By this time, Tetsuo was nine, and I was ten. I was a hundred and seventy centimeters tall, while Tetsuo was a hundred and fifty-eight. Even though I had the height advantage, it always seemed like I was the one fighting to win the game.
Tetsuo dribbled the basketball slowly while Kogure guarded him with caution.
"This is game point, Kogure. I'll win again," said Tetsuo as he drove and took his first layup step.
"I won't let you score the winning basket," Kogure thought to himself as he cut Tetsuo off.
Tetsuo then used his last step, stepping in the opposite direction, completely shattering Kogure's defense.
"What the… Those movements… I couldn't react," Kogure thought as Tetsuo scored a layup.
"And that's game! Yes!! I win! I win! I win again!" Tetsuo cheered as he jumped around celebrating.
"This is so not fair. Your dad taught you a new move again," Kogure said, frustrated.
"So what? The fact is, you still can't beat me."
"You're right. I'll never beat you at this rate."
"I can teach you that move if you want. It's called the Euro step. My dad learned it when he went to America."
"What? Really? That's so cool! What are you waiting for? Teach me right away!" Kogure said excitedly.
"Okay, but it's going to cost you," Tetsuo giggled.
"But that's no fair! I always do you favors for free!"
I thought we'd have long years of friendship and rivalry ahead. Every day, I imagined us going head-to-head in high school, or even as teammates. However… when that day came, our whole world and life were torn apart.
The sound of sirens could be heard in the distance as firefighters and police officers arrived on the scene.
"This fire is quite a big one. I hope no one's in there," said a policeman as flames engulfed the house.
My father, Miyazato, who was out on a business trip, arrived only to see his best friend's house on fire.
"What the hell!! Kogure!! Hisashi!!" Miyazato shouted as he tried to push past the yellow tape.
"This area is off-limits. Stand back, sir! You can't go any further," said an officer blocking Miyazato's path.
"That's my best friend's house! He was in there with his wife, my son, and his two children! Let me through! Let me through!!" Miyazato shouted, trying to force his way past.
Two more officers came to block his path, making it even more difficult to pass.
"I'm sorry, sir, but we cannot allow this. Whoever was in that house is already dead."
"I can't believe this is happening… Hisashi…" Miyazato whispered as he dropped to the floor, crying.
That day, Tetsuo and I were walking home from school. If I remember correctly, he had a sister named Usagi. We would usually pick her up from school and then make our way back to Hisashi's house.
"School was a pain today," Tetsuo said tiredly, yawning.
"How's that?" asked Kogure.
"We had to learn some new kind of math, and I didn't understand a single thing."
"I think I know exactly where you got that slow brain of yours from," Kogure said bluntly.
"Hey, what do you mean?" Tetsuo asked.
"My dad said your dad was a numbskull and did very poorly in high school and college. Maybe his brain rubbed off on you."
"Why, you—!" Tetsuo yelled as he grabbed some mud and threw it at Kogure.
"Hey! Cut it out, Tetsuo! I'll get you back for this!" Kogure shouted as he chased after him.
"You can't catch me! You can't catch me!"
"Big brother, wait up! Don't leave me behind!" Usagi called as she ran after them, on the verge of tears.
Just then, Tetsuo slipped and fell into the mud. Kogure seized the opportunity and wiped mud all over his face.
"Haha! How do you like me now, mud-faced Tetsuo?"
"Fine, you got me," Tetsuo laughed as Kogure helped him up.
"Tetsuo, I see a whole lot of smoke… and it's coming from Dad's house. What's happening?" Usagi asked, confused.
"What's going on? Oh no!! It can't be…" Tetsuo whispered in shock as emergency workers carried two deceased bodies out of the extinguished building.
"Kogure, Tetsuo, Usagi! Thank god you're all okay!" Miyazato said as he hugged the three of us, tears in his eyes.
"A fire broke out, and I don't know how it started, but it got bad… Hisashi and his wife didn't make it…"
"This… this can't be… No way… Dad can't be gone… Mom…" Tetsuo muttered.
"Where's Mom and Dad?" Usagi asked, starting to cry.
"I refuse to believe that he's gone!" Tetsuo shouted before breaking down in tears and then fainting.
A day later, my father and I went to look for Tetsuo, who was still unconscious, and Usagi, who hadn't stopped crying.
"I'm here to see Tetsuo and Usagi Kawaguchi," Miyazato said.
"I'm afraid you cannot visit them," the receptionist replied.
"And why the hell not?" Miyazato asked angrily.
"It seems that Tetsuo has suffered fatal brain damage due to the trauma of losing his parents. He has no memories and won't respond to anyone but his little sister, which is why she's here with him."
"No way… Tetsuo lost his memories?" Kogure thought to himself, shocked and hurt.
"Goddammit, Hisashi… Why did you have to go, you bastard?" Miyazato whispered as tears rolled down his cheeks.
I don't know what happened after that, but all I knew was that he disappeared without a trace, never to be seen again.
I vowed to myself that day that I'd continue playing basketball for the two of us and become number one in his honor. But over time, I forgot that vow.
And now, I'm looking at him face-to-face again… in a basketball game.
"I don't believe in stuff like destiny and fate, but it seems we were meant to meet again for a reason, right, Tetsuo?" Kogure thought to himself as he smiled.
"I see… so you knew my father," Tetsuo said.
"So you still don't remember me, then?" Kogure asked.
"It's true that I lost my memories long ago. I was nothing but an empty shell up until recently. The only things I could remember were my name, basketball, and my little sister."
"We're in the middle of a game now. You don't have to discuss this right now. We can save this talk for after the game," Kogure said, and Tetsuo agreed.
"I want to know where the hell he's been for the past six years… but I guess that'll have to wait," Kogure thought as he focused back on the game.