It took me a while to get this up. Apparently FF dot net HATES FIREFOX now for whatever the hell reason (probably because it actually blocks their stupid ads), so it wouldn't let me edit this correctly. Anyway, I guess I'll browse in Firefox and upload in Internet Explorer.
READ ON!
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Few times were the Ouendan HQ ever in a state of crisis. One of them had to do with Squad Director Kai. It started when Aoi screamed, startling every Ouendan into action.
"Aoi-chan! Aoi-chan, what's wrong?" Sayaka asked as she rushed into the training room. Aoi was struggling on the groaning, prone form of Kai, whose foot had been crushed by a large dumbbell.
"Sayaka-san! Kai-san! I didn't mean to!" Aoi sobbed, as the man steeled himself against the pain, "I didn't mean to run into you!"
"A…Aoi-san…" Kai flinched as he adjusted his seating, "Fell… into me… Naturally, I dropped it… It's just a stroke of luck… it didn't fall on her…"
"What's going on?" Anna was next to enter the room, followed closely by Ryuuta, who was still trying to apply his gakuran (as his hair was wet and unstylized), "K…Kai-san! Ryuuta-kun, hurry!"
"R…Right!" Ryuuta said as Ittetsu and Atsushi entered. With a few of the cheerers working together, they were able to remove the giant training equipment (Ryuuta could have sworn he read that it was several hundred kilograms in weight. Why did Kai have to do everything so extraordinarily?)
"How do you feel, Kai-san?" Atsushi asked as Ryuuta helped the man up. Anna inspected the ankle, and frowned.
"It doesn't look too bad," She said of the ankle, which hadn't even changed in color. She looked up at Kai, "Do you think you can you walk on it?"
"I would doubt it…" Kai replied, "But…"
"It sounds like a sprain," Sayaka said, "Would it be best to walk it off?"
"Crutches or walking, whatever you decide, please do it fast…!" Ryuuta hissed, groaning under the man's weight.
"I'm sorry I'm late…!" Everyone turned to see Tanaka Hajime, only a month old Ouendan, suddenly rush in, his new headband waved its tails happily as he entered the room, "I needed to pick up some…"
"Don't worry about it, Hajime-kun," Sayaka said with a smile, "Kai-san's fine, Anna's an expert at First Aid, and she already diagnosed it as a sprain."
"You," Sayaka looked up at Anna in question. Anna continued her sentence, "You diagnosed it as a sprain."
"K…Kai-san…! Would you lay off whatever steroids you're taking…!?" Ryuuta groaned.
"Well, I have a first aid kit here… I was looking around for it; that's why I was late. Can you believe I found it behind the rat poisoning?" Hajime began to chastise the Ouendan, "Really, you people; you should all place such special stuff in a more accessible place. What if someone had a break and no one knew where…"
"My back's going to be the only thing that's breaking around here!!" Ryuuta shouted. Ittetsu finally got the hint and went to assist the leader.
"We should get it on a splint before you can walk, Aoi-san, can you find something Doumeki-san can use as a crutch?" Aoi was glad to help in anyway, and rushed off to find an appropriate item. Hajime knelt down to inspect Kai's foot, and he tenderly took the now naked foot, "Hmmm… Doumeki-san, do you mind if I…?" Kai winced as Hajime turned the foot lightly, but the slight hiss he gave out was a sign that the recruit could continue.
The young man did his best for Kai, and everyone watched him, almost amazed at how professional he looked, "Doumeki-san, I don't think you should be on this foot. The ankle looks like it's fractured, maybe a hairline… I wouldn't know for sure unless we got an X-ray… but you know…"
"I understand," Kai replied as Hajime began wrapping the ankle, making sure to keep the pain as low as possible, "Ryuuta-san, Sayaka-san."
"Yes?" Sayaka spoke up. Ryuuta just groaned in reply.
"I need you two… to watch the place while Atsushi and I check into the hospital. Do you understand?"
"Understood, Kai-san," came the reply from the two. Aoi had returned with a rather huge wooden plank (where she found it would remain a mystery to all), that Kai was able to use as a crutch. It didn't seem like it was the most comfortable, but he was never one to complain about anything.
"Hajime-san," Kai suddenly said. Hajime looked up at the man, and even though he didn't smile, a prideful energy surrounded him, "Thank you for your work. I feel better already."
Hajime blushed from embarrassment, "I didn't do much, Doumeki-san…"
Kai didn't reply to that. He just motioned for Atsushi to follow him, and the two left the break room to get the director's foot looked at. Hajime packed up the kit silently and thoughtfully, and was the next to leave. Those who remained turned to each other, all smiles. Really, what would they do without their new recruit…?
---
"Aoi-chan… you what…?" Sayaka murmured. Aoi shivered lightly as she fought the tears that were coming.
"I… I let him go…" She said, smiling lightly, "I couldn't just keep watching him like that… He looked so happy with his family… so I let him go…"
"But… Aoi-chan…"
Aoi fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, and wrapped her fists around the cloth, "I'm sorry… I shouldn't have… but I did… I just wanted Haji-kun to be happy…" Her same smile, the smile that hid her sadness, was prominent on her face, "I would give up being an Ouendan to have a family like his, one that loved him unconditionally…"
Sayaka suddenly reached out and wrapped her arms around Aoi, and the two sat on the couch that Hajime frequented with his various medical books. Sayaka held her friend in an embrace and let her cry, "Oh, Aoi-chan… you know we're your family…"
"I know… but Haji-kun's family… they love him so much…" Aoi sniffled lightly, "They deserve him so much more than we do…" Sayaka sighed softly. She didn't want to admit it, but Aoi was right. All the Cheer Leader did was make Hajime's life harder than necessary… he deserved a family that wasn't so hard on him…
---
"Hajime-kun…" Sayaka said as she found her that her yoga student was rebelling, "you need to work harder at this!"
"It's not good at all," Hajime replied, groaning lightly from his position on the ground, "My back is hurting, my feet are twinging… how is this supposed to help me clear my mind? I…"
"Don't complain. Kai-san has entrusted me with the training of your mind, and that's exactly what I'm going to do. We Amemiyas are very attuned to it, so I'm the best choice in training you."
"But I don't see how this is supposed to help." Hajime replied truthfully, "I can't concentrate unless I'm thinking of something. To have my mind so empty…"
"It's foreign, isn't it?" Sayaka said, smirking lightly, "I got that from Anna-chan and Ryuuta-san as well. Sometimes you just have to live with it. Now clear that mind and we'll continue."
Hajime sighed. He breathed in… and breathed out… and groaned, "I'm sorry, Sayaka-san, but this…"
"A real Ouendan would never complain! He must always be vigilant for people who need him!" Sayaka said suddenly, "Hajime-kun, you must continue this!"
"Why is this so important to you?" Hajime asked, "Just because you can do it and I can't doesn't mean a thing! It's not like it's your only redeeming quality! I'm sure you and your sister…"
"Don't you EVER…" Hajime immediately swallowed his tongue and shut up when Sayaka's voice rose exponentially. He had never heard her so mad before, "talk about my sister and I as if you knew what she was like. You know nothing. NOTHING."
The recruit began to stand, hoping to apologize to the young woman. Sayaka's deceased twin was important to the Cheer Girl, but he didn't know she loved her sibling that much, "S…Sayaka-san, I didn't mean…"
"If you don't want to train like Kai-san EXPRESSLY told you to, then you are free to leave. Just go."
"Sayaka-san…"
Sayaka hugged herself tightly, facing away from Hajime if only to quell the rage that was building. The recruit didn't even know she was so touchy about the subject of her sister! "Get out of my sight!"
Hajime stood and walked slowly from the room, "You know…" He said quietly, "Doumeki-san said that Takara-dono was one of the best Cheer Girls he ever saw. I would think that she would be happy to see you happy. No person would want to know that their loved one was sad after they passed on…" Hajime sighed, "I wouldn't want my brother and sister to be sad for me… I'd want them to be happy… and live for both themselves and for me."
Sayaka looked up and turned around to say something, but Hajime was already gone. She pursed her lips, shook slightly, and wiped tears from her eyes.
How come a lowly recruit had to be smarter than her…?
---
The Ouendan HQ suddenly became very quiet. In the few days between their loss of Hajime and Seijin Day, the entire squad seemed to lose a part of their fire. The moment they appeared to people who needed them, their fire would explode in passionate work. However, the moment they returned home, the squad seemed to lose everything. Without their recruit they had come to love, nothing seemed to be alright.
"Ryuuta-kun…" Anna murmured, "I wanted to know if you wanted to go out to a restaurant tomorrow. Seijin Day's only two days away… and there aren't that many bookings for tomorrow…"
"Thanks…" Ryuuta muttered, leaning over his bottle and twirling it on a side of its bottom, "but I don't feel like it."
"Ryuuta-kun, we all are sad about Hajime-kun… but really… everyone looks up to you. Without your fire…"
"Kai-san has enough fire for two…"
"You really are a baby, you know that?" Anna said, placing her hands on her hips, "Not everything in the world can be exactly what you want…"
Ryuuta practically pouted, refusing to answer his friend. She sighed and took a step forward, "Ryuuta-kun… do you mind?" He gave a mutter and she sat down next to him, "Ryuuta-kun… I can't stand to look at you when you're this sad. Isn't there anything I can do to cheer you up…?"
Ryuuta looked like he was in thought, and suddenly he smiled brightly. Anna knew exactly what he was thinking, and she crossed her arms, "Aside from sneaking into Hajime-kun's room in the dead of night, tying him from head to toe in surgical tape, and kidnapping him from his own house for your nefarious deeds."
"You're no fun…" The Ouendan Leader groaned, placing his head against the table of the break room. Anna reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder, massaging him lightly.
"Don't worry," she said with a smile, "I'm sure when we find another Ouendan to work with, you'll enjoy training him as much as you did Hajime-kun. Cheer up, Ryuuta-kun."
"I don't want another recruit… I want Hajime-san… He's MY recruit… and no doctorate'll change that."
Anna sighed and stood up, "Fine, just wallow in your own self pity. I have better things to do…" She waited for a moment, hoping that he would look up and apologize to her, but when he didn't, she turned and walked from the room in a huff. The moment she closed the door and she was certain her leader couldn't hear her, she covered her mouth with her hand and began to sob quietly, "Hajime-kun… please… please come back…" she was able to squeak, hiccupping softly, "we need you…"
---
It was one day away from Seijin Day. Tanaka Hajime was pouring over yet another medical book. He looked to be concentrating hard, but suddenly gave out an annoyed shout and grabbed at his head, "Darn it…!"
"Haji-nii-chan…?" Hajime turned quickly in his seat. Shinju had poked her head into the room, and she was holding a large basket of laundry, "Haji-nii-chan, are you okay…?"
Hajime stiffened, but relinquished it and leaned back lightly, "Hey Shinju. I'm sorry I shouted."
"Are you okay…?"
The girl's brother blinked, and sighed, leaning against his desk, "I'm afraid not, Shinju… I've been feeling a little ill…"
"Are you sick?" Shinju asked, placing the basket on the floor and walking up to feel her brother's forehead, "You don't have a fever."
"I suppose it's just that I haven't recovered fully from my cheering. I could swear there are still people begging me to help them. It's hard to concentrate with that nagging feeling in the back of my head."
"Well, if they need your help, shouldn't you try and help them…?"
"I would… but I'm busy," Hajime said, "If I want to get into a real college, I have to work hard. I'm already a few years behind. Don't worry, Shinju, I'll be better by Seijin Day, promise."
"Why don't you want to help them…?" Shinju asked, frowning in thought, "Haji-nii-chan… you help Jiro-nii-chan and I… don't others deserve help too…?"
"But…! That's different… you're my family!"
"So other people don't deserve your help…?" Shinju didn't seem to understand, "I mean, when you become a doctor, are you going to only help us…?"
Hajime was at a loss for words, and bit his bottom lip, "Well… Father… he wants me to…"
"I see," Shinju said, dropping the matter immediately when Susumu was brought up. She went to pick up the laundry and started out the door, "I'm sorry for bringing it up." Hajime blinked as she walked from the room and closed the door behind her. The former Ouendan stared after his sister, and suddenly felt the twinge in the back of his head.
"Dammit…!" Hajime groaned, "Fine! Fine! I get it!" He shut the book closed and stood up. Pulling out his headband that proudly bore his squad's logo, he wrapped it around his head and left the room. He had to talk to his father.
---
"What did you say?" Susumu asked, glaring at his son.
"Father, I want to be a doctor. It's a wonderful profession that deserves plenty of praise and respect," Hajime said, hoping to quell some of the anger that was rising in his father as he spoke, "But I was born with something special. I think… it would be best if I stayed an Ouendan. That's what I was born to be." The son nodded, "I mean, I know that everyone's special… but it's different than that… you know?"
"I see…" Susumu said. Hajime brightened when he spoke, but he immediately changed his tune, "So you want to be a selfish snit who would rather drum your little drums and sing your pathetic songs, rather than doing something worthwhile for your family?"
Those words cut Hajime like a knife. Susumu's son shrunk back, his mouth opening and closing like a beached fish. He finally opened his mouth, "But…! Father, I don't want to be selfish… I just…!"
"Then work hard and become a bread earner for your family. My father and his father all worked hard for their families, and you will continue the Tanaka tradition. I will NOT have my son becoming a filthy…"
"Ouendan help people in need!" Hajime suddenly said, wishing only slightly that he had the squad to back him up with some cheering, "Father, if I don't become an Ouendan… then I'll truly be selfish! Selfish people help only their families when they can help the entire world…!"
The twenty-year-old immediately regretted speaking up. Susumu was shaking with rage, and his face was turning red, "So… is that it…? I'm the one being selfish…?" He asked.
"Father! I didn't mean it like that…!" Hajime said suddenly, begging forgiveness by dropping to the floor and bowing low, "Father, I meant no disrespect, I'm so sorry!"
"You can go." Susumu said, "Just know that the moment you leave this house to pursue your cheering… my son will be dead to me."
"Father… Forgive me…" Hajime ground his teeth when Susumu left the room, striding from the place with an aura of anger sailing after him. The young man hadn't meant to speak up! What an idiot! "Dammit…!!"
"Nii-san…" Hajime looked up, and dragged himself upright when he noticed that his brother was looking down at him, "Nii-san, you didn't get into a fight with Father, did you…?"
Hajime took off his red headband, and hid it in his gakuran's pocket, "Wha…t made you think that…?" He said, making Jirou frown. Hajime always did his best to keep his siblings from worrying about him.
"I'm sorry you got yelled at, nii-san," Jirou said, knowing exactly what the fight was about, "It's not fair you can't still be an Ouendan." The boy gave his brother a "thumbs up", "You look so cool that way!"
Hajime chuckled, but stuffed his headband further in his pocket, "I suppose so…"
"Nii-san." Suddenly Jirou looked very serious, "Shinju and I are rooting for you! We can't cheer very well like you can, but do you remember when you cheered us on to win that baseball match when we were kids? The entire neighborhood was against us, and you cheered us on to victory! I knew then that this is what you're supposed to do! So you do what you want, alright? Whatever Father says, you'll always be my big brother, and I'm sure Shinju-chan and Mother will agree!"
"J…Jirou…"
The younger boy frowned, "I'm done now," He said bluntly, "Before things get any sappier. But just remember, if you don't do what you'll be happiest at, then Shinju-chan and Mother will be sad. And then I'll never forgive you!" And with that said, Jirou tromped out of the room, looking a little mad that he let his emotions get the best of him.
Hajime looked down at his shiny, black shoes, and smiled lightly. He looked back up, adjusted his glasses, and pulled out his headband, staring intently at the logo that sat upon it. The smile on his face widened, and he wrapped it securely around his head. He'd have to shave his head soon. It would look silly with half grown hair at the Seijin Shiki!
But first he had to prepare…! He turned to prepare for tomorrow. Tomorrow was a special day, after all!
---
The ceremony of Seijin Shiki would have bored most of the twenty year olds of Yuuhi Town, but Hajime was on pins and needles. It wasn't just because of his excitement of adulthood; he wanted to speak with his mother. He wanted to ask her if she really did approve of his decision. He was still afraid, after all.
Although the free money from the government was quite nice. Nothing destroyed fears and worries like a fat check of yen.
"Hey, nii-san!" Jirou said as Hajime's family met with him after the ceremony. Shinju covered her mouth to hide her giggling, and Jirou smirked smugly at his brother's dark kimono and hakama, rubbing his nose lightly, "So, are you going to grab a bokken and practice Kendo now?"
"Not funny, Jirou," Hajime said, frowning at his brother. Chouko approached her son and smiled brightly at him.
"Oh, Hajime…" Chouko said, sniffling terribly. She had been crying so much the entire day. The woman's son noticed that she didn't add "chan" to his name. He was an adult now, and deserved a name befitting an adult. He suddenly felt that he wasn't as close as he once was to his mother; but then… at the same time, he felt closer to her than ever before. If one could feel that way. Stupid conflicting emotions… "You're an adult now… I don't know what I'll do now… you're not my little boy anymore…"
"Mother, I'll always be your son, whether I'm an Ouendan or a doctor," Hajime replied, although he ended the sentence with a rising intonation, as if to ask, "It's true, right?"
Chouko reached out to hug her son, "Oh, Hajime! You know that I'll love you no matter what! I don't care who you are, you silly boy…"
"Mother…" Hajime thought hard. Susumu wasn't with the rest of the family. The young man supposed that his father was busy with some road construction a little ways from town, "Mother… I'm going, alright?"
"Hajime, make me proud," Chouko said, reaching up to touch her son's cheek. It was so warm, pulsating with life. She knew her son would be special, even before he was born. She reached up and kissed her son on the cheek, "I will always love you, my son."
Hajime felt assured by his mother's words. He looked at his siblings; Shinju was sniffling lightly from joyful tears, and Jirou gave his brother another "thumbs up", "Don't let the Tanaka family down, nii-san!"
"I promise," Hajime said brightly, turning to rush off towards the Ouendan HQ.
"Hajime, don't you dare run in that kimono! Do you know how much money your father spent on it!?" Chouko suddenly shouted. Hajime nearly fell from stopping too suddenly. He was so caught up in the moment, he totally forgot about that…!
He continued to walk off towards the Ouendan HQ to make sure he didn't ruin his outfit. Even now he could still do things that children forget… He still had a lot of growing to do…
To Be Continued
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Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it!