"Are you sure?"
Hanamichi sighs and turn around to face his grandmother. He smiles at her half-heartedly and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Yes," says Hanamichi, "I'm…glad that I met you finally and Henry, too. But…my home is there."
"You're so much like your father," Sophia says, removing her grandson's hand on her shoulder only to grasp it softly within hers. "When I look at you, it's like Lance was here again. You're both hardheaded!"
Hanamichi chuckles softly at Sophia's exclamation. "Really? Well, I can only imagine the headaches you have to endure," jokes Hanamichi.
Now it is Sophia's turn to laugh, this time loudly, on Hanamichi's little quip. But her laughter slowly recedes to give way to tears. Hanamichi looks sadly at his grandmother. He's lost for words on how to make this better for Sophia.
"I'm sorry," Hanamichi gently apologizes.
"Nonsense!" Sophia blurts out, "I'm just being too emotional due to my age."
She dabs the end of her eyes removing any trace of tears and smile brightly at her grandson. Sophia gently pats Hanamichi's cheek, gazing approvingly at Lance's son.
"I'm happy that you're my grandmother," Hanamichi softly says.
A lump in Sophia's throat disables her to reply immediately. Forcing herself not to cry again, she hugs Hanamichi and speaks softly in his ear, "And I'm lucky to have you for my grandson."
Sophia feels Hanamichi nods behind her back. They separate and look at each other for a moment, just being thankful that they were given time to be with each other.
Hanamichi kisses Sophia tenderly on each cheek before finally pulling away from her. He pick up his bag and heads for the door. But when he reaches for the door knob, he faces his grandmother once more.
"You know, grandma, I'm wondering," Hanamichi starts, thoroughly enjoying the slight indignation that surfaces on Sophia's face for being called 'grandma', "How was my father able to pose as a Japanese citizen?"
Sophia smirks and cocks her eyebrow knowingly. "A little money goes a long way, dear boy," says Sophia mirthfully.
"I see…" murmurs Hanamichi.
"Is that all?" Sophia asks.
"Actually, there's one more," Hanamichi admits.
"Well, hurry on! Or your flight might leave without you!" Sophia says, her fiery spirit finally coming back to her.
Hanamichi rolls his eye amusingly but finally respond, "Why didn't you and my dad talk?"
Silence fills the room and Hanamichi knows he asks a very sensitive subject. He almost regret asking that question when he sees the sadness that sweeps into his grandmother's face.
"Because…we were both stupid," Sophia bitterly reply, "Your mother got pregnant with you and Lance thought it would be better if he stayed in Japan with Yui. I thought he was just running away from his responsibility…"
"Was he?" Hanamichi gingerly inquire.
Sophia looks away from Hanamichi and takes a deep breath. "Yes, he was. But I should have known from the start that he did not want the title. He was telling me but I never listened."
Sophia looks back at Hanamichi beaming. "But he loved you and your mother very much. And Yui loves you both so much. She tried to patch things up with your father and I. But…it's…I can't do anything about it now," Sophia says, her voice trailing at the end.
Hanamichi drops his bag and walk toward his grandmother. He hugs her again reassuringly and Sophia feels the load she's carrying in her heart being lifted away.
"Lance, are you looking? I might be able to correct our mistake with your son," Sophia hopefully thinks.
Hanamichi pulls away from Sophia and picks up his bag once more. He stands quietly at the door and grins at her.
"I'll write to you everyday, grandma!" Hanamichi says cheekily. Instead of being irritated, Sophia laughs at her grandson's antic.
"And please tell Uncle Henry that he better do a good job!"
And with that, Hanamichi walks out of the room, waving at his grandmother as he dashes down the waiting car outside the mansion.
"So, how do you think Sakuragi's doing over in England?"
"Probably headbutting those who disobey his orders!"
The four gunta guffaws at Sakuragi's expense. They are heading towards the basketball gym to see the team practice. Ever since Sakuragi left, the gunta see to it that they will stand in his place. Meaning, they will cheer the team to victory and insult Rukawa once in while. Of course, they had a couple of spats with the freakish Rukawa Shinetai but Sakuragi did say to them to give Rukawa hell. What kind of friends they are if they don't grant Sakuragi's request, right?
The team won't have a practice till 4:00 pm but the gunta can hear a noise coming from the gym.
"That's odd," Takamiya wonders.
Uncertain on who will they find inside, they hurriedly open the door and find the most unexpected person there.
"Oi! Can you help me clean these balls? They're dirty. What kind of a captain is Ryota! Gori wouldn't let the team practice if the balls are this dirty!"
Jaws dropping, the four slowly approach their friend. Still disbelieving that Sakuragi is there, they proceed in poking him in every imaginable places. Sakuragi is not amused.
"STOP IT!" Sakuragi screams at his friends who promptly scampers away from him. "Now will you help me clean this or what?" Sakuragi demands.
The four immediately get their own ball and shine it fastidiously. Sakuragi rolls his eyes and sit down on the floor besides his friends. After what seems like an eternity, Yohei breaks the silence.
"So when did you…I mean, how did you…Why!" Yohei cries out after grappling for the right words to say.
"I like it here," Sakuragi says plainly. But he notices that the four have an identical evil grin on their faces. Now, it's Sakuragi's turn to inch away from his friends. "What?"
"You like it here or…you miss us?" Okusu asks. He moves toward Sakuragi, an evil smile lighting up his face.
"What – no!"
"Oh, just admit it!" Noma also says, edging towards Sakuragi.
"Wha – where are you getting this idea!"
"My, my…has England made you soft, Hana-kun?" Takamiya says with an evil glint in his eyes.
"Soft! Why don't you come closer to see how soft I am!"
"Admit it already!" Yohei adds fan to the flame.
"Admit what!" Sakuragi insists.
"That you miss us!" The four shout back.
"No, I don't!"
"Yes, you do!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No, no, no!"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
"SHUT UP!"
Ayako's trusty fan finds it willing victim once more.
Five pairs of eyes that promise murder glare at the manageress direction. Ayako just sneers at the five in return. She is going to sass them when she does the funniest double take.
"Yo-you!" Ayako points at Sakuragi. "You're back!"
"Yeah, I am," Sakuragi pouts. "Thanks for the warm welcome," Sakuragi says, sarcasm dripping on his voice.
"HEY! Sakuragi is that you?"
Ryota, together with the rest of the team, rush towards Sakuragi. They crowd around him (although Rukawa, typically, stands a few feet away) and Sakuragi is obviously enjoying the attention.
While Sakuragi is busy answering his team's questions why he comes back (all the while denying that the reason is because he misses them), a person enters the building unnoticed. Haruko looks at Sakuragi, her heart gladden by the fact that Sakuragi is here again.
Sakuragi looks above the swirling mass of head around him and see Haruko at one corner. "Oi, Haruko-chan!" Sakuragi calls out to the girl as he tries to get away from his teammates.
Haruko smiles warmly at Sakuragi. "How are you, Sakuragi-kun?"
"I'm more than ok!" Sakuragi says, boisterously laughing at the end.
"I'm glad you're back," Haruko reveals. Sakuragi scratches the back of his head, suddenly bashful around Haruko.
"Me, too," Sakuragi agrees.
"You've also gotten tall!" Haruko notices, reaching (or at least trying to) for the top of Sakuragi's head.
"Really! Nyahaha!" Sakuragi laugh loudly, clearly showing off his growth. His teammates just sigh and roll their eyes in exasperation. Until…
"Get your hands off him!"
Kathleen marches toward Sakuragi and immediately snatches him away from her rival. She stands in front of Sakuragi, guarding him from this Haruko girl.
Haruko is taken aback from the fierceness of Kathleen. "Wha-?" she stutters.
"Stay away from my boyfriend, you hussy!"
That's it. Haruko is usually a peaceful person but she also will not back down from a fight.
"Your boyfriend, huh? Whatever did he see in you. You…you cow!"
"What!"
Sakuragi at this point backs away from the quarelling girl. Smart move on his part because the two are emitting insane amount of rage. The team is also as far away as possible from the two. Meanwhile, the gunta are taking bets on who will win on this catfight.
"Girls are scary…" Sakuragi says to no one in particular.
"Yes, they are,"
Sakuragi jumps back at the voice beside him. Rukawa has also moved away from ground zero. Sakuragi thinks he see a slight fear in Rukawa's face.
"When did you get here!" Sakuragi asks astounded.
Rukawa just ignores him. Sakuragi feels his blood boil but he's a mature individual so he'll let it pass.
"So…you're back, huh?" Rukawa looks sideward at Sakuragi.
"Yeah, so?" Sakuragi challenges Rukawa.
Rukawa levels his gaze with that of Sakuragi. The redhead is somewhat freaked out by meeting Rukawa's gaze but he won't turn away! Never!
The raven haired boy smirks at him.
"You miss us."
"NO, I DON'T!"