CHAPTER 4/? THE TEAM: IT HAS BEGUN!
This year we are definitely going to win no matter what. He thought. The short curly-haired guy had just woke up and was getting ready his things for school. "I cannot be late for school. Today's the first day of basketball practices and I have to do my best." He was after all the captain of Shohoku basketball team.
"RYOTA! Breakfast is ready. Better hurry so you can leave for school!"
"Yes Dad! I'm coming."
Miyagi approached a picture on the desk across the room. He grabbed it and kissed it gently. Aya-chan! He could only see hearts after that. Heehee! I'll do my best, gamabrimasu! And for a couple of seconds he blanked out thinking of his one and only love.
"RYOTA!" He suddenly snapped from his daze.
"Sorry, I'll be down in a sec!" He hurriedly dropped the picture and continued to stuff his things into his school and gym bag. As he finished packing up his stuff he took one last look at the picture and hurriedly ran out the room, slamming the door behind him.
He ran down the stairs and headed for the kitchen. He went and kissed his father and sat down on the table.
"Ryota, how many times do I have to tell you not to slam the door behind you?!"
"Gomen! I'm so excited!"
"That's still no reason not to behave." He laid down some sunny-side eggs and honey-cured bacon on the table. "Now hurry and eat up before it gets cold."
"Thanks!" He started to munch down on the eggs like there was no tomorrow. "Hmm… these are good! Dad you're the best."
"Of course… I'm your dad. And the best cook in town."
"You flatter yourself too much." He finished his food and started to pick up his bags. "Dad I'm off!"
"Wooow there cowboy, what's the rush??"
"I'm just excited. I'm the basketball team captain after all. I can't be late"
"Well you still have a lot of time before your school starts."
"I have to be early today. I'm meeting up with the manager of the team before school starts and I agreed to meet Mitsui around the corner on our way to school."
"That kid is weird."
"He is." He made an evil grin. "But he's nice so don't worry too much." He looked at the time. "I really have to go!" He started to speed of out of the kitchen.
"RYOTA, don't forget your bento!" He shouted. He had an exasperated look on his face.
Miyagi stopped, went back and picked up the lunch box. He kissed his dad. "Thanks mom!"
"And oh, I almost forgot. I have a surprise for you when you get back from school. So hopefully you can get home early."
"I have basketball practice but I will try dad. Bye!" He put on his shoes was out the door in just a few seconds. He slammed the door again on his way out.
"DON'T SLAM THE DOOR!" He shouted again. "Sometimes I think that kid will be the death of me." He glanced at the calendar on the refrigerator and scanned for date that day. It just said pick up at the airport. "He will surely be surprised when he sees her. We all need her." He also looked at the time. "Oops, If I don't hurry I'll be late for office."
*****
"Oh no, I'm late!" The scar-faced boy just woke up and was in a hurry to get ready. He didn't manage to take a bath anymore so he just made a quick shower to wake him up and got ready. After all that rush dressing, he went to the mirror and clenched his teeth. "It still looks good. I should get them permanently fixed." He picked up his bag and ran off out the room. He made his way through the narrow corridor towards the living room. As he was about to put on his shoes somebody held his wrist. He looked at the imposing figure that held his arm.
"Dad I'm late for school!" His dad continued to hold on to him. He tried to loosen his arm but his father was strong. The dad had a rather large build and could probably pin down any ordinary man. But he was a spitting image of the boy.
There was a brief pause.
"Hisashi, you better go to school and study. This is your last year and I would at least see you graduate high school." After the fiasco of his last 2 years, his father had become more and more strict with him. His father thought that by being more strict he could get his son to straighten up. But that just made the boy rebel even more. It had been a really difficult time for the both of them and so their relationship had really strained.
"You have told me that already. I'm going to meet Miyagi around the corner so we can head to school already."
"You have better go to school."
"Don't you trust me?" His dad just looked at him with disbelief. He really didn't trust his son. "What??" He just looked at his father's blank stare. "Fine it wasn't the right choice of words but I promise."
"You promise, and why should I…" His dad was suddenly cut short.
"Now, now, remember your temper. Besides your son has gotten better then he was a few months back. Give him some credit." His mother decided to cut through the argument. Hisashi's mom had always been the calm one and would be the one to always step in and mediate between the father and son. But they were both stubborn and she could only do so much to control them. She knew that being level-headed would be best in dealing with their son but the dad would almost always loose his temper on him. It hurt her much to see what had been happening to her family and for a time she could only watch as the events unfolded.
"Yeah dad! Give me some…"
"Don't you start either." His mother said in stern voice. She didn't want this to escalate any further. "Better leave now before your father starts to scold you again. You're rather late also." She was rather happier now. His son started to change for the better since his gangster days. He would see his son's commitment in the basketball club and saw that it would be good for him to stay there.
"Ok mom." He kissed mom. "Thanks." He waved goodbye to his parents as he reached to open the door.
"Go home early!" His dad shouted.
"I have basketball practice dad. Bye!" Before his dad could say anything else, Hisashi was already out the door.
"Why are you so lenient with him?" Hisashi's dad asked. He stared at his wife waiting for an answer.
"Because I know that the more you are strict with him, the more he will rebel especially against you." She said with a stern yet understanding voice. But he still wasn't convinced with his wife's mother.
"And what do you propose we do? We can't just leave him alone! Who knows what he will do next?"
"Have a little faith dear. Though I don't always confront him, I still watch him. I regularly check his school if he's doing fine." She sat down in the living room and took a sip of the coffee on the table. "All we have to do is support him. He's become very devoted with basketball, too. I think it will be good for him."
"Fine…" that's all what Hisashi's father could say. His mom just took another sip of the coffee.
*****
It was probably about 6:30 am. The sun was already shining brightly. Shohoku High School was still somewhat barren from people. It was still rather silent except for the clanging of a lock at the school gym. Somebody was unlocking the gym and opening the doors. A curly haired girl entered the gym and proceeded towards the equipment room.
"Aiyah! I have to check all the equipment for later." It was the team manager, Ayako. "There are so many things to check and inventory." She was about to start checking when she thought something was wrong. She looked around. Then she looked at the watch. All of a sudden she conjured up her paper fan from nowhere. "Now I know, where the heck is that girl? She promised me she would meet me here early this morning." She was talking about Haruko. She sighed and said, "Well I can't wait for her. I have to finish this before classes start."
So she continued checking all the equipments. But she really couldn't keep her mind on her work. She was excited herself. It was the first day of practices and she eagerly awaited it. She knew this year was going to be different. Ever since the Shohoku won against the Sannoh High, they have become the talk of the town. And the pressure of it all started to build.
Ayako couldn't help but sigh. It was like the whole district and even the whole country was keeping watch over them. Even that annoying Aida Yayoi, has started to frequent the school just so she could get interviews. So much like her brother. She stopped thinking and went back to her work. There were tons of equipments she had to weed out before she could finish.
But this winter is going to be tough. They had lost a lot of good players and will have to depend mainly on Miyagi and Mitsui. They are good players but they didn't have good reserves for the other positions. Not to mention the two players will almost always end up arguing about something during practice. She scratched her head. Sometimes I don't know what to do with them.
She was about to check the lockers when somebody opened the door.
"Ayako-san!" It was Haruko. "I…I…" she was puffing like crazy.
"Calm down! Rest!" She instructed her to sit down by the bench. "Now, tell me. What happened to you?" She was kind of worried but at the same time curious. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Oh! Don't worry… I just thought I saw someone I knew." She puffed again. "Anyway, I just ran all the way here from the hospital. Sorry I was late." She began to calm down a bit.
Ayako looked at her with curiousity but really didin't pry. She's hiding something I think. "What were you doing at the hospital?" She asked.
"I went to meet Sakuragi."
"Really?" Ayako perked up a bit. "How is he? Is he doing fine? How does he look?"
Haruko was surprised at the excited reaction of Ayako. "Well I brought him some breakfast today. And he looks fine. He said he couldn't wait till he could get back and play again."
"I wish he could get back." Ayako said in anticipation. "I'd hate to admit it but he has become an integral part of our team. And his abilities have really become one of the best in Kanagawa."
"The doctor told me, he's in his final stages of therapy and may be able to play again soon." She was flustered a bit. She then brought her hand to her heart. "He will be able to play again." She blushed but then waved her head and smiled. "I can't wait!"
"That's good news!" She was excited but was focused at her reaction. "This team may actually have better chances than I expected." Could it be that she has fallen for him? I must investigate this.
"Anyway, I'm here now. Where shall I start?" It couldn't be Rukawa. She was confused. She didn't know what to think.
And all this while Ayako continued to observe her reactions. Something definitely happened to her. And probably on the way here. She was getting worried but could not do anything at the moment but observe. She thought it would be best to leave her alone for the time being. I'll find out soon enough.
A.N.: It seems that I have started to loosen up on description. But seriously how long will this chapter be if I put in more. I will probably have to work more on my next chapter to make it less like a script than a fanfiction.