Joker returns // Sk8 the Infinity x male ff //

6.

Ichiro pov.

The next day I got up totally unmotivated. Because of the incident of yesterday I could not sleep properly, so I just rolled back and forth in my bed for hours until I could finally sleep. In the end it had been, if I now look at the clock just under 4 hours. Totally overtired I got up and went to the bathroom to take a cold shower. When I did that I became a little more awake and close my eyes. My little sister had agreed today to make up my bruises all over, so at least I don't have to listen to a convicting sermon from Reki. When I was done, I rubbed my hair dry, combing it and looking at myself in the mirror. I look really miserable. My dark circles had gotten bigger, my eyes were slightly puffy because of the tears I shed yesterday, and bruises were all over my face and body. Sighing, I turned away from the mirror and put on my school uniform, which was carefully folded in the closet in the bathroom, as I do every morning. As I had them on, my sister walked in. "Ouh you look like shit" she said and carefully scanned my face "Sit down, I'll fix it somehow" I followed her order and let her put makeup on me. In the end I looked natural again. It even looked like I wasn't even wearing makeup. "Thank you sis. You are my salvation" she smiled slightly and then left. I look at the clock and already my eyes are widening. I'm already way too late. Immediately I run out of the bathroom, stumbling into the hallway where I grabbed my shoes and quickly put them on before grabbing my school bag and skateboard. As fast as I could I drove to the meeting place of me and Reki, where he stands staring at his. What's wrong with him? "Reki, hurry up we're going to be late-" I wanted to pass him but was pulled by the skateboard. Surprised I look at Reki while my skateboard stopped a few meters from me "How come you never told me anything...?" confused I look at him "What do you mean?" Wordlessly he shows me the screen of his phone. What I saw there made me widen my eyes. Legendary skater Joker reveals his identity, it said. This can't be true "Reki I can explain" I look at him with widened eyes, while he looks at me disappointed and angry "I'm curious about the explanation" his tone made me shiver. I can understand him. I've been keeping an important part of my life from him. I look at the ground and take his hand "not here" carefully I pull him behind me, to the bridge under which we both started skating together back then. I sat down, he did the same. "I'd best explain first how it came about that I started skating..."

Flashback

I got lost again, as I often do. I had never had a really good sense of direction, that's why Reki always accompanies me. Only today he had no time, because his family makes an excursion. Slightly frightened, I walk through the streets, which all look the same to me, hoping that I will somehow get back home. At some point I saw a well-lit square. Maybe it was a main street where I could ask people how to get home. I started to run. Further and further out of the alley. But what I found was not a main street. No it was a skate park. My pace slowed and my eyes widened. It all looks so fascinating. The movements, the tricks just everything captivated me. Suddenly I get bumped by someone and fall to the ground, interrupting my view of it all happening. "Sorry- oh a little boy. What are you doing here? Are you lost?" a group of teenagers, probably 17 or 18 years old each, look down at me. I nod slightly and stand up carefully. The impact had left me with a scratch on the back of my hand that now hurt a little. "Shall we help you find your way home?" the undertone and the grin they had on their face during the question scared me, so I quickly shook my head "N-no, I'll manage" I stutter awkwardly and take a few steps back "Oh really it doesn't look like you know your way around here" the boy who was talking to me took a few steps closer and bends down to me. Immediately I run back a few steps. Why can't Reki be here? Suddenly I bump into something. Is there another member of the group? Frightened, I narrow my eyes, "That's enough, Hirabayashi. You don't tease children, didn't your mother teach you that?" I open my eyes in surprise and look up at the person behind me. It is a young man who now pushes me behind him in a protective manner. I shyly look out from behind him only to get the evil eye from the young man named Hirabayashi, which sends a cold shiver down my spine. But nothing more actually happens. With an annoyed groan, he and his gang disappeared. The man who had protected me now looked down at me and gave me a gentle smile. Shyly I look at him and take a few steps back "Thank you very much" I bow quickly. As I straighten up a hand comes to rest on my head and tousles my hair "With your appearance one wouldn't even think you were shy" I hear him say and look back up at him. "I get that a lot" I say sheepishly scratching the back of my head. When I lower my gaze slightly I see that he is holding a skateboard in his hand and I stare at it. He also seemed to notice that and then just held it out to me "Do you want to try it out?" with wide eyes I look at him and nod slightly. Smiling he gives it to me and I put it on the ground before carefully putting my foot down on the skateboard like I saw earlier. Carefully I take my other leg also high however, before I could put it down on the board, I lost the balance and fall after "Ahhhh" I had closed my eyes, while I prepare myself for the impact on the paving stone. But to my surprise this did not come, which is why I slowly opened my eyes. The young man had caught me before I could have fallen to the ground "D-thank you" slowly he let me down again and got his skateboard. "Again?" came from him as I look skeptically at the skateboard. "Don't worry, this time I'll help you" carefully I nod and take his hands in mine before getting back on the skateboard. It was a bit wobbly but I managed to stand on the skateboard after a few tries. But when he let go of my hand I fell down again "Ouch..." I complain and look at the skateboard angrily, making the young man laugh. "You think too much about it" confused I look at him "Just get on it. Like it's a stair step you're going up" I nod slightly and did what he said. I didn't think about my balance or the fall anymore. No, the only thing I did was get off the board without thinking and lo and behold it worked. Even when he let go of my hands I managed to stay on the board "That looks good. Now I'm going to give you a little push." With big eyes I looked at him and already he pushed me. At first I was very insecure but the more we did it, the better I got. At the end of the day, I was able to ride normally without help. Enthusiastically I look at him. In the end we both sat there and watched the sunset. "My name is Kendo by the way" "Ichiro" we both shook hands and smiled.

Flashback ends

"... That's when it all started. It took me two years to be about on the level of him" I laugh lightly "Then I met his girlfriend who was often at "S". She took us out one day.... That's how I got to know "S" in the first place." I paused for a moment and looked at Reki. He had not once interrupted me, but had listened silently to my story. "When we were there, everything was so fascinating, but everyone always made fun of my age. At some point I found a mask in a cosplay store that I liked. I always wore it when I went to "S" with the two of them... Back then I often wanted to tell you, but they kept telling me that "S" is secret and no one but those who always go there are allowed to know..." he looked at me and recognized my guilty look. "When was your first?" i was confused for a moment until i understand what he means. "My first Beef was shortly after I bought my mask, so about a month after I first entered the Miene compound. I had always tried to come up with my own tricks, which I then used on that Beef. Then when I showed up the next day, suddenly everyone just called me Joker and I couldn't save myself from Beef challenges." Joker. I had gotten that name because I wore my mask, which looked like the laughing Joker in a deck of cards, and because it seemed like I always had a Trump in my pocket. "I fought a new Beef every week and won most of the time, but I must say that I also had to take many defeats... I also made a lot of new friends, like Cherry and Joe..." I laugh lightly as I think of our first meeting. However, as I think of what came after, I become serious again. "...Then Adam showed up. You know, the one who seems to be unbeaten..." Reki's eyes widen immediately "he wanted to have a fight against me... at first I wanted to accept but my best friend took my word for it, which was a good thing. After the incident I was told how cruel Adam can be and I should never have fought him..." my look became angry "But this asshole found a way to force me into a fight" now Reki looked at me expectantly "And?" I faltered for a moment and my look became sad, which confused Reki deeply "... I won, but I had to pay a high price for it..." I looked at him "even you had to feel that. I was traumatized then, after the race, I withdrew from everything and everyone. I broke my skateboard and didn't want anything to do with it anymore..." Reki widens his eyes "... back when I came to you and everything was dark in your room. You looked at me with your emotionless eyes and said you'll never be the same again... that was because of that beef?" the anger was literally written all over Reki's face. "Yeah... if it wasn't for you back then, I'd probably still be like that now and never have even looked at a skateboard again..."