7th hell
Part 4
Outside the Sendoh Residence
7:30 PM
Thursday
Just when Sendoh is fumbling to get his keys out of his messily stuffed gym bag, someone tapped
his shoulder from behind. Startled, Sendoh as if on reflex swung his arm. Hitting...
"Itai!" Rukawa straight in the face. "What was that for?" He irritatedly asked.
"Kaede-kun! Gomen nasai! I didn't know it's you! It's dark and all you know... and you startled
me!" Sendoh explained. "By the way," he found his keys and went inside the house with Rukawa.
"What are you doing here at this time?" he asked while gesturing Rukawa to sit on the couch.
"He's dead, Akira. He's killed." He replied in a straight face but his voice can't hide the
pain.
"Oh... I know... I'm sorry about Anzai-sensei, Kaede, I really am."
"Ahou! It's Fujima I'm talking about..."
*THUMP* Instead of sitting beside Rukawa, Sendoh fell on the floor.
"Nani!? Fujima!?!?!?" now a very pale faced Senoh. "But, I just saw him during the tribute for
Anzai-senei last Tuesday! How can he be dead?"
"He died the next day which was yesterday." Rukawa's now getting annoyed by Sendoh's ignorance.
"Haven't you heard in the news or in school?"
Sendoh's now yet again, rendered speechless.
"Akira, Hana asked me this, 'why did this have to happen?' I didn't have an answer for him. I
know the pain but I don't know why this has to happen either!" Rukawa surprisingly exclaimed in
front of Sendoh. "Somehow, I feel that someone close or dear to me dies." Tears appeared in
Rukawa's eyes but refusing to fall as he remembered his late mother and his murdered friends and
mentor.
"I don't know too, Kaede." Sendoh, now looking at Rukawa, waiting for him to continue talking
but, no, he didn't talk for quite a while. Standing up to switch on the TV, Sendoh's phone
suddenly rang.
"Moshi, moshi, Sendoh desu."
After a few minutes, Sendoh returned to accompany Rukawa in the couch.
"That was Hiro-kun. He found out just now from Hikoichi and told me everything." Sendoh then
stared at Rukawa. "It's really getting creepy, Kaede. They all died... killed the same way.
Hiro-kun and the others think that the killer left the number to mark the number of the people
he already killed and the letters are the clue to who he will kill next. And he also told me
that beside Fujima-san's corpse, there written the no. 3 and the letter A again. And... Kaede!
Are you all right?... He saw tears running down Rukawa's emotionless face.
"Last Tuesday night, he called me up Akira. Asking how I am doing with all this bad stuff
happening around Shohoku. He's still my friend and I still care for him. But now... he's the one
killed. Murdered." Rukawa said that in his still stoic but wet face. /why did he have to die?
I only have a few friends and he's one of them... why?!/
Rukawa just stayed there, Sendoh giving company and comfort.
Kainan University, High School Cafeteria.
11:45 AM
Friday
"Jin-san, How is Maki-san?" Kiyota worriedly asked, stumbling to balance his lunch tray as he
hurriedly sat down with his teammate. "I haven't seen him all morning."
"He didn't come to school, Kiyota, since yesterday he was absent." Jin replied while playing
with this food. He lost his appetite weeks ago since the killing started.
He and Kiyota are the only ones in the team that knew the relationship of Fujima with Maki. And
it's not the rivalry kind of relationship it's the opposite in fact. And now that Fujima's dead,
Maki was never himself again.
"Yesterday, when I was dropping by his place to hand him his assignment and also to see how's
he's taking the death of Fujima," Jin continued "his mother told me that he doesn't want to see
anyone and wouldn't come out of his room, not even to eat. He locked himself in! He's in a
horrible state right now." Jin said while shaking his head.
"I hope he'll recover enough to attend Fujima-san's wake..."
"I hope so too, Kiyota... I really hope so too..."
Shohoku Highschool
12:30 PM
"Mitsui-san..."
Mitsui jumped at the mention of his name
"Oi! Miyagi! Don't go scaring me like that." Said a white faced Mitsui.
"So are you coming with us later? You know to Fujima-san's wake at the memorial chapel." Miyagi
smugly asked.
"Yes, I will. Fujima and I... we're not really friends but I respect the guy." He answered his
face downcast.
"Anou... tell me Mitsui-san, what are you doing here in the gym anyways? It's lunch time and
lately I always see you walking towards the gym... so now, I kinda followed you."
"I don't know Ryota. Maybe I haven't let go yet, I dunno..." Mitsui replied looking at
nothingness in the gymnasium.
"Even Akagi-san noticed that week long distant look on your face..." he told Mitsui, "we're
worried about you, you know... and we just wanna tell you that we're always here. Heck! Even
Rukawa's worried about you!"
Mitsui slightly grinned at the thought of Rukawa being concerned other than his do ahou. But
that grin disappeared quicly.
"I know that if Min-kun was here, he'll tell me to just accept and live again. But that's easier
said than done. No matter how I want to live again, there's always a part of me that died. And
up to now, I'm still grieving." Mitsui said with loneliness present in his face and voice.
"I... I just can't let go yet... maybe if the killer is arrested... then maybe I can let go..."
"I guess so..."
A comforting silence settled itself between the two players.
"I think Anzai-sensei and Kogure would still want us to continue playing."
"Akagi!" Mitsui and Miyagi are both surprised to see the big guy behind them.
"How long have you been there?" asked Mitsui while settling to seat down on the gym floor.
"Long enough."
Miyagi sighed "You're right Akagi-san, Kogure-san and Anzai-sensei would still want us to
continue our dream, demo, it's just hard for us. Both of them mean so much to us."
"I know, but I want to try. What do you say? Miyagi? Mitsui?" Akagi asked the two.
"Even if it still hurts me, I'll try too. Just to make Anzai-sensei proud and Min-kun happy."
"Yes. Just to make them happy."
Memorial Chapel
6:20 PM
Almost everyone is present, giving their last respects to Fujima. Surprisingly, Maki was able
to made it to Fujima's wake along with his teammates, but he just kept on staring at the
white-silvery colored coffin, not crying, not moving.
No one can describe the look of the faces of the Shoyo Basketball team. Hanagata, who was with
the Fujima family since the incident, looks like he run through hell millions of times and still
running. The death of their captain/coach/manager and friend came hitting them like a dear on
the face of an oncoming truck. The lost was just too much for them.
While everyone's walking forth and taking one last look at Fujima Kenji. One guy stayed behind.
Rukawa.
A certain sad red head approached the Ice King. "Hey, why don't you see him? I know he would
want that."
"I can't Hana, I just can't."
Outside the Memorial chapel, just when everyone's starting to go their separate ways. Uozumi
called out Akagi.
"Akagi..." He, along with his teammates met the Shohoku Team. "I know this may sound funny but,
I'm getting paranoid with all these killings." He explained.
"Same here Uozumi." Akagi said. "Seems to me our guesses could be right. That the next victim
will be someone that his/her name starts with the letter A or it's his/her surname."
"I was talking with Hanagata-san a while ago, and he told me the killer took Fujima's wallet.
Like what he did with the others, he takes something from them. Also, he killed Fujima the same
way." Mentioned Ikegami.
"But why would he take Kogure-san's bag, Anzai-sensei's hat and now Fujima-san's wallet? It
doesn't make any sense?!" inquired Sendoh
"Anou... Akagi-san.. a lot people has the letter A as the beginning of their name, demo...
I could feel that somewhat, the next one is still connected to us." Aida Hikoichi voiced out his
thoughts, fearing he maybe the next victim. "Also the killer maybe one of us, but I don't know!
Why would someone would like to kill his teammate and coach?!"
"And we don't even know when he'll attack next!" interjected an exasperated Mitsui.
"That just leaves us in the dump!" said a grumpy Koshino.
"Oi! Smiley! Just like what Gori said, the next victim is someone who's name or surname starts
with A... it might be you." Sakuragi told Sendoh, scaring him at the moment.
Sendoh's smiling face suddenly became stricken with fear.
"And just what do you mean Sakuragi!?" demanded Koshino, raising his fists ready to kill the
red head for frightening his lover.
"Oi! Hanamichi! Don't say such things!" Miyagi elbowed Sakuragi "Even Akagi-san or his sister's
a potential victim, we don't know Sakuragi so you better shut your mouth. And stop saying those
nonsense things."
"I was just saying that you, we guys should be careful!" Sakuragi snapped back at Miyagi,
rubbing his sides. "Don't you think I'm not worried?"
As both of the teams are on their separate ways, Rukawa eyed carefully Sendoh who was also
eyeing him, coincidentally.
"You be careful Akira, that do ahou might be right." Rukawa told Sendoh, his voice lacking the
concern that he really meant. Not waiting for a reply, he immediately went back to join his team.
"I know, and I will Kaede." /I don't want to die just like that/ he then glanced up to the
worried face of his lover. /I won't, I can't leave him./
Ayako's Room
4:45 AM
After one week - Sunday
Ayako stared at his wall clock for a full hour now. "Why the heck am I already awake?" She then
glance outside her window. "hhmm... still dark outside... oh I give up!!! I can't sleep anymore!
Might as well get up for my morning jog."
Getting tired of talking with herself, she then went straight to the bathroom, to freshen up and
get ready. While brushing her hair in her vanity desk, she noticed a post it on her mirror.
/Oh yes, meet Ryota, 6:00 AM at the park for a jog/ She then smiled to herself in front of the
mirror, then noticing her thin face /I look horrible! Must've been because of all the crying
I've been doing. I'm just glad that Ryota's with me or else I might've lost my mind/. She then
went on her way.
Park
5:25 AM
Ayako sat on one of the benches as she waits for her companion. The sun was not fully up yet.
The place was still a bit dark courtesy of the thin layer of fog. The park was still deserted
until she notices a familiar figure jogging up to her place.
"Ohayo! I see you're also up to your morning jog." She greeted the approaching tall person.
"Ohayo!"
"Here!" she patted the available space in the bench. "Take a rest for a while."
Park
6:10
"Kuso! I'm ten minutes late!" Ryota cursed to himself as he looks for his Aya-chan. He then
spotted the bench where they plan to meet. "Where is she? I don't see ... oh no!!!
AYA-CHAN!!!!!!!!!!!!" Ryota screamed as he saw the body of Ayako lying face down on the floor.
/oh please... not her.../ as he neared the bench... it stinks with blood... Ayako's blood
covered the whole bench, still fresh. He also saw the MESSY blood writing that looks like,
4 S.H. Miyagi's fear was confirmed. He's Aya-chan murdered. He cradled her in his arms as
he shed his tears uncontrollably.
Whatever sanity was there with Miyagi that morning, left him.
Part 4
Outside the Sendoh Residence
7:30 PM
Thursday
Just when Sendoh is fumbling to get his keys out of his messily stuffed gym bag, someone tapped
his shoulder from behind. Startled, Sendoh as if on reflex swung his arm. Hitting...
"Itai!" Rukawa straight in the face. "What was that for?" He irritatedly asked.
"Kaede-kun! Gomen nasai! I didn't know it's you! It's dark and all you know... and you startled
me!" Sendoh explained. "By the way," he found his keys and went inside the house with Rukawa.
"What are you doing here at this time?" he asked while gesturing Rukawa to sit on the couch.
"He's dead, Akira. He's killed." He replied in a straight face but his voice can't hide the
pain.
"Oh... I know... I'm sorry about Anzai-sensei, Kaede, I really am."
"Ahou! It's Fujima I'm talking about..."
*THUMP* Instead of sitting beside Rukawa, Sendoh fell on the floor.
"Nani!? Fujima!?!?!?" now a very pale faced Senoh. "But, I just saw him during the tribute for
Anzai-senei last Tuesday! How can he be dead?"
"He died the next day which was yesterday." Rukawa's now getting annoyed by Sendoh's ignorance.
"Haven't you heard in the news or in school?"
Sendoh's now yet again, rendered speechless.
"Akira, Hana asked me this, 'why did this have to happen?' I didn't have an answer for him. I
know the pain but I don't know why this has to happen either!" Rukawa surprisingly exclaimed in
front of Sendoh. "Somehow, I feel that someone close or dear to me dies." Tears appeared in
Rukawa's eyes but refusing to fall as he remembered his late mother and his murdered friends and
mentor.
"I don't know too, Kaede." Sendoh, now looking at Rukawa, waiting for him to continue talking
but, no, he didn't talk for quite a while. Standing up to switch on the TV, Sendoh's phone
suddenly rang.
"Moshi, moshi, Sendoh desu."
After a few minutes, Sendoh returned to accompany Rukawa in the couch.
"That was Hiro-kun. He found out just now from Hikoichi and told me everything." Sendoh then
stared at Rukawa. "It's really getting creepy, Kaede. They all died... killed the same way.
Hiro-kun and the others think that the killer left the number to mark the number of the people
he already killed and the letters are the clue to who he will kill next. And he also told me
that beside Fujima-san's corpse, there written the no. 3 and the letter A again. And... Kaede!
Are you all right?... He saw tears running down Rukawa's emotionless face.
"Last Tuesday night, he called me up Akira. Asking how I am doing with all this bad stuff
happening around Shohoku. He's still my friend and I still care for him. But now... he's the one
killed. Murdered." Rukawa said that in his still stoic but wet face. /why did he have to die?
I only have a few friends and he's one of them... why?!/
Rukawa just stayed there, Sendoh giving company and comfort.
Kainan University, High School Cafeteria.
11:45 AM
Friday
"Jin-san, How is Maki-san?" Kiyota worriedly asked, stumbling to balance his lunch tray as he
hurriedly sat down with his teammate. "I haven't seen him all morning."
"He didn't come to school, Kiyota, since yesterday he was absent." Jin replied while playing
with this food. He lost his appetite weeks ago since the killing started.
He and Kiyota are the only ones in the team that knew the relationship of Fujima with Maki. And
it's not the rivalry kind of relationship it's the opposite in fact. And now that Fujima's dead,
Maki was never himself again.
"Yesterday, when I was dropping by his place to hand him his assignment and also to see how's
he's taking the death of Fujima," Jin continued "his mother told me that he doesn't want to see
anyone and wouldn't come out of his room, not even to eat. He locked himself in! He's in a
horrible state right now." Jin said while shaking his head.
"I hope he'll recover enough to attend Fujima-san's wake..."
"I hope so too, Kiyota... I really hope so too..."
Shohoku Highschool
12:30 PM
"Mitsui-san..."
Mitsui jumped at the mention of his name
"Oi! Miyagi! Don't go scaring me like that." Said a white faced Mitsui.
"So are you coming with us later? You know to Fujima-san's wake at the memorial chapel." Miyagi
smugly asked.
"Yes, I will. Fujima and I... we're not really friends but I respect the guy." He answered his
face downcast.
"Anou... tell me Mitsui-san, what are you doing here in the gym anyways? It's lunch time and
lately I always see you walking towards the gym... so now, I kinda followed you."
"I don't know Ryota. Maybe I haven't let go yet, I dunno..." Mitsui replied looking at
nothingness in the gymnasium.
"Even Akagi-san noticed that week long distant look on your face..." he told Mitsui, "we're
worried about you, you know... and we just wanna tell you that we're always here. Heck! Even
Rukawa's worried about you!"
Mitsui slightly grinned at the thought of Rukawa being concerned other than his do ahou. But
that grin disappeared quicly.
"I know that if Min-kun was here, he'll tell me to just accept and live again. But that's easier
said than done. No matter how I want to live again, there's always a part of me that died. And
up to now, I'm still grieving." Mitsui said with loneliness present in his face and voice.
"I... I just can't let go yet... maybe if the killer is arrested... then maybe I can let go..."
"I guess so..."
A comforting silence settled itself between the two players.
"I think Anzai-sensei and Kogure would still want us to continue playing."
"Akagi!" Mitsui and Miyagi are both surprised to see the big guy behind them.
"How long have you been there?" asked Mitsui while settling to seat down on the gym floor.
"Long enough."
Miyagi sighed "You're right Akagi-san, Kogure-san and Anzai-sensei would still want us to
continue our dream, demo, it's just hard for us. Both of them mean so much to us."
"I know, but I want to try. What do you say? Miyagi? Mitsui?" Akagi asked the two.
"Even if it still hurts me, I'll try too. Just to make Anzai-sensei proud and Min-kun happy."
"Yes. Just to make them happy."
Memorial Chapel
6:20 PM
Almost everyone is present, giving their last respects to Fujima. Surprisingly, Maki was able
to made it to Fujima's wake along with his teammates, but he just kept on staring at the
white-silvery colored coffin, not crying, not moving.
No one can describe the look of the faces of the Shoyo Basketball team. Hanagata, who was with
the Fujima family since the incident, looks like he run through hell millions of times and still
running. The death of their captain/coach/manager and friend came hitting them like a dear on
the face of an oncoming truck. The lost was just too much for them.
While everyone's walking forth and taking one last look at Fujima Kenji. One guy stayed behind.
Rukawa.
A certain sad red head approached the Ice King. "Hey, why don't you see him? I know he would
want that."
"I can't Hana, I just can't."
Outside the Memorial chapel, just when everyone's starting to go their separate ways. Uozumi
called out Akagi.
"Akagi..." He, along with his teammates met the Shohoku Team. "I know this may sound funny but,
I'm getting paranoid with all these killings." He explained.
"Same here Uozumi." Akagi said. "Seems to me our guesses could be right. That the next victim
will be someone that his/her name starts with the letter A or it's his/her surname."
"I was talking with Hanagata-san a while ago, and he told me the killer took Fujima's wallet.
Like what he did with the others, he takes something from them. Also, he killed Fujima the same
way." Mentioned Ikegami.
"But why would he take Kogure-san's bag, Anzai-sensei's hat and now Fujima-san's wallet? It
doesn't make any sense?!" inquired Sendoh
"Anou... Akagi-san.. a lot people has the letter A as the beginning of their name, demo...
I could feel that somewhat, the next one is still connected to us." Aida Hikoichi voiced out his
thoughts, fearing he maybe the next victim. "Also the killer maybe one of us, but I don't know!
Why would someone would like to kill his teammate and coach?!"
"And we don't even know when he'll attack next!" interjected an exasperated Mitsui.
"That just leaves us in the dump!" said a grumpy Koshino.
"Oi! Smiley! Just like what Gori said, the next victim is someone who's name or surname starts
with A... it might be you." Sakuragi told Sendoh, scaring him at the moment.
Sendoh's smiling face suddenly became stricken with fear.
"And just what do you mean Sakuragi!?" demanded Koshino, raising his fists ready to kill the
red head for frightening his lover.
"Oi! Hanamichi! Don't say such things!" Miyagi elbowed Sakuragi "Even Akagi-san or his sister's
a potential victim, we don't know Sakuragi so you better shut your mouth. And stop saying those
nonsense things."
"I was just saying that you, we guys should be careful!" Sakuragi snapped back at Miyagi,
rubbing his sides. "Don't you think I'm not worried?"
As both of the teams are on their separate ways, Rukawa eyed carefully Sendoh who was also
eyeing him, coincidentally.
"You be careful Akira, that do ahou might be right." Rukawa told Sendoh, his voice lacking the
concern that he really meant. Not waiting for a reply, he immediately went back to join his team.
"I know, and I will Kaede." /I don't want to die just like that/ he then glanced up to the
worried face of his lover. /I won't, I can't leave him./
Ayako's Room
4:45 AM
After one week - Sunday
Ayako stared at his wall clock for a full hour now. "Why the heck am I already awake?" She then
glance outside her window. "hhmm... still dark outside... oh I give up!!! I can't sleep anymore!
Might as well get up for my morning jog."
Getting tired of talking with herself, she then went straight to the bathroom, to freshen up and
get ready. While brushing her hair in her vanity desk, she noticed a post it on her mirror.
/Oh yes, meet Ryota, 6:00 AM at the park for a jog/ She then smiled to herself in front of the
mirror, then noticing her thin face /I look horrible! Must've been because of all the crying
I've been doing. I'm just glad that Ryota's with me or else I might've lost my mind/. She then
went on her way.
Park
5:25 AM
Ayako sat on one of the benches as she waits for her companion. The sun was not fully up yet.
The place was still a bit dark courtesy of the thin layer of fog. The park was still deserted
until she notices a familiar figure jogging up to her place.
"Ohayo! I see you're also up to your morning jog." She greeted the approaching tall person.
"Ohayo!"
"Here!" she patted the available space in the bench. "Take a rest for a while."
Park
6:10
"Kuso! I'm ten minutes late!" Ryota cursed to himself as he looks for his Aya-chan. He then
spotted the bench where they plan to meet. "Where is she? I don't see ... oh no!!!
AYA-CHAN!!!!!!!!!!!!" Ryota screamed as he saw the body of Ayako lying face down on the floor.
/oh please... not her.../ as he neared the bench... it stinks with blood... Ayako's blood
covered the whole bench, still fresh. He also saw the MESSY blood writing that looks like,
4 S.H. Miyagi's fear was confirmed. He's Aya-chan murdered. He cradled her in his arms as
he shed his tears uncontrollably.
Whatever sanity was there with Miyagi that morning, left him.