Kaoru's niece

chapter 3

It was Sunday evening and it was Langa's beef with Miya Chinen. You stood between your "uncles" as Reki hung onto Langa like a Koala, swaying back and forth shouting incoherent words. "Well, would you look at that," Kojiro said and then turns his head towards Kaoru. "Hey, wanna make a bet on which one of them will win?"

"There's not much to bet on here. We don't need to watch this race to know who will succeed." "Miya. So we agree then?"
"Reluctantly so..."
"How boring." Kojiro said with a sigh and the fangirls squeal with delight. Your eyes hop from one man to the other like watching a tennis match. The race starts and everyone watches on their screens on phones or the ones provided.

Miya was off with a big lead, Langa tailing behind. You stand next to Kojiro with Kaoru on the other side of him, you were still somewhat pissed at your uncle for the previous night. So you decided to take the passive aggressive route of things.
"He's actually improved significantly in a short amount of time."
"True-" Kojiro starts and you look at him as he continues. "But, Miya's still gonna wreck that guy."

You had a conflicted feeling. You knew Miya, knew how he worked. You wanted to have faith in Langa - no - you did have faith in him. Yet, you knew that there was a very slim chance that he could actually win. The conflict that was happening internally must've shown on your face as Kaoru looked at you in concern as your brows furrowed while looking at the ground, much less actually watching the beef happen. "Asami...You okay?" He askeds caringly.

Your heart shattered at the emotional side of your uncle. He rarely showed that side of himself. You didn't mean to snap at him...it just...happened. "I'm fine." Both Kojiro and Kaoru blinked at your response. You take a quick deep breath and then turn away, "I'm going to the finish line."

Kojiro looked at Kaoru, he looked heartbroken. "What am I doing wrong Kojiro...?" Joe knew Kaoru wouldn't want any affection right now, so all he did was place a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder. "We'll sort it out later, just let her think about it for a while." You took the long route to get to the finish line, walking past some people watching on their phones, "Woah, that snow dude did an awesome move!"

"Maybe he might actually win." Another said. You hugged yourself tighter. You remember them saiding that about you once, now all it was a distant memory. You used to race nationally, but you got an injury that caused you to have to start all over again. Your feet scuffed the gravel, you heard the sounds of crowds cheering and the sound of fast moving skateboards.

You walked into the factory and watched Langa and Miya battle one another on one of the broken walkways. They seemed to be having a debate. You turned your head to the right and saw Reki standing a distance away, you weren't able to make out what he was saiding. But you watched as Langa smiled and gave a slight nod.

At the stairs you watched in fear as Langa jumped onto the broken railings. "Stop! The side rail is too jacked up!" Miya shouts from the top of the stairs. And yet, Langa executes the move perfectly, swinging his board on the new bearing. (If the terminology is wrong im sorry-)

Miya and Langa had determined looks on their faces, neither wanting to lose. They cross the line, neck-on-neck. You move closer to them. Who had won...?

"Langa!" By Reki's shout you knew the answer. He ran up to his friend, passing you without a second glance. "Hi." Langa responded to Reki, he looked towards you giving you a small smile, which you gratefully returned.

"You were SO awesome!" Reki exclaimed and jumped to hug his taller friend. Both you and Langa gave Reki a weird glance when he started adoring his board. "It doesn't skate itself..." You said as you walked closer to the boys.

"Oh, Asami. Hey!" Reki said and jumped to give you a hug. "Hi..." You whisper, realizing how much you missed this.

"I don't understand how I lost..." Miya said, talking to himself. "I can explain it to you if you want..." said Reki, he moved towards Miya. "The reason you failed."

This got Miya's attention, he stood upright again and you took a step closer. "What do you mean-" He asked defensively.

"The reason we started skating was to have fun."

Miya's face got tighter with anger. "Fun-?" Your face got soft at this realization, to him this has just turned into a competition. "Maybe in the beginning I did...But once you start winning people leave. Nobody wants to play if you win all the time..." Miya continued, not noticing Reki's ever closing in fingers to flick him on the forehead.

"oW." Miya yelped with a crack in his voice. "Why'd you do that?!"

"Why are you being a dumbass-?" Reki asked him unamused as Miya held his forehead. You and Langa on the other hand had looked at each other and now were struggling to keep your laughter in.

"Everybody's obsessed with winning." You said. "Hey Miya, I had a great time, let's skate again soon." Langa said with his smile.

Miya's eyes go wide in surprise. "It doesn't matter whether we win or lose, we are still your friends who love to skate." You said with a warm smile. This surprised Reki, he didn't know what happened to cause your injury but he knew how much you struggled to just get back on a skateboard.

Miya's eyes glossed over as he tried to hold back tears. He quickly turned around, "You're too weak, you'll never stand against me."
"You better not think you're all that just because you know some tricks." Reki said quickly.
"Shut up you slime-"
That was when Reki grabbed Miya's cheeks and made weird and funny faces. "Where's that smile~"
"Wait until you realize what your face looks like Reki." Langa said amused. "It looks weird..." You finish.

"Who me!? How dare you!?"
"What do you mean?" You said innocently.
"You said I have a weird face!" The interaction put a smile onto Miya's face. "I mean, it was a unique face..." You said trying to cover it up.
"Don't try and fix it with your fancy words!" Reki shouts, this must've pushed the button as Miya began laughing properly. You giggled as this happened, it stopped immediately when you heard the voice.

"Skating should be fun~"

You watch in horror as he skates in. "A-Adam..." Your voice shakes at the sight of him. "Skating is wonderful. At your age, You have nothing left." He said looking at you and then to Miya. Your hands begin to shake, you grab onto the extra material of your shirt to attempt to hide it.

You fazed out as Adam started talking to Langa, circling around him like predator to prey. You were frozen in place. "Hold on a second. Take back what you said about Asami and Miya."

You and Miya look at him in surprise. Reki didn't even question how Adam knew about his situation and he didn't but he was still standing up for you.
"And what if I don't?"
"Then you leave me no choice- I'll make you." Reki announces holding out his board to Adam.
"Don't...Just leave it." You said quickly, the world was spinning. You had to get out of here and now. Your eyes were fluttering all over the place, Adam had a devilish smirk playing across his face at the sight.
"I have to go-" You said and ran out of the building and in the direction of home. You ran down the gravel road of the course. Kaoru and Kojiro were taking their time walking and talking, while more bickering. So much so, that they didn't notice you until you nearly knocked over Kaoru.

You smacked into him so hard that he toppled and then eventually lost balance. You had seen them and ran to give Kaoru a hug, not actually realizing the force of the hug. "Woah-" Kaoru was about to shout at the person until he realized it was you and you tightened your hug against him. "Asami...What's wrong?"

Kojiro had placed his board down next to him and he looked at the scene in front of him. Kaoru felt your tears start to seep through his outfit. His eyes widened, he looked at Kojiro with a concerned look. "Asami, hey look at me..." Kaoru said as he lifted your face to inspect it. "You have to tell us what happened so we can help...okay?" He said, his voice low and caring. You feel Kojiro place a hand on your shoulder in support.
"He's back..."
"What, who?" Kojiro asked, but Kaoru already knew the answer.

"Adam, Adam's back and something bad is about to go down..."