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Ukyou Kuonji presents
a Here Is Greenwood fanfic

EXTENDED PLAY

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Koko wa Greenwood is the creation of Yukie Nasu, and all characters 
and situations therein are the property of her and Hakusensha Inc., 
Victor Entertainment, and the Pierrot Project.  No infringement 
is intended.
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**track nine**

The days after the party go by a little less eventfully.  Fewer 
and fewer bettors are left all the time, and the losers don't seem 
to mind anymore.  Some famous con man once said, "Give the suckers 
a good show, and they'll gladly pay the price of admission."

Believe me, I'm putting on the best show I know how.

At this point, some guys have begun considering my victory a 
foregone conclusion, and they're wondering if *I*m gonna tell 
Suka-chan about myself once I've won.  I sure as hell would like 
to, and get it over with.  It's embarrassing, when we're studying 
with Mitsuru-sempai and Shinobu-sempai.  Nearly every time 
Mitsuru-sempai raises his notebook to swat at me for a wrong 
answer, Suka-chan ducks in and takes the blow for me.

"Hasukawa, will you stop that?  This is for Shun's own good."

"I'm not letting you hit her, sempai.  I'm sorry."  For which he 
usually gets a whack of his own.

"Your gallantry would be considered admirable, Hasukawa, if you 
weren't preventing... her... from learning from... her... mistakes. " 
Mitsuru-sempai still has trouble referring to me with a feminine 
pronoun.  One of these days, you think Suka-chan would twig 
onto that.  "Consider it... negative reinforcement."  Heh.  Looks 
like sempai's own psych classes are paying off.

Not well enough to try and analyze Suka-chan, though.  He's 
obviously doing this for reasons more than concern for my welfare, 
more than just some sort of "you're-not-supposed-to-hit-girls" 
ethic.  I'm getting worried that he's falling for me.  I can't tell 
if that's escaped Mitsuru-sempai's notice, or if he's intentionally 
ignoring it while I sweat it out.  But in any case... I'm counting 
the days until I'm able to try and worm out of this situation.

***

Of course, Suka-chan isn't draped all over me twenty-four hours 
a day, thank the Kami.  Not only do we have separate classes, but 
he's joined the track team - something I would *never* do.  And 
boy, can he run, too!  He's actually made Ryokuto's varsity team 
as an alternate in his first year here, which, while not unique, is 
still quite remarkable.  

Whenever possible, Shinobu-sempai and I make a point of attending 
meets to cheer him and Mitsuru-sempai on (Mitsuru-sempai competes 
in some of the throwing events like the shot and discus.  He looks 
like that old Greek statue when he's throwing, too - it's no wonder 
the girls are nuts over him).  Actually, perhaps "cheer" is a little 
too strong a word for Shinobu-sempai.  He applauds when everyone 
else does, and that's about it.  He hardly ever cracks a smile, even 
when we win.  But he's there, doing the whole 'athletic supporter' 
(^_^) routine, as might be expected of the student council president.

Me?  I try to get into it.  Besides, as long as I'm there, I oughta 
have *some* fun.  I stomp and whistle and hoot with everyone else. 
And it doesn't hurt that, thanks to Suka-chan and Mitsuru-sempai, 
we've got a pretty good team, too.  Always easier to cheer for a 
winning team, ne?

Speaking of winning...

***

"What're you doing, Shun-chan?"  I nearly drop the pencil I'm 
holding.  I hadn't heard Suka-chan walk in from his bath.

"Ah... nothing!  Just... marking off another day..."

"Oh."  He shrugs and climbs up onto his bunk, closing the curtain 
behind him.  He's learned the art of changing clothes on his knees 
in that tiny space... and I'll bet he wishes I would, too.  "So... 
anything special?  I notice Saturday's circled, and I *know* 
we're still a month away from summer break."

Shit!  I can't tell him the truth, but I can't think of a plausible 
lie fast enough.  "Uh... not really... just something to look 
forward to.  Isn't the end of the week always like that?"

"Mm."  I can't tell if he's convinced or not, but it doesn't sound 
like he's going to let the matter drop just yet.  "Nothing specific, 
huh?"

"Uh... well... maybe, and maybe not.  I won't find out until then."

"Oh.  Well, hope you think of something.  Only a few days to go.
Oyasumi nasai, Shun-chan... can you get the light?"

"Sure... I was going to call it a night myself."  I switch off the 
light and climb into bed.  Suka-chan's voice is ringing in my
head as I stare into the blackness:

"Only a few days to go..."

I can hardly wait.

==========

Konbanwa, minna-san!

Life's been a bit hectic at the Ucchan these past few days;
working long hours, and then 'Natsu-chan and Dan-chan to
deal with... needless to say, my writing's tapered off a bit.
So, it would seem, have my ideas... at least, between parties.

Consider this an interlude while I figure out what Shun and 
Suka-chan are going to do with Shun's winnings (yes, he's gonna
win the bet; no, he's not gonna actually *tell* Suka-chan... yet.)
Sorry it's a bit lame.

With any luck, track ten complete with celebration should show 
up as predicted on Saturday.  Until then, ja!

Itsu mo,
Ucchan  ^_^