Chapter 9: I try to Forget!

AU: Sorry for the LATE Update! I was preoccupied with schoolwork and my LOVE life as well! *sigh*

NEXT DAY (KAINAN GYM)

Kiyota dribbled the ball and did a 3-point shot. The ball went in. He could still remember the conversation he had with Arika. He couldn't believe that he cried in front of Arika. That was so lame. Arika must have thought he was weak.

Jin Souichiro clapped his hands and said, "That's for now Kiyota, seat down and Arika is waiting for you" Kiyota nod his hand passing the ball to Koshino.

As Kiyota sat down at the bench, Arika smiled at him saying, "Nice shooting today Kiyota, so are you set for your short quiz with me?" Kiyota stared at her thinking, "What's this? She's acting like nothing happened yesterday?"

"What's wrong? It's like you've seen a ghost" Arika commented taking out her chemistry book. Kiyota sighed and said, "I can't believe that's your reaction, its like nothing happened yesterday." Arika shook her head and said, "Its not like that. Things like that don't affect me. I mean you don't have to feel like your weak or something. Crying is a natural thing"

Kiyota stared at her in surprise exclaiming in his mind, "She read my mind!" Arika smiled and said, "You must learn to forget Kiyota! Forget and accept! You've succeeded forgetting and accepting that Veniz is no longer your angel now it's time for you to forget and accept your defeat."

"Easy said than done" Kiyota replied. Arika raised and eyebrow and replied, "Common, have you tried courting another girl perhaps? Show that Shohoku Ace that you can win a girl's heart again?" Kiyota sighed and exclaimed, "You got to be kidding me. That girl must be an angel in my eyes. She must be like Veniz... an angel"

"Man your picky! I think you must learn also to accept a girl as who she is or what she is. What if that girl meant for you is not an angel like Veniz? I don't think that's unacceptable" Arika pointed out. Kiyota grabbed his chemistry book and said, "Let's just stop this discussion and begin shall we?"

Arika opened her book and said, "If you say so"

AFTER 30 MINUTES

Arika closed her book and exclaimed, "Hey I might be able to tutor you this afternoon, got some things to fix in the Science Club" Kiyota stood up and said, "Okay, looks like we'll continue this tomorrow huh?"

"Yeah, and Kiyota, please remember what I told you, Learn to accept and forget!" Arika exclaimed walking away. Kiyota stared at her muttering to himself, "Accept and forget... easy said than done"

MEANWHILE OUTSIDE THE GYM

Ria Masahara with her friend Tanya and Meai saw Arika coming out of the gym. "Hey do you want to grab her and beat her to a pulp?" Tanya asked. Ria shook her head and said, "No, do you want Kiyota to have my neck? Ang besides I have a plan to get her away from Kiyota"

"Plan?" Meai asked. Ria smiled evilly and said, "Yes, a plan that would make Kiyota like me and make him hate her." with that she walked away from the gym thinking, "You got the aces Fujisawa Arika and there's a chance for you to get back at me and I would use that in order to have Kiyota on my side and against yours!"

WAY BACK IN THE GYM

Jin approached Kiyota and said, "So hows going with your Chemistry?" Kiyota smiled and said, "Good, Junta-sensei says that I might pass Chemistry now. No need to be pulled out of the team"

"That's good to hear Kiyota. Arika did a good job tutoring you" Jin replied winking at him. "Yeah, soon or later our tutoring lessons would be over" Kiyota exclaimed smiling, then his smile faded away. "What's wrong? You looked happy a second ago" Jin asked.

Kiyota put up a smile and said, "Nah, it's nothing Jin" with that he turned around thinking, "What's this? Why do I feel sad that our tutoring lessons would be over sooner than I expect?"

"That's because you know, you won't see her as often as you like" Kiyota's conscience exclaimed. "Is that it? But why?" Kiyota wondered. "Simple, you like Arika.... that's why" his mind teased.

"Accept and Forget!" Arika's voice rang in Kiyota's mind. "Those words... accept and forget. Arika are you asking me to accept and forget so that I could love again? Is that it?"

"Aahh.... Can't you see Arika, always Arika, she's always on your mind, you're in love with her right!" Kiyota's mind teased. Kiyota exclaimed in his mind, "No way, Arika is not like Veniz!"

"Man your picky! I think you must learn also to accept a girl as who she is or what she is. What if that girl meant for you is not an angel like Veniz? I don't think that's unacceptable" Arika's voice once again rang in his head.

Kiyota's conscience exclaimed, "You know she's right. What if Arika is the one for you but like you said, she's not like your angel! How about that? That's unfair for Arika's part!"

Jin noticed that Kiyota looked troubled and said, "Hey I think you better rest for awhile" Kiyota nod his head and went towards the locker room to wash his face.

LOCKER ROOM

Kiyota looked at his sweaty face in the mirror and he saw Veniz's face then Arika's. "Maybe... maybe your right Arika..." Kiyota muttered to himself.

THAT AFTERNOON

POV (Kiyota)

What a tiring day. I'm pooped but hey it's Basketball and I must not complain. It's my life. Dammed, nothing to do this afternoon, practice finished rather early, no tutor in Chemistry, dammed, I'm going to get bored. Lucky Jin, after this he'll attend that meeting at the Science Club.

Wait a minute! Arika is a member of that club? Why not? I could pay a visit, I'll just make Jin as an excuse. Yeah that's right.

SCIENCE CLUB (Still POV of Kiyota)

I stopped in my tracks when I saw Jin. Jin smiled at me and asked, "What you doing here?" I scratched my head and answered, "Well, paying a visit?"

"Visit eh? To Arika huh? She's not here at the moment. The music club asked her for some help awhile ago" Jin explained. I raised an eyebrow and exclaimed, "The music club? I know she's good in science but music?"

Jin laughed and exclaimed, "You mean you don't know? Well, Arika never mentioned it really to anyone or anyone knowing about it except a few members from the Science Club"

I smirked and pointed out, "I know she can sing Jin" Jin playfully punched me in the arm and exclaimed, "Not that you idiot! Why don't you go to the music club room and you'll know what I'm talking about" I was confused of course and due to curiosity I did what Jin told me and went to the Music Club room.

MUSIC CLUB ROOM (Still POV of Kiyota)

"She's so good! Sugoi!" a girl exclaimed as I peeked into the room, I scanned the room and saw this grand black piano and someone was playing it. My eyes widened when I saw the someone. There seated and playing the piano is none other than Arika Fujisawa.

The girl who spoke awhile ago turned out to be the President of the Music Club Misa Wakashi. She saw me peeking and exclaimed, "Kiyota don't be a peeping tom and come in" I blushed and entered the room. Arika didn't noticed me and that was good, she kept on playing.

"Amazing nee?" Misa asked me noticing my awed gaze at Arika. "She's playing a certain Beethoven piano piece that our pianist have a hard time playing but look at her she plays like if its she's Beethoven"

I nod my head and exclaimed, "Yeah, I never thought she could play the piano, I mean she's a member of the Science Club" Misa nod her head and asked, "You know Fujisawa-san?" I blushed and nod my head. "Uh yeah, she tutors me in Chem"

"So I see, she's really a nice girl. I don't see why some of us here mistreat her. Let's say she's not that pretty but she's very talented. I'm deciding to cajole her into joining our club, even for part time" Misa replied smiling. "That's good, I bet Arika would like it. Hey! Ever heard her sing?" I asked.

Misa nod her head and exclaimed, "Yes we did and she sings beautifully. Everyone here says that she can sing like the singing sensation of Shohoku Veniz Sakuragi! Imagine that?" I froze at that comment. Arika actually equals with Veniz in singing?

Then my eyes gazed across the room and there is Veniz standing across the room, observing Arika and she seemed to enjoy listening to her. She saw me and smiled. I waved back at her thinking, "What is she doing here?" then everyone applauded. Arika had finished playing.

She stood up and bowed, Misa approached her saying, "Marvelous Fujisawa-san!" Arika smiled and said, "That's nothing Wakashi-san" Misa shook her head and replied, "Don't be humble now, look, I invite you to our club, join us!"

Arika blushed and said, "I would love that Wakashi-san demo the Science Club" Misa pat her on the shoulder and exclaimed, "Don't you worry, it's okay if it's only part-time membership. I would love to have you on the club. You're very talented in music Fujisawa-san"

"That's right, you sing beautifully and played the piano like a master pianist, why not Arika-chan?" Veniz commented approaching Arika. Arika looked at her and said, "I guess you're right."

Misa beamed and said, "Then you are now a part of the Music Club Fujisawa-san!" Arika nod her head and turned to Veniz saying, "Thank you for the praises Sakuragi-san" Veniz shook her head saying, "Please, you are truly amazing Arika-chan"

With that she turned at me and said, "By the way, Kiyota-kun is here" Arika turned around and when she saw me staring at her, I blushed. "Kiyota! Nani? What are you doing here?"

I looked at the floor and explained, "Well... um... you see I was passed by the Science Club to ask something of Jin and then I heard someone playing a beautiful music in this room, so I decided to take it a look"

Veniz winked at me and said, "Bet you didn't expect to see its Arika-chan right? Your tutor is very talented. Have you heard her sing?" I nod my head. "Oh that's good, amazing isn't she? She equals with me. I'm very happy to know that" Veniz exclaimed.

Arika shook her head and said, "Please Sakuragi-san you're a great singer than me" Veniz playfully slapped her at the shoulder and said, "Common, what everyone says here is true and I can really see it too"

"Uh... arigato..." Arika replied blushing. Veniz turned to Misa and said, "Thank you for the invitation Misa-chan!" Misa smiled and said, "Anytime Veniz! We the Music Club of Kainan would love to have you back here, you truly an angel of music and of course looks like Kainan has its very angel of music" with that she looked at Arika.

Veniz nod her head and said, "Yes you are indeed right" with that she bade farewell and exclaimed to me, "Well I'll see some day again Kiyota-kun, ja!" with that she left.

What Misa commented about Arika left me staring at Arika as Misa introduced to her the other members. I could feel my heart beating wild and fast. Maybe my conscience is right. Maybe I am in love with Arika now, maybe because she's an angel too... just like Veniz... just like Veniz...

TO BE CONTINUED

AU: YOSH! Kiyota finally realized his feelings for Arika! and as for Arika, you go GIRL!