Chapter 1
[Rukawa] The train's terrible noise is upsetting! My precious slumber was disrupted again! What exactly am I doing here?! Yeah. I'll witness a practice match between Sannoh and Daiei Gakuen. Even if they are only practicing, you must purchase a ticket to watch them. That means they are not any ordinary team. They are one of the best teams in the country. I have to keep an eye on them. I'll know who my toughest basketball opponent is. I will not miss it.
I need to stand up. I was just looking at how many people were going on and off the train. It was exhausting. Don't even look at me. Don't come near me. I really do not like you. You guys are the reason I always wear a hoodie. I'll let them go first. Train rides are one of my least favorite activities. I can't help but be joined by oddos and bizarre creatures on the trip. I shivered as I remembered the several aliens on the train. Of course, I won't sit with the undesirable types: those who are waiting, blocking the way, and waiting to swap seats with other passengers, loud teenagers, people peeking at my cellphone, the perfect social media couple but turning into a real life wrestler when fighting, girls who purposefully fall and bump into me, and some ear pain who slurp, chew loudly, and burp over and over! What the hell is going on with these people?!
My eyes were on the verge of falling asleep. I could even feel my shoulders and back, which had virtually bent as I entered the train. I just walked by everyone as if they were all invisible to me. I simply walk straight. I simply ignored the arrogant possessive boyfriends who wanted to smash their girlfriends' heads so they wouldn't notice me. The VIPs at the gym who suddenly reveal their abs and flex their biceps because they don't want to be caught off guard by my charisma. Your body size doesn't matter if I'm more attractive. Youngbloods eager to trade their souls for a few borrowed seconds from me, and blushing teenagers willing to abandon their life goals if I marry one of them right. Dafuq!
Finally, after going through all the undesirable types of mortals, I came across an empty spot. It sparkles in my eyes. It has my name inscribed on it. Right. I'm terribly sleepy. This location was ideal for recharging my cells before the lengthy and boring train ride. I took further steps to avoid being overtaken by these morons. I instantly slumped against the end to sleep. I can't wait to see Sannoh vs. Daiei Gakuen. I dislike traveling, but in order to achieve my dream of becoming Japan's number one basketball player, I am willing to undergo the exhausting and inconvenient long journey in order to learn the talent of my future opponents in this sport. It's difficult for me to get up so early, travel such long distances, and keep up with the oddballs in the town, but I won't miss a game between the two top teams in the country.
[Sendoh] This is my second year living on my own. I'm 17 years old, a sophomore, and a scholar at Ryonan High. People refer to me as the alpha male. That is something I truly don't understand. Perhaps, because of my body, high self-esteem, outgoing, demanding, and generally handsome. I can have any woman I want. Well, that's what they always say about me. Am I being too defensive? Hehe. Probably because I have an amazing sense of fashion, great spiky hair, and really cool. I enjoy fishing, new trends and always looking stylish.
I always smile. I must remain cool even if Coach Taoka yells at me, Captain Ouzomi scolds me and Koshino preaches to me. They say that if you always frown and argue, you'll turn into horrible creature from children's book. Isn't it cute? What occurs in some scary fairy tales? When you behave badly or display terrible behavior to others, you become a monster, cursed to be ugly, turn into an animal, or turn into a fruit or vegetable. You'll have to wait for true love to restore your former self. What if true love never comes? That's bad news for the protagonist. I laugh at these stories now that I'm a teenager, although I used to be amazed when I read them when I was younger. Is there true love in real life? Nothing lasts forever in this day and age. But with my parents, there is forever.
I'll be leaving soon. I'll miss my mother once more. My father died when I was a child. I told my father that I would always try to please Mom. After all, no matter how far we were apart, her golden reminders rang in my ears: lock the door before leaving and before going to bed, eat nutritious food, remember to brush my teeth at night, and the latest addition to the list, bring a girlfriend when I visit her in Tokyo. I feel like my Mom is asking for a delicacy in a souvenir shop whenever I recall her words.
I met several different types of girls. They're all beautiful, but I'm not sure what's wrong or what's lacking. Perhaps the issue is with me. Let us now summarize. To describe Ms. Romatic (1) - sweet is an understatement. She reminds me of my grandma. Snow White's stepmother is most likely Ms. Metro (2), who is always checking her appearance in the mirror. Ms. Nerd (3) - I always feel like an idiot around her. She must have read all the books in the library like Belle. Sorry I'm not your Beast. Ms. Possessive (4) - She must have posed as Rapunzel's mother. Ms. Know-it-all (5) - she is always correct, says a lot, but never listens. The last one, Ms. Dirty-Minded (6) - is the most terrifying of them! Come on! A lady that seems to have appeared on an adult movie. She always stated, "I'll take you there." Wait, first I'll look up the location she's referring to on Google Maps. Hehe. I'm a man. I know you want my DNA, but I will do that thing to someone I love. I'll do it when the moment is right, at the right place, with the right person. I'm hoping my parents are proud of me. Yehey!
Every time I see Mom's expression, I chuckled whenever I fail to bring a girlfriend to our home. "How can I get a girlfriend if you are the best?" I know exactly how to get the best girl mood in my life. I'm unable to commit. I'm not even sure if true love exists. This year, Weekly Basketball Magazine named me one of the best players in the Kanagawa Region. Will anyone like me just the way I am? Relationships are not now a priority for me. I want to unwind as if there is nothing to worry about except myself, wake up every day as if no one is looking for me except my team. I appreciate the attention, but I also prefer to be alone at times. I want to relax before the start of school and Coach Taoka's nonstop, rigorous training. Above all, I want us to be able to compete in the national championships.
One of my favorite pleasures is riding the train. I like being with a huge group of people from diverse backgrounds and regions. I remained standing in the middle. As I passed, the girls blushed. Just relax, ladies. I'll wave to thrill them even more. Hehe. There are some boys winking. I'm sorry guys, let me just smile and wave to the girls. I'm going to find a place to sit in a creative way. I'll play Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, which I believe will be less stressful in the entire journey. Let's get ready!
The Family Tree (Group A) - they're the ones who stick together and travel together, like a big happy family straight out of Cocomelon - maybe next time. I wasn't born yesterday (Group B) - they just talked about their unending childhood stories, who and how many people they dated when they were younger, and their achievements. They usually like having more people listen to them and participating in their conversation - just another time. Okay, next. Busy as a Bee (Group C). their conversation is unpleasant, as it revolves around life regrets, hatred for their spouses, monthly debts, the boss's new crush, and newly hired attractive employees. Yikes!
It's time to sit next to someone who won't make me sing nursery rhymes, listen to seniors' biographies, talk at work, or chewing noises. I saw a young man leaning against the window, dressed in a black baggy hoodie, sport joggers, and basketball sneakers. As I gazed at him, he seemed to absorb all of the weariness of the passengers on the train. Looking at him, I completely understood what insomnia meant. What category should I place him in? Let us simply refer to him as the Snoring Bear. Hehe. Will he lose his cool or cause a commotion if his sleep is disturbed? If my guess is correct, he can be a real bear.
I didn't bother looking at the man next to me because his entire head was covered by a hoodie and his face was covered by a face mask. I sat back in my seat. By sitting close to the sleeping one, I had made the perfect decision. My eyes are exhausted. My eyelids are becoming droopy. Wait. Why is my shoulder so heavy? Wow! He leaned on me nicely. I'm sorry bear, but I'm not your boyfriend. Simply stay by the window. It bothers me to see you leaning on my shoulder.
[Meanwhile]
"Ugh! Why is my shoulder numb? Good lord! You're leaning on me again. I don't want conflict. Lean back in your seat, let me sleep in peace.", he annoyingly said as he decided to close his eyes again. The half-body of his seatmate slumped on his thigh a few minutes later. Unfortunately, his forehead touched his boner!
"Hey! Not on my chin-chin! You're asleep but you've been bothering me for quite some time! I will let you sleep on my shoulder because I am a handsome and decent person. You can spare me lunch later, but a simple thank you is fine with me. Okay bear, sleep well."
xxx
After a few hours on the long train ride, Rukawa's eyelids opened. He leaned his chin into the side against which he was leaning. He remained seated since his head felt warm and comfy on the headrest. He couldn't bring himself to raise his head. But he realized that he needed to depart for lunch before the game he was looking forward to seeing. He yawned again as he massaged his eyes. He took a look around. His gaze was drawn to the right. He noticed an Adams apple rising and sinking, as well as a stretched neck. He gradually lowered his gaze. He was dressed in khaki slacks and a red collared short-sleeved shirt. He sat down and leaned against the window, stunned.
"How long have I been leaning on the spikey head next to me?! Fuck!", he whispered while gritting his teeth in anger. He instantly got out of his seat. He moved the cross-body bag slowly between them so that the person next to him didn't wake up. He dashed out of the train station. He reached out and massaged the back of his neck. Even after a few hours of sleep, it is still numb. His gaze quickly drifted to where he might buy food. He waited in line at the first take-out fast food stand he spotted. He chose to eat and then walked inside the gymnasium to nap before the game began.
xxx
Sendoh awoke as well, hailed by passing standing passengers. He massaged his eyes and combed his hair softly with his hands. He turned to his left and noticed him sitting up straight and starring at him, his eyes gleaming as if he had bewitched him. "Did you happen to be my seatmate earlier?" he asked anxiously. He was afraid and nervous as he noticed the person next to him still not taking his gaze away from him.
"I'm not the one next to you, dear. He left a while ago. Aren't you going to get up?" the other guy playfully said. Sendoh let out a sigh of relief. He mistook the person he was speaking with for the one he had been leaning on his shoulder for a long time. He turned to face the man he was speaking with. His body is likewise pretty large, but he has a female voice. Unless he started chatting, you'd never guess he was gay. Except for his feminine hi-cut sneakers, the garments next to him were nearly identical in hue. He shook his head. He suspected that the man who had been watching him had other plans for him.
"Sweetie, can we get some coffee and hang out?" the other guy cutely asked. After hearing the invitation, he seemed to run out of saliva. He considered using soft words to properly reject it.
"I'm sorry, but I have a commitment right now. Bye," he replied politely. He rose from his seat. He gave the other guy a friendly grin before exiting. He exhaled a sigh. He didn't even see the person next to him earlier that he named bear.
xxx
He grinned as he walked, staring up at the sky. The weather is pleasant, the sun's rays do not burn the skin, clouds obscure the rays and there is a light breeze. He shifted his focus. It's no surprise that there are so many people on the square today.
[Sendoh] I don't understand people nowadays. They just come out, yet their eyes are still glued to their gadgets. What a waste of beautiful scenery, fresh air, and sunshine. Do they come here to take selfies and flaunt their extensive social media friend list, despite the fact that they aren't truly pals in real life? I'm sure you'll post another update on social media about your family togetherness. But when everyone returns to reality after posting a status, they are all staring at their devices and not communicating. What a bonding experience. People who are hypocritical. Well. Others are strange to me, yet there are some that I enjoy.
Aha! Here they are again! I see people like this all the time. Those who record short video clips and post them online. First, I'll adjust my hair, then check the collar and hang the bag appropriately. I'll pass in front of them as if I hadn't realized they were filming me. Then they'll include my video in a compilation of the world's most attractive men who passed by today. I don't want to wear anything pricey. My gorgeous appearance and sex appeal are enough to contribute to nature's beauty. Haha. I owe it to my parents' genes. That will undoubtedly be posted later. So, where should I go first?
[Normal] Sendoh unzipped his bag. He fiddled with his phone. He grimaced, wondering why his phone had grown in size. He took it out right away. Why does he have a second cellphone in his bag? He sat down swiftly on a concrete seat. He dug into the bag. He discovered items that were not his. It includes a black leather wallet packed with a variety of cards, key sets, and basketball game ticket. His eyes widened, and he cupped his palm over his mouth. His phone, wallet, and apartment keys are all gone! He heaved a sigh of relief as he swiftly reached inside his pocket.
It's a good thing he has some extra cash. He's confused as to how the contents of his bag were not his. He recalled. His bag was identical to the one next to him, the snoring bear. He jumped to his feet and dashed to the station. He is presently on his way to the Travel Service Center to retrieve his belongings. He will undoubtedly run into his seatmate there. He instantly returned the items to the bag and examined the wallet to determine the identify of the bag's owner. His name is Kaede Rukawa.
xxx
Rukawa raised his wrist to check the time on his watch, expecting the start of the game in a few minutes. He was sitting on a stainless bench near the booth's edge, eating a burger with a cup of coffee. He folded up the burger wrapper, arched his palm, and attempted to shoot it in the trash. Three points. Some women had been staring at him for a while; when he shot a wrapper, some leapt and shook, some salivated, and some fainted.
He only sighed. He stood up and went to the gym. He unlocked the zipper of his backpack while strolling and took out his cellphone while gazing directly ahead. He came to a halt when he realized the cellphone he was holding was not his. In frustration, he kicked the bench and garbage can while clutching his head, his brow furrowed, and he tightened his grip on the cellphone. He didn't realize he'd stuck it and broken the side of the phone. He took a look at it. It was locked.
"How did this happen?! Whoever steals my stuff, I'm going to beat you up, idiot!", he indignantly said. He took a seat on a concrete bench for a few seconds. He took a glance inside his bag. A cellphone, a wallet, a set of keys, and a fishing rod are all there. Weird. He examined the ID inside. He was puzzled as to why there was something else in his bag. He had no idea what had happened, so he dashed to the Train Service Center. He might see someone with personal items in his backpack. Outside, he appears cool, but within, his blood is close to boiling because he has to watch the game. He remembered the name of the guy who owned the stuff in his bag while running, Akira Sendoh.
"Step aside morons, I do not harm animals."he plainly stated. He was stopped by a group of four men not far from where he standing. One of them exclaimed, while the others laughed.
"You arrogant brat! The trash can you kicked landed on us!", the other guy arrogant response. Rukawa stood up straight and stared at the four men one by one, as if counting.
"The trash fell on you because they smelled their kind. I seem to have seen you somewhere.", Rukawa responded in a mocking tone.
"We're the notorious gang here in Tokyo, so it's impossible for you not to know us!" the other guy insolently answered.
"You're right, I've seen you before. A potato head and a banana-shaped face are from Minions, mushroom hair is Dora's cousin, and the last one is Shrek's brother. You are really famous." Rukawa's reply in a joking manner.
"You're so cocky! We'll turn you into pulp!" the other guy irately said. Rukawa raised his arms in defense to the potato-head's punch attack. The banana-faced crept up to his side, kicked him down, and caught his head, causing him to bend slightly. After a simultaneous strike, they both failed to knock out Rukawa. He noticed their two other companions approaching him in slow motion. Shrek's brother grabbed his clothes with the intention of punching him in the face. Rukawa was able to return the opponent's smack attempt with his fist, skillfully hitting his own face. He knocked Shrek's brother out by slamming his elbow into the soft spot above his temple.
"One, two, three, four assholes, don't you have any balls?" Rukawa said in a hushed tone. What they witnessed astounded Shrek's brother's three buddies. Rukawa straightened up. He wiped his brow with the back of his hand before going after them one by one. He blocked with his fist the blow that was about to hit his right jaw coming from the potato-head. He smacked the mushroom-haired man across the face with his right palm, breaking his nose. He used a headbutt on the banana-shaped face on his left. Another blow was forwarded in front of him, but Rukawa's foot flew under his chin, nearly lifting the potato-head. He wrapped Shrek's brother's neck in his right arm and twisted him with his left palm, making him look like a drooping tree branch.
"Gang of fucktards."Rukawa whispered. He knelt down and picked up his dropped bag. Looking around, he observed several people snapping pictures and videos of him. It's a good thing he's wearing a facemask and his hair is obscuring his vision. He's not easily identified online.
xxx
"Why has Kaede Rukawa not returned? The game he was going to watch was about to start. He will surely be late.", he softly whispered. Sendoh paced back and forth, restless. He hoped they could meet at the train station at this time. He was intrigued when he noticed the security officers gathered around the monitor. He approached them and looked at what they were looking at. At the same time, he saw four large people attack a man wearing a black hoodie. When he saw the bag slung over his shoulder, his mouth dropped open. He moved in the same direction as the security officers. He had a strong suspicion that the man a group wanted to beat on CCTV was his train seatmate. "Since they didn't use vehicles, the commotion was most likely just around the corner. He must be my seatmate! He's wearing Air Jordan! It's really him!
For a brief moment, he noticed a crowd gathered in the square. They were whispering and holding their cellphones out as if they were documenting the incident. The officer waved the onlookers away. Sendoh followed the officers' lead. The image he saw shocked him. The group of tall, big, and muscular men he had seen on the monitor earlier were now lying on the ground. Their bloodied faces were bent, trembling, and swollen. He took a look around. In the midst of the commotion, he singled out the faces in the crowd. He's already gone. One of the officers approached the battered group of men, one of whom immediately requested an ambulance from the office while the others administered first aid. Others are asking for information from those who witnessed the earlier commotion.
"He crushed those guys all by himself."
"I want to be head locked in his arms!"
"We saw the men who were blocking him, and then the two of them punched and kicked him."
"He was eating alone on the bench, and we have no idea why their group wants to beat him up."
"He's powerful and handsome, Mister officer! I want him to strangle me as well! "
The security guards were baffled when they overheard weird comments from those nearby who had seen the ruckus. No one recognized him, and no one knew where he went, but security dispatched a report to track Rukawa's whereabouts throughout the area. Sendoh hesitated about whether it was right for him to tell the officers that he knew something about the identity of the person they were looking for. But he decided not to tell them. He'll try to find him on his own. He is concerned that revealing his identity to the authorities will cause Rukawa troubles.
"Rukawa, where have you gone?"
xxx
Disclaimer: I hereby declare that I do not own the rights to all fictional characters, fairy tales, and movies mentioned. All rights belong to the owner.