Chapter 5

Nay made her way down the empty hall way after school wondering why Mitsui gotten angry at her whenever she was with Rukawa. She inclined her head slightly her arms folded in front of her and her head slightly bowed as she remembered how he had shouted at her. She frowned slightly at the thought. It wasn't something she would like to remember, shaking her head slightly trying to forget.

She was very happy that she had made a friend in school beside Mitsui being her only friend. Sighing inwardly she looked up and stopped on the tracks. Rukawa was walking down the opposite side of the hallway. She blinked once and gradually smiled faintly.

Rukawa watched Nay as she walked towards him alone with her head down. She looked liked she was very deep in her thoughts. Suddenly she looked up and looked straight at him. She stopped on her tracks immediately. He could see her giving him a dainty smile as she stood on the spot.

Gradually Rukawa walked towards her and stopped before her looking down at her wonderingly. She was writing something on her notepad. Rukawa waited shoving both his hands into the side pockets of his pants.

Going for practice? Nay showed him want she wrote.

"Sort of…"

Nay inclined her head.

"Akagi captain cancelled practice today…"

Why? According to Hisashi, Akagi-sempai will never cancel practice…

"He is going down to watch Kainan's match with Takazono."

Nay nodded telling him she understood and wrote something on her notepad again.

I've to go now, I'll see you around Rukawa.

"I'm going for practice. Are you coming?"

Nay hesitated for a moment, remembering what Mitsui told her. She wanted to go with Rukawa, but at the other hand she didn't want to make Mitsui angry again. Finally she shook her head and wrote something on her notepad again.

Gomen, I can't today. I have something to do. Some other time.

"…."

Rukawa watched Nay hesitantly wrote that note and shown it to him. Was it because of Mitsui, Nay refused to go with him this time? He wouldn't know what Mitsui said to her. Sighing inwardly he waited for Nay to write something or tell him a better reason. He watched Nay's hand shook slightly as she wrote the next note.

I'm really sorry Rukawa, I have to go now.

Rukawa stared incredulously at Nay as she walked away. As quickly as the expression came, it disappeared and he gained back his cold expressionless mask before walking away.

Nay made her way away from Rukawa quickly and sighed inwardly. She stopped again when she heard voices coming from the junction ahead of her. Recognizing those voices, she dunked into one of the classes and waited.

"You know, I have a feeling sensei still thinks Nay's work is good." Nay heard a girl's voice which she very well knew as Suzaku.

"Shut up, the results are already out. There is no way to change it." Tanski snapped. "Let's get out school, what a miserable boring public school. My parents wanted to send me to a private school but I wanted to come here. I have no idea why the hell I am here."

"You are here because of Mitsui, remember…?"

"I wonder where he is." Tanski's voice became gentler as she spoke of him.

Nay's eyes widened with surprised. Mitsui? She thought in dismay. What does Tanski wants with Hisashi?

"We can go check out the basketball courts…" Suzaku said, their voices fading as they walked down the corridor.

Nay leaned on the door slightly stunned at the conversation she had overheard. After getting back her composure, Nay turned towards the door and slide it opened slowly and poked her head out gradually checking whether the coast was clear to come out. When she found the hall empty, she stepped out and walked away from where the two girls headed. The further she was away from them the better.

"Where did Nay go?" Mitsui whispered when he looked around her classroom and found it empty. She disappeared right after the school bell rang. "I thought I remembered to tell her to wait for me today…"

"Mitsui-kun…"

Mitsui froze for a moment when he heard the voice. Gradually he turned around to confirm his worst suspicions. Tanski was flashing him one of her most charming smile, but to Mitsui he found it revolting. He had heard of this girl before. She was one of the riches kid in Shohoku, and the reason she had came here because she had a crush on him. He rather she had a crush on Rukawa and not him.

"I was looking everywhere for you…" Tanski said seductively.

"I am in a hurry, I have to go…" Mitsui said curtly and was about to walk away but Tanski grabbed onto his arm.

"What the…" Mitsui tried to pull his arm away from her death grip without success.

Great, how can I be so forgetful…, Nay thought sarcastically as she search through her bag for her sketch book. She remembered she had taken it out during class and left it under her desk.

Without a choice she turned back and head back towards her class. When she was came closer to her class around the corner, she heard some very familiar voices and blinked several times.

Isn't that Hisashi's voice? And the other...? Oh my… She thought with alarm

She gasped silently as turned the corner to make sure. She froze on the spot at the scene. Tanski was practically rubbing herself onto Mitsui who looked like he was trying to brush her off. They stopped whatever they were doing when they saw Nay. Mitsui paled at the sight of her but Tanski smirked at her.

Nay's eyes widened and she blushed slightly. Quickly she did some signs knowing Mitsui could understand even though Tanski couldn't.

Gomen, didn't mean to interrupt. I left something in my class.

With that she turned away from them and entered her class not wanting to meet Mitsui's eyes. She didn't know what to think about what she had just seen, though she felt like her heart had totally disappeared. Not wanting to feel distress, she quickly pushed the thought away.

"Nay…" Mitsui called.

"Iie…" Tanski grabbed onto his arms tighter. "Let's go out together… I know you want it Mitsui."

"Let go…" Mitsui snatched his arm away from her grasp.

"Aughh…" Tanski lost her balance and fell.

Nay appeared again from her class again and walked away quickly not wanting to get involved. She had already lots of problems when it came with Tanski. She didn't need to add anything more into the list.

"Look, I have no interest in going out with you, so give it up!" Mitsui retorted and ran after Nay.

Tanski, who still sat on the floor, looked at Mitsui's retreating back disbelievingly. He was going after Nay!

She scowled menacingly.

Nay, she will pay! She thought irately.

"Nay matte!" Mitsui called.

Nay stopped and turned around slightly for Mitsui to catch up.

"It is not what you think it is." Mitsui rushed to explain.

Nay inclined her head, forcing a smile, she signed.

I don't understand Hisashi…

"There is nothing between me and Tanski!"

But I think she likes you…

"So what, I don't!"

Nay shrugged.

"Nay, you do know there are no other girls besides you…"

She blushed slightly, though not giving much thought to what he had said, she signed again.

I had been a good friend Hisashi but of course if you want to choose a girlfriend I would always support and respect your decision.

Mitsui's heart dropped at her words.

"Nay, what I mean is…"

"There you are Mitsui!"

Mitsui cursed when he heard Ryota called him. He turned to face him snappily.

"The whole team is waiting for you,"

"I thought practice is cancelled."

"Well, captain still wants us to practice. Ayako will be watching us."

Mitsui turned back to Nay wondering when he would be able to tell her his true feelings.

I'll see you after practice.

With the last sign, she walked away.

"Nay, when can you understand?" Mitsui whispered as he watched Nay disappeared around the corner.

"That was a very good piece of work Nay…" The art sensei said as he watched her paint behind her back.

Nay smiled as a sign to tell him thank you.

"You know, you should try again for the next art competition this summer."

It's still a long time to go, but I will…

"Don't be disappointed about this Spring Competition Nay, sometimes…." He stopped at mid sentence not knowing what to tell her.

In truth was Tanski's father had paid a large sum of money for her daughter to get into the finals and kicking poor Nay out from the competition.

I understand sensei don't worry.

Nay knew what exactly happened during the judging, Tanski was a rich kid and her parents spoilt her ever since she was born. Not wanting to put her Art Sensei out of his job, she didn't want to fuss about it but that didn't stop her from being upset about the unfairness.

After putting on the last touch on the canvas she packed up and left the room. Thinking of wanting to be alone, so that she could think about the weird conversation she had with Mitsui earlier. She headed for the front school door. However she met Ayako on the way and gave her a note to pass it to Mitsui.

"Don't worry Nay, I will make sure he gets it." Ayako said with a smile.

Nay bowed and walked off.

Ayako watched Nay walking away solemnly until she left the building before she went back to the basketball courts. The boys where practicing really hard even Akagi wasn't around, they knew that their match with Kainan High was coming closer and they shouldn't be slacking off.

"Mitsui-sempai!" Ayako called.

Mitsui tossed the ball over to Sakuragi and turned towards Ayako.

"What?"

"Nay asked me to pass this note to you." Ayako held out the note.

Rukawa shifted his eyes side ways to look at them when he heard Nay's name. He narrowed his eyes slightly when he watched Mitsui walking over to Ayako to take the note from her.

What did she write in that note? Rukawa wondered.

Mitsui frowned after reading the note and crushed it in his hands. Rukawa raised his eyebrows slightly.

Bad news from Nay? Rukawa thought again. But then again, who cares…

Mitsui stared at the exit door for a moment before he reluctantly walked back into the court.

Why didn't she wait? Mitsui thought upset. Did she really mind what she saw?

However, Mitsui didn't want to think about for he had a match to worry about. During practice, Mitsui tried his best not think about Nay though failed miserably.

Nay sat on a low branch of a tree in a near by park as she watched some little children tossing a red ball with each other. She took out a container of berries she had packed for lunch but never eaten them yet and thought she should finished it before she go home in case her mother ask her too many questions. Taking one of them she popped it into her mouth.

Her thoughts shifted back to Mitsui, remembering about the time he was trying to tell her something when his teammate Ryota interrupted. She inclined her head at what he had said.

"You had been the only girl in my life…" His voice echoed in her head.

After a moment of pondering on the sentence and when the meaning hit her, her face turned crimson and she opened her mouth slightly in a silent gasp.

Oh my Hisashi, when did it start…? She thought a small smile appearing on her face.

Rukawa pushed his bicycle down the sidewalk as he made his way home, but when he passed the park with a basketball court, he couldn't help himself but enter the park to continue practicing. Leaning his bicycle on a near by tree he took out his ball from his sports bag. He hung his bag on the handle of his bicycled before he started bouncing the ball towards the court and started practicing.

Not aware, that someone up the tree watching him, Rukawa paid his fullers attention on his practice. He had no intentions on losing in any matches. After almost an hour passed, Rukawa headed back to his bicycled to get his water bottle. As he was taking his bottle out from his bag something fell on his head. He frowned when he saw a berry landed on the ground. He crouched down to pick it up when another fell on the ground next to him almost hitting him. Before he could look up almost ten or more rained down upon him.

He stood up immediately and glared up the tree. He was greeted by a girl with a smile on her face which melted his heart of ice. His face soften when he saw it was Nay smiling down at him, her feet dangling as she sat on the lowest branch of the tree.

"Aren't you supposed to be at home at this hour?"

I have to finish these berries before I go home but there are too much.

Rukawa looked at the berries she had thrown down at him which now surrounded him on the ground before he looked up again. Nay was climbing down the tree cautiously. He waited for her to get down and when she did she wrote something on her note pad again and shown it to him.

Want to share them with me?

Rukawa looked at the box of berries she was holding in her hand and nodded once. Nay's face brightened and sat down on the ground, cross legged. She looked up at Rukawa when she was comfortably seated. Rukawa took a few more seconds watching her before he finally sat down next to her.

"You mean she isn't home yet?" Mitsui asked when he went over to Nay's house to see if she was alright and her mother answered the door.

"That's right Hisashi, is something wrong?" Nay's mother asked worriedly. "Do you think she went out with her friends or something?"

"Erm, right… that should be it." Mitsui quickly said not wanting to worry her. "I should be going, Nay should be home soon."

Mitsui left Nay's resident worriedly wondering where Nay had gone.

She doesn't have any friends in school besides me and…. Mitsui stopped at his thoughts. Rukawa… damn…

He ran down the sidewalk, he had to find Nay no matter what.

"Thanks for the berries…" Rukawa said awkwardly. He wasn't use to thanking people or even apologizing.

No problem. If you like them, I can always bring them again tomorrow.

Rukawa nodded once again and Nay smiled.

"Teach me."

Nay inclined her head.

"Sign language."

Nay's eyes widened with surprised but it only last for a few seconds and her smile appeared again.

She did a sign and then she wrote down on her note pad.

That was 'How are you?'

Rukawa repeated what she did and Nay shook her head slightly.

You did it slightly wrong. Here let me show you.

Nay took Rukawa's hand in hers to his surprise but he didn't pull away or mind. Nay guided Rukawa slowly until he got it right.

There, it wasn't that hard.

Rukawa nodded once again with a faint smile on his face which only lasted for a second. Nay raised her eyebrows slightly.

Was that a smile? Nay wondered but pushed the thought away. She had heard many of her schoolmates and classmates told her that Rukawa never smile.

Without the both of them realizing it, the sun had set and the park was in darkness and only a dimly lit lamp pose giving them light.

"Its late we should be going."

Nay nodded and signed.

You did well.

"Well, it would be easier to converse with you."

Arigatou for being my friend.

Rukawa blinked.

Friend? Is this what they call a friend? He wondered.

Not knowing why he kind of liked the thought of being Nay's friend or what Nay had said that he was her friend. He didn't know how this happened but he was glad it did.

"Nay?"

Both Rukawa and Nay turned towards the person and saw Mitsui standing at the edge of the park. Nay's face immediately brightened at the sight of him, though Rukawa wasn't very happy to see him.

Hisashi, what are you doing here?

"That should be my question." Mitsui said tetchily walking up towards them.

I met Rukawa in the park and I decided to teach him sign language.

"Sign language?" Mitsui turned to look at Rukawa suspiciously.

Rukawa was looking at the other side of the park ignoring Mitsui. Mitsui scowled at his attitude though trying to disregard his manner he turned to Nay and said.

"It's late Nay, I'll walk you home. Your mum had been worried about you."

Oh my, I have totally forgotten about the time!

"Let's go."

Nay turned to Rukawa and did a sign slowly.

I will see you tomorrow. Oyasumi Rukawa.

Mitsui narrowed his eyes when Rukawa nodded which means he understood her. It had always been only him who understood her. For another boy to understand Nay made Mitsui feel terrible and made him feel as if he wanted to tear Rukawa into pieces.

"Oyasumi." Rukawa replied, grabbed hold of his bicycle, got on it and cycled off. Feeling slightly reluctantly to leave Nay he cycled slowly wondering why Mitsui had always got to come up in times when he was trying to get to know Nay better.

Not wanting to dwell on it he pushed the thought away. It doesn't matter if Mitsui was bothering, as long as Nay thinks that he was a friend. It was good enough.

Mitsui watched Rukawa cycled away, turned around the junction and out of sight before he turned back to Nay.

"Nay, why did you teach Rukawa sign language?"

Because he wanted to learn.

"He told you he wanted to learn?"

Hai, I really think he wants to be my friend. It had been a long time since I am in Shohoku I had made a friend.

Why must it be Rukawa? Mitsui thought miserably.

Hisashi, I think Rukawa is a very lonely person like me. He needs friends.

Mitsui looked at Nay as if she had gone out of her mind.

"Rukawa had been like this ever since I knew him."

But I still think everyone needs to have friends. Can't you be nicer to him?

Mitsui sighed.

"I'll try."

Nay smiled and when they reached her home, she turned to give Mitsui a hug.

Mitsui smiled slightly and put his hands around her shoulders giving her a gentle squeeze. She looked up at him with slight tears in her eyes. Mitsui's smile faded wondering why she was crying.

"Nay did I do anything to hurt you?" Mitsui asked worriedly tightening his embrace.

Nay shook her and smiled softly. Slowly, she removed her arms around Mitsui's waist so she could sign to him.

Iie, I finally understood what you were trying to tell me.

Mitsui inclined his head slightly.

I had always felt the same way.

Mitsui's eyes widened with shock.

I never said anything because I always thought you treated me as your younger sister.

There was a silence for Mitsui was speechless.

I am really glad you finally told me that you really really like me.

"I don't only like you Nay…" Mitsui said softly finally able to speak. "Aishiteru…"

Nay smiled as a tear slid down her face. Mitsui placed his hands on her cheeks and gently wiped it away.

"Don't cry. You should be happy."

I am happy…

Mitsui leaned down and captured Nay's lip in his.

Unaware by the both of them, someone from afar watched them quietly. Tanski clutched her hand into fists digging her nails into her palms at the sight before her. She had always gotten what she wanted, and Mitsui was hers. Nothing will stop her from getting him even if she had to get rid of Nay Ozuki.