Sk8 the Infinity; Young Days

Thirteen: Beef

I met Adam at S after spending some time with Sakurayashiki. The two boys and I waited for Adam patiently.

"I doubt he'll show." Sakurayashiki told me. "Adam hasn't been too keen on racing someone twice if he's already beaten them."

"He'll show."

"Luca, I don't think this is the best thing to do."

"Adam is already angry at me, what's he going to do? He won't hurt me like he'll hurt others. Adam has already made it clear I'm not like the others, and I agree. I'll give him one more chance to race me, and then I'll be done. I can promise you that."

Finally, after a crowd had shown, so did Adam. He made quite the entrance. "Dearest, what would you like to be called?"

"Luca."

"Luca. Bringer of Light. Wonderful. One last race, you said? I had to make it big! One for the ages! The history of S will forever remember this moment! And remember how I beat you. And this time, it'll be recorded so everyone knows. It'll get streamed live for everyone to see! Isn't that fun?"

Joe shouted. "Take it easy on her! She's only doing this because of you!"

"Oh sweet Joe, you're such a fool. Well, let's get this over with. Good luck, Luca."

The race ended up in a tie, but I had to admit, it was thrilling. I had a fight I never thought I would have. Adam started dancing it seemed. We both spun around so much. And I hadn't realized it, but I'd learned new tricks. The names I didn't know, but I could do some amazing things. Things I didn't know I could do. By the end of it, there was more satisfaction for me than Adam, but he seemed absolutely thrilled at the tie as well. I held the piece of skateboard around my neck as I laid on the ground.

Cherry Blossom and Joe rushed over to me. "Luca!"

"Rin, you're hurt!"

I looked down. "I am?"

"Your ankle!"

I looked down to see blood. I didn't even know I was in pain. I was having such an adrenaline rush, I didn't notice my ankle was injured, Nevermind snapped. I could see the bone sticking out. Adam turned and when he saw, he didn't act like normal.

"Rin..."

Kojiro pushed him back. "Stay away from her! You've done enough harm to her! Can't you just let her have one thing?!"

Sakurayashiki put his board down and picked me up. "Carla, take us to the nearest hospital."

The night blurred from then on. I wasn't truly understanding what was happening. Kojiro and Sakurayashiki stayed with me at the hospital, but my ankle was broken. At the end of the race, as an attempt to win, Ainosuke had slammed himself into me. We both hit the ground hard, but I guess I fell wrong. I was covered in all sorts of injuries, but my leg and ankle were the worst. Bones broken and fractured. There was no way I was going to get out of it without any damage.

Momma and Papa got there, but they weren't happy. "This is going to set everything back!"

"What were you thinking, Rin?!"

"This is far worse than I could have imagined!"

"We are so disappointed in you!"

I couldn't say anything. There was no explanation. I know I shouldn't have done that, but I couldn't tell them about S. It was illegal. Nobody could say anything about it.

I sighed. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm just not that good yet."

The doctor came in. "You're lucky you're as uninjured as you are, Miss Hikari. And you're very lucky your friends rescued you. Just rest for now. In a couple of days, we can discharge you and you can be walking again... on crutches, of course."

Sakurayashiki and Kojiro walked in. "Rin?"

"I'm sorry for being so reckless. I just wanted to live a little."

Momma shouted. "Well you lived so much you nearly died! I'm changing the moving date! We'll be heading out next week! Maybe then you'll be less likely to commit suicide on a skateboard!"

She rushed out of the room. The boys' jaws dropped. "You're moving?"

"When? Where?"

Papa spoke up. "Rin, just let your mother cool down. This was happening eventually. It's just a little sooner."

Papa went after momma. I was left with the two in shock. I started crying at this point. I lost. I truly did lose this time. "I was suppose to leave in two months from now, but I guess Momma is having us leave sooner. I just wanted to create some more memories before we left. We never stay in one place long enough for me to create real friendships. I only ever knew Ainosuke. But I was so happy to..."

Kojiro shook his head. "I can't believe you. You did all this just to leave? It's like you're trying to hurt me."

"Kojiro!"

He rushed out of the room too. Sakurayashiki grabbed my hand. "It's okay. He's just upset because he really likes you. It'll be okay. He just needs some time to calm down too."

"Aren't you going to leave as well?"

He shook his head. "You need me more right now. I'll stay here as long as you need me."

For days, Kaoru came to visit. Even when I went home. But Kojiro wouldn't speak to me. Rozuka and I went to do our shopping trip, but when she heard the news too, she understood why Kojiro was so upset. And I understood too. I know I shouldn't have created that relationship only for me to leave, but I hoped it would last. That he would wait for me. He didn't. Kaoru told me he started going on more dates. Started trying to hide the pain in his own way.

While I was healing, I also found out Adam was bringing more and more people to S. He was putting money into it now as well. More recording and streaming beefs. Kaoru kept me in touch, but soon enough it was my leaving day. Only Rozuka and Kaoru showed up. Well, Kojiro was there too, but from afar. I didn't want to say anything to make him more upset. So I gave Kaoru a letter to give to him.

I turned to my friends as I was about to leave. "This isn't the end! I'll be back again, and when I come back, Adam will regret the day he hurt me. The day he hurt my friends. I'll keep practicing, and when I come back, I swear I'll continue what I was doing before. Adam can't win. He just can't. Not after everything he put you through."