Part 9
Yohei and I sat down already with the rest of the Sakuragi Army, Ami, Haruko and her friends.
When they already assembled on court, I looked at Rukawa and Sendoh. They were looking at each other. Sendoh had a smile again on his face while Rukawa looked too serious. Then I saw Sendoh pat Rukawa's shoulder. Rukawa didn't move a muscle.
I glanced at Mitsui. "Micchy!" I called out.
He looked at me. "Good luck!"
He nodded and went back to the game.
They arranged in the centerline already for a jumpball.
And the game started.
+++
In the game, I noticed Rukawa and Sendoh talk a lot. Sendoh with a smile and Rukawa with a frown, no less.
Mitsui was still doing very well, but there was so much movement. The movement was so dizzying!
After how many minutes, it looked like Sendoh and Rukawa were too focused on each other. It came to the point where they were already a war of the words between them. Still, Sendoh was still as cool and composed as ever.
"Why is Sendoh so cool and composed?" I asked Haruko.
"I don't know. I think it's his way of playing the game: being not too serious. Maybe that's the reason why he's also an ace player." Haruko replied.
"Sendoh is such a great player. When you meet him in person, you won't really know he's an ace player until you find out he plays basketball and you actually get to see him play," Ami said.
"Was he like that way back in the practice game?" I asked.
"Yup. He's never changed." Yohei said.
Then, I saw Sendoh point to me while talking to Rukawa. Rukawa just ignored while running but Sendoh catched up to him.
Sendoh went in front of Rukawa, stole the ball and passed it to Sakuragi.
"Shoot it, Sakuragi!" Sendoh said. "I have to talk with him first!"
Sakuragi, perplexed, ran to their net.
Sendoh and Rukawa continued the serious talk. They were bickering until Sendoh slapped Rukawa. The referee whistled a technical foul for Sendoh. "Ryonan, 7, blue! Technical foul."
Sendoh raised his hand. He looked at me and winked.
I smiled. So I see. He's helping me and Rukawa reconcile again.
"Everybody's making you and Rukawa reconcile, even Sendoh! Unbelievable." Youhei said.
Then, I looked at Mitsui. He was still running, but not as fast as he was many minutes ago.
"Hold on, Mitsui!" I called out.
"He won't be able to stay in the game anytime soon," Yohei said. "We can't wait for the time he has to really faint,"
"HE WON'T FAINT!" I cried.
Yohei sighed. "Okay, if that's what you say,"
We waited for more developments of the game. Uozumi was really a master blocker! He blocks Akagi all the time. Miyagi was very focused on the game. Sakuragi did all his best. In fact, he has really changed a lot as a player after the monk haircut. He is really very good in bball. He has the talent, he just has to hone it. Sendoh was still confronting Rukawa. Now I've realized that Sendoh is really nice. Too bad I didn't meet him earlier.
The game went on. and on. and on.
There was lots of running in the game, back and forth, back and forth. I myself was already feeling dizzy from all that running back and forth. It shows that Ryonan and Shohoku are both very well trained because they can steal the ball easily.
One more incident: when Mitsui tried to shoot a ball, he wasn't able to shoot it. It was weird, since he was a good three-point shooter.
After a while, I noticed Mitsui was just walking, not running. I got scared at what might happen that's why I went down the bleachers.
"Niki-chan, where are you going?" Yohei cried.
"To Ayako! I feel something bad would happen!" I called back.
"B-b-but-"
I left Yohei.
I ran to the bench of Shohoku as fast as I can. "Ayako, Ayako!" I called.
"Whoa, Niki, slow down," Ayako asked as she stood up. "What brings you here at the bench?"
"Mitsui. he's gonna faint soon." I panted. "I can feel it!"
"I know. But Coach Anzai says he can do it, that's why we're not pulling him out of the game." Ayako told me.
I stared at Mitsui. "He's so tired. Can I stay here in the benches for a while?" I looked at Ayako with pleading eyes. "Please?"
"As much as I want you to stay here, you can't because only the manager, players and the coach are allowed here-"
I went to Coach Anzai to get permission to stay at the bench.
"Coach Anzai. Can I please stay here at the bench, please? Mitsui needs me. Please," I begged Coach Anzai. The old man laughed. "Of course, you may. There's some extra space near Ayako and Kogure," he said as he pointed to the space there.
"Thanks so much, coach!" I exclaimed happily. Then I looked at Mitsui nervously.
Then, I really saw Mitsui rubbing his forehead and his eyes were closed. I noticed his face had a different color already. He was almost as white as a sheet.
"Mitsui, hold on!!!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. He looked at me. He walked a little more. Then he stopped a bit in his tracks.
I felt it. He was gonna fall!
I ran to the middle of the court where he was. Just as I expected, he fell to the ground. I was able to catch him but we both fell. We dropped to the ground with a loud thud, with him lying on top of me. I turned red.
Everybody gasped at the scene. But I didn't mind them.
The referee called a timeout.
Ayako, Kogure, Sakuragi, Miyagi and Akagi helped us up.
"Are you alright?" Akagi asked me.
"Um, yeah." My voice trailed off. "But Mitsui isn't."
"He's gonna be alright." Akagi said.
I stood up and ran to Mitsui.
Kogure sat him down. I went to Mitsui. His eyes were closed and he was gasping for air. I got a face towel and wiped his face.
"Micchy. are you alright?" I asked.
He opened his eyes and stared at me. His face was expressionless. He moved his hand and held my hand, which was holding the face towel. "Yes," he whispered. He tried to smile.
"Karma for some people over there," Rukawa said as he passed by.
"Rukawa, don't be such a jerk! You fainted too in the Kainan game, you know." Ayako snapped.
Sakuragi looked at him with glaring eyes.
"Stop it, Kaede," I said.
Rukawa went away.
Mitsui smiled at me. I smiled at him, too. "You're ok?" He nodded.
"Yeah, Micchy's okay!" Sakuragi cheered. "Will he be back in the game?"
"I'm afraid not," Kogure shook his head.
"Why not?" Sakuragi asked.
"Because he's too weak." Kogure answered.
"Oh," Sakuragi's voice trailed off. He looked at me. I just looked at Mitsui. He looked sad and angry at the same time.
The game resumed with Kogure replacing Mitsui.
"Hey, Mitsui, for you," I said as I handed Mitsui a canned drink.
I looked at him. "I think I'll just open that for you," I said as I tried to get the can. But Micchy pushed my hand away. "I can open it." Mitsui said. He tried to hold the can but it slipped from his hands. "Huh?" I heard him whisper. His hands were shaking. He tried to reach for it but he couldn't. He tried to reach it again but to no avail. I sighed.
"I'll get another one," I said. I got another can from the huge red cooler. "Now I'll open this for you-"
"No! I can do it on my own." Mitsui said in a weak tone but firmly.
I watched in pity as he tried hard to open the can though he was so weak and his hands were already shaking.
"Mitsui-san, please let me open the can-"
"No! I can do it on my own, okay?!" Mitsui cried persistently. "I am not weak."
"But you're thirsty and you need the drink immediately-"
"Thirst can wait." He was insistent on opening the darn can.
After many tenacious tries he finally was able to open the can. I looked at him in commiseration as he drank the can. Some water spilled on his chin to his jersey but he didn't mind. He finished the contents of the can in a few gulps. He was really thirsty.
He put down the can and stared at it. I felt like shedding a tear for him. "Mitsui." I tried to hold him. But he pushed my hand away. "Don't treat me as if I'm weak!"
I was taken aback by what he said.
"I wasn't-"
"Leave me alone!" he shouted. He tried to run away.
"Mitsui! Where are you going?!?" I called after him. He did not look back.
I ran after him. When I found him, he was sitting on the stairs, crying.
"Mitsui." I went to him. "Stop crying now, Micchy. everything will be alright now."
"Niki. is everything happening to me the so-called karma?" he asked weakly.
"Why are you saying that? Of course not!"
"Yes it is. everything wrong that I've done is all coming back to me. I will never be a bad boy again." he sobbed. "Before I never believed in karma. Now everything is all coming back to me."
"You were never a bad boy, Mitsui. You were such a nice person. The first time I saw you, I knew you were a nice guy. Believe me, Mitsui. You're a nice guy!"
"I'm not! I'm a weak, mean, old, fake-toothed guy in a jersey who still thinks he can still play basketball although he really can't anymore!"
"What are you talking about?! You are a great player! In the Shoyo game you scored 21 points! Could anyone beat that?!" I blurted out.
He shook his head. "And now I can't do anything for the team because I can't play anymore! I can't make up for all the wrong things I've done to them!" More tears flowed from his eyes. "Niki. why did I ever quit basketball? If I continued to play in my sophomore year then I might have been the ace player. I would've been the team captain. I could've been a great player if I continued. If I didn't give up and lose hope. I was such a moron to stop believing in myself after my knee injury. They are right. I am nothing."
"No! You're not!"
"Yes I am! I heard it from other people themselves!"
"Well then, if to them, you are nothing, then to me, you are everything." I said to him.
"You think so.?" Mitsui asked me while wiping away his tears.
"Of course! And stop crying over there, I'm the only crybaby here and not you, alright?" I smiled.
Mitsui smiled, then looked down.
"Why didn't you come into my life sooner?" he asked.
"Why?" I said, puzzled.
"I could've changed earlier if you came into my life earlier." He replied.
"You know, Micchy," I said as I snuggled under his arms. "Change doesn't depend on other people, it depends on yourself. I'm only an agent of your change. I didn't constitute all the changes that happened to you. It is you who made the change. You changed your bad deeds all by yourself. In fact, everybody really noticed the great change in you. I'm just a motivator here," I said.
"You think so? I changed all by myself?" he asked me.
"Yes, you did! That haircut of yours is your first change." I smiled. "It looks good on you. The first time I saw you in the mall with your new haircut, I was stunned. I thought you really looked better than Rukawa." I said.
"Oh yeah, I remember that," he smiled.
I looked at him. Then I noticed a small scar on the right part of his chin. I touched it. "By the way, I never bothered to ask. Where'd you get this?" I asked as I touched his scar.
"Oh, it was Miyagi," he laughed hoarsely. "It was way back when we were still enemies. He is also the reason why I only have fake front teeth." He laughed.
"Omigosh. You let a sophomore do that to you?!"
"Sad to say, yeah. He can kick real well, know what I mean?" Mitsui said.
"Oh okay." I said. "You know, the scar looks good on you. You have to thank Miyagi for the scar. It makes you look more manlier." I giggled.
"Are you sure?" Mitsui turned red.
"Uh-huh," I said as I kissed his scar. Then before I knew it, I was kissing Mitsui again. Hee hee.
Then, we heard somebody.
"Whoa!!! I'm sorry!!!" it was the other freshman substitute player.
"ARGH!!!!" we both cried, startled.
The sub faced the back. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to watch you! What a bad thing for a little boy like me to do!"
I cringed. "How dare you call yourself a little boy when we are only of the same age!!!"
Mitsui laughed. "It's okay, it's okay. By the way, what did you come here for?" he asked.
But I just couldn't talk. How embarrassing.
"I just wanted to inform you both that Shohoku is already in the National Tournament," the sub said, his back turned on us.
"Huh? National Tournament.?" Mitsui and I looked at each other. "Then."
We couldn't talk. Mitsui pulled my hand and ran out.
When we went to the game place, the people from Shohoku were already cheering.
We saw Uozumi crying. Everybody was shocked at the outcome. Everybody really thought Ryonan would win.
Akagi was crying tears of joy. Everybody was so happy.
"This is so overwhelming," Mitsui said.
"Let me tell you something, Micchy," I said.
"What is it?" he asked me.
"If you and Ryota never returned to the team, we might have never won," I said. Mitsui hugged me.
"No, it wasn't us. It was the team's determination to win. You told me awhile ago that change doesn't come from other people, it comes from deep within you. Yes, Ryota and I were factors, but we aren't really the real reason why Shohoku won. It is the change that came from every member of the team. Especially Sakuragi." We glanced at Sakuragi. "He has changed from a bball punk to a real player,"
"You're right."
"Hey," It was Sendoh.
"Akira Sendoh," I said.
"You know each other?" Mitsui asked us. Sendoh smiled.
"Don't be surprised if Rukawa might talk to you again one day." He said. "I have already done my job. Thank Yohei Mito for that," Sendoh said and started to leave.
"Hey Sendoh. you were great. You risked your never-been-fouled record just to enlighten Rukawa," I said. "That was very nice of you,"
"No problem." He said. "Maybe in the near future we might get in touch again. Maybe in the next tournament. Or in a practice game, maybe. Your team has changed a lot. And I mean A LOT. You have great players now. Everybody. Everybody improved especially Rukawa and Sakuragi. Rukawa practiced real hard for this and, Sakuragi learned from his mistakes from his first few games," Sendoh smiled again. "It all made him a great player. Everybody in your team can be a great player. Mitsui," he looked at Mitsui.
"Drink iron tablets all the time," Sendoh laughed. "Just kidding. You're a great player." He left.
Mitsui chuckled. "Yeah. I forgot to drink iron tablets,"
I snorted. "You forgot that? You're an anemic weirdo,"
+++
"Yohei Mito," I called Yohei. He turned around.
He was on the way home. It was already dark. "What's up?" he asked.
"Nothing. just wanted to thank you for the nice efforts you've done." I said. "Why are you doing these things for me?"
"Didn't I tell you before that I wanted to help you in every way I can?" he reminded me.
"Micchy told me the jack-in-the-box was your idea. Also Ryota showing up in Starbucks. Rukawa's gift. Akira Sendoh's confrontation with Rukawa. They were all your idea. Are these claims true?" I asked.
"Did my ideas suck?" he asked.
"No! In fact, I discovered that you have a sweet streak in you. Your future girlfriend will be very lucky," I said.
"I kinda wish it should've been you," Yohei said.
"I'm sorry, Mito," I said.
We sat down on a park bench.
"You know, when I found out that you kissed Mitsui and Rukawa, I kinda thought, 'Hey, was I doing the right thing? I'm helping rivals!'. But, soon after, I've thought, 'Hey, it wasn't so bad after all. Anyway, she's just a friend'. What do you think? It ain't so bad, right?" Mito asked.
"Mito, don't pretend you're not hurt at all. I can feel you're hurt."
"Niki-chan, the truth is, yes, I am a bit hurt. No, actually, I'm so hurt. But, what can I do? I have lost in the love battle-"
"But you won in the friendship battle. Everybody won!" I held his hand. "You're a great friend, Yohei."
Then, I got this sudden urge to try kissing Yohei. (C'mon, I think he's cute. Wouldn't you wanna try kissing him too? Hehe sorry. Promise, this is cute)
He lowered his face to reach mine. But then.
"MIIIII-TOOOOOO!!!" Mito and I were surprised.
"Sakuragi!!" Yohei cried.
"What are you doing here? Searching for ghosts?"
"For Chrissakes, Sakuragi, this is a PARK!!! Not a cemetery!" Yohei cried.
"Oh yeah, well, hehe, let's go home!" Sakuragi called.
As we went home, Sakuragi sang a *@%)$&!(%#&$+ song.
"I am the genius, Hanamichi the basketman. Today and tomorrow I will be, the greatest basketball genius."
*sigh*. Yohei and I couldn't help doing that.
+++
Yohei and I sat down already with the rest of the Sakuragi Army, Ami, Haruko and her friends.
When they already assembled on court, I looked at Rukawa and Sendoh. They were looking at each other. Sendoh had a smile again on his face while Rukawa looked too serious. Then I saw Sendoh pat Rukawa's shoulder. Rukawa didn't move a muscle.
I glanced at Mitsui. "Micchy!" I called out.
He looked at me. "Good luck!"
He nodded and went back to the game.
They arranged in the centerline already for a jumpball.
And the game started.
+++
In the game, I noticed Rukawa and Sendoh talk a lot. Sendoh with a smile and Rukawa with a frown, no less.
Mitsui was still doing very well, but there was so much movement. The movement was so dizzying!
After how many minutes, it looked like Sendoh and Rukawa were too focused on each other. It came to the point where they were already a war of the words between them. Still, Sendoh was still as cool and composed as ever.
"Why is Sendoh so cool and composed?" I asked Haruko.
"I don't know. I think it's his way of playing the game: being not too serious. Maybe that's the reason why he's also an ace player." Haruko replied.
"Sendoh is such a great player. When you meet him in person, you won't really know he's an ace player until you find out he plays basketball and you actually get to see him play," Ami said.
"Was he like that way back in the practice game?" I asked.
"Yup. He's never changed." Yohei said.
Then, I saw Sendoh point to me while talking to Rukawa. Rukawa just ignored while running but Sendoh catched up to him.
Sendoh went in front of Rukawa, stole the ball and passed it to Sakuragi.
"Shoot it, Sakuragi!" Sendoh said. "I have to talk with him first!"
Sakuragi, perplexed, ran to their net.
Sendoh and Rukawa continued the serious talk. They were bickering until Sendoh slapped Rukawa. The referee whistled a technical foul for Sendoh. "Ryonan, 7, blue! Technical foul."
Sendoh raised his hand. He looked at me and winked.
I smiled. So I see. He's helping me and Rukawa reconcile again.
"Everybody's making you and Rukawa reconcile, even Sendoh! Unbelievable." Youhei said.
Then, I looked at Mitsui. He was still running, but not as fast as he was many minutes ago.
"Hold on, Mitsui!" I called out.
"He won't be able to stay in the game anytime soon," Yohei said. "We can't wait for the time he has to really faint,"
"HE WON'T FAINT!" I cried.
Yohei sighed. "Okay, if that's what you say,"
We waited for more developments of the game. Uozumi was really a master blocker! He blocks Akagi all the time. Miyagi was very focused on the game. Sakuragi did all his best. In fact, he has really changed a lot as a player after the monk haircut. He is really very good in bball. He has the talent, he just has to hone it. Sendoh was still confronting Rukawa. Now I've realized that Sendoh is really nice. Too bad I didn't meet him earlier.
The game went on. and on. and on.
There was lots of running in the game, back and forth, back and forth. I myself was already feeling dizzy from all that running back and forth. It shows that Ryonan and Shohoku are both very well trained because they can steal the ball easily.
One more incident: when Mitsui tried to shoot a ball, he wasn't able to shoot it. It was weird, since he was a good three-point shooter.
After a while, I noticed Mitsui was just walking, not running. I got scared at what might happen that's why I went down the bleachers.
"Niki-chan, where are you going?" Yohei cried.
"To Ayako! I feel something bad would happen!" I called back.
"B-b-but-"
I left Yohei.
I ran to the bench of Shohoku as fast as I can. "Ayako, Ayako!" I called.
"Whoa, Niki, slow down," Ayako asked as she stood up. "What brings you here at the bench?"
"Mitsui. he's gonna faint soon." I panted. "I can feel it!"
"I know. But Coach Anzai says he can do it, that's why we're not pulling him out of the game." Ayako told me.
I stared at Mitsui. "He's so tired. Can I stay here in the benches for a while?" I looked at Ayako with pleading eyes. "Please?"
"As much as I want you to stay here, you can't because only the manager, players and the coach are allowed here-"
I went to Coach Anzai to get permission to stay at the bench.
"Coach Anzai. Can I please stay here at the bench, please? Mitsui needs me. Please," I begged Coach Anzai. The old man laughed. "Of course, you may. There's some extra space near Ayako and Kogure," he said as he pointed to the space there.
"Thanks so much, coach!" I exclaimed happily. Then I looked at Mitsui nervously.
Then, I really saw Mitsui rubbing his forehead and his eyes were closed. I noticed his face had a different color already. He was almost as white as a sheet.
"Mitsui, hold on!!!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. He looked at me. He walked a little more. Then he stopped a bit in his tracks.
I felt it. He was gonna fall!
I ran to the middle of the court where he was. Just as I expected, he fell to the ground. I was able to catch him but we both fell. We dropped to the ground with a loud thud, with him lying on top of me. I turned red.
Everybody gasped at the scene. But I didn't mind them.
The referee called a timeout.
Ayako, Kogure, Sakuragi, Miyagi and Akagi helped us up.
"Are you alright?" Akagi asked me.
"Um, yeah." My voice trailed off. "But Mitsui isn't."
"He's gonna be alright." Akagi said.
I stood up and ran to Mitsui.
Kogure sat him down. I went to Mitsui. His eyes were closed and he was gasping for air. I got a face towel and wiped his face.
"Micchy. are you alright?" I asked.
He opened his eyes and stared at me. His face was expressionless. He moved his hand and held my hand, which was holding the face towel. "Yes," he whispered. He tried to smile.
"Karma for some people over there," Rukawa said as he passed by.
"Rukawa, don't be such a jerk! You fainted too in the Kainan game, you know." Ayako snapped.
Sakuragi looked at him with glaring eyes.
"Stop it, Kaede," I said.
Rukawa went away.
Mitsui smiled at me. I smiled at him, too. "You're ok?" He nodded.
"Yeah, Micchy's okay!" Sakuragi cheered. "Will he be back in the game?"
"I'm afraid not," Kogure shook his head.
"Why not?" Sakuragi asked.
"Because he's too weak." Kogure answered.
"Oh," Sakuragi's voice trailed off. He looked at me. I just looked at Mitsui. He looked sad and angry at the same time.
The game resumed with Kogure replacing Mitsui.
"Hey, Mitsui, for you," I said as I handed Mitsui a canned drink.
I looked at him. "I think I'll just open that for you," I said as I tried to get the can. But Micchy pushed my hand away. "I can open it." Mitsui said. He tried to hold the can but it slipped from his hands. "Huh?" I heard him whisper. His hands were shaking. He tried to reach for it but he couldn't. He tried to reach it again but to no avail. I sighed.
"I'll get another one," I said. I got another can from the huge red cooler. "Now I'll open this for you-"
"No! I can do it on my own." Mitsui said in a weak tone but firmly.
I watched in pity as he tried hard to open the can though he was so weak and his hands were already shaking.
"Mitsui-san, please let me open the can-"
"No! I can do it on my own, okay?!" Mitsui cried persistently. "I am not weak."
"But you're thirsty and you need the drink immediately-"
"Thirst can wait." He was insistent on opening the darn can.
After many tenacious tries he finally was able to open the can. I looked at him in commiseration as he drank the can. Some water spilled on his chin to his jersey but he didn't mind. He finished the contents of the can in a few gulps. He was really thirsty.
He put down the can and stared at it. I felt like shedding a tear for him. "Mitsui." I tried to hold him. But he pushed my hand away. "Don't treat me as if I'm weak!"
I was taken aback by what he said.
"I wasn't-"
"Leave me alone!" he shouted. He tried to run away.
"Mitsui! Where are you going?!?" I called after him. He did not look back.
I ran after him. When I found him, he was sitting on the stairs, crying.
"Mitsui." I went to him. "Stop crying now, Micchy. everything will be alright now."
"Niki. is everything happening to me the so-called karma?" he asked weakly.
"Why are you saying that? Of course not!"
"Yes it is. everything wrong that I've done is all coming back to me. I will never be a bad boy again." he sobbed. "Before I never believed in karma. Now everything is all coming back to me."
"You were never a bad boy, Mitsui. You were such a nice person. The first time I saw you, I knew you were a nice guy. Believe me, Mitsui. You're a nice guy!"
"I'm not! I'm a weak, mean, old, fake-toothed guy in a jersey who still thinks he can still play basketball although he really can't anymore!"
"What are you talking about?! You are a great player! In the Shoyo game you scored 21 points! Could anyone beat that?!" I blurted out.
He shook his head. "And now I can't do anything for the team because I can't play anymore! I can't make up for all the wrong things I've done to them!" More tears flowed from his eyes. "Niki. why did I ever quit basketball? If I continued to play in my sophomore year then I might have been the ace player. I would've been the team captain. I could've been a great player if I continued. If I didn't give up and lose hope. I was such a moron to stop believing in myself after my knee injury. They are right. I am nothing."
"No! You're not!"
"Yes I am! I heard it from other people themselves!"
"Well then, if to them, you are nothing, then to me, you are everything." I said to him.
"You think so.?" Mitsui asked me while wiping away his tears.
"Of course! And stop crying over there, I'm the only crybaby here and not you, alright?" I smiled.
Mitsui smiled, then looked down.
"Why didn't you come into my life sooner?" he asked.
"Why?" I said, puzzled.
"I could've changed earlier if you came into my life earlier." He replied.
"You know, Micchy," I said as I snuggled under his arms. "Change doesn't depend on other people, it depends on yourself. I'm only an agent of your change. I didn't constitute all the changes that happened to you. It is you who made the change. You changed your bad deeds all by yourself. In fact, everybody really noticed the great change in you. I'm just a motivator here," I said.
"You think so? I changed all by myself?" he asked me.
"Yes, you did! That haircut of yours is your first change." I smiled. "It looks good on you. The first time I saw you in the mall with your new haircut, I was stunned. I thought you really looked better than Rukawa." I said.
"Oh yeah, I remember that," he smiled.
I looked at him. Then I noticed a small scar on the right part of his chin. I touched it. "By the way, I never bothered to ask. Where'd you get this?" I asked as I touched his scar.
"Oh, it was Miyagi," he laughed hoarsely. "It was way back when we were still enemies. He is also the reason why I only have fake front teeth." He laughed.
"Omigosh. You let a sophomore do that to you?!"
"Sad to say, yeah. He can kick real well, know what I mean?" Mitsui said.
"Oh okay." I said. "You know, the scar looks good on you. You have to thank Miyagi for the scar. It makes you look more manlier." I giggled.
"Are you sure?" Mitsui turned red.
"Uh-huh," I said as I kissed his scar. Then before I knew it, I was kissing Mitsui again. Hee hee.
Then, we heard somebody.
"Whoa!!! I'm sorry!!!" it was the other freshman substitute player.
"ARGH!!!!" we both cried, startled.
The sub faced the back. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to watch you! What a bad thing for a little boy like me to do!"
I cringed. "How dare you call yourself a little boy when we are only of the same age!!!"
Mitsui laughed. "It's okay, it's okay. By the way, what did you come here for?" he asked.
But I just couldn't talk. How embarrassing.
"I just wanted to inform you both that Shohoku is already in the National Tournament," the sub said, his back turned on us.
"Huh? National Tournament.?" Mitsui and I looked at each other. "Then."
We couldn't talk. Mitsui pulled my hand and ran out.
When we went to the game place, the people from Shohoku were already cheering.
We saw Uozumi crying. Everybody was shocked at the outcome. Everybody really thought Ryonan would win.
Akagi was crying tears of joy. Everybody was so happy.
"This is so overwhelming," Mitsui said.
"Let me tell you something, Micchy," I said.
"What is it?" he asked me.
"If you and Ryota never returned to the team, we might have never won," I said. Mitsui hugged me.
"No, it wasn't us. It was the team's determination to win. You told me awhile ago that change doesn't come from other people, it comes from deep within you. Yes, Ryota and I were factors, but we aren't really the real reason why Shohoku won. It is the change that came from every member of the team. Especially Sakuragi." We glanced at Sakuragi. "He has changed from a bball punk to a real player,"
"You're right."
"Hey," It was Sendoh.
"Akira Sendoh," I said.
"You know each other?" Mitsui asked us. Sendoh smiled.
"Don't be surprised if Rukawa might talk to you again one day." He said. "I have already done my job. Thank Yohei Mito for that," Sendoh said and started to leave.
"Hey Sendoh. you were great. You risked your never-been-fouled record just to enlighten Rukawa," I said. "That was very nice of you,"
"No problem." He said. "Maybe in the near future we might get in touch again. Maybe in the next tournament. Or in a practice game, maybe. Your team has changed a lot. And I mean A LOT. You have great players now. Everybody. Everybody improved especially Rukawa and Sakuragi. Rukawa practiced real hard for this and, Sakuragi learned from his mistakes from his first few games," Sendoh smiled again. "It all made him a great player. Everybody in your team can be a great player. Mitsui," he looked at Mitsui.
"Drink iron tablets all the time," Sendoh laughed. "Just kidding. You're a great player." He left.
Mitsui chuckled. "Yeah. I forgot to drink iron tablets,"
I snorted. "You forgot that? You're an anemic weirdo,"
+++
"Yohei Mito," I called Yohei. He turned around.
He was on the way home. It was already dark. "What's up?" he asked.
"Nothing. just wanted to thank you for the nice efforts you've done." I said. "Why are you doing these things for me?"
"Didn't I tell you before that I wanted to help you in every way I can?" he reminded me.
"Micchy told me the jack-in-the-box was your idea. Also Ryota showing up in Starbucks. Rukawa's gift. Akira Sendoh's confrontation with Rukawa. They were all your idea. Are these claims true?" I asked.
"Did my ideas suck?" he asked.
"No! In fact, I discovered that you have a sweet streak in you. Your future girlfriend will be very lucky," I said.
"I kinda wish it should've been you," Yohei said.
"I'm sorry, Mito," I said.
We sat down on a park bench.
"You know, when I found out that you kissed Mitsui and Rukawa, I kinda thought, 'Hey, was I doing the right thing? I'm helping rivals!'. But, soon after, I've thought, 'Hey, it wasn't so bad after all. Anyway, she's just a friend'. What do you think? It ain't so bad, right?" Mito asked.
"Mito, don't pretend you're not hurt at all. I can feel you're hurt."
"Niki-chan, the truth is, yes, I am a bit hurt. No, actually, I'm so hurt. But, what can I do? I have lost in the love battle-"
"But you won in the friendship battle. Everybody won!" I held his hand. "You're a great friend, Yohei."
Then, I got this sudden urge to try kissing Yohei. (C'mon, I think he's cute. Wouldn't you wanna try kissing him too? Hehe sorry. Promise, this is cute)
He lowered his face to reach mine. But then.
"MIIIII-TOOOOOO!!!" Mito and I were surprised.
"Sakuragi!!" Yohei cried.
"What are you doing here? Searching for ghosts?"
"For Chrissakes, Sakuragi, this is a PARK!!! Not a cemetery!" Yohei cried.
"Oh yeah, well, hehe, let's go home!" Sakuragi called.
As we went home, Sakuragi sang a *@%)$&!(%#&$+ song.
"I am the genius, Hanamichi the basketman. Today and tomorrow I will be, the greatest basketball genius."
*sigh*. Yohei and I couldn't help doing that.
+++