Destined to be - Chapter 9 Hontokoi came home after her holidays in America with a broken arm. Nanny nearly went into a fit when she saw her left arm in a cast. She had broken her arm during the ice hockey match and Nanny had forbade her to play much to her disappointment. She had promised her father she would play in the minors. It would be the end of the year so she never thought much about it yet. When school reopened again, Hontokoi and Rukawa would be secondary three in Tomigaoka which meant that they would be seniors. Rukawa was extremely concerned about Hontokoi's arm when he saw her first thing in the morning. They were still in the same class and same position. Everyone came to Hontokoi to ask about her arm. Rukawa stood not far behind her and watched Hontokoi answer the questions as patiently as she could. Nowadays Hontokoi wandered around school alone most of the time. Her favourite thing to do was to sit under the tree in the garden and read a book. Nobody heard her laugh or smile anymore and they just left thinking that she would be better off alone. Hontokoi started to enjoy her solitude in school and wondered if that was why Rukawa liked to be alone all the time; so that he could enjoy the quiet peaceful time like she was enjoying. After school that day, before her basketball practice, she cycled over to Shohoku to see Akagi. It had been a long time since she had seen him and his sister. When she reached Shohoku, the students in the school turned to look at her when she entered for she was wearing a different uniform and she was so tall. She made her way to the gym and stood by one of the doors and looked in. They had started practicing already and Akagi was on the court playing as well. She spotted another boy who looked awfully familiar. On closer inspection, she remembered. It was Mitsui, the secondary MVP player. His three-point shooting brought his team to victory. He came to Shohoku as well. Without making a single sound, Hontokoi just stood by the entrance and leaned on the frame of the door, watching them play. She watched Akagi and Mitsui and realised that they couldn't get along. They were time when she wanted to laugh when they kept quarreling and Kogure Akagi's best friend and also someone Hontokoi knew tried to stop them. The whole scene was comical. When the match started again Hontokoi watched that Akagi had trouble with the ball; she frowned slightly. "Akagi brother!" Hontokoi shouted. "Don't worry, you just have to try harder!" Everyone turned to the surprise that a girl would root for Akagi for they did not know that Hontokoi was Akagi's friend. Mitsui looked at Hontokoi with a bewildered look. 'Why would a beautiful girl like Hontokoi root for Akagi the big ape and not for me?' he thought with jealousy. Kogure saw Hontokoi and waved and Hontokoi waved back with a slight smile, which was hardly visible. She then went to Ansai Coach to greet him personally. "Konichiwa, Ansai Sensei," Hontokoi said with a bow. "How do you do?" "Ho ho ho!" Ansai looked up at Hontokoi, sipping on his tea. "You are Hontokoi, Yatsunaga's daughter. I'm so sorry to hear about the tragic news. He was such an excellent student when I coached him." "He told me before," Hontokoi said. "I will be coming to Shohoku soon to follow Ansai Sensei's teaching, for Papa did not manage to finish his teaching." "I'd be glad to have you," Ansai coach nodded. "It is nice to see you again." "Yes, Sensei," Hontokoi bowed again. "I have to go for I need to get back to practice as well. Ja ne." Before she turned to leave, she saw Akagi angrily chasing Mitsui all over the court and poor Kugure trying his best to stop them. Gaping at the scene, Hontokoi then turned away and left the Shohoku gym. She cycled back to Tomigaoka a little later though she had told Rukawa that she would be late. This year Rukawa was the captain of the basketball team. Hontokoi's last year in Tomigaoka was a peaceful one. No more horrible time for her and no more bad surprises. It was indeed a quiet year for her. She actually enjoyed her life in school; something she had not done for a long time. When the third year started, Hontokoi and Rukawa usually cycled to school every morning and back home after practice. They became closer though they did not even look like friends in school. They usually went their separate ways during breaks except in class. One Saturday afternoon, Hontokoi was helping her nanny out at the cafe in Ryonan like she usually did during Saturdays. It was after lunch hours and the cafe had finally calmed down a little. Hontokoi was counting the money in the cash register when her nanny came out from the kitchen, shooed her away and told her to go have fun instead of being cooped up in the cafe. So she slowly got her bag and stepped out the cafe, stood on the sidewalk, the hot summer sun shining down her face. She walked slowly down the street and came to a bookstore. She stepped into it. Not far off, Akira Sendoh came walking down the street where Hontokoi had been a few minutes ago. He also entered the same bookstore shortly after Hontokoi did. He had to go get a book for his mother who had told him to get one for her. Hontokoi roamed around the bookstore at the fiction corner and finally got something she wanted. She then went to the cashier to pay for it. She passed Sendoh on her way there and Sendoh turned to look at her when she did. Because her height was sure to attract attention it naturally attracted Sendoh's. Sendoh knew who Hontokoi was for he had seen her pictures in the papers on the front page when Itaka University had won first place in the year during the All-Country match. She was in the photo with Yatsunaga and the whole team as well. Rukawa was there too and he knew he was the captain of Tomigaoka this year. He wondered what kind of relationship she had with him. He was sure that they were not related. Quickly, Sendoh grabbed the book he finally found for his mother and that was when Hontokoi had already paid for her book and left the store. He paid for his and rushed outside, but the sidewalk was already deserted. Disappointed, he made his way home slowly. On his way home, he passed a basketball court and heard someone playing inside. Curious, he went over to the court to see who it was. Much to his surprise and pleasure, he saw Hontokoi on the court playing by herself. He had heard so many things about her and had always wanted to meet her but never had a chance to even see her in person until today. He watched her play and found that she had really excellent playing skills and she was really good at shooting three point shots. Her lay-ups were good as well. She seemed to be able to shoot the ball from any position on the court. He heard that she was an excellent player but never thought that she was really that good. Usually those people just exaggerated. She shot in another three-pointer and then laid down on the ground staring straight up the bright blue sky. Suddenly her view was blocked by a tall person who stood above her head. She focused on his face then and when that person turned out to be Sendoh, she quickly sat up. He was someone she had read often in the magazines and heard many things about his playing skills from her girlfriends who had crushes on him. She stood up as quickly as she had sat up a moment ago and turned to face him. He stood there in his carefree manner, his hands in his pockets. Before he could utter a single word Hontokoi turned away and walked off to retrieve her ball that had rolled to the other side of the court. "I'm leaving already," Hontokoi said. "The court is all yours." "Do you always leave in such a hurry?" Sendoh asked and smiled. He then added. "Hontokoi?" "How did you know my name?" Hontokoi asked turning back to him. "You're the famous daughter of Coach Yatsunaga," Sendoh said. "Aren't you?" "It is the famous Sendoh," Hontokoi said turning away from him. "I have to do something that's why I can't stay. Anyway, nice to make your acquaintance." Hontokoi went to her bag, placed her ball in, then she swung it over her shoulders and was about to leave when Sendoh stopped her by standing in her way. "I happen to have watched you play," he said. "And I have this urge to play with you. Only one game. It won't take long." "Is this a request or a demand?" Hontokoi asked with a slight invisible smile on her face. "I see that it wasn't a question at all." "It is because I'm not asking," Sendoh said with his amazing smile on his face. Hontokoi was a taken off guard by that smile but quickly overcame it. She never saw anyone smile like Sendoh before. No wonder the girls she knew that had seen Sendoh always said how gorgeous his smile was all the time. "So, shall we?" Hontokoi looked at him suspiciously. Finally, she gave in. Besides, playing basketball with the best player in Ryonan was not such a bad idea after all. He was the year one student in Ryonan High and was already noted as the best player. It was time she really saw how true it was for herself. She dumped her bag aside again and they started playing. Hontokoi was a little stunned that those people did not exaggerate Sendoh's skills. After the match Hontokoi lost to Sendoh by a point. Sendoh was also a little stunned that he should not underestimate Hontokoi's playing skill. It was a close call; he managed to shoot in that three point ball to win the game. After the match Hontokoi bent over her knees to rest for a moment and so did Sendoh but at the corner of his eyes he watched Hontokoi's every move and in his heart he knew that he had to see her again after today. Slowly, Hontokoi stood up and went over to her bag. She picked it up slowly and turned back to Sendoh. For the first time after such a long time Hontokoi smiled. Not the usual invisible smile. That smile that melted every guy. Sendoh was also hooked by that smile. "Thank you," she said finally and turned away. "I hadn't had so much fun playing basketball for a long time." "Wait!" Sendoh shouted and Hontokoi turned her head around slightly this time not smiling anymore. "When will I see you again?" "You will have to depend on fate to tell us that," Hontokoi answered. "I really have to go. I'm already late meeting with someone." With that she turned away and walked off even before Sendoh could stop her. Sendoh watched her departing figure. Fate? He wondered and hoped that fate would let him see her again. 'Let's just hope fate doesn't play dirty tricks on me.' He thought. I wonder when I will see her again. Hontokoi got to the train station and took it back to Shohoku. When she reached, she made her way to the usual basketball court that Rukawa and she always played together. When she reached the court he was already there playing by himself. Without need for words Hontokoi moved on to the court to guard him while he attacked. She managed to steal his ball and dribbled over to the basket when she was about to do a lay up. Rukawa came up behind her and gave a huge steamboat down her ball. They played together until the sun set behind the clouds. Back in school during break, Hontokoi sat under the tree alone, reading a book as usual. At the same time, Rukawa was walking down the corridor with windows overlooking the garden where Hontokoi was. He saw her sitting there but Hontokoi did not notice him, as she was engrossed by the story she was reading. She just sat there motionlessly like nothing around her seemed to be able to bother her. When Rukawa was about to step out into the garden to accompany her, a group of girls suddenly came out from nowhere and swarmed him. All of them began talking at once, making an awful lot of noise. He looked down at the girls without any reaction in his eyes as those girls stared up at him with stars flashing in their eyes. When Rukawa looked up again he found that Hontokoi had already disappeared from the spot. A little annoyed at the girls and himself, he pushed his way out away from the girls and walked off with the all the girls trailing after him. Hontokoi saw the whole scene in front of her. She knew that Rukawa wanted to come to her. She left because she did not want those girls to go green with envy and start bugging her with jealous threats. So when she saw Rukawa and those girls, she simply closed the book quietly and walked off. Instead of heading for the class, she went to the gym instead where she sat in the corner and continued reading her book without anymore disturbance. That night after Rukawa and Hontokoi had finished their basketball practice, they both went to their locker rooms to get cleaned and changed. Then they both met again at the front door of the school and walked to the bicycle shed slowly. “I saw you in the garden today,” Rukawa suddenly voiced out when they were on their way to the shed. “Before I could go to you, you had already left.” “I know,” Hontokoi said softly her, eyes just staring straight ahead. “I saw you, too, and those girls.” “Why did you leave, then?” Hontokoi stared at the ground for a moment before speaking. “Sorry...” She quickly unlocked her bike from the shed and then turned to him her face hidden in the darkness so Rukawa could not see her reaction. “You might just think I’m selfish or something but the truth is that I’m really afraid of them.” “Those girls?” Hontokoi nodded slightly and quickly turned away pushing her bike to the streets with Rukawa slightly behind her. Rukawa kept quiet as he waited for her to give him a reason. After a few minutes past Hontokoi finally told him. “I might sound stupid or something, but they look really frightening to me,” Hontokoi said without looking at him. “All that screaming and cheering. If you came to me this afternoon with them with you, they won’t like that and I’m sure to get a terrible time trying to stop them from bugging me then. I’m really sorry, Kaede, I didn’t mean to just dump you there alone.” Hontokoi had begun calling Rukawa Kaede beginning of this year. Only whenever they were alone. “I understand,” Rukawa said. “It’s not your fault and truthfully, I think it is best for you to stay away from them, too.” Hontokoi smiled slightly and Rukawa noticed it under the dim light provided by the street lamps but before he could take a good look at her smile it evaporated almost immediately. Rukawa sighed softly and wondered if Hontokoi would ever smile again. They both climbed up their bikes and cycled home together with Rukawa at the front and Hontokoi slightly behind. After the last term examination for the end of all seniors in Tomigaoka, everyone leapt for joy. Hontokoi was the top student and Rukawa passed everything well with some tutoring from Hontokoi. When it was the last week of school before the holidays Lorraine and Lawrence Hontokoi’s cousins came over to Japan to visit her. During those last weeks, Hontokoi always came late to school but she was not punished because the exams were already over and there were no more lessons held. But that surprised everyone. Why would Hontokoi come late for school when she was a person who was always very punctual? There was a huge bustle around the secondary three corridor when everyone just walked around entering other classes instead of their own. Cleaning out lockers and desks. Exchanging addresses phone numbers when each other realised that they were not going to the same high school. During lunch break Hontokoi and Rukawa stayed in class cleaning out their desk. Nobody else was in the class. Hontokoi was sitting cross-legged on the floor facing her desk digging out her books and Rukawa behind her knelt in front of his desk pulling out his books that he always left in school. “The Ryonan coach asked me to join his basketball team,” Rukawa said suddenly breaking the silence in the class. “He said that the Ryonan team will be able to use a good player like me.” “What did you say?” Hontokoi asked and turned around to look at him. His face was hidden behind his table. “You are planning to go to Shohoku, right? You are still going there, aren’t you?” “Yes,” Rukawa answered his face still hidden behind his desk. “I just simply told him that I’m going to Shohoku.” “He must be devastated,” Hontokoi smiled slightly. “Did he ask you why?” “He did,” Rukawa peeped over the edge of his desk to look at Hontokoi. “I just told him Shohoku is nearer.” Hontokoi looked at Rukawa incredulously. She sat on her chair that was put aside her desk and put her books on her lab. “He must think you nuts to go to Shohoku just because it’s nearer,” Hontokoi said shaking her head slightly. “After all, Ryonan won the fourth strongest place in Kanagawa this year. With your playing skills I think you can even enter Kainan team that had won the first for already sixteen years in a row.” “What about you?” Rukawa asked looking up at her. “With your knowledge in basketball I think that coaches from those best teams would want you to help them out as well.” “I’m going to Shohoku,” Hontokoi said firmly. “Besides, Ansai Sensai is expecting me. I will have to follow his coaching after all, Papa was taught by him as well.” “Actually, I have another reason that I want to go to Shohoku,” Rukawa said softly not looking at Hontokoi. “This one is much more important than the first.” “Oh?” Hontokoi stood up and placed her books on the table. “What’s that?” “You," Rukawa turned to look at Hontokoi’s astonished face. “I won’t let you attend Shohoku High all alone in April.” Hontokoi stared at Rukawa in surprise. She was so speechless as they just stood there quietly staring at one another. Suddenly a group of girls burst into the class spoiling the moment; they all came to see Rukawa and rushed to him. Hontokoi quickly turned away from his gaze and stepped back when the girls rushed forward. It took another minute before Hontokoi looked up again and gazed into Rukawa’s eyes. A pair of eyes that she had never seen before that showed gentleness and concern. Hontokoi smiled and for the first time Rukawa saw her smile again after such a long time. Then slowly she turned away and left the room quietly. She had seen Rukawa’s feelings for her but she had not found hers yet. Hontokoi was still mesmerized by Rukawa’s eyes that day in the classroom. It was very early in the morning on the first day of the long term holiday. She sat on the windowsill looking out at the brightening sky. She did not feel like going out for a jog because she knew she would have enough of a work out when her cousins woke up in another few minutes later. She even saw that Rukawa had cycled out in his racer bike to the park for his usual routine basketball practice. He did not notice her by the window. This holiday, she did not intend to go back to America. One thing, if she went back there, she was sure to play in the ice hockey minors and she did not intend to see that boy that broke her arm a year ago. She looked down her left arm where there was a long stitched scar. She trace the scar slowly and remembered that match clearly when she was one on one with him and he just tripped her as she was about to shoot. She crashed on the ice and slid, hitting her arm hard on the gold post. She could still remember the pain that caused by the broken bone in her arm. She knew that she had promised her father she would win that trophy but part of her was frightened, a feeling which was new to her. She never felt frightened about anything before and now this feeling she had was strange. She sat motionlessly on the windowsill as the sun started to shine into to her room. She remembered last night so clearly when she had told her cousins that she won’t go back to America and the trouble they gave her was horrible. Especially in the morning when she had to change Lawrence, who was six now, and Lorraine, who was eight. As the sun shone fully up in the bright blue sky Hontokoi, then heard their pitter patter of small feet as they ran down the corridor. She turned to the door with a sigh. “Another morning,” Hontokoi murmured to herself and got off her windowsill. “I hope Lawrence is not such a pain in the butt when I change him today.” Still in her pajamas she stepped out her room. The corridor was empty now and she knew that Lawrence had already started his disappearing act again. She shut the door softly when Lorraine came up the stairs yawning. “Morning, Belle,” Lorraine greeted sleepily as she walked passed her. “Sorry I didn’t manage to catch Lawrence today. You go find him yourself; I need to get some more sleep.” “Only a few more minutes sleep, Lorraine, do you hear,” Hontokoi shouted after her she just wave her hand in the air as a answer. “Wait, where did Lawrence run off to?” “Down there,” Lorraine pointing towards the stairs and then entered her room and shut the door behind her. “That is a helpful hint,” Hontokoi said her hands on her hips. “Down there... Doesn’t she know how big downstairs is?” Shaking her head, she headed for the stairs to play hide and seek with Lawrence; something she had to do every morning when they came to stay the past few days. When she was about to take the first step down, Nanny called and she turned around to face her. “Hontokoi,” Nanny poked her head out from her room. “Is that you? Well, get Lorraine and Lawrence dressed quickly, for Mrs. Kaede will be coming over this morning.” “I’ll try,” She whispered and in a louder voice she said to Nanny. “All right, Nanny.” Hontokoi then went downstairs to search for Lawrence. She took an hour to look for him and finally found him in one of the kitchen cabinets. Before she could grab him he jumped off quickly and ran away sending Hontokoi playing catching with him this time. Just as they reached the front door the bell rang. Hontokoi then managed to grab hold of Lawrence’s shirt then and they both fell on the floor. The door bell rang again. That was when Lorraine came down the stairs. “I’ll get it,” She called. “Found him?” Hontokoi gave her a look as she pinned Lawrence on the floor trying to take off his shirt. She hated it when she had to change him. Lorraine then opened the door when she managed to take off his shirt. Then on the frame of the door stood Mrs. Kaede and... RUKAWA!!!!! Hontokoi’s face was stained with embarrassment when she saw him by the door. She lost her balance after pulling Lawrence shirt off and fell backwards giving Lawrence a chance to run off. “Don’t, Lawrence!” Hontokoi cried reaching for him but missing. “Oh, no.” Hontokoi quickly stood up, hiding Lawrence’s shirt behind her back as he disappeared around the corner. “Sorry, Mrs. Kaede, for my rudeness but I have to go find my cousin now,” Hontokoi said her face burning hot. “Lorraine will show you the kitchen where you will have your breakfast and Nanny will be down in a minute or so.” Hontokoi dashed away then avoiding Rukawa’s eyes and again playing the hide and seek game. Lorraine ushered Rukawa and his mother to the kitchen just when Lawrence ran inside and climbed up to one of the cabinets and hid in there. Lorraine took that like a normal everyday thing and poured drinks for both Rukawa and Mrs. Kaede but they stared on a little stunned. Hontokoi came not long later and looked at Lorraine with raised eyebrows and Lorraine nodded to the cabinet. Slowly, she went to that cabinet quietly and thrust it open quickly and then ducked. Lawrene shot the water gun and the liquid hit Lorraine’s head instead and she screamed. She turned to Lawrence angrily and was about to pick on a fight with him but Hontokoi stopped them. Then she ordered Lorraine to go clean herself and then turned sternly to Lawrence who grinned up at her. “Now, young man, give the gun here,” she said holding up her hand and the other hand gripping onto his arm to make sure he did not run off again. He held up his hand like he wanted to give it to her and suddenly Hontokoi added. “And don’t even think about it.” Pouting his lips he handed he gun to her and she threw it into the sink. It landed in there with a loud crash. Then holding tightly onto his arm she pulled him towards the door. “Sorry about all that, Mrs. Kaede.” Hontokoi said. Mrs. Kaede just smiled and nodded but Rukawa stared at Hontokoi and realised that was why she was late for the last week of school. Later, after she had changed Lawrence she came down to the kitchen when Nanny had already served breakfast and she and Mrs. Kaede were talking to one another earnestly. Lorraine was blowing into a whistle and Nanny could not do anything to stop her. Hontokoi walked up to her calmly. “May I have a look at that, please?” Hontokoi asked politely. “Sure,” Lorraine handed the whistle to her willingly. When Hontokoi got the whistle in her hand, she threw it out the kitchen window and it landed in the gold fish pond outside in the backyard with a tiny splash. “Hey, I want that back!” Lorraine cried. “I shouldn’t have give it to you.” “Too bad,” Hontokoi retorted. “Go fishing, you might get lucky.” Lorraine sat on her seat with a angry look on her face but Hontokoi ignored her and Nanny smiled gratefully that Hontokoi managed to stop that awful noise Lorraine was making. Hontokoi then turned to Nanny wonderingly why she and Mrs. Kaede were so serious a minute ago. “What’s up,” Hontokoi asked shoving Lawrence to his seat. “Something wrong?” “No, it is just we are discussing about your holiday in America,” Nanny said. “What about it?” Hontokoi asked still standing next to Lawrence. “I thought I told you I’m not going.” “Well, actually you are,” Nanny said slowly. “Well, you see, I was thinking that you could bring Rukawa along with you this time.” “Huh?” Hontokoi looked blankly at Nanny. “But you said...” “Yippeee!” Lorraine cried jumping out from her chair and hugged Hontokoi around the waist. “You are coming home with us!” “Whoa there! Wait a minute,” Hontokoi looked at Nanny suspiciously. “Why are you suddenly letting me go when you are the one that told me to stay on.” “Well, a change of mind,” Nanny smiled. “I have already bought the tickets as well.” “YESS!” Lawrence jumped up Hontokoi’s back and hugged her around her neck making her bend over. “Please, come back with us. I won’t be such a brat in the morning this week if you come back with us. I promise you.” “Ahh!” Hontokoi quickly hold on to Lawrence. “Your hands Lawrence! You are choking me.” “Sorry,” Lawrence grinned. “So, this is not a request anymore, right?” Hontokoi said a little annoyed. “Why bother asking me now after you have already bought the tickets?” “Well, you should me thrilled.” Nanny said. “After all, you wanted to go, right?” 'Not anymore.' Hontokoi thought. 'But now what can I do? Everything has been decided for me.' She placed Lawrence back on his seat gently and still avoided Rukawa’s eyes. Rukawa watched her and knew instantly that she had no intention on going back and wondered why. To be Continued... **Previous ** Next**