Hideki's Formative Years

After Hideki was born, the Takeuchi family celebrated after Kanai and Hideki got out of the hospital. Hideki now has adjusted quickly to his life as he doesn't have any attachments to his former life, his children were successful and his wife was now happy to see their children succeed and have their own children, sure losing Jon was really sad, but he battled his liver illness for 20 years, so that's an achievement of itself.

Now Hideki's goal is to enjoy life and be the best basketball prodigy like the ones he watched in his first life, but the short-term goal for now is to grow.

After a month everything got back to normal and a new normal: taking care of Hideki, Mayumi, and Kanai still live in the same apartment so both of them take care of Hideki, since school is still ongoing, Kanai will still be able to go to school on a lesser load until she graduates, she still needs approximately 2 years to graduate with lesser load in school. 

As this was going on, you (the reader) may think, "Does Hideki know about his father?" The answer is no, as it was a secret rule that nobody talks about Matt, only we the readers knew Matt is Hideki's deadbeat dad. 

Fast forward to half a year, Kanai was able to go to school again after they re-admitted her so she could continue to study, and they were also lenient on Kanai having a part-time job at a convenience store near the school so more students know her. 

One funny thing about her part-time job is that whenever she sees some couple in the store who are flirty and bought rubbers to do the deed, she would add to her line "Thank you for doing the safe deed" with a smile that will make the couples think more about doing it.

Well, all of that was happening, Hideki was a very brilliant child, he didn't give headaches to his mom and aunt and had a cry whenever he wanted or there was something: food? He'll start to cry at a higher pitch. He soiled his diaper? He'll start to cry in a lower pitch. Not sure if that's possible but Hideki's smart, that's 75 years of wisdom right there, he was a parent so he knew what's the secret sauce to make his mom and aunt happy.

As Kanai entered school, Hideki also realized that as he had a deadbeat dad his mom was still in college, presumably (what he heard) was two more years, so being the more adorable and merciful child he is, he just continued to play with his aunt while his mom was studying. 

Fast forward to his 1st birthday, which was just a very simple celebration with his family and his mother's close friends. Hideki spoke his first word which was "mama" everybody cheered as if Hideki gave them his birthday present, not the other way around. 

At the birthday celebration, there was a man named Kagetora Aida, a friend of Hideki's grandpa, who was one of Japan's National players from the previous years, he gifted Hideki a small basketball. Hideki was very happy about that day and one of his best birthdays ever, Kanai saw that Hideki was so happy so she thanked Kagetora for the gift, it dawned on Kanai that Hideki would've liked basketball too like his father, Hideki at this point didn't know.

What happened after that birthday party was, first that Ryoma threw the ball, and second, Kagetora was no longer invited to Hideki's birthday party in the future and he didn't know why. Only his wife and daughter were invited to the next birthday party. This was where he became friends with Riko Aida.

Fast forward to two years, Kanai graduates from her class with the highest honors for her degree, for one of her creative graduation photos, Kanai brought Hideki and included him in the pictures for her creative shots, this was one of the wholesome graduation pictures of the decade. Of course, she did not forget to include to thank the University for its leniency.

As Kanai got her diploma on stage, Hideki was clapping all the time every time his mother was on stage or called. 

Now Kanai was a graduate but she couldn't go too far for work since there was Hideki and she and Mayumi still shared the rent, but that was not for long, as her employer at the convenience store told her that as the convenience store will close before the start of the next school term, he offered her a job at his friend's cafe nearby, much nearer at the apartment, and higher pay, to which Kanai accepted since that job is a little more carefree and relaxed.

For Mayumi, she and Kanai still share the apartment, but not for long, her long-time boyfriend proposed to her and after they tied the knot, Mayumi and her fiance will live in the house that he bought, it's still in the Tokyo area. It is so that Mayumi and her significant other will be under one roof. Mayumi's marriage took place the next year and it was a Western theme wedding and Hideki was the ring bearer. 

As Hideki was growing up he cherished his new family and liked that he lived a second life loving his family even if he didn't have a father with him. But with his brilliant and curious mind, he still asks this question with his mother when they are alone at the apartment, so he won't just casually ask this question when they are in a public setting.

Hideki looked at his mom who was watching TV with the NBA on, and he saw she was deeply interested in the San Antonio Spurs team. Before he analyzed the TV, he wanted to get it off his chest and not forget it so he asked his mom, "Mom, who's my dad?"

Kanai was feeling mixed emotions, it was a mixture of expectancy that this question would come and shock that he still asked this question like 'I thought my son is smart, why does he want to ask this question' but Kanai shrugged internally and pointed at the TV. 

On the TV, Matt Smith was a player at the San Antonio Spurs and he executed a left-right dribble and laid the basketball and got fouled. (This is too much coincidence amiright?) So while the camera was panned to show Matt, Kanai pointed at the TV and told Hideki "That's your dad Hideki-kun" 

Hideki on one hand was shocked but he thought the answer was such BS that he didn't believe Kanai's answer. After Matt shot his free throw, Hideki looked at his mom with a disappointed look on his face, and he thought to himself "Damnit, maybe she doesn't want me to associate with my deadbeat dad and she may never tell me who's my dad for the rest of her life" Hideki then sighed and nodded in what seems to be understanding and thought again to himself "Okay, I respect that decision, if that had happened to my daughter, that man's gone, banished to Brazil"

Hideki stood up to go to their room to take a nap.

Kanai was shocked at Hideki's nonchalance and said to herself "Damnit, I guess he couldn't take the truth huh?"