Chapter 2
I'm late and I'm screwed Sendoh Akira thought as he hastily stripped off his school uniform and changed into his practice clothes. What possessed Takeuchi-sensei to give a 50-point quiz ten minutes before the end of the period anyway? He added with modest annoyance then shook his head, mentally forgiving his sensei. While giving an extension for the quiz is certainly humane, late is late.
Sendoh tightened his shoelaces before sprinting out of Ryonan's dugout towards the gym, not bothering to close his locker. Several girls greeted him as he ran past them. He gave them a quick wave and a smile.
Coach Taoka would definitely kill him this time. He already lost count on how many times he was late during practice, and on how many times Taoka lectured the whole team about tardiness.
It was a smart move for coach to punish the team for his frivolous undertaking (as Taoka had put it delicately) instead of him. It eventually made him think of Ryonan first before doing anything that would cause further hassle.
Taoka-sensei's methods of forcing him to take his responsibilities as captain seriously were somehow unusual but undoubtedly effective, and Sendoh admired the old man for his tolerance. He still missed some on-time practices, of course. Sendoh admits he has little or no control over situations uncalled for.
As for situations he can control, Sendoh would always find himself in a comfortable walk towards the gym rather than hurrying. Besides fishing, Sendoh likes to walk. It gives him time to collect himself, to think, to prepare himself mentally for the challenge of another practice day with Ryonan. A harmless undertaking. Besides, once he gets there, he'll think of nothing but to be Kanagawa's Top Seed and his duties as the team captain. It's frustrating for Sendoh to realize that Taoka-sensei seemed to overlook this. Coach took his captainship more seriously than what it is; and the pressure he's giving him felt like he's being crushed.
Yet somehow, he was surviving.
Sendoh arrived at the gym and smiled upon hearing voices, squeaking rubber shoes and the sound of ball dribbling on wooden floor. It was nice that his teammates always decide to start without him. It gave him the feeling that they didn't have to rely on him all the time. But of course, that also meant...
"You're late."
Sendoh didn't know which was worse: being caught by Coach Taoka or by his vice-captain. He gave Koshino a sheepish smile. "Sumimasen. We had a 50-point quiz in Biology just when the period almost ended."
"I told you Takeuchi-sensei could be crazy sometimes." Koshino snorted. "You're lucky coach's not here yet to blast your head off. C'mon, let's go."
Sendoh joined the rest of his teammates; in the process, he met their new members. Koshino introduced himself first then Sendoh, on his behalf. It was evident that most of them were in awe at the thought of him as their captain. Sendoh greeted them, did a little pep talk, and then prompted each one to state their name, year level and something interesting about themselves.
One of the lined-up new members caught his attention. The dark-haired, brown-eyed freshman looked nervous when Sendoh met his eyes. He was pale looking, lean and sickly. It was a wonder to him, at first, why he joined the team, but remembering the countless basketball players who didn't look like they would make it (including their former captain, Uozumi Jun) eventually bloomed in court. This one, upon seeing his determination of simply being there lined up with the rest of the rookies, would be no different in the future.
"And you must be...?" Sendoh urged the freshman to answer by giving him a warm smile.
"Ra-Raikujin Taka." came the timid answer.
"Ah, Raikujin-kun," Sendoh nodded, remembering it then said, "Welcome to the team."
Raikujin stared at him, smiled then nodded back.
"Look at him, Sendoh." Koshino muttered beside him. "Have you ever wondered why he joined the team?"
"I did. He has his reasons and I'm not going to ask. He's here and that's what matters." Sendoh said. "And don't worry. With the right training, I know he'll be fine."
"We need a manager for that but we don't have one."
Ryonan never had a manager, to begin with. Most of the players took turns for the job, trying to balance their training as a player and their managerial duties. There were some instances that a member of the faculty would take the job, but it was only temporary since they were not able to juggle their jobs as teacher and team manager at the same time. It wasn't a serious problem before; Taoka-sensei could take full responsibilities of training by himself, but when Ryonan's reputation rose to an extent (thanks to Sendoh), more new and inexperienced members wanted to join the basketball club.
Finding a manager had then become the main concern of Taoka-sensei and the team. Sendoh appointed Aida Hikoichi as manager, for now. It was a good move by the captain since Hikoichi is a resourceful and tenacious person. However, there is a setback: Hikoichi is rigorously trained to become one of Ryonan's starting members. Adding this to his managerial duties, he was now beginning to have difficulties with his dual responsibilities. They need to find a replacement. A.S.A.P.!
Hikoichi had started posting ads all over the school looking for a manager and it was a disaster. All applicants were girls who knew nothing about basketball and they found out that these girls applied so that they could get close to both Sendoh and Koshino. It was amusing if seen in a different perspective, but they're in a crisis and most of them, especially Koshino, were beginning to lose their cool.
"We'll find the right manager." Sendoh said, though he felt that it'd be a long time before the team finds one.
"Maybe we should've added: Preferably male." Koshino said dryly. "We're not exactly Shohoku, you know." He was referring to Ayako, Shohoku's team manageress.
Sendoh laughed. "We could kidnap her." He joked.
"And what, let their Point Guard kill us?"
Coach Taoka arrived a few minutes later, not knowing that Sendoh was five minutes ahead of him. He said his reason for the delay and met the new team members before calling on a game between the freshmen and the sophomores. It was a good game, though it irked some members to hear girls screaming for their captain.
"Gambatte, Sendoh-san!" They all screeched.
"Oh boy," Koshino groaned. "There goes your fan club, buddy."
Sendoh ignored him and passed the ball to Fukuda who made a successful alley-hoop. "Nice, Fukuda!" He shouted.
Fukuda gave him a thumbs-up.
The sophomores won the game and practice proceeded, as usual, and coach Taoka is in his element. Now the new recruits are experiencing the hardship they have only heard of from those that were under him, from Ryonan's current players to the ones who gave up.
It was late when practice ended and after coach Taoka told everyone to arrive at the gym on time (giving Sendoh a pointed look as he said it), the rest of the team went to the locker room to shower and change.
"What happened here?" Koshino was flabbergasted. "Did a tornado come in?" He saw the scattered clothes on the floor. There was a shirt hanging from the half-open door of Sendoh's locker.
Sendoh took the shirt from the door. "I was in a hurry to get to the gym." He said as he began to change back to his school clothes.
"You better stop coming in late. You won't be lucky next time." Koshino reminded.
"I know, I know." Sendoh said. "How many times do you have to tell me that?"
"Sorry, buddy, I lost count."
Sendoh shrugged then closed the door of his locker. "Do you mind if I don't go home with you today?" He asked suddenly.
Koshino frowned but shook his head. "I got a much better companion than you anyway."
"Ah! You managed to get Kitakame-san as your girlfriend?" Sendoh teased, knowing how provoked Koshino is by the mere mention of Maeko's name.
Kitakame Maeko is an auburn-haired, green-eyed beauty and plays batter in the girls' softball team who has always been at odds with Koshino as far as he can remember.
"That barbarian? Get real! Asking Maeko out is the last thing that would happen." Koshino snapped as he zipped his bag close. "See you tomorrow."
"Ja ne, Koshino." Sendoh said waving at his friend's departing figure.
Sendoh went straight to the beach instead. Since it was a little late, few people were there. He sat on the sand and stared at the setting sun.
Everything happened so fast these past few months. After Ryonan lost the Inter-High Championships, the former captain and co-captain—and the only seniors in the team—Uozumi Jun and Ikegami Ryoji had quit the club. It was only natural for him and Koshino to take their places. Sendoh felt that his becoming team captain was too soon and too sudden. He didn't have enough time to adjust to his new duties, and during his first days as captain, there were times he wished Uozumi was there to help him out.
Taking the position was hardly bad, though. He knew his name is an asset to Ryonan and it kept the students coming to be part of one of Kanagawa's finest.
No one deserved captainship than him. He had been hearing it before even when Uozumi's still in charge. He had apologized to his captain for that but the big man just shook his head and assured him that he wasn't offended. People admired him for being a genius in court, Uozumi had said. They just can't help but go wild over him, especially the women. A successor such as him would give the team a sure future in the Inter-High. His skills are truly worth envying...
He thought that maybe he is one of the reasons why his sempai had to quit basketball all of a sudden.
Sendoh sighed, welcoming the cool breeze and the soothing splash of waves. After all was said about him, he didn't know now if people liked him for who he is and not for what he has become: their Ace.
Ace player...Ace Captain...even Ace Heartbreaker. Everything has an 'Ace' to it. Bearing such a title is like a scarlet letter to who he really is—a prisoner of his own fame.
Many times, he wished to be left alone. He'd wished many things that are quite impossible for him to have now for he knew that he is now a public man—valued, adored and looked up to by people, which he is always very thankful for but doesn't necessarily like to be treated as one. Glory always comes with pressure, and a private life for a public man is too much to ask.
Sendoh saw a group of sea gulls flocking by the bay a few meters to his left. A long figure passed directly above him, overshadowing him. He looked up and saw a bird hovering low. Sendoh blinked. "An albatross?"
He watched it circle with grace onto the orange sky then followed its descent on the nearby flock. The albatross pecked on the sand as it landed, and to his surprise, it walked all the way towards the sea gulls. The albatross instantly blended with the flock almost perfectly.
However, the bird didn't stop walking. He knew because the gulls were still in disarray, with their wings expanding and flapping but they didn't fly. More wings expand and flap. It looks like the albatross is doing circles within the flock. Sendoh guessed the gulls didn't like it very much. After some time, the albatross emerged from the flock towards the sea...a smaller sea gull (probably female) follows it closely from behind. Both now seemed to eye the water for fish.
Sendoh can't help but smile and chuckle. "Kawaii."
Just then, he caught himself wishing again. He sighed.
The sun has completely set and it was getting dark. Time to go home. Sendoh stood up, dusted off his pants, and smiled as he took one last look at the horizon. The wind was cooler now and the heat of the sand bore no traces under his feet. Another day ended has ended. For the countless times he'd been in the beach, he's still not sure whether to survive tomorrow.
Sendoh heaved, cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted something, leaving an imprint to the wind. His lurid voice sent the birds flying.
The sea gulls flew away with the albatross.
"You're home late, as always." Sendoh Aya said to her younger brother as he entered the living room.
Sendoh winced at the flatness of Aya's tone. "C'mon, nee-san, even here I still get blasted at for being late?" He said and sat beside her on the couch. "Now this is a miracle, you're not in the kitchen trying to make weapons of mass destruction."
His oldest and only sister may have the talent with computer graphics (she's currently taking up graphic designing at a university in Kanagawa) but Aya is totally hopeless with the culinary arts. Her attempts in cooking always end up in a catastrophe. Sendoh didn't want to remember the times where the kitchen almost ended up in fire or how many pots and pans his sister had ruined or how they were nearly poisoned...
Aya hit him with a pillow, cutting his mind trail. "Hmp! Speak for yourself, Ming Tsai. You're worse than I am in making dinner." She glared at him.
"At least they're edible." He glared back at her.
They remained glaring at each other until they burst into laughter. "Anyway," Aya said. "Have you stayed in the gym after practice?"
"No. I went to the beach." He confessed.
Aya nodded in understanding. The beach is the only refuge her brother goes whenever in need of thinking. She didn't need him to elaborate. "Well, I hoped it helped you."
"In a way it did, nee-san. I feel good."
Aya smiled. "Good. Then get up from there and help me out in the kitchen."
Sendoh laughed. "Can I do the cooking this time?"
"Nope. I wanted to try something out that I've seen in the TV last weekend."
"Oh no. Please, nee-san, not another experiment." He groaned then changed the subject when his sister gave him a warning look. "Anou...when will otosaan and okaasan come home?" Their parents work as computer specialists at one of the biggest firms in the city. Their work usually takes too much of their time, making them rare to go home early and leaving Aya and Akira alone with each other most of the time.
"Later this evening, which is way past your bedtime, Akira." Aya giggled.
Akira rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine, I'll help you. What are you making this time?"
An hour and a burned Oriental Beef Stew later, the siblings were now eating ramen, delivered courtesy of the Yukimura Ramen House. They ate as they watch a romantic comedy film, While You Were Sleeping. Aya laughed at the main character's blunders and sighed at their exchange of dialogue with her male partner. Sendoh stared at the screen intently but he wasn't exactly absorbed in it.
Sendoh got bored with the movie and went to his room. He changed into a pair of black jogging pants and a worn out jersey of his former junior high basketball team then got to bed. He looked up the ceiling, through the small window directly above him and watched the lustrous sky. It was a beautiful night where he can just relax and forget everything. Basketball, school, girls, his feelings of restlessness, his longings...
By tomorrow, it will be another new day. An opportunity for him to live his life the best way he can and face the realities he had shut out the previous night. His restlessness and longings would have to wait. Right now, his mind is in basketball and while the championships are still far away, he knows that they have to work hard if they want to be the number one team in the region. With proper training and hard work, Ryonan would be able to realize their dream.
At that, Sendoh fell asleep.
"So, let's see here..." Sendoh said as he flipped open a folder on his table. "Your name's Haruna Yuki, right?" He asked, smiling at the black-haired girl standing across him.
The girl nodded, staring at him with starry eyes.
"Ok. Great." Sendoh continued. "You're in 2nd year section 4, and you graduated from Takeishi Jr. High School. Anything else you'd like to add about yourself?"
Haruna sighed heavily, still looking at him with her love-struck eyes.
"O-K...I guess everything's written here in your resume, right?" He said then continued without waiting for Yuki to answer. Sendoh rubbed his chin. "So, uh, any previous experience in managing a basketball team?"
Sigh. Smitten eyes.
"How about training players?"
Sigh. Sigh. Goofy smile. Sigh.
"Uh, collecting team stats?"
Blink. Blink. Sigh.
"Uh-huh. O-K..." Sendoh turned to Koshino beside him. Koshino shrugged and shook his head, looking embarrassed for the candidate. Sendoh returned to Yuki. "Well, now, thank you for your time, Yuki-san. You'll be hearing from us soon about the results of your interview. Why don't you take a seat and we'll proceed with the next applicant." He said as he closed the folder.
Haruna stared at him adoringly, sighing heavily for the umpteenth time.
"I'll take that as a yes." Sendoh said and smiled at her. "Thanks again for your time, Yuki-san."
THUD! The girl had just fainted. Koshino stared at the unconscious girl then at Sendoh. "Nice job, Akira." He said wryly making a thumbs-up sign.
Sendoh placed a hand on his forehead. This is getting to be annoying. He thought. "Let's revive her before we can call on the next applicant." He said wearily.
After reviving Haruna, the next applicant was ushered in. Sendoh was relieved that the girl with the pixie-cut brown hair didn't swoon when he smiled at her, nor did she look at him with a lovestruck gaze.
"Houoji Nanaki?" He asked.
Nanaki nodded.
"Have a seat please." Sendoh indicated the chair in front of him.
Nanaki sat down and smiled at him. "I'm, like, really glad that I finally met you." She began crossing her legs after she sat down.
"Really?" He asked. Koshino slumped down on his seat, his expression looking between bored and impatient.
"Yeah, you're, like, a great player." Nanaki said happily. "I'm, like, your number one fan. I mean, oh my God, you are the best!"
"That's wonderful to hear, thank you." Sendoh said slowly.
"Yeah, like, I always watch your games." Nanaki continued enthusiastically as if he didn't speak at all. "Like, every-one of 'em."
"So that means you have a few ideas on how the game works." Sendoh said, trying to get the girl to the main issue at hand.
Nanaki still talked, ignoring for the second time what Sendoh had said. "And like, I always tape every game I've watched."
Sendoh nodded. "You document every game Ryonan participated on?" Maybe we're on to something.
For the third time, he was ignored. "And also, like, I watch them before, like, I go to bed."
Koshino almost fell off his seat while Sendoh stared at her, stunned. He wanted to ask why, but felt that he might not like her answer. Instead, he abruptly stood up resulting for Koshino and Nanaki to look at him in wonder.
"Where are you going?" Koshino asked as he watched his friend leaving.
"I need a cup of coffee." Sendoh answered.
Koshino frowned. "Coffee?"
"It's going to be a long day, Hiroaki." Sendoh said listlessly.
Koshino agreed with a low groan.
After interviewing five besotted applicants, Sendoh was physically and mentally exhausted. The last interviewee was an overeager fan who squealed upon seeing him and grabbed on him as if she did not intend to let go. It took Koshino, Hikoichi and Fukuda's help to pry her away from him. He looked at his arm, still red from the girl's grip, and sighed.
Sendoh turned the faucet on and began to wash his face. He gazed at his reflection on the men's room mirror and splashed it with water, blurring his reflection. He started to fill the sink, turned the faucet off when the water reached its brim before immersing his head in.
He has reached his frustration limit. The candidates for the managerial position were not qualified enough and it was beginning to get to him. If this went on, the team would just do without a manager and take turns on the job. He felt sorry for Hikoichi, knowing how he wanted to play as one of the starting members so badly. Sendoh would have to prepare himself for Hikoichi's reaction once he tells him the bad news later on. He has no choice but to adapt at the current situation at hand.
He lifted his head from the sink and dried himself with a towel. On his way back to the gym, he saw a girl reading one of their ads near the gym door. Another applicant? He wondered. Oh no, please, not again. He wasn't in the mood to talk to another dreamy-eyed admirer.
Unfortunately, he can't just avoid applicants. Sighing dejectedly, he went to meet her. "Excuse me, miss?" Sendoh said. The girl turned, and what he saw astounded him instantly. She's quite tall for a girl but plump, with dark shoulder length hair clipped neatly at the back. She's ordinary looking but her hazel eyes seem to make him forget it all. They're undeniably attractive. "A-Anou...if you're here to apply for the manager job, I'm sorry but you'll just have to come back tomorrow."
The girl with hazel eyes stared at him a minute longer then frowned. "What manager job?"
Sendoh blinked at her. He realized that she was reading the poster beside the managerial ad, which is the poster of Kyuu-Jihan, Ryonan's Drama Club.
"I was on my way to the library, but I had a feeling I'm at the wrong part of the school so I was looking for a school directory. It seems there isn't any around here." She continued.
"I see. You're new around here, right?" He asked.
She smiled at him, making her eyes twinkle. "I wouldn't be lost right now if I'm not."
Of course, she is. What did you expect? Sendoh reprimanded himself. He suddenly felt stupid for what he said, and he wished that he wasn't at his worst state right now. He felt sticky and she must have noticed that his shirt was wet with both perspiration and water. His hair, normally in neat spikes, is now thoroughly rumpled and plastered on his face in wet strands.
"The library is at another building not far from here." He said, running a hand on his messed-up hair. "You'll just have to get past the second year building. It's easy for people to get confused on which one is the library and which one's the gym."
The girl nodded. "So I'll just get out of this building to go to the other one." When Sendoh nodded, she sighed, placing a hand on her forehead. "Aye, the time I wasted. Well, thanks for your help." She said before leaving.
"You're welcome." Sendoh called after her. Whew, what a relief! He added silently as he went back inside the gym.
Author's note: Standard disclaimers apply as always. Reviews are welcome!