You Were Mine

Chapter 6

Chapter 6:

(Kiyoko)

I had to make sure I finished the parents' consent today so I can hand it to everyone today, too. I wanted to ask help from Hitoka-chan, but decided against it and asked help from Daichi, Sugawara and Asahi to print several copies and we would have Takeda-sensei, Coach Ukai, the vice-principal and the principal to sign them. This is to ensure that these parent's consents are authentic and reassure worried parents that the Tokyo Camp is approved as a school activity.

"Geez, this manager work is quite hectic." Asahi said.

"I'd actually prefer to be captain and be incharge of my players than be a manager and be incharge of everything else." Daichi added.

"We are so lucky to have someone as reliable as Shimizu to be our manager. Or else we'd just be a chaotic bunch of big-bodied hooligans. Bless your heart, Shimzu." There goes Sugawara and his maternal instincts talking again.

We laugh as we ate our lunches together on the school's rooftop.

Daichi looks my way and asks me "How about the one?" he asks.

"I'm on it, I'm actually going today. So wish me luck."

"Wh-what do you mean the one..?" Asahi asked. "Why is there a sudden tension in the air..?" he added.

"This is very vital for Shimizu, Asahi. All we can do is support her on this one." Sugawara looks at him dead in the eyes. Asahi shivers.

"But... Why do I feel like I'm the only one who doesn't know about this... 'one'?" he nervously said.

"Alright! Back to work! Let's get all these papers formally signed and distributed to the members!" yelled Daichi.

"Yeah!" and there goes Daichi being the team leader that he is.

"Y-you all just ignored me and didn't answer my question..."

(Hitoka)

It was a rest day for the volleyball team, so we had the chance to go home early. This is a great opportunity to do my homework and organize my notes.

Mom is now home from overseas and is currently making dinner. Mom seemed rather cheerful than usual when she comes home from business trips. She would usually come home scowling and complain about the people she had business with. But today, coming home from the Philippines, she was quite cheerful and happy about the whole trip.

"Hitoka~ I'm home!"

"M-mom, welcome home. Have you finished eating?"

"Nope~ But not to worry, I'll be making dinner tonight~" M-Mom making dinner?

"O-Okay..."

"Oh don't be such a thorn, darling. I tried lots of dishes while I was away, and I'll be making you my personal favorite Filipino dish~" And that is?

"Sit back and relax, my darling daughter. Mother will cook a great meal for you~" and that's pretty much how it went. I can smell the aroma from my room, and it smells different, not the smell I've always gotten used to.

"Hitoka, darling please set the table. I'm almost done cooking." she called and I immediately place 2 plates, 2 utensils, 2 glasses of water, the usual.

She turns around and says "No, darling. Get the special silverware from the back, and take 3 sets. Someone will be joining us tonight." Someone??

Wh-Wh-Who c-could it possibly be? Has my mom found a decent Filipino man? And is he coming to live with us for the rest of our lives? Was this why she was so cheerful? Has she already fallen in love? I hope mother chose a good man, someone capable of being a good and patient father. Someone who understands that she is always busy. Someone who is strong enough to be with my mom. Then I had a sudden jolt of realization. Maybe the dish my mom is about to cook is HIS favorite and she is trying to impress him?? I don't even know anymore...

I arrange the table differently to make sure they're sitting next to each other. The doorbell's sound startled me so much I almost dropped my mom's favorite mug.

"Oh, that must be her~" my mom said. HER!?!?!?? A shiver went down my spine. MY MOM'S DATE IS A WOMAN?? HAVE I NOT KNOWN THAT MOM WAS-- THAT SHE WAS INTERESTED IN--

Mom set the food on the table, and quickly got to the door.

"I'm coming in. Thank you for having me tonight, Yachi-san." That voice... That soft, sophisticated voice. I know that voice anywhere. K-k-kiyoko-sepnai is my mom's date???!?!?!? IMPOSSIBLE. JUST IMPOSSIBLE.

I quickly sat down at the table. With knees shaking, I watch as Kiyoko-senpai walks over to the table and sits herself down beside mom. I look at the both of them and wonder how and why do they seem familiar with each other. Nothing is making sense. My mom serves the food, I don't even mind the tangy, orange pasta in front of me. I simply stare at my plate, not daring to look up.

"I see Kiyoko-san here seems to be very responsible and reliable. Right, Hitoka?" I nod stiffly. "She knows the very sentiment of every parent when their child goes somewhere far away." she adds.

"Of course, I always put into consideration the guardians of my teammates. Surely, we would not want Hitoka-chan to miss out on such an important training camp. It would also be a fine mode of exposure to the responsibilities she'll be carrying once I graduate." T-training camp..?

OH MY, I MISINTERPRETED ANOTHER SITUATION FOR SOMETHING ELSE. I HAD COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN WE HAD PLANNED TO TALK TO MY MOM ABOUT ME GOING TO THE TRAINING CAMP. HITOKA, HOW ARE YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN YOU'RE SO DUMB!? SOMEONE, ANYONE PLEASE TAKE ME AWAY FROM HERE. TAKE MY STUPID ASS OUT OF HERE YAMAGUCHI-KUN, HINATA-KUN.

This is embarrassing. I realize now how far I allowed myself to think. Of course my mom wouldn't go wander around Asia looking for a man. Of course my mother would NOT invite just any man into the house. Of course my mother was NOT dating a woman, and OF COURSE it wouldn't be my own senpai.

"... so the reason why I'm here--"