Hello! Thanks again to those who left a comment. Again, I'm really happy to see them. Also thanks for reading!
Yes, I also feel like I left off on a rather sad note, but this chapter will hopefully relieve any sad feelings.
I personally had fun doing this chapter. I can't wait until I do the next chapter. Please enjoy~
Chapter 25
After Sayumi washed the dishes, she took a deep breath before presenting herself to her two curious parents waiting in the living room.
"Sayu-chan. Come sit." Mother motioned for the standing girl to take a seat in the empty chair.
Sayumi compliantly sat down across from her parents. She looked really nervous. It wasn't an amusing topic to discuss.
"Koukai-nii..."
"Sayumi. You don't have to..."
"Please hear me out."
The parents looked at the girl who seemed to have an easier time holding back tears.
"These past years without Koukai-nii..."
"Sayu-chan. We all miss him very much. But you need to learn to accept the fact that he is gon-"
"Kaa-san." Sayumi looked at her mother with confident eyes. "I'm not grieving."
"Then why didn't you come back?" Father asked while mother took a tissue.
"Tou-san. Do you remember when Koukai-nii would play basketball at night and we'll have neighbors calling us to tell him to stop dunking so noisily?"
Father nodded. It was displeasing to have to pick up calls of complaints every day, but he felt secretly proud of his son who had no limits.
"Kaa-san. Do you remember when Koukai-nii helped make dinner? It was terrible."
Mother nodded as she recalled the precious memory. "Of course."
"Do you remember how Koukai-nii would always smile at every little thing? How about when he laughed all the time?"
The parents nodded in agreeingly.
"But I don't remember." Sayumi's comment shocked her two listeners. "Every day, I seem to be forgetting him little by little. His smile. His laugh. Him. I can't recall anything else." Sayumi's voice was trembling, but she knew she could finish before breaking. "I was scared that if I returned to America, I would forget Koukai-nii completely. I'm scared I won't remember him."
Mother was crying. Father felt uncomfortable hearing about his late son. Sayumi was hurting to have to tell them, but this was part of getting back up. It's not easy.
"After Koukai-nii passed away, I wanted to come home. I wanted to be with you so that I wouldn't have to turn off the lights and cry quietly in the dark corner of my room by myself. I really wanted to come back..."
Sayumi had tears rolling down her rosy cheeks, but wiped them with the back of her hand.
"But I felt something telling me to stay. I felt that if I stayed in Japan, I would remember Koukai-nii forever. I spent three years looking for my reason..."
"Sayu-"
"But that's why I'm here." Sayumi was no longer crying. "I found my answer."
Sayumi's poise earned the attention of her parents.
"After brother died, I lost my purpose to stay in Japan, but a very special group of people entered my life. They were acquaintances at first, but they became more. They became people I love and care about. They are my answer. They are the reason why I'm here." Sayumi looked at her parents with unwavering feelings.
The proud parents looked at their baby girl who had grown so strong on her own. They didn't have to worry. She was already stronger than the both of them.
"I play basketball with them. I hang out with them. I get teased by them. I-" Father was about to interrupt, but mother held him down to allow Sayumi to continue. "I get a very warm feeling when I'm with them. Koukai-nii lives on in them. I'm no longer afraid that I'll forget him."
"Sayu-chan." Mother embraced the standing girl. "I guess I didn't have to worry about my beautiful daughter. You're just like Kou-kun. A fighter."
"Kaa-chan..." Sayumi hugged back tightly. It had been a very long time since she felt so close with her mother. This must be the feeling she long forgot. A mother's love. At that moment, an unexpected person invaded Sayumi's thoughts.
Is this the feeling you forgot too, Seijuurou?
"Sayumi." Father gave his daughter a long hug too. He was just as proud of his daughter. After the emotional part was done and over with, the mood lightened.
"I have to go to the bathroom for a minute. I drank a lot of water to prepare for this. Be right back." Sayumi excused herself embarrassingly.
...
After a few minutes, the girl came back out and rejoined the living room conversation. Father looked at mother who nodded and motioned for the girl to take her seat again in which she did.
"Sayumi. Your mother and I have been thinking. We know we both travel a lot because of our work. So we understand that we won't both always be here to watch you. Not that you really need us considering that you were living away from us so long. But what we want to say is, we will support you in your decision to live wherever."
Sayumi stared at her father. "Are you saying I can go back?"
"Sayu-chan. Do you miss Japan?" mother asked lovingly.
"Yeah. A lot actually."
Both parents looked at each other and nodded. Mother went and gave her daughter a hug.
"Sayu-chan. If you really want to return, we won't stop you."
"Kaa-chan...Tou-chan. Are you two serious?" Sayumi couldn't believe what she was hearing herself. This was too good to be true.
"Only if you want to go back. If not, we would like very much for you to stay here with us."
Sayumi looked at her parents. It was obvious that they would miss her since they literally just reunited, but she couldn't help but burn with the desire to return. To return to them.
"Can I really go back?" Sayumi asked sincerely.
"As long as you're happy there."
"I'm happy there." Sayumi answered quickly. Perhaps a little too quickly. "I love it here too, but I'm used to over there. That's where my friends are and all." The girl smiled to ease up the unintentional offense.
"Then you may go back to Japan," father said a little unwillingly.
"I love you two!" Sayumi threw her arms around both her caring parents. They really knew what she wanted.
"Under a few conditions."
Sayumi released them and looked at her father who was clearing his throat.
"Kineno Sayumi. You may return to Japan only if you follow the condition that you visit at least twice a year."
"Tou-chan. Airplane tickets are expensive. I only work part-time."
"We'll cover those fees. So make sure you come back and visit more. Don't overwork yourself either."
"Kaa-chan. That's too much. I can't-"
"Sayumi. This time we are permitting you to stay in Japan. Your rental fees and living expenses, we'll start taking care of them again. So eat a little better and have a little more fun."
"Tou-chan. Kaa-chan. Why are you two so awesome?" Sayumi threw herself into another group hug. "Wait. I have something for the both of you." Sayumi ran up to her room, rummaged through a few drawers and dug out a box and rushed back downstairs.
"I want you two to have it."
The two adults looked at each other and stared at the box curiously before slowly removing the cover. Lying inside the box, was the familiar white and blue Rakuzan Jersey Four.
"Dear..."
"How'd you get this?"
The couple was shocked to see this. They knew Koukai's jersey was gone, so it definitely wasn't his.
"It's a present from my friend." Sayumi smiled at the boy who took the effort to specially send it to her.
"Girl or boy?"
"Why?"
"Sayumi. We have a second condition you must fulfill before leaving."
Sayumi looked at her dad curiously. "What?"
"You must tell us all about your time in Japan. You mustn't leave out any details. Most importantly, tell us everything about the boys you hang out with. What time? How many? Who are they? Where'd you meet them? Are they good or bad at school? At home?"
"Tou-chan..."
"Do you want to return to Japan or not?" Father was determined to get answers.
"Well. Where should I start?" Sayumi looked at the two curious adults and at the clock. She had plenty of time to explain and so she began with her little unintended stroll to the park that started everything.
...
"Sayu-chan! The Kise Ryouta? He is so adorable!" Mother pulled out a magazine from her favorite pile and pointed at the handsome blonde model. "He is so popular right now. You play basketball with HIM?"
"Yeah." Sayumi pushed a strand of hair back behind her ear. "Every night..."
"No wonder you want to go back already. Sayu-chan. I guess I've underestimated you." Mother laughed like she won a jackpot.
"Kaa-chan. We're only friends. He sees me like a little brother." Sayumi tried explaining.
"What's so good about that Kise anyway. I prefer the shogi one. What's his name again?"
"Akashi Seijuurou. He was the one who gave us the jersey," Sayumi reminded.
"Akashi, huh? He's a Rakuzan student? He's a pretty good choice too Sayu-chan. Is he as handsome as Kise?"
"Kaa-chan. We're only friends."
"Sayumi. There was also one from America you say?"
"Kagami. He's really good."
"Oh. That's nice that you met someone else from America."
"I know. He's really nice and funny too. A little hotheaded sometimes though."
"Sounds a little like Koukai. Has potential," mother evaluated.
"He's on the same team as Kuroko. Seirin. Their basketball team was only founded recently, but they're making quite a reputation. They have potential. I agree."
"Oh oh. I like that Kuro-?"
"Kuroko."
"Yeah. That's the boy who got back the basketball for you right?" Father remembered the boy.
"And the one who saved me twice earlier."
"Who's that terrible guy who destroyed Koukai's basketball? He's not giving you any trouble right?" father asked next.
"The gangster? No. That was a onetime deal." Sayumi brushed the thought away. She secretly hid some of the details of that incident to avoid further questions.
"No. I meant the boy who lost your basketball. Aho-something."
"Kaa-chan. That's mean. It's Aomine, first of all. And he's not a bad guy at all. He's actually very kind..." Sayumi smiled when she recalled the night when he took her home.
"Still. If he didn't leave the ball, then there wouldn't be a mes-"
"Tou-chan. Because of him, I got to meet everyone else," Sayumi defended. "I have to thank him for that."
"Sayumi. I still like Akashi better."
"No Tou-san. Aomine isn't bad. Look at how much your daughter likes him already. But Sayu-chan. I'd go with Kise."
"They only see me as a little brother. Not even a sister. I'm serious. We play together as friends."
"No. Didn't one of the boys come only for you?" mother challenged.
"Murasakibara? He only comes since I treat him to free dessert when he drops by my work place."
"Sayumi. Why are you holding a cat?" Father pointed curiously to the kitty in the kimono.
"Oh. This? Someone gave this to me at the airport." Sayumi lifted the kitty proudly. "It's a lucky item." The embarrassed girl blushed at the thought of the boy who gave her the toy.
"Do you know that person?" Mother looked at her daughter anxiously. "I raised you better than to talk to strangers much less accept presents from them."
"No. I met him before," Sayumi justified.
"Him?" Father looked at his daughter seriously. "Young lady. We need to have a little talk." Sayumi looked a little strangely at her father.
"Tou-chan. It's not what you think." Sayumi looked at her mother for support, but she wasn't getting any.
"I understand that you're getting to the age when most of your friends are getting boyfriends." Father cleared his throat which cut off Sayumi from reminding her father that he is mistaken. "But you don't have to rush this."
"I'm not..."
"Sayu-chan. I agree with your father. One at a time."
"What are you two thinking?"
"Go with Kise. I feel it's safer." Mother nodded her head. "Bring him over here sometime. We would love to meet him."
"No. Don't bring that Kise boy. I'm good with either Akashi or Kagami."
"Do you have a thing for redheads, Tou-chan?"
"What?"
"Never mind." Sayumi sighed. Her parents really weren't listening to her. She was explaining one thing while they formed their own ideas.
"Do you want to go back to Japan?"
"Yes."
"Then tell us who you like first."
"They see me as a brother. Please don't ask."
"But who do you like most?"
"I don't know."
"Who do you want to see first when you get back?"
"A-" Sayumi stopped and looked at her parents who were trying to guess the name.
"Aomine-kun?" mother asked slyly. Sayumi winced at the situation she tangled herself in.
"Why are you two even asking?" Sayumi put her hands to her face.
"Darling. All of them seem like great boys. You can choose whichever one you like." Mother patted her daughter's head. "They all seem to play a big role in our little daughter's life."
"Kaa-chan." Sayumi smiled sweetly at her mother. "Thank you. But they only see me as a brothe-"
"Sayumi. I know you have other important boys in your life now, but I-"
"Tou-chan. You and Koukai-nii are the only boys in my life. And that's the end of this weird discussion." Sayumi ran upstairs to hide her red face from her parents.
"For now." Father obviously looked a little depressed.
"Anata. Daijoubu." Mother comforted. She was overwhelmingly thrilled that her daughter met so many people whom she trust and cared about.
...
The next morning, the three members of the family had a morning conference right after breakfast. It was decided that Sayumi would stay the rest of the week before returning to Japan.
...
"Kaa-chan. Tou-chan. Thank you so much for everything." Sayumi gave both her parents a bear hug.
"Sayumi. I want you to have this." A new and unbroken cell phone sat on father's outreached hand. "I know your last phone can't be fixed, so start using this one to call home more often."
Sayumi smiled and took it gratefully.
"Sayu-chan. Call when you need us or want to say hi."
"I know. I'll call you when I arrive." Sayumi waved and went inside the airport.
...
After passing on the customs and security checks, Sayumi found herself sitting in the resting area, waiting for her flight. She opened the zipper of her black backpack and slid out her new phone. She examined it all around. In it, there were two contacts already established, one being dad and the other mom.
I don't remember any of their numbers. Kaa-chan was upset that I didn't memorize Kise's. I have no idea how to contact them again since they're too busy to play basketball anymore.
Sayumi's thoughts were once again interrupted by the boarding call. Again, she looked out the window next to her seat and stared out as the plane flew up to the sky.
Did they even notice I was gone? Maybe not. Should I contact them? Maybe not... They may still be busy. I don't want to bother them.
Half way during the flight, Sayumi was one of the few who were still awake. She was tired, but couldn't bring herself to sleep. Father and mother's words kept on running through her head.
Who do I want to see the most?
Sayumi closed her eyes and pictured all the boys from the order she met all of them.
Aomine. Murasakibara. Kise. Kuroko. Kagami. Seijuurou. Ah. I'm so informal thanks to hearing uncle call him like that. I hope he doesn't mind. And lastly Midorima. I actually want to see all of them so much. But who did I miss the most. That's obvious. I've got to say it's -"