly know one another? You told me we were friends that dinner…”
That dinner, Kamenashi searched his memory bank. Was Koki referring to the Christmas dinner? He had clean forgotten about that insignificant event. It was just another dinner to him, to allow Nakamaru to meet his idol, but Kamenashi suspected that it meant so much more to Koki. Did he in any way give Koki the wrong idea or something? Nothing came to Kamenashi’s mind.
“No Tanaka, I didn’t mean it that way… It’s just that, you’re a famous national soccer player, while I’m pretty much a nobody begging for your help… I shouldn’t be so selfish wasting that much of your time!”
Koki muttered a tiny “oh” and fell silent.
Kamenashi regretted his words the moment he saw how hurt Koki looked. Koki must have understood him rightly, that they weren’t that close of a friend. Had he been too harsh? If given a choice, Kamenashi would eat his words back. His heart hurt a little, seeing how dejected Koki looked.
“I’ll best be going. Drop me a text when you need me for the interviews.”
From the way Koki had said it, Kamenashi knew Koki had definitely taken it harshly, or possibly gotten the wrong idea, thinking himself to be no more than a mere tool Kamenashi required to submit his thesis.
I’m such an awful douche bag, aren’t I? I mean, sure, Koki knocked me down once, but he had compensated sufficiently! So why am I holding myself back from befriending him? Is it because I’m worried Taguchi might cause me to get expelled if Koki’s secret ever got leaked? Get over it Kazuya, have some faith in the human heart!
A couple of minutes after Koki had left the ward, Ueda entered, looking pretty confused.
"Is everything okay?" Ueda asked, concerned. "I met that Koki person along the corridor and he looked pretty upset. When I apologized for my prior rash behaviour and thanked him for his actions yesterday night, he just nodded and said he'll be on his way... Anyway, I've got everyone breakfast. I knew you wouldn't opt in for the hospital's meal plans."
"Pass my set of breakfast to Koki," Kamenashi responded softly. "I don't think I want to eat anything yet. The effects of general anaesthesia are just fading off, but I'm sure I'll throw up if I attempt to stomach anything."
Kamenashi wondered how he could call Koki’s name that easily when the subject wasn’t around.
“Feeling generous, aren’t you?” Ueda frowned. “And you can’t be expecting me to run after him right?”
“He is my Honours project! How can I lose him?” Kamenashi tweaked the truth a little in hopes of getting Ueda to help him out, but he felt horrible saying that. He could only silently pray that Koki wasn’t loitering around and hadn’t heard what he had just said. “Ueda, do me a favour and pass breakfast to Koki, will you?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me…”
Kamenashi did his best teary-eyed expression at Ueda. The moment Ueda shied away, Kamenashi knew that his friend had fallen hook, line, and sinker.
“Fine,” Ueda tried his best to look nonchalant so as to keep up with his cool image. Kamenashi wondered why Ueda even bothered, since the only people around were the elderly folks, Nakamaru, and himself (both Nakamaru and Kamenashi had seen how unimpressive Ueda was at home). “See how nice and kind I am? Oh, the great lengths I’ll go for you.”
“Yes yes, now run along and catch Koki before you’re too late!”
***
“Tanaka!” Ueda shouted as he rounded the corridor, before realising his mistake.
One shouldn’t be shouting in the hospital.
Ueda bit his tongue and whispered an apology when he received angry glares from the nurses. Moreover, Tanaka is such a common surname. Even if Koki had heard him, he probably wouldn’t realise Ueda was calling out for him.
Ueda was glad when he caught sight of Koki in the car park.
“Tanaka? Tanaka Koki? Oh god, if you make me go over and get you, I’ll seriously beat you up!”
Koki finally responded and started walking towards him.
“Ueda?”
“Finally! Took you long enough,” Ueda snapped. “Queen Kame sends her humble servant to deliver Your Majesty your breakfast.”
Koki smiled, and thanked Ueda for his effort.
“What’s wrong? You’re not as loud as you usually are. I’m not used to it.”
“Do you think Kamenashi hates me?”
Why are we having this weird heart-to-heart talk in the car park?
“Kame is the kind of person who wouldn’t even talk to or look at you if he hates you. Since you guys are on speaking terms, I would guess no.”
“But we aren’t friends either, right?”
Ueda frowned.
“Why do you care so much? Aren’t you glad Kame is drawing the line? I mean, that way, he’ll never divulge your secrets, and vice versa. I thought you’ll like it that way. Kame does too.”
“Is that why he’s avoiding me?”
“Questions, questions, questions,” Ueda sighed. “Why don’t you just ask him directly? I’m not his muse or anything; I don’t know what he is thinking, or feeling. Kame is a pretty damn unpredictable.”
“I see…”
Ueda took a deep breath. There was only one reason why anyone would act that way, and Ueda decided to try his luck by making a wild guess.
“You like him, don’t you?”
Ueda waited eagerly for Koki’s answer.
To be continued...
Chapter 4 | Chapter 6
Pairing: KoKame
Rating: PG
Genre: AU; Humour, Romance
Summary: When pro-soccer player Koki drove under the influence and knocked down a go-go dancer, that marked the start of a beautiful relationship built upon blackmail.
Disclaimer: I don’t own anybody.
Author’s Note: Prompt by mrs_koki which can be found here.
The Dented Fender: Chapter 5
The moment practice let up, Koki rushed to the showers. He had declined going out with the rest for yakiniku, citing that he needed to visit an injured friend.
Are we really friends though? Maybe he sees me as nothing more than bad luck.
From what little the doctor had told Koki, the fall this time had undone Kamenashi's healing over the past few months. Unlike the previous time though, surgery would have to be involved this time. He didn’t want to leave Kamenashi at the hospital alone, but there was practice in the morning and he couldn’t afford to miss it.
Perhaps if I hadn't been so rash… Oh god, have I learned nothing these few months?
Koki scrubbed at his face in dismay. He wondered if he should let Taguchi know of this; his manager was off elsewhere doing something (Koki wasn't his only charge), but Koki had no doubt that his best friend wanted him to cease contact with Kamenashi.
I'll let Taguchi know when I've more information myself.
Convincing himself as thus, Koki left for the small private hospital. He reached it in record time without flouting any traffic rules, and Koki went straight to Kamenashi's room, only to find it empty.
"He requested to be placed in a normal ward, Tanaka-san," the nurse searched Koki’s face as she replied to his query, releasing a small 'oh!' as though she had recognised him suddenly. Koki thanked her and took his leave, wondering why Kamenashi had done so.
Was it to avoid me?
“May I know where he is reallocated to?” Koki went back to inquire.
“I’ll check for you,” the nurse replied politely.
Reaching the multi-bed ward where Kamenashi had transferred to, Koki tried to think of an excuse as to why he was here. He only had time to send one message off earlier, but that had been met with silence on Kamenashi's end. Koki remembered Ueda's anger at seeing him earlier; even Koki's 'number one fan' Nakamaru had been hesitant to come to Koki's aid. Surely Kamenashi himself wasn't blaming Koki for the fall; the other man had even assured Koki that no, this wasn't Koki's fault, and that there should be no mention of compensation on Koki's part.
"Don't flatter yourself, Tanaka," Kamenashi had told him earlier on with a smirk, "You're not famous enough that seeing you waltz in will make me swoon."
Koki had taken the teasing to be an indication of Kamenashi's non-anger. Or maybe it was the pain meds making the latter play nice. Whatever the case, Koki hoped Kamenashi still wanted to interview him for his assignment after the surgery.
I don't even know why I want to be interviewed by him… I've to let Taguchi know of that, right? Crap, this is going to be so much trouble.
Reaching the corner where a curtain separated Kamenashi from the other patients, most of them elderly, Koki was surprised to see that Kamenashi was asleep. Koki's eyes travelled to his leg, which once again, was in a familiar looking cast and propped up on pillows.
There was a small post-it by the bedside, written in a scrawl that stumped Koki for moments before realising the characters were still Japanese.
"Call me when you're up. Yucchi & I have to work tonight."
That must be why he's alone.
It hit Koki then why Kamenashi had requested for a transfer. If the three of them had to work seemingly all the time, a private room was probably out of their budget, especially since insurance wouldn't provide for such luxuries.
Urgh, now they must think me an insensitive jerk, if they haven't already.
Having run out of things to distract himself with, Koki finally let his gaze rest on Kamenashi. It felt weird, staring at someone like that like some kind of creep, but Koki realised with a start that he really didn't know much about Kamenashi, except that he was a journalist student. And even that was a newly learned fact, though Koki had guessed as much since Kamenashi mentioned interning with Yomiuri before on their first meeting.
As was to be expected, Kamenashi looked very different now than when he was working. With makeup, Kamenashi took on the role of Kazuko, one of the most popular dancers in his nightclub (Koki accidentally brought up Kamenashi’s work place in front of his colleagues, and he was amazed that some of them had actually frequented it before and were mesmerised by Kazuko. Koki wondered if they knew ‘Kazuko’ was actually ‘Kazuya’, but he decided not to pop their happy bubble). Koki remembered thinking her, no, him pretty too, attention being drawn to Kamenashi's eyes unconsciously. The meticulously angled and winged eyeliner, the carefully curled eyelashes, the ingenious blend of silver and black eye shadow, creating the perfect smoky eye look…
Without the makeup though, Kamenashi was just another college student. What with his pale complexion, Koki wondered if Kamenashi ever did sports.
He looks kind of peaky too.
Dark circles shadowed Kamenashi's eyes, and Koki felt bad (he could hear his inner voice screaming: it isn't your fault this time, Koki!) for compounding the former's problems.
Suddenly feeling conscious for staring so unabashedly, Koki felt his face heat up in embarrassment. Even if Kamenashi would never know of this, Koki had a sudden urge to look elsewhere.
Right, I could take a seat and read the papers, or something.
In his haste to seat himself, Koki clumsily knocked the bed side chair over, resulting in a loud crash.
At that moment, Kamenashi stirred.
Koki watched as Kamenashi tried to turn, only to end up groaning. Brows furrowing even as his eyes started fluttering open, Kamenashi looked to be in a lot of discomfort.
"Hey, are you okay?"
Each encounter Koki had with Kamenashi had given Koki the impression of someone strong and self-assured, and seeing Kamenashi so disoriented made Koki uneasy. By then, Kamenashi had squeezed his eyes shut, mumbling something inaudible, but still looking to be in pain. Feeling helpless, Koki called for the nurse, who soon arrived with a cocktail of pills.
If seeing Kamenashi dizzy and vulnerable was unsettling, it was even worse trying to soothe him when he was throwing up the pills and god knows what the moment he tried swallowing his medicines. Following the nurse's advice, who assured Koki that such a reaction after anaesthesia wasn't uncommon, Koki rubbed small circles into Kamenashi's back with one hand while the other held up the pail that Kamenashi was retching into. On the other hand, Kamenashi didn't appear to have registered Koki's presence at all.
"Feeling better?" Koki chanced his question when Kamenashi seemed to have a better grasp of reality.
The other man didn't reply, but nodded absently before trying to sit up. Koki hastened to help, and finally, Kamenashi noticed Koki.
"Eh? What are you doing here?" Kamenashi asked feebly, before squeezing his eyes shut. “No, I have to lie down, my head is spinning…”
Koki tried his best to place Kamenashi back gently on the bed. Kamenashi didn’t say much, but tossed and turned on his pillow, as though he was looking for the best position to rest his head on.
“Do you need me to help you drop Ueda and Nakamaru a call?”
“Handphone is in the cupboard. I’ll just rest for a little while more. If Ueda and Yucchi managed to make it here before visiting hours are over, please call me?”
Is Kamenashi indirectly allowing me to stay by his side? No Koki, you’re probably reading too deeply into things. You have an imagination that works overtime.
Koki made to reply, but Kamenashi seemed to have drifted off. Retrieving Kamenashi’s mobile from the cupboard, Koki wondered at the gadget. He had never seen anything as ancient as the piece of contraption in his hands. How can a phone without colour still exist in today’s technologically advanced society?
Don’t be a jerk, Koki. Not everyone is as rich as you are. Be more understanding.
Scrolling through Kamenashi’s contact list, Koki realised that the younger man had an incredible list of friends. Curious, he wondered what name Kamenashi had saved his number under. He was sorely disappointed when he saw his number by the name ‘Tanaka (Soccer)’.
So that’s where I stand…
***
Struggling to the back alley, Ueda emptied his stomach into the drain. The female guests had been downing him with so many glasses of alcohol that it had been only fifteen minutes before Ueda needed to hurl. How was he going to survive the night?
As Ueda was bitterly reflecting on how awful his life was, his mobile vibrated.
Message from Kazuya’s phone (Koki): Hello, this is Tanaka Koki. Kamenashi woke up earlier and he doesn’t look too good. Is there any effective way to lift his giddy spells?
Ueda blinked twice. What was Koki doing with Kamenashi’s phone? As the gears in his head slowly turned, Ueda was surprised at how Koki was caring for his friend unconditionally.
So that man isn’t as bad as I thought him out to be…
Message to Kazuya’s phone (Koki): Grab the newspwaper and read him ‘bout Giant’s win in the frenli match if he wakes agn.
Ueda was too disoriented to sort out the mistakes and the shorthand he didn’t normally use while texting.
Message from Kazuya’s phone (Koki): I’ll try. Thank you!
Hopefully, Koki is smart enough to figure out what I’m writing. I hope that little scoundrel (Kamenashi) is okay. Why does he always make me worry? I’m already in accountancy and balding is inevitable. I don’t need another stress factor to speed up the process!
Message from Nakamaru’s phone: I’m going over. Are you?
Message to Nakamaru’s phone: Too busy slutting meself out. Most prob in the morn. C u if u still thr.
Nakamaru ought to be familiar with my drunken texting style. He’ll get it.
With that, Ueda let out a long suffering sigh, before going back into the host club.
***
It was morning when Kamenashi woke up again. Both Nakamaru and Koki were sleeping by his bedside. How long had they been here? Kamenashi had zero recollection of any memories with regards to the night before.
I never knew general anaesthesia would have such a big effect on me.
Struggling to pour himself a glass of water, he was embarrassed when a nurse had to stop him (Kamenashi’s hands were trembling so much the nurse was probably afraid he would break the glass pitcher and disturb the other patients), and do it for him. Kamenashi hated feeling useless, but his limbs were still weak and much of his energy had yet to return to him.
Setting the glass of water on the bedside table, he began nudging Nakamaru lightly. Kamenashi watched in slight amusement as his senior mumbled something incoherent, scratched his head in frustration, before finally starting to stretch and rejoin the world of the living. It was the first time he saw Nakamaru getting up; usually Nakamaru was the earliest to wake in their apartment. It was quite a comical sight.
"Ah, Kame! You're awake, finally!"
Kamenashi nodded.
"Was Tanaka by my side the whole night?"
"Yeah…” Nakamaru looked impressed. “He didn't have to. Doesn't he have a wonderful heart? We ought to wake him up too; soccer practices start early, no?"
"What time is it?"
Nakamaru showed him his watch, which read six in the morning. Koki, an acquaintance with completely no reason to remain by his side throughout the night, had accompanied him for the past twelve hours. Kamenashi felt oddly touched. Sure, he appreciated Nakamaru's presence too for the past ten hours or so, but Nakamaru had been his senior since middle school and their relationship was rather tight, so no surprises here. However, Koki’s case was different… Kamenashi didn't know what to think of it.
What's that warm fuzzy feeling I'm experiencing? Could it be a side effect of the medicine they had injected into me earlier?
"Tanaka, get your ass up, you have soccer practice soon!"
At the word 'soccer', Koki sprung up.
"Kamenashi! How are you feeling? Damn, my neck feels so stiff and my back hurts."
"I'm fine, thank you. You better hurry off to soccer training."
"You're getting discharged today right? Shall I get Taguchi…"
"I think you've done too much, Tanaka-san. I'm really thankful, but I don't deserve so much attention and kindness from you…"
“Why?”
Kamenashi bit his tongue. He can’t possibly insinuate that Koki is still more of a stranger, than a friend, could he?
"Is it because we hardly know one another? You told me we were friends that dinner…”
That dinner, Kamenashi searched his memory bank. Was Koki referring to the Christmas dinner? He had clean forgotten about that insignificant event. It was just another dinner to him, to allow Nakamaru to meet his idol, but Kamenashi suspected that it meant so much more to Koki. Did he in any way give Koki the wrong idea or something? Nothing came to Kamenashi’s mind.
“No Tanaka, I didn’t mean it that way… It’s just that, you’re a famous national soccer player, while I’m pretty much a nobody begging for your help… I shouldn’t be so selfish wasting that much of your time!”
Koki muttered a tiny “oh” and fell silent.
Kamenashi regretted his words the moment he saw how hurt Koki looked. Koki must have understood him rightly, that they weren’t that close of a friend. Had he been too harsh? If given a choice, Kamenashi would eat his words back. His heart hurt a little, seeing how dejected Koki looked.
“I’ll best be going. Drop me a text when you need me for the interviews.”
From the way Koki had said it, Kamenashi knew Koki had definitely taken it harshly, or possibly gotten the wrong idea, thinking himself to be no more than a mere tool Kamenashi required to submit his thesis.
I’m such an awful douche bag, aren’t I? I mean, sure, Koki knocked me down once, but he had compensated sufficiently! So why am I holding myself back from befriending him? Is it because I’m worried Taguchi might cause me to get expelled if Koki’s secret ever got leaked? Get over it Kazuya, have some faith in the human heart!
A couple of minutes after Koki had left the ward, Ueda entered, looking pretty confused.
"Is everything okay?" Ueda asked, concerned. "I met that Koki person along the corridor and he looked pretty upset. When I apologized for my prior rash behaviour and thanked him for his actions yesterday night, he just nodded and said he'll be on his way... Anyway, I've got everyone breakfast. I knew you wouldn't opt in for the hospital's meal plans."
"Pass my set of breakfast to Koki," Kamenashi responded softly. "I don't think I want to eat anything yet. The effects of general anaesthesia are just fading off, but I'm sure I'll throw up if I attempt to stomach anything."
Kamenashi wondered how he could call Koki’s name that easily when the subject wasn’t around.
“Feeling generous, aren’t you?” Ueda frowned. “And you can’t be expecting me to run after him right?”
“He is my Honours project! How can I lose him?” Kamenashi tweaked the truth a little in hopes of getting Ueda to help him out, but he felt horrible saying that. He could only silently pray that Koki wasn’t loitering around and hadn’t heard what he had just said. “Ueda, do me a favour and pass breakfast to Koki, will you?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me…”
Kamenashi did his best teary-eyed expression at Ueda. The moment Ueda shied away, Kamenashi knew that his friend had fallen hook, line, and sinker.
“Fine,” Ueda tried his best to look nonchalant so as to keep up with his cool image. Kamenashi wondered why Ueda even bothered, since the only people around were the elderly folks, Nakamaru, and himself (both Nakamaru and Kamenashi had seen how unimpressive Ueda was at home). “See how nice and kind I am? Oh, the great lengths I’ll go for you.”
“Yes yes, now run along and catch Koki before you’re too late!”
***
“Tanaka!” Ueda shouted as he rounded the corridor, before realising his mistake.
One shouldn’t be shouting in the hospital.
Ueda bit his tongue and whispered an apology when he received angry glares from the nurses. Moreover, Tanaka is such a common surname. Even if Koki had heard him, he probably wouldn’t realise Ueda was calling out for him.
Ueda was glad when he caught sight of Koki in the car park.
“Tanaka? Tanaka Koki? Oh god, if you make me go over and get you, I’ll seriously beat you up!”
Koki finally responded and started walking towards him.
“Ueda?”
“Finally! Took you long enough,” Ueda snapped. “Queen Kame sends her humble servant to deliver Your Majesty your breakfast.”
Koki smiled, and thanked Ueda for his effort.
“What’s wrong? You’re not as loud as you usually are. I’m not used to it.”
“Do you think Kamenashi hates me?”
Why are we having this weird heart-to-heart talk in the car park?
“Kame is the kind of person who wouldn’t even talk to or look at you if he hates you. Since you guys are on speaking terms, I would guess no.”
“But we aren’t friends either, right?”
Ueda frowned.
“Why do you care so much? Aren’t you glad Kame is drawing the line? I mean, that way, he’ll never divulge your secrets, and vice versa. I thought you’ll like it that way. Kame does too.”
“Is that why he’s avoiding me?”
“Questions, questions, questions,” Ueda sighed. “Why don’t you just ask him directly? I’m not his muse or anything; I don’t know what he is thinking, or feeling. Kame is a pretty damn unpredictable.”
“I see…”
Ueda took a deep breath. There was only one reason why anyone would act that way, and Ueda decided to try his luck by making a wild guess.
“You like him, don’t you?”
Ueda waited eagerly for Koki’s answer.
To be continued...
Chapter 4 | Chapter 6