Chapter 2: Hiroko

Three days later, with a bandage around his head, Kogure looked through the selves for books in the school library.

Because of that killer pass of Mitsui, Kogure ended up in the school infirmary for a day, unconscious, and when he woke up, he found a mixture of purple and black bruise on his forehead.

Mitsui apologized endlessly, Kogure accepted it. His parents, on the other hand, weren't so forgiving and somehow concluded that Mitsui did it on purpose. Luckily Kogure managed to explain to his parents about the whole situation (of course he never told them why exactly he wasn't concentrating on the game).

Looking down on his books, Kogure thought he had enough of them to help him to catch up with his classes. He couldn't believe there was a huge amount of stuff he had missed during his absence from classes.

Carrying his books with no difficulty, Kogure strolled back to his seat but then he stopped. There was a girl sitting on his seat, her back was facing him. His own bag was on the floor beside the chair where he left it.

Taking a deep breath, Kogure walked to the girl.

"Sumimasen, but I think you have taken my seat." said Kogure politely.

The girl looked up and Kogure nearly dropped his books. It was the girl that he was thinking of during practice.

"Ah…" started the girl, as if she recognized him and she quickly stood up. "Gomen, you can have the seat back if you want…"

Kogure said, "Iie, you can have it. I will just sit here…"

He sat down on another chair but he kept a safe distance away from the girl. He opened his book and began to read it.

"Ano… did I do that?" asked the girl.

"Eh?" said Kogure, looking up.

The girl pointed at his injury. "Is that caused by my tennis ball?"

"Oh, this!" said Kogure and grinned. "Iie, it was caused my team mate, he threw the basketball at me when I didn't notice. Well, it's my fault. I should be concentrating on the game instead of thinking of…"

Then Kogure realized that he had said too much and went quiet.

"Good," said the girl in relief. "And I thought I have caused a serious injury."

Kogure smiled at her. "Well, you didn't."

Then he remembered about asking the girl's name.

"Ano… what's your name?"

The girl smiled at him. "Hiroko Gouhara. I'm a second year. You're Kiminobu Kogure from third year, right?"

Kogure blinked. "How…"

"You and the rest of Shohoku basketball team are famous, everyone knows you."

Kogure laughed loudly, but quickly stopped because he saw the librarian glaring at him. "The rest of the team maybe, but me? I'm just the vice-captain of the team. I seldom play in games."

"But you are an excellent three-points shooter." said Hiroko. "At least that's what I heard from my friends."

"I'm a fair three-points shooter." said Kogure modestly. "By the way…"

Suddenly, a girl rushed into the library and screamed, "Rukawa is leaving! Better catch him before it's too late!"

All of the girls stood up and ran out, much to the librarian's displease.

Watching the girls, Kogure just smiled. "Girls." he muttered.

Then he noticed Hiroko didn't follow the rest. "Eh? Why didn't you follow the girls?"

"I'm not interested in Rukawa." said Hiroko.

"That's new." said Kogure, grinning. "Any girl who has seen him in action will fall for him."

Hiroko blushed slightly. "I have never seen Rukawa in action. I have never seen any of your team's matches."

"Why?" asked Kogure, bewildered. "You're not interested in basketball?"

"No, I like basketball. My cousin always shows me how it is played when he comes over to my house. I'm just not allowed to watch matches."

"Why?"

Hiroko sighed. Kogure noticed that her skin was fairer than the rest of the girls he had come across.

"I have a heart condition. There's a hole in my heart. My parents won't allow me to take part in stuff that will tire me out. I have never seen live sports games in my whole life, neither have I been to the amusement park, my parents think that place will excite me too much."

Confused, Kogure asked, "But you played tennis."

Hiroko giggled. "Actually, I don't think my problem is very serious. My parents are just making a big fuss. I sometimes just stand at the tennis court with a racket in my hand. I never run or anything, I just hit the ball when it comes near me."

"I see…" muttered Kogure and looked at Hiroko's book. "Do you come here often?"

Hiroko nodded. "Since I can't go out much, I will just stay indoors and read. I painted too, in fact, I have painted too much lately that I'm neglecting my homework. I have to read more to catch up on my classes."

She made a face at her book. "I hate Chemistry."

"Why? Chemistry is interesting." said Kogure suddenly.

Hiroko stared at him with her eyes widened.

Silence.

(Kogure sweatdrops)

"Baka, Kogure, you have just shown her that you are a geek." thought Kogure.

"What I mean is…" said Kogure quickly.

"You understand Chemistry?" asked Hiroko suddenly.

"Hai…" said Kogure slowly.

"Great!" said Hiroko and asked, "Ne, can you teach me, please?"

That was unexpected.

"Eh?" asked Kogure.

"I don't understand anything about Chemistry at all! I need someone to teach me, so please." said Hiroko.

"Okay." said Kogure, nodding.

Kogure spent a long time teaching Hiroko about atoms and molecules. Finally, he heard the librarian saying: "Do you two mind? I'm closing the library."

Kogure and Hiroko looked up at the clock. 6.30pm.

"Oh no!" said Hiroko, standing up. "I'm supposed to be home by this time!"

Picking her bag, she said to Kogure. "Gomen ne, I have to go. Why don't we meet here again? Tomorrow at 7am? Before the class starts?"

Kogure couldn't help smiling. She actually wanted to meet him! "Okay."

"Great, sayonara!" said Hiroko, walking out of the library as fast as possible.

Kogure watched as she left. He was glad that he and Hiroko were now friends and…

"Do you mind?" asked the librarian in irritation.

Kogure looked up at the librarian's dark face and quickly gathered his books. He then ran out of the library.

It was 7.15pm when Hiroko got home. "I'm home…" she said slowly.

Hermother rushed to her anxiously. "Hiroko, where have you been?"

"Gomenasai, Okasan." said Hiroko. "I was studying with a friend and I forgot the time…"

Mrs Gouhara sighed in relief. "Hiroko, your father and I are good enough to send you to a normal school instead of a special school for… well, people with your condition. Will you be so kind and stop letting us to worry about you?"

Hiroko bit her lip. Her mother sounded like it was all her fault.

"But…" started Hiroko but she knew it was no use to argue with her mother. "Hai."

"Now go and change your clothes. Dinner will be ready in ten minutes. And don't forget to take your medicine."

"Hai."

"By the way, your cousin called. Better call him back."

"Hai." said Hiroko tiredly.

Sighing, Hiroko turned and went to her bedroom, which was just on the first floor and closed her door.