Twisted Destiny

Chapter 1

"Man, high school sure is different than the middle school." I'm somewhat in awe with the high school environment when I'm talking to Hideki. Hideki just smiles without saying anything. He knows that I'm always like this since we were in the grade school. I think my expression isn't that different back then.

This spring, we're now high school students and we're also entering the same high school, Minagawa Academy. It feels great to be able to enter the same high school as Takizawa Hayashima.

Most importantly, it feels even more amazing to have Hideki around. Hideki isn't just my best friend. He's also one of the teammates that I can count on. That explains why I want him to be on my side so badly. I don't want the same thing to happen between me and Hideki when we were in the middle school, where I had to face him as a rival. Damn you, Akira. I never thought that your premonition has come true. It gives me a chill down to my spine when I think about it.

This year, Hideki and I are in the same class so it's easier for us to go to the basketball practice together. "Hey, you'll be joining the basketball team too, right?" I ask Hideki just to make sure that I'm not the only one who will be joining the team. "Of course I will. What else can I do besides basketball? There's no point for me to be here if I don't want to join the basketball team," Hideki chuckles when he says that to me.

Well, Hideki has a point there. What's the point of entering Minagawa Academy if he doesn't even have the intention to join the basketball team, right? Hideki just laughs at me because of my silly question. I shouldn't have asked him that question because I already know what his answer is going to be.

"I can't wait for the school to end so we can go straight to the gym after that." That's how enthusiastic I am with basketball. Now I sound like my old friend, Takeru Mikoshiba. He was my classmate when we were in the middle school and just like me, he was so enthusiastic about the basketball practice. It seems like now I have become somewhat like him and annoy the hell out of Hideki.

As I'm busy talking with Hideki, I suddenly sense an unpleasant aura as someone walks by us. I can't tell who it is, but it does feel unpleasant. At that time, I can hear that someone is muttering something even though it's only a faint voice. "Takumi Ichirou, 188cm. Power forward in Takamiya Private Middle School basketball team."

Yes, I'm pretty sure I hear that right. That person is muttering about me. Who in the world is that? I immediately stop talking to Hideki once I heard the muttering, but that person is nowhere to be seen. "I can hear that someone was muttering about me, like that person wants to curse me or something."

I sound panicked when I told Hideki about this, but Hideki shrugs, telling me that I must have imagining things. I wish I was imagining thing, but it feels spooky. "Maybe that guy could be one of your rivals when we were in the middle school? Well, it's not surprising if he still has the sentiment towards you," Hideki convinces me trying not to think too much about it.

Maybe I shouldn't be too concerned about that. Hideki and I head back to our class because the class is about to begin anytime soon. I still can't get over the muttering because it feels so odd to have someone cursing me. How can I remain calm if that person is trying to make my life doomed for the rest of my life?

I can't help but talk to Hideki about it during the break. "Okay, why don't you try to recall who might want to curse you so badly? I can only think of your past rivals because they might resent you so much." I can't think of anyone in my mind because back then, I was so focused on facing Hideki and Makoto. I wouldn't care about anyone else because they weren't worth my attention.

"After a long thought, I can't seem to think of anyone at all." I sigh as I'm about to give up on thinking of the possible candidates who wants to curse me. Hideki is busy munching on the yakisoba bread he purchased just now in the cafeteria. I don't have the mood to eat anything because I'm too occupied with that person.