Twisted Destiny

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“Man, high school sure is different than the middle school.” I’m somewhat in awe with the high school environment when I’m talking to Hideki. Hideki just smiles without saying anything. He knows that I’m always like this since we were in the elementary school. I think my expression isn’t that different back then.

This spring, we’re now a high school student. And we’re also entering the same high school, Minagawa Academy. It feels great to be able to enter the same high school as Takizawa Hayashima.

Most importantly, it feels even more amazing to have Hideki around. Hideki isn’t just my best friend. He’s also one of the teammates that I can count on. That explains why I want him to be on my side so badly. I don’t want the same thing to happen between me and Hideki when we were in the middle school, where I had to face him as a rival. Damn you, Akira. I never thought that your premonition has come true. It gives me a chill down to my spine when I think about it.

This year, Hideki and I are in the same class. So, it’s easier for us to go to the basketball practice together. “Hey, you’ll be joining the basketball team too, right?” I ask Hideki just to make sure that I’m not the only one who will be joining the team. “Of course I will. What else can I do besides basketball? There’s no point for me to be here if I don’t want to join the basketball team,” Hideki chuckles when he says that to me.

Well, Hideki has a point there. What’s the point of entering Minagawa Academy if he doesn’t even have the intention to join the basketball team, right? Hideki just laughs at me because of my silly question. I shouldn’t have asked him that question because I already know what his answer is going to be.

“I can’t wait for the school to end so we can go straight to the gym after that.” That’s how enthusiastic I am with basketball. Now I sound like my old friend, Takeru Mikoshiba. He was my classmate when we were in the middle school. Just like me, he was always so enthusiastic about the basketball practice. It seems like now I have become somewhat like him and annoy the hell out of Hideki.

As I’m busy talking with Hideki, I suddenly sense an unpleasant aura as someone walks by us. I can’t tell who it is, but it does feel unpleasant. At that time, I can hear that someone is muttering something even though it’s only a faint voice. “Takumi Ichirou, 188cm. Power forward in Takamiya Private Middle School basketball team.”

Yes, I’m pretty sure I hear that right. That person is muttering about me. Who in the world is that? I immediately stop talking to Hideki once I heard the muttering, but that person is nowhere to be seen. “I can hear that someone was muttering about me, like that person wants to curse me or something.”

I sound panicked when I told Hideki about this. But Hideki shrugs, telling me that I must have imagining things. I wish I was imagining thing, but it feels spooky. “Maybe that guy could be one of your rivals when we were in the middle school? Well, it’s not surprising if he still has the sentiment towards you,” Hideki convinces me trying not to think too much about it.

Maybe I shouldn’t be too concerned about that. Hideki and I head back to our class because the class is about to begin anytime soon. I still can’t get over the muttering because it feels so odd to have someone cursing me. How can I remain calm if that person is trying to make my life doomed for the rest of my life?

I can’t help but talk to Hideki about it during the break. “Okay, why don’t you try to recall who might want to curse you so badly? I can only think of your past rivals because they might resent you so much.” I can’t think of anyone in my mind because back then, I was so focused on facing Hideki and Makoto. I wouldn’t care about anyone else because they weren’t worth my attention.

“After a long thought, I can’t seem to think of anyone at all.” I sigh as I’m about to give up on thinking of the possible candidates who wants to curse me. Hideki is busy munching on the yakisoba bread he purchased just now in the cafeteria. I don’t have the mood to eat anything because I’m too occupied with that person.

“Here, eat this. It’s not good to think too much about it. Besides, we have to fuel our body for the basketball practice.” Hideki hands me the energy bar as he’s trying to nudge me to eat something. “Why do you have an energy bar in your pocket? Do you always bring this around with you?”

Hideki laughs when I ask him that question. “Well, it’s a backup for me in case I can’t get my hands on the yakisoba bread here. I heard that the yakisoba bread in this school is delicious, so I was worried I wouldn’t be able to buy it. They said that you have to be quick if you want it because the yakisoba bread sold out pretty fast here.”

I think I can imagine that Hideki may only eat yakisoba bread for the rest of his high school year. I’m not surprised at all because he was always like this when we were in the elementary school. After school, he would always buy some pieces of melon breads on our way back home. On top of that, he did it without fail and never missed it even a day.

“Wait, do you happen to buy extra pieces of yakisoba breads? I don’t think you bought only one, do you?” Hideki seems surprised when I ask him that, never expecting me to ask him that kind of question. “Of course I do. I’m saving it for the time before we’re heading to the gym.” I knew it that he would buy more than one. I bet that the yakisoba bread was sold out in the first place because of him.

Even after many rounds of convincing by Hideki, I still can’t keep my mind off from the muttering. I’m sure that I’m not imagining things. Even if there is someone who has a sentiment towards me, why would he choose this school? My only reason for choosing this school is because of Takizawa Hayashima. And I don’t care about anything else. Okay, another reason for me to choose this school is because it’s just a walking distance from grandma’s house.

Damn, I can’t stop thinking about it no matter what. I wish I can concentrate in the class, but I don’t think I can right now. I find it hard to believe that the faint voice muttering about my stat is enough to drive me crazy. Hideki who is sitting behind me notices that I’m still thinking about the muttering.

I’m glad that school is over because I can’t wait to hit the gym. I hope that the sweat session is enough for me to forget that silly muttering. Who would have thought that a muttering is enough to drive me crazy for the whole day? “You want a red bean bun?” Hideki passes the red bean bun to me as we’re about to head to the gym.

“Thanks.” I don’t feel that hungry, but since Hideki offers me the red bean bun, I guess I should just grab it and have a quick bite. “You’re still bothered with the muttering?” Hideki asks me when he’s in the middle of indulging the yakisoba bread. “Yeah, I still do.”

Both of us become silent for a while as both of us are still indulging with the food when we’re on our way to the gym. “Hmm, maybe you can recall who that is when we’re in the gym? If that guy resents you so much, he’s definitely going to be there in the gym. Well, unless he quits basketball altogether.”

Okay, that’s a good idea. Why didn’t I think of that? I can bet that this guy wants to seek revenge on me so badly that I’m sure we’ll cross the path one way or another. “Hmm, that’s not a bad idea. Maybe I should go and have a look when we’re at the gym.”

When we reach the gym, some of the new and senior members are already here. “Do you recognize any of them?” Hideki whispers to me when we’re inside the gym. “Nope, I didn’t recognize any of them. These members might be just a bench warmer during the game. No matter how forgetful I am, I will remember everyone that I have faced during the game back then.”

This is getting weirder than I thought. I thought that I may have recognized any of them who may have a huge sentiment on me, but there are none! “You know, a strong player like you tends to forget those who have lost to you. Are you sure you can remember them all? Maybe that guy slipped under the radar without you realizing it.”

What Hideki says makes sense to me. Maybe I did forget people who I have defeated in the past. If you’re worthy of my opponent, I will remember you even if you have lost to me. But then again, I didn’t recognize any of them.

The captain, Ryou Takahashi comes while I’m still busy detecting the guy who wants to curse me so badly. “New members, please line up in one line. After that, tell me your name, which school you came from and your position in the past,” says Senior Takahashi in a loud and clear voice.

I’m trying to recognize any of them when they introduce themselves, but I’m positive that I have never fought any of them in the past. They must be in the different block when we had a basketball tournament for the middle school. As far as I know, some of these schools were the schools that Hideki had fought in the past. But why the guy is cursing me instead of him? I have nothing to do with this!

After everyone is done with introducing ourselves, Senior Takahashi has something to say to us. I thought that he’s going to say things like we’re going to become the champion for the Inter High and Winter Cup, yadda, yadda. Well, that’s what I said to my teammates when I was the captain. But it seems like he has something different to share with us. It doesn’t look like he’s going to give us a usual, cliché speech like I’m used to listening to.

“I don’t know why you choose this school. But still, I’m grateful from the bottom of my heart for coming here. This year, I’m happy that we have two strong players who used to compete head-to-head in the past to be on our team.” Okay, this guy is talking about me and Hideki. I can see that the rest of us are in awe with us. Though, I don’t see anything special about that.

“I’m sure that you’re already aware of this. Minagawa Academy used to be one of the Best 8 in Japan, but we’re no longer in the list anymore. Our rank had slipped down when our coach, Hideo Toshimitsu passed away because of a heart disease. Even though I was only a first-year student at that time, I felt that it was my responsibility to restore the team into its glorious state. Initially, I thought that it was impossible. But I think we can when we have Ichirou and Nakamura on our team.”

I knew it. They’re counting on us to restore the team like it used to be. It feels great to shoulder that responsibility, but I have no idea either how we can do that. “Besides Ichirou and Nakamura, there’s another person we need to bring back the team’s glorious era. Too bad, she’s not here yet.”

Before Senior Takahashi continues any further, a girl is barging into the gym out of nowhere. She looks so exhausted like she’s been running a mile. “I’m so sorry that I’m late, Senior Takahashi,” the girl says to Senior Takahashi while trying to catch a breath. “Speak of the devil; she’s the one I’m talking about. Anyway, I’d like to introduce you to our new manager, Chiyu Sakuraba. She was from Takasendo Middle School.”

The girl finally regains her composure and starts introducing herself. I don’t know why, but I had this sensation that she might be the one who was muttering when she passed us by. But then again, I was wondering why a girl like her has a sentiment towards me? Have I met her somewhere? I can’t seem to recall whether I’ve met her or not.

Even if I do, how come I forget about her? She’s pretty and she’s my type too. So, there’s no way I can forget a girl like her. Well, I shouldn’t be too self-absorbed about that. The practice begins once she’s done with her self-introduction. The practice isn’t that intense because it’s only a first day. We don’t do anything much other than undergoing the basic training.

During the break, I tell Hideki that Chiyu might be the one who was muttering in a faint voice. “Are you serious?? It can’t be her! She doesn’t even look like someone who wants to curse you.” Dumbass! Why your voice has to be so loud like a loudspeaker? Do you want the rest of them to hear what I’m saying to you? I can’t help but pinch Hideki’s cheek, just to stop him from saying anything loud again. Hideki looks in pain and his cheek becomes red after I did that, though.

Everyone looks at us, feeling somewhat curious because of our odd behavior. “Okay, I know it’s impossible. But I had a feeling that it was her. I may have mistaken her for a guy, but the voice sounded like hers. The only thing that I don’t get is the aura part. I can’t sense any unpleasant aura from her when she’s here.”

Hideki sighs because he still finds it hard to believe that Chiyu was the one who was cursing me all along. “I don’t know if this is a good idea, but you’d better ask her when the practice is over. She doesn’t look like the kind of person who will do that.” Well, that’s what I’m planning to do, though. The only thing I need to do right now is to think how I can approach this subject to her. I can’t just ask her why she was muttering like she was cursing me.

After the practice is over, I begin to approach her. I wish that I was wrong, but I’m sure that it was her. I’m still wondering what I have done to her that makes her so angry at me. Hideki is tagging along because he’s wondering about the same thing too.

“Chiyu, I know this is so sudden…but have we met before?” Wow, that’s a great ice-breaking conversation. I can’t believe it that I can become a smooth talker when I’m talking to her. I’m expecting that Chiyu will be surprised with my sudden question. But she doesn’t look surprised at all. That means we may have met each other somewhere.

“Of course we do. We have met in the basketball court before. That was when our team was against your school. I was the manager for the team. So, it’s obvious that I’ve met you before. It’s just that we have never talked to each other. That’s all.”

I’m surprised that she noticed me! Does that mean she has a crush on me? “Don’t get the wrong that I have a crush on you. I knew you because we need to know more about your team before we were going to face you during the game,” Chiyu says, looking a bit flustered while convincing me that she never had a crush on me.

Man, she’s quick to deny that she was having a crush on me. Come to think of it, she doesn’t even look like someone who will have a huge crush on me. If she does, she would rather hide herself instead of passing me by while muttering about my stats.

“So, your school has fought with his school before, right? Do you have some kind of sentiment towards him that you feel like you want to curse him so much?” Hideki, that’s a straight shooter question. I like the way he asks her a question. But why he makes it sounds like I’m a bad guy?

“Hmm, I did have a sentiment towards him.” Whoa there, that is a straight answer I least expect from a girl like her. She admits that she does have a sentiment towards me. “That’s because our team lost, no thanks to Takumi who was always getting in our way. Otherwise, my team would have won the game. But then again, I admit that Takumi was a strong player. So, it shouldn’t be a surprising thing to us.”

Now I remember which team she was talking about. We did have a match with Takasendo Middle School in the past. I remember that Mikoshiba was the one who pointed out that the team that we were going to fight had a pretty manager. I wouldn’t know if Mikoshiba didn’t tell me anything about the team.

Those guys from Takasendo were only average players, but they did manage to give us a hard time. We were wondering what made Takasendo was strong despite only having average players in the team. It turns out to be that Chiyu had a complete data about us. She used the data to match it up with their players’ abilities to increase the odd for them to win the game.

From the logical point of view, it will take forever to train them to be on the same level like us. But they didn’t even need to do that. Thanks to Chiyu’s ability, even an average player can stand a chance against us. She may have a pretty face, but you’d better not underestimate what she can do. Now, she’s here to do the same thing on our team. The only difference is, she has a triumph card in her disposal. Yup, it’s none other than me and Hideki.

“I think that was like when we were in the second year, right? Do you still hate me that much even until now?” I have to ask this because I don’t want her to curse me for the rest of my life. As much as I want to take this matter lightly, I don’t think I can if it’s involving a curse. “Well, not really. There’s no point for me to hate you because we’re now in the same team. We should be working together instead.”

What? How can she be so simple? Before I can ask her, Hideki interjects. “So, you don’t intend to curse Takumi?” Chiyu laughs when Hideki asks her that kind of question. “What?? Why would I want to curse him? It’s true that I was muttering his stats when I saw him. But that’s just my own way to analyze him. I won’t do that to him even if I hate him.”

I can’t help but laugh because of how silly I am. I thought that it was a guy who had a sentiment towards me, but it turns out to be a girl. Not only that, she didn’t mean any harm at all. With Chiyu’s ability, I’m looking forward to seeing what’s going to happen next. I bet that it’s going to be fun.