The main character:
 | Name: Nakajima Sayuri Bloodtype: AB+ D.o.B: 12.12.1981. Height: 167 cm Weight: 53 kg Family: mother; Nakajima Ayame, father; Nakajima Satoshi, two elder brothers; Nakajima Daisuke and Genzo, two nephew; Nakajima Asano and Ichitaka, and a niece; Nakajima Miaka. Job: math teacher in a secondary school Likes: playing billiard, bowling, and darts with her brothers, playing soccer with her nephews, reading, hanging out with her class. Dislikes: her elder brother's, Daisuke's wife, Jun, her niece, Miaka. |
Chapter one: Why not?
I shivered, as I left the warm building of the cinema, being greeted by the sharp, chilly october air outside. The summer holidays were long gone, only the toasty memories remained. I let out a long breath, my sigh freezing in front of my lips, as I looked back at my class, counting them in my head.
I smiled lightly as all of my 24 girls were talking and squeeling loudly, telling each other their favorite part of the movie. A pair of girls were yelling, arguing about the looks of the hero and the villain. It was like a shouting contest.
"Hey, girls!" I shouted over their words. All of them stopped and gazed at me, questioning looks covering their pretty, young faces. "It's still early. Theres a little bowling club near here, with billiard tables, too. Who wants to come?" I asked, amused by their big grins as they all nodded, one of them punching a fist in the air.
"Nakajima-sensei is the best! And I thought math teachers are boring!"
It was Eriko, the most energetic one of all the girls. Loud, hot-headed and stubborn. With a compatitive nature, she challenged everyone, even if the possibility of her winning was completely zero.
"Well, Nakajima-sensei is far away from boring. She is the best teacher in the whole school if not in the whole world." Remarked Youko. I smiled goofily.
"Stop, you two, you're making me blush" I said with a joking tone and began to lead them to the club, chatting mainly about boys and their idols on the way.
"Good afternoon" I greeted the bartender and the two unfamiliar guests in the club, my class following my friendly gesture.
"Sayuri-san! What a pleasant surprise!" said the bartender, but before I could respond, Eriko jumped beside me out of nowhere, as I mounted one of the barstools beside one of the other guests.
"Hey, hey, Nakajima-sensei! Can I order something alcoholic?" she asked hurriedly. I looked at her in disbelief.
"Are you older then 20?" I asked in response, the bartender, Hayashibara-san looking at me amused and I felt the guests' eyes on me aswell.
"Um... No" she said, confusion written on her face clearly.
"Then no" I said, ending the topic.
"Nakajima-sensei is so boring" she said stomping away. Before I could complain on her statement and what she previously said, Eriko turned on her heels, pointing at me with an accusing finger.
"I, Ichikawa Eriko, challenge you, Nakajima Sayuri-sensei to a drinking contest!"
There was silence for some seconds, then I spoke up.
"One, stop pointing, it's rude, and two, only with apple juice."
"What's the challenge in that?" she pouted questioningly.
"Whoever needs to use the bathroom first, loose." I said, matter-of-factly.
"But... but I need to use it." She said unbelievingly.
"I won" I said smiling as she disappeared in the women's restroom.
"So, Hayashibara-san, how's Rikichi doing?" Rikichi was his son, graduated from the secondary school last year. He was now in Univesity, on math fact. I was the one who prepared him for the exams. He was a really great student, a teachers dream. Intelligent and quick to learn.
"Oh, great. He likes his new life" the bartender remarked, cleaning some already clean glasses, just out of boredom. The girls were playing bowling. Everyone could hear their screams as they hit some of the dolls down. The two guests were talking to each other silently, I dindn't even noticed their looks.
I looked into my cup of hot coffee, my coat hanging on a nearby chair. I took a slow sip of the hot liquid, letting it warm my whole body, only looking up when some movements caught my eyes.
One of the unfamiliar men was leaving, saying a silent good bye to his friend, then bowing his head lightly to me and Hayashibara-san.
"You used to come here often" the bartender said out of the blue. You nodded.
"My brothers now live in other cities. Playing billiard alone is a little embaressing" I said smiling a little. I really used to come here often, but when my brother, Daisuke married Jun, she broke our close relationship.
It was silent, no sound of movement, only the girls were heard.
"So, you wanna play a match of billiard?" came the unfamiliar, masculine voice beside me. I looked up to the remained man, taking in his features for the first time. He had light brown dyed hair - if not blond - tracing his young face. His eyes were hidden by black tinted sunglasses, a little playful smirk playing on his thin lips. He couldn't be much older then me. Liking his looks, I smiled and nodded.
"Why not?" I asked as I stood, looking at Hayashibara-san. He began to lead us, then setting the balls in the triangle, putting the white one on the dot on the green table, letting us choose a cue. He walked back to the counter, as some of the girls stood there, probably wanting to order some new drinks.
"Um... I belive I didn't cought your name" I said uncertanly, not remembering of any introduction.
"Takeshima Atsuaki" he said, sounding a little hesitant. The name was awfully familiar, and as I looked at him, his looks sinking in deeply, I realised why. I smiled lightly, deciding not to mention anything. It was surprising, that the girls didn't noticed, they were too engulfed in the hero of the movie.
"Nakajima Sayuri" I said, bowing politely.
I started the game, hitting the white ball, causing it to collide whit another, colorful balls rollong everywhere on the table. I stepped aside, lending Atsuaki a better access.
"So," he decided to start a conversation. "The girls are your class?" he asked, sounding amused.
"Yeah, I often hang out with them in my free time. I like to know them more closely. It's more comfortable." I answered, as I leaned forward to hit the white again, the other ball narrowly missing a hole. "We watched a movie together. The one with Yamato Shibura as the hero. I can't belive all of them are head over heels in love with him. He's old" I stated.
"Shut up, Nakajima-sensei, he's hot!!" one of them shouted at me, causing the two of us to smile.
"He could be your father, he's old!" you repeated yourself, concentrating on your game again, hitting perfectly as a ball disappeared in a black hole in the corner of the table.
"As much as I like them" you said aiming "they can be such a pain sometimes. Girls in their ages can only talk about boys and love." and I missed. I frowned as Atsuaki smiled smugly at me, leaning forward on the table, calculating, giving me a perfect view on his ass. I smiled to myself, frowning closely afterwadrs as he hit the ball in a hole.
"Do you live near here?" he asked after a short period of silence, walking casually to the other side of the table.
Did I notice a drastic change in the conversation?
"Yeah, just a ten minute walk." I said, growing impatient as he cleaned another ball off the table. He chuckled a little, looking for the best position for the game.
"And you?" I asked, smirking.
"Um..." he looked speechless for a second. "I work not far from here" he fumbled with words, causing me to smile. The man was cute.
"What?" he asked smiling. I let out a giggle and shook my head.
"Nothing"
You heared Eriko gasp.
"Look, Nakajima-sensei is flirting!" she shouted loudly. The girls all giggled, but didn't say a thing.
You were in the end of your game, when the girls sarted to have interest in it, crowding around you two. Atsuaki hit the only ball before the black 8 and it rolled into a hole, nearly stoping before it. He flashed a smile at me, looking for the best position, taking time with his aim.
"And I was the only one, who could hit down all of the dolls" said Eriko proudly as Atsuaki missed.
"Really, you're so skinny it's a wonder you could even lift the bowling ball" I said.
"When I'm skinny, you're boney, Nakajima-sensei" and to end it, she poked my side and I hit the ball wrongly, missing the hole by far.
"See what you've done?" I pouted jokingly.
"It's not my fault Nakajima-sensei is clumsy." she protested.
"Stop insulting your teacher or I'll report it to the principal"
She gasped fakely "You wouldn't, Nakajima-sensei!"
I could see Atsuaki smile, as he hit the ball perfectly, winning the match.
"How about a rematch tomorrow?" I asked Atsuaki as he leaned sexily on the doorframe of my apartment. None of the girls lived close by, so they must take a bus or train to get home. It hit me by surprise that he wanted to walk me home, but I didn't mind at all.
"OK" he said, not hesitating. "Tomorrow the same time?"
"And no annoying teenage girls from my class" I said as a reply. He nodded and pushed his body off of my doorframe, about to leave.
"Good night" he finally said, taking a step back.
"Good night" I mumbled as he smiled at me for the last time before turning his back at me, walking to the elevator.
I closed the door with a sigh, not really knowing what to think. I shook my head, locking the door, making my way to my room, to get my night attire for bed then walking in the bathroom to fill the thub with warm water. Stripping, then stepping in it, just relaxing. As it reached my shoulder, I turned it off, letting it wash away the day's tiredness.
"I'm lucky... I think" I said to myself, still not really believing the girls. I closed my eyes. "I just played billiard with Uruha."
End of the first chapter.
Who thought a supposedly tiring day with your class can end up like this? It's unbelievable they didn't noticed Uruha, but where will the friendly billiard maches lead you two?
