His Dilemma
"Wow. Tomorrow is final," TK said as he crossed that day's date on the calendar, "Somehow, it makes me nervous."
"You're the captain, TK. If you're nervous, how will your teammates feel?" Kari said.
"Well, that position makes me nervous. I never imagine being a captain in school's basketball team, seriously. And this is my first final match."
"Be optimistic. You have practiced hard with your team, haven't you? This match will be no different like the others you've passed." Ken scribbled down some equations.
"I hope so, Ken." TK put down his marker and came back to his worksheet.
Ken faced up and held TK's shoulder. "We'll be there to support you, TK."
TK grinned. "Thank you. I hope I won't disappoint you."
"You won't! I believe it," Kari hugged TK one-handed, "Ganbatte nee, Takeru-kun."
TK nodded happily. He liked how his friends supported him.
"Oi, TK," Matt entered the living room, "I've repaired your shoes."
"Wow!" TK accepted his sport shoes with gleaming eyes, "You're wonderful, Matt! Before this, there were holes here and there. How did you do this?"
"For my brother, everything's possible," He ruffled TK's golden hair, "Show me the best with those shoes. And remember, 'best' doesn't mean 'win'."
TK thumbed up. "You'll watch me play, won't you?"
"Of course."
TK grinned wider. "Promise?"
"Promise."
"Don't break it like Mom and Dad; they never come." TK stared hopefully at his brother. Matt smiled reassuringly. He knew how TK thought about their parents. They were family, but to be together as a whole was something nearly impossible. Therefore, TK saw Matt as a loyal companion who could overcome his loneliness.
"If there isn't any obstacle, I'll come, TK."
"Even if there's a date with Sora?"
Matt laughed. "I don't have a date planned tomorrow. Besides, she will understand if I cancel our date because of you. If she insists, a break-up will be the best choice I have."
"You think so? I'll tell Sora." TK walked to the phone. Matt quickly circled his arm around TK tightly until TK choked. "You little rascal, get back to your worksheet!"
Ken and Kari laughed.
Matt hummed happily on the way home the next afternoon. Tai and Sora said they would come to TK's match to support, too. TK's spirit would be boosted up, for sure. What a happy Monday, he said to himself.
When Matt opened the door, everything changed, because Ken lay unconscious in the living room, with reddened face.
Ken had a fever, but he didn't show any other signs of severe illness, so Matt decided not to call the doctor. Half an hour passed in silence as Matt took care of Ken. Was Ken studying too hard without Matt's supervision later at night? Was he too active in his school clubs recently? Was this because of seasonal change? Matt didn't know for sure. He regretted for not observing Ken carefully.
Kari wasn't in the apartment. She must be watching TK's match, where Matt was supposed to be. Matt sighed. He promised to TK that he would come, but for the first time, Matt broke his promise. What could he do? Ken needed him urgently, and no one else was in the apartment when Ken collapsed. Leaving Ken alone for a basketball match wasn't a choice.
"Matt..." Ken called as soon as he caught a sight of a tall blonde boy. Matt moved closer. "What's it, Ken?"
"Sorry..." Ken said weakly, "Can you go to see TK, please?"
"I can't, Ken. I can't leave you here."
Ken tried hard to sat, resisting the drowsiness attacking him. Matt helped him and was relieved when knowing Ken had cooled down. "But he's waiting for you, Matt."
"I know, but TK isn't that childish anymore. He will understand why I'm not coming."
Ken stooped. "Why are you caring for me that much now? Your brotherhood with TK is very strong."
"Only stupid people leave the ones needing help."
"But I can take care of myself!" Ken's tone changed a bit—insisting, "Without Sam, I'm..."
"...alone," Matt cut, "Stop saying that. I'm bored."
Ken widened his eyes. "I never said that."
"You never said that, but you feels that everyday," Matt looked at Ken sharply, "It's good you can be friends with TK, Kari, and me, but there's a part of yourself that won't permit you to receive other's help. You used to do everything alone after Sam's death, and it's also good because being too dependant to others can't make you survive. But what's wrong to open yourself more? There are things that you can't bear alone."
Ken sighed. Matt stopped for a while, giving Ken time to think, then continued, "If you still think TK's more important to me because he's my brother, it's true, but now, I'm not thinking about that. Remember what TK said about being everyone's brother?"
Ken faced up. Matt smiled. "Right now, you're also my brother, Ken."
TK didn't see Matt. It killed his concentration. He missed the ball few times. "Where is him?" He asked sadly in his heart, "He promised to come..."
But TK knew it wasn't the right time to think about him. TK had to lead his team. TK didn't want to lose because he wanted to present his victory to Matt.
When TK was only a little kid, Matt promised to see him reading poem in school festival, but TK didn't see Matt until the time he got to the stage. TK was very sad. He didn't want to read his poem and cried in the backstage. His mom tried to calm him and finally, half-heartedly, TK got on the stage. He was about to read his poem when he saw Matt panting in front of the school hall. Matt wove his hand and smiled. It boosted up TK's mood. TK received standing applause for reading his poem whole-heartedly. Matt didn't stand up. He only smiled, but it was more than enough for TK. Remembering that somehow strengthened TK. "Wherever Matt is, I'll gonna show him my best!"
TK scored three points. Tai yelled in joy immediately as the supporters of TK's team did. Kari smiled in relief, but her mind still ran furiously to Ken and Matt. Meanwhile, Sora received a text message from Matt. She gasped and quickly pulled Tai to sit down. "Tai, Kari, read this."
Tai and Kari read the text message.
Sorry I'm late. Ken and I will arrive in a few minutes.
"What?! How can he be late to watch TK's important match?" Tai widened his eyes.
"There must be something." Sora dialed Matt's number, but no one answered. "What's wrong with him? I hope he's alright." Sora began to worry. It wasn't like Matt to not answer the phone.
Suddenly, Kari caught a sight of Matt and Ken near the entrance of the sport hall. Ken was brought on Matt's back; he wasn't strong enough to stand on his own feet, and still wearing pajama plus an oversized jacket. Matt panted, sweat trickled down in rivulets. "Ken... we arrive..." He said within short breath, "Are you OK? Feeling dizzy or something?"
Ken held his head, trying to resist the drowsiness because of Matt's crazy movement. He slowly shook his head. "No. I'm feeling better after you showed me how crazy you are to go to TK's match with me on your back." He giggled.
"Huh, even Tai can't run at his 'normal' speed with a you on his back." He smirked. Ken got down from Matt's back, standing limply on the ground. The two walked into the hall. Kari tugged Sora's clothes. "Look, Sora! It's Matt! And Ken, too!" She pointed at them.
Sora widened her eyes and sighed in relief. "It's good he comes. He told me he had promised and for a while, I thought he would break his promise..."
"He'll try hard not to disappoint TK." Tai smiled, proud of his best friend's loyalty. Tai didn't know what really happened to Matt; the rockstar seemed very tired, but it showed Matt's effort to overcome whatever obstacling him from watching TK's big match. Matt quickly found two seats for him and Ken. As they settled down, Sora and Kari wove at them. The boys wove back.
Last minutes. TK became uneasy. His team needed to score at least 7 points in order to win. Several team strategies had been played on the field, but still, their opponent played better. This was the real final; the real end. TK's team would be ended here and TK thought it must be because of his disturbed concentration in the early minutes. He would disappoint his teammates. Hearing the swarming voice of people supporting his team, TK realized he would also disappoint the supporters.
"TK! I'm sorry I'm late! You've done a great job, keep on!"
TK easily recognized that hoarse voice, regardless of the other voices distorting it. His lips curved into a slight smile. He regretted not to believe in his brother. His loyal companion. The one that never break a promise. For that person, TK would do his best, because that person also did the same for TK until that time.
The game ended with a whistle. TK scored three points in only two seconds before the real end.
"That was great, man!" Yuuki, one of TK's teammates, circled TK's neck with his arm as they entered the changing room, "Three points, near the end of the game! Just like in movies!"
TK smiled wearily, wiping his head with a towel. "But it's nothing. We don't win. Sorry, I lost my concentration in the beginning. If only I..."
"Regret is no use." Arisaka, the coldest guard in the world, commented. Yuuki made a face while turning back to him. "Shut up. You don't make TK better. Try to understand his burden as a captain!"
"And this is our first final match also, Arisaka. Don't blame TK too much. Sekigawa team is much more experienced." Cole reminded.
Arisaka shrugged. "You cut my words here and there before I could finish. I mean, regret is no use...because there's nothing to be regretted. Winning is not about the score, but our teamworks. Unlike Sekigawa which has an individualistic top scorer, we score points together."
"Huh, since when you become so wise?" Darren elbowed Arisaka on the rib. TK laughed as Arisaka punched Darren. It was a relief that his teammates weren't only mates in the match, but also outside 'the battle field'. They could accept this defeat as another form of victory to build up deeper camaraderie. It reminded TK of Matt's words a night before the match: 'best' didn't mean 'win'.
Anyway, where's Matt? Better change quickly and go find him. TK said in his heart as he beckoned his friends to move faster.
Tai shook his head continuously, absentmindedly. Sora didn't even blink while listening to Matt, so did Kari. "You really try hard to go to this match. I hope Ken's fine with the bumpy marathon." Tai remarked.
"Don't worry about me," Ken took off the jacket and smiled, "Matt took a good care of me. He also had proved that he can be everyone's good brother."
Matt quickly shook his head. "I mustn't fulfill your request to go to this match, Ken. Bringing you that way can worsen your situation. But...oh well, let's just hope your parents won't kill me once you come home."
"They won't. Look, it's the captain."
Matt saw TK walk to him, wearing his usual smile. That smile grew wider as the blue eyes of the blonds met. TK sped up his steps. "Hi, Matt!" He greeted the older blond after the two got close, "I thought you didn't come."
"Sorry, TK. There's something on my way here, but I can handle it... I think," Matt turned to Ken, then turned to TK again, "You're great. I don't know how you managed to score three points in such a short time. Right, Ken?"
"Un. I'm sure this will be an unforgettable final for Hikarigaoka."
TK clutched his bag tighter. "I'll try hard to win my next match!"
"Good spirit," Matt ruffled his brother's hair, then clung his arms onto TK and Ken, "Let's celebrate this somewhere. Tai, you bring some money, don't you?"
"Hey, what does that mean?"
Sora and Kari smiled as persuasive as possible while putting on their puppy eyes. "Onii-san, please be nice to TK..." Kari pleaded. Tai rubbed the back of his neck. He wouldn't start another argument with her, so... "I'll pay you a revenge later, Matt!"
Tai took Kari's hand and walked towards a nearby cafe with the others following. Ken was telling TK what happened before when Matt whispered to Sora, "I begin to think that my reason to befriend Tai is his 'kindness' to pay for our date."
"You're evil." Sora laughed as she turned to TK and Ken. TK seemed surprised and worried after he knew that Ken was quite sick before, but thanks to Matt, Ken had been better. Sora smiled to imagine what her boyfriend had done to the two. Somehow, it ensured Sora that Matt was the one she could rely on in the future, after they got married. Ashamed with the thought, she hit Matt's upper arm gently and stooped down, hiding her reddened face. Matt rubbed the spot where he was hit. "What's that for?"
"Nothing. You're just too cute to not be hit." She said softly while moving faster. A sudden feverish heat burnt the rockstar as he froze.
