The Origin Of Joichiro Hyakuzawa: Part 4

*Joichiro Hyakuzawa's POV*

//March 14, 2036//Friday//

"What happened to you, Rui?! Did something bad happen? Why are you crying?"

When I looked at Rui with a worried look on my face, she was confused at my reaction and shook her head.

"Huh? Something bad happened? It's not bad, idiot! SOMETHING GOOD FUCKING HAPPENED!!!"

"Huh?"

Rui handed a letter to me, and I received it. The material of the envelope used looks luxurious and expensive.

I am bewildered about it and looked at Rui once again who was excited about what was about to happen.

"Come on, Big Bro! Open it!"

Not having a choice in the matter, and because of my curiosity, I carefully peeled off the seal of the envelope and pulled the letter out.

"Greetings Joichiro Hyakuzawa."

I scratched my head as I read the letter, but as I was going through the letter, I started getting more confused, and my eyes widened as I looked at the contents of the letter.

"Huh? Is this a joke?"

It's an invitation for me to join the NBA G League.

"HAAAH?! That can't be fake, Big Bro! Someone was looking for you earlier."

"Wait, wait, Rui. Can I sit down first?"

"Aaaaaah!!! Come here then! I'm telling you this is important!"

Rui pulled my right hand, and we started walking towards our dining area while I was still thinking about this letter that was given to me.

The NBA G League is an NBA official league basketball organization for minors. Basically, it's like a stepping stone for NBA aspirants. These players who are in high school or college are usually the ones scouted if the person who was observing them had met their standards to enter the League.

When we came to our dining area, Rui sat down, and she was looking at me with a serious, but excited look on her face. I stood still in front of the table, and read the letter one more time.

"Rui, you said that someone was looking for me earlier. Who was it?" I looked at her and asked.

"I don't know who it was, but that man said to give you this letter immediately. He said that he was a scout for the NBA G League, and after I heard that from him, I was excited to give the letter he gave to me for you."

I looked at Rui who couldn't stay still in her seat. I gave a huge sigh and folded the letter.

"Rui, that man might be scamming us, you know? And seriously, me, getting recruited for the NBA G League? That's not possible-."

"AAAAAAH!!! I'M NOT STUPID!!! I KNOW IF A PERSON IS JUST FUCKING WITH ME OR NOT!!!"

There she goes again, her wild, ferocious side is showing once again.

"Besides, I believe that there is a business card included inside. That man said to give him a call once you received the letter."

When I looked at the envelope again, there was indeed a business card from someone inside.

"James Evans?"

The one who I believe is "scouting" me that Rui said was this man. He even included his contact number on this business card.

Still wondering if this is the real thing or just a scam, I pulled out my phone from my pocket.

"What are you waiting for, big bro?"

I was hesitating to call this number, but I was curious as well. I started getting worried as I dialed the number written on the business card.

*BEEP* *BEEP*

After I dialed the number, I put my phone in my ear and waited for someone to pick it up.

*BEEP*

A few rings have passed, and no one has answered my call yet. I looked at Rui who was patiently waiting for someone to answer the call like a child who was excited to be served her favorite food. I gulped down, and I started sweating a bit as time passed by.

"Hello?"

Finally, someone answered the call.

From his voice alone, I can tell that he was a foreigner because of his American accent. To be honest, it was kind of daunting, since the man's voice was full of confidence from just that one word of his.

I sat down on the floor, and Rui crawled right beside me to hear closely the conversation that will happen between me, and this man. Rui leaned forward to me, and her face was full of anticipation.

Her face is too close. Geez…

"Umm… Hello?"

I stutteringly answered back to the man in English while nervously waiting for his reply.

"Excuse me, but who might you be?"

Of course, the man doesn't know who I am. This is the first time I am calling him.

*GRAB*

Rui who was observing me with disgust grabbed my phone quickly.

"OI, RUI!"

"Ah yes, hello mister, sorry about that. My brother was kind of nervous talking to you. I am Rui Hyakuzawa. I believe that we have talked to each other earlier?"

With fluent English, Rui replied back to the man and introduced the two of us to him. Rui glared at me like she was telling me that it's creepier if I kept on stuttering. My face started to get red from the fact that my little sister has more balls to talk to a foreigner than I do.

"Oh! Hahahaha! Nice to meet you again, Rui! Are you, and your brother doing well?"

"Yes, we do!" Rui replied with a jovial tone.

"Hahahaha! That's good to know. It seems like me, and your brother had a misunderstanding earlier. Can I please talk to Joichiro again?"

"Sure!"

Rui nodded to the man and gave my phone back to me with a disgusted look on her face.

"Don't fuck it up this time." Rui said jokingly.

I gave a short sigh before putting my phone in my ear.

"Hello! Umm… Sorry about earlier, Mi-Sir!"

Rui who couldn't believe I still stuttered even when given a second chance, laid down her head on the table while holding her laughter.

"Hahahaha! I see that you are quite nervous, Joichiro. Perhaps, you are not used to speaking in English?"

Sigh… I was glad that this man pointed it out to me.

Between me, and Rui, my little sister is usually more fluent in English since she had the experience of talking to foreigners especially since Rui is known to be a strong player in Kendo worldwide.

Yes, my sister is known to be a powerful individual in the world of Kendo.

"Don't worry, I can speak Japanese."

The man switched his language to Japanese when he said that, and I was quite relieved when he can understand Japanese. That kind of convinced me that this man who I am talking to is the real deal.

"Well then, let me get straight to the point, Joichiro Hyakuzawa. I believe that you have received, and read the letter that is written for you. You might also be wondering if the letter is a scam or not, but I can assure you that this isn't. Let me introduce myself to you once again. I am James Evans, a scout who wants to recruit you to the NBA G League."

His introduction alone tells that he is experienced in this kind of thing. But that still doesn't fully convince me that this letter of recruitment for the NBA G League is real.

"How can I trust that you are the real deal?" I asked with a serious expression.

"I have been observing you since you were in middle school, Joichiro. At your age at that time, your skills are on par or even better than most college students that we have ever seen. Watching you play till high school tells me that you have a deep potential in basketball since you have been playing a lot, and your playstyle was improving every time you have a match against other players."

"People can watch me play even when I am in middle school or high school. But getting recruited by the NBA because of how I play? That kind of thing is impossible."

"Big Bro!"

I understand why Rui was agitated by what I said while she was listening to our conversation. Sorry, Rui, but I'm really skeptical about these kinds of things. This is for our safety, Rui.

"I know that you have some doubts about us, Joichiro. But give me a chance to show you some proof of legitimacy regarding this matter. Give me a minute."

After a few seconds, James Evans sent me an email, and my eyes widened when I opened these files.

"These are…"

"Indeed. These are the records of all of the official matches that you have participated in, and the files to show the proof that we are the real thing, and that we are not something that you think is a fraud."

After reading all the files that this man had provided me. I am now sure that what James Evans is telling me is true.

"Are these pieces of information sufficient to you, Joichiro Hyakuzawa?"

I couldn't believe that this is happening to me. It's not like I don't want someone to recruit me. But…

"Why did you recruit me? There are a lot of players who are way better than me." I asked.

"Don't underestimate yourself, Joichiro. Your position as a power forward is monstrous enough. But that is not all, but you are also flexible in other positions which makes you a great player."

I gulped down and continued listening to what this man is saying.

"Besides, scoring half of the points your team has every match? Isn't that proof already that your skills are remarkable?"

Well, he has a point.

"But I still have one more year in high school."

"Ah, don't worry about that, Joichiro."

"What do you mean?" I replied back.

"We are giving you the time to graduate high school. After that, if you accept our offer into going to the NBA G League, the two of us will go back overseas, and you will become an official player for the League. How does that sound?"

"Overseas?"

"Big Bro! That's a great opportunity!"

I know that this is a great opportunity. But…

I looked at Rui who was full of glee when he learned that I was given a chance to be an NBA player.

But she is also the reason why I am hesitating to accept this.

If I entered the NBA G League, all of my time will be going into this. From practices and training, I will have less time to talk to Rui. Going overseas is a huge deal already, and not having the time to talk to Rui will be bad for the two of us.

Both Rui, and I have been supporting each other since our parent's death, and leaving Rui all alone here in Japan will be tough for her.

Rui just started high school, and she just turned 14 last month. Leaving her alone, and living independently by herself is a bit…

"Big bro, can we talk for a bit?"

Rui who noticed the hesitation on my face asked me to talk with just the two of us without James Evans listening.

I nodded at her and talked to James who was on the phone waiting for my answer.

"Will you please excuse me for a second?" I asked.

"Sure. I have all the time, Joichiro."

I pressed the mute button on my phone and focused on Rui who looks serious.

"What is it?" I asked her.

"Are you hesitating to go overseas because you are leaving me alone here all by myself?"

"Well…"

She read me like a book.

"Just go for it." Rui frankly said.

"But I promised our parents to protect you all the time. Besides, you are still young to live by yourself."

Rui tilted her head in confusion and gave a sigh.

"You don't need to protect me anymore, Big Bro. Besides, because of you, I can live independently without your help. You have done enough for me."

*SMACK*

"Ouch!"

Rui slapped my back and wrapped her arm around my neck.

"Now is your time to create the future that makes you happy, Big Bro! Grab that chance!" Rui said with a bright smile on her face.

After much thinking about the offer that was given to me, and the things that my little sister had said, I unmuted the call and put the phone in my ears once again.

"Sir James Evans, are you still there?"

"I'm still here alive, and well, Joichiro."

Before giving him an answer, I looked at Rui again who was seriously pouting at me while giving a thumbs up with her two hands. That kind of expression she is showing is the face of encouragement to just do it.

I do not have a choice, do I? If I reject James Evans' offer, Rui will be devastated. But still, leaving my little sister here alone is just…

Ok no more negative thoughts, my little sister just said it to me earlier to just go for it.

I have decided.

"Alright. I accept the offer, Sir."

The feeling of nervousness inside me immediately vanished as I responded to his offer.

"Are you sure about it?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

Just like Rui said, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I might as well take it.

"Hahahaha! We have a deal, Joichiro. School has just ended in your school, right? Let's meet when you are free, and I can further explain to you the details. But for now, what I can tell you is…"

James Evans has filled me up with information that I should know beforehand.

He told me to finish Highschool first, and that they will be observing me in my last year when school starts. After my graduation, I will not be going to college and will proceed to be a player in the NBA G League.

Of course, I knew these things way before James Evans called me, and I still accepted even after he explained it to me.

"Well then, let us talk again about this, Joichiro. Have a good day ahead of you and your sister."

*BEEP*

We ended our conversation by exchanging some contact information between the two of us when we want to communicate with each other regarding my recruitment to the G League. I put my phone down on the table and took a deep breath to calm my nerves down.

"Wash yourself up, and help me out, Big Bro."

On the other hand, Rui stood up, shrugged her shoulders, and walked straight to the kitchen. I stared at her wondering what help does she need from me.

"What for?"

Rui looked back behind me with a cheeky smile on her face, and said…

"We'll be cooking sukiyaki as a celebration for you getting recruited for the NBA G League."

Rui walked away and opened the refrigerator to get some ingredients. While looking at Rui from behind, I smiled back and stood up.

I really am lucky to have a little sister like her.

We always have our backs every time we are in conflict, and we support each other for the decisions that will surely make us move forward in life.

Yes, that's right, I appreciate all of the things that this world has given to me. From my friends, a special someone that confessed her feelings to me, and a beloved little sister, I am truly grateful that I have a wonderful life despite the horrifying experience that we had in the past.

But I was naive to think that way.

To begin with, life is not that friendly to everyone. If good things happen to you, that thing will soon make you suffer sooner or later.

And this upcoming school year will make me realize that.

******** TO BE CONTINUED ********