Love, Come Home Please

Chapter 9: Feelings Realized

With the Inter-High just a few days away Riko was pushing the boys to their potential but not so much that they would be at the point of exhaustion. Izuki and Kagami spaced out every so often and Hyuga and the others were worried that it would affect their performances in the game. Their wandering thoughts did just that, during a practice game of a four on four Kagami missed most of his shots and Izuki couldn't analyze the court with his Eagle Eye like he usually would in any other game.

"Izuki come over here a minute."

Hyuga called Izuki over to side away from everyone. They turned their backs so that they could talk a bit more privately.

"So what's up you? You and Kagami seem to be out of it. Let me guess, did something happen with Kaita? I haven't seen her all day and she hasn't been to any of the practices. She is our manager after all."

At the mention of Kaita, Izuki stiffened; Hyuga had hit the nail on the head. Izuki had a light blush on his face; he looked away so Hyuga wouldn't tease him. Every time Kaita's name was mentioned or he thought about what she might be doing the memory of them sharing a kiss flooded his thoughts. A wide smile spread across Hyuga's face.

"So tell me what happened. Your reaction tells me that something happened between you and Kaita."

Izuki looked around nervously, he knew Hyuga wouldn't gossip but there is that slight chance that someone might over hear what they are talking about.

"Well.... It just happened. You could say it was a spur of the moment. We... kissed."

Hyuga leaned in, the look on his face said he didn't hear Izuki correctly but he had heard just fine. Hyuga jumped back in surprise and let out a yell, everyone looked their way but Izuki quickly averted their attention by saying that he had accidently stomped on Hyuga's foot.

"Hyuga don't make a scene out of it. What if Riko thought something was up?"

"Now then, why would you think that Izuki? What are you two trying to hide from me?"

Izuki and Hyuga went stiff as if being paralyzed by the words that were supposed to sound sweet but had an edge of anger behind it. When the two turned around they saw Riko standing behind them with her arms crossed in front of her chest.

"What's the big secret that has the both of you talking in the corner?"

"It's nothing Riko." Hyuga tried to feign ignorance but Riko saw right through him. She let out a sigh and put her hands on her hips.

"If you ask me it has to deal with Kaita. Ever since we got back from the training camp she seems to be keeping her distance. When she does come to the gym during practice she seems as if she doesn't want to be noticed. Like today, when I went to her classroom she seemed relieved to get out of there and when I looked back I saw Kagami with a sort of sad expression. Maybe something happened between the two of them?"

Izuki somewhat bit his lip as if trying to hold back his emotions. The three of them looked over at Kagami, he was wiping the sweat from his forehead. When his shirt fell back into place Riko's eyes widened with curiosity.

"Doesn't Kagami usually wear a necklace when he practices?"

Hyuga nodded his head in agreement and Izuki looked the other way, he was the only one who knew that Kaita was now the person who was holding onto that necklace. At that moment Kaita walked into the gym and she was holding a stack of papers.

"Riko I have something for you."

Riko walked towards Kaita with question upon question running through her head. When she looked at the papers Kaita handed her she let out an exasperated sigh.

"I almost forgot about these. Thanks Kaita."

"No problem. Well I can't stick around today; I have a lot of homework to do."

"I'll walk with you to the gate. Let me just get the boys started on a drill."

"Okay then Riko."

Kaita waited for Riko at the entrance to the gym. She looked at the group of boys as they came together, a smile seem to cross her face but Kaita knew that smile was just to make sure no one found out that she was hiding something. Her eyes wandered through the group of boys until they stopped. Izuki and Kagami were right next to each other and she couldn't figure out who to look at. Her heart kept beating rapidly, then her eyes met those of Izuki and her heart went into a flutter as well as her checks starting to burn.

"Okay Kaita lets go."

At Rikos words Kaita turned around hoping that she wouldn't notice her blushing face. Even though Kaita tried to hide it Riko could see the tip of Kaita's ears were a light red and she simply giggled to herself. Once the two girls were nearing the schools main entrance Riko finally spoke up.

"So what's been on your mind Kaita?"

"What are you talking about Riko? School and the Inter-High is what have been passing through this head of mine."

Riko shook her head and let out a sigh. "I know there's more than you're letting on. Did something happen between you and Izuki and Kagami?"

"N...noo! Nothing happened. It's just.... Argh, nothing gets by you does it Riko."

Kaita let out a sigh of defeat and looked at Riko. She then told her what had happened that day after they came back from the training camp. As Riko listened to Kaita's explanation thoughts ran through her head about how she can torment Izuki and Kagami.

"...But now I just don't know what to do."

"Kaita you should know the answer by now. Just tell the guy you like him and it will begin to fall in place from there, trust me."

"You're right Riko. I'm going to tell him. I'm glad we're friends; you make everything so easy to get. Well I'll see you tomorrow."

Riko waved Kaita goodbye and watched as her friend walked in the direction of her home. When she got back to the gym the boys were still hard at work. Kagami and Izuki got out of the slump, well that was all due to the fact that before walking with Kaita to the front gate Riko had given a good smack on the back to the two of them. Izuki and Kagami practiced at their usual tempo, the others saw that they were getting even more serious than before. The time had come, the Inter-High was just a few days away.