Chapter 035
[MIIYAKO SHIKIMORI'S POV]
When I entered junior high school, I was just like a normal girl who just wanted to make friends, hang out with them and enjoy the school life...
I admire my big brother, who is a karate champion in his high school, so I am taking classes about learning the karate so that I can also become successful in karate just like my brother... But it all shattered on one day, when my brother stopped training and he is, no more, plays that sport...
So, now I have no dream whatsoever, just like to hang out with my friends...
But it all changed on 'that' day...
...
I and my friends, we are just walking on the streets, talking about the anime that started to came on TV from last month... This romance anime is a story about two high school students, one boy and one girl... The female lead is my favourite character, because of her personality... She has a crush on the male lead, from the very beginning as he helped her when she needed the most... Male lead also has a good heart; he helps everyone who needs his help... But the female lead doesn't like it, so she started to show obsession over him...
I don't know why, but I really like this female lead...
My days continued just like that, until I saw a 'spectacular' sight which captivated my whole heart and mind...
One day, during the cultural festival of this year, I and my friends are hanging out here and there, all over the school, enjoying the festival to the fullest... As we continue our walk, we decided to enter the school auditorium where, currently, a volleyball match is going on...We took a seat, at the most last seat as we don't have any interest in the game... But I became interested; my gaze didn't even waver a bit from the court where the game was going on... I don't know about the other team but they are playing so much better than our team, I don't know how but my mind says so... I can't seem to hear anything but only the voices they are making, even though my friends are saying something but my whole focus is on the court...
The sight of them running all over, their half of the court; the way they slides to collect the call; the way they jump to shoot the ball and every single moment I am seeing, now, is such a beautiful scene...
From that moment, I began to admire this game so much that I wanted to make my career in it... I decided that I will definitely play the nationals and will definitely win the championship...
As the game ended, the people started to leave the place saying along the lines about how good the other team is, and how bad our team played... Even though it's just a practice match and for the purpose of entertainment for some people, our team seemed to feel down, after the match... Each and every player handshake with each other and then slowly left the place... My friends also seemed too gone as they are not sitting near me, well whatever....
So, I slowly walked towards the court, there is, at the corner, a box which contains the volleyballs... I carefully pulled out volleyball from that box... This is my first time, touching volleyball and it doesn't fit well in my hand but I can feel the happiness formed inside me, just like when I completely learned the karate...
...
When we became third year in our junior high school, I decided to join the volleyball club... I have to do join alone because no other friends of mine are interested in this sport... They joined other clubs like Literature club, Science Club, etc while some were just happy with their Go Home club...
When I first entered there, I have to work harder than anyone else there... I worked harder, harder, harder and at last... I succeeded in it... I became regulars in the Girls Volleyball team...
In our club, there are total of only 10 students, including me, and a teacher, who is also our coach... In a Volleyball match, we need 6 regular players to play in the court while other players are extras, which will get substituted during the match with the regular players... So, currently we have only four extra players, which are not efficient...
...
Even with that difficulty, we participated in the Inter School Volleyball Tournament... Our first match was with the same team, I saw that day, the team who beat our team easily...
During the match, there was many moments where I, or my teammates, made silly mistakes... Due to that, we lost our first match as well as got out from the tournament... Our school's boy's team also seemed, to lose in their second game, by the same school...
I don't know why, but I don't feel bad for our loss... Maybe, deep inside me, I know that we will lose this tournament... I don't know...
But I do want to give my best in my high school; I will definitely accomplish this goal of mine, of winning this championship...
After that, my junior high school life ended and now it's the time for my high school life...
Before seeing the beauty of Volleyball, I wanted my life to be just like that 'anime', we talked about during our first year of junior high school.... But now, I just want to become Volleyball professional player...
I didn't know at that time, that my former dream as well as latter dream will both become reality of mine...
...
I, alongside with my two friends from junior high school, have given the entrance exam for the All Girls' School... I have chosen this school because it's not too far away from my home, as well as the transportation is very good because it's school buses comes at the nearest bus stop, near my home... And the education as well as sport field are elite class... So, if I got enrolled in there, it will be great for my future...
After waiting for about a month, our admission letter came, telling us that we have been selected... We were happy enough that we smiled at each other, and lightly hugged... Then I told my mother about it, she also showed me her smile, which she normally don't show... Well, she must have been happy that I got selected in this elite school...
In the letter, there is also a mention of entrance ceremony which is going to be on, just two weeks later... I don't want to go but my friends kept on saying that we should go, so I accepted it...
...
On the entrance ceremony, I thought of coming here a bit early... Well, I don't have any reason, it's just I felt like it...
When I entered the school gate, my gaze directly fixated on the blossom tree... The tree leaves are blowing away due to the strong winds, but the scenery is very beautiful... As I was lost in the thought, I suddenly thought to check my Identity card... Just as I took it out from my pocket, my back suddenly got hit by a girl, and my card flew to the top of the tree...
How... What just happened? How is that even possible?
Many questions came across my mind, but I didn't answer any of them as I am still confused of these sudden movements...
Then I tried to find out the ways to get back my card from the tree... But then I spotted someone strange, it's a boy... He is wearing the same uniform as me, has a expressionless emotion on his face, he kept on walking until he stopped and staring at me for few seconds, after that he started to staring at the blossom tree... What is he?
I forgot about the identity card, and went to him...He showed nothing on his face, just started to stare at me, with his red eyes...
...
We chatted for a bit... I found out that he is also going to be the first year just like me, and to prove he also told me to ask the chairman if I want...What a weird person... But his eye doesn't seem to be lying, he kept on staring in my eyes, didn't waver at all... So, there must be some truth in his words...
After that, I again came back to the blossom tree, where my identity card has been stuck... What should I do? Should I call out a teacher for help...?
I didn't ask for anyone's help, I just decided to climb the tree... When I successfully reach the top and grabbed my card, my leg... slipped... And just as I was going to fall, negative thoughts started to coming inside my head... If I fall, then what would happen to my family, Mother... If I fall, maybe I will never play Volleyball... If I fall, I don't get to meet 'my prince'... If I fall –
As the thoughts rushed, my eyes also get watery and I shrieked in terror... Until I heard a voice...
"Eeeeeeeeekk"
"Shikimori-san!"
The voice of Kaneki Ren, who is going to become 'My Prince', but now 'Saviour'...