Mito
"I heard what happened," Haruko says excitedly.
"What did you hear?" I ask, slightly amused.
"Sakuragi-chan's going to play basketball again!"
"Oh? And who told you that?"
"We did!" Noma, Okusu and Takamiya magically appear from behind the corner.
"Really. And you believe them?" I snort.
Haruko gasps. "You mean she's not? Oh! I really hoped Sakuragi-chan would come back to the club! They miss her a lot!"
"Really?" a voice came wafting over, sounding very amused.
"Sakuragi-chan!" Haruko flings herself at the other girl excitedly.
"Aa..anou...." Sakuragi laughs nervously, a bit startled.
"Are you going to play basketball again? Please say yes!" Haruko begs her.
"Aa......"
"D'aho."
Sakuragi whips around upon hearing the voice.
"Kitsune!" she scowls. I note that her eyes are shining a little as she looks at him though.
"D'aho. Don't block the hallway."
"Teme kitsune!" she calls after him as he brushes past.
"Hnn."
Haruko has let go of her as Rukawa strode past. The girl is hopelessly in love with him, anyone can see that. The kitsune, however, is obviously oblivious. Or simply ignorant. Or doesn't give a damn.
Anyhow, he ignores her adoring eyes and instead turns to give a final glance at Sakuragi before entering his classroom.
"D'aho. Don't forget."
And is that actually a smile I see on the Ice King's face?
Sakuragi
For some reason, I can't wait for school to end. I haven't been paying attention the whole day. I know I'm missing out a lot but I can always ask my classmates. They'll be more than happy to help me out, I'm sure.
Mito
She's been staring into space with a secretive smile on her face the whole day. I can guess what she's thinking about. Or, to be more precise, WHO she's thinking about.
Akagi
"Go- I mean, Sempai," Rukawa walks up to me suddenly, and tugs me aside.
"What is it Rukawa?" I ask, trying not to sound too surprised that the Ice King of Shohoku has just walked up to me and wants to have a private word.
"Can the d'aho join again?"
"What?" Did I hear that correctly?
"The d'aho. Can she join the team again?"
I gape speechless at him. He's asking me if Sakuragi can re-join the team? What is the world coming to? I thought those two were like a cat and a dog.
"Sakuragi? She wants to join the club again?" I ask. I know I sound stupid but I feel the need to allay my doubts.
He nods.
"Well......I guess she can. What made her change her mind?" I ask, curious.
"Me."
Rukawa
Well, I made sure Gori would accept her in the team again. It was easier than I expected- they obviously miss the d'aho. Come to think of it, I do too. That's why I challenged her to a one-on-one match. I knew it was a handicapped game, but I don't care. I want her back in the team. That's all I care about.
Sakuragi
School's out! I'm on my way to the gym, with a bunch of 'friends'. My real friends are somewhere behind me.....why is it that these posers are near me while my friends are not? I'm still not used to all this socializing.
I enter the gym somewhat shyly. Ayako and Megane-kun catch sight of me and rush over.
"Sakuragi-chan! Are you back to play basketball again?" they ask excitedly.
I nod shyly.
"Yokatta!" Ayako gives me a hug while Megane-kun slaps me lightly on the back.
"Ano......can I join the club again?" I ask awkwardly.
"Of course! Of course! Wait till Miyagi and Mitsui hear this! They'll be so happy to have you back!" Megane-kun tells me excitedly.
"Ano....what about Gori?"
"Baka!" A fist connects itself with my head sending my head spinning.
"Itai! Teme Gori!" I cry out. There's only one person who ever punches my head.
"I'm not Gori! My name is Akagi!"
"Hai hai....." I sulk.
"Say it."
"Say what?"
"Say my name."
"Gori," I say stubbornly.
Another punch on the head.
"Itai! Teme Gori! It hurts!"
"Then stop calling me Gori!"
"But that's your name! If I don't call you Gori, what do I call you then?"
His vein almost pops. "BAKA MONGA!!!!!!!!!"
Fortunately Megane-kun stops him in time.
"Maa maa, Akagi! You'll kill her if you keep punching her," he tells him.
"She deserves it!"
"Hear that Megane-kun? Gori wants me dead!" I say tearfully.
"I'm not Gori!" he shouts at me.
"Sou da."
Gori stops and stares.
"So you'll stop calling me that?" he asks, unable to conceal the wonder in his voice.
Yeah right.
"Iie," I answer cheekily.
"Why you!!!!" He chases me around the gym.
Youhei and the others are laughing their heads off.
"Hanami-chan! You sure know how to make a gorilla mad!" guffaws Takamiya.
That was definitely not the right thing to say, because seconds later, he was lying on the floor with a huge lump on his head.
Poor thing. You need to have a thick skull to survive his Gori punches. I wonder if he'll live.
Rukawa
What's that ruckus coming from the gym?
Ah. She's here already. No wonder there's a racket going on.
"D'aho," I say.
"Teme kitsune!" she breaks off her argument with Mitsui and Miyagi.
I sigh.
Her eyes narrow and she looks at me suspiciously.
"What are you looking at d'aho?"
"Nothing." And she resumes her argument with the two of them.
Haruko
I heard some girls saying that Sakuragi-chan is in the gym playing basketball so I rushed there with Fujii-chan and Matsui-chan.
Sure enough Sakuragi-chan was there, engaged in a fierce argument of sorts with Miyagi-san and Mitsui-san. I was so happy to see her that I forgot Rukawa was there and squealed in delight, hugging Sakuragi-chan as if she were my bolster.
Sakuragi
"Aa..ano, Haruko-san?" I try to remove her death grip on my neck. "I can't breathe."
"Ah! Gomen! Gomen!" she removes her hands immediately and apologizes. "I'm just so happy to see you here!"
"Iie...daijoubu desu..." I rub my neck to try to get some feeling back into it.
"Well, if you've all said your hellos, I'd like to start the session now," Akagi says irritably.
"Hai hai....." I say in response.
Ayako
"You," I point my fan at her.
"Huh?"
"You. The other court. Go." I shoo her into the empty court.
"Demo Ayako-san! Why?" she wails.
"You need to practice shooting, that's why."
"B-but why can't I practice passing?" she asks.
"Because you're already good at that. And at everything else but shooting. So we're going to focus on your shots," I tell her.
"How are we going to do that?" she asks, "You saw me last time- and there was nothing wrong with how I shot! The ball just won't go in!"
"Oh, I'll just be standing here to watch you. I won't be teaching you how to shoot," I say.
"Sou? Who's going to teach me then?"
"HOHOHOHOHO~" a cheerful voice drifts over from the doorway.
"Anzai-sensei!" All of us greet him and bow.
Sakuragi
Who's this tub of lard?
"This is Anzai-sensei, our coach," Ayako introduces him to me.
I bow slightly, out of respect. Seriously, he's a coach?
"He used to be a national player," she went on to say.
I try to visualize him in basketball attire and running after the ball. No can do. It's too gross a sight.
"HOHOHOHOHO~ Sakuragi-chan, I've heard a lot about you," the tubby man laughs heartily.
"You have, oyaji?" I ask, surprised. I didn't know I was so famous.
"BAKA! Don't call him that!" Mitsui yells at me.
"Why?" I ask. I mean why not? Why can't I call him that? He is an old man after all.
"Show some respect baka!" Miyagi reprimands me.
"Hai hai...." I sigh.
The barrel with legs only laughs harder.
"HOHOHOHOHOHO~ you're a lively one, Sakuragi-chan!"
I don't say anything.
"Akagi told me you're a fantastic dribbler and an excellent point guard. But, you need to learn how to shoot I hear," he laughs.
"That's not funny," I say, my voice a little sulky.
Ayako jabs me in the ribs. "Don't worry, he's not laughing at you. He's always laughing."
"Hontou ni?"
She nods.
Okay then.
I stare at his smiling face a little while longer before saying, "So, oyaji, are we just going to stand around here all day or are you going to teach me how to shoot?"
Predictably enough, he laughs.
"Show me how you shoot," he tells me.
I nod and comply. I run in for a lay-up shot. The ball rebounds against the net as it always does.
"I see. Do you know what you're doing wrong?" he asks.
"Iie. No one can tell me either."
"You need to lay the ball."
"Aren't I laying the ball already?" I ask.
He laughs. "HOHOHOHOHO~ you're doing it wrongly. There's no need for you to thrust the ball up into the net. Just push it up gently and place it. Use the tips of your fingers to push it into the net."
"Sou da....." I muse. So that's why I haven't been able to score. I've been straining my arm.
"Try to shoot now," he tells me.
I run in for another shot but this time, I follow his advice- I just push the ball lightly and in it goes. For the very first time.
"I did it!" I jump for joy. Youhei and the others celebrate from the sidelines.
"Nice one Hanami!" Youhei calls out to me encouragingly.
"She finally scores! I told you so! You owe me 500 yen!" Okusu holds out his hand triumphantly. Stupid boys! Are they really my friends? They're actually betting on me!
"Very nice, Sakuragi-chan," praises Anzai-sensei.
I smile.
"Now, can you repeat that?"
I nod. "Of course."
Akagi
We all turned around when her laughter rang throughout the gym.
So, I see she's finally scored her first goal. Let's see if she can do it again.
I take that back.
Ayako
Once she's placed a shot, the ball just keeps going in. It's like she's perfected everything already and is just doing it again and again. I've never seen such a swift learner in my life.
And obviously, neither has Anzai-sensei nor any of the others. Sempai looks amazed.
"Ganbatte yo Sakuragi-chan!" I call out.
She flashes a thumbs-up at me and goes in for another shot.
That's her nineteenth consecutive successful shot. Very nice.
Haruko
Sakuragi-chan is a tensai! She's shooting faultlessly now! After just some advice from Anzai-sensei, without any demonstration whatsoever, she's shooting as if she's played basketball all her life! I'm so happy she changed her mind about basketball!
Matsui
I'm impressed.
Fujii
Sugoii....
Takamiya
"Kakoii ne, Hana-chan!"
Okusu
"Ganbatte Hanami!"
Noma
"Hanami! Hanami!"
Mito
You show them, Hana.
Rukawa
Hnn. So she can shoot. The only thing she was doing wrong before was that she was straining her arm too much. I could have told her that, but why bother?
Sakuragi
Hah. Easy peasy.
"What's next oyaji?"
"HOHOHOHOHOHO~ I think we can move on with the more advanced shots now, ne?" he laughs.
I smile in agreement.
"We'll try to shoot from outside. That should be simple enough."
"Hai."
"You stand with your legs apart, knees bent a little and aim to shoot. Then push upwards so that you transfer more energy to the ball," Anzai-sensei instructs me.
"Hai. Wakateruu."
The ball goes sailing in, in a perfect arc.
"Beautiful form," he praises me.
"I'll do it again," I tell him. This is fun.
Practice is over and I'm anything but tired. I keep shooting, again and again.
Mitsui and Miyagi come over to compliment me. I'm so happy I give them both a hug. Mitsui, being Mitsui, steals a quick kiss, making me blush furiously. Miyagi is contented with just a hug. After all, he already belongs to Ayako-san, even if she denies it.
They promised to come watch me swim tomorrow since there's no practice. Cool.
The others all leave but not before congratulating me. I feel so accomplished. They're kicking up a fuss over nothing. It's about time my shots went it. It's no big deal. Well, actually it is, but I'm not going to show it. That first outburst was quite embarrassing.
The kitsune's nowhere in sight. Maybe he already left. Oh well. I just wanted to thank him anyway. Nothing much. I can always thank him another time.
I guess that's enough shooting for now. I'm ravenous. The boys have already gone. They had offered to wait but I insisted that they leave first. I never know what time I'll stop. Anyway, I guess I have to cook dinner tonight. I sigh as I place the ball in the cage.
"What are you sighing for, d'aho," came that all too familiar voice.
"Kitsune," I turn to face him, surprised, "You're still here!"
"Obviously," he deadpanned. He was leaning against the doorframe, blocking the passage. His tall stature looked elegant as he was silhouetted against the dim lighting of the locker room. I blush and turn away. I hope he didn't see that.
He came into the room and opened his locker. I could smell the cologne he had on him. Nice.
"Ano...kitsune," I begin, cheeks heating up for no reason, "arigatou."
His eyebrow shoots up.
"I'm not going to say why," I say stubbornly, "that's all I'm going to say. Arigatou."
"Hnn." He snorts. "D'aho."
I decide to let the insult pass.
"Jya ne kitsune," I say to him.
"You're leaving already d'aho?" he asks.
"Hai."
"Hnn."
"I've got to cook dinner...I'm starving," I say. Why am I even telling him this?
"You cook?" he asks, surprised.
"Yes. I cook."
He looks me up and down.
Annoyed, I snap at him. "What? I don't look like I can cook?"
"No."
"Stupid kitsune." He's right though. I can't cook for nuts. But I haven't much of a choice anyway. The money he refunded me I used up already. To pay for the electric and water bills. I'm completely broke now. And I still haven't found a job yet.
I sigh. Well, that's the story of my life, like it or not. I trudge slowly out of the room, anything but eager to get home and cook....do I even have anything to cook in the first place? I try to recall. No. Didn't think so. I guess I'll just have to starve, hungry as I am. Ah well, there are kids in Africa and in other parts of Asia where they go without food for days, even weeks. If they can live, so can I. The thought comforts me a little. My stomach's not convinced though.
*GROWL*
Stupid stomach. Can't you shut up for once?
Rukawa
I know she's hungry. I'm guessing she'll starve again tonight. I asked tou-saan's secretary to get me everything she could find about the d'aho. I know she's an orphan, lives alone, and has plenty of useless relatives. Her uncle's loaded and lives in my area but has never bothered to check on his brother's child. The asshole. I'll ask tou-saan to bring the bastard to court for neglect one day.
Right now though, I'm just worried. No one should be allowed to starve when there's plenty of food around. It's like a honeybee surrounded in a forest of acorn trees. Or a grizzly bear in a sugar cane forest. Or a - - why in the world am I going on about this?
She's hungry but isn't complaining. I never finish my food. I feel so spoilt now. Before she walks out of hearing range, I call after her.
"Oi, d'aho."
"What?" She's making a weird face. I think she's really hungry.
"Are you hungry?" I kick myself mentally. Of course she is! Her stomach wouldn't be growling if she weren't!
"Iie. I'm just having a rigorous stomach contraction, that's all," she lies.
"Because you're hungry," I state simply.
"Iie. It happens sometimes for no reason," she smiles artificially. As if I'm going to fall for that. She must think me stupid or something.
"D'aho. Let's go get dinner."
The look on her face was really priceless. I won't forget it anytime soon.
"I heard what happened," Haruko says excitedly.
"What did you hear?" I ask, slightly amused.
"Sakuragi-chan's going to play basketball again!"
"Oh? And who told you that?"
"We did!" Noma, Okusu and Takamiya magically appear from behind the corner.
"Really. And you believe them?" I snort.
Haruko gasps. "You mean she's not? Oh! I really hoped Sakuragi-chan would come back to the club! They miss her a lot!"
"Really?" a voice came wafting over, sounding very amused.
"Sakuragi-chan!" Haruko flings herself at the other girl excitedly.
"Aa..anou...." Sakuragi laughs nervously, a bit startled.
"Are you going to play basketball again? Please say yes!" Haruko begs her.
"Aa......"
"D'aho."
Sakuragi whips around upon hearing the voice.
"Kitsune!" she scowls. I note that her eyes are shining a little as she looks at him though.
"D'aho. Don't block the hallway."
"Teme kitsune!" she calls after him as he brushes past.
"Hnn."
Haruko has let go of her as Rukawa strode past. The girl is hopelessly in love with him, anyone can see that. The kitsune, however, is obviously oblivious. Or simply ignorant. Or doesn't give a damn.
Anyhow, he ignores her adoring eyes and instead turns to give a final glance at Sakuragi before entering his classroom.
"D'aho. Don't forget."
And is that actually a smile I see on the Ice King's face?
Sakuragi
For some reason, I can't wait for school to end. I haven't been paying attention the whole day. I know I'm missing out a lot but I can always ask my classmates. They'll be more than happy to help me out, I'm sure.
Mito
She's been staring into space with a secretive smile on her face the whole day. I can guess what she's thinking about. Or, to be more precise, WHO she's thinking about.
Akagi
"Go- I mean, Sempai," Rukawa walks up to me suddenly, and tugs me aside.
"What is it Rukawa?" I ask, trying not to sound too surprised that the Ice King of Shohoku has just walked up to me and wants to have a private word.
"Can the d'aho join again?"
"What?" Did I hear that correctly?
"The d'aho. Can she join the team again?"
I gape speechless at him. He's asking me if Sakuragi can re-join the team? What is the world coming to? I thought those two were like a cat and a dog.
"Sakuragi? She wants to join the club again?" I ask. I know I sound stupid but I feel the need to allay my doubts.
He nods.
"Well......I guess she can. What made her change her mind?" I ask, curious.
"Me."
Rukawa
Well, I made sure Gori would accept her in the team again. It was easier than I expected- they obviously miss the d'aho. Come to think of it, I do too. That's why I challenged her to a one-on-one match. I knew it was a handicapped game, but I don't care. I want her back in the team. That's all I care about.
Sakuragi
School's out! I'm on my way to the gym, with a bunch of 'friends'. My real friends are somewhere behind me.....why is it that these posers are near me while my friends are not? I'm still not used to all this socializing.
I enter the gym somewhat shyly. Ayako and Megane-kun catch sight of me and rush over.
"Sakuragi-chan! Are you back to play basketball again?" they ask excitedly.
I nod shyly.
"Yokatta!" Ayako gives me a hug while Megane-kun slaps me lightly on the back.
"Ano......can I join the club again?" I ask awkwardly.
"Of course! Of course! Wait till Miyagi and Mitsui hear this! They'll be so happy to have you back!" Megane-kun tells me excitedly.
"Ano....what about Gori?"
"Baka!" A fist connects itself with my head sending my head spinning.
"Itai! Teme Gori!" I cry out. There's only one person who ever punches my head.
"I'm not Gori! My name is Akagi!"
"Hai hai....." I sulk.
"Say it."
"Say what?"
"Say my name."
"Gori," I say stubbornly.
Another punch on the head.
"Itai! Teme Gori! It hurts!"
"Then stop calling me Gori!"
"But that's your name! If I don't call you Gori, what do I call you then?"
His vein almost pops. "BAKA MONGA!!!!!!!!!"
Fortunately Megane-kun stops him in time.
"Maa maa, Akagi! You'll kill her if you keep punching her," he tells him.
"She deserves it!"
"Hear that Megane-kun? Gori wants me dead!" I say tearfully.
"I'm not Gori!" he shouts at me.
"Sou da."
Gori stops and stares.
"So you'll stop calling me that?" he asks, unable to conceal the wonder in his voice.
Yeah right.
"Iie," I answer cheekily.
"Why you!!!!" He chases me around the gym.
Youhei and the others are laughing their heads off.
"Hanami-chan! You sure know how to make a gorilla mad!" guffaws Takamiya.
That was definitely not the right thing to say, because seconds later, he was lying on the floor with a huge lump on his head.
Poor thing. You need to have a thick skull to survive his Gori punches. I wonder if he'll live.
Rukawa
What's that ruckus coming from the gym?
Ah. She's here already. No wonder there's a racket going on.
"D'aho," I say.
"Teme kitsune!" she breaks off her argument with Mitsui and Miyagi.
I sigh.
Her eyes narrow and she looks at me suspiciously.
"What are you looking at d'aho?"
"Nothing." And she resumes her argument with the two of them.
Haruko
I heard some girls saying that Sakuragi-chan is in the gym playing basketball so I rushed there with Fujii-chan and Matsui-chan.
Sure enough Sakuragi-chan was there, engaged in a fierce argument of sorts with Miyagi-san and Mitsui-san. I was so happy to see her that I forgot Rukawa was there and squealed in delight, hugging Sakuragi-chan as if she were my bolster.
Sakuragi
"Aa..ano, Haruko-san?" I try to remove her death grip on my neck. "I can't breathe."
"Ah! Gomen! Gomen!" she removes her hands immediately and apologizes. "I'm just so happy to see you here!"
"Iie...daijoubu desu..." I rub my neck to try to get some feeling back into it.
"Well, if you've all said your hellos, I'd like to start the session now," Akagi says irritably.
"Hai hai....." I say in response.
Ayako
"You," I point my fan at her.
"Huh?"
"You. The other court. Go." I shoo her into the empty court.
"Demo Ayako-san! Why?" she wails.
"You need to practice shooting, that's why."
"B-but why can't I practice passing?" she asks.
"Because you're already good at that. And at everything else but shooting. So we're going to focus on your shots," I tell her.
"How are we going to do that?" she asks, "You saw me last time- and there was nothing wrong with how I shot! The ball just won't go in!"
"Oh, I'll just be standing here to watch you. I won't be teaching you how to shoot," I say.
"Sou? Who's going to teach me then?"
"HOHOHOHOHO~" a cheerful voice drifts over from the doorway.
"Anzai-sensei!" All of us greet him and bow.
Sakuragi
Who's this tub of lard?
"This is Anzai-sensei, our coach," Ayako introduces him to me.
I bow slightly, out of respect. Seriously, he's a coach?
"He used to be a national player," she went on to say.
I try to visualize him in basketball attire and running after the ball. No can do. It's too gross a sight.
"HOHOHOHOHO~ Sakuragi-chan, I've heard a lot about you," the tubby man laughs heartily.
"You have, oyaji?" I ask, surprised. I didn't know I was so famous.
"BAKA! Don't call him that!" Mitsui yells at me.
"Why?" I ask. I mean why not? Why can't I call him that? He is an old man after all.
"Show some respect baka!" Miyagi reprimands me.
"Hai hai...." I sigh.
The barrel with legs only laughs harder.
"HOHOHOHOHOHO~ you're a lively one, Sakuragi-chan!"
I don't say anything.
"Akagi told me you're a fantastic dribbler and an excellent point guard. But, you need to learn how to shoot I hear," he laughs.
"That's not funny," I say, my voice a little sulky.
Ayako jabs me in the ribs. "Don't worry, he's not laughing at you. He's always laughing."
"Hontou ni?"
She nods.
Okay then.
I stare at his smiling face a little while longer before saying, "So, oyaji, are we just going to stand around here all day or are you going to teach me how to shoot?"
Predictably enough, he laughs.
"Show me how you shoot," he tells me.
I nod and comply. I run in for a lay-up shot. The ball rebounds against the net as it always does.
"I see. Do you know what you're doing wrong?" he asks.
"Iie. No one can tell me either."
"You need to lay the ball."
"Aren't I laying the ball already?" I ask.
He laughs. "HOHOHOHOHO~ you're doing it wrongly. There's no need for you to thrust the ball up into the net. Just push it up gently and place it. Use the tips of your fingers to push it into the net."
"Sou da....." I muse. So that's why I haven't been able to score. I've been straining my arm.
"Try to shoot now," he tells me.
I run in for another shot but this time, I follow his advice- I just push the ball lightly and in it goes. For the very first time.
"I did it!" I jump for joy. Youhei and the others celebrate from the sidelines.
"Nice one Hanami!" Youhei calls out to me encouragingly.
"She finally scores! I told you so! You owe me 500 yen!" Okusu holds out his hand triumphantly. Stupid boys! Are they really my friends? They're actually betting on me!
"Very nice, Sakuragi-chan," praises Anzai-sensei.
I smile.
"Now, can you repeat that?"
I nod. "Of course."
Akagi
We all turned around when her laughter rang throughout the gym.
So, I see she's finally scored her first goal. Let's see if she can do it again.
I take that back.
Ayako
Once she's placed a shot, the ball just keeps going in. It's like she's perfected everything already and is just doing it again and again. I've never seen such a swift learner in my life.
And obviously, neither has Anzai-sensei nor any of the others. Sempai looks amazed.
"Ganbatte yo Sakuragi-chan!" I call out.
She flashes a thumbs-up at me and goes in for another shot.
That's her nineteenth consecutive successful shot. Very nice.
Haruko
Sakuragi-chan is a tensai! She's shooting faultlessly now! After just some advice from Anzai-sensei, without any demonstration whatsoever, she's shooting as if she's played basketball all her life! I'm so happy she changed her mind about basketball!
Matsui
I'm impressed.
Fujii
Sugoii....
Takamiya
"Kakoii ne, Hana-chan!"
Okusu
"Ganbatte Hanami!"
Noma
"Hanami! Hanami!"
Mito
You show them, Hana.
Rukawa
Hnn. So she can shoot. The only thing she was doing wrong before was that she was straining her arm too much. I could have told her that, but why bother?
Sakuragi
Hah. Easy peasy.
"What's next oyaji?"
"HOHOHOHOHOHO~ I think we can move on with the more advanced shots now, ne?" he laughs.
I smile in agreement.
"We'll try to shoot from outside. That should be simple enough."
"Hai."
"You stand with your legs apart, knees bent a little and aim to shoot. Then push upwards so that you transfer more energy to the ball," Anzai-sensei instructs me.
"Hai. Wakateruu."
The ball goes sailing in, in a perfect arc.
"Beautiful form," he praises me.
"I'll do it again," I tell him. This is fun.
Practice is over and I'm anything but tired. I keep shooting, again and again.
Mitsui and Miyagi come over to compliment me. I'm so happy I give them both a hug. Mitsui, being Mitsui, steals a quick kiss, making me blush furiously. Miyagi is contented with just a hug. After all, he already belongs to Ayako-san, even if she denies it.
They promised to come watch me swim tomorrow since there's no practice. Cool.
The others all leave but not before congratulating me. I feel so accomplished. They're kicking up a fuss over nothing. It's about time my shots went it. It's no big deal. Well, actually it is, but I'm not going to show it. That first outburst was quite embarrassing.
The kitsune's nowhere in sight. Maybe he already left. Oh well. I just wanted to thank him anyway. Nothing much. I can always thank him another time.
I guess that's enough shooting for now. I'm ravenous. The boys have already gone. They had offered to wait but I insisted that they leave first. I never know what time I'll stop. Anyway, I guess I have to cook dinner tonight. I sigh as I place the ball in the cage.
"What are you sighing for, d'aho," came that all too familiar voice.
"Kitsune," I turn to face him, surprised, "You're still here!"
"Obviously," he deadpanned. He was leaning against the doorframe, blocking the passage. His tall stature looked elegant as he was silhouetted against the dim lighting of the locker room. I blush and turn away. I hope he didn't see that.
He came into the room and opened his locker. I could smell the cologne he had on him. Nice.
"Ano...kitsune," I begin, cheeks heating up for no reason, "arigatou."
His eyebrow shoots up.
"I'm not going to say why," I say stubbornly, "that's all I'm going to say. Arigatou."
"Hnn." He snorts. "D'aho."
I decide to let the insult pass.
"Jya ne kitsune," I say to him.
"You're leaving already d'aho?" he asks.
"Hai."
"Hnn."
"I've got to cook dinner...I'm starving," I say. Why am I even telling him this?
"You cook?" he asks, surprised.
"Yes. I cook."
He looks me up and down.
Annoyed, I snap at him. "What? I don't look like I can cook?"
"No."
"Stupid kitsune." He's right though. I can't cook for nuts. But I haven't much of a choice anyway. The money he refunded me I used up already. To pay for the electric and water bills. I'm completely broke now. And I still haven't found a job yet.
I sigh. Well, that's the story of my life, like it or not. I trudge slowly out of the room, anything but eager to get home and cook....do I even have anything to cook in the first place? I try to recall. No. Didn't think so. I guess I'll just have to starve, hungry as I am. Ah well, there are kids in Africa and in other parts of Asia where they go without food for days, even weeks. If they can live, so can I. The thought comforts me a little. My stomach's not convinced though.
*GROWL*
Stupid stomach. Can't you shut up for once?
Rukawa
I know she's hungry. I'm guessing she'll starve again tonight. I asked tou-saan's secretary to get me everything she could find about the d'aho. I know she's an orphan, lives alone, and has plenty of useless relatives. Her uncle's loaded and lives in my area but has never bothered to check on his brother's child. The asshole. I'll ask tou-saan to bring the bastard to court for neglect one day.
Right now though, I'm just worried. No one should be allowed to starve when there's plenty of food around. It's like a honeybee surrounded in a forest of acorn trees. Or a grizzly bear in a sugar cane forest. Or a - - why in the world am I going on about this?
She's hungry but isn't complaining. I never finish my food. I feel so spoilt now. Before she walks out of hearing range, I call after her.
"Oi, d'aho."
"What?" She's making a weird face. I think she's really hungry.
"Are you hungry?" I kick myself mentally. Of course she is! Her stomach wouldn't be growling if she weren't!
"Iie. I'm just having a rigorous stomach contraction, that's all," she lies.
"Because you're hungry," I state simply.
"Iie. It happens sometimes for no reason," she smiles artificially. As if I'm going to fall for that. She must think me stupid or something.
"D'aho. Let's go get dinner."
The look on her face was really priceless. I won't forget it anytime soon.