CHAPTER THREE

Having recovered from her fury, Shinju slung her bag over her shoulder and ran out the door, ignoring Tatsuya and their mum's shouts of "Wait, Shinju!" and "You'll get grounded later!" Why would she even care? It's not like her mum owned her. Mrs Himuro never cared for her anyway, it was only Tatsuya who comforted her sometimes.

She sprinted down the road, anger flowing back into her veins as old memories consumed her.

~Flashback~

"Tatsuya! It's out tenth birthday tomorrow, and I hope you've got me a present! You can't have forgotten." Shinju grinned, hands on her hips. "I got you a present, so make sure I like mine."

"Of course I haven't, sis." He replied.

"Well I sure hope so! I'm gonna go sleep now, so I can wake up earlier and get my presents earlier."

~The Next Day~

Shinju danced happily down the stairs, Tatsuya behind her. "Mommy, do I get my presents now?"

Mrs Himuro ignored her and embraced Tatsuya. "Oh, my dear boy's finally 10! We have some amazing presents for you!"

"What about Shinju? It's her birthday too." He asked.

"Oh, her? She doesn't need presents. Anyway, come on! Open them!" Shinju's shoulders slumped and her bright smile drooped a little.

The boy looked over his shoulder desperately at his sister, but she gave him a little grin. "It's okay, go on!" She actually had a little feeling that something like this might happen, but she tried to ignore the burning jealousy and fury at her mother that roared within her.

Tatsuya reluctantly grabbed his first present of many and ripped the wrapping. A board game.

Shinju just stood in the corner and tried not to feel left out as he opened present after present, unable to hide his delight at these wonderful gifts any longer.

"H-here, Onii-chan. My present for you." She said, moving forward at last. It was a basketball, with two written messages on it. The first one from herself, and the second was from Kagami Taiga, his friend from America. They'd moved back to Japan only a year ago, and he hasn't seen Taiga since.

He gasped. "But how?"

"I got him to sign it a year ago to prepare for today."

Tatsuya suddenly felt awful. His sister had gone through all that trouble to get him a present he liked, but in return, she didn't get anything. "This is mine." He said too, handing her a wrapped present he got for her a few weeks ago.

Her eyes considerably brightened and she tore the paper off happily. "Thanks, Onii-chan! I like it."

~Flashback End~

She had acted happy and bright that whole day, but in bed by herself at night was when she'd finally let her tears out. It just wasn't fair. It's wasn't her fault she was a girl, and just happened to be born at the same time as Tatsuya.

Shinju sighed, shaking off the memories and snapping back into reality. She had been unconsciously running and now she had arrived at school surprisingly quickly. She dashed into the classroom and flopped down next to Kira, who was... apparently, dozing.

"Oi." She poked the unidentified blob that was her friend. "Wake up."

"Mmph I love-" *grunt* "Ice-cream!" And then she shot up, finally conscious. "Huh? What's happening?"

The girl sighed. "Ice-cream, huh? Anyway. Class is about to start, so I woke you up, silly."

"Mmmm... Fine whatever."

The two girls (minus Azuka because she was STILL perfecting the letter) decided to go play a prank on someone in the basketball team - because why not? After a long time of whispering and evilly cackling in a corner, it was time to start the prank.

Shinju grinned and walked up to everyone. "Hey guys! I brought this whole box of water for you all, but I need help bringing it over, can someone...?"

"Sure, sure." The unfortunate guy who happened to be Kensuke agreed immediately. "So where are the drinks?"

"Come right this way." Shinju bowed comically and walked towards the door, making sure she was always a few steps in front of him. She stepped over the rope, and stopped at the exact moment when Kira, hidden somewhere at the end of the rope pulled tight. Kensuke happened to be just behind it so he tripped, also activating a switch which allowed a basketball to roll out of its box. The basketball then hit another button, and the 'box' of water tipped straight over Kensuke's head.

The two girls delicately stepped aside. "Oh dear, I'm sorry Fukui, I failed to mention the water was for your head, not to drink." Shinju smiled widely, looking very innocent.

He only groaned as he looked up, still in the face-plant position.

"I think I should've warned you guys that Shinju would never be so nice to bring us water randomly in the first place. I was actually a little suspicious already, but..." Tatsuya tried to hide a smile.

"Well thank you for the warning, Himuro." Kensuke grunted, finally getting up.

The black-haired girl grinned. "Why no problem, Kensuke."

"Huh? Oh yeah you're twins. Would never have guessed from your appearance."

Just as Shinju was thinking about that comment, Azuka came bursting into the gym. "SHINNNNNNJUUUUUUUUUU AND KIIIIRAAAAAAAA! I'VE FINISHED THE LETTER!"

Kira sighed, looking weary now that the prank was over and an annoying fangirl had interrupted. But the blonde froze as soon as she saw the black-haired basketball player, and blushed (looking rather like a ripe tomato). "I-I-I um, KYAAA!"

She suddenly let out this huge squeal and fainted. What the hell even.

Everyone who knew what the situation was sweatdropped, which is everyone in the gym except for the purple giant (who was using this time to quickly gobble up a few umaibos) and Tatsuya himself.

"Oh gawd..." Kira glared at Tatsuya. "That was totally your fault."

"A-ah, sorry everybody." He replied sheepishly. "But it's not my fault I have tons of fangirls..."

Some of the other basketballers looked kind of annoyed at that remark. Okamura was indignant in particular. "Oi, don't rub it in!"

"Thou shalt not show-off." Wei Liu agreed solemnly.

"But…" Tatsuya protested. "I'm really not that popular, and I don't have fangirls, not really."

"OH REALLY?" Shinju crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows. "Cos I totally believe that."

Kira blinked. "Meh. I don't actually think he's that popular anyway."

"Woah, a girl who came into the gym for a reason other than to see Himuro! Amazing, amazing." Okamura clapped slowly, breaking through the short but awkward silence that came after Kira spoke.

"It's not that amazing. Also, I really think someone should go carry that girl over to the health centre, because the ground is cold and she's been lying there for some time now." Kira deadpanned, pointing over to Azuka, who was still on the ground.

Everyone blinked for a few moments before the situation sank in.

"Oh my god, we forgot about her!"

"Quick, Okamura, take her to the nurse!"

"What, me?!"

"Thou shalt take-"

"Yes, okay! I'll go!"

Shinju sweatdropped at the basketball team and sighed. She turned and gestured to Kira (who was boredly watching the frantic players rush around) to leave, which she did so after shrugging nonchalantly.