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Chapter 6: Night

Night came and everyone retired to Ayako's uncle's bungalow after they finished their barbeque. Some went for a bath, others just relaxed in front of the TV, watching a movie.

"What are all of you watching?" asked Mr Gouhara.

"A comedy, Ojiisan." replied Sakuragi, his mouth full with chips.

"Don't talk with your mouth full." snapped Mr Gouhara. "I want to watch the news."

"But…" started Kogure.

Without another word, Mr Gouhara switched the comedy to a news channel.

"Oi! We were watching that!" cried Mitsui in protest.

"What's the use of watching a comedy?" asked Mr Gouhara. "Watching the news is much better."

"Ayako, you are practically the owner of this place, tell that old man to stop bossing us around." whispered Miyagi to Ayako.

"I can't, he's older than us after all." whispered Ayako back.

Everyone sat for a moment as they watched the news. Sakuragi suddenly got up.

"Where are you going, boy?" asked Mr Gouhara.

Sakuragi bounced the basketball once on the floor. "Play basketball. Is that forbidden too?"

Mr Gouhara looked disapproving, but he didn't say anything.

"Ayako, lend me your uncle's basketball court for a few hours." said Sakuragi to Ayako.

"Go ahead." said Ayako.

"Oi, Hanamichi, wait for me!" said Miyagi, getting up to follow Sakuragi.

"I'm going too." said Mitsui coolly as he got up.

Soon, almost all the boys left to play basketball, only Kogure, Mr Gouhara and the girls stayed behind.

"Boy, why didn't you go and join your friends?" asked Mr Gouhara to Kogure.

Kogure opened his mouth to speak.

"You will look stronger if you exercise more." added Mr Gouhara.

"Otousan!" said Hiroko in horror.

Kogure got up.

"Kogure…." started Hiroko anxiously. She couldn't read his expression clearly. Was he going to argue with her father or…

"I'm going out." said Kogure calmly and he did.

"That's it. And don't come back until you are sweaty from exercise." called Mr Gouhara.

"Otousan!" cried Hiroko.

"Nani?" asked Mr Gouhara.

"You have gone too far this time." said Hiroko. "This is not our house, you know."

"I'm just stating a fact." said Mr Gouhara simply.

Hiroko stared at her father in annoyance before she walked out.

"Oi, Hiroko, where are you going?" asked Mr Gouhara.

"I need some fresh air." said Hiroko.

"Don't go anywhere unsafe, and don't go and watch the boys play!" called her father.

Hiroko didn't bother to respond.

"Yoshi, three points!" yelled Mitsui as the basketball went through the hoop. He then turned to give Akagi a high-five.

Miyagi kicked Sakuragi's butt, literally.

"Baka, who ask you to pass the ball to him?" he demanded.

"I didn't mean it, all right?" replied Sakuragi, irritated.

Smiling at his friends, Kogure continued to stroll his way to the deserted beach. He then stopped right in front of the sea and breathed in the salty sea air. He lay down, with his hands behind his head.

He closed his eyes, listening to the waves and occasionally, his team mates' yells of victory nearby as they sent the ball through the basket time after time.

To be honest, he had enough of Mr Gouhara's attitude too. He acted as if he's in charge of the place and the worst thing was that he wouldn't let Hiroko to do anything she wanted…

Kogure heard footsteps on the sand and he got up. To his surprise, it's Hiroko.

"Hiroko? What are you doing here?" asked Kogure.

"I was mad at Otousan." said Hiroko simply. "May I sit down?"

"Douzo." said Kogure, smiling.

Hiroko sat down beside Kogure. "Gomen ne, I know Otousan is being unreasonable. He shouldn't order all of you around like that."

"I know he cares about you." said Kogure truthfully. "But I have to say that he's overprotective."

Hiroko nodded. "Maybe he will relax a little if I don't have this condition."

"How could you stand him, anyway?" asked Kogure.

Hiroko shrugged helplessly. "He is my father after all…"

"AHH!" yelled a voice.

Kogure and Hiroko turned around. From a distance, they could see Mitsui was yelling in horror while Sakuragi had the ball in his hands.

"Looks like Sakuragi did a rebound." said Kogure happily.

"You have some very interesting friends." commented Hiroko.

"By the way, what did they say to you in the library?" asked Kogure.

"Eh? Err…" started Hiroko.

Kogure noticed Hiroko looked very uncomfortable. "You don't have to say if you don't want to." he said kindly.

Hiroko sighed in relief. She looked at the night sky, which was filled with stars. "It's beautiful. I have never seen so many stars in one place in my entire life.

Kogure nodded. "It is."

"Even my cousin won't dare to bring me here, because Otousan doesn't let him."

"That's too bad."

Silence followed between Kogure and Hiroko.

"Arigato, Kogure." said Hiroko suddenly.

"Eh?" asked Kogure. "Doushite?"

"For asking me to come along with your friends. Otousan may have sort of spoiled my day, but so far I have made a lot of friends such as Ayako, Haruko and Mitsui. I now even have a chance to watch the night sky. So it's not a total loss."

She smiled at him. Kogure blushed slightly and grinned. "Oh well, as long as you are happy…"

He returned to admire the night sky. They remained silent. Soon, the voices at the basketball court ceased.

It was a very long time before Kogure felt something on his shoulder. He turned his head slightly and found Hiroko asleep, with her head on his shoulder.

Embarrassed, Kogure wanted to wake her up, but decided not to. He didn't want to disrupt her sleep. So the two remained there, with Hiroko asleep and Kogure staring out at the sky.

A few hours later, Kogure yawned and looked at his watch. 1am. He and Hiroko should get back to the house.

He gently slapped Hiroko's cheek. "Hiroko, wake up."

Hiroko didn't wake up, she continued to sleep. Kogure tried again but he couldn't wake her up.

"Oh my, not even Rukawa sleeps like that." thought Kogure. He swallowed nervously. Looks like there's only one way to do.

Gently, Kogure turned and lifted Hiroko up in his arms. "Come on, Hiroko, let's go back." he whispered.

Sleepily, Hiroko wrapped her arms around Kogure and let him carried her back.

When Kogure got back into the bungalow, he found the boys sleeping all over the place. Sakuragi was sleeping with his head on the basketball and arms on the floor. Miyagi was snoring and had his head on Sakuragi's back. Mitsui had the whole sofa to himself. Akagi was sleeping on the floor. The girls had probably gone upstairs to sleep.

Carefully not to step on any one of his friends, Kogure made his way across the room and went upstairs. He found an empty room and went in.

Kogure put Hiroko down on the bed gently and tucked her in. Smiling at her innocent face, Kogure whispered, "Oyasumi."

He then left. Kogure looked around for other empty rooms, but it seemed like the upstairs rooms were occupied by the girls and Mr Gouhara.

So he went downstairs and tried to find a place to sleep. Finally he found an unoccupied armchair. Kogure sat on the armchair with his legs over the armrest. Then he closed his eyes. In less than a minute, he fell asleep.