I don't own Love Hina. Love Hina belongs to Ken Akamatsu. The story though is an experience I'd like to share. For all grammar and spelling mistakes, I apologize in advance.
Life as it is
One
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Saturday Night
Have you ever dreamed of a happy ending? Well, I did. Who wouldn't?
Hi there everyone! Keitaro Urashima here. It's been a while dear friends. I guess you're surprised to hear from me again. And I bet you'll even be more surprised if I tell you where I am now and where I'm going. I'm on a tram. Yep… on my way to Tokyo University Alumnae Grand Reunion.
Hmmm… I could see that weird confused look in your face right now. What happened you ask? Well… it's simple. A week ago, I was happily minding my own business a thousand miles away from Japan. As a matter of fact, I was preparing my lecture notes for my next class. You don't know how hard it is to be an archaeology professor in Massachusetts. I got some real brainiacs in my class and most of the time the session turns into a battle of wits. Do I hate these smart jackasses? Well… to tell you frankly, I'm proud of them. It makes me smile to think that my students are studying so they can argue with me. And if that's the only way I can make them to focus… it's worth my time. It's amusing really.
Eh? Didn't you know? I guess nobody knows what really happened years ago.
As everybody knew (to my long and ever lasting shame), it took me three years to finally pass the Tokyo University entrance exams. And during those years, I met a wonderful collection of people I dearly call – friends.
Their names? Well… there's that hot-tempered, quick-to-anger, brown haired goddess Naru Narusegawa. And then there's that sexy but rarely sober chic Mitsune Konno; uhm… we call her Kitsune. There's also that sword-maniac but real head-turner Motoko Aoyoma. There's that little genius with an appetite of four sumo wrestlers Kaolla Su. And of course, my favorite of them all, that sweet caring little wonder-cook-extraordinaire, Shinobu Maehara. I also met another sweet loving friend, although she's a bit… funny… in her own funny way, but nonetheless, true and dedicated, Mutsumi Otohime.
Yep… I met them all and ever since then my life has been thrown into pits of chaos.
It was painful at first. I mean… being thrown unexpectedly as a 'kanririn' or manager of an all-girls dormitory, the Hinata Apartments. And considering that these weren't just your ordinary collection of well-bodied, pretty and gorgeous girls but also an embodiment of what we (history and archeology experts) call – hell on earth. Seriously… there wasn't a day when I find myself flying into the stratosphere… sometimes even higher than that, then landing painfully miles away from the Hinata Apartments.
Did I think of leaving? Yeah… did I ever?
All the time. I almost left one day, when I couldn't bear to myself to keep on lying to those pretty girls (we had a little misunderstanding, because they thought that I was a Tokyo University student, when in real life, I was just a cram student, who failed the Tokyo University exams twice). But for some odd reason, the brown haired goddess Narusegawa (who turned out to be studying for the Tokyo University exams at the same cram school I'm attending to) convinced the others and me to stay as a 'kanririn'. And if I only knew I'd be working like a slave day in day out complemented with daily or should I say routine bodily harm (punches, kicks and sword slashes) I would have shoved that offer right back into her face no matter how cute she was… I dunno… I was probably mesmerized by her face and the curve of her body or the fact that I have nowhere else to go might have been the real reason why I stayed and endured the torture.
Am I angry with them on what I've been through? Honestly… no.
They might just be a little bit rough (okay… now that's an understatement of the year) but with all the days I've been with them… I learned so many things about them and mostly… about myself.
For instance… Kitsune. Well… everybody thinks that she's just a lazy bum waiting for free or easy money to buy her bottles of sake, but the way I figure… she's a true friend who will always be there by your side when you need or don't need her. I've seen the things she went through for Narusegawa… and even though she doesn't know it… she helped me too. That's why… at some cold nights… I'd just pop up into her room and have a drinking session with her until midnight. They say the best cure for pain and sadness is a company… no matter what form. And Kitsune needed just that. Although I may never know what burden she carries… I'll be more than happy to be there for her… and she knows that. She's a very strong person.
Everybody knows that Motoko is the 'tough one' in the Hinata Apartments. I could see, by the way she dedicated herself to her sword-training, discipline and samurai ways. Well… she is indeed a very tough one. I can attest to that. I've been on the receiving end on more than one occasion of ALL her sword techniques… and it became so redundant that I managed to learn how to dodge them (yep… it's that often… believe me when I say I've been slashed countless times – on what grounds? For simply being a male). It's not funny. I did learn a little bit why she hates men so much. And I guess I can understand her fears. And being a weak and constant victim to her overzealous attacks did calm her nerves down. She could hit me again if she feel a little bit slighted… my pain is nothing compared to what she's going through. And if I can payback whatever problems men gave her… I could say – I did my job properly.
Kaolla Su has been the pain in my back ever since I became the 'kanririn' of the Hinata Apartments. Geez! Such strength! Coming from a little girl like her… well… considering the way she ploughs into any stack of food placed on her table, I shouldn't be surprised… but still. There was this funny story about me and Kaolla, because one cloudy night, Kaolla sneaked into my room and started hugging me (painfully) and obviously we were caught by no other than – Narusegawa (it was obvious… the way I screamed with pain only to be rescued with another kick in the head… can you believe my luck?). It turned out… Kaolla was missing her big brother. I guess inside that happy and energetic exterior is a soft and lonely little child seeking attention and care. And that's what I did. I gave her what she needed… which resulted to more – broken bones, electric shocks, etc.
With all these pain, there's one person in the Hinata Apartments I am truly happy to have met… and that's Shinobu Maehara. Her parents were having a hard time (can I say divorce? Wouldn't that be a bit rude to Shinobu?) when Shinobu became a tenant at the Hinata Apartments… and I can say I couldn't be happier with my decision to accept her. She was all a man could ever dream of – a great cook, gentle, honest and caring girl. She has always been there for me… what everybody else failed to see, Shinobu saw. Although… some of us would think of her as extremely 'fragile', Shinobu has shown strength not expected at her tender age. And I'm proud of what she has accomplished. Very proud.
Every time I recall the first time we met Mutsumi Otohime… it makes me smile… or chuckle. It took me years to finally understand why she did what she did. You know? That kiss… she kissed me one night at Okinawa beach which led to horrible misunderstanding with Narusegawa, and then unexpectedly… she also kissed Narusegawa before we left for the Hinata Apartments (which we got lost as well). Mutsumi has always been frank. And behind those thin lovely eyes is a gentle, caring and intellectual human being. Do you know that she can understand turtle language (although she tells me otherwise time and time again)?
Finally… we come to the girl I… hmmm… how can I put this without putting much of a stress on my part… sigh… we come to the girl I fell inlove with. Eh? What's with the shocked look in your faces? Wasn't it obvious? You can say 'stupidly' obvious. I dunno… every time she's around I feel… weird. I feel… weak. I feel… inadequate. Sigh… every time she's around, I felt like a loser. Yep. Some kind of insecurity problem eh? O well, that's how Narusegawa makes me feel. And I guess I can't change that no matter what I do or how many years I try to convince myself that she's just like any other girl.
But she's not.
Narusegawa… is special. For me atleast. She could be stubborn some times. She could be harsh too. Quick to anger. Brash. Arrogant. But all the time I bothered her or embarrassed her (well… I usually come up into her room when she's changing 'by accident'... some weird force was at hand during those tender years of mine… very weird indeed) she continued to help me. And I'm grateful with that. I probably wouldn't have passed the Tokyo University exams without her. She's been there for me when I'm down and she always push me to move on no matter how hard or impossible (in my case, that is!) the task was. I couldn't ask for a better study buddy. Or a girlfriend.
I was inlove with her back then. But it wasn't meant to be.
Sigh. Sometimes the only way to heal a wound is to feel the pain until it doesn't hurt any more. I can still feel it though. That pain. It still hurts you know.
Anyway… I don't want to get mushy on you. We got plenty of time for that. As I was saying… I was minding my own business a week ago preparing for my next lecture when a letter arrived. And guess what? An invitation for Tokyo University Alumni Grand Reunion. And do you know who signed for it? Yep… Naru Narusegawa, campus head teacher.
The moment I read that letter… concluding with a genuine hand written signature (not those copy types that is so common these days, especially with the banks) from Narusegawa, I felt like drowning. I couldn't breath. My face was all hot. My hands were shaking. I couldn't concentrate at all. It's been years since I receive anything from Narusegawa, let alone a personally signed invitation. Or was I just fooling myself? Probably I was. And a pathetic question came into my mind… am I this desperate for her? Yep… it's pretty low alright. Especially coming from a man who has been honored and admired by several professors all over the world (and I don't mean to brag or anything… its true… have you seen my website?) I feel pretty low right now just saying that.
Honestly? Is this all I am? A man dreaming for a woman who doesn't want me. And until now standing and reminiscing in this tram I'm asking another logical and reasonable question – why now? After all those years… I mean… this is the first time in years that I received such invitation. I'm pretty sure I missed a LOT of Tokyo University Alumni Reunions… surely… this can't be the first and only one? Could it?
Weird… isn't it? Could there be another reason? And what should I do if I see her again? What should I say? Will I ever find the strength to look her in the eyes and casually talk to her? I mean… what should we talk about – aside from… you know?
Sigh. I heard a song on my plane to Japan… about something like – first love never dies… what's that another one? Lovers can never be friends.
/Cling/
That's my stop. Ooooh… my hands are shaking. I could hear that interminable Tokyo University Pledge song now. It brings back lots of memories that one. Anyway… I have to go now my friends.
Wish me luck.
Where's that ticket that's included on the letter? Hmmm… not in my pockets… not anywhere… o my gosh… please… don't let it… AAAAARGH! I LEFT IT IN MY HOTEL ROOM! GEEZ! WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW? WOULD THEY LET ME IN? AAAAAARGH! HOW CAN I BE SOOOOOO STUPID?
AAAAAAAAAARGH!
Good luck Keitaro. Cheers!
nivremous