The Perks of Being a Phantom Player

"Where there is much light, the shadows are deepest."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Chapter 2

The Perks of Kagami Taiga

April 10

Dear Friend,

The first day of my high school should be a grand and momentous occasion for me but all I did was to stop breathing. Ok. Not really. I was overwhelmed. A lot of things that I can't believe happened.

First of all is Seirin Private High School. Seirin just opened last year so the school is very clean and sparkly. It was my only choice of school since it's the only one nearest to our house. I wouldn't risk travelling when I can already get lost inside our subdivision (like, hello?!). But still, even though it is a new school, the entrance ceremony was already welcomed by a lot of students – all recruiting members for their clubs. The front ground was packed! The problem was squeezing my way through so I could get inside the building. I'm telling you, it's no easy feat.

It was when I was (hardly) walking that I saw him. A very tall guy with red-hair. He was carrying another student by the neck like a cat. I thought he was Sakuragi Hanamichi, so I followed him. I mean, who would wear his hair bright red other than Sakuragi!? Since he is tall and muscular, very commendable for a high school student, he easily went pass the other students that were on his way. And then he stopped at a booth.

Being the stalker that I was, I looked closely at Sakuragi-boy. He wasn't Sakuragi after all (duh) but if he is a real person, he'll probably have the same face as this guy. (Sakuragi is a delinquent! I hope you watched the DVD). His face is fierce and wild and scary. I heard him say to a female senpai sitting in the booth:

"I don't care about that. Give me a paper. I'll just write my name and go back."

I am nosy so I edged a little closer to see what he was writing. The paper was an application form for the basketball club. He clumsily wrote all the information required. I studied Hiragana and Katakana and memorized a few Kanji so I can read Japanese.

His name is Kagami Taiga. I read on and learned that he is a first year like me and had his middle school in America. He left the box asking for goals blank and then submitted it in. The female senpai asked why he left it blank.

"…None in particular. After all, Japanese Basketball is the same everywhere." Kagami Taiga said, walking away.

I thought he was cool. I was very happy that he, like me, also came from another country. I could talk to someone in English. Finally! You don't know how desperate I am to talk in English. My whole family was enjoying the Japanese language so much that you would almost think it's their mother tongue. I barely talked to them for the past month because of this!

I followed Kagami Taiga and called out to him in English.

"Hey!"

He turned and looked down at me. Compared to him I was really small - like a dwarf! It made me a little uncomfortable. I smiled unsurely.

"Ehehe, uhm, wow, you're really tall!" I said.

That was very lame of me! Kill me now!

"Who are you?" He scowled. He was really scary. Man, I mean, seriously, his eyebrows were split in half!

"My name is Maya. I just saw you submit an application for the basketball team and learned that you had your Middle School in America. You see, I also came from the overseas and this is my first time in Japan and I'm not really adapting to it yet. So when I saw that you had your Middle School in America, I thought I could talk to you since I am not really yet good in Japanese. I mean, were comrades!" I was babbling and repeating myself and sweating like an idiot. As I said, I'm not much of a social person.

"Ho, so you're stalking me?" He said nonchalantly.

A big rock has fallen on me out of nowhere. I choked. I wasn't exactly stalking him. How could he just state that calmly to a stranger?!

"Stalking?! I'm not!" I shouted. Several students looked at our direction.

I quieted down. "I told you, we are comrades! You should be helping me for the sake of brotherhood."

"You're a girl!" He said. I am not sure if he was being sarcastic.

"Ok, I meant for the sake of helping other people out of your pure and kind heart."

There was a long pause and then he turned around and started walking.

"So what do you want me to do?" He asked, his back on me. He was walking in long strides that I had to run to keep up with him. It seems that he's already allowing us for a casual conversation, so I assumed that we are already friends; hence I decided to get comfortable with him.

"For starters, let's talk. Aren't you glad you made your first friend in high school?"

"Not really." He said, uninterested.

With his height and body built, we easily made our way inside the school building. Alright! Just to clear matters, I did not befriend him because of this. Ok, maybe a little because of this but it's not entirely the whole reason.

"What class are you in anyway?" I asked.

"First year, class B."

"Whoa, we're the same! Do you know where our classroom is?"

He looked at me like I'm some kind of a retard.

"It's in the first floor. Japan classrooms are systematized according to year level. First years, first floor, second years, second floor." Kagami Taiga explained while looking down at me. On me. I fidgeted.

"Will you stop glaring at me?" I asked nicely.

"I'm not. This is just the way I look." He said.

"How tall are you anyway?"

"190 centimeters. Six feet and two inches."

My eyes almost bulged out from its socket. I am not good with estimating things, so I was really shocked to learn he's over six feet. Sakuragi is shorter than him by a centimeter. "Shit, for real?! Are you sure you did not take steroids when you're in middle school?"

"That is very rude to say to the person you just met!" Taiga said offended.

"I'm sorry. No wonder you play basketball!"

"Hmp. And I'm good at it." He said smugly.

"You're a bit of a show off, aren't you?" I said.

We arrived at our classroom. I can only say it's so anime-like. I mean seriously, with the sliding doors and the room name tag. My heart was beating fast and I was really nervous. It's my first day in school after all.

Taiga was about to open the door when I stopped him.

"What the hell are you doing?" He asked wide-eyed.

"Just give me a minute to collect myself." I said, breathing deeply and then exhaling.

"What are you? An elementary student?" He asked sardonically.

I rolled my eyes and ignored my new friend. When I finally calmed down I nodded to Taiga that he can now open the door.

This will be my new life. A totally new environment, new people and new experiences. Just imagine a bright white light that welcomed us for dramatic effect!

And then there. It was a normal anime classroom set-up, except its real.

Ok, I should stop comparing everything with what I watch.

I sat in my assigned seat. Taiga sat in the back. Minutes later, our homeroom teacher came. Since we are first years, he required us to introduce ourselves. When it's my turn, I got cold feet. I started to stammer. I mean literally, I started with' uhm', paused with 'uhm', ended in 'uhm' while forming the right sentences in Japanese to introduce myself. I said my name, where I came from, and the situation I am in and when I'm finished, they applauded and cheered for me. Even though it took me three minutes! I blushed from embarrassment. My new friend, Taiga's introduction was loud, energetic and strong which speaks for what kind of person he is. He finished his introduction in half a minute.

Yes. He is totally a show-off. Typical of man.

During lunch break, a few classmates came and talked to me. Two of them, both females, I easily got at ease with. Their names were Mika and Toru. Both of them are pretty and cute. And I have the feeling that we will be really good friends.

"Do you and Kagami-san know each other?" Mika asked. We're talking in Japanese and I am grateful that they are talking slowly for my sake.

"Not really. I just met him this morning."

"Whoa, really? You seem close to each other. You call him by his name." Toru explained. Remembering that Japanese people address others through their family name, I slapped my forehead.

"I forgot. I should be calling him Kagami-san, instead of Taiga right?"

The two laughed.

"I think its ok. He doesn't mind you calling him Taiga anyway." Toru said.

"Err, since it's hard to change habits, can I call you by your names? You can call me Maya." I asked for permission.

"No problem. Just add –chan as a suffix." Mika said, winking.

"Then, Mika-chan and Toru-chan, I am in your care." I said to them, bowing my head.

The two burst out laughing.

"You don't need to be very formal all of a sudden!" Mika-chan said.

The day ended with me worrying big time. I'm totally going to flunk all my tests if I did not put my effort into learning Japanese. The homeroom teacher warned me so. Since Mika and Toru's home is in the opposite direction, we have to part at the school gate. Taiga, on the other hand, said they will be having a freshmen meet-up in the gym for the basketball club so I ended up going home alone. Not that Taiga and I were going in the same direction. Taiga is taking the train and I only walk. It seems that his house is a bit (too) far. Anyway, I seriously need to fix my life here or else I will suffer.

Love Always, Maya.

PS. I confess. I think Taiga is really Sakuragi that's why I befriended him. And please congratulate me; I just made three friends on my first day in high school. I'm actually very proud of myself today I could cry.