FALSE
by FFNPREZ
CHAPTER 7
It was a Saturday morning and Shin went down to the kitchen looking for a giant meal. To her surprise, two huge gray luggage were parked at the end of the stairs while the dining table was prepared with a typical Japanese breakfast of fish, omurice, some local vegetables and steamed buns.
Sendoh's mother emerged from the kitchen pantry with a huge smile on her face and a bowl of fresh strawberries on hand.
Her eyes went to Shin's shirt which was a Ryonan "6" Jersey Shin modified and cropped, "You're watching the game? Are you going out with someone from Akira's team?" Sendoh's mom asked.
"It's a long story Oba-san, I'm not going out with him, but I'm repaying a debt... or something like that." Shin shook her head and refocused on her original question, "What's the luggage for?"
"I forgot to tell you that I'm leaving for Tokyo this morning." the lady smiled at her apologetically, "Now, come have breakfast with me before my ride arrives."
"Sure," Shin sat down at her usual seat on the right side of the table and took a plate to fill.
Sendoh's mother placed the bowl of strawberries on the table and sat down at the head of the table.
"Have you lost weight?"
"I had to, the preliminaries for the tennis tournament began last week and the team's training like crazy."
"Oh Shin, I would love to see your game one time."
"When I get into the semi-finals then."
"I'll look forward to that. I wanted to talk to you about something."
Shin stared at her while chewing on a strawberry, "Fashion week is coming up so it's a busy time for me and because of that I'll be staying in Tokyo for a couple of weeks, which means you'll be staying here alone with Akira."
"Oh, you don't have to worry about anything,"
"I want to set up a couple of rules, not because I don't trust you but because you're still underaged and—" Mrs. Sendoh was cut off by her son emerging from upstairs.
"Well now, this is a rare sight," Shin turned her head and saw Sendoh carrying his duffel bag staring at his mom's luggages. "Business away again?" he went to the table, placing his bag down before sitting in front of Shin, on the left side of his mom.
Obaa-san smiled apologetically and sighed, "This time it might be longer."
"Right, that time of the year." he took a plate and filled it with a large helping of rice, omelette and steamed buns.
"I'm just talking to Shin about some of the rules,"
"Sure." and to Shin he said, "She just gets paranoid without a proper adult around."
His mom rolled her eyes, "I'll be away for a couple of weeks and the housekeeper will be coming during Wednesdays and the weekends, I don't want a messy house, I don't mind you guys bringing guests but no big parties."
Shin was quiet, did Sendoh do parties? She must mean bringing lots of people.
"Also, a curfew will be implemented and I trust that you respect me enough to do this without me supervising you," Shin nodded, "You must be home before 11PM. If you have training or an overnight at a friends' house, you have to get their guardian to call me and tell me, I don't want a call from the hospital or the police station okay?"
Mrs. Sendoh's house rules were pretty standard. It would be the first time she'd be gone that long with Shin in the house and it was a big deal to Shin that she trusted her enough to do that.
Oba-san left after she told them all they need to do and the schedule of her shows. She also told Shin that she'll be sending a package of clothes for her to wear which Shin thanked her for.
Sendoh and Shin waved her goodbye after the car arrived and picked her up. Sendoh closed the door behind them and then joined Shin back at the dining table.
"Are you free for the event?" Sendoh asked out of curiousity while picking up his steamed bun.
"Ofcourse, I wouldn't miss it for the world." How could she when his mom acted more of a mom to her than her own mother did. She suddenly remembered something she'd been meaning to ask him for the past week. "Hey, you know how I apologized to you about what happened at our event. I mean, I only invited you guys to make a special appearance but it escalated to you being auctioned there.."
"Uh-huh, what about it?" he cocked a black brow at her while pealing the bun,
"Well, I forgot to ask, if you knew I didn't set that up in the first place, why did you agree to it? It doesn't look like you're lacking on the dating department." Shin filled her bowl with strawberries and poured cream on top.
Sendoh shrugged his shoulders, "One of those moments I guess. Seeing how hard you worked for it, it seemed pretty important when your friend explained everything, not to mention you even went and let her dress you up in that costume."
"Did I look that uncomfortable?"
"Yeah. Even with your personality, I don't think you're the type for those kind of things."
"Funny how you think that." she stared at her bowl of strawberries.
"Koshino loved it though. He's been badgering me everyday about later and if you're really going to the game." Sendoh finished one bun and got another.
"An eye for an eye." Shin took a strawberry and dipped it in cream, "You two agreed on being the big prize for our event and thanks to that, we won,"
"Although in reality, I was the only one being sold there."
Shin beamed at him, "I didn't know you were such a good friend. Doing all that just so I can go out with your hot friend." she popped the strawberry in her mouth.
"Well, thanks to you too," Sendoh gave her a mysterious smirk,
"Why?"
"Koshino's been pumped up with training this week. I've never seen him look forward and prepare for a game like he did for this one." Sendoh said, evidently impressed.
"Well then, tell him I'll be cheering him on. Good luck to you too." Shin said.
Shin arrived two hours before the game since she came in with Sendoh. Bored and hungry again, she went over to the soda dispenser and inserted a bill through the slot. She lazily placed her hands in the blue and white Ryonan Jacket Koshino gave her earlier when he greeted her and Sendoh at the entrance. This is the reason why she didn't like making promises, she can't predict what happens and it usually involved a lot of waiting. Her interest in Koshino was the only thing that made her agree to go to that game, she didn't know that it would be bothersome.
"A… Arigato… I hope you like them. I baked them last night, they're good luck cookies for you to win the game.." A female voice caught Shin's attention but ignored it and turned her attention to the blinking red light on the soda machine: -Please wait while we process your request. Sorry for the inconvenience.- Shin read the text in red, running across the monitor. Again… waiting, she thought to herself then she heard a very familiar voice. Briefly sending chills up her spine.
"That's thoughtful of you." a deep gentle tone echoed through the hallway, "Make sure you and your friends cheer really loud to scare those twerps from Tsukubu." the man's voice was loud and self-assured, Shin can't help but glance back and saw the people talking at the opposite hallway towards another locker room. Three guys wearing Kainan warmers were talking to two girls in casual jeans and Kainan gym shirts, the guy in the middle was tall, nearly as tall as Akira Sendoh, with long dark hair and muscular built. A face that Shin knew too well.
"Hai… Hai! We will." the girl said cheerfully.
"By the way, you look prettier Nami-chan." the man said and the girl instantly reddened.
"Wha— Stop it Kiyota-kun… well, we… better get back to our seats. Let's go Erika." she said and scurried away back to the audience entrance, as soon as the door closed the men started laughing hard.
"Ahaha!" the shorter player said.
"What the hell, that was crazy." the one in the No. 9 jersey commented.
Kiyota held his tummy and laughed, "Oh, man, I'm gonna lose my mind."
"You've gotten prettier Nami-chan," the player wearing No. 9 Kainan purple and white game jacket mimicked Kiyota. Shin watched the three of them laugh together before turning back to the soda machine which just dispensed her change, her sports drink rolling down next.
Staying calm, she turned to leave after opening her drink when a huge figure blocked her path, she paused and looked at her obstructor with a practiced bored look on her face.
"Look who we have here, long time no see Shiro-chan." Kiyota sneered down at her. His eyes twinkling with menace.
Shin cocked a blonde brow, "Yeah." she stared up and looked straight into his blue-violet eyes, unflinching.
"Oh? I guess the nickname doesn't annoy you anymore.." he said, eyeballing her for a second, "So you went to Shohoku huh? I wondered why I haven't seen you at Kainan." Shin kept herself from looking surprised, she knew she was wearing a Ryonan jersey and Koshino's Jacket over it, there's no way he could've known from her outfit.
"Nice to know you've been looking for me." she got cozier, putting one hand in her blue jacket-pocket and smiling up at Kiyota.
He smirked, "Well, I did miss the good old-days Shiro-chan.." he paused, "I was wondering why a Shohoku student is here when it's a Kainan vs Tsukubu match. It's either you're still hung-up, or you're fucking someone from the other team.."
"You're still full of yourself I see," her voice didn't betray any emotion, she wanted him to get the message that she was bored and didn't care.
Kiyota leaned forward trying to intimidate Shin by closing the gap between them but she stood her ground until the six foot one player was nose-to-nose with her five-foot-seven frame.
"Nice jacket by the way, want to say hi to the whole team?" Kiyota's blue eyes narrowed at hers daringly, studying her face for a reaction he was waiting for.
"Thanks but—"
"Shin!" a voice came from the far side of the opposite hallway where Kiyota's team came from, Shin closed her eyes to compose herself. When she opened it, she smiled staring at Kiyota but he felt as if she was looking a thousand miles away, she then pivoted and greeted the man whose jacket she's wearing.
"Hiro-kun! Sorry, the soda machine crashed for a moment." she met him halfway, the farthest she can get away from Nobunaga.
"Did you get your drink?" Koshino stole a quick glance behind Shin and saw Nobunaga staring at them with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Yep, hey aren't you supposed to be warming up?" Shin looked up at him, egging him to walk.
"Uh… I was looking for you in the bleachers," he looked embarrassed for a second.
"You should return, your coach might get angry."
"You too, enjoy the game alright!" he beamed at her and Shin smiled, the two of them headed back to the court together.
TO BE CONTINUED
Note: I'm on a roll here you guys! Kkk. So, I'm really really inspired with this SendohxShin Yuki story plus it's a Holiday which means more good things to come. Hope you guys enjoy and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Love ^^