Kokoro
~ The Will to Win~
Episode One: Courage
He was breathing heavily.
And he was still 15 points ahead.
*
She was breathing heavily.
And she was 15 points behind.
*
Rukawa Kaede, aged ten, held the ball in his hands.
Rukawa Keiko, aged nine, bent down, in a defensive position.
Half an hour before their mother would return from work.
Half an hour to play.
Rukawa Kaede, with a short crop of black hair, and intense blue-black eyes, looked at his sister.
Rukawa Keiko, with a short crop of black hair, and intense blue-black eyes, looked at her brother.
*
They both wanted to win.
*
It would be customary for him, but it did not mean that he took it for granted.
It would be a first for her, but it did not mean it was unattainable.
*
A blink of an eye, and he moved.
Focus. Timing. Steal.
*
Rukawa Kaede looked almost aghast as his younger sister stole the ball from his hands for a quick lay-up.
She flashed him a smile, a small one. And the game went on.
*
Rukawa Kaede played like a boy possessed.
Rukawa Keiko played like a girl possessed.
Both had the thirst, the hunger, for victory. But hers was greater.
*
She saw her mother approaching. She knew the score. She would win, by one point, if she made the next shot. If.
She flicked the ball at the net, and landed from her short upward flight just as her mother called. Just in time to see the ball hit the rim, roll precariously, tantalisingly, and then fall out.
*
Rukawa high-fived his sister. She flashed him a small smile, but her eyes were sad.
Ten centimetres shorter than Rukawa Kaede. One year younger. Admittedly, worlds apart when it came to skill, based on the fact that she had lost their previous matches without fail. Yet this time, she had come so close, so close to winning. She had clawed her way up from a big deficit. Only to see her golden chance fly away.
Rukawa Kaede put his hand on his sister's shoulder as they walked behind their mother. Rukawa Keiko smiled as she held the ball.
*
Next time, it will be different.
*
She would make sure of it.
Author's Note: A short little ficlet, which is the result of watching the second last Asian team in the World Cup crash out…in the match between Japan and Turkey. When the men in blue shirts created chance after chance, making me go "ohhhhh" so many times over…but still lost 0-1. No 90th minute goal ala the Republic of Ireland, but nonetheless a worthy effort of the team who took the world by storm when they burst into the 2002 World Cup finals. They deserve respect, and they have won mine.
Author's Note II: (17 July 2002) About the editions made to the title...
I read in a book that the Japanese term "kokoro" has many different meanings, including "courage", "heart" and more. Hence, I've tentatively decided to follow up on this currently two-part story, with further chapters inspired by another meaning to the word "kokoro", and all in all, making ficlets about the will to win...