Slam Dunk Fan Fiction ❯ The Girl That Time Loved ❯ Confession ( Chapter 15 )

Note: RTF = Radio, Television and Film.

My thanks go to Sarah Yuy and her sister Shirodachi, Jo-sen7 and Seiyo, and the anonymous reviewer who left a very frank review; I appreciate your time and comments. Marc Alianza and Sinn Yuin, your messages make me smile each time I receive them. Mitchigirl and Shari, Rurouni and Sakura Riu, thank you for your support.

This is for you.

iron kitty

Reiko and Mitsui slept for nearly six hours on the couch, their resting forms positioned head to head as they lay stretched out on either side of the large couch, and had it not been for the ringing of the videophone in the foyer, she would have slept throughout the entire day and perhaps into the night. Her uncle was beside himself on the other line, asking his half-asleep niece if she was all right, and with an apologetic bow and a sleepy grin she told him she fell asleep on the couch. Reiko apologized for not sending her vitals sooner, and she assured her uncle that there was nothing to worry about. After speaking with her uncle, she gently woke the shooting guard from his slumber and suggested that they leave for the university so as not to be late for practice.

Jackson was the last to get into the vehicle and Fuji sped off as soon as he shut the door. He glanced over at Reiko and the shooting guard, both still groggy from their daytime drowse and looking like children who just woke up from after-playtime nap, much like the little ones who left their slobbery mark on him the last time they visited the day care. Sitting still between the shooting guard and Jackson, her azure eyes wandered around the vehicle, a shiny glint catching her attention from under the driver's seat. She reached down and took hold of the object, yielding a CD case from the seat with a picture of a girl in black and white on the cover. Mitsui studied the inquiring look Reiko wore on her face; just then, she looked so much like the little girl in the picture in her brother's room. Curious.

"She's a really popular singer, Reiko-san. My little sister has all of her CDs," the shooting guard quietly stated.

"Mr. Miller, could you please play this for me?" she requested, handing the CD case over to the guard in the front passenger seat. Upon seeing the artist on the CD cover, Miller grinned. Taking the disc out of the case, he fed it into the in-dash player and played the third track.

A woman's voice filtered through the speakers with the gleeful and harmonious notes from a piano, and the beat that boomed throughout the vehicle was new to her ears. Perhaps this was the kind of music that most people her age listened to, and since she wasn't exposed to current trends in music, she paid rhythm and blues no heed. She knew about it but had yet to appreciate its music. Until now. She found herself smiling at the words of the song, and Reiko unconsciously tapped her fingers to the beat.

"Like it?" Mitsui grinned.

Reiko nodded. "It's refreshingly different," she said, a mixture of liking and uncertainty on her beautiful face.

The song ended as the Suburban pulled to the curb, and all its passengers save Fuji got out of the vehicle. Taking Reiko's gym bag from the trunk, Jackson handed it to her and the rest of the guards flanked the stretch partners at their sides as they ascended the steps of the annex gym. Going through the double doors, the guards politely took their leave and left to take their stations at each corner of the building.

They were early. The gym was silent and empty, save for a rack of volleyballs and the net setup. This setting was a welcomed sight for Reiko; the sheen of the halogen lights reflecting off the polished wooden court and the low humming of the air conditioning eased the tension in her muscles and calmed her senses. She somewhat missed the quiet mornings she spend alone doing hitting drills in the gym; the still space and high ceiling above her gave her a sanctuary from the burdensome thoughts that constantly vexed her. Those few hours were hers alone, and with each hit at the ball she felt a sense of gratification that surfaced as a smile on her fair visage. Reiko was not ungrateful for the social ties she has recently made, although there were times on the court when she secretly wished to be in a quieter atmosphere. How silly is that, she thought. She drew away from curious and sneering eyes in the past, and half of her life she spent in temperate isolation. Perhaps it was because she didn't fully understand some of the things her teammates laughed about and teased each other with. She still found herself adjusting to this environment, like a fish learning how to breathe out of water.

"Reiko-san, would you like to stretch now?" Mitsui's deep voice cut through the silence.

Snapping out of her thoughts, she turned and nodded at her stretch partner. Following him to the center of the court, they both sat down facing each other, hips flexed and legs extended together. Reiko counted off each set, bringing a small grin to the shooting guard's face as he closed his eyes and let her calm, soothing voice permeate through him. Stretching their lower extremities first and working their way to their arms and shoulders, they did their final abdominal stretch, their faces looking at the rafters of the gym's ceiling.

"Reiko-san," Mitsui interrupted, "I've wondered for a while now. Of all the sports you could've played, why did you choose volleyball?"

She halted her counts and looked up at the empty balcony seats, as if searching the empty space for an answer. Returning to a seated position, Reiko spoke.

"I like the feeling of weightlessness whenever I jump."

Mitsui's brows rose at the reply. He waited for her to continue.

"Uncle Tak noticed this silly knack of mine when I was younger and spent as much of his free time with me as he could playing on the sand courts of Santa Monica in California."

Once again Mitsui dredged up the bold-lettered headlines that flashed starkly across his thoughts. He refused to feel pity for her. He could hear Kogure's words echo in his head. "... Just play it cool and be patient... " The shooting guard watched as his stretch partner's azure gaze blinked in introspection.

"But..." Reiko trailed off as she rose to her feet. Her eyes of vivid blue traced an imaginary trajectory of a volleyball shooting through the air parallel to the net. It was like second nature for her to know when exactly she would jump to hit the ball, and with a faint smile she cocked her head back as she continued. "I chose this sport because with each jump, I feel as though I can touch the sky, and the higher I jump, the closer I am to heaven."

Mitsui's face softened into a smile. Before the shooting guard could open his mouth to reply, the side door of the annex gym flew open, Coach Sato and the rest of the volleyball team funneled through the entrance, filling into the gym with giggles and chatter. Upon seeing the two, Nanami quickened her pace towards the stretch partners.

"Hello, don't you two make a lovely couple," the setter sang, winking at Mitsui as she gave her teammate's shoulder a friendly squeeze.

The shooting guard's eyes widened at the playful suggestion, quickly glancing at Reiko's face. Luckily for him, Miki and Sayuri caught Reiko's attention before she was able to react to the comment, and Mitsui bowed his crimson face to the wooden floor. The chatty duo excitedly whispered their elated reactions to the bodyguards' presence to their amused teammate, Reiko's lips curving upwards at the starry-eyed players.

Coach Sato called Mitsui over to the bench, the remaining members of the team briefly voicing their hellos as he walked to the coach's side. Sitting down, he looked at the smiling coach.

"So, Mitsui-kun, are you taking care of my blue chip?" the coach slyly asked under his breath.

"Trying," he replied, glancing over his stretch partner who was gradually surrounded by the rest of her teammates.

"So are you officially together now?"

Mitsui jeered at the remark, though this particular matter frustrated and somewhat pained him. "If you're asking for something in black and white, then the answer is no."

The coach heaved a sigh. "You must be crazy to let her walk around without offering your arm out to latch onto."

"Oh, believe me, my arm's been tirelessly sticking out," Mitsui declared in a hushed tone. They watched as the ladies sat in a circle to stretch, Reiko once more counting off and stretching with the team.

"That's good… wait a minute, you're not holding out, are you?" sniveled the coach, his eyes narrowing at the shooting guard.

// What in the world for? //

"I know someone precious when I see one."

Coach Sato arched his brow and grinned. He liked the candor that Mitsui possessed in his guts. "I'm just telling you like before, make your move soon, Mitsui-kun. The stands aren't packed with howling guys on game days for my looks, you know," he said, resting his elbows on his thighs. "God, I feel like a shepherd constantly being followed by a pack of wolves. Sometimes it's hard to keep them away from the girls."

The shooting guard smirked from ear to ear at the suggested thought. "And so what if they're there for your looks?"

Coach Sato cringed at the notion. "Are you out of your mind?! That's ludicrous!" Mitsui laughed at the coach, the latter gagging at the thought. After coughing a few times, Coach Sato sat up straight and plastered a look of relief on his face. "Well, on a different note, Reiko-chan seems to like having you around, and at least for the time being you two are together."

Mitsui nodded in agreement as they continued to watch the ladies in silence from the bench. Looking up at the gym clock, the shooting guard got to his feet and slapped the coach lightly on the shoulder.

"I have to get to practice now before Miwa-sensei chews me out."

Coach Sato waved him off. "For that comment earlier, I really do hope you get chewed out!" he teased, waving his clipboard at the retreating shooting guard.

Mitsui looked over his shoulder to take one last glance at Reiko, who was now preoccupied with the volleyball coach showing her plays on the steel clipboard. Putting on a grin, he exited through the side door quietly. Walking down the corridor, he recalled her softly spoken reason for choosing volleyball over any other sport. It seemed like volleyball liberated her from the hold of loneliness and even allowed her to defy gravity itself. Turning the corner, he delved into her answer a bit deeper; knowing what he knew now, perhaps she secretly longed to touch the sky, to jump as high as she could if it would bring her closer to her family, even if only for a moment. As he entered the main gym, his grin was replaced by a look of sadness and a pang of remorse ripped through his chest. He was going to have a hard time keeping the hand of pity from gripping his heart.

Coach Miwa wore a devil's smile on his face as he walked over to his players clustered about the court. Bothered at the sight, Miyagi nudged the center at the elbow.

"Akagi, Miwa-sensei's got that funny look again," the point guard mumbled, his eyes following their coach.

"He probably dreamt of more plays for us again," Akagi muttered under his breath. "Prepare yourselves, guys. It's going to be a long practice."

After stretching and warm-up, the coach had them doing drills they have never done before, like inbounding the ball and passing it so quickly to each other, almost hurling it at each other as they careened down the court. Then Coach Miwa had them do a passing drill that was almost something out of a Harlem Globe Trotters show, the players leering at the silly faces they made at each other as they passed the ball. Afterwards, the coach had them do some unorthodox footwork drill that made some of the players think that they were enrolled in a ballet class. Coach Miwa nearly cracked his face open seeing the droll and confused looks on his players' faces. Akagi clumsily tried to follow the coach's steps and Mitsui got yelled at for being a klutz, going the wrong direction and nearly running into his teammates.

"Your other left, Mitsui-kun, your other left!" shouted the coach.

To everyone's surprise, Miyagi was doing a good job keeping up with the coach's counts, and to some he even looked like a dancer on one of those Usher music videos. "Look at Miyagi go!" exclaimed one of their teammates, Akagi and Mitsui struggling to shuffle their feet fast enough without tripping and watching the point guard move fluidly in envy. After several more counts, their coach let them have a five-minute break. Catching his breath, Mitsui took a few seconds to rest in place.

"Well, I can definitely tell who's got a dancing girlfriend among you," teased Coach Miwa, giving the point guard a playful punch in the shoulder that reddened his cheeks coy.

"Hear that, guys? Miwa-sensei wants us to get girlfriends!" yelled Kazuma before taking a sip of water from the water fountain.

"Hell, with my two left feet, I'm going to need two!" remarked one of the players and peals of laughter rang throughout the gym.

Sitting next to Akagi on the bench, Mitsui was joined by the self-conscious point guard who looked over his shoulder.

"Looking for somebody, Miyagi?" asked the shooting guard, wiping his brow with a towel.

After getting a full scan of the gym, Miyagi let out a sigh of relief. "God, I'm glad Aya-chan wasn't here to hear that from Miwa-sensei. I wonder why Miwa-sensei's making us do all these weird drills," whined the shooting guard.

"You're certainly breezing through them without batting a lash. When the hell did you learn to move like that, Miyagi?" demanded Akagi, a look of disbelief still lingering on his face at the memory.

The point guard grimaced. "Aya-chan enrolled us in a ballroom dancing class about a month ago," Miyagi said, chugging some water before continuing. "Without telling me."

Akagi and Mitsui's eyes widened at the confession before breaking out into laughter, irritating the point guard further.

"Yeah, yeah... laugh now while you still can. When you guys get mesmerized by that woman of your dreams, I'll be the one laughing my ass off when they drag you into things you'd never expect yourself doing."

"Like ballroom dancing?" Mitsui teased, wiping the corner of his eye.

"Or shopping for a dress?" Akagi added, wearing the biggest grin on his face.

"Now THAT I don't mind," he said, his brows raising at the idea. "I actually like it when she drags me to go shopping with her. Of course, I have to act like I protest, but the truth is, I like it when she puts on different outfits."

"Good grief, Miyagi! You're not turning pansy now, are you?" Akagi said with an incredulous look on his face.

"Hell no! I'm just saying that I like seeing Aya-chan smile when I compliment her on her outfits!" he objected. After a second of getting worked up at the notion, he sat in his seat chuckling. "Man, I really wonder how different you would be around a girl you liked, Gori."

"She definitely wouldn't stop me from bashing your head in for being stupid," growled Akagi.

The snickering point guard rolled his eyes. "Okay, whatever."

"All right, men! Let's kick a little ass!" yelled Coach Miwa on the court.

Ayako briefly said hello to Sakai who guarded the entrance of the annex gym, the latter opening one of the double doors for her to enter. Thanking the bodyguard, she strolled happily to the bench where Coach Sato sat watching the team do some hitting drills. He smiled at her as she took the seat next to him.

"Hello, Ayako-chan. How come you're not watching over Miyagi and the others?" he asked.

"Well, I have something to ask Nanami when they get a break."

"Hmm? You're not scheming again, are you?" the coach asked suspiciously, his eyes narrowing at Ayako.

"Now what would give you that impression?"

Coach Sato's face crumpled. "You and the others made a video of my silly antics on the court and broadcast it all over campus," he sobbed. "And you even sent a copy to my wife! I could curse you and Kaname-chan for being RTF majors!"

"Will it make you feel better if I told you we got an A for that project?" Ayako said in a sugar-coated voice.

The volleyball coach heaved a sigh. "Well, I can't do anything about it now... here, I'll give the girls a break so you can talk to her."

Coach Sato yelled out a ten-minute break call and the girls crowded the benches for a drink. Seeing their friend, Nanami and the others approached Ayako expectantly.

"What brings you to visit, Ayako-chan?" asked the setter, her brow arched at the basketball manager.

"No big reason... but, I was wondering if you could help me find a present for Ryota."

"Oh, that's right, your anniversary's coming up, isn't it?" mentioned Miki.

"Yup, and I'm absolutely clueless, not to mention on a tight budget," Ayako said with a frown. "But I know you ladies have a good nose for bargains, and I figured that the more help I get, the faster I can get the present before finals week." She looked past their shoulders and saw Reiko behind them. "Hello, Reiko-san! I just love your eyes... How have you been?"

She smiled. "I've been fine, thank you. And yourself?"

Ayako heaved a frustrated sigh. "I'm desperately trying to find an anniversary present for Ryota, one that I haven't already gotten him before." For a moment, everyone was silent in thought. Ayako drummed her fingers on the bench and looked back up at Reiko. "Do you have an idea, Reiko-san?"

Everyone turned their gazes at her as she spoke. "I don't know what an appropriate anniversary present is, but perhaps something that both of you would enjoy, like a trip."

Kaname and Sayuri were thrilled at the idea. "Oh, like a romantic getaway! What a great idea!" they exclaimed.

"I've already thought about it, but that's out of my budget," griped Ayako. Reiko noted the wishful tone in her voice, knowing that if she had the means, this would have been the way she would celebrate her anniversary with Miyagi. Reiko put the volleyball she had in her hand on the rack and sat down beside the basketball manager. "How did you want your anniversary night to be?" The rest of the team sat around the two on the bench and listened intently.

"Well... I'm pretty simple when it comes to stuff like this... I've always wanted to have dinner at a nice restaurant, and then take a quiet walk under the moonlight and watch the stars from a balcony... I don't even care if it's on a roof."

Some of the girls giggled at the image she painted in their minds; the others sighed at the proposed scene.

"Ryota always says that it doesn't matter what we do for our anniversary, as long as I'm with him, he's happy. I'm grateful for that, but then again, he's done so much for me... always following me around and carrying my books for me and stuff... I just want to show him a little bit of my gratitude."

Nearly everyone heaved a dreamy sigh at her admission. Reiko's interest at the matter peaked.

"How long have you been together, Ayako-san?"

The basketball manager smiled at the thought. "Four years this coming December."

"Good grief, Ayako-chan! That's longer than some marriages out there!"

"Yeah, and speaking of which, when are you getting married?"

Ayako blushed at the suggestion. "Oh, stop it, you guys... we're still in school." She looked at Reiko who looked back at her with bluish gray eyes. "Wow, your eyes can change colors?!"

All eyes were upon a slightly surprised Reiko as they studied the transformation. They gasped excitedly.

"Oh my God, I've never noticed that..." Nanami mumbled as the rest remained quiet to gaze at the striking eye color change. "No wonder the stands are always packed, Reiko-chan. I bet you rake in half the fans in the stands with those dazzling eyes of yours."

Their teammate demurely lowered her gaze to the wooden floor, the light reflecting from it only illuminating the brightness in her eyes. "They're just eyes." Remembering what Ayako said earlier, she lifted her gaze back at the fascinated basketball manager. "What kind of cuisine do you like?"

"Anything but Japanese. It seems like we've eaten at every Japanese restaurant around town," she managed to mumble, still looking at Reiko's eyes.

"I know of someone in the restaurant business who may be able to accommodate your needs, Ayako-san. Do you have a phone number where he can reach you?"

Snapping her mind out of trance, she blinked. "Oh, yes I do!" Ayako took a piece of paper out of her purse and scribbled some numbers across. "God, you don't know how much this means to me, Reiko-san!" she said ecstatically, giving Reiko an unexpected hug that somewhat startled her. Her reaction softened and she patted Ayako's back in return.

Practice continued after a few minutes and Coach Sato ran more plays with the ladies for another hour. After the end of practice, Reiko sought Jackson out who stood guard at the east wing of the gym, asking him if he could lend her the cell phone for a few minutes.

"Job well done, men! Go hit the showers!"

Tired and worn-out, the basketball team dragged their sagging forms into the locker room and mechanically took their clothing off before going into the showers. Mitsui trailed behind Miyagi and Akagi, and he sat on the bench in front of his locker only to stare out into space.

"Hey guys, I need some ideas. I don't know what to get Ayako for our anniversary."

Both Akagi and Mitsui turned their heads to the point guard who was taking his practice jersey off.

"How about some jewelry?"

"I don't know what kind she likes... and I'm no good at picking stuff like that."

"Why don't you drag Akagi with you to a jewelry shop? He seems to know his stuff on precious metals," Mitsui suggested.

"What makes you say that?" asked Akagi.

"Remember when I found Reiko-san's pendant? You told me it was platinum."

"It's `because Haruko has a locket with the same luster as hers. It could've been steel for all I know."

"Just go with him, Gori. If you don't, we'll never hear the end of it."

The large center was about to open his mouth but decided not to utter a word. Miyagi could be very annoying whenever he wants something out of someone. He merely grunted an agreement, producing a grin on the point guard's face.

"Thanks, Gori! It's a date!" goaded Miyagi, a grin stretched across his face from ear to ear.

"What the hell are you talking about?! And my name is Akagi! Tsk, damn that Sakuragi!"

Laughter bellowed out their throats as they took their towels and hit the showers.

"Good evening, Uncle Tak. How are you today?"

"I feel better, now that you've called."

Relief.

"You usually call in the mornings. Anything special going on?"

"As a matter of fact, I would like to ask a favor of you."

Grin.

"Ask away."

"Could you contact the immediate families of Mr. Fuji, Mr. Sakai, Mr. Miller and Mr. Jackson for me?"

"Sure, but what's this about?"

"A Christmas present."

Understanding.

"I'll contact them right away."

"Thank you very much, Uncle Tak. I would also like to know if the houses in Kyoto and the house by Tokyo Bay are still available for use."

"As far as I know, yes."

Contemplation.

"Speaking of Christmas presents, Rei, do you have any requests from good old Uncle Tak?"

A giggle.

"A good bear hug will do."

A sigh.

"You drive a hard bargain. I'll try to get somebody else to do that stent replacement on Christmas Eve then."

"Even if you can't, it's quite all right. I will be happy either way."

A pause.

Reservation.

"By the way, how is your friend Mitsui-san doing?"

"Rather well. He has a very bright future ahead of him in basketball, and he is very intelligent."

Optimism.

"Oh? That's good to know… I would like to meet this Mitsui-san one day."

Cheerfulness.

"I think you would find him very pleasant. Oh, Uncle Tak, another thing... Do we still own `Jolly Miss Molly'?"

Laughter.

"Yes, I believe so. Why do you ask?"

"I would like to do something nice for a new friend and her boyfriend of four years."

Awe.

"Wow, good for them."

Silence.

"Uncle Tak?"

"Yes?"

".... Never mind."

"No, what is it?"

"I'm still quite unsure how to ask my question, and perhaps later on this evening I will know exactly what to ask."

"All right, but don't forget to tell me about it later, okay?"

A nod.

"I will, Uncle Tak."

"Now go on and have some fun. I'll contact their families as you requested, and if my hunch is right, I believe I'm one step ahead of you. I'll make arrangements right away."

A grateful smile.

"Thanks again, Uncle Tak. You're so good to me. I'll talk to you later."

Click.

Dr. Tak Nakamichi waited to hear the other line go dead before replacing the telephone receiver back on its base. He sat in the swivel chair of his well-illuminated office, and he thought about his niece who was an ocean away from him. Standing up, he walked to the window and raised the blinds, the bright sunlight making him squint at the horizon. He thanked God silently for letting his niece find some peace on this earth, and he prayed that it would last.

After putting on clean clothes, Nanami took Reiko by the hand and practically dragged her to the steps by the annex gym where Ayako and the others waited.

"Where are we going?" Reiko asked.

"We're going shopping! Is that all right with them?" the setter inquired in a whisper and rolling her eyes to the direction of the four bodyguards.

Reiko smiled. "I'm sure if you ask them nicely, they'll let me go."

"Okay then." Putting on a charming air, she walked over to the casually dressed men and with a honeyed voice asked them if they would let her teammate go with them to the mall. The four looked at each other and shrugged, nodding back to the pleased setter. Watching the exchange, Reiko understood why Nanami became the captain of the volleyball team: she knew how to deal amicably with people. Almost skipping back to Reiko's side and hooking her arm around hers, she put on a smile that constantly gave her a sense of relief.

"Let's go!"

The ladies received many admiring looks from passersby in the mall, especially from the men walking past them. They were a bunch of pretty faces, and they were given many compliments from the shop clerks that made their faces all the more attractive with blush. They had fun going to each shop, looking at some gift ideas and laughing at Miki and Sayuri's wild suggestions. The older guards had their fun as well, poking fun at the younger guards whenever the girls that charmed them most stole glances behind their shoulders. Reiko trailed behind her teammates and spied a familiar face across the shop in front of which they stood.

Mitsui heard the familiar sound of collective giggling and he could've sworn he heard Miki and Sayuri's signature chortle. Turning his head in the direction of the laughter, he stopped in his tracks to find Reiko smiling warmly at him. His heart jumped at the sight; he was so happy to see her, in the mall of all places. He was mutely grateful for Miyagi dragging him along with Akagi to buy Ayako an anniversary present. His eyes drifted to the group ahead of her, his eyes growing wide as saucers upon seeing the basketball manager's curly hair past the ladies who crowded around her.

Keeping his cool, the shooting guard spoke in an even and hushed tone. "Miyagi, don't look now, but your girlfriend's just right across this shop."

The point guard, who was standing beside Akagi by the display case looking at jewelry, quickly switched his gaze out the shop's entrance and his pupils dilated at the surprise he saw. Reflexively, he crouched down and pulled Akagi in front of him as if to shield him from detecting eyes.

"Shit! I can't let her see me, Gori! Quick, hide me!"

"What the hell?! What are you talking about?!"

"Look out the store, you oaf! Aya-chan's inside the store in front of ours!" Miyagi hissed.

"Do I look like your mother?! Get the hell off me!" Akagi barked, his strong arm swatting at the smaller point guard.

Mitsui saw the whole fuss and rolled his eyes. Of the years he's known his teammates, they haven't changed. He made sure that he kept an eye on the volleyball team, and his brows rose when he saw Reiko and Jackson walking toward the jewelry shop. Looking past their shoulders, he could see that Miller, Fuji and Sakai stood in the entrance of the shop, as if they knew to prevent the ladies from finding them out.

"Hello, Mitsui-san. It's a surprise to see you here," Reiko said softly, her eyes softening into a blue hue that locked Mitsui's gaze onto hers.

"All the more so for me, and especially for Miyagi who's hiding by the counter," he said, bobbing his head at the crumpled form yanking at the back of Akagi's shirt. "I don't know how I get dragged into these things, but Akagi said he'd never forgive me if I let him go look for a present for Ayako with Miyagi alone."

"I can see why, Mitsui-san," she replied, sympathetically chuckling at the sight. Catching the point guard's eye, she quickly bowed her head in acknowledgement. "Hello, Miyagi-san," she whispered.

The point guard blushed embarrassedly and muttered a hello back, consciously and awkwardly straightening up and backing away from Akagi who kept swatting at him.

"Reiko-san, do you think you can stall them inside that shop for awhile? I'm trying to buy something for Aya-chan."

"Certainly," she replied, afterwards glancing over her shoulder to find her teammates preoccupied with the little trinkets the store had for sale. "Congratulations, Miyagi-san."

"Thanks," Miyagi grinned. "And please don't tell Aya-chan you saw me," he pleaded.

With quiet laughter, Reiko nodded. "Your secret is safe with me." Returning her glance to his stretch partner, her eyes were met by Mitsui's pleased gaze.

"Reiko-san, how was practice today?" he asked, trying to hide his elation behind the casual talk.

"It went very well. Sato-sensei requested that Mr. Jackson and the others practice with us every day until the season is over."

"Really? That's good for Miki and Sayuri," the shooting guard winked. Jackson saw this and wore a big grin on his face.

"They express their fondness of Fuji-san and Mr. Miller to me on a daily basis as well."

Mitsui laughed. "I hope that doesn't bother you too much."

She smiled. "I find it amusing."

Mitsui saw the bodyguard behind her look at his watch and whisper in Reiko's ear. As she listened, the lines of her face bent into a ravishing smile that rendered the shooting guard's legs weak. A second later Jackson turned around to rejoin his fellow guards.

"Have you looked over that packet of problems we have to do for math class?"

She gently shook her head. "I'm afraid not, Mitsui-san, though I'd be happy to work the problems with you."

The shooting guard leaned against the shop's door frame and grunted. "I wish I didn't have to worry about grades."

Reiko tilted her head at his statement. Mitsui noticed this and laughed. "I'm sorry. Don't mind me, I'm just moping." In a softer, deeper tone, "Thank you, Reiko-san. I would love to work on those problems with you. You make my life so much easier. I just hope some day I can return the favor."

The timbre of his voice echoed through and saturated her with warmth that seemed to emanate from her chest with every heartbeat. Reiko was about to remark on this feeling when she heard Miyagi and Akagi call her over. Walking up to the counter next to them, she was asked by both which piece of jewelry would suit Ayako the best. After giving her opinion, she told the three that she had to go before the rest of the ladies notice her absence. As she walked out of the jewelry store, Mitsui followed, and his eyes looked back and silently asked his teammates to let him go with her. Akagi and Miyagi acquiesced with a nod. They knew better than to keep the shooting guard away from Reiko.

"Reiko-san, wait up."

She looked over her shoulder and smiled at his stretch partner who caught up with her. "Will you no longer be searching with Miyagi-san for a present?"

"Well, he doesn't really need my help, and I figured if I hang around you more, maybe some of your brainpower will rub off on me." Mitsui made her laugh as they made their way to the trinket shop.

The ladies were quite happy to see Mitsui with Reiko, and they were actually pleased to see the two of them together. More than once have they talked about the two making the cutest couple, and with knowing glances they looked at each other and grinned at the idea. Nanami quietly motioned the rest to give them some space to walk together, quickening their pace on purpose to leave the two some time to connect. Someone suggested stopping by the large music shop by the corner, and Ayako thought it was a great idea. Miyagi liked to play the guitar on his spare time whenever he wasn't on the court playing basketball. Upon entering the store they were greeted by a tall, outgoing sales clerk who called out to Mitsui.

"Mitchy! How's it going?" Yohei's jovial voice asked while the rest of the clerks behind the counter eagerly approached the group of ladies that thronged the guitar showcase.

"Yohei, it's good to see you again," the shooting guard answered, shaking his hand firmly. "You remember Reiko-san from Miyagi's party, right?"

"Why yes, who could forget someone like you, Reiko-san?" Yohei winked, drawing out a soft chuckle from Reiko. She gave the disc jockey a quick but polite bow, and Yohei was impressed by her civility. "So what can I do for you two today?"

Reiko explained the situation to Yohei and he nodded a few times as she spoke. Scanning the display cases, Yohei motioned them over to a counter that displayed a number of accessories for the guitar enthusiast. Yohei and Mitsui got to talking about Sakuragi and the rest of the gundan while Reiko walked along the edge of the counter to look at the items in the case. Turning around, she found several Roland keyboards, each staggered one above the other. A faint smile crossed her lips as she turned the power switches on each one of them. Seeing everyone else around her preoccupied with the sales clerks, she turned the volume knobs on the keyboards all the way to the minimum, pushed the memory button and began tapping on the keys, playing a tune only she could hear in her head. After a minute or so, she switched keyboards, tapping on different keys and another silent tune. Yohei saw this in the corner of his eye and walked over to her, impressed at the way was her fingers flew over the keys.

"Oh, I didn't know you played the piano, Reiko-san," Yohei said in passing, eyeing the red lights that denoted a recorded tune on the keyboards.

She turned her head at the comment as she continued to manipulate the keys with ease. "I try to play when I have the time."

The DJ laughed. "The way you're playing, you sure look like a pro."

Reiko timidly lowered her gaze, only to look up and see Mitsui grinning at her. She smiled back, entrancing the shooting guard yet again with the depths of her azure eyes. A few more seconds of her fingers dancing across the keys, Reiko stopped and stepped back from the keyboards, bumping into the shooting guard.

"Oh, pardon me, Mitsui-san," she said softly.

Yohei's curiosity got the better of him and he reached for the volume knobs on all three keyboards. "May I have a listen, Reiko-san?"

Acquiescing with a nod, she suggested that Yohei press the playback button after seven counts on each keyboard. Eager to do as she said, he pressed the button on the top keyboard, counted seven beats, and proceeded onto the middle and lower keyboards. Reiko inched closer to Mitsui's side, the shooting guard smiling at the brief brush of her arm against his, almost looking like she didn't want anyone else to know what she had done. His head turned at the melody that came out of the speakers, its tune identical to the one he had heard in the Suburban on the way to the annex gym. He was awed by the quality of sound that emitted from the speakers; it sounded like Yohei put in the CD himself and pressed play.

// She played this by ear? //

The volleyball team and Ayako crowded around Yohei to see what the commotion was all about, and soon their heads moved up and down to the beat. Reiko slowly walked away, averting her attention to the guitar display case. Mitsui followed.

"How did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Play that song off the top of your head after listening to it just once."

With a shrug and a faint grin, she moved to the case immediately facing outside the store. "I'm not sure myself, Mitsui-san, but when I hear a song playing, I can also see the notes being played." Glancing at the bodyguards that loafed around the store entrance, she asked almost inaudibly, "Do you think that strange, Mitsui-san?"

Standing beside her, he leaned over to her ear and whispered. "I think it's awesome, but it looks like you don't want the attention. Is that why you inched away from Yohei and the keyboards?" He watched the guards walk by the entrance with Reiko, Jackson and Sakai occasionally exchanging a few words with the younger guards.

"I was merely playing around with it," she coyly replied, tapping lightly at the display case that housed a particular electric guitar with a white finished body. "That song has quite a delightful air to it. I couldn't get it out of my head."

Mitsui nodded. "You truly are brilliant, Reiko-san," the shooting guard concluded, flashing his stretch partner a smile and causing the same surge of warmth to radiate within her. Her eyes slightly widened at the feeling. Ignoring the odd sensation, she chanced to tell Mitsui of her idea while the rest of her teammates and Ayako occupied themselves with Yohei and the other clerks.

"Mitsui-san, I was wondering if you could help me with something," she whispered in his ear, leaning closer to the blushing shooting guard.

"Anything," he replied softly without thought.

She proceeded to tell him of what she planned to do the next few days, and the grin grew bigger and bigger on Mitsui's face as he listened. This must be what she and Jackson secretly exchanged earlier, and he absolutely loved the idea of helping her after knowing what it all was for.

"Count me in," he eagerly said, noticing the deep glints of blue grow brighter in her smiling eyes.

"Promise you'll keep it a secret?" Reiko posed, holding her little finger between them.

"I promise," Mitsui answered, locking his pinky around hers, both chuckling at the silent transaction sealed in the most adorable of ways. Sakai noticed the exchange, quickly glancing at a grinning Jackson, and they weren't the only ones who noticed. From the far corner where the ladies huddled, Nanami wore a smile that stretched from ear to ear at the sweet scene.

There is hope yet for Mitsui, she thought.

Several days went by and Reiko and her two tall classmates came to the bakery every morning to do portions of the homework packet at a time. The old proprietor of the bakery always had their Sunday Mornings waiting for them and served them in mugs that had their name practically written on it, they were there so often. The bodyguards joined them inside and sat at the table adjacent to theirs, drinking their cups of java and munching on kolaches. It was raining outside, and for the first time in the few months of Reiko's stay in Kanagawa, she finally saw rain. From time to time she would look up out the window to watch the raindrops beat against the glass, and because of the pouring rain, not as many students came to the bakery for breakfast. Akagi and Mitsui would ask her questions here and there, and her smile made the two basketball players demure whenever she would find their equations answered correctly. They were three-quarters done with the packet, and still had a week before finals. All three had semifinal games coming up on the weekend, and Reiko and Mitsui felt sorry for the center who was a bit stressed out with the amount of studying he had to do for his upcoming finals.

"Akagi-san, I would like to help you if you need my help," she offered, a look of concern apparent on her face.

Putting his pencil down, Akagi rested his chin in his thick hand. "Thank you, Reiko-san. I'm afraid I'm going to have to take you up on that. I think I'll do all right in the other classes, but I have to be certain about organic chemistry."

"Hey, maybe you and Nanami-chan can both get Reiko-san to help you," Mitsui said, his face brightening at the idea of the setter and the center together. He observed Akagi's face slowly go red in the face at his suggestion. // A-ha! Gori's got a crush on her! //

"Please do not hesitate to ask, Akagi-san. I'm sure Nanami-san would enjoy your company as well."

Akagi had to look away to keep from showing his reddening cheeks. Mitsui nearly laughed in his seat; it wasn't everyday he got to see the center being bashful about anything. After a sip of his Sunday Morning, he knew he probably acted just as transparent towards his stretch partner.

"Well, I'd better go. I've still got a bunch of lab homework to turn in," the center said as he packed up his packet and writing instruments. "Thanks again for your help, Reiko-san. I'll see you on the court later, Mitsui." Waving goodbye to the guards beside them, he ventured out into the wet street with a huge umbrella that suited his massive frame.

"What do you plan to do now, Reiko-san?" the shooting guard asked, his eyes locking onto her sapphire gaze.

Finishing the rest of her kolache, she smiled and said, "Yoshi-san called to tell me that he's preparing something special for them tonight."

"Will you be at the restaurant as well?"

"I haven't decided yet... Oh, Mitsui-san, they haven't a clue of what's to happen tonight, and I need you to convince them to go with you to this place," she said as she took a business card out of her purse and handed it to him.

Studio One.

"What's this place?" he asked, reading the name and the number on the card.

"You will soon see," she replied, a hint of mischief in her mellow voice. He grew warm at her slight playfulness, for it was rare to see her in this elfin mood.

"What if they don't want to go?"

"Would it help if I accompanied you?"

// Always! //

"I think that would be more convincing. What should we say?"

She tilted her head to the side as she looked up in thought. "I'm not sure..."

"How about we just make it up as we go along?"

Reiko smiled at the suggestion. "That's a wonderful idea."

That afternoon only Jackson and Miller showed up to practice with Reiko, much to the disappointment of Sayuri. Both guards came dressed and ready for practice, and they gave the whole team a vigorous workout, hitting volleyballs with the force greater than Reiko's attacks. Coach Sato saw the advantage of letting Reiko's bodyguards practice defense with them; it showed in the reactions of the girls on the court.

After practice, Mitsui somehow managed the point guard and his girlfriend to wait with him for Reiko on the steps of the annex gym. The two guards saw and acknowledged them, Miller staying behind while Jackson went ahead to retrieve the vehicle. Reiko emerged from the annex gym and found the four pleasantly talking to each other. Ayako was first to see her and excitedly approached her.

"Reiko-san, that man you said would contact me? He called earlier!" she said in a low but excited tone.

"What did he say?" she asked in a whisper, feigning ignorance to it all.

"He said he can squeeze a reservation in for me tonight, but I'm not ready!" Ayako replied, the tone of urgency apparent in her hushed voice.

"Don't worry, Ayako-san. I'll take care of it," she answered, a reassuring hand gently patting her shoulder.

"Hey, what are you two gossiping about over there," Miyagi suspiciously asked, his gaze heavy on Ayako's anxious face. Before he could walk over to the conspiring pair, Mitsui stayed him with a strong grip on his shoulder.

"You better not interrupt them if you know what's good for you," he said loudly, and then in a whisper, "Ryochin, don't piss her off, otherwise she won't talk to you even if you give that present to her for your anniversary.

The point guard eased his stance and lightened up. "Hey, you're right." Flashing a smile that told Ayako he was agreeable yet wary of her, he asked, "So where are we going?"

The black Suburban pulled up on the curb and the four descended the steps. "Mitsui-san would like for us to help him look for a suit."

"We are?" asked the astonished shooting guard. Ayako gave Reiko a questioning look as well.

"Oh, what's the occasion?" Miyagi asked as they got into the vehicle.

Throwing a glance at Reiko who merely nodded at him, he clumsily stammered, "My parents want me to go to a business party with them." Looking back at his stretch partner, he found both her brows raised and her rosy lips upturned. Miller took his seat in the front passenger side of the vehicle and Jackson drove off. Minutes later they found themselves standing in front of a building of limestone and Spanish tile. Mitsui, Ayako and Miyagi's mouths gaped at the sight, and there were attendants at the entrance who opened the doors for them. Crossing the threshold, they were surrounded by racks and rows of elegant evening gowns and fine suits, with a showcase of silky ties, shoes, purses and every accessory one could think of. A thin and short man emerged from one of the rooms in the back and approached Reiko with open arms. He spoke in a foreign language, and to their surprise she replied in the same language without so much as a hesitation. They looked at each other in wonder, questioning if this was still the Reiko they knew. After what seemed like a warm and lively exchange, the man led Ayako to one of the changing rooms with another woman following them. Before Miyagi could protest, he too was led away into one of the rooms adjacent to the one Ayako entered. Miller and Jackson took a seat in the front foyer, Miller pulling out his palm pilot and Jackson calling someone on his mobile phone. Mitsui was lost amidst the commotion.

"Reiko-san, won't they -"

"Fuji-san and Sakai-san are here, Mitsui-san," she interrupted, taking hold of his hand and pulling him towards the door. "I will explain later. We are needed in the restaurant now."

Not able to form an interjection with his lips, he mindlessly let his stretch partner lead the way out the doors and down the steps, finally getting into the waiting Suburban up front. Fuji drove the two away with Sakai calling Jackson back.

"We're on our way," the guard said, shutting the flip phone as he looked over his shoulder at Reiko. "Nakamichi-dono, Jolly Miss Molly has been prepared for departure."

"Thank you, Sakai-san."

Mitsui sat beside Reiko with questions waiting to pour forth from his reluctant mouth. She must have planned for this surprise extensively, and she really didn't need his help after all. How nice of her to do this for them, even though he wasn't sure of the extent of the surprise. He had a feeling that it was going to be one of elegance and extravagance.

"So what exactly do you have planned for Ryochin and Ayako-chan?"

She giggled and wore the grin of a child hiding a secret. "It's fun playing Santa Claus, Mitsui-san." Reiko looked out the passenger window and added, "I'm just allowing Ayako-san to have a wonderful memory."

"I have a feeling you're going all out," suspected Mitsui, finding her hand and giving it a quick squeeze, eliciting faint laughter from her that made the two guards look back in question.

They arrived at the old man Yoshi's restaurant and were immediately ushered through a side entrance of the banquet hall that was closer to the lake. The wait staff was busy tending to the other guests and the restaurant seemed to be booked till closing time. The shooting guard found himself moving oak tables and chairs to the corners, some of the waiters helping him along with a familiar one named Takumi. Reiko helped with placing the cutlery onto the tables and she placed long-stemmed roses in the tall vases of each table except for the one in the center of the banquet hall. With every thing in place, Fuji came into the banquet hall.

"Nakamichi-dono, yours and Mitsui-san's evening attire are ready."

The shooting guard whipped his head towards Reiko at the guard's words, and she motioned with her head to follow her out through the side entrance. He quietly obeyed and trailed behind her.

"Yoshi-san will be playing music for Ayako-san and Miyagi-san this evening, and I was wondering if you could replace Yoshi-san for a few hours at the reservation desk. Don't worry, I'll be with you," she reassured, giving Mitsui that smile that would forever be his undoing.

"Hey, anything you say, boss," he winked. Mitsui was beginning to enjoy this.

Minutes later he emerged from the men's restroom dressed in a vest and suit that were almost exactly like the ones he wore to dinner with Reiko, with the exception of the tie being of a metallic hue of blue. Reiko was already waiting by the reservation desk looking over the appointment book, her hair pinned artfully above her head and exposing her graceful neck. She wore a jet black two piece suit, with the dress shirt underneath her jacket of the same color as the shooting guard's tie, which made him smile at the complement. So when she lifted her head to meet his eyes with vivid blue ones, he suddenly found it difficult to find air.

"That suit fits you so well, Mitsui-san," she remarked, noticing the sharp lines of his shoulder that matched the chiseled features of his handsome face.

"You look great yourself," he managed to stammer, the shooting guard dazzled yet again by the striking smile she gave him.

After an hour of seating guests in the restaurant, Ayako and Miyagi walked through the double French doors, a look of incredulity plastered on their faces. Despite this they made a gorgeous pair; the man with the foreign accent at Studio One clothing them in the finest garments and their attire made them look like royalty. Ayako's evening gown and hairstyle were beyond compare to the affluent female patrons that night, and Miyagi looked like a movie star in his ensemble holding the basketball manager's hand in his. Upon seeing the two behind the reservation desk, Miyagi immediately approached them.

"What the hell is going on here, Mitsui? I thought we were supposed to help you find a suit, and here you are already dressed in one while Aya-chan and I were unclothed and dressed without our consent and shanghaied in a black limo to this joint, and -"

Reiko stepped forward from behind the desk and gave them a solemn bow and an apology. "Please forgive us for this deception, Miyagi-san. I was informed that it was your anniversary and I asked Mitsui-san to help me with Ayako-san's wish."

The point guard dumbfounded, he took a step back and looked at Ayako in surprise. She could only look down in embarrassment; she herself did not know that what Reiko had in mind was to this elaborate extent.

"Aya-chan... I... I... " he trailed.

"This way, guys," Mitsui interrupted as he took two leather-bound menus and motioned the puzzled couple to follow. Leading them to the banquet hall, he let the two waiters in the room pull out the chairs for them. After being seated, he handed them the menus.

"Here you go, you two. Enjoy," he said with a wink. As he turned to leave, one of the waiters asked them what they would like to have for their beverage.

Rejoining his beautiful stretch partner behind the reservation desk, they received and seated the patrons as they walked through the door, marking their names with a dot in the appointment book. Two hours later the point guard and his sweetheart left the banquet hall and stopped by the desk, giving the stretch partners his thanks and a polite and humble bow. Ayako gave Reiko another hug and whispered a heartfelt thank you in her ear, the corners of her eyes threatening to spill tears of joy. Miller ended up being their chauffeur for the evening, and the guard gave Reiko a knowing nod before going outside to open the limousine door for the couple.

After they left, Mitsui's hands found their way to the pockets of his trousers, feeling like he made a difference that meant so much to Ayako and Miyagi, even if the part he played was small compared to what Reiko had done for the two. He smiled at her kindness.

"This was really sweet of you to do for them, Reiko-san," he said softly, his voice almost a low, purring tone. "What's going to happen next?"

With a smile she gently tapped on the appointment book with a pen. "Mr. Miller will drive them to a pier where they will be taken to a private beach on the Jolly Miss Molly."

"Jolly Miss Molly?"

"It's a 188-foot yacht."

Her answer proved Mitsui right: when Reiko extends her help, she would help all the way beyond anyone's expectations. He observed an impressionistic sketch of Ayako and Miyagi on a pad of paper next to the appointment book, their drawn figures linked at the hands. He was reminded of the two siblings at the day care center who gave them a card of a similar setting. Noting his attention on the pad, she slid it closer for the both of them to see.

"When I was little, I watched my parents pull a similar stunt on my older brother and his girlfriend for their anniversary," she said, her soft voice barely audible to the shooting guard's attentive ears. "The look of surprise on my brother's face was something I will never forget... he was so happy, he locked both my parents into a crushing embrace." Chuckling at the memory, she turned to her stretch partner. "I'm glad Miyagi-san didn't do the same to us."

"Ayako-chan sure looked grateful," he stated, eyeing her slender index finger as it lazily traced the outlines of her drawing.

"I wonder what it must be like," she said, staring blankly through the French doors, "to love someone who loved you in return with equal fervor."

His eyes widened at her words. He wanted so badly to reply, to say what he felt when he first saw her, to utter how he felt whenever he was with her, to confess how much he loved her. He braced himself instead as he listened to what more she had to say.

"Nanami-san mentioned once to me that I do not see what she and the others see right before my eyes... " she trailed off, her gaze drifting down to the linked hands sketched on the pad. "There are still so many things I don't understand about people around me... I feel as if I have a steep learning curve to follow."

Mitsui prevented himself from carelessly letting words roll off his tongue and restrained himself with his hand gripping his other fiercely behind his back. "There's no rule that says you have to be in a hurry to learn, right?"

Reiko nodded, her cerulean gaze now upon the shooting guard's face. "I suppose I'm just being silly... I'm so used to someone else teaching and telling me of these things. I have so many questions, but the people I truly want to pose these questions to are-" she caught herself, quickly looking away from Mitsui's observing eyes.

// No longer with you... // He knew who she meant, and he felt somewhat responsible for the awkward mood between them.

"I apologize Mitsui-san," her voice quivered, her eyes looking down at the appointment book. He was afraid she might cry.

"Hey, hey..." the shooting guard mumbled, releasing the grip on his hand and bringing up to lift her delicate chin. "What happened to that beautiful smile of yours?"

Reiko tried to look down once more, but Mitsui's palm on her cheek prevent her from doing so. The hand on her face was so warm, like the comforting touch of a brother. The blue hue in her eyes increased in intensity as they met Mitsui's ardent gaze. She tried to smile but couldn't, the contact eliciting the same electric response she received whenever he held her hand, the same surge of warmth swelling from her chest to her entire being. She became acutely aware of the close distance between them.

"Mitsui-san, your gesture reminds me of my brother somehow," she whispered, startling the shooting guard into withdrawing his hand from the softness of her cheek. A bit crestfallen at the comment, he refused to show his dejection and instead continued to look at her flushed face, though the familial comparison somewhat disappointing him.

"Forgive me, Reiko-san... I'm being too forward," he whispered, hinting a look of disappointment in his eyes that did not go unnoticed.

"However," she managed to continue as she turned her gaze aside, "my brother's touch never felt so stimulating and comforting at the same time."

Mitsui's eyes widened at the forthright admission, and his heart beat uncontrollably at her words which seemed to ring wildly in his head.

"I don't understand this feeling, Mitsui-san. I don't know why I get this reaction within me with every touch of your hand... Many times I've wanted to ask about it, but I can't find the words to explain it."

He had to will himself to breathe evenly, pouring his concentration in every breath he took. She was all he could see and hear at that moment, and the din and chatter of the restaurant patrons disappeared along with everything else around them. The words jumped out of his mouth against his will.

"I think I know what it is you feel, because you make me feel the same way when I'm with you."

Reiko glanced his way and watched silently as he took hold of her hand, an act that was so innocuous to her in the past now forcing her pulse to race. The reins of restraint snapped within Mitsui and he faced the possibility of unrequited love with all his courage.

"This feeling you have... I also felt it the very first time I saw you. I myself asked what it was, and I found the answer after noticing this feeling within me every time I see and talk to you. I feel as if I'm walking through the clouds when I'm with you, as though I can do anything whenever you give me one word of encouragement, and I feel like I am the most fortunate person whenever you smile at me... I've wanted to tell you many, many times before, but I was reluctant to... because... because I was afraid you might misconstrue me as an all-too-eager person... because I wanted you to know for yourself what I felt before and what I'm feeling right now as I stand here before you."

Her eyes of sapphire blinked, and before she could think of words to say to him, his words to follow took her by surprise.

"I love you, Reiko-san. I love you so much, I don't know what to do with myself."