Love, Come Home Please

Chapter 4: Unsuspected Rival

Izuki kept to his word and came over to continue to help Kaita to settle back into her house. Even when everything was done, on the days that he didn't have practice Izuki would stop by to stay awhile before dinner. Kaita smiled, she would always talk with Izuki about the childhood memoires they made together. She even shared the details of her experience in America when she started school there.

"I can't believe you kept to yourself Kaita. You were the one that was always asking others questions. But it seems like I can understand why you did that."

"Yeah, I was probably just scared because it was all new to me and I... didn't have you all with me."

Izuki looked at Kaita who had looked away blushing, admitting that she missed Izuki, Riko, and Hyuga so much that she wanted them to be with her.

"Oh look at that it's almost dinner time. You should get going before your mom yells at you for staying out so late."

Izuki looked at the clock and sighed, and then a knock at the door interrupted the silence. Kaita went to the door and found Izuki's mother there with a smile.

"I've come to fetch Izuki and you Kaita. Why don't you join us for dinner tonight? Izuki tells me you eat alone often; you should come over once in a while."

Kaita shakes her head in response, "No it's alright. Plus tonight I made dinner plans with a friend of mine. I'm supposed to meet him soon so I should be going."

"Oh a boyfriend, Kaita you must have gotten attention from all the boys because your just so cute. Well we better not keep you from your date, but since it is dark out why don't I have Izuki walk you to where you're going to meet your "friend" so you don't run into any trouble."

"He doesn't have too, its fine plus it's not far from here."

Kaita argued her case and Izuki left back with his mother while Kaita put on her shoes and was walking down the street. Izuki looked back at Kaita's retreating figure with a pain look, you could say almost jealous of this boy that Kaita was going to have dinner with. Kaita then disappeared around corners which lead towards the station.

"Hey mom, I'm going to follow Kaita just to make sure she gets where she needs to go. So I'll be back in a few minutes."

Izuki's mother huffs out a smile and watches her son chase after Kaita, "His feelings haven't changed one bit. He is so predictable."

Kaita was already at the station when a tall figure overshadowed her from behind. Izuki had just arrived as well when he saw that Kaita was being greeted by a tall person wearing a hoodie. He was compelled to move the guy away from her in fear that it may be a pervert, but he stopped short when Kaita turned and faced the guy with a smile and punched him lightly on the arm. Izuki moved closer to see who this guy was and what it was about him that would get Kaita to have dinner with him instead of Izuki.

"You know I still can't believe you asked me out to dinner. Well I can't say it's odd when we used to eat together all the time back in America."

Izuki was puzzled when he heard "America", when the hooded guy turned around and started walking alongside Kaita towards a small family restaurant his jaw almost dropped. Kagami was the one who had asked Kaita out, Izuki found it hard to believe but couldn't find a reason to stay any longer.

"If he's the one for you Kaita, you're in good hands then."

Izuki left without looking back at the two as they walked into the restaurant. Kaita sat opposite of Kagami and ordered curry rice with green tea. Kagami ordered two hamburger steaks with water, Kaita laughed at how easy Kagami was predictable at ordering his meal.

"You always order so much food; I don't understand where it all goes. You're like a bottomless pit or something Kagami."

"So what, you barely eat anything, your more like a bird that's picky with her food."

Kaita kicked Kagami under the table, "I am not you over grown giant."

The two manage to keep up small talk over various subjects even that of school. Kagami then brought up the topic of basketball, since it was Kaita and Himuro that helped him find his passion for the sport, he knew she would be understand the lingo of basketball whether it be in English or Japanese.

"Hey why don't you ever swing by the gym anymore? Riko keeps an eye on the door waiting to see you walk through it. We have a practice match coming up soon why don't you come to that."

"I guess you're right, I'll drop by next time then. Let's see if Riko has put you through the ringer enough. Also I want to see how you play with a team here in Japan; I've only seen you at Riko's evaluation day."

Kagami smiled, then as the two finished Kagami reached for the check and paid it all, Kaita wanted to pay her half but Kagami said he was a gentlemen which made Kaita giggle at the way Kagami addresses himself. The two left after that, Kagami had argued with Kaita on walking home alone. Kaita gave in and had Kagami walk her to her front door.

"You better keep your promise to stop by the gym if not I'll have to hunt you down."

"Yeah, yeah, don't worry I'll be there."

Kaita unlocked her front door then looked back at Kagami who smiled to see that Kaita would be fine on her own from there on. Little to the both of them, a pair of eyes watched them from across the street. Izuki sighed with a weak smile as he watched Kagami and Kaita.

"Good she's back and he walked her home. Now I can rest easy a bit."

Izuki had been mulling over and over in his mind as to why Kagami would have asked Kaita out, he had eaten in silence with his family which worried his mother a bit. The night drew on, Kagami walked along home looking up at the stars smiling, and Izuki lying on his bed staring at the ceiling his hand rubbing against his forehead occasionally as he mulled over the thought of Kaita and Kagami together. Kaita on the other hand was having a drink of tea out on the porch enjoying the night air. Thoughts of Kagami inviting her to dinner came flooding into her mind but got somewhat overshadowed when she remembered the look Izuki wore on his face when she left to go meet up with Kagami.

"Why? Why was he looking as if he didn't want me to go?" Kaita fell asleep pondering over the question as if some answer would come if she kept asking aloud.