The Shoyo players were as good as their word. Fujima went ahead to find a drugstore that could fill Sachi's prescription, instructing Hasegawa and Hanagata to accompany Sachi to the train station, where would catch up with them. The trip was accomplished with few words, both boys understanding Sachi's unspoken desire for quiet. Instead, the boys talked about the game just past, going over what they could have done better. By the time Fujima joined them on the platform, it was to find Sachi listening with more than polite interest to a lively discussion of the various schools that Shohoku would encounter during the Inter-High.

Upon reaching the Haneda house, Sachi shyly invited them inside to meet her parents.

"I'm sure they would want to thank you for taking such good care of me," she said, with a smile that won over their hesitation. Mrs. Haneda, as expected, displayed a great deal of initial alarm at the sight of her daughter on crutches; as Hasegawa surrendered Sachi to her mother, Hanagata related the full story to Mr. Haneda, whose eyes glinted darkly at one point of the narrative.

"I'm glad you were there," he said, with a friendly smile at the boys, turning from the sight of Sachi on the sofa, earnestly assuring her mother that all was well. "Thank you for looking after our girl."

"We were in the right place at the right time, sir," was the courteous reply from Hasegawa. The boys traded looks, and began to rise from their seats, but Mrs. Haneda's voice stopped them.

"Oh, please, you're not going yet? Stay for dinner, I can't let you go back to your mothers without putting something in your stomachs. Growing boys need their strength," she said firmly, to the accompaniment of Sachi's laughter.

"Mama, they surely don't need the extra height!" she giggled, golden eyes sparkling with mischief, enjoying the rare sight of the confident basketball players with pink cheeks. Then, with a coaxing tone, she said, "Please, do stay for dinner. It would be a pleasure to have you."

"I'd advise you to throw the game over to the women," grinned Mr. Haneda. "There's no refusing them when they're in that mood."

So the Shoyo players stayed for a simple, hearty dinner, on Fujima's condition that Mrs. Haneda allow them to help with its preparation and the cleaning up. The offer was accepted with a smile, and the boys, under her direction, proved themselves to be quite handy in the little kitchen. As soon as the last of the dishes were kept, the boys were quick to notice the weariness stealing over Sachi's face, and were prompt in taking their leave.

"Thank you, Mrs. Haneda," said Fujima. "It was a wonderful dinner."

"Delicious," nodded Hanagata, to which Hasegawa voiced his agreement.

"I enjoyed the meal very much," he said quietly, adding, "Rest well, Sachi-chan. Remember the doctor's orders."

"Oh, I will, I will, Hasegawa-kun," smiled Sachi, watching fondly as her father showed them down to the door. A small yawn suddenly overtook her, and instantly Mrs. Haneda was shooing her daughter to bed.

"No protests. If your beloved Shohoku team calls tonight, they'll just have to wait till the morning, or until they get back from Hiroshima to talk to you." The maternal decree was spoken with a firmness that Sachi meekly obeyed; it had been a long and eventful day, and bed seemed like a very good idea.

No sooner did Sachi's head hit the pillow than she was asleep. So deep was her slumber that she never heard the telephone ring, not five minutes after Mrs. Haneda clicked out the light in her daughter's bedroom. Nor did she hear the deep voice of her father taking the call.

"Kogure-kun...I'm sorry, but she's asleep now. A sprain, according to the doctors, nothing too serious. One week off her foot should do the trick. How fortunate that the Shoyo boys were standing there...they brought her home, too. Saa...thank you for calling. Good luck at the Inter-High. I'm sure Sachi will be on the platform to welcome you home."

.../tbc