Chapter Three
Squeaking sports shoes and the rhythmic thud of a basketball filled the gym as a reserves game was in session during Monday’s afternoon practice. Nino, Kame, Taisuke and Yamapi were playing four other second years unsupervised as Koichi, Tsuyoshi, Taki and Okada were out of the gym doing fitness drillls, while Sho and Tsubasa were practicing some strategic attacking plays they had discuss with their coach earlier.
“Ike yo!” Nino shouted in encouragement as he dribbled the ball up the court. They had continued to be four points down since the match started and Nino didn’t like losing. He spotted an opening, and feinting a pass, he suddenly took off with a burst of speed towards the goal. He was mid-air, making the lay-up when – Thud!
Ite! Nino felt a pain in his ankle as tried to get up from the hard floor he had crashed into.
Among the muffled voices of concern that surrounded him, an agitated voice rang clear. “Nino, daijoubu? Nino?”
“Ite, ite. It hurts.” Nino muttered in reply, his eyes a tad blurry from the tears that had welled in his eyes due to the pain. Then, he felt warm arms surround him and lift him off the cold polished wood floor.
“I’m bringing him to the nurse’s station.”
As Nino blinked away the tears that were impeding his vision, he saw the sea of his teammate faces flashing past as he was carried by someone out of the gym. Looking up, he realised it was Sho.
“Try to bear with the pain. We’ll be at the nurse’s station soon.”
Minutes later, Nino was sitting at the edge of the white bed as the school nurse treated his ankle. “There, the swelling has gone down. You’re lucky, no bones were broken. It’s just a minor twist, and the tendon is sore. I’ll just bandage it and it should be fine. Just keep off any heavy activity for about a month. Now to tackle these cuts with some antiseptic-”
“Excuse me?! Higashi-san?! Someone hit his head and fainted!”
“Oh my. Okay boys, excuse me, I’ve got to see to someone else. Sakurai-kun, could you please finish this up?” Higashi-san, the nurse, turned to Nino. “Sakurai-kun should be used to bandaging such scraps. I’ll leave you in the good hands of your senpai. Sakurai-kun, just leave this here when you finish and you boys can just leave if I’m not back yet.”
“Hai.”
“Now where is this student…” As the nurse hurriedly disappeared out the door with the other student, Sho got off his perch on the other bed and sat in front of Nino.
“This might sting a bit. Tell me if it hurts too much.” Sho said as he dabbed some antiseptic on the wound.
“Ow!” Nino yelped. “Maybe I should do it myself.”
Sho swiped away Nino’s hand. “Higashi-san said I should finish this. She didn’t say you’re to treat yourself.”
“That’s when she mistakenly thought she was leaving me in competent hands.”
“Ah, I guess I’m not competent in that I can’t make it less painful, but I assure you, I’ve help Higashi-san with other people’s wounds before, and it won’t kill you to sit still and let me do this.”
“How come you’ve been helping her with other people?”
“I used to help out with first aid in junior school when I was injured for 2 months. Coach won’t let me do anything in practice so I was bored. Higashi-san handles the junior and primary school too, so she knows me since I scrapped my knee in primary six playing football. She’ll be like, ‘Sakurai-kun, help me with this, help me with that’. Ha.”
“So you’re just a busybody who liked to volunteer to bring anyone who got injured to the nurse’s station?”
“Yeah, even people who hate me too.”
Nino hesitated at Sho’s statement, knowing full well that it was directed at him. After all, he had gone out of his way to ignore the guy, and was sometimes just downright rude. But really, hate was too strong a word. It was more of annoyance and irritation at what Nino thought was unfair treatment, and pure stubbornness that made him hold the grudge this long, finding fault with everything Sho did. His actions all seem somewhat petty now, in the light of how the older boy had helped him despite his behaviour.
“Arigato.”
Sho looked up as he finished bandaging Nino’s ankle. Nino wondered what Sho was going to say, as the latter tilted his head and stared at him, eyes wide open. After a few moments, Sho smiled. “No problem.”
On their way back, Yamapi and Sho insisted on carrying his stuff and helping him around despite him assuring them that he was fine and that they didn’t have to worry. After Yamapi had alighted at his stop and told Nino to be careful for the billionth time, Sho turned to him. “I’ll walk you back.”
Deciding that it was pointless to argue, Nino let Sho do whatever he want. After all, the latter was going to stop at the same station anyway, and his ankle did hurt a hell lot. He did insist on hobbling by himself instead of having to use Sho as support though. Sho, with both bags slung on his shoulder, walked slowly beside Nino and kept looking at him, full of concern, as he saw the latter wince with every step.
When they reached the gate to Nino’s house, something round came bungling over. “Buu…” It said as it pawed at Sho’s feet.
“Ah! Ka-wa-ii!” Sho bent over, patting the small greyish puppy. The puppy licked Sho’s fingers. “Ah, cho kawaii! What’s its name?”
“Buu.”
“Eh? Buu??”
“Cos that’s what it says all the time. ‘Buu-ruu, Buu-ruuu’ te.” Nino puffed out his cheeks in imitation leading Sho to laugh lightly.
“Cho kawaii ne, Nino mo.”
“Nani itten da yo.” Nino muttered. “Anyway, I’m home. Thanks for carrying my stuff. I can take-” He stretched his hand out intending to retrieve his bags from Sho, but instead found his arm clasped by the other.
“Isn’t anyone home?”
“Not yet.”
“Well, then I better help you in. So you can sit down and rest.” Nino could do no more than to follow Sho’s lead as the other supported him to the door. “Keys?”
Nino dug them out of his pocket. Minutes later, Sho had settled Nino on the sofa, put aside his bags and was bustling around in the kitchen.
“Oi, what are you doing? If you break anything my mum will kill me.”
“Don’t worry, I’m only looking for a cup.”
“It’s right there on the top shelf isn’t it?”
“Oh yeah. Where’s the teaspoon?”
“Geez. It’s in one of the drawers. Why are you looking for all that again?”
“Making you tea. Where are the teabags?”
“It’s in the container with the red cap.” Nino started to get off the sofa.
“Oi, you sit right there!”
“What? It’s my house. I can get up.”
“Dame. Stay there.”
“Then stop messing around in the kitchen when you can’t find anything.” Nino grumbled. “Will you just get out of the kitchen? I don’t need tea. I just have a slight twist. I can still do stuff by myself.”
“But I-”
“Tadaima!” A female voice rang out. “Nani, another pair of shoes? Is Yamapi here?” A teenage girl appeared at the doorway, smiling brightly.
“Zannen deshita. Chigaimasu.” Nino replied as Sho came out of the kitchen.
“Ah, hajimemashite. Sakurai Sho desu.”
She looked surprised for a moment, but recovered quickly. “Ah, excuse me. Suzuki Anne desu. Nino’s cousin. Are you Nino’s classmate?”
“Eh? I look so young?” Sho smiled in an expression that could only be called silly. Which of course Nino pounced on.
“No, the aho over there is my senpai. In second year, but he behaves like an oyaji.”
“Oi. So rude to your senpai.”
“Eh, excuse me, but Kazu-chan, what happened to you?” Anne pointed at her cousin’s bandaged leg.
“Just a slight sprain. No biggy. I’m not worried, so I don’t know why everyone else is acting like I can’t do anything myself.”
“So will you still be going to school tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
“Great, then can you help me pass this to Yamapi?” Anne shoved a paperbag into Nino’s hands, before darting up the stairs. “Thanks!”
“Oi! Who said I would-” Nino shouted, but gave up, knowing it would be irrelevant. He peeked into the bag. “As I thought. Anne-chan bought Pi a birthday gift. Ah, why can’t she just give it to him herself?” He muttered. Then with renewed vigour he lifted the paperbag towards Sho. “You pass it to Yamapi tomorrow.”
“Eh? Me?”
“Just say it’s from Anne-chan. He knows who she is.”
“Aren’t you going to school tomorrow?”
“I am. I just don’t want to give it to Pi myself. He’ll think I’m giving him another gift and he’ll jump at me before I can explain. And my leg can’t take another hit. Nor my back.”
“Ah. I see.” Sho took the bag.
“Okay. You can go home now. Anne-chan’s home. I won’t die even if I do fall over.”
“Ah.” Sho glance at his watch. “I guess I should go. You take care okay. Remember, don’t walk around too much, or overstrain-”
“Yes yes. I know. Geez.”
“Ja, I’ll let myself out. I’ll see ya tomorrow.”
* * * * *
That morning, Yamapi was standing, half-slouched at the position Nino usually stood at, early for once, when a paperbag entered his field of vision.
“This is from Anne-chan.”
“Are?” Pi looked up, surprised too see that Sho was the one holding the gift. “From Anne-chan? You met her? But why isn’t Nino giving it to me? He’s not coming?”
“He said he didn’t want you to jump at him again, thinking he was giving you a gift.”
“Eh, Nino makes me sound like I jump at people for no reason.” Yamapi took the package from Sho. “Thanks for being the messenger.”
“No prob.” Sho stated. “You waiting for Nino? I’ll just wait with you then.”
A few minutes later, Nino stepped out of the train, and was surprised when he headed to his usual spot. Firstly, he was usually the earlier one waiting for Yamapi and yet the other was standing there. What’s more, Sho was standing there with him.
“Moshi baby. How are you doing? Does it still hurt a lot?” Yamapi asked in concern.
“Has the swelling gone down?” Sho joined in. “Why don’t you pass me your bag. No point straining it more on the walk to school.”
“I’m fine. You both sound like mother hens.” Nino made a face but Sho took his bag anyway. “Ah, whatever. Aho, what are you doing here anyway?”
“I’m helping you to pass the package to Yamapi.”
“Eh, you could just do that in school.”
“Saw him, so I might as well.” Sho shrugged.
“Ah Nino, isn’t it nice to have people pamper you? Even when you’re so rude. ” Yamapi laughed. “Oh anyway, do tell Anne-chan thanks for the gift. Why did you make Sho-kun pass it to me? You’re so troublesome.”
“Had to ask him in case you jump at me! Don’t want to strain my back again. But I guess normal-tension Pi seems to be back… finally.” Nino said as the trio headed in the direction of Waseio. “I miscalculated. Usually, after a break-up, there’s at least a week of low-tension Pi, when he’s wallowing and in the dumps. Then one day of high-tensioned Pi, where he’s all jumpy, before switching back to normal tension. Who’s to know what made him stay high tension for a whole four days this time!” Nino concluded in dramatic emphasis to Sho, who laughed.
“Oi. Don’t talk about me like I’m not here.” Yamapi pouted.
“See, what I have to deal with?” Nino continued, without heeding Yamapi. “But you know what’s the bad thing about normal-tension Pi? It’s that he’s easily aggravated. The good thing about low-tension and high-tension Pi is that you can insult him all you want and he won’t even notice.”
“Hello? I’m still here! Baka Nino.”
* * * * *
“Tsubasa!” Tsubasa looked up as he was just about to step back into the gym. It was Wednesday’s practice session, and he had earlier despatched the regulars to a friendly match before heading into a meeting with Kimura-sensei. He was just heading back to see how the match was going along when someone yelling his name held him back.
“Oh, it’s you Nagase-kun. What’s up? Looking for Taki?”
“Bingo. He forgot to sign a couple of papers at yesterday’s meeting. So I, as vice president, have to come chasing after him as usual ne. Troublesome fella. He should be in here right?” Nagase Tomoya asked as the two third-years stepped into the gym.
“I don’t think he’s here yet. He said he’ll be late. Why don’t you wait a few minutes.” As Tsubasa explained Taki’s absence, a sharp shrill interrupted him.
BLEEP! The whistle was blasted with vigour, followed by a equally loud shout. “FOUL! Sakurai Sho! Free-throw to Tsuyoshi-senpai!”
Nagase’s head turned towards court, his attention drawn by the slightly-built cherub-faced youth who had yelled from the sidelines. Kawaii! With the whistle in one hand held to his lips, his other hand propped on his waist, his stature one of defiant mischief, Nagase’s curiousity was piqued with regards to the identity of owner of that baby-face.
“Ah ii ne, Nino.” Tsuyoshi gave Nino the thumbs up as Sho wailed.
“Mata na, Nino?! I wasn’t even standing near Tsuyoshi-kun at all! I’m standing over here! That’s Junichi!” He continued, pointing at his fellow teammate.
“You’re on four fouls. With that attitude you could be sent off in an actual match.” Nino continued nonchalantly, repeating the very same comment Sho had made to him on his first day. Before practice, Sho had made it clear to Tsubasa that Nino had to rest his ankle for a month. So Tsubasa had made Nino referee the practice match among the regulars instead of playing. Nino however, was not pleased with the arrangement and decided it was all Sho’s fault he was sidelined.
“Tsuba-chan! I’m being bullied by the first-year referee! It’s Sakurai Sho-abuse!”
“That’s what you get for being a busybody and telling Tsubasa-senpai to not let me play, aho!” Nino stuck out his tongue.
“But you’re injured. You cannot play! I’m doing this for your own good!” Sho pleaded to Nino who continued to look unrepentant.
“C’mon, Nino. Be good. This is temporary. You can play tomorrow.” Tsubasa pacified.
“Of course I should be playing.” Nino stated smugly as Sho started to whine.
“TSUBA-CHAN! You can’t let him play. He’s supposed to keep off any heavy exercise.”
“Shush, I know.” Tsubasa whispered to Sho. “There’s no practice tomorrow for first years. They’re watching the friendly at Hyouyama.”
Sho stopped. He blinked, then smiled brightly.
Nino, who was just about to yell at Sho to mind his own business, wrinkled his nose curiously, wondering what Tsubasa had said. Ah, stupid Sakurai. All Tsubasa-senpai has to do is say something and he shuts up. All cause it’s his Tsuba-chan. Che.
Meanwhile, he didn’t notice a certain third year watching him with interest. Koichi however, spotted Nagase. “Nagase Tomoya! Ha! I found you! Why haven’t you been coming to baseball huh?”
“Been busy!” Nagase immediately turned on his heels as Koichi came barrelling towards his direction. “Tsubasa, tell Taki to sign those. I’ll get them from him later!” He gestured frantically at the sheets of paper he had placed on the bench, before scurrying away from Koichi at top speed.
* * * * *
“Nande?!”
“It’s an opportunity for you guys to see what kind of competition Waseio will face. Hyouyama has always been our closest rivals, and Owasaki’s team this year looks like they’ll give both schools a run for our money, so it’ll be a great match for you first years to watch.” Taki explained to the first years, who were all waiting for the bus to arrive.
“Tsubasa-senpai told me I could play today. He never mentioned anything about watching a friendly match that didn’t involve us in the first place.” Nino grumbled, clearly irritated that not only did he not get the chance to play a game in today’s practice, it also screwed up his plan to rush to the game store after practice.
“Kimura-sensei made this decision, so if you’re really not happy with it, you can try letting him know.” Tsubasa replied calmly as he walked towards them. Nino knew there was no point arguing and said no more to his senpais, though he was still mumbling under his breath as he boarded the bus that was to take them to Hyouyama High School. Nino decided he would find a way to get to the game store in time somehow, but he feared the worst when their coach boarded the bus with them.
Nino felt Yamapi nudged him. “Ne, Nino, don’t be so upset. You could always go buy the game later, or tomorrow if it’s too late.”
“Yeah, but only the first 50 people would get the special limited edition of game which has extra features and, ah, no point telling you since you won’t understand.” Nino muttered. “It’s ok, I have a plan.”
“A plan? Kimura-sensei is with us. You sure you wanna risk getting in trouble?”
“You think that guy is going to stay and watch the whole match? He doesn’t even watch us practise. Everything is just, “Tsubasa, you take charge. Taki you take charge.” We hardly ever see him around anyway. I bet he’s just gonna leave us there, go out and do his own business when none of us are noticing, then come back when the match is over. And while he’s out, I’ll go off and get the game as well and be back before him.” Nino whispered.
Yamapi looked sceptical. “Nah, I still think it’s risky. Some of the senpais say that even though you don’t see him around during practice, he actually knows everything that goes on. I don’t think you should sneak out halfway.”
Nino brushed aside Yamapi’s warnings. “You can just cover for me, can’t you? At most if he does see that I’m not around, just say that I got a tummy ache and went to the toilet or something like that.”
“Ah, it’s your decision. I can’t stop you. Just be careful later, especially since you’re not fully recovered.” Yamapi gestured at Nino’s ankle.
“Che, it’s nothing at all. I can probably play baseball on Saturday even.”
“Ha, I don’t think Tsubasa-senpai will let you play.” Yamapi began before adding when he saw Nino scowl. “But… oh well, if you say so.”
* * * * *
“It’s going in, it’s going in… oh, it’s in! What a beautiful shot from buchou Morita Go!” The commentator’s voice boomed through the loudspeaker. It was the third quarter, and Hyouyama was currently leading Owasaki 116-90.
“Man, Hyouyama is good! Right, Kame?” Taisuke commented, turning around to his friend, but getting no reply. The other was apparently too engrossed in the match to notice anything else around him, it seemed. Taisuke nudged Kame. “Oi, you’ve been watching with both your eyes and jaw wide open. Ew, I hope you’re not drooling.”
“Eh?” Kame turned his attention away from the game, wiping his mouth, before turning back.
He really wasn’t following the game in general, but following one specific player — Akanishi Jin. Kame had heard of him before. Jin was the rookie of the year in junior high, but Kame had never really seen the guy in action since their schools had somehow never met in the competitions. Jin had entered the game in the third quarter, replacing Hyouyama’s star player Aiba Masaki after they were leading 87-60, and Kame had never took his eyes off Jin since. The graceful way Jin passed the ball to his team mates, or the moments when Jin made the impossible shot possible… Kame was awestruck. Kame had seen such skill before from other players like his senpais, but for some reason, he was just so captivated by the Hyouyama player.
“Nah! You’re doing it again!” Taisuke whined as Jin made a three-point shot. “Are you trying to be mean to me by ignoring me?”
“Maybe.”
“Oi!”
“Ne Taisuke, just leave Kame alone.” Kame heard Yamapi tell his friend.
“Back.” A new voice was heard. Kame turned to see Nino sliding in next to Yamapi. Nino had been gone for almost the whole game since he had took the opportunity to leave the moment they saw their coach disappear. Looking around, it seemed like Nino was safe, since their coach was still nowhere in sight.
“What took you so long?”
“Hey, I had to travel all the way there and back, and don’t forget that I had to queue even. Luckily, I was still one of the first 50 customers. Come to think about it, I probably wouldn’t have made the first 50 if we had normal basketball practice.” Nino said happily as he looked through his stuff in his bag. “Anyway, what’s the score?”
“Er, it’s now 123-97, with less than a minute to go.”
“Eh? Hyouyama is winning so easily? And Taki-senpai actually said that the other team could be tough competition this year? Hn.” Nino snickered as the buzzer sounded, signalling the end of the game.
It was then that Kimura-sensei appeared. “Ah, good game.”
“You think he knows?” Nino whispered to Yamapi who merely shrugged. The two turned when they heard Taisuke’s voice.
“Oi! Kame! Time to go! Why are you still sitting there?” Taisuke dragged Kame off his seat.
“Ah. Gomen.”
“What’s up with Kame?” Nino asked Yamapi.
“Ai.”
Nino stared at Yamapi quizzically, who simply smiled and grabbed Nino’s hand. “Ikou!”
* * * * *
“Hyouyama players are multi-talented huh?” Taisuke remarked to Kame. It was Saturday afternoon, and that day’s baseball game had been cancelled since many people couldn’t make it. Kame decided to join Taisuke to watch Waseio’s friendly soccer match with Hyouyama, since their classmate Toma was in the team. Their school was currently down 2-0. “Both their basketball buchou and that first year are in the soccer team too.”
Kame was the same as he was during Thursday’s game, so engrossed that he didn’t bother to pay attention to what Taisuke was saying, except this time, Kame was also smiling like an idiot. The latter sighed exasperatedly. “Saa… don’t know what’s up with you these days. To think that you’re even smiling when we’re losing.” Taisuke said to no one in particular.
When the match ended, Taisuke headed towards where Toma was, leaving Kame all alone in the stands. Not that he noticed, since he was too busy watching the Hyouyama player walking to his school’s bench.
Akanishi Jin.
Kame had been thinking about the other ever since Thursday’s game. When he saw Jin come on to play today, he was first surprised, then elated, and couldn’t stop smiling throughout the match.
Was this love?
Without thinking, he found himself walking towards Jin, who was wiping himself with a yellow towel.
“Hajimemashite, Kamenashi Kazuya desu.” Kame raised out a hand which Jin merely looked at, clueless as to what was happening. “Will you go out with me?”
Jin blinked a few times, before bursting out in laughter. “Eh?! Hontou?”
Kame nodded but with less confidence, realising how stupid he was appearing.
Jin stopped laughing, as if pausing to consider Kame’s offer. “Ok… how about a challenge?”
“Challenge?”
“Yeah… Do you play soccer?”
Kame shook his head.
“Basketball then?” Jin asked, while Kame nodded in reply. “Ok then, we’ll challenge at basketball. If you win, I’ll go out with you.”
“Ok.” Kame found himself agreeing to the challenge.
“Well, then, let me take a quick shower and change. I’ll see you at the court in 10 minutes.”
With that, Kame watched as Jin left with his teammates and headed for Waseio’s guest dressing rooms. What was he thinking? He? Challenge Jin at basketball? Kame was sure he was going to lose to the other. No wait, maybe he’s tired from the soccer game, so maybe I have a small chance of winning… Kame tried to convince himself, but was still sceptical as he headed towards the basketball court.
* * * * *
“That was fun. K, I gotta go.” Jin said as he picked up his belongings and walked towards the exit. “Bye!”
Kame watch, desponded. He had totally embarrassed himself, and he did so in front of someone he liked. A lot. He was nowhere near Jin’s standard at all, and could only get 2 points off Jin in a game which was mostly one-sided.
Kame dropped to the floor, hands twirling the basketball. He was worried too, about the difference in standard. Here he was, a first year who made it into the regulars. Though he already knew he wasn’t going to be in the first team nor second-string this time around, he would eventually. How was he going to raise his level to meet the expectations of a Waseio first teamer then?
Kame shook off his doubts. What was he wallowing here about? If he wasn’t good enough now, there was only one thing to do wasn’t there? Practise. And damn will he practise. Just to make doubly sure, he’ll ask Tsubasa-senpai for some pointers too.
* * * * *
© Copyrighted by O-Baka! | Home
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Didn’t you say your muses had gone on strike? *ggg* Glad to see they returned to you ^o^ *gives them an other cookie* (and an extra one for squeezing in some PiKame love ^.~)
Nino is so cruel by playing hard to get at the end *laughs* And by teasing Sho and making him repeat himself.. poor guy *pats Sho-chan* *lol*
But at least they FINALLY ended up together… somehow… I hope… XD”"”
The part about Ryo interrupting Pi’s date with Kame made me crack up X3
I’d soo~ love to read about this in detail *nudge nudge*
And I need to bribe your muses in favour of the sequel ^_______^
Konnichiwa..i’ve read the whole fic already and I have to say that I am impressed. I love your writing style a lot and the pairing is refreshing. The way the everyone was portrayed in here is great and makes the story smooth going. Keep up with the good work. Ganbatte XD
P.S I luv Kame-kun lol Of course I love others as well. They are so cute but if possible could you finish the sequel. I’m so excited