Читать книгу Samurai Awakening - Ben Martin - Страница 12

Badminton

April,

Despite awakening isolated, with confused senses that I could only barely comprehend, one thought drove me to fight through the despair: They are coming…

Although the day had gone better than he had expected, David still worried about the afternoon’s double P.E. period. He had yet to get used to Nakano valley’s humidity and the athleticism of his classmates was intimidating. While there was a wide range of interests among the students, they all seemed to be semi-professional athletes. The only exception to David’s avoidance of sports in Arizona had been snowboarding and swimming, two activities that got him out of the heat. David’s reluctance had not been just because the sun was so hot it could melt your shoes. He avoided sports because he hated looking like a fool. David had been acutely aware of when people made fun of his father for his eccentric TV persona.

‘Of course, I succeeded in making a fool of myself anyway. A least my hand and bruises healed,’ David thought with a smile. ‘I wonder if I can convince the teachers to let me read instead…’

While thinking of ways to get out of a potentially humiliating P.E. class, David headed off to help clean the school. Unlike back in the United States, Japanese schools generally did not hire janitors. They relied on the students to clean every day after lunch and before school. Fukiko-sensei, the small and sometimes quiet English teacher, had given a thoroughly unconvincing speech about how it helped build responsibility. Her enthusiasm for sweeping aside, David liked her. She had been extremely helpful over the last few weeks. Just as Yukiko had been his crutch at the Estate, Fukiko kept him afloat at school with her nearly perfect English.

‘If anyone is going to catch on to my new skills it would be her,’ David thought as he took the long way to his cleaning section to avoid her.

After cleaning, David always went with Rie and Takumi during free period. Since they were both on the badminton team, it meant he had to brave the gym’s sweltering heat. Even though he was there nearly every day, he had yet to play since there were so many people waiting. Rie had also invited him to the after school team practices, but David usually opted to study Japanese with the Language Club in the air-conditioned library. The only times he had even picked up a racket had been with Rie at the Estate.

David took a seat in the gym while Takumi and Rie went off to play. As he watched the various games, another second year student came over and sat next to him. The student looked vaguely familiar and as he spoke, it took David a second to realize he was speaking perfect English, instead of Japanese.

“Hi, sorry I have not introduced myself before this, but we are in different classes,” the boy said. “My name is Chul Soon.”

‘Ah, so this is Chul Moo’s brother, great.’ David inched away. Chul Soon smiled warmly at David’s surprised expression, completely ignoring his move.

“You must know my brother Chul Moo… We are both from Korea, and can speak English, but Chul Moo is not very social. I, on the other hand,” Chul Soon said smiling broadly and gesturing to himself, “think we should be friends. Anyway, I have seen you over here a few times, but you never play. Would you like me to explain the rules?”

“Sure.” David carefully checked himself, so that he replied in English rather than Japanese. Embarrassed at his initial reaction, David smiled. “I’ve seen it but don’t know all the details.”

Chul Soon went through all the rules and basic strategies for David in English. David was impressed with his language skills. Even with his strange brother, it was hard not to like someone so outgoing and friendly. Though David had actually picked up a lot about badminton, he let Chul Soon speak. David was surprised to learn it was actually a British sport, which explained why the students always counted the score in English.

Most of the time, people played two on two. Each player used an oval-headed racked and hit the shuttle back to their opponent’s side. Unlike the rare occasions he had seen it back home, here it was fast and exciting. Some of the best students could jump high into the air, smashing the shuttle back towards their opponents with blinding speed. David smiled in spite of himself; Jessica could probably do well here. Although still in elementary school, she could literally run circles around him.

Despite having spent a great deal of time watching the sport, and Chul Soon’s explanations, David had long ago convinced himself he could never get through an actual game. The year before in P.E., he had been given a tennis racket with the rest of the first years. He was quickly relieved of it after hitting every single ball out of the court. Thanks to Rie’s help and skill, he had not had the same problem while practicing at the Estate, but David felt that might have been more to do with her skill and the feathers on the shuttle.

Before he knew it, the free period ended and people started to leave the gym. Chul Soon said goodbye and left to meet his brother. A group of first year girls giggled as he walked past.

‘Apparently he has the same effect on girls his brother does,’ David thought. ‘Hey, maybe that’s why Chul Moo is always so annoyed.’

The only exceptions to the mass exodus were the second years staying for the double P.E. class. Both the 2A and 2B classes would be together, while the other second year class had homeroom. Tsukasa, the badminton coach and shop teacher came in.

“Since Shima-sensei is out today, we will be having a badminton tournament. Please check this list for your teams and then begin warming up.” Tsukasa’s voice echoed through the gym as he used a well-practiced coach-yell to get everyone’s attention. Upon hearing the news, the vast majority of the students erupted in cheers. It seemed only David and Chul Moo were unhappy.

“But I’ve only played badminton with Rie at the Estate! This will be horrible. I can’t play a game. Whoever is stuck with me will be furious,” David said, leaning over to Takumi as they walked towards the list. Takumi checked for their names before offering David a grim smile.

“Don’t worry, you’re with me, I’m good enough for the both of us.” Halfway down the list Takumi smiled widely and laughed. “Rie’s with Chul Soon!” Takumi handed David one of his older backup rackets and led him away from the crowd forming around the lists.

“What’s wrong with Chul Soon? I just met him today,” David asked.

“Everyone likes him. It’s just that he’s so nice… He never goes for winning shots and Rie’s really competitive,” Takumi replied. “It’s going to be fun rubbing it in when we win.”

The class began to run around the courts, warming up before stretches. David trailed behind with a few of the less enthusiastic students. In the past, he had felt being towards the back was his own form of social protest against mandatory sports. After hearing other students encouraging the others around him, he was embarrassed for lagging behind. The other slow people here were doing their best, while David had been merely lazy. He tried to pick up his pace, but was soon out of breath.

While the first matches began, David and Takumi went off to one corner to practice. On the way, they passed Natsuki and her friend Yuka, followed closely by Kaeda and Mizuki. Seeing David and Takumi, the girls quickly huddled together. Grinning maliciously, Natsuki craned her head out of the group.

“Aww, sorry Takumi, looks like you’ll be last. Too bad you ended up with the gaijin.” Natsuki filled her voice with over the top sympathy.

“Better watch your head. He’s more likely to end up hitting you than the shuttle,” added Kaeda with an evil smile. The four girls giggled as David walked away, attempting to appear as if he had not understood their insults.

“See? He doesn’t even know when he’s being insulted, how pathetic,” Mizuki said, sending the group’s parting shot at David’s back.

“Don’t worry about them. They’re just mad you showed them all up. By the way, where did that come from?” Takumi asked once they were out of earshot.

“Now that I understand what the questions mean, I can do them,” David said after fighting down his anger at the girls’ words. “We studied all that stuff last year. I’ve also spent a lot of my free time helping my dad plan his experiments, so I know a bit about science. I’m sorry you are stuck with me though. Hopefully I won’t throw you off.”

“Really? That’s great!” Takumi’s smile went from forced to genuine. “Now you can help me with my homework. That’ll more than make up for it if we lose.” Seeing David’s face fall, he added, “Just kidding. Relax and have fun. Rie says you aren’t too bad at hitting the shuttle. I’ll show you how it’s done.”

Takumi’s wide grin was infectious. David knew that studying and getting into the right schools were critical to getting a good job. If he could help them study, then perhaps there was a way to even things out. At the very least, he could offer up his homework.

David and Takumi’s first match turned out to be against two students from Class 2A. A mixed boy girl team, neither opponent was on the badminton team. With much of David’s inexperience compensated for by Takumi’s extraordinary ability, they were able to win by a relatively high margin. David even managed to score on a lucky shot.

As the boys grew used to playing with each other, they improved. Each game was more difficult as better players advanced, yet the pair still won their games. David’s unconventional shots, due to lack of formal training, threw off their opponents’ defenses. After the sixth point David made from hitting the shuttle in when it should have gone out, Takumi started calling David’s wild points “gaijin shots.”

Takumi’s loud shouts and aggressive play were shocking, even after seeing Takumi in class, but he could not argue with the results. In almost no time, they were in the finals. David’s heart fell when Natsuki and Yuka joined them on the court for the last match. Seeing the fear in David’s eyes, the girls smiled.

“Sorry Ta-kun. No hard feelings when we win, right? Yuka, just hit everything at David,” Natsuki said.

“You mean like we did with Rie and Chul Soon? That was such an easy first match,” Yuka replied, grinning.

“Don’t worry, just play like you have been, and we’ll be fine.” Takumi calmly kept up a low dialog through all of the girls’ banter, attempting to keep David’s spirits high.

“Don’t let them win, Takumi,” Rie shouted from the sidelines. Their matches cut short, Rie and most of the other students crowded around the court to watch the drama play out. Tsukasa took a seat behind David’s side.

“As if everyone watching isn’t enough pressure, Chul Moo is giving me the evil eye,” David muttered as he wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. Chul Moo stood directly in front of David and stared, his dark eyes flinty.

After a quick rock-paper-scissors match to determine the first serve, Yuka sent the shuttle flying at David. A high serve, David ran back, but hitting it with the edge of his racket sent it flying into the crowd of students. Natsuki’s derisive laugh was echoed by her friends in the crowd.

‘You can do this, just relax,’ David thought, trying to calm down.

Takumi received the next serve low, returning it to tie at one point. With David in the back during Takumi’s serves, both Yuka and Natsuki hit their shots high, forcing him to return them. After another shot went wide, Tsukasa shouted to Takumi. Before the next serve, Takumi took his hand and twisted his racket.

“Here, this should keep you from hitting it out. You’re doing fine, keep it up,” Takumi said.

With his new grip, David prepared to face off against Natsuki’s serve. He could feel his heart beating furiously as competing desires to run away or make some kind of spectacular shot to shut up the girls jostled for superiority. Seeing David concentrating so hard, Natsuki laughed and hit a lazy serve high and back, forcing him to scramble back. The result left no one laughing. Nearly stumbling, David swung his racket wildly. Hitting the shuttle dead center, he sent it smashing back into Natsuki’s shocked face.

Embarrassed, she composed herself just enough to toss the shuttle back at David for his next serve. Then something happened that David had never experienced before. The crowd cheered him on; he could hear people shouting his name, with choruses of “Gambare” and “Fighto David!” It sent a thrill through him.

The game grew more intense with each serve. David’s gaijin shots and Takumi’s skill kept the girls on the defensive. Finally, with the boys ahead, Natsuki dropped the shuttle just in front of the net on David’s side. Her victorious smile turned to horror as David flung himself forward. Somehow getting his racket under the shuttle, David sent it back up with just enough force to make it land on the top of the net and tip into the girls’ side.

“Ha! How do you like that?” David yelled, still sprawled on the court. The tension brought out the part of him usually reserved for when Jessica got on his nerves. Luckily, the resulting cheer from their win nearly shook the gym and covered his all too appropriate Japanese from all but a few. Clapping and with a wide smile, Tsukasa walked up to the students.

“David, you are going to join the badminton team. I’m sure that with practice and Takumi’s help you’ll do great. You’ve got great concentration, fighting until the end like that. I like that in my players,” he said seriously. “Besides, you need an after school activity.”

While Takumi made a show of trying to translate, Chul Soon stepped in and relayed Tsukasa’s semi-invitation in English.

“Do it David,” Rie said, popping out of the crowd. “Dad already gave his permission.” David took a look around at his classmates watching him.

‘It was fun to win, and I like practicing with Rie. Maybe it is time I took up a sport. Jess will never believe me.’ The thought of his sister’s incredulous reaction decided him.

“Sure, I will,” David replied carefully.

“Good, I’ll see you a bit later today then,” Tsukasa said before turning to Takumi. “Take him through the basics and explain the drills before practice. Anything he doesn’t understand he can pick up later.”

David ended his first day after the accident so exhausted that he completely forgot to bring up the events of two days before. The games plus drills in the afternoon left him so sore all he wanted to do was crawl into bed. David smiled. He had also made a new friend. Chul Soon had congratulated him after the crowd died down. Before David could make it to his room, Takumi, his formal quiet manner back, caught up with him.

“You know, you insulted Natsuki with pretty much every word you said today. I know you’ve only been speaking Japanese for all of one day, but there are some things about directness I should probably tell you.”

Nearly an hour later, David sat before a computer screen, staring at the blinking cursor, his head nodding. After the lecture from Takumi on how to say things in a more roundabout manner, and the different modes of conversation in Japanese, he was trying to send an email to his sister. With all that had happened in the last three days, he needed a bit of clarity. Unfortunately, Masao had been all too clear about secrecy.

Sighing, he tried to sum up his feelings, but instead wrote about badminton and made vague references to his new friendships. He knew Jessica would be as unsatisfied with his letter as he was, but only hoped she could grasp enough to either ask the right questions, or at least make the right snide comments to get his thoughts working clearly. With a yawn, David hit send and headed for bed.