Chapter 6: Prelude to the revelation I
The Inter High Preliminaries had begun, and Shohoku was seeded in the B block, while Kainan was in the A block and Ryonan in the C block. Because these three teams were in the final four the previous year, they didn't have to play during the preliminary rounds and only had to wait until the semi-finals.
And, just like the previous year, Shoyo was in the same block as Shohoku, and being Shoyo, they easily breezed through game after game to reach the semi-finals, where they will play against Shohoku.
---
The day of the game between Shohoku and Shoyo arrived, and both teams gathered in their respective locker rooms before going out onto the court.
"Alright, the starting players are Miyagi-sempai, oniichan, Kaede, Mikage-kun and Tendo-kun," Hanayuki announced. "Play hard, and remember, you're strong." Beside her, Anzai-sensei nodded his head.
"Hai!" they chorused.
Hanayuki smiled. "I still remember that day last year when we were also playing against Shoyo. Back then, we were the underdogs, but we beat the odds and got into the final four. This year, we're no longer the underdogs, but Shoyo is no underdog either. You must not underestimate them, you understand?"
"Hai!"
---
In Shoyo's locker room...
"Ne, otouchan, are you going to play too?" asked Aoi-chan, looking up at Fujima.
Fujima smiled at her. "No, Aoi-chan. Otouchan is not playing. These oniichans are otouchan's friends. Otouchan came here to cheer for them."
"Ooooh, just like how Aoi-chan cheers for otouchan!" said Aoi-chan, clapping her hands excitedly.
Hanagata laughed at her antics. "That's right, Aoi-chan. Since your otouchan here is cheering for them, won't you cheer for them too?"
"Hai! Aoi-chan will cheer for all the oniichans!" She began to run all over the room, going from one player to another to 'cheer' them on.
As he watched her, Hanagata spoke. "I can't believe you didn't tell me about her earlier. I mean, I'm your friend, your team-mate, your roommate, all in one. I know all about your nightly house visits; what I didn't know was that you were actually visiting a 3-year-old kid who calls you her otousan and staying at your house."
"Well, now you know. Never mind that. Anyway, you do know that I'm not staying to watch the game, don't you?" asked Fujima.
"Yeah, although I don't understand why," Hanagata replied.
"I promised Aoi-chan I'm taking her to the playground," said Fujima.
"You can take her there later, can't you? After all, I think she wouldn't mind watching the game herself. Look at her. Just running around and cheering for the players, she's already this excited." Hanagata gestured to the girl, who was jumping up and down, shouting 'cheers' like any cheerleader would.
"Maybe some other time." Fujima glanced at his watch. "I think it's time they enter the court." He clapped his hands together, and said, "Alright guys. It is time. Play hard, and do your best. Good luck."
"Hai. Arigatou gozaimasu, Fujima-sempai!"
Going down on one knee, he called to Aoi-chan. "Come on, Aoi-chan. Let's go to the playground."
Squealing happily, she ran into his arms. With a last nod at his friend, he stood up and exited the room.
Just as the team was about to exit the room themselves, someone cried out, "Oh no! Aoi-chan left her bracelet here." He held up a blue-and-white-coloured bead bracelet.
Hanagata walked to the door and looked out, before saying, "Well, they're nowhere to be seen, so I guess you might as well give it to me. I'll pass it to him tonight."
"Maybe he'll come back for it later," someone suggested.
Hanagata shrugged. "Maybe. In any case, just let me keep it."
---
Half an hour later...
The first-half had ended with the score of 34-33, Shohoku leading by 1 point. It hadn't been an easy game, but it hadn't been a hard game either. Shoyo still had the height advantage, and some of their starting players were pretty good, but their might had significantly dropped with the absence of Fujima and Hanagata.
Still, Shohoku had to make an effort to keep a close game, and so far, they had been successful. Miyagi was now considered the point guard, while Sakuragi and Rukawa did their own thing. They weren't working together, at least not yet.
Another half an hour later, the second-half began. The tip-off was won by Sakuragi, and Miyagi caught the ball, going for a fast break immediately. Guarded tightly by Ito, Shoyo's new captain and point guard, Miyagi passed the ball to Tendo, who was near the basket.
Tendo passed the ball to Rukawa when his opponent jumped up to stop him, thinking that he was going to dunk. Rukawa jumped up and shot, scoring Shohoku's first two points of the second-half.
On the bench...
Ayako was beginning to feel excited. "I think we can win this, don't you, Yuki-chan?"
Hanayuki nodded her head. "As long as they keep on performing like this, I think we will."
---
At the playground...
"Wai!!!" Aoi-chan squealed in delight, as Fujima pushed the swing a little harder, prompting it to go higher. "Faster, otouchan! Faster!"
Fujima laughed. "Hold on tight then." He gave the swing another push, careful not to push too hard, so as to ensure Aoi-chan's safety.
Her mother's going to kill me if anything happens to precious Aoi-chan. Not that I'll forgive myself either.
He snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Aoi-chan scream, and looked up to see her struggling and shifting on the swing. And then, to his immense horror, she slipped off the seat and fell to ground with a thud.
"AOI-CHAN!!!"
---
At the stadium...
The game finally ended with the score of 66-64, with Shohoku as the winner, and as the players filed out of the court and made their way to the locker room, they chattered happily about their victory.
"Nyahahahaha! Hana-chan, now that we have removed the obstacle in front of us, there won't be any more problems," said Sakuragi, laughing loudly.
"Oniichan, have you forgotten about Kainan and Ryonan?" asked Hanayuki, smiling.
"Of course not, Hana-chan! This Tensai has not forgotten about them. In fact, this Tensai is going to beat them and go to the National Championships as the number one team in Kanagawa," Sakuragi declared.
"I'm sure you will-" Hanayuki was cut off when her hand phone began to ring. Reaching into her coat pocket, she took out the ringing device.
"Moshi moshi," she said into the phone. For a moment, she kept quiet as she listened to the caller. The others watched as the colour slowly drained from her face and her eyes widened visibly.
"I'll be right there," said Hanayuki and promptly stuffed the phone back into her pocket. Without another word, she started running towards the entrance.
"Hana-chan, where are you going?" Sakuragi called after her.
"I have to go somewhere. You guys go on without me," Hanayuki called back, not stopping. "Otousan, I'll call you later, alright?"
Ignoring Sakuragi's continuous shouts, she continued running until she disappeared completely from their sight.
"What was that all about?" Miyagi wondered aloud.
Ayako shrugged. "Beats me. Anyway, everyone get moving now. Hurry up!"
As the whole team began to shuffle forward, Rukawa pulled Sakuragi aside.
"Do'aho, I'm going to follow her. Are you coming along?"
"You mean Hana-chan?"
"Yes, do'aho. Are you coming along?"
"Man, kitsune, I didn't know you were a stalker."
"Urusai! I'm asking you for the last time. Are you coming along or not?" asked Rukawa, irritated.
Sakuragi regarded Rukawa for a while, before letting out a deep sigh and said, "Hai, hai. I'm coming. Only because I want to make sure you don't go get yourself into trouble."
"Do'aho, I don't need you to keep me out of trouble. You can't even keep yourself out of trouble," said Rukawa.
"Oh yeah? Then why did you ask me whether I want to come along with you huh?" asked Sakuragi.
"Because I want to prove to you that I was right about what I've told you the other day, that's why. Now stop making so much noise and come quietly."
Sakuragi shook his head. "I never thought that I would live the day to hear you talk so much." He eyed Rukawa seriously, probably for the very first time since he knew the guy. "You must really like Hana-chan very much."
Rukawa snorted, but didn't say anything.
"Yosh! Let's go then," said Sakuragi. "We have a girl to catch."
---
Later...
"Stop pushing, do'aho," Rukawa hissed at Sakuragi.
"Stop complaining, kitsune, and keep watching," Sakuragi shot back.
They watched as Hanayuki practically burst through the doors of the hospital.
"Why is she in such a hurry?" asked Sakuragi to no one in particular.
That's what I want to know too, do'aho, thought Rukawa.
They waited for another couple of seconds before rushing in after Hanayuki. They were just in time to see Hanayuki standing behind the closing doors of the lift. Fortunately, she didn't see them.
"Come on, kitsune, let's take the stairs," said Sakuragi.
"Do'aho, we don't know which floor she is headed to."
"That's why we're taking the stairs. That way, we can check each and every floor to see if it's the one."
"Do'aho, we just have to see which floor this lift stops at and we'll know which floor she's at."
"For your information, kitsune, Hana-chan's not the only one in the lift. How sure are you that everyone in the lift is headed to the same floor?"
For the first time in his whole entire life, Rukawa was rendered speechless. Maintaining a straight expressionless face, he said, "Whatever," and made his way to the stairway, while Sakuragi followed behind him, smirking.
Lucky for them, there were only 5 floors in the hospital, and they managed to resume putting a tail on Hanayuki when they caught sight of her running down a hallway on the 3rd floor.
"Look, she's going into that room," said Sakuragi, as Hanayuki opened the door and went in, closing the door behind her.
Both Rukawa and Sakuragi came out of their hiding place and walked up to the room as if they were strolling in a park. Stopping right in front of the door, they made sure that the coast was clear before leaning their ears as close as possible to the door, trying to make out what was going on inside the room.
---
Inside the room...
Hanayuki gently stroked the face lying on the bed, careful not to brush against the bandaged forehead.
"I'm sorry," came a voice from behind her.
Hanayuki shook her head. "It's not your fault. It's nobody's fault."
"I didn't mean for this to happen."
There was a scraping sound of the chair being pushed back, as Hanayuki stood up and turned around to face the other. "She's going to be fine. I know it. So don't worry, alright?" Hanayuki extended her hand. "Kenji?"
Looking up at her and smiling a little, Fujima stepped forward, took her hand and gave it a little squeeze.
"Alright, Yuki."
Hanayuki smiled at him and went back to sit beside the bed. As she held Aoi-chan's little hand in hers, she noticed something. "Kenji, where's Aoi-chan's bracelet?"
Fujima approached her and looked at Aoi-chan's bare wrist. "I don't know. I didn't realise it wasn't there. It must have dropped off somewhere." He looked at Hanayuki. "Where's yours?"
Hanayuki reached into her coat and pulled out a bracelet, similar to the one Aoi-chan had lost, except that the beads were white in colour and only white. "I can't really wear it to school, what with the rules and all. But you can, since you're already in university."
Fujima held up his right hand in response. On the wrist was a blue-coloured version of Hanayuki's bracelet.
"Well, I guess we'll have to return to the shop and get a new one for Aoi-chan," he said. "I wonder if the lady would be willing to let us buy just one, for Aoi-chan. I mean, the last time we were there, she made us buy the whole set of three, one for each of us."
Hanayuki smirked slightly. "Yeah, I remember. I also remember how particularly fond of you she had been."
"On second thought, maybe we shouldn't go back. Perhaps we should first look around the house, in case that's where she dropped it."
"You took her to the stadium, didn't you? Maybe that's where it is," Hanayuki suggested.
"Oh yeah! I'll go check then," said Fujima.
"You should," said Hanayuki, looking at Aoi-chan. "She loves that bracelet."
"I know. I'll turn the place upside-down if I have to."
A moment of silence passed between them, before Hanayuki spoke. "Ne, Kenji?"
"Hai?"
"She's going to be fine, right?"
Fujima took a deep breath, trying to quell the overwhelming feeling of guilt growing inside of him. Forcing himself to smile, he placed a hand on her shoulder and said in the most assuring tone he could muster, "Right. She'll be fine. I promise."
---
Meanwhile, outside the room...
Two nurses walked past the room without so much of a glance at the two boys who were standing outside the room, leaning against the wall and looking at everywhere else except the two nurses, pretending as if the last thing they would do in the world was to eavesdrop on other people's conversation.
However, as soon as the nurses were out of sight, Sakuragi sprang into action, once again pressing his ear to the door.
"Do'aho, let's go," said Rukawa, as he headed down the hallway to the lifts.
"Eh?" Sakuragi straightened up from his slightly bent position. "Why?"
"I think we've heard enough. Don't you?"
"Well..."
"Let's go. We need to talk."
Sakuragi took one last look at the door, before going after Rukawa, who was already getting into the lift.
---
Outside the hospital, in a nearby coffee shop...
"Now what, kitsune?" asked Sakuragi.
Rukawa just kept quiet.
"Oi, Rukawa, I'm asking you a question!"
"Do you think I would be sitting here with you if I knew what to do, do'aho?"
"Che! As if the Tensai would want to sit here with you if he had any other choice," Sakuragi shot back. He paused, and continued a little softly, "I never expected this to happen, you know."
"I told you, do'aho, but you wouldn't listen," Rukawa reminded him, his face expressionless.
"How was I supposed to know that this would happen? It didn't make any sense back then when you told me. Besides, you weren't too sure about it yourself," Sakuragi countered.
For a while, none of them said anything. Then, Sakuragi broke the silence.
"How about we put it out in the open and ask her?" he suggested.
"Do'aho, she's not going to tell, even if we point a gun to her head," said Rukawa.
"Ok. Then we point the gun at me. Or better still, you. Or ojisan. Or anyone else, except for her. She wouldn't want anybody to get hurt because of her."
Rukawa looked at Sakuragi expressionlessly. "I knew it. You really don't have a brain."
Sakuragi snorted. "Well, as if you have one yourself, kitsune. Like you said, if you had one you wouldn't be sitting here with me."
"Do'aho."
"How about asking ojisan then?" said Sakuragi.
Rukawa shook his head. "I don't think he'll tell either."
"Hmm, true," said Sakuragi, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "For all you know, he'll start hohoho-ing non-stop, and that will be the only thing we can ever get out of him."
Once again, none of them said anything for a while.
"Aha! I know! If we can't ask her, or ojisan, then we ask him. If he doesn't talk, we'll beat the crap out of him. There's no way he would be able to fight back against this Tensai."
Rukawa sighed. "Do'aho, she'll have our heads faster than you can say 'die' if we ever touch him."
Sakuragi slammed his fist on the table, spilling coffee all over. "We can't do this, we can't do that. She won't tell us this, he won't tell us that. What the hell are we supposed to do then?!"
Every other customer in the shop turned their attention to the two boys.
"Do'aho, the next time you do that, I'm going to throw my coffee at you," Rukawa hissed.
"Oh yeah? I'd like to see you try," Sakuragi challenged.
Wordlessly, Rukawa picked up his cup of coffee and threw its contents at Sakuragi. Fortunately, Sakuragi was able to avoid it.
"Teme!" Sakuragi lunged at Rukawa in a rage, and soon, the whole coffee shop was thrown into chaos as tables and chairs were overturned and plates and cups were broken, while the owner of the shop could only stand aside and watch in dismay and horror.
Why, Kami-sama, why?! What did I do to deserve this?
---
Back in the hospital...
Hanagata knocked on the door softly, and entered when he heard Fujima's voice, asking him to come in.
"Hey, Fujima, I've got the bracelet right here..." he trailed off when Fujima gave him a warning look with a finger to his lips.
"Not so loud, Hanagata, Yuki's asleep," said Fujima in a whisper, at the same time pointing to Hanayuki, who was curled up beside him on the sofa and sleeping, her head on his lap. (A/n: It's a single room, with a bed, a sofa, a dressing table and a television set.)
Hanagata furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "Hanayuki-san? What is she doing here?"
"Shh! I said not so loud, Hanagata," Fujima whispered again.
Hanagata signalled an apology, before reaching into his pocket to retrieve Aoi-chan's bracelet. "Here, Aoi-chan's bracelet."
"Thanks for coming all the way, Hanagata," Fujima thanked him.
"Don't mention it. I was going to find you anyway." He paused, before continuing, "So-"
He broke off when Aoi-chan began to stir on the bed.
As if on cue, Hanayuki opened her eyes and sat up quickly. Her eyes widened visibly when she saw Hanagata.
"Um, Hanagata, why don't you go back to the hostel first? I'll give you a call later," said Fujima.
"Sure," Hanagata answered good-naturedly, curious as he may be.
"Thanks a lot."
"It's ok. Really. Take care. And it's nice seeing you again, Hanayuki-san," said Hanagata.
Hanayuki gave him a small smile. "Hai. Likewise, Hanagata-san."
Hanagata smiled back and walked out of the room. As he was closing the door, he distinctly saw Hanayuki rushing to the side of the bed from the corner of his eye. And, he was sure that he had heard Aoi-chan call out to her, but he couldn't really tell what it was that Aoi-chan had called her.
I could've sworn that I heard Aoi-chan call her that...
---
Author's notes: Hmm... I've changed the title so many times I lost count. Anyway, thank you to everyone who read. Thank you to Jen and Kiku Rukawa for reviewing. The answers to your questions will be answered probably 2 or 3 chapters from now. Rukawa may seem a little OOC here, but when I re-watched some of the episodes of the anime, I realised that it is not that he doesn't talk at all. It's just that he doesn't talk much and usually talks in short phrases. And when he does talk in long sentences, it's almost always only with Sakuragi. Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter and bear with his OOC-ness.