Alone and Ignored
Adapted from Yoake Mae's 'Four Seasons'
Written By: MoonPaper
The Disclaimer: Totally nothing is mine here,and I am just playing around with the characters. The original story was only a one-chapter, which seemed to be discontinued. It was entitled The Four Seasons: Autumn Leaves, By Yoake Mae. I am so sorry if you planned to continue, or did not want this fic to be used by someone else. I tried to contact you, but no reply was sent back. And I really wanted to elaborate on this first chapter. I just hope it turns out differently from what you planned. If you want me to put it down, I will, or I will change the character's names and relations as well.
Summary: Ayami Sendoh had always been the unique one in the family. But being the most different among many was not an easy task. And meeting one famous basketball player didn't make her situation any easier.
THE FOUR SEASONS: AUTUMN LEAVES
Yoake Mae
Chapter One
***
See that dunk nii-chan made? I swear I'll do better than that!
Jiro said excitedly while his mouth was still full so bits of rice fell out.Jiro
don't talk with your mouth full!
Ma, did you see? Did you see that
dunk? Told you I'll- the boy kept on eagerly, ignoring his mother's
reprimand.
Yeah yeah, whatever squid,
Akira interrupted his younger brother.
Squid? You calling me squid?!
Ha! Just wait and see nii-chan and I'll best you in basketball someday,
Jiro promised fervently then he coughed, choking on his food. He then drank
from his glass in big gulps. Akira laughed. Now see what happens when
you don't obey Ma.
Akira, when is your next game?
their father suddenly asked as he set down his hot cup of tea.
I'm not sure. I think
it'll be on next Monday, Akira told his father, turning to him.
Why ask Pa? But before his father could answer, Jiro, finally
recovering, suddenly said, Nii-chan! We'll watch your game of course!
You know we never miss any of your games.
You'll win your next
game, ne? I bet your next opponent will be just as easy to beat like that
lousy Hamigaiji you defeated earlier, his father added with a confident
and proud smile. He remembered the game they attended earlier, the game which
Ryonan won again.
Well, we're not so sure about that, Akira said uncertainly.
He then turned his attention back to his food.
And why not? both Jiro
and their father asked at the same time. His mother altered her attention
too from feeding the baby (the youngest in the family) when she heard her
son. All eyes were on Akira, who was now taking his time in chewing his dinner.
Is it because your next game will be against Kainan? Jiro asked,
almost anxiously. But Akira merely shook his head. It
must be Shoyo then, his father said quite gravely. He shook his head.
Then it will really be hard. But as what I've seen from your play
today you have a big chance against that Shoyo.
But Pa, it's not Shoyo
either, Akira admitted.
Then what team is it nii-chan? Surely you're the next best team
after Kainan and Shoyo, Jiro said.
That, Jiro, is without any doubt, their father agreed.
Well? What team is it Akira? their mother joined in too. Kanjou,
their two year old baby, also stopped from playing with his cereal and looked
at his eldest brother, as if he could understand their conversation and was
waiting for his answer too.
Akira looked at his family then with a small pleased smile, It's
Shohoku.
Shohoku? But they're not even good, Akira. What are you worried
about? his father asked incredulously and confused. No Pa. Shohoku
changed. They have good players now. It's almost unbelievable but it's
true, Akira said casually. He was not very nervous about their next
game against Shohoku. In fact, he's rather excited about it. But
even so, they won't be that difficult to defeat, isn't it?
But the Ryonan ace player just
shrugged and proceeded with his dinner, showing he didn't want to discuss
the topic any further. His family knew this of course, knowing him for many
years. So they just shifted the subject from basketball to school.
Aww Ma. It isn't my fault our teacher's such a bore,
Jiro whined, irritated. From the moment his parents asked him about a certain
detention this coming Friday, he already wanted to walk out from the dining
room and just play his play station. But that would anger his parents more
so he didn't.
Even so Jiro. You shouldn't have slept all throughout your class!
Again! Now you have another detention coming, his mother scolded.
The boy just shrank lower to his seat, picking his mood and sulking. Akira,
with a raised brow and an amused smile, chuckled.
Jiro turned to him with a glare. It's not funny. And it isn't
fair either! You always sleep too during your classes.
Akira choked as their parents looked at him with displeased eyes. He held
up his hands in defense and said, At least I don't get caught.
His younger brother scowled at him and he just burst out in laughter. And
the family went on with their dinner with the usual jovial matters. However,
seated quietly in one corner of the rectangular table, she didn't show
any expression towards the family discussion. She was calmly eating her food,
never turning her gaze away from her plate. She didn't even reacted at
all with a tiny smile or a frown. She didn't even made any comment nor
contributed to the talk. She was just there. Her mere presence known. Her
sheer existence ignored. But she was suddenly startled by the call of her
name that she immediately dropped her utensils with a loud clang.
She looked up, almost with a blank expression on her face except that of mild
surprise.
her mother called her name again, her tone not too pleased
but her face remained calm with patience. I asked you about your school
today.
Ayami responded vacantly. She stared at her mother's
inquiring face. It was fine, she finally managed to say.
Are you okay, Ayami? her mother asked, this time with a tinge
of concern.
Nee-san is always like that Ma. No real news there, Jiro butted
in.
Ayami looked at her younger brother but said nothing.
this time, her father called to her sternly. Your
mother is asking you. She blinked then said to them, I'm
fine.
Alright then, her mother said, although still a bit hesitant.
By the way, my school is having- But before she could finish her
sentence, Kanjou wailed loudly. And all attention was shifted to him. My
poor baby. Stop crying now. Yes, here's your milk
Wah wah wah. He's such
a baby. Make him stop crying Ma.
Think Jiro, think. Of course Kanjou is just a baby.
I know that nii-chan.
Boys, how would you like to go out after Akira's next game? Say,
for victory celebration. You can invite your team mates too if you want, son.
All right Pa! We'll get pizza!
Jiro, pizza is not enough for your nii-chan's team.
But Pa I told you we're not so certain this time of our winning.
Forget about being humble, Akira.
But Pa I'm not-
Ma! Make Kanjou stop. He's really irritating.
Jiro, it's natural for babies to cry.
But Ma-
Ayami stared at her family, once again expressionless. She bit her lower lip,
a bad thing that had become her mannerism. She wasn't sure if it meant
something. She just knew that she often bit her lip, intentionally or not,
whenever she didn't know what to do next.
She decided that she would just tell her parents later after dinner. It would
be really hard to snatch their attention from her brothers and basketball.
Brothers. Basketball.
All they ever care about are themselves, their works, their news, and most
especially basketball. It seemed that Ayami was the only family member who
isn't interested even just a bit in basketball. Even her mother and Kanjou
(who was only three years old) often showed some curiosity in that sport.
But her She had always been the different one.
Don't forget your homework Jiro. Your teachers might scold you
again for not studying, their mother said to Jiro, who was already out
of the dining room and walking up to the stairs to his room. Yeah Ma,
I heard you, he called out back.Akira started cleaning up the plates
when his mother stopped him. No no, Akira. Let me do those. You go to
your room and do your school works too.
I already finished them Ma, he lied. He always did his assignments
at school before the class starts. Or if he was really too lazy on those days,
he wouldn't do his homework. All right then. Go somewhere. Practice
basketball or whatever, his mother said absentmindedly, gathering up
all the dishes and putting them in the kitchen.Practice again? Thanks
Ma but I'll honestly prefer to sleep, Akira said, yawning.So
early, son? Why not watch some games with me on tv? his father invited,
already standing up. okay Pa, Akira answered. Don't
tell me it's basketball again,' he said to himself.And the father
and son walked out of the dining room.
Ayami stayed, standing at the middle of the room, silently watching her mother
go back and forth from the dining table to the kitchen. She turned her gaze
away from her busy mother, who seemed to be still not noticing her daughter,
and to Kanjou, who was now playing with his rattle, and then she looked down
to the floor. She was again biting her lip unconsciously.She
breathed in heavily then hesitantly, helped her mother clean up the table.
She gathered the glasses and utensils and brought them to the kitchen sink.
When they were finished with the table, her mother turned to her, Is
there anything you want, Ayami?
We have this parents' meeting this coming Saturday
Ayami trailed off. She was looking down the floor, not meeting her mother's
eyes.
This Saturday? But Ayami, it's Kanjou's daily check-up with
his pediatrician, her mother said. Ayami reddened, suddenly embarrassed
and regretted she even mentioned the meeting to her mother. Luckily her father
wasn't in the room anymore. That would be more horrifying for her. When
it seemed that her mother was about to add something up, Ayami quickly interrupted
her. It's all right, Ma. It's not important anyway.
And without even waiting for her mother to reply, she walked out of the room
quickly.
***
She leaned back on the door then
sighed loudly. She closed her eyes, as if torment had suddenly came upon her,
and she let herself slide down to the floor with her back still resting on
the door. She bent her knees close to her chest and looked up to the ceiling.
Ayami was amazed with herself. Everyday she always experienced the same scenario
with her family; her, always disregarded and left out of the issue. But after
every same scene she always left to have her refuge in her own room, feeling
isolated, lonely and hurt. But really, she should be used to it by now. After
all those years of same indifferent treatment from the people whom she was
supposed to care for
Ayami stood up and moved toward her full-body mirror. She stared at herself
blankly. Then with contempt in her eyes, she turned away.
Her gaze went to her cds and discman. She put on one of her cds, then her
earphones. She then lied down to her bed and closed her eyes, letting herself
be drifted away by the music and leaving the harsh reality behind.
To be continued
A/N: Ok,everyone, this is by Yoake Mae, THE WHOLE CHAPTER!!! It is all by HER. I just edited it a bit, and posted it up under my name. Ms Yoake, please, please, could you email me on this. I'm really determined on this fic, and if you really want to put it down, you feel that no amount of reasoning can persuade you... I will.
But please, everyone, all the
credit for this chapter is to be given to her. I find it really good, so look
for her original story, which is titled 'Four SeasonsI: Autumn Leaves', and
drop her a review. *whew*