Chapter 7.  Ganbarimashou

          "Heiji!  When'll Kazuha-chan come here?  She's not been here for a while," said Shizuka. "I miss her much.  Are you two quarrelling again?"

"Who would like to quarrel with that silly girl?  Who knows what she's thinking?  We don't stick together all day long!"  Heiji immediately felt angry in hearing Kazuha's name, she was a bit too cold at him recently.  Heiji was quite sure that he had done nothing wrong he would not admit it even if he had done anything wrong, but the sudden change of her attitude especially at school made him angry.

"Oh Heiji, you're already grade six now, and you would be in Junior High after few months only.  Don't be too childish.  I always think that you and Kazuha would be together even in University," said Shizuka.  "By the way, aren't you practising for the kendo competition next week?"

"I need to have some rest for the competition, and moreover, there're no one strong enough against me in Osaka!"

"Oh, so much confidence!"  said Shizuka, "and have you ask Kazuha-chan to come and cheer for you?" 

"Why do I have to ask her to come?" 

"I'll call her for you!"

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~

          It was the day of the Osaka Kendo Competition, Heiji easily won in the quarterfinal.  "Wow, Heiji, you're the same as always!  That's so great especially how you've beaten your opponent."           

"I just play like we're practicing.  Oh, have you seen Kazuha-chan?"  Heiji had been looking around, searching for Kazuha. 

"Oh, is that your little girlfriend with the ponytail?  I haven't seen her yet!"

"Girlfriend?  She's not my girlfriend!  It's just Okaasan told me that she would come and I'm just a bit worry about her!"  Heiji then went to prepare his semi-final.

Heiji was attacking his opponent, but he was distracted by noises at the entrance.  Kazuha had finally come; his opponent immediately attacked Heiji on his right arm, "urgh!" 

"Heiji!  What're you doing?  ATTACK!"  Kazuha was afraid that Heiji would lose and she quickly shouted out.  Heiji quickly concentrated on his semi-final, and attacked his opponent fiercely.

"Hattori wins!" 

"Wow!  Heiji, you're in the final now!"  Kazuha was just too happy to see him in the final.

"Aho!  If it wasn't your sudden appearance, I would win much easily!"  Heiji looked at Kazuha with half-mooned eyes, "so, why're you so late today!  You woke up late this morning?"

"I left home early this morning, but I get lost on the way!"

"Aho!  How can you get lost?  There's only one straight way to come here from your home!  Are you brainless?"

"Brainless?  How dare you said this to me!  I come all the way to support you!"  Kazuha immediately turned her hands in fist and punched on Heiji.

"Ouch!"  Heiji put his hands on his right arm. 

"I just punch you softly," said Kazuha, looking at Heiji with concern.  "Oh, is that from semi-final?  Let me help you with your wound."

"Kazuha, daijyobu!"  However, Kazuha just ignored him and dragged him to the first aid centre.

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~

          Kazuha was bandaging Heiji's arm, "are you alright?  Will this affect you in the competition?"

"This minor bruise won't hurt much," said Heiji. 

"Heiji, ganbarimashou!  I have strong feelings that you would win the championship today," said Kazuha, staring at Heiji with faith.

"Aho!  This's nothing to do with your feeling," said Heiji, "of course I would win! Ganbarimasu!"

"Heiji, do you have the omamori with you?"

"Omamori?  What omamori?"

"The one we both have, aho!"

"Just kidding!  Of course I'm wearing it on my neck!"  said Heiji, "it's time for me to get prepare."

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~

          Heiji finally won the Osaka Kendo Competition with the support and cheers of Kazuha?!  

"Kazuha, would you drop by my house today, you've not been for a while…okaasan miss you much…."

"Sure I'll come," said Kazuha.  "I don't come so often is that mama don't want me to play with boys too much…um…she wants me to act more like girls as I'm going to be a junior high student soon."

"Aho!  That's nothing to do with it!  You can still come to my house anytime!"

"Heiji…"

"Because you're already boyish enough that you can't change it!"

"AHO!"  Kazuha was already chasing at Heiji's back.

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~

          Spring had finally come, and new school term had started.  Heiji and Kazuha would be junior high student now.   Kazuha had come to the Hattori's house before she went to school. 

"Kazuha-chan, you come so early this morning, I think that Heiji is still in the bed."  Kazuha then went upstairs to wake Heiji up.

"Heiji!  Wake up now!"   A pillow immediately threw at Kazuha, "ahhhh!  Heiji!"

"What're you doing here do early?  Yelling at someone's room?"  Heiji was scratching his hair, and then he noticed that Kazuha was wearing in her school uniform.  "Ka…Kazuha…"

"I just want to come here to let you see my new school uniform, how is it?"  Kazuha turned around to let Heiji see more clearly.

"Aho!"  Heiji blushed slightly; he did not notice that Kazuha could be that kawaii before.

Heiji and Kazuha started their exciting junior high school life…

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~

To be continued……

Ganbarimashou, Ganbarimasu = do one's best/ try your best

It's been a while from last update.  What do you think about this chapter…Heiji and Kazuha finally go to junior high now, what would happen next?  Please read and review!  Next chapter --- Heiji had some weird feelings for Kazuha?!