Home again
When did he start to play basketball? Rukawa couldn't remember. At first, it was just a hobby he enjoyed tremendously. But now – as much as he hated to admit – he was enslaved to it. He lived for the sole purpose of playing basketball, and couldn't decide if that was good or bad.
Everyone (well, except for Sakuragi) respected Rukawa the basketball player. All the girls loved Rukawa the basketball player. All anyone cared about was Rukawa, the basketball player! What about Rukawa, the person? Well, he wasn't sure that Rukawa, the ordinary human being like everyone else, existed anymore. Maybe he really was just a basketball player sent from the Basketball Deity to deliver those small and helpless teams from the bottomless hole of defeat.
Did he even have a soul? A human soul, capable of human emotions? He didn't know, but he wanted to find out. For now, all he knew was that he found soul in the hole.
*** ***Shina examined herself in the mirror, hoping to see a gorgeous girl with a nice bronze tan. Of course, that did not materialize, and she was still the same ol' plain jane she always was (with an ugly facial scar to boot).
"Shina, Shina," She said to her reflection like she did everyday, "you must be strong. Don't bother about what others think of you. When you become a successful lawyer one day, you'll have the last laugh. You're an okay person, Shina, it's just that nobody appreciates you. And remember, only when you invest your time in your studies will you reap rewards."
Yes, she had a self-esteem speech she recited to herself everyday. Some parts of it she did not believe, but hoped that through constant recital, one day she would.
*** ***Tuition after school as usual. Sakuragi and Ryota very proudly told Shina about their latest test marks.
"51%!"
"52%!"
"And you, fox!" Sakuragi's eyes narrowed. "What have you got to show?"
"…"
Rukawa, in truth, had nothing. He failed…
Ryota and Sakuragi glared fiercely in the direction of the corridor, and Rukawa peered out. A bunch of cocky characters were pointing to their left cheeks and laughing. Bastards.
*** after training that day ***
Rukawa parked his bike outside the Velvet Underground, and went in. It was an absurd little store, with no apparent need for an assistant. He was the only customer around.
"Rukawa?"
"Shina. I've something to discuss with you,"
"Oh, I'm working now –"
"It's ok Shina, you can go for dinner with your friend. Not many people around anyway," It was the boss.
"No, that wouldn't be right," Shina shook her head, smiling in appreciation.
"You go ahead, Shina. I think you deserve a break, you've been helping me an awful lot more than you're being paid," The boss smiled kindly at her.
"Well… alright then, thanks boss."
"Let's go somewhere else, Rukawa." Shina said, when Rukawa was about to enter the restaurant.
"Why?"
"It's expensive. The roadside stalls are – "
"I want to eat here." Rukawa said with finality.
(( Rukawa: She's such a scrooge… ))
(( Shina: He's such a spendthrift… ))
Dinner was a quiet affair. There seemed to be a veiled air of constraint, and it was a long time before Rukawa finally spoke.
"Dermabrasion… I'll pay,"
Shina looked surprised.
"No… no, I couldn't let you do that. It's too costly,"
"I can afford it."
"No."
Both parties were equally unyielding, and in the end, Shina got up rather abruptly and left the restaurant.
(( Rukawa: What did I do now? Be responsible indeed, but your dear sister won't let me, Maki! Oh? She's coming back. Whatever for? Changed her mind? ))
Shina laid some money on the table.
"That should be enough, ain't it," She said stiffly, and walked off.
(( Rukawa: … … ))
(( Shina: Really! Who does he think he is? Of course it was nice of him to make such an offer, but I rather fancy my right to decline. Besides, he's already been accompanying me to checkups and all that – I feel bad enough. But I hope he isn't offended that I just got up and left… I do know he meant well. ))
"I'll see you home," Came that familiar, icy voice.
Rukawa was on his bike, offering to see her home. So he wasn't angry. He wasn't angry. Shina accepted the offer after a moment's hesitation, obviously ashamed of her childish impudence earlier on. It was probably this sense of shame that propelled her to say out of the blue, "I know you meant well". He didn't reply, but somehow she felt she understood his silence.
*** Maki's POV ***
"Father, I don't understand! Why do we have to invite her back home?" My little sister said.
"You'd better be nice to Shina later on." My father ignored her question, and warned sternly.
We were standing outside of her gate, waiting for her return. Yes, I had promised Shina not to let on her whereabouts, but I was seriously feeling sorry for my dad.
My father was a graying man in his fifties, with a presence you couldn't ignore. He had an air around him that commanded respect. I'd like to think that I take after him! But successful as he may be in his career, he too had his moments of folly. Shina's mom suffered for a long time with him, and he never gave her a status.
My younger sister Aiko was a foolish young girl. She was pretty, yes, but it was a cheap prettiness you could find everywhere on the streets. Girls like her were a dime a dozen. She was into cheap flattery and all that sort of thing, which probably explained her liking for the glib-tongued, sweet-talking Sendoh Akira. All it took for him was to say, "My, who's this ravishing young lady with you? Maki." And Aiko fell for him immediately. They'd been dating for quite awhile now. But Aiko wasn't one to stop flirting after getting attached – she still went out with other boys on dates, nothing serious though. She and Sendoh had a couple of huge rows over her behavior.
It must've been about 15 minutes before we caught sigh of Shina behind Rukawa's bike. I'm sure my father was surprised, though he disguised it well. Aiko, on the other hand, could barely hide hers. Shina wasn't that sort of girl who'd go dating and stuff. She was more into her books and politics.
"Bro… brother! Isn't that Shohoku's number 11?! Why is he with Shina?" She exclaimed in unflattering disbelief.
I chose not to answer her. Well actually, I didn't know the answer either. Why?
Shina got off the bike and ran over.
"What are you doing here?!" She cried accusingly, "Maki!"
I felt a pang of guilt for betraying her secret.
My father walked straight over to Rukawa.
"And who is this young fellow we have here?" He asked. I thought here was a faint malice concealed beneath his casual sentence.
"He's a – a friend, an acquaintance, if it's any business of yours." Shina replied hotly.
The five of us were soon seated in Shina's living room.
"Say what you want, then leave quickly." Came Shina's cold voice.
(Rukawa yawned.)
"Come back with us, Shina. You'd be much better off with us." My father. It sounded more like an order than an invitation.
(Rukawa yawned.)
There was a short pause before Shina said, "Anything else?"
"What's happened to your face?"
(Rukawa sat up.)
"I fell." She replied, brushing it aside as if it were unimportant.
"Well… I want to say sorry, Shina."
"Say that to mother in hell,"
Her words made me jump. The impertinence! My father had a dreadful temper, and I felt fearful for my dear sister.
"But before that, I'd like to make it up to you… come home, Shina."
"Mother said you're a cad," she swallowed, "that you ruined her life."
"Alas, I cannot deny that… I wasn't a responsible man. But I want to be a responsible father,"
Shina started crying.
"Come home, Shina…"
"Father!" She cried, and flung her arms around him.
(Rukawa raised an eyebrow.)
I rolled my eyes. I always knew she was a softie. All that talk about dignity and whatnot…
"Come home."
Shina said she would, first thing on the morrow. Before we left, father asked Rukawa if he was seeing Shina. It was funny, but it seemed to me that neither of them wanted to deny it, yet neither wanted to confirm it. Well, Rukawa didn't reply. But when my father told him to "treat Shina well", Rukawa said "of course", in a somewhat sneering tone. Was it happening for them? I didn't know. But if it were, then both my sisters were dating my closest rivals… how interesting.
*** author's narration ***
"We're not seeing each other, are we?" It was more of a statement than a question from Shina.
She never got a reply. Rukawa had fallen asleep upright. But the truth was, Rukawa wasn't sure if he liked her or not. All he knew was she was his girl, and he minded about her like nobody else. It wasn't her beauty – she was plain. But from the moment his fists ruined her face, he felt she was his.
A week flew past pleasantly enough for Shina. Her father had insisted she go for dermabrasion to remove the scar, so now her skin was restored to its original porcelain state. Since her family was well-to-do, she quit all of her jobs, and devoted the larger part of her time studying.
"Shina-chan! Are you going to the dance?" Sakuragi asked during tuition.
"Dance? What dance?"
"The dance – to raise funds for the new school building," chirped Ryota.
"Oh, no I don't think so." Shina said with slight distaste. A dance! What was she going to do there? Tread on other people's feet, or get her feet treaded on?
"I knew it!" Sakuragi exclaimed. "Which is why – "
"WE, decided to invite YOU!" Ryota stood up and bowed with exaggerated respect to Shina.
"Yeah, Haruko-chan and Ayako are going too,"
"And the basketball team – "
"And the Sakuragi brigade – "
"So come! It'll be fun,"
"Well," Shina said slowly. "I suppose I could –"
"HAHAHA! Success!" Sakuragi said, and struck a victorious pose.
"Shina-chan, you really should loosen up a bit, let your hair down once in awhile," Ryota smiled.
(( Ryota: Yeah, and maybe you should try that literally. ))
(( Shina: Success…? ))
(( Rukawa: … … ))
"Are you really going with them…" Rukawa asked.
"Yes, will you be coming along?" Shina already knew the answer to her question, but it only seemed polite to ask.
"I'll be in the stadium," He said.
Shina felt she understood.
Author's note: this chapter is… very long. Heh. I'm sorry if it's too sudden that Shina suddenly accepts her father, but I didn't want to drag the episode for too long. Besides, in comes Sendoh :D
I'll try to make things go slower between Kaede and Shina, Alexia! ^^
Thanks to kawaii sakura-chan and Lillian for your reviews! I really appreciate it =)