I remember it like it was yesterday.
My father had died and my mother decided there was nothing more in America for her... or me. So we moved to her hometown in Japan. Since I was only 2 at the time, I learned Japanese quickly. My mom opened her own bookstore called, 'Sunny Side Books'. She named it after me. My name is Hinata, which means 'sunny place' or 'sunny side'.
Anyways, it was just a normally slow day. I was about going to start middle school soon and was helping my mom at her store for my last day. Since it was such a slow day I started reading a romance novel that we'd just gotten in.
It was about a timid girl that falls in love with a some kind of prince who just emanated tall, dark, and handsome. I was never really one for romance but the book wasn't all that bad. My mother had said I could take my lunch break, so I headed to a nearby park. It was peaceful and quiet.
I sat down and started to eat my teriyaki burger while continuing my book. I was at the part where the girl was about to kiss her mystery man, when my book was knocked from my hand. I swallowed my bite of burger and looked up to see three boys towering above me. "Look at what we have here." I try to take the non confrontational way and simply take my book and leave when one of the boys grabs my wrist. "Hey pretty, what's your name?"
I try to pry my hand away but that just increases his hold. "Hey!" I flinch at the harshness in his voice. "I asked you a question." I close my eyes tight, and try not to think of the pain. "Wait, Himoru." Another boy said to the one holding my wrist. "She's that daughter of that crazy bookstore lady! See!" He started to pull my hair. "It's the same, strange purple color!"
Himoru scoffed. "You're right Haku." And all the boys started laughing. Please, I thought, Please, someone, help me! Suddenly the boy named Haku let go of my hair and the laughing abruptly stopped. When I got the courage to open my eyes I noticed that Haru was on the ground and I knew figure had appeared.
He had dark blue hair, dark blue eyes, tan skin, and was probably my age. He held a basketball under his arm. The boys that were still standing gave a look of fear, grabbed their friend, pushing me down in the process, and ran off.
I rubbed my head and noticed the outstretched hand that was in front of me. I slowly took it and stood. "Yo, I'm Aomine Daiki." He said with a grin on his face as he handed me my book. "My name is Mitsubishi Hinata...." I said awkwardly. There was a pause that was interrupted my Daiki's stomach. He chuckled before asking, "Hey, this is a weird question, but can I have the rest of your burger?" I nodded, and handed him the sandwich and he started munching like he hadn't eaten in forever.
"Ya know," Daiki said between chews. "They were wrong, about your hair." I gave him a puzzled look. He finished the last bit of burger and set down his ball. "It's really pretty." He said, as he reached out and touched it. My cheeks grew red. No one had ever complimented me like this, let alone a boy!
I pulled away, looking down, pushing some hair behind my ear and said that I had to leave, before my mother go on me for taking to long. Daiki blushed.and stammered out an okay, and I left. I never stopped looking at my book. Somehow I felt like I suddenly had a connection to it....
And so, this is the story about how I fell for the school ace.
