Three

She found Ryota on the roof. His rosy pink hair was windswept and messy. He didn't say anything to her for a moment, just stared, fists balled and breathing heavily through his gritted teeth. 

"Ryota-"

"No. You want him to join too. You told me as much, remember how you need to protect Matsuoka Naseru," he sneered, "You think by forcing a team on him he'll be kept away from whatever path he's on. Ever spare a thought to the rest of us, who actually want to be there?" 

Kaho lowered her head. She hadn't, not really. She should have spared them more thought, after all, if Naseru was as good as everyone seemed to believe then surely he would be taking a well-earned spot on the starting line-up, which was already crammed full of confident, capable players. The third years were already more than enough to make a starting line-up, even with Omaru still out injured for a little while longer. And yet, there Kaho was, unapologetically willing to thrust a new player into the mix. But the third years wanted it too, they'd said as much. 

Kaho sighed, "You're right. I'm sorry."

"We've worked so hard, you know? I've worked so hard. I want the team to recognise that." 

Kaho took a step closer to him, "They do. They recognise it. Taiga does too." 

Ryota turned away from her and strode across the rooftop, "What's so good about him, anyway?" 

Kaho shrugged, "I'm sure we'll find out when he joins the team and makes his benchwarmer debut." 

A small smirk formed on Ryota's face, "And where will I be?"

"Centre court, obviously!" Kaho exclaimed, "Now, come on, you still have about half an hour left of practice." 

"Nah," he said, gesturing to his school uniform. Kaho hadn't even realised he'd gotten changed at some point, "By the time I've changed back into my kit and had my ear chewed off, it'll be time to go and change again." 

Kaho nodded, "Then let's go to class?" 

Ryota nodded, "I'm sorry, I'm just so frustrated."

"I know," Kaho said, reaching over and squeezing his hand. 

Naseru didn't speak to her during school. And although Kaho had more than a few words to say to him, especially as her limbs ached during her classes and she longed to kick the back of his chair, just because she could. It had been a battle throughout the day's lessons to even keep her eyes open. Her sleep hadn't been restful on the cold floor of the jail cell. Though there was a singular futon in Katsuo's cell. Probably because he was on remand, while Kaho and Naseru didn't have to remain behind bars.

As the class were packing up for the end of the day, Makoto approached her desk, smiling. The bruising on his face had completely gone down. He didn't look rough or haggard anymore. And even though Sayuri still hadn't come back to school, having Hikaru back really did seem to bring some lightness to his step. 

"Hey, are you coming to art club tonight?" Makoto asked. 

"I don't think so," She yawned into her elbow. He nodded. 

"That mango sketch Kaori did is really coming along, she's traced it dozens of times to practice colour blending. You really got her out of a rut there." 

"It was just a mango," Kaho said, "She did it herself."

Makoto smiled and shook his head, "Catch you later!" 

She nodded, yawned again and shouldered her school bag. There was basketball practice after school. She knew that, but Taiga wouldn't begrudge her if she missed it, after all, he knew exactly where she'd been the previous night. 

Halfway home, the heavens opened, drenching her from head to toe. The unprecedented rains made her almost wish she could have had a letter telling her to stay back after school for nothing else but the lift home from Taiga. She was sure he'd be chauffeuring half the team home if the rain persisted through the afternoon.

She hadn't packed an umbrella, and came home, hair clinging to her face, and uniform heavy on her arms. Himiko laughed as Kaho came in, all but wringing out her school socks in the porch. She sighed.

"You think this is funny?" Kaho said, "Want me to put you in the bath in your school clothes." 

Himiko's eyes widened. She shook her head profusely.

"That's what I thought," Kaho declared, "I'm back!" she called into the house. 

Mrs Aigawa met her daughter on the stairs, wearing a snug sports bra and a pair of leggings, her yoga mat under her arm. She usually stretched outside, but given the weather, it didn't surprise her she was going somewhere else. 

"I'm going to get changed," Kaho declared. 

Her mother nodded, "I'll put the kettle on. Fix yourself a cup of tea when you're dressed, okay?" 

Kaho nodded and tore her school uniform off, changing into fuzzy pyjamas and padding back downstairs.

Mrs Aigawa was doing yoga in the living room, precariously posed while Himiko aggressively jammed her thumbs against the buttons of her game controller, making Mario jump over oncoming obstacles.

"Mum, can't you do your yoga somewhere else?" Himiko whined. 

"And come back in looking like Kaho, no way!" Mrs Aigawa laughed, changing her pose from the tree to the crane. 

Himiko huffed, paused her game and flopped back against the cushions of her sofa. 

Kaho passed them and fixed herself a mug of tea. As she was pouring the water, something shifted in her vision. 

Her eyes flickered back to her mother, who was transitioning into the twisty three-legged dog pose. She looked up at Kaho, her big toe almost touching her head as she flexed her muscles. 

"Are you okay Kaho?" 

"Yes, of course." 

Kaho's mother furrowed her brow, "Has something happened at school?" 

"Nope. But Kikiyo said thank you again for your kindness." 

Mrs Aigawa moved again, shifting her pose into the reverse warrior, her right arm clutched her shin and her left reached over her head as she lunged to her left. Himiko huffed and sank into the sofa cushions. 

"you're the best, you know."

"I know, and remember, you can always talk to me about stuff, girl troubles, boy problems, all that jazz, oof!" she flexed her leg and her hip made a satisfying click sound, "Remind me to book in with the chircopractor on Saturday Himiko." 

Himiko huffed in response. 

"I used to get in trouble, I wasn't always a creaky old bat," Mrs Aigawa laughed, "Ah that feels good!"

She adjusted her feet on her yoga mat and bent forward again. 

"You got into trouble?" Kaho laughed, "You!"

"What can I say, I was always sticking my nose into places it didn't belong. You're so sensible though, Kaho, I'm sure you won't do that." 

Kaho made a non-committal sound, drawing her mug to her lips and taking a sip of her tea. 

"Are you still wanting to go to that beach clean up during the next school break? I need to book your train and accommodation, or have you been bitten by a bug for some other passion now." 

Kaho wrinkled her nose, "Nope. Marine biology and conservation all the way, I don't want the dolphins or the orcas to die." 

Mrs Aigawa looked up from where she was touching her toes, "What about the tuna, and the salmon?" 

Kaho laughed, "Not the devil's advocate again! In order to make major change the whole world would need to change their ideas about eating fish. One person stopping won't save a fish. I'm not going to go to the coast and see people eating roasted orca kebabs." 

Mrs Aigawa's face seemed to contort in front of Kaho's face into a cruel, sneer, "It should be okay for the Energetic parasites to prey on the soul Lifeform's in the humanoid populations then." 

"What?" Kaho yelped, rearing back. 

She dropped her tea on the floor, mug shattering on the tiled floor.

"Kaho!" Mrs Aigawa said, standing upright and ushering her away from the shards of ceramic on the floor, "Oh, Kaho, are you alright? It was like you short-circuited! Are you okay?" 

Kaho stepped back, "What were you saying about humans being parasites?" 

"What? I mean? I won't say we're not killing the planet, but calling our species parasitic is a bit much. Kaho, are you alright?" 

She screwed her eyes shut and shook her head furiously.

"Shh, shh. It's okay."

But it wasn't. Something had spoken to her, enthralled her and made her think something had happened. Her knees buckled. 

"I'll clean all this up. Go play Mario with your sister, okay?" 

Kaho nodded, but her eyes were narrowed, boring into her mother's face, looking for inconsistencies, like she was still being puppeteered by whatever had made her say that. Or, was it her? Was she so sleep-deprived she was daydreaming and putting words in her mother's mouth?