Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Prince of Tennis!
...
...
Hari: Do you think Dumbledore suspects?
Hermione: Maybe. I haven't talked to him. He hasn't been at the Great Hall for meals a lot lately.
Hari: Maybe busy with the Ministry?
Hermione: Probably. He is the head of the International Confederation of Wizards.
Hari: You think they are involved?
Hermione: I wouldn't be surprised if they were. Especially with the second article that Dillon published yesterday about the Ministry and Fudge. I was even surprised by some of the information she found about them.
Hari: Hm… Me too… I wonder if it's true.
Hermione: You mean about Fudge and Malfoy?
Hari: Yes.
Hermione: I wouldn't be surprised if it were. We know what kind of person Malfoy is.
Hari: True. This is complicated.
Hermione: I know.
Hari: So… how is Ron?
Hermione: He's good. He's been hanging out with Seamus and Dean lately.
Hari: Letting you be on your own?
Hermione: It's fine.
Hari: Are you okay?
Hermione: I'm fine. You haven't talked with Ron?
Hari: No… I haven't. I thought he would write too, but it's just you. Not that you are just… I mean…
Hermione: I know what you mean, Hari. I thought he would have written too… Sorry.
Hari: It's fine. I'm just glad you still write.
Hermione: Of course, Hari. I will keep writing.
Hari was frowning when she closed her journal and leaned back in her chair. Hedwig shuffled on her perch and Hari looked over at her beautiful snow owl. She lifted her arm slightly and Hedwig flew over and landed on her arm.
"Hey, girl," Hari said quietly. "I don't know what to think…"
It had been a week since the first article had been published and a second article had been published the day before. It was a hard-hitting article that really created a lot of fuss.
Fudge – the Minister of Magic or Malfoy's puppet?
Hari had first thought that it didn't have anything to do with Sirius but as she read, she realised that it had but that it was a problem that involved far more than just Sirius.
...
In my latest article I raised questions about Sirius Black and whether he really is guilty of the crimes he has been accused of. The response to this has been overwhelming and a lot of people have been demanding answers from Minister Fudge.
"Stop asking! He's guilty! Just because a little girl says differently isn't enough to doubt the word of grown wizards! If not for Potter's involvement we would have caught the criminal!"
This quote is taken from Minister Fudge as he left the ministry earlier this week. He looked flustered and impatient. Just the mention of Hari Potter's name was enough to make the Minister glare and swear.
Notice how quick our Minister of Magic is to blame a 14-year-old girl? How are we supposed to trust a grown man, our Minister of Magic, when he can't take a couple of minutes to answer a few questions? When he would rather blame a girl who was just 13 years old at the time Black escaped from their custody?
As a Minister he should expect questions about his job and lack of result of his Aurors. They aren't closer to capture Sirius Black than the day he escaped. New information says they never really did their job in the first place and never investigated as they should.
Of course, we will ask our Minister of Magic to answer for this.
His response has been lacking.
I touched upon this in my last article as well, but I want to bring it up again now. It wasn't Headmaster Dumbledore who suspended Hari Potter from Hogwarts. It was Fudge. He put the blame on Sirius Black's escape from capture on a 13-year-old girl and suspended her from school. He hid behind Hari Potter, the Girl-Who-Lived, and avoided taking responsibility for his failures.
And this man is who we call our Minister of Magic.
We can also question what was done to protect Hari Potter from Sirius Black when he first escaped. What did our Minister do to protect a young girl from an alleged mass-murderer? Not enough since he did get close to her and no one came to her rescue.
Yes, he placed Dementors around the school. Dementors, who never care about guilt and innocence, was placed around a school filled with children. Dementors who got into the grounds during a Quidditch match and almost kissed Hari Potter. Where was the safety in that?
Yet, he blames Hari Potter for Sirius Black's escape. Shouldn't he be more relieved she's alive instead of blaming her for the escape of a mass-murderer? Or is he hiding the truth from us? Is he aware that Sirius Black is innocence and doesn't want us to know? Is this his way of keeping Hari Potter from talking about what she knows? She's vanished and no one knows where she is. And can we blame her? I certainly can't.
Also notice that Minister Fudge never had any evidence to back up his claims of Hari Potter helping Sirius Black escaping either. Black was caught in the grounds, passed out under the pressure of the Dementors (who once again had entered the grounds), along with Hari Potter and her best friend Hermione Granger who had been close by and also passed out because of the Dementors. Black was put in an empty classroom while the two students were brought to the hospital wing. Minister Fudge then decided that Sirius Black should be given the Kiss then and sent for a Dementor. He didn't bother talking with anyone before he ordered this, he wasn't interested in hearing what the witnesses had to say. Dismissing them because they were children.
He had the word of Professor Severus Snape, but the truth is: Professor Snape was unconscious for most of the time spent in Black's presence and arrived late so he didn't hear everything or saw everything that had gone on between Sirius Black and Hari Potter and her friends. So, he wasn't the most reliable witness and there's the history of hate between them that also clouds his judgment on the matter.
Yet, Minister Fudge was determined to have Sirius Black Kissed before talking with anyone. He had Black under control. He should, by law, have brought him in and had him face a trial and then put back in Azkaban (if that was what the trial decided).
Back to how Minister Fudge blamed Hari Potter for Black's escape.
Hari Potter and her friends were brought to the hospital wing because of their meeting with the Dementors (see information about this in my last article) and were there while Black found a way to escape. So, how could it be Hari Potters fault that he escaped?
It was Fudge who failed to place someone to watch Black. He was the one with the responsibility, so why hasn't he answered for this?
If Sirius Black truly is innocent, as the new information will have us to believe, is it necessarily a bad thing that he escaped? If the alternative was the Dementor's Kiss?
This is the justice we all can expect from the Ministry Fudge is leading. To be thrown in Azkaban without a proper trial, almost kissed by a Dementor when caught and without the proper trial to decide that a Dementor should be used. Think about that. Do you want to meet this faith yourself, or for your brother, sister, daughter, son or friend?
More digging into Fudge shows a close relationship with Lucius Malfoy. Malfoy is a known Death Eater who claimed to have been under the imperious curse and forced to do You-Know-Who's bidding. If this is true or not doesn't really matter in this article, because he is known for his belief of purebloods and blood purity. He looks down on anyone who's not a pureblood and even those purebloods who has pro-muggle leanings.
Fudge is often seen together with Malfoy and often supports the cases Malfoy presents at the Wizengamot. There are rumours about gold being transferred between the two parties and too often has Malfoy suddenly found himself out of trouble.
Is there a connection here? Who knows? I couldn't find any definite proof of this, but the amount of times Fudge has come to Malfoy's rescue is telling. I have listed the incidents below and will let you make up your own minds.
...
The article had been long and gone into even more details, but she couldn't understand why someone like Fudge had become the Minister of Magic. Dillon had also brought up cases where he had used his position to promote himself and those close to him.
It was a lot.
She knew the Dumbledore hadn't been the one to suspend her, but it didn't really help. She knew that Dumbledore could have fought more against it. He should have fought more against it.
Hari felt let down by the man who was supposed to care about her. He had let her believe that she mattered to him, but he let her be sent back to the Dursley's months early knowing that they wouldn't like it. And of course, there was the whole keeping Ryoma from her as well.
She sighed as she kept stroking Hedwig's feathers. It was relaxing.
And Ron… she frowned. She thought that they had made up before they left, but he hadn't written to her once. Why didn't he? She felt hurt because it was like she suddenly didn't matter to him. But he had found her with his brothers and Hermione… so he had to care, right?
But why didn't he write?
And leaving Hermione on her own? That didn't sit right with Hari either because she knew how Hermione could isolate herself in her books. She needed someone to pull her out of the books once and a while and see the real world too.
...
Hari was on her way to meet Ryoma and Momoshiro at the street court when she saw Kawamura sitting on a bench by himself. She paused and watched him for a moment. He looked sad and so different from how he normally looked.
She had noticed that he had seemed distracted lately and had been missing from practice a few times. Oishi just said he had something to figure out and Hari never wanted to push she hadn't asked Kawamura about it.
Now, though… she wasn't sure she wanted to or could ignore the lost look on his face. He was always so cheerful and happy so the sadness and lost expression on his face looked so out of place. She realised that he must have his own issues too.
Making a decision she walked over to him and sat down beside him.
"Hey," Hari said.
"Hari-chan," Kawamura said. "Sorry… I didn't see you."
"That's fine," Hari said. "Are…are you okay?"
"I'm fine;" he forced a smile.
"You sure? You looked sad," Hari said uncertainly.
He smiled a little.
"I was just thinking," he said.
"Want to talk about it?" Hari offered. "You're always been there for me when I needed it, so if you want to talk, I'm here."
He looked at her for a moment.
"You're my friend, Hari-chan," he said.
"Yes, and you're mine," Hari said. "So, talk?"
He chuckled.
"Well, I was thinking about quitting tennis," Kawamura said.
Hari stilled. What? That wasn't what she had expected.
"Why?" she asked before she could stop herself.
"I need to help my dad with the restaurant," Kawamura said looking straight ahead with a faraway look in his eyes. "He broke his arm recently and he needs more help… he hired a man to help him because I'm not good enough. I can't keep splitting my time between learning to make sushi and tennis."
Hari watched him and saw the emotions playing on his face. She wanted to tell him to keep playing tennis, but she knew she shouldn't do that.
"I see," Hari said. "I understand."
He looked at her. "You do?"
"If Otou-chan or Okaa-chan needed me I would quit tennis too," Hari said. She owed them more than anyone and they were more important than tennis so even if she would miss it, she would do it for them. "But… are you sure that your dad would want you to do that? You love tennis, don't you?"
"I do," Kawamura agreed. "I just… I have to help my dad."
Hari nodded, "well if you feel that way then you know what to do. I don't want you to quit, but I will support you. Just… remember that you can come back? We're here if you need us, senpai."
Kawamura smiled gratefully at her.
...
Hari felt a little worried as she waved goodbye to Kawamura and watched as he walked back toward his family restaurant. In a way she couldn't really understand what dilemma he was in; she hadn't had something like that in her life before. She knew he was committed to the sushi place and that it meant a lot to him. He wanted to make his father proud, and she could understand that. She wanted to make Nanjiro and Rinko proud too. That was why she had pushed herself with tennis at first because she thought she needed to in order to belong.
She had been wrong. She belonged even without it and she still struggled a little to really understand that and feel like she did. It was a work in progress, she guessed. But the point was that she could understand how Kawamura felt obligated and pulled to prove himself as a sushi chef. She wished she could tell him that he already was helping his dad and that he always would belong there, but she knew he needed to realise that on his own.
But should she have given him a hint?
She frowned.
Maybe she had said the wrong things… what if he truly gave up tennis? Well, she would support him either way. She just wished that he wouldn't give it up. Not yet.
"You're late," Momoshiro accused and Hari realised that she had arrived at the street court.
"Sorry," Hari said. "Got distracted."
"You got lost," Fuji smiled.
Hari blinked as she realised that the rest of the team was there too (minus Kawamura obviously).
"We all wanted to play today," Kikumaru beamed skipping over to her and threw his arms around her like he normally did.
"Good," Hari said pulling back.
"Kawamura-senpai didn't respond to our text," Ryoma said.
"He's busy with the restaurant," Hari said. "I met him on the way. He was on his way to the restaurant then."
"Oh," Kikumaru said.
"He's been avoiding us lately, hasn't he?" Momoshiro looked at them all.
"He'll work it out," Hari said. "So, let's play."
Fuji gave her a look before he nodded.
"Let's play," he agreed. "Hari-chan and I will play on the same team. A doubles match, yeah?"
Hari smiled, "sounds fun. Who wants to challenge us?"
She grinned as she looked at them all and walked over to stand beside Fuji.
"What? No takers?" she wondered. "Are you scared?"
Fuji smirked next to her amused at her challenge.
"As if," Momoshiro scoffed. "Kaido!"
"What?" Kaido huffed. "Fine."
"Okay, let's do this," Hari said. "The winner gets free food!"
"Alright," Momoshiro said while Kaido glared at him but nodded.
"Great," Fuji said.
Hari pulled out her racket and moved to the right side of the court where Fuji was already waiting. She loved playing like this. It was fun.
...
Ryoma watched as his sister played together with Fuji and laughed and had fun. She was almost like normal, but he knew she still had things on her mind. Them. He hated thinking about it, hated that she was still dealing with the life she had left behind when she came her. Why couldn't they just let her go?
"She is happy again," Kikumaru said. "She's been a little off since we got back from Germany."
"I hope she's okay," Oishi said concerned.
"She's fine," Ryoma said but he was pleased they cared. He hoped Hari saw it too, and he thought she did, but she always questioned things like this. He wondered if that doubt still was there deep down or if she had realised the truth.
"Good," Inui said. "This is giving me so much data… Hari-chan and Fuji is a great pair."
Ryoma glanced at Inui and saw him scribbling in his book never taking his eyes off the game. This must be perfect for him. Annoying data-tennis…
"I see you have fun," someone said and Ryoma turned to see Seiichi coming up behind them.
"Yukimura," Ryoma said. "Hari didn't say you were coming."
"She didn't know," Seiichi shrugged. "I had an appointment with the doctors here and decided to surprise her."
"I see," Ryoma said.
Seiichi turned his attention to the court and watched as Hari played with Fuji and hid a frown as he saw how well they worked together. She seemed so relaxed and comfortable as she served a ball over the net and Fuji followed up when Kaido returned the ball.
"Hey," Oishi said. "It's nice to see you, Yukimura-san."
"You too, Oishi-san," Seiichi said politely. "I hear you had a good time in Germany."
"It was fun!" Kikumaru beamed. "Did Hari-chan tell you?"
"Yes," Seiichi said. "She said you all had fun."
"She got lost again, though," Inui said.
"Sounds like her," Seiichi laughed.
Hari high-fived Fuji when their win was secure and grinned as she looked over at Momoshiro and Kaido who both looked a little sour but smiled when they met her eyes.
"Well, we will buy you food," Momoshiro sighed. "One day I will win."
"Sure," Hari grinned.
"We'll give you another chance later," Fuji said with a smirk.
Hari laughed when she saw the looks on Momoshiro and Kaido's faces and turned to walk off the court but paused and blinked when she saw Seiichi standing there. He smiled at her, but she had a feeling that he had just been frowning.
"Sei-chan!" Hari said a smile stretched on her lips as she ran over to him and stopped right in front of him. "I didn't know you were coming!"
"I know," Seiichi smiled and reached out to push a loose strand of hair out of her face letting his hand linger a little longer than normal before pulling back. "I wanted to surprise you. You said you were going to meet your brother and Momoshiro here today, so I decided to come and see if you still were here."
"Great!" Hari said. "Turns out most of the team wanted to come today too."
"I see that," Seiichi said glancing behind her and again had that unreadable look in his eyes.
"Yukimura," Fuji nodded.
"Fuji," Seiichi said.
Hari glanced between them but shrugged even if she wondered what Seiichi was thinking. She hoped he wasn't jealous again.
Hari took his hand and pulled him with her to a bench and sat down. He sat beside her and noticed that the others had turned to arrange another match. He looked at her and found her smiling at him.
"You didn't say you were coming," she said again.
"I had an appointment with my doctor," Seiichi said.
"How did it go?" Hari asked a little concerned.
Seiichi smiled and Hari looked at him curiously.
"Well…" He said.
"What?" Hari frowned.
"He said I could start training again," Seiichi said.
Hari blinked and blinked again before she grinned widely and threw her arms around him laughing as she hugged him tightly. She felt him hugging her back and chuckle a little.
"That's great!" Hari said when she pulled back.
"It is," Seiichi said. "I can't really believe they finally said I could train again."
"You have been very patient," Hari said. "I don't know if I could have done it."
"Of course you could," Seiichi said. "Soon I can play you too."
"That's right," Hari said eagerly. "Can't wait."
...
Ryoma looked over and saw his sister hugging Seiichi looking happy and he wondered what had caused it. A part of him wanted to go and pull her away from him, but he ignored it. He wasn't the overprotective brother. At least he told himself that.
"Wonder what caused that," Kikumaru said with a small frown. "He better not hurt her."
"Eiji," Oishi sighed.
"What? I don't want to see her hurt," Kikumaru said.
"He seems to care about her," Fuji smiled. "Now, let's focus on ourselves. Who wants to play next?"
"I want to," Ryoma unsurprisingly said.
"I'll challenge you," Inui said.
Ryoma grimaced and grumbled but nodded. He guessed he should get used to playing against someone like Inui too… even if it was annoying.
Fuji laughed seeing the look on Ryoma's face. He knew what Ryoma thought about data-tennis, well everyone knew that, so this should be amusing.
"Oh, I see Inui-senpai managed to get Ryo-chan to play him," Hari said and Fuji glanced over at her and saw her and Seiichi coming up beside them hand in hand.
"Yes," Fuji smiled. "He didn't seem too happy about it."
"No, I would think not," Hari snorted. "Ryo-chan doesn't like data-tennis."
"It is annoying," Seiichi agreed. "Yanagi is the same."
Hari nodded.
They watched as Ryoma struggled to counter Inui who seemed to know what Ryoma would do before he did it.
"So," Fuji said. "You're coming to see Hari-chan pretty often."
Seiichi glanced over at Fuji and met his clear blue eyes. For once he hadn't his eyes closed.
"I try," Seiichi said.
"Good," Fuji said. "She misses you when you're not here."
Seiichi blinked and looked at Fuji. He hadn't expected him to say something like that.
"I miss her too," Seiichi said when he found his voice again.
"Good," Fuji said.
Seiichi observed Fuji as he turned his attention to the match again. Hari had been pulled over to talk with Kikumaru and had an amused look on her face.
"Do…do you like her?" Seiichi asked before he could stop himself. He fisted his hands as he waited for Fuji to answer.
Fuji turned to look at him.
"Like her?" Fuji repeated. "Of course, I do, but probably not like you mean."
Seiichi could feel the tension in his shoulders relax slightly.
"I guess you could say that she's become one of my best friends," Fuji said.
"Oh," Seiichi said.
Fuji looked back at the match.
"I care about her," Fuji said. "But I don't like her like her like that."
Seiichi felt both stupid and relieved. He had been worried thinking that Fuji and Hari were close and he was right there. What if Hari didn't want to be with someone who lived in another city?
"You should believe in her more," Fuji said.
"Eh?" Seiichi said.
"She likes you," Fuji said not looking at him. "You should have a little more faith in her."
"It's not that," Seiichi protested. "I know she likes me."
"Good," Fuji said.
"What are you talking about?" Hari asked coming back over to them.
"Just talking," Fuji smiled his eyes closed again.
"Sure," Hari eyed him suspiciously.
"We are just talking," Seiichi said and smiled when Hari took his hand.
"Fine," she said. "I'll let you keep your secrets."
Fuji laughed.
...
"Thanks for coming today," Hari said when Seiichi walked her home.
"You don't have to thank me for that," Seiichi said.
"Well, I am happy you came anyway," Hari said.
"Me too," Seiichi said. "Hana-chan says hey by the way."
Hari smiled.
"She has been talking about Peter Pan all week," Seiichi continued. "Okaa-san even started to read the book for her."
"Glad she liked the story," Hari said.
He turned to her and she blinked as she looked back up at him.
"Okaa-san asked if you wanted to come and stay for a weekend," Seiichi said.
"Oh, when?" Hari asked.
"Would you want to?" Seiichi asked surprised.
"Yes, but I would have to ask Otou-chan and Okaa-chan," Hari said. "I don't know what they would say."
"Of course," Seiichi nodded. "And Okaa-san talked about next weekend because it's her birthday then and she wanted to have a family party but would like it if you'd come as well."
"Me?" Hari blinked. "But…"
"I would like it too," Seiichi admitted.
Hari wondered if she would be in the way.
"If you're sure," Hari said. "I don't want to intrude…"
"Hey," Seiichi said gently reaching up to cup her face between his hands. "We want you to come, okay? It's not intruding… My parents want to get to know you. I understand if you feel like it's too much and too soon…"
"No," Hari said. "It's not that. I would like to come but as I said, I have to ask."
"Good," Seiichi said and leaned in and kissed her.
...
"Do you think I could go flying somewhere?" Hari asked.
Kasuya looked over at her from where he had been reading through one of her papers for transfiguration.
"You like flying?" he asked.
"Yes," Hari said.
"Thought you didn't like anything about the magical world," Kasuya said.
"Well, most of it," Hari frowned. "But I always liked flying. I kind of miss it."
"You played Quidditch?" he wondered.
"Made the team my first year," Hari said not looking at him.
"That's impressive," Kasuya said.
"Not really," Hari scoffed.
"What do you mean?" Kasuya asked.
"I was placed on the team because of my dad not because of me," Hari said.
"I don't understand," Kasuya said.
"My dad was a great Quidditch player and Professor McGonagall remembered that," Hari said. "She saw me flying for the first time and I guess it was one of the few things that came naturally for me and I managed to save a small object from crashing to the ground when Malfoy threw it. She made me a seeker without asking if I wanted to be one or if I even knew what it was."
Hari remembered the whispers that followed her after that. It hadn't been fun.
"Hm," Kasuya said. "I see."
"Well, I did like Quidditch," Hari said. "It was fun and all, but I really enjoyed the free feeling I got when I was flying."
"I suppose I could take you somewhere to fly if you want," Kasuya said after a pause. "You have earned that, I guess."
She blinked.
"This is a good paper," Kasuya said. "You're finally grasping this and it's ready to be submitted."
"Oh… good," Hari said.
He smiled a little and Hari wondered if she'd really seen him smile before. He always seemed so serious and stern for an 18-year-old.
...
"Grab my arm," he said, and she blinked.
"Why?" she asked. She had her firebolt in one hand having been told to find her broom. He had arched a brow when he saw it but hadn't commented on it.
"I'll apparate us to where we need to go," he said. "Come on."
Hari looked at him for a moment before she reached out and did as he asked. He gave her a look before turning on the spot and the next thing Hari knew everything went black and it was like something was pressuring her from all sides. It was hard to breathe but then suddenly it stopped, and she could breathe again. She felt dizzy and felt like she was about to be sick.
She let go of his arm and grimaced forcing the bile back.
"You didn't get sick," Kasuya said. "Good."
She glared at him.
"What? Most people are the first time they apparate," Kasuya said.
Hari rolled her eyes but didn't say anything. She looked around but didn't know where she was. Obviously.
"So… where are we?" she asked.
She saw a large house on a hill, and it reminded her of a nicer version of the burrow.
"My home," Kasuya said. "Don't worry, no one is home."
She frowned at him. "But what if…"
"My sisters are at school," he said.
"Okay," Hari said. "Where're your parents?"
He was silent for a moment before he shrugged, and she frowned slightly when it was clear that he wasn't going to answer.
"So… let's find my broom and then we can go flying," Kasuya said and Hari nodded.
She followed to a small shed and saw the broom there. It was a nimbus 2001.
"Did you play Quidditch at school?" Hari asked.
"Yes," he said glancing over at her. "I played chaser. Now, this way…"
He led the way to a field, and she saw the homemade goalposts there and wondered if he spent a lot of time out here.
"My sister wants to be a professional Quidditch player," Kasuya said probably noticing her curious look.
"Oh," she said.
She shook of the thoughts and got on her broom and for the first time in months shot up in the air and felt free. She laughed as she zoomed to one side before turning and flying in the other direction.
...
Kasuya watched Hari fly wondering why he had brought her here. He could have just told her that he didn't know where she could go flying or brought her somewhere else. He didn't have to bring her to his home.
He wasn't sure what he thought about the Girl-Who-Lived. He had been told to help and asked not to tell anyone he was helping her or that she was here, and he hadn't. He didn't really care, and he had enough on his plate than to spend time worrying over her.
Yet… he saw her trying hard and doing her best despite obviously not wanting to. He knew that if she just put a little more effort into her magical studies, she could do great. She showed the potential and while he had taken a little time to see it, he did now.
Watching her fly was something else, though. Not even his sister moved like that while in the air. It was like she was one with the broom, it listened to her every whim and she dived down toward the ground before pulling back up right before she would have crashed.
He could see why she had been put on the Quidditch team.
"Are you coming or not?" Hari asked hovering in the air above him. Her face was flushed, and her eyes had a shine to them he hadn't seen before. She looked happy.
"I'm coming," he said and jumped on his broom and followed her around the field hearing her laughing as she sped up.
It was freeing, he thought. This flying around just for fun…
"You're a good flyer," he commented when she paused beside him and just hovered in the air.
"Thanks," she said and frowned a little. He remembered what she had said about her dad.
"I doubt it was just because of your dad that you were put on the team," he commented.
She glanced at him.
"Maybe," she said. "That's what everyone thought, though. That I used it to get on the team ignoring the rules…"
"You care about what they think?" he asked.
Hari was quiet for a moment and he looked at her. He could tell she was thinking about his question.
"I did when I was 11," she finally said. "I thought I had found somewhere I belonged, and it hurt to hear what they said especially when I never even knew that my dad played Quidditch until after I was on the team."
She stopped and frowned suddenly. He was surprised to hear what she said. She hadn't known that about her own dad…
"Sorry," she said not looking at him. "I don't know why I told you that… didn't mean to bore you with something like that."
"It's fine," he said. "I asked."
She shrugged but he knew she was done talking. She flew back to the ground and jumped off the broom. He followed in a slower pace.
"My parents died," he said when he landed, and she blinked as she turned to look at him. "Last year."
"I'm sorry," she said.
"Thanks," Kasuya said. "I am trying to take care of my younger sisters, but it is hard."
"That's why you agreed to tutor me?" Hari asked.
"Yes, it is extra money," he admitted. "I need it to keep them in school."
"How many sisters do you have?" Hari asked.
"Four," Kasuya said. "Age 11 to 16."
"Sounds rough," Hari said quietly.
He shrugged not sure why he had told her, but he guessed it was because of what she had told him. He felt like she could understand in a way his friends couldn't.
"It is," he admitted.
She looked at him and he wondered if she would ask questions, but she didn't, and he liked that. He wasn't sure he wanted to say anything else.
"I should get you back," he said breaking the eye contact.
"Okay," she said. "Um, Kasuya-san… thank you for today. It was just what I needed."
He nodded.
"And I'll try to do my best with the studies, too," Hari said. "I do appreciate you taking time to help me."
"As I said, I need the extra money," he said a little gruffly.
"Still…thank you," Hari said.
"You're welcome," he finally said.
...
Hari saw Kawamura hurry home from school the next day and frowned a little. Looked like he wasn't coming to tennis practice this day either. She hoped he wouldn't quit…
"No Kawamura today either?" Fuji commented when she joined the rest of the team on the court.
"No," Oishi said. "He said he was going to quit."
"What?"
"He can't!"
"Why would he…!"
Hari didn't say anything as the others protested the announcement and felt her stomach drop. So, he had made his decision… Well, she couldn't say she was surprised.
"You don't seem surprised," Fuji commented, and Hari looked up to see him looking at her.
"I met him when we met to play together," Hari said. "He talked about it then… He has somethings to figure out."
"Hm," Fuji said. "I see."
"We should give him time," Hari said. "Or at least not ambush him with questions. It's something he has to work out on his own."
She followed the others as Ryuzaki started the training, but she could tell that they all kept thinking about Kawamura. He wasn't the one to make the most noise or take a lot of attention during practice but he was always a silent and steady presence they all relied upon in some way and with him gone it was clear to everyone just what they were missing.
"Okay," Ryuzaki called out. "That's the end of practice. Change and get some rest."
Hari sighed but walked to the room she used to change and did so quickly.
"I'll meet you at home," Hari told Ryoma who frowned at her but nodded. She felt restless so she wanted to walk around a little and try to clear her head.
She had not heard from Sirius since the article had been out. And it worried her a little. Had he seen it? Was that why he hadn't contacted her on that mirror thing? Was he angry at her? The questions spun in his mind and not for the first time either.
"Ouch," she said as she collided with something or rather someone solid.
"Careful there, girl," a male voice said. "You should watch where you're going."
She looked up and saw a tall man with dark hair looking down at her.
"Sorry," she apologized. "I was lost in thought…"
He nodded and moved to keep walking but then Kawamura came running up the street.
"Oi!" he called.
Hari blinked when she saw the man sigh and turn to look at Kawamura.
"I told you, Takashi-kun, I can't teach you more," he said.
"I just want to help my dad!" Kawamura said. "Please teach me!"
Hari looked confused as them.
"Oh, Hari-chan," Kawamura said when he noticed her.
"Hey, Kawamura-senpai," Hari said.
"You met Gen-san?" Kawamura looked between them.
"I didn't see where I was going and walked right into him," Hari said sheepishly.
"You okay?" Kawamura asked concerned. "Did something happen at practice?"
She smiled a little at his instant concern.
"I'm fine," she said. "And you could say something happened… you quit."
"Oh," Kawamura frowned. "I…"
"I understand," Hari said. "I would probably do the same thing if I thought I could help my dad. Family is important."
She didn't notice the look she got from the man beside her.
"Fine," the man said. "I'll help you."
"You will?" Kawamura asked eagerly. "Thank you!"
Hari smiled at the eagerness on Kawamura's face.
"You want to join us, girl?" the man asked, and Hari blinked.
"Eh?"
"Come with us, Hari-chan," Kawamura smiled. "You've been learning to make sushi too."
"Only a little," Hari said. "I don't want to intrude."
"You're not," Kawamura said.
So, she ended up following them back to Kawamura's restaurant.
...
"You said you'd liked to help your dad if you could," the man, Iwakura Gen as he had been introduced, said.
"Mm," Hari said looking up from where he was showing how to cut the fish correctly. "Both of them, I suppose."
"Both?"
"I'm adopted," Hari said. "My parents died when I was a baby… I never knew them, really. I…"
"I'm sorry," Gen said gently, and Hari saw the pain in his eyes.
Kawamura looked up and Gen turned his attention back to him and directed him a little more and pulled over the rice. Hari just watched and wondered about the pain she'd seen in his eyes. It seemed familiar to her.
"But you were adopted?" Gen asked after a while.
"This year," Hari said. "I grew up with my aunt and uncle, but… it didn't work out."
He frowned.
"But I love my new family and I have parents again now and brothers," Hari said feeling the need to explain.
"But you still miss your first parents?" he asked.
"Yes," Hari said. "I do. I didn't know much about them, but I know they loved me. They died protecting me, so I feel like I have to keep going, you know? For them."
"Parents would want to protect their child," Gen said. "I'm sure they don't regret that."
She looked at him and blinked back a tear a little surprised that he saw the guilt she kept deeply hidden in her heart.
Kawamura looked at her with concern and she forced a smile.
"You look good dressed like that, senpai," Hari said changing the subject. "Like a true chef!"
"Haha," Kawamura laughed. "Thanks, Hari-chan."
Hari looked at Gen and saw the frown on his face. He seemed troubled and she had a feeling she knew what was troubling him and felt sorry for him.
"I know my parents would do anything to keep me safe," she said softly making him look at her. "Even if they had failed… I would know that they had tried and that they loved me. It's all I would ask of them. That they loved me."
She pushed off her chair.
"Thanks for showing me," she said. "I have to go now. They're waiting for me at home."
Gen nodded and Kawamura smiled as he waved.
"She's a good girl," Gen said quietly when she had left, and Kawamura nodded with a smile.
"She is," Kawamura said. "She's always doing her best and has a kind heart."
"I see," Gen said. He knew she had guessed what he hadn't told anyone here and that her last words had been meant to comfort him and, in a way,… they had. He knew his son knew he loved him. He had almost forgotten that in his pain over losing him. His son knew he was loved.
He looked over at Kawamura and saw the same eagerness on his face as his son showed when following him around back home. Always eager to learn something new, always eager to move forward and forgetting to live in the moment.
"You shouldn't be impatient," Gen said looking away from Kawamura and back at the sushi they had prepared. "You have time to learn and this… making sushi, isn't something learned over a few lessons. It's a lifetime of learning and developing. It's something that comes from within you."
Kawamura blinked and looked thoughtful.
"Tell me something," Gen said. "Do you like tennis?"
"Yes," Kawamura said instantly. "It's fun and when I hold a racket it's like I'm a different person and I can let go of everything else and just have fun and play."
"You haven't been at practices lately, have you?" Gen asked. "Hari-chan said you quit."
"Um…well, yes… but it can't be helped," Kawamura said looking away. "Right now, training to be a sushi chef is more important to me."
"It can't be helped, is that it?"
"Tennis is interesting," Kawamura said. "But… It's not like I can become a pro, and, well, I do want to continue the family sushi shop."
...
It was a few days later when Kawamura showed up at practice again and Hari smiled when she saw the happiness in the others.
"So, you're back," she said.
"Yeah," Kawamura said sheepishly. "I decided that I would enjoy tennis for the remaining time I have left in Middle School."
"Good," Hari smiled.
"Gen-san told me to say goodbye for him," Kawamura said. "He's leaving today with his wife."
"Oh? He's going back home?" Hari asked and Kawamura nodded.
"She found him and managed to talk him into coming home," he said.
"Good," Hari smiled. "That's good."
...
...
AN: What do you think? XD
Hope you liked it!
Thank you for reading! XD
