Chapter 3

Sayumi didn't stop running until she reached the basketball court. She peered through the fence. Her smile dropped slightly when she saw it was empty. There was no way "he" could still be playing. She figured. She laughed at herself for being so silly as to run to the convenience to buy water for a stranger. Sayumi made a turn and headed to the water fountain. Still broken. Sayumi placed the two unopened gallons of water next to the fountain and sauntered back home.

The sound of footsteps woke the blue-haired boy from his short nap. He grabbed his huge bag and headed towards the exit. He made a swift turn to the direction of the water fountain. He approached and read the sign and cursed at his luck. He was about to leave, but stopped. He bent down and lifted one of the untouched gallons of water. With an effortless twist, the cap clicked and came off. Stopping only after the whole gallon was finished, the boy grinned. "Got myself a fan. Hope she's a cute one."

…

"Tadaima." Sayumi's voice echoed in the dark, empty house. Of course there was no response. The two elders went out on a little vacation and weren't going to be back until next week. Sayumi wandered upstairs and switched on the room lights. She entered the bathroom and stood on the scale. Really shouldn't have crammed in the large vanilla shake after the two teriyaki burgers. With nothing to do, she walked out of the bathroom, rummaged her drawer, yanked out a jump rope, and left the house for the park.

Sayumi had only been jumping rope for less than a minute when someone else joined her in the court. The sound of the bouncing basketball filled in the otherwise quiet atmosphere. Not a word was exchanged and it was going to end that way, if not for a sudden disturbance that would change everything.

"Oi ," the stranger directed to the girl in the thin light blue jacket. "Ball." The clueless girl kept jumping. "Oi, water girl!" Realizing that she was being called out, Sayumi stopped jumping and turned to face the stranger. She saw him eye the ball at her feet. The girl's eyes slid from his to the ball and then back to his. The tall figure mistook her response as her way of testing his patience. Irritated, the stranger began taking big strides towards her and when within contact range, stretched out his hand.

Mistaking his simple intention, the girl picked up the ball and threw it far away, hoping to distract the approaching stranger. The boy stopped the minute she threw the basketball. Both heads turned as they watched the basketball bounce and then come to a halt. The blue-haired boy scowled at her before running to pick up the ball. As she watched him go, she felt her face redden. It was too much to imagine that he would do anything. Overwhelmed with guilt, the girl hesitantly walked to where the boy was standing with his back facing her.

"Um. I thought you were going to...well...sorry for doing that. I panicked."

"You threw my ball into mud," he said sorely.

"I'm really sorry." Not knowing what else to do, Sayumi turned around and was about to walk away when she felt a tight grip around her left arm yanking her backwards.

"You're not going to just apologize and leave right?" Making out a little nod from the tiny girl, he raised his voice. "How am I suppose to play with this piece of shi..." the boy stopped when he noticed her trembling. "Pay up," he ordered and released his hand. The girl shoved her hand in her shorts pocket and slid out her wallet. "10,000 yen," his voice boomed. The frightened Sayumi took a deep breath and opened her wallet. As she thought-empty. She used it up to pay this month's rent.

"I...don't have any money." The girl ducked when the guy walked closer to her.

"Then give me your basketball."

"I...don't have one."

"Don't lie. You're wearing basketball shoes."

"I jump rope."

"Not with such an expensive pair."

"I'll pay you back soon." Sayumi turned around to leave.

"I don't need the money. I need a ball."

"Then buy a cheap one until I pay you back."

"You bi..." He caught himself before he finished. He wasn't going to let her piss him off. That was his thing. "So you walk down the hill every day, huh?"

The boy smiled at her reaction. It was more than clear to Sayumi that he wasn't joking. "Tomorrow after school. Bring the ball." Certain that she'll come, the boy abandoned her in the court.

After confirming that the boy left, Sayumi crept out of the park and charged home. She locked the door and checked it twice before running up to her room. Lesson learned-don't go out to a quiet park by yourself at night and talk to strangers.

Sayumi went back to her room and once again opened her closet and pulled out the box. She paused, sighed, and lifted a circular object from the container. "I have to take you somewhere tomorrow."