Count your blessings By shinichimakigal
Disclaimer: I do not own any Slam Dunk characters so dun bother suing coz I am broke.
Slamdunk-serene: Mitsui cute, ne? Haha. read on!!!
Akane: Haha! Yup, it's just getting started! By the way, love your fic: Moonlight Sonata! It rules!
Chapter 21: A lifetime of sadness
Later that evening.
"Hey Kyo!" Mitsui greeted Aya's brother as he opened the door. Mitsui, Ayumi and Kogure were there to pick Aya up for a celebration at Charlie's.
"Hey guys. You all going out?" Kyo asked after Kogure introduced himself.
"Yeah, we are going to Charlie's to celebrate. We are just here to pick up Aya and then we will be on our way," Ayumi replied.
"Oh, alright then," Kyo said. He then called to Aya. "Aya, your friends are here. I am going now alright?" "Bye!" Aya called back.
Kyo sighed. "She's been feeling down since she came back from the match today. Try to cheer her up, ok?" he said, before bidding farewell to them.
"Hey Aya! Ready to go?" Ayumi asked her friend who was sprawled on the couch staring at the television.
"Go where?" Aya replied, not taking her eyes off the screen.
"Charlie's. Didn't anyone tell you? Anzai-sensei called a small celebration party for our victory today," Ayumi explained confused, turning to Mitsui who was supposed to spread the message.
Mitsui shrugged. "Don't look at me. I couldn't get through to her line so I left a message on her machine." True enough, the button was blinking.
"Never mind then. Come on, Aya. We are going to be late," Ayumi said, pulling her friend up. Aya just shrugged out of her grip.
"I am not going," she replied plainly.
"Why the hell not?" Ayumi exclaimed as Kogure sweat dropped. He had never heard her curse before.
Aya just stuck out 3 fingers and ticked them off as she replied. "Number 1: I have too many things on my mind to celebrate. Number 2: I am busy. And number 3: I have better things to do."
"What, watch the home shopping channel? And can't you just put off all you have in your mind for just one night? I know you are thinking about the scholarship. Just forget about, for just tonight," Ayumi pleaded.
Aya sighed as she looked into her friend's face. "Do I have to?"
"Great! Thanks, Aya!" Ayumi exclaimed as she rushed into her room, picked out a skirt and a tank-top and packed her small hand bag with her phone and her wallet. "Here, go change."
"1 condition: I am not going to change," Aya said. She was wearing a loose white cardigan and light blue jeans.
Ayumi just smiled. "I know better than to negotiate with you, so okay. Let's go," pushing Aya out of the door and handed her the bag.
"God, you look awful!" Mitsui exclaimed. "Are you going to the club like this?"
"Whatever," Aya just sighed as they descended down the elevator.
"What the hell were you thinking, you baka! She looks perfect and you know it! I mean, just look at the way the cardigan perfectly compliments her tan skin. And her hair! God, she looks just like an angel. You, on the other hand, look like trash!" his mind scolded him.
Mitsui rolled his eyes. "Like she said, whatever," he mumbled to himself.
"Did you say something?" Kogure asked him. Mitsui just shook his head no and mentally scolded himself for speaking out loud to himself.
"Well, then. Have you guys received any scholarship offers yet?" Anzai sensei asked the senior students.
Kogure shook his head no. "Sensei, most scouts wait till the championships are over. Unless they are completely convinced that they really want you, they don't send out offers till they are convinced. That means you have to be really, really good," he explained.
"Then, Aya, you should be very proud of yourself," Ayumi gushed. "She got an offer from the Shizukawa College," she explained as everyone's eyes widened.
"Shizukawa! Wow! I always wanted to go there!" Mitsui exclaimed.
"Congratulations, Aya-san!" congratulated Anzai-sensei.
"Huh?" Aya stopped staring at her glass of juice and looked up as she heard her name.
"On getting the scholarship," Anzai-sensei added.
Aya just sighed. "Thank you," she replied before going back to twirling her straw and staring at the glass.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Shohoku's basketball team," boomed a voice from the darkness.
"Uozumi, what are you doing here," Akagi greeted his opponent as the Ryonan team stepped into the light.
"Just out. Lost the bet that Shoyo was going to beat you guys," Uozumi simply said as Akagi fumed. Sakuragi stomped over to them and started fighting with them too.
Sendoh, on the other hand, noticed Aya and went and squatted beside her chair. "Hey, I wondered where you went," he said softly. When she did not reply, he rested his hand on hers and called her again.
"Huh? Oh, hi," Aya greeted, before resuming her stare war with the glass.
"You don't seem very happy to see me," Sendoh commented. "Aya, look at me," he ordered. When she did not move, he said, "You have something on your face."
"Where?" Aya asked, turning to face him. As soon as she turned her face, Sendoh captured her lips in a breath-taking kiss. Aya tried to squirm out of his kiss but gave in when she realized that she couldn't.
Ayako watched her senior kiss her boyfriend and turned to face Mitsui. He had turned away from them and was watching the bartender make some drinks. She smiled knowingly as she sighed with happiness for Aya.
"Sendoh, stop kissing your girlfriend and get over here," Uozumi ordered his ace. Embarrassed, Sendoh broke off from the kiss and looked at his beautiful girlfriend. He smiled as he gently pushed away her smooth hair. "God, you are so beautiful," he whispered into her ear.
Aya just rested her head on his shoulder and sighed. Even Sendoh's kiss could not take her mind off her decisions. "You told me that before. Now go on before your captain makes you a thousand push-ups or something," she said, pushing him gently away from her.
Sendoh laughed softly. "I rather be with you than him. But he most probably would make me do that if I don't go. If you need me, I will just be at the next table, okay?" Aya nodded. Sendoh lightly caressed her face, taking in her beauty before kissing her again and going off.
"Oh, wow. How sweet is he," Ayumi sighed. Aya just shrugged.
"So anyway, I was thinking of a new strategy for our next game against Kainan," Akagi started. Aya just felt something inside her snap.
"Basketball, basketball, basketball! Is that all they ever talk about?" her mind screamed.
"Of course, they are basketball players, you know. You used to be like them, you know, so don't bother insulting them," her heart argued back.
"No way! I was not such an obsessive person. You are a liar!"
"Me? Liar? Hah! You are the one who is jealous! Just because you know that you want to play basketball again but won't admit it, you are attacking other people!"
"What? You lie!"
"No way, I am your heart. I never lie. You are jealous, jealous.."
"No!" Aya screamed, standing up abruptly from her chair, making everyone stare at her in surprise.
"Aya? What happened?" Ayumi asked concerned.
Aya felt tears rushing to her eyes. She mumbled a soft apology before running off towards the exit. Sendoh, who had witnessed the whole incident, immediately got up and rushed over to the table.
"What happened here?" he demanded.
"We don't know. She just suddenly got all upset and ran off," Kogure explained.
"I should go after her," Ayumi said quietly, getting up to go after her friend. Sendoh stopped her.
"No, I will," he said, rushing off in the direction that Aya disappeared.
Aya ran blindly in the dark club, crashing into numerous peoples. She just had to get out of there. She wanted to run, run away from everyone that she knew. Just to get a moment to be with herself and figure out what she wanted.
"You don't know what you want. And if you think you do, you can't have it anyway," she mumbled to herself as she bumped into another person.
"Aya? Honey? What's wrong?" Kyo asked as he held onto Aya, preventing her from breaking away from him.
"I- I just don't know," Aya sobbed into his shirt. Kyo felt his heart break. He had never seen Aya cry since their nanny passed away. He hugged her tightly and murmured some words of comfort to her before telling his date that he had to go. His mysterious date nodded in agreement as he apologized and went further into the club.
"Aya, let's get out of here and we will talk, alright?" Kyo asked his sister who nodded into his shirt. Just then Sendoh caught up to them and looked at them in concern. Kyo just mouthed "I'll take care of it," to him and led her out of the club.
Kyo opened the passenger seat to his car and sat Aya there. He then went over to the other side and slipped into the driver's seat.
"Aya? Please tell me what's wrong. It hurts me to see you like this," Kyo pleaded as he gently stroked her hair.
Aya slowly lifted her head from her hands and shook her head. "I don't know where to begin."
"What about from the beginning?"
Aya nodded and told him about the scholarships and the game that she had against Mitsui and Sakuragi.
"It just felt so good, good to be part of a team again, good to play basketball. And I was so scared. Scared that I will not fulfill my promise to nanny, to you, to mum and dad," she sobbed.
Kyo felt his heart soften. "Buckle up, I am bringing you somewhere." He immediately started the engine and drove to the mysterious destination.
After around 15minutes
Kyo killed the engine and led Aya out of the car and towards their parents' grave. He made her sit down in front of their mother's and him in front of their father.
"I am sorry, father. I have failed you. I promised to keep Aya happy always, but she hid secrets from me and made herself sad. I don't blame her but myself. I was such an idiot for not realizing it." Kyo said bowing down forward.
"Kyo, no. It is not your fault," Aya said, still sobbing softly.
"Of course it is! I promised him that you will always be happy! What do I have to say when you have been upset all this while inside your heart? Just because you gave up basketball, the one thing that kept you happy all this while, you think all the people we love are going to come back? Do you remember who taught you how to play basketball?" he choked out.
"Mother," Aya said softly.
"Yes, Kaa-san. She said that you reminded so much of her, her passion towards basketball when she was young. Her father did not allow her to pursue it as a career but she wanted you to be able to do what you truly wanted. Do you think she is happy, seeing you beating yourself over such a minor issue?"
"No," Aya agreed.
"Raise up your right hand," Kyo ordered. Aya followed his orders. "Repeat after me. I, Aya Kimoto, promise to play basketball and be happy till the day death falls be on me."
"I, Aya Kimoto, promise to play basketball and be happy till the day death falls be on me." Aya sobbed. Kyo reached over and hugged his sister. "Hush now. Don't cry. And never make yourself so sad again, okay? You are making me sad too."
Aya managed a weak smile. "Arigatou onii-chan," she said.
"Come on, let's go home," he said, pulling her up to her feet.
"Wait," Aya reached out and gently traced the two tombstones before bowing forward. "Arigatou tou-san, kaa-san." Kyo then led her back to the car where after a while, she feel asleep, finally feeling a sense of fullness in her heart.
Kyo stepped out of the elevator with Aya sleeping his arms. "God, is she eating or not? She is so damn light!" Kyo mumbled as he walked towards their apartment, to find Sendoh standing outside waiting for them.
"Hey, is she alright?" Sendoh asked, gently caressing her face.
Kyo smiled as he shifted Aya from his arms to Sendoh's. "From now on, she will be better than ever," he said as he opened the front door. Sendoh walked into her room and gently put her down on her bed. She shifted uncomfortably and woke up.
"Hey, where am I?" she asked, confused.
"Home, now go to sleep," Sendoh smiled gently as he stroked her face with his fingers. Aya turned around and faced him. "I'm sorry if I upset you, or something," she apologized.
"Nah, it is okay. But I want to make something clear," Sendoh said in a serious tone.
"Shoot."
"I may not be part of your past; neither do I know whether I will be in your future. What I do know is that I am here, in your present. And I want you to stop pushing me away. If there is something on your mind, let me know. I can help," Sendoh said seriously.
Aya got up and sat in front of him. "Thank you. I will remember that from now on. For now, get that yucky serious voice out. I prefer the happy-go- lucky guy," she chuckled as she leaned forward and kissed him deeply. Sendoh returned and pulled her off the bed and onto his lap. Aya let out a yelp as she nearly fell down.
"Aya, our trust funds do not include starting a family at the age of 17, you have to wait until you start earning, alright?" Kyo laughed as he walked into the room with 2 glass of warm green tea, making Aya blush.
"Look whose talking! What about you and Rika? What were you two doing in the club together?" Aya shot back.
Kyo flushed a bright red. "What are you talking about? I just bumped into her, that's all!" he stammered.
Aya laughed. "Then why are blushing like a fire-engine?"
"I am not blushing!" he yelled, running out of the room.
"Yes! Score one for Aya!" she cheered as she pumped her fist in to air. Leaning back into Sendoh's comfortable arms, she fell back asleep almost immediately. Sendoh smiled at her and rested her on her bed and went back to his own apartment.
Hey, guys. I am so sorry about the long update. I just couldn't get this chapter done. Anyway, hope you like it and watch out for the next one featuring the Takezono and Kainan game! Ja!
Disclaimer: I do not own any Slam Dunk characters so dun bother suing coz I am broke.
Slamdunk-serene: Mitsui cute, ne? Haha. read on!!!
Akane: Haha! Yup, it's just getting started! By the way, love your fic: Moonlight Sonata! It rules!
Chapter 21: A lifetime of sadness
Later that evening.
"Hey Kyo!" Mitsui greeted Aya's brother as he opened the door. Mitsui, Ayumi and Kogure were there to pick Aya up for a celebration at Charlie's.
"Hey guys. You all going out?" Kyo asked after Kogure introduced himself.
"Yeah, we are going to Charlie's to celebrate. We are just here to pick up Aya and then we will be on our way," Ayumi replied.
"Oh, alright then," Kyo said. He then called to Aya. "Aya, your friends are here. I am going now alright?" "Bye!" Aya called back.
Kyo sighed. "She's been feeling down since she came back from the match today. Try to cheer her up, ok?" he said, before bidding farewell to them.
"Hey Aya! Ready to go?" Ayumi asked her friend who was sprawled on the couch staring at the television.
"Go where?" Aya replied, not taking her eyes off the screen.
"Charlie's. Didn't anyone tell you? Anzai-sensei called a small celebration party for our victory today," Ayumi explained confused, turning to Mitsui who was supposed to spread the message.
Mitsui shrugged. "Don't look at me. I couldn't get through to her line so I left a message on her machine." True enough, the button was blinking.
"Never mind then. Come on, Aya. We are going to be late," Ayumi said, pulling her friend up. Aya just shrugged out of her grip.
"I am not going," she replied plainly.
"Why the hell not?" Ayumi exclaimed as Kogure sweat dropped. He had never heard her curse before.
Aya just stuck out 3 fingers and ticked them off as she replied. "Number 1: I have too many things on my mind to celebrate. Number 2: I am busy. And number 3: I have better things to do."
"What, watch the home shopping channel? And can't you just put off all you have in your mind for just one night? I know you are thinking about the scholarship. Just forget about, for just tonight," Ayumi pleaded.
Aya sighed as she looked into her friend's face. "Do I have to?"
"Great! Thanks, Aya!" Ayumi exclaimed as she rushed into her room, picked out a skirt and a tank-top and packed her small hand bag with her phone and her wallet. "Here, go change."
"1 condition: I am not going to change," Aya said. She was wearing a loose white cardigan and light blue jeans.
Ayumi just smiled. "I know better than to negotiate with you, so okay. Let's go," pushing Aya out of the door and handed her the bag.
"God, you look awful!" Mitsui exclaimed. "Are you going to the club like this?"
"Whatever," Aya just sighed as they descended down the elevator.
"What the hell were you thinking, you baka! She looks perfect and you know it! I mean, just look at the way the cardigan perfectly compliments her tan skin. And her hair! God, she looks just like an angel. You, on the other hand, look like trash!" his mind scolded him.
Mitsui rolled his eyes. "Like she said, whatever," he mumbled to himself.
"Did you say something?" Kogure asked him. Mitsui just shook his head no and mentally scolded himself for speaking out loud to himself.
"Well, then. Have you guys received any scholarship offers yet?" Anzai sensei asked the senior students.
Kogure shook his head no. "Sensei, most scouts wait till the championships are over. Unless they are completely convinced that they really want you, they don't send out offers till they are convinced. That means you have to be really, really good," he explained.
"Then, Aya, you should be very proud of yourself," Ayumi gushed. "She got an offer from the Shizukawa College," she explained as everyone's eyes widened.
"Shizukawa! Wow! I always wanted to go there!" Mitsui exclaimed.
"Congratulations, Aya-san!" congratulated Anzai-sensei.
"Huh?" Aya stopped staring at her glass of juice and looked up as she heard her name.
"On getting the scholarship," Anzai-sensei added.
Aya just sighed. "Thank you," she replied before going back to twirling her straw and staring at the glass.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Shohoku's basketball team," boomed a voice from the darkness.
"Uozumi, what are you doing here," Akagi greeted his opponent as the Ryonan team stepped into the light.
"Just out. Lost the bet that Shoyo was going to beat you guys," Uozumi simply said as Akagi fumed. Sakuragi stomped over to them and started fighting with them too.
Sendoh, on the other hand, noticed Aya and went and squatted beside her chair. "Hey, I wondered where you went," he said softly. When she did not reply, he rested his hand on hers and called her again.
"Huh? Oh, hi," Aya greeted, before resuming her stare war with the glass.
"You don't seem very happy to see me," Sendoh commented. "Aya, look at me," he ordered. When she did not move, he said, "You have something on your face."
"Where?" Aya asked, turning to face him. As soon as she turned her face, Sendoh captured her lips in a breath-taking kiss. Aya tried to squirm out of his kiss but gave in when she realized that she couldn't.
Ayako watched her senior kiss her boyfriend and turned to face Mitsui. He had turned away from them and was watching the bartender make some drinks. She smiled knowingly as she sighed with happiness for Aya.
"Sendoh, stop kissing your girlfriend and get over here," Uozumi ordered his ace. Embarrassed, Sendoh broke off from the kiss and looked at his beautiful girlfriend. He smiled as he gently pushed away her smooth hair. "God, you are so beautiful," he whispered into her ear.
Aya just rested her head on his shoulder and sighed. Even Sendoh's kiss could not take her mind off her decisions. "You told me that before. Now go on before your captain makes you a thousand push-ups or something," she said, pushing him gently away from her.
Sendoh laughed softly. "I rather be with you than him. But he most probably would make me do that if I don't go. If you need me, I will just be at the next table, okay?" Aya nodded. Sendoh lightly caressed her face, taking in her beauty before kissing her again and going off.
"Oh, wow. How sweet is he," Ayumi sighed. Aya just shrugged.
"So anyway, I was thinking of a new strategy for our next game against Kainan," Akagi started. Aya just felt something inside her snap.
"Basketball, basketball, basketball! Is that all they ever talk about?" her mind screamed.
"Of course, they are basketball players, you know. You used to be like them, you know, so don't bother insulting them," her heart argued back.
"No way! I was not such an obsessive person. You are a liar!"
"Me? Liar? Hah! You are the one who is jealous! Just because you know that you want to play basketball again but won't admit it, you are attacking other people!"
"What? You lie!"
"No way, I am your heart. I never lie. You are jealous, jealous.."
"No!" Aya screamed, standing up abruptly from her chair, making everyone stare at her in surprise.
"Aya? What happened?" Ayumi asked concerned.
Aya felt tears rushing to her eyes. She mumbled a soft apology before running off towards the exit. Sendoh, who had witnessed the whole incident, immediately got up and rushed over to the table.
"What happened here?" he demanded.
"We don't know. She just suddenly got all upset and ran off," Kogure explained.
"I should go after her," Ayumi said quietly, getting up to go after her friend. Sendoh stopped her.
"No, I will," he said, rushing off in the direction that Aya disappeared.
Aya ran blindly in the dark club, crashing into numerous peoples. She just had to get out of there. She wanted to run, run away from everyone that she knew. Just to get a moment to be with herself and figure out what she wanted.
"You don't know what you want. And if you think you do, you can't have it anyway," she mumbled to herself as she bumped into another person.
"Aya? Honey? What's wrong?" Kyo asked as he held onto Aya, preventing her from breaking away from him.
"I- I just don't know," Aya sobbed into his shirt. Kyo felt his heart break. He had never seen Aya cry since their nanny passed away. He hugged her tightly and murmured some words of comfort to her before telling his date that he had to go. His mysterious date nodded in agreement as he apologized and went further into the club.
"Aya, let's get out of here and we will talk, alright?" Kyo asked his sister who nodded into his shirt. Just then Sendoh caught up to them and looked at them in concern. Kyo just mouthed "I'll take care of it," to him and led her out of the club.
Kyo opened the passenger seat to his car and sat Aya there. He then went over to the other side and slipped into the driver's seat.
"Aya? Please tell me what's wrong. It hurts me to see you like this," Kyo pleaded as he gently stroked her hair.
Aya slowly lifted her head from her hands and shook her head. "I don't know where to begin."
"What about from the beginning?"
Aya nodded and told him about the scholarships and the game that she had against Mitsui and Sakuragi.
"It just felt so good, good to be part of a team again, good to play basketball. And I was so scared. Scared that I will not fulfill my promise to nanny, to you, to mum and dad," she sobbed.
Kyo felt his heart soften. "Buckle up, I am bringing you somewhere." He immediately started the engine and drove to the mysterious destination.
After around 15minutes
Kyo killed the engine and led Aya out of the car and towards their parents' grave. He made her sit down in front of their mother's and him in front of their father.
"I am sorry, father. I have failed you. I promised to keep Aya happy always, but she hid secrets from me and made herself sad. I don't blame her but myself. I was such an idiot for not realizing it." Kyo said bowing down forward.
"Kyo, no. It is not your fault," Aya said, still sobbing softly.
"Of course it is! I promised him that you will always be happy! What do I have to say when you have been upset all this while inside your heart? Just because you gave up basketball, the one thing that kept you happy all this while, you think all the people we love are going to come back? Do you remember who taught you how to play basketball?" he choked out.
"Mother," Aya said softly.
"Yes, Kaa-san. She said that you reminded so much of her, her passion towards basketball when she was young. Her father did not allow her to pursue it as a career but she wanted you to be able to do what you truly wanted. Do you think she is happy, seeing you beating yourself over such a minor issue?"
"No," Aya agreed.
"Raise up your right hand," Kyo ordered. Aya followed his orders. "Repeat after me. I, Aya Kimoto, promise to play basketball and be happy till the day death falls be on me."
"I, Aya Kimoto, promise to play basketball and be happy till the day death falls be on me." Aya sobbed. Kyo reached over and hugged his sister. "Hush now. Don't cry. And never make yourself so sad again, okay? You are making me sad too."
Aya managed a weak smile. "Arigatou onii-chan," she said.
"Come on, let's go home," he said, pulling her up to her feet.
"Wait," Aya reached out and gently traced the two tombstones before bowing forward. "Arigatou tou-san, kaa-san." Kyo then led her back to the car where after a while, she feel asleep, finally feeling a sense of fullness in her heart.
Kyo stepped out of the elevator with Aya sleeping his arms. "God, is she eating or not? She is so damn light!" Kyo mumbled as he walked towards their apartment, to find Sendoh standing outside waiting for them.
"Hey, is she alright?" Sendoh asked, gently caressing her face.
Kyo smiled as he shifted Aya from his arms to Sendoh's. "From now on, she will be better than ever," he said as he opened the front door. Sendoh walked into her room and gently put her down on her bed. She shifted uncomfortably and woke up.
"Hey, where am I?" she asked, confused.
"Home, now go to sleep," Sendoh smiled gently as he stroked her face with his fingers. Aya turned around and faced him. "I'm sorry if I upset you, or something," she apologized.
"Nah, it is okay. But I want to make something clear," Sendoh said in a serious tone.
"Shoot."
"I may not be part of your past; neither do I know whether I will be in your future. What I do know is that I am here, in your present. And I want you to stop pushing me away. If there is something on your mind, let me know. I can help," Sendoh said seriously.
Aya got up and sat in front of him. "Thank you. I will remember that from now on. For now, get that yucky serious voice out. I prefer the happy-go- lucky guy," she chuckled as she leaned forward and kissed him deeply. Sendoh returned and pulled her off the bed and onto his lap. Aya let out a yelp as she nearly fell down.
"Aya, our trust funds do not include starting a family at the age of 17, you have to wait until you start earning, alright?" Kyo laughed as he walked into the room with 2 glass of warm green tea, making Aya blush.
"Look whose talking! What about you and Rika? What were you two doing in the club together?" Aya shot back.
Kyo flushed a bright red. "What are you talking about? I just bumped into her, that's all!" he stammered.
Aya laughed. "Then why are blushing like a fire-engine?"
"I am not blushing!" he yelled, running out of the room.
"Yes! Score one for Aya!" she cheered as she pumped her fist in to air. Leaning back into Sendoh's comfortable arms, she fell back asleep almost immediately. Sendoh smiled at her and rested her on her bed and went back to his own apartment.
Hey, guys. I am so sorry about the long update. I just couldn't get this chapter done. Anyway, hope you like it and watch out for the next one featuring the Takezono and Kainan game! Ja!