Chapter 5: Hideki's Introduction to Basketball
Ryoma and Taeko visited Kanai while it was her day off at the cafe, as it was Hideki's birthday next week, Ryoma and Taeko brought Hideki to the mall so that Kanai could also rest, as she wanted to rest too. Hideki was just a very simple child, even going to the mall is a big thing for him, as long as he is with his family he is happy.
Ryoma brought Hideki to the kid's playground to play with kids his age and maybe develop a friendship there, Ryoma and Taeko was just watching Hideki make friends (for the day) and play with them. They saw Kanai's quirk in him, a very friendly person.
After Hideki played for hours, he began to get tired so Ryoma fetched his grandson and proceeded to take a break and eat at a restaurant in the mall, they ate in a Ramen place which it was the first time for Hideki. The good thing was that there was a "kiddie meal" variety which is good for kids' consumption.
After eating at the Ramen place, Taeko then brought Hideki to a candy store, Hideki just got white chocolate as he and his mom liked white chocolate. Hideki ate the chocolates with his grandparents.
After a whole day at the mall with the old couple buying groceries for Kanai's apartment, the Takeuchi family then decided to back to Kanai's apartment. But as they passed the exit they passed by a sports store with a Michael Jordan cutout and an orange basketball.
Hideki pulled Ryoma's hand and asked him "Grandpa, can you buy me that basketball?" Hideki was pointing at the basketball, Ryoma told him "Sorry Hideki we can't buy that, we're Japanese so we're not that great at basketball", Ryoma then gently pulled Hideki so they could get to his car.
For the first time in his life Hideki felt that what Ryoma said was pure BS, so in an act of kidly desperation, Hideki wanted to throw a tantrum at Ryoma but in a private place so they both wouldn't get public shame.
At the car, Hideki slammed the car door shut and had a pouting angry face while shedding tears, he may be passive-aggressive but he wants to show his grandparents that he doesn't want BS coming his way. So the whole trip back to the apartment he was dead silent, even if Ryoma was asking questions he didn't answer him.
Yeah, he may have been an adult his past life, but in this life, he's a child once so he wants to throw a fit if anything about basketball was not followed. Also it's not as if basketball did something bad to him or his family as far as he knew.
As soon as they arrived, Hideki ran to his mom's room and bed and lied there crying loudly. Of course as a caring mother, Kanai consoles Hideki and asks what happened Hideki told her "Grandpa doesn't want to buy me a basketball." Hideki sniffled and then said "He doesn't want me to play basketball. But I really want to try it" then he wailed loudly enough for Ryoma and Taeko to hear from the living room.
After 30 minutes, Hideki got tired of crying and fell asleep, well he tried to feign sleeping but he can't his body couldn't, but he was trying to stay awake. Kanai fixed Hideki and placed a comforter on top of him. As Kanai exited the room, she closed the door gently.
In the living room, Ryoma and Taeko were still there, normally if the old couple were there they would bond with Kanai and Hideki, but today was a unique day, to say the least. Kanai served her parents a cup of tea and as they sat down she gently asked "Why?"
Ryoma just simply shrugged and said "Well, we're Japanese honey, we aren't that great at basketball"
Kanai then raised an eyebrow and said "Oh really? Then why did you throw Hideki's favorite toy? That basketball that Aida-san brought on his first birthday?"
Ryoma just stood there not answering.
Kanai prod and asked, "Is it because of his deadbeat dad?"
Ryoma flinched and Kanai saw this so she pounced on the opportunity, Kanai asked with a louder voice, "If you're angry with that bastard then let it out on him, not to Hideki DAD!"
Kanai was now glaring at Ryoma and said with a still loud voice like earlier, "He's not him! He does not have to bear his father's sins, nor be punished for it Dad. I know he loved basketball like his father"
Knowing that things may get more violent she sighed and told Ryoma "Dad, if Hideki wants to play basketball, then let him play, teach him or not. Just don't deny him the pleasure of having happiness, as far as I have cared for Hideki, he liked anything related to basketball."
Kanai got to the front door and opened it and told Ryoma without a chance to rebut, "Please leave for now, and come back next time with an apology. He was really upset and may not want to hear from you today."
Ryoma felt defeated and deflated with what he had done to his favorite grandson so he followed Kanai and left the apartment Taeko hugged Kanai before following Ryoma outside.
As Kanai closed the door, she sat on the chair in the living room and sighed, she knew that Matt was a deadbeat dad, he left her for a better life in the USA but Ryoma didn't have to do that and deny Hideki happiness, it's not life-threatening or dangerous like an extreme sport.
Kanai then went to her room and lay beside Hideki to hug and comfort him. What she didn't know was Hideki heard her outburst earlier and now feels conflicted. On one hand, his selfish self wants to play basketball, but on the other hand, he may be the sole reason why they would have a misunderstanding or family argument.
Now Hideki is torn as It was between basketball and family.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Pel47
Pel47 Hi Author here.
I wrote this chapter primarily for the little family drama and argument. And what better element to use for this? Of course, Hideki's deadbeat dad who he doesn't know.
Of course this is not all sunshine and rainbows and let his grandpa give to him what he wants, from the father's perspective Matt hurt his daughter. However petty that may be, that's just how dads work.
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