Sakuragi
... I jumped upwards and positioned my hands as I knew how.
The ball entered the net with a satisfying swish.
The people in the gym were silent, their expressions frozen into that of shock. Hah. I proved that though I hadn't played bball in ages, I could still do a lay-up.
Then cheers, congratulatory words and friendly pats on the back.
I smiled happily; I felt much better now. That one lay-up certainly boosted my confidence.
Ayako gave me a high five, as did Ryochin.
Then, after all the laughter and cheers had died down, I decided to take one step further and attempt shooting under the basket.
My teammates, confident in what I could do, cheered me on.
I stood under the basket and revised whatever Gori had taught me during my intensive training.
I bent my knees, positioned my hands and snapped my wrist as my toes left the ground.
The ball sailed up in an arc towards the basket...
**********
Rukawa
Standing at the far end of the gym, I watched the do'ahou attempt shooting under the basket.
Two full hours attempting.
Only attempting, for none of the shots he made went in.
I could feel the frustration radiating from him.
Half an hour earlier, we were dismissed by Miyagi-sempai. The do'ahou was still trying to shoot.
His muscles were taut with weariness, his breath coming to him in short, sharp gasps. His shirt was drenched with sweat, a sign of the effort he had put in.
Futile attempts.
There was a time when he'd last hours longer.
It must have been the hospital treatment that prevented him from jumping around, picking fights, totally reeking of boundless energy.
But that was history.
Miyagi-sempai gently tried to persuade him to go home and rest. His suggestion to the do'ahou was seconded by Ayako and the rest of the team.
But the do'ahou's pride refused to let him do so.
No, he didn't roar at Miyagi-sempai or Mitsui-sempai, but just ignored them and continued practicing.
Such was his determination to succeed.
He spared us a glance, however.
His eyes were glassy; so cold, almost lifeless.
Was he to become another me?
After I took a shower (I was the last to leave) I saw the do'ahou still practising.
Because Ayako had entrusted me with the gym keys, and also because I couldn't trust the do'ahou to lock up, I decided to wait for him to give up.
Would he?
I have been standing here for half an hour already, and the do'ahou still shows no signs of giving up.
Then suddenly, he stiffened, and threw the ball at the floor in despair.
Noticing my presence, he whirled towards me and snapped in frustration, 'Kitsune! I know you're here to sneer at the Tensai! I don't welcome that, and neither do I welcome you! SCRAM! GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!'
Before I could even respond, he was slumped on the gym floor, sobbing away.
Tears of frustration.
Tears of despair.
I really didn't know what to do. I mean, I didn't even know what to do with a crying girl, much less a crying guy...
Awkwardly, I shuffled up to his shaking frame and sat down beside him.
An occasional tear dripped from his eye to mingle with his sweat already on the floor.
I sat there in silence, not knowing what to do.
Then, mimicking what they did on television, I hesitantly patted his back lightly.
We spoke no words, but he understood what I meant.
When his sobs subsided, I guided him to the shower room and waited while he took a bath.
I could not help but pity the do'ahou, with his tear-stained face and reddish eyes. In fact, I found him almost child-like in that.
When he emerged from the shower, clad only in his underwear and towelling his damp hair, he was still sniffling away.
Then he looked up, saw me, and scowled. 'Oy Kitsune. What are you doing here?'
'Don't want you to commit suicide just because you've lost touch.'
He stared at me in shock, and his blue towel dropped to the tiled floor.
I, too, was shocked at what I said. Did I just acknowledge his importance to the team?
*******
We walked home in the starlight together, the barrier of dislike dissolved by a simple gesture of concern.
We came to a T-junction. I turned right while he turned left. Not a word was spoken.
He opened his mouth, his voice shattering the silence that had been throughout our short walk together.
'Oy, Kitsune.'
I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at him.
His head was bowed in a gesture of humility.
'Anou... Gori's no longer with the team... and Micchy's gotta study... Kitsune, will you teach me?'
... I jumped upwards and positioned my hands as I knew how.
The ball entered the net with a satisfying swish.
The people in the gym were silent, their expressions frozen into that of shock. Hah. I proved that though I hadn't played bball in ages, I could still do a lay-up.
Then cheers, congratulatory words and friendly pats on the back.
I smiled happily; I felt much better now. That one lay-up certainly boosted my confidence.
Ayako gave me a high five, as did Ryochin.
Then, after all the laughter and cheers had died down, I decided to take one step further and attempt shooting under the basket.
My teammates, confident in what I could do, cheered me on.
I stood under the basket and revised whatever Gori had taught me during my intensive training.
I bent my knees, positioned my hands and snapped my wrist as my toes left the ground.
The ball sailed up in an arc towards the basket...
**********
Rukawa
Standing at the far end of the gym, I watched the do'ahou attempt shooting under the basket.
Two full hours attempting.
Only attempting, for none of the shots he made went in.
I could feel the frustration radiating from him.
Half an hour earlier, we were dismissed by Miyagi-sempai. The do'ahou was still trying to shoot.
His muscles were taut with weariness, his breath coming to him in short, sharp gasps. His shirt was drenched with sweat, a sign of the effort he had put in.
Futile attempts.
There was a time when he'd last hours longer.
It must have been the hospital treatment that prevented him from jumping around, picking fights, totally reeking of boundless energy.
But that was history.
Miyagi-sempai gently tried to persuade him to go home and rest. His suggestion to the do'ahou was seconded by Ayako and the rest of the team.
But the do'ahou's pride refused to let him do so.
No, he didn't roar at Miyagi-sempai or Mitsui-sempai, but just ignored them and continued practicing.
Such was his determination to succeed.
He spared us a glance, however.
His eyes were glassy; so cold, almost lifeless.
Was he to become another me?
After I took a shower (I was the last to leave) I saw the do'ahou still practising.
Because Ayako had entrusted me with the gym keys, and also because I couldn't trust the do'ahou to lock up, I decided to wait for him to give up.
Would he?
I have been standing here for half an hour already, and the do'ahou still shows no signs of giving up.
Then suddenly, he stiffened, and threw the ball at the floor in despair.
Noticing my presence, he whirled towards me and snapped in frustration, 'Kitsune! I know you're here to sneer at the Tensai! I don't welcome that, and neither do I welcome you! SCRAM! GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!'
Before I could even respond, he was slumped on the gym floor, sobbing away.
Tears of frustration.
Tears of despair.
I really didn't know what to do. I mean, I didn't even know what to do with a crying girl, much less a crying guy...
Awkwardly, I shuffled up to his shaking frame and sat down beside him.
An occasional tear dripped from his eye to mingle with his sweat already on the floor.
I sat there in silence, not knowing what to do.
Then, mimicking what they did on television, I hesitantly patted his back lightly.
We spoke no words, but he understood what I meant.
When his sobs subsided, I guided him to the shower room and waited while he took a bath.
I could not help but pity the do'ahou, with his tear-stained face and reddish eyes. In fact, I found him almost child-like in that.
When he emerged from the shower, clad only in his underwear and towelling his damp hair, he was still sniffling away.
Then he looked up, saw me, and scowled. 'Oy Kitsune. What are you doing here?'
'Don't want you to commit suicide just because you've lost touch.'
He stared at me in shock, and his blue towel dropped to the tiled floor.
I, too, was shocked at what I said. Did I just acknowledge his importance to the team?
*******
We walked home in the starlight together, the barrier of dislike dissolved by a simple gesture of concern.
We came to a T-junction. I turned right while he turned left. Not a word was spoken.
He opened his mouth, his voice shattering the silence that had been throughout our short walk together.
'Oy, Kitsune.'
I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at him.
His head was bowed in a gesture of humility.
'Anou... Gori's no longer with the team... and Micchy's gotta study... Kitsune, will you teach me?'