BASKETBALL, RIVALS AND FRIENDSHIP; TETSUO'S VAGUE PAST

(Basketball bouncing)

(Hisashi crosses between his legs)

(Steps back and shoots a three pointer)

(Swish)

Hisashi: and that's game

Miyato: Hisashi, you didn't have to put in that much effort, those guys didn't even got the chance to score

Hisashi: yeah I know, but my son's here today, I can't get showed up by these old geezers

???: hey , who the hell are you calling a geezer

Hisashi: hahahaha,sorry, my bad

Kogure: your dad truly is amazing Tetsuo

Tetsuo: yeah he is, I'm so glad that he's my father

Miyato: man I can't believe that you're retired already, you still play like you haven't left

Hisashi: you think so ? I guess I still got some juice leftover from my prime

Miyato: yes, you definitely do

(Hisashi looks over at Tetsuo)

(Hisashi walks over to Tetsuo)

(Hisashi lifts up Tetsuo)

Hisashi: how was that Tetsuo, your old man is the best huh

Tetsuo: yeah dad , you're the best

Tetsuo: I'll train hard until the day I become number one in Japan just like you did

Hisashi: and I'll be there to support your dreams all the way

Tetsuo : (smiles) yes

Kogure: well I have bad news for the both of you, I'll become number one in Japan, there is no way ill let anyone best me , not even you Tetsuo

Tetsuo: we'll see about that, there's no way I'll loose to you

Kogure: and why is that?

Tetsuo :because my father is way better than yours at basketball

Miyato: you maybe right, however I'm a way better teacher than this numbskull

Tetsuo: uncle Miyato

Hisashi: well he isn't wrong I'm not the greatest of teachers

Kogure: see, you'll definitely never beat me

Hisashi: alright guys save all of that for later , it's getting late and you both have school tomorrow , so lets get going

Miyato: I'm going on a week long business trip so keep an eye on Kogure for me

Hisashi: yeah I know, we already talked about this yesterday

Miyato: oh okay , see you soon then

( Sunlight)

Tetsuo: Kogure hurry it up will you

Kogure: come on , why do you have to always run to school

Tetsuo: because it's more thrilling that way

(Kogure): why am I even following this kid, I'm a year older

(Kogure): Tetsuo and I were friends ever since we were kids, my dad and his dad were former high school teammates and rivals in basketball at the international level . And yes , he's right, his dad Hisashi Kawaguchi is famous and is one of the best basketball players in the world. We both attended Nagoya's elementary school and were members of the junior under 10 basketball club in our district. As you imagined the media was infatuated by Tetsuo and he was the talk of every sports channel, due to his skills and his father being the former number one .Tetsuo and I would dominate all of the kids our age and even older out there. Utilizing his dad's favorite move the step back three pointer , he was a great scorer , far greater than I was back then. He proved it time and time again every time we played one on one. I have never won before but I came close on multiple occasions

(Tetsuo dribbles the basketball)

(Kogure guards him)

(Tetsuo takes the first layup step)

(Kogure): I won't let you score the winning basketball

(Tetsuo steps in the opposite direction)

(Kogure): what the…

(Tetsuo scores a layup)

Tetsuo: and that's game , I win, I win, I win again

Kogure: this is so not fair, your dad taught you a new move again

Tetsuo: so what the fact is that you still can't beat me

Kogure: you're right, I'll never beat you at this rate

Tetsuo: I can teach you that move if you want, it's called Euro step

Kogure: what are you waiting for teach me right away

Tetsuo: okay, but it's going to cost you (giggles)

(Kogure): I thought that we'd have long years of friendship and rivalry to come. Everyday I would imagine us going head to head in high school or even as teammates . However….

(Sirens wail)

(Flames burning down a house)

(Miyato runs to the yellow tapes)

Police officer: this area is off limits, stand back , you can't go any further beyond this point

Miyato: that's my best friends house, he was in there, he , his wife, my son and his kids. Let me through, let me through!!!

Police officer: I'm sorry , sir but we cannot allow this

Miyato: Hisashi

(Miyato drops to the floor crying)

( Tetsuo, Usagi and Kogure walking home from school)

Tetsuo: school was a pain today

Kogure: how so?

Tetsuo: we had to learn some new kind of math and I didn't understand a single thing

Kogure: I think I know where exactly you got that slow brain of yours from

Tetsuo: hey what do you mean?

Kogure : my dad said that your dad was a numbskull and did very poor on his work , maybe his brain rubbed off on you

Tetsuo: why you

(Tetsuo takes up mud and throws it at Kogure)

Kogure: hey cut it out, I'll get you

(Kogure chases after Tetsuo)

Tetsuo: you can't catch me

Usagi: big brother, wait up!

(Tetsuo trips and fall)

Kogure: haha, how do you like me now mud faced Tetsuo

Tetsuo: fine you got me

Usagi: Tetsuo

Tetsuo: huh?

Usagi: I see a whole lot of smoke and it's coming from dad's house

Tetsuo: what's going on?

Kogure: let's hurry and get there

Tetsuo: oh no!! It can't be

( Emergency workers carrying two deceased person)

Miyato: Kogure, Tetsuo, Usagi, thank god you're all okay

Kogure: what happened here

Miyato: a fire broke out and I don't know how it started but it got bad and Hisashi and his wife didn't make it …

(Tetsuo): this can't be , no way, dad can't be gone, mom

Usagi: where is Mom and dad?

(Tetsuo): I refuse to believe

(Tetsuo starts crying)

(Tetsuo feints)

Kogure: Tetsuo

(Emergency room)

Miyato: I'm here to look for Tetsuo and Usagi Kawaguchi

Receptionist: I'm afraid that you cannot visit them

Miyato: and why the hell not

Receptionist: it seems that Tetsuo has suffered from fatal brain damage due to the trauma of loosing his parents. He has no memories and he won't respond to anyone but his little sister

(Kogure): no way

(Miyato): god dammit, Hisashi, why did you have to go, you bastard

(Miyato starts crying)

(Kogure): I don't know what happened after that , but all I knew was that he disappeared without a trace never to be seen again. 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 that we were meant to meet again for a reason right, Tetsuo

Tetsuo: I see, so you knew my father

Kogure: so you still don't remember me then?

Tetsuo: I lost my memories of everything long ago, I was nothing but an empty shell up until recently, the only thing I could remember was my name and my little sister

Kogure: we are in the middle of a game now, we can save this talk for after the game

Tetsuo: okay

(Kogure): I want to know where the hell he has been for the past six years, but I guess that'll have to wait