After I completed my routine, my concentration was broken by cheers and delighted whooping. Man, that routine sure was like a dream; I was so absorbed in it that I actually forgot I was in school. (Thankfully, I didn't do anything silly like receiving an imaginary prize).
Okaasan thinks that I use gymnastics to escape from the harsh reality of my life: the lack of a parent who could afford the time to spend with me, and of course, paternal influence.
Actually, I do agree with her, but I've always tried to deny that my life was not quite the way I'd rather it be. I'd always wished that Okaasan could spend more time with me, that I had an Otoosan, and perhaps a brother or two.
But life usually never grants your wishes, and so I had to accept my fate, which, I believed, was much better than others.
In any case, now that my concentration was broken, I could feel a pair of eyes watching me closely, scrutinising every inch of me, and my every move. I shuddered involuntarily but tried to maintain a composed countenance.
**************
My time of reckoning-- whether I could get onto the team or not.
I was really sure that I'd get onto theteam, but seeing Shizuka and my other seniors deliberating over my performance so... deliberately slowly, I couldn't help but feel anxious.
Wave after wave of anxiety. Second after second.
Crystalline air.
Frozen thoughts.
My hopes and dreams would all depend on the team's verdict.
Shizuka turned around, hesitated and spoke slowly, 'Tomoko-san... you have gotten into our team.'
I started breathing again. I didn't realise I'd stopped.
Then it hit me. I got onto the team. Wow. I'M ON!
I started dancing triumphantly around the gym but stopped abruptly when I realised that I was celebrating in full view of the public.
I turned around to look sheepishly and apologetically at Shizuka, who was smiling sincerely at me. I could see that she was genuinely happy for me.
But when I took a closer look at her expression, I realised that she and the others were just pulling my leg-- they just wanted to see how I'd react. In fact, Shizuka said that my routine was almost flawless; I only had to work on certain flips.
I barely heard Shizuka and the rest of the team congratulating and telling me that my first practice would start officially on Thursday. After I was dismissed, I skipped my way to the locker room, ignoring the many pairs of eyes staring at me doing my childish antics. And though I was still aware that someone was watching my every move, I dismissed it as paranoia and went to change.
**************
I whistled a merry tune as I sauntered towards the indoor basketball courts, which were, coincidentally, adjacent to the gymnasium block.
Strange, I thought I heard girls screaming inside. Did I hear 'Rukawa'? Or were my ears deceiving me again? Surely he couldn't be that popular with the Shohoku female population. They must have horrible taste otherwise.
I opened the door to the courts, greeted by the sight of three bimbo cheerleaders wearing pink costumes that barely covered their bodies. They were waving their pompoms in some kind of warped routine that was completely graceless and tasteless. And they were shrieking in their shrill, piercing voices, 'L-O-V-E RUKAWA! LOVE ME RUKAWA!'
I felt embarrassed for all the females in the world. Did we have to be disgraced in such a lowly manner?
Then I saw the guys training hard, their brows all locked in concentration, their thirst for victory unquenchable. According to Haruko, they did so much want to win this year's Championships.
Haruko saw me at the door, looking somewhat lost. She promptly stood up and waved at me and gestured to the seat next to her. I waved back to her, and walked towards her.
There was a pretty girl with large blue eyes seated on the other side of Haruko. She had wavy hair tied into a neat ponytail. She was also wearing a cap, which I found strange. Who wears a cap indoors? I decided that it must be because of cosmetic reasons. The Shohoku coach, Anzai sensei, was nowhere to be seen.
I plopped myself down next to Haruko and waited for Haruko to introduce me to the other girl while I smiled shyly, albeit uncomfortably, at her. Haruko got the hint and promptly introduced the two of us to each other.
So she was Ayako, the manager of the basketball team. The woman with the fan, I decided, as she whipped out a large white fan out of nowhere and smacked Sakuragi on the head. I found her fan rather mysterious as she was wearing tights and a loose T-shirt. Where did she get the fan from. I do wonder.
Well, I watched the basketball team practice until they were dismissed by a short guy with hair that reminded me of a muffin. (a/n: apologies to miyagi fans), presumably their captain. The entire team trooped towards their locker room while Rukawa and Sakuragi lingered outside. The captain, whose name was Miyagi Ryota, immediately ran to Ayako and flirted shamelessly with her.
Rukawa was staring at me. I squirmed uncomfortably. What did he want with me?
Okaasan thinks that I use gymnastics to escape from the harsh reality of my life: the lack of a parent who could afford the time to spend with me, and of course, paternal influence.
Actually, I do agree with her, but I've always tried to deny that my life was not quite the way I'd rather it be. I'd always wished that Okaasan could spend more time with me, that I had an Otoosan, and perhaps a brother or two.
But life usually never grants your wishes, and so I had to accept my fate, which, I believed, was much better than others.
In any case, now that my concentration was broken, I could feel a pair of eyes watching me closely, scrutinising every inch of me, and my every move. I shuddered involuntarily but tried to maintain a composed countenance.
**************
My time of reckoning-- whether I could get onto the team or not.
I was really sure that I'd get onto theteam, but seeing Shizuka and my other seniors deliberating over my performance so... deliberately slowly, I couldn't help but feel anxious.
Wave after wave of anxiety. Second after second.
Crystalline air.
Frozen thoughts.
My hopes and dreams would all depend on the team's verdict.
Shizuka turned around, hesitated and spoke slowly, 'Tomoko-san... you have gotten into our team.'
I started breathing again. I didn't realise I'd stopped.
Then it hit me. I got onto the team. Wow. I'M ON!
I started dancing triumphantly around the gym but stopped abruptly when I realised that I was celebrating in full view of the public.
I turned around to look sheepishly and apologetically at Shizuka, who was smiling sincerely at me. I could see that she was genuinely happy for me.
But when I took a closer look at her expression, I realised that she and the others were just pulling my leg-- they just wanted to see how I'd react. In fact, Shizuka said that my routine was almost flawless; I only had to work on certain flips.
I barely heard Shizuka and the rest of the team congratulating and telling me that my first practice would start officially on Thursday. After I was dismissed, I skipped my way to the locker room, ignoring the many pairs of eyes staring at me doing my childish antics. And though I was still aware that someone was watching my every move, I dismissed it as paranoia and went to change.
**************
I whistled a merry tune as I sauntered towards the indoor basketball courts, which were, coincidentally, adjacent to the gymnasium block.
Strange, I thought I heard girls screaming inside. Did I hear 'Rukawa'? Or were my ears deceiving me again? Surely he couldn't be that popular with the Shohoku female population. They must have horrible taste otherwise.
I opened the door to the courts, greeted by the sight of three bimbo cheerleaders wearing pink costumes that barely covered their bodies. They were waving their pompoms in some kind of warped routine that was completely graceless and tasteless. And they were shrieking in their shrill, piercing voices, 'L-O-V-E RUKAWA! LOVE ME RUKAWA!'
I felt embarrassed for all the females in the world. Did we have to be disgraced in such a lowly manner?
Then I saw the guys training hard, their brows all locked in concentration, their thirst for victory unquenchable. According to Haruko, they did so much want to win this year's Championships.
Haruko saw me at the door, looking somewhat lost. She promptly stood up and waved at me and gestured to the seat next to her. I waved back to her, and walked towards her.
There was a pretty girl with large blue eyes seated on the other side of Haruko. She had wavy hair tied into a neat ponytail. She was also wearing a cap, which I found strange. Who wears a cap indoors? I decided that it must be because of cosmetic reasons. The Shohoku coach, Anzai sensei, was nowhere to be seen.
I plopped myself down next to Haruko and waited for Haruko to introduce me to the other girl while I smiled shyly, albeit uncomfortably, at her. Haruko got the hint and promptly introduced the two of us to each other.
So she was Ayako, the manager of the basketball team. The woman with the fan, I decided, as she whipped out a large white fan out of nowhere and smacked Sakuragi on the head. I found her fan rather mysterious as she was wearing tights and a loose T-shirt. Where did she get the fan from. I do wonder.
Well, I watched the basketball team practice until they were dismissed by a short guy with hair that reminded me of a muffin. (a/n: apologies to miyagi fans), presumably their captain. The entire team trooped towards their locker room while Rukawa and Sakuragi lingered outside. The captain, whose name was Miyagi Ryota, immediately ran to Ayako and flirted shamelessly with her.
Rukawa was staring at me. I squirmed uncomfortably. What did he want with me?