Chapter four : The star – Mamoru Hayase


Responsibles and dreams. It is hard to do both but when you do the action instead of talking , you probably can do it as everyone else!


"Hey nice fight ! I never knew someone can stand me until the end, by the way the name is Mamoru Hayase , it's nice meeting you uh…"

"Minato Arisato from Gekkoukan. It's nice meeting you as well Hayase-san" I said as I shook his hand

"heh, Hayase-san? Come on! We are in the same age. Just call me Hayase okay?"

"Then Hayase it is" I smiled as I shook his hand firmly.

The man in front of me is the national kendo champion Hayase Mamoru , I fought him in the final fight of Kanto prefecture inter high.

"so Minato , want to grab some Hagakure noodles on our back home?" he suddenly asked me to my surprised

"ah..i should get back with everyone else-"

"what? What are you saying Arisato! Just have some fun with him already and beside… you can actually know his weakness by befriending him, so make sure have some fun on the way home alright?" said the couch as he whispered at the middle. I can't help to frown in disgust , how could he think that way?


I wish I could hang into that dream a little longer


"You see Minato , I do Kendo so that I can support my family, I meant , I can't deny that I love this sport it just… kendo is the only thing that I can do to provide some foods for my family , with my mother's condition getting worse , I need to win the match no matter what , so that I will get more sponsors and get a free scholarship for my education"

For a moment , my eyes saw him in adore , such a hard working person in a young age to be so thoughtful about his family , his smile never faltered , I only could nod to this statement in awe.

"I see I guess you got a strong purpose Hayase-kun"

"Heh , likewise Minato. Likewise"


Don't give up! That was the most meaningful words that i treasure the most until now


"I- I don't know what to do Minato. If I stop coming to the practice then my scholarship and my sponsors will be gone for good. But I also can't leave my brother and sister starved after what happened to my mother. I lost her Minato! I lost her—and now she left me alone to do all this responsible—it feels like the world is turning upside down—I can't stand it…"

Unlike the brightest star that I met some days ago , the guy in front of me looks nothing but a depressed man in grey, looking lifeless, his eyes were not as bright as before , he looked tired , he looked in a mess and this was not supposed to be…

After all..

We promise to fight each other right?

"No. No Hayase. You just doubt yourself. You just feel burdened"

"what? What are you talking Minato, I don't feel burdened but-"

"see? You are using 'but'" I replied , as he gaped a bit.

"it's alright to complain. It's alright to say that you are burdened, there's nothing to be ashamed of. You are still the Hayase that I know. Even if you are not wearing those jerseys anymore , even if you are not the superstar athlete anymore, you are still the Hayase that I know. Bright and hardworker ."

"Minato…"

"Dream is important. Dream is surely one of the purpose why human keep doing their best , passing their limits like there won't be another chances but believe me. You can catch your dream as long as you still alive but you can't change the situation when you almost lost it. You responsible might be more harder and not profitable but.. at least you won't regret it. Think about it. If you choose your carrier and leave your sister and brother alone. What will happen to them? They don't have anyone beside you. They need someone at least to guide them until they are older enough. They need 't give up yet!" I said as I give him a friendly hug when I noticed he couldn't handle it anymore. Though it was a pity that I couldn't fight him for the time being but I believe.. someday we will meet again, and fight.


You lead me and give me more than one chances. You give me choices.


"Arisato!"

"Yes Couch?"

"I got some letter for you from the prodigy yesterday, I am surprised he send you one. I heard he won't go to any tournament for a time being. It such a pity that we won't see any of his way of fighting"

"ah thank you. Yes, it is." I smiled in return. As I opened the envelope I couldn't help myself to cry

Dear bestfriend

Heh such a cringe right? But seriously all this time I truly want to call you that

"Aibou"

I hope you are not bursting into laugh when you read that

'you bet' I thought as I tried to wipe my tears

So how are you? I hope the ace of gekkoukan doing well, you do practices a lot right? Because be careful! I might be coming pretty soon, so be sure to practice a lot! So we can get an exciting fight next time.

By the way I want to say thank you… thank you for helping me back then, that time I was so reckless , so weak at heart that I nearly choose to leave both of my precious person in my life for my selfish desires. But all of it changes for the better when you said that words to me. And I never regret it.

I have been working so hard ,at least get some money for us to survive , at first everything was hard but as the time go on and how people have already known me for my achievements in kendo , things suddenly goes well and I got many job offers as a kendo mentor for the elementary school kids. Although is kinda embarrassed at first but now I'm used to it. It was really hard to handle so many brats Minato T-T I'm tired…

'oh dear….' I tried to keep my urged to laugh. That Hayase…

Well Aibou I don't want to said more about me because I am more curious about how are you doing? Are you alright? Are you doing well? Do you have enough sleep and eat a day? Because if you don't , I am going to get angry. So be sure to be healthy. Don't forget to call me if you need someone to talk to me.. because. Minato , you are not alone.

Have a kendo-ish day partner!

Take care!

Yours truly

Hayase Mamoru

'Hayase….' I Whispered as I was trying to hold back my tears.

"I will. I will be fine. I promise, Aibou"