Chapter 4 – Takako's Secret: Revealed

"Okay regulars. Gather around!" Tezuka's voice was heard amidst all the noise in the court. "Others, gather all the balls." He then faced the Seigaku Regulars. "Okay, Inui! Tell them."

Inui fixed his glasses. Most of the regulars already knew what Inui was about to say. And Momo was the most disappointed among them.

"Since most of you already know about this, I would just like to inform the one person that was not present at yesterday's impromptu match that there would be a new member of the team. Allow me to introduce you, Kawamura Takashi to Momoshiro Takako."

As Inui said those words, Takako entered the court. She just came from the coach's office, and the lecture regarding the regulars' attitudes. She smiled and greeted everyone she recognized.

"Konnichiwa, Kawamura-san! Hajimemashite!" She said happily.

Kawamura blushed at the mere sight of her. He suddenly felt that she was nothing like her brother.

"Ko-konnichiwa, Momoshiro-san. I'm also pleased to meet you." He smiled at her shyly.

"Tee-hee…just call me Takako so you won't confuse me with my brother!"

"If you say so, Taka-chan. If that's the case, then please call me Takashi."

After a few minutes…

"Hey Taka-chan. I believe you promised that you're gonna play a game with me." Fuji Syusuke reminded her.

"Of course I didn't forget that, Fuji-kun!" Takako smiled at the tensai. It's that smile again. Why is my heart beating like this?!

"Are you alright Taka-chan?" Fuji asked her.

"Yeah. I'm fine. I just remembered something. Where are the others, Fuji-kun?"

"Well, it looks like we were left alone here. The others had their breaks and Ryuzaki-sensei called Tezuka to her office, so, practice wouldn't start until after about one and a half hour."

"One and a half hour?"

"Haha…I forgot to tell you. Since today's practice is not really formal, the breaks are longer than usual." Fuji smiled at her.

"Oh…so that's why."

"So, would you like to play an informal game with me?" Fuji opened his eyelids as he smiled at Takako. She saw that those lids revealed a pair of beautiful deep sea blue eyes that stared at her happily. His eyes are very pretty, just like his. I can stare at them forever… She then returned an equally beautiful smile, the one that she rarely shows to anyone, except him. "Let's play," she told him.

After a few minutes of rallying, they eventually got tired and rested on a nearby bench…

"Taka-chan…can I ask you a question?"

"Mmm…what is it?"

"A-no…why is it that, sometimes, I feel like you're spacing out. Is there something wrong? Can you please tell me? I can't help but feel concerned."

She lowered her gaze to the ground. I couldn't tell him…could I? She was quiet for some time, until Fuji broke into her thoughts.

"Taka-chan…it's okay if don't want to tell me. I understand. It isn't proper for me to just suddenly ask you such personal things, especially since we just met each other."

"Nah, it's fine with me. it's just that…" Takako said. I should tell him so this feeling would stop. "It's just that, you remind me of someone. You remind me of him."

"Him?!"

"Yeah. Him. He was my first love. I was so young back then so I didn't think much of other things. But still, I learned how to love. He taught me how to love. He made me feel what it's like to be loved, yet, he broke my heart."

Fuji saw that she was holding back the tears in her eyes. He felt sad. How could something like that happen to someone like her? How?! "Is that why you transferred to Seigaku?"

She nodded in response. "I want to forget him. I want to have a new life. I want to pick myself up again."

"May I know who he is?"

"I'm sure you know him. And I'm also sure that you wouldn't believe it."

"Who is it?"

"He is…"