Title: Fade
Fandom: Slam Dunk
Characters: Myth, Fuji, plus various appearances.
Rating: PG for language
Disclaimer: The characters of Slam Dunk by Takehiko Inoue is ©: time passes, the magic remains intact.
Thanks to Stephen King and his The Body, published in Italy by Sperling & Kupfer in the collection "Different Seasons".
Notes: The streets are divided at times, whether we like it or not. Friends change, or maybe we do it: in the end it makes no difference. From a famous image dell'artbook and Chapter 186, a short story long remained in the drawer and dedicated to a character that I really loved. Tell us about something simple and complex as the friendship ... or at least that was the intention.
The photo had ended in the hands emptying a drawer of the desk as he prepared to move. It was ruined, with the corners overblown and a crack that crossed from one side, but without spoiling any of the people's faces portrayed. A curious thing, it seemed almost a form of respect for the magic of memory, which in fact had remained the same and had sucked all of a sudden.
decade.
A lot of time, he thought, turning it over in his fingers.
Look ... we fucked up faces
If I remember well the day when they had taken, and remembered better than the girl who had given him two years after that copy , shortly before leaving from Kanagawa, in a red envelope with his name above the kanji of the paths with a large black marker. There was she in the photo, that looking over my shoulder with that funny expression.
"Hold You", had told him, embracing him. "And sometimes think of me."
He had done much more than occasionally, but had also done away with the picture because it had indeed set a perfect time, the promises that were followed and many other things, yet had not been able to tell the most important of all, namely how and why they had ended up in the middle of the group, their own that had nothing to do.
***
It was still spring, but the sky looked like the hotter the summer, and as usual the group did not need to agree. The first to arrive was Takamiya, who had to kill time decorated with colorful glass wafted in the room. As expected Okusu Noma and had reached a little later and in the end had come too Myth and Sakuragi, walking slow, shuffling steps, planted his hands in his pockets and his eyes half-closed to shelter from the stinging rays of the sun. En route, the two had established the absolute need for the purchase of sunglasses that not only protect the view of the new genius of basketball, would have undoubtedly played their part with (if any) girls. Stops in front of the pachinko, the five were trying to better organize the usual Sunday ritual, fancazzismo to the bitter end, when he materialized a diversion so unusual as surprising: the monkey and his trainer Kainan, aka Maki Kiyota Nobunaga and Shin'ichi .
Apart from the obvious and embarrassing curtain between Kiyota and Sakuragi, others were born somewhere between amused and resigned, when the captain of Kainan had mentioned the "Star Aichi and the National League's expression had changed Sakuragi, and the same had happened to one of his friends and Myth in particular, whose features had been distorted in a subtle bitter grimace. In a sense he hated Maki and his few words, what would you want to join us that there seemed to be thrown at random, a neutral phrase, yet balanced enough to whet the curiosity and boisterous egotism of Sakuragi. It was the tone of voice, one bass and a solid accustomed to being obeyed without much effort? O look, almost detached and ironic, of sufficiency? In any case, Maki had succeeded in taming a few minutes and perhaps Hanamichi ... Takamiya, for once, was the most perceptive of all nell'affibbiargli the nickname offensive.
Eventually the red had followed the two of Kainan, shamefully, the so-called "star" and asking a furious Kiyota money for the train ticket. And, for the first time in years, had left to itself the glorious Army.
Mito, Takamiya, Noma Okusu and had watched them leave and then, orphans of their spearhead, were finally gone. Again Takamiya was the first to set a good example of a colonizing of pachinko machines, your ass glued to the chair and his eyes to the screen. For some time there had been only the sound and hypnotic rhythm of the iron balls and improvised along chaotic trajectories, then Noma had given voice to the thoughts of all.
"Ugh ... now also Hanamichi has completely lost his mind for basketball."
Mito he realized immediately that particular, the choice of the proper name and not the usual Sakuragi. Takamiya and Okusu had not done praying and throwing in the uproar that had taken for a ride, the famous athlete who had no more time for ordinary mortals, but not hide his disappointment then they were so good.
eyes fixed on the screen, Mito had heard his voice come out slowly, as if he were chewing the syllables.
"However, I must say it looks pretty funny. Basketball, I say. "
Even the sound of marbles, strong in his ears, to cover a lighter sound and subtle but equally disturbing that gnaw the base of the neck. Jealousy? No, jealousy was a feeling too trivial for Myth, a word too stupid, good only to tease.
Envy, then? Here, This rather frightened him, because it was something very cruel and terribly true .... Envy, yes. Why now Sakuragi was a star, people turned to look at when going through the corridors of high school and some girls giggled and nudged each other, even though he was too busy to notice by Haruko. But it was not even that was not his success to bother him. It was something deeper, which put pressure on points hidden and unexpected. It was the sudden explosion of his talent? Yes ... because all of a sudden Sakuragi was better than him. Until then, there were no differences between them and indeed, in some how he felt one step ahead. More adult, Myth, more responsible, stronger, and Sakuragi seemed to have needed him. Like when he took the blame for the brawl in the gym. A nice gesture, they had all thought, and even myth had believed for a while ', as he shrugged his shoulders and pretending to be talking to Haruko detachment that was far from feeling.
The gesture of a true friend. Yeah.
"And if I had not defended?" I think more and more often. And if Sakuragi and the others were suspended if the basketball club ... si fosse sciolto… se… se… Si chiedeva se sarebbe rimasto tutto uguale. La mitica Armata, i pomeriggi al pachinko, le risse, il perdersi dentro giornate sempre identiche, tutti insieme a condividere le stesse emozioni e la stessa vita… Magari era noioso o addirittura deprimente, sotto certi punti di vista, e allora avrebbe dovuto essere contento per Sakuragi, per la gioia fanciullesca e contagiosa che gli illuminava il viso ogni volta che parlava di quella stupida palla a spicchi, ogni volta che si accapigliava con Rukawa, ogni volta che si beccava i rimproveri del Gorilla, ogni volta che usciva dallo spogliatoio e si metteva a blaterare della fantastica azione che era riuscito a concludere…
The friendship was this, no?
Instead ... Instead Myth listened to him and smiled in silence, his lips turned up but did not reach the eyes. The bluster irritated him, laughter acute hurt his ears and increasingly was to invent an excuse to go to school alone, in the morning. The truth was that, from his action, to take the blame that his principal's office, their paths were divided Hanamichi and began to walk away, like a balloon that gets out of hand on a windy day , and all I could do was stay Myth staring at the sky, palm outstretched upwards. Follow up with eyes to see it disappear behind the clouds, merging with the sun.
Solitude. Envy and loneliness. Ugly beasts, those who feast with the brain without leaving even a crumb, and then go to the heart. That turn a hot sunny afternoon in a cloak of fog subtle and dense.
Takamiya was to shake him by the spiral of dark thoughts. Actually their cry shook the whole pachinko, and all for a packet of tissues with above absurd frog with eyes wide open. At that moment the envy of Sakuragi, traveling with Maki and Kiyota to Aichi, was almost blinding.
was almost hatred.
Why Sakuragi spoke another language now, was launched into a new and much better world, while he was nailed on that plastic chair, a day after another, and there was no talent to appeal to, and therefore there was no choice. Would have remained a step behind, forever.
***
"You use that bucket?"
"Eh? No ... "
" passamelo Then, we reverse the garbage. "
The extensions to the container with listless and began to wipe the floor of the classroom. This was something that was really a pain, there was nothing I hated more than the entire education system, not even rule on that ridiculous haircut. If you do not even cleaned her, stationed, what fucking reason was to spend one afternoon a month to clear up a class of twenty-five assholes? And to make matters worse, he would always shift with impossible people. Noma was not a dick Takamiya and undertook but it was absolutely denied and dirty instead of clean, while the girls put on that air efficiently from home and blasted to a minimum error.
And now ... now he had touched the Sphinx. Haruko's friend, Fuji. Always annoyed with that phrase, those orders disguised as required and that air of sufficiency that did not bother to hide when they watched the matches from the stands. Beautiful was that you were not obliged to make conversation, because so much spitting monosyllabic answer "yes", "no" and little else. This could also be an advantage, and it was secure every time you looked back at the turn of cleaning with Yamada, who had stoned a shrill laughter and chat absurd.
When it was brought rags and brooms in the closet down the hall and returned to class to retrieve the folder, then headed for the exit and greeted with a simple "hello" before parting ways and achieve their lockers. It was only three, but in the courtyard of Shohoku there was nobody waiting for him. Myth With a sigh she sat on the steps and rubbed the soles against the gravel, raising clouds of gray dust.
"Well, you have your minions in the lurch? "said the voice behind him.
"I could get the same question," he said, standing up without looking back. "Why is your girlfriends are not there?"
Fuji down the steps and began to walk away but, with eyes as he followed the movements of her dress, the myth was told.
"Matsui has a question and ran home tomorrow ... I do not know Haruko. I have not seen for days ... "Fuji turned to look. "He'll be planning your trip to Hiroshima," he concluded dry.
"Oh, yeah ... Hiroshima," said laconically. "The National League ..."
"Honour and glory to the school Shohoku, right?" She continued, bending his head to one side, a movement that found in the ear lobe and he shine a little brighter.
"Am I wrong or is there a slight vein of irony in your statement? "
The sudden loquacity of the clearing Fuji.
"Well, just a thread ... you want the truth?" He took a short break as you move the folder to hand to hand. Myth recoiled instinctively, almost had to dodge a blow coming, but despite this the words of Fuji took him by surprise anyway, thrown out like a punch in the stomach full.
"I basketball I do not give a shit."
"Then how come you do not lose a game?"
"And you, how come you do not lose one?"
** *
"There are times when I hate her," Fuji said between his teeth. "Where to pick up his little face by a slap that naive, hoping to make her understand just a little 'how I feel."
threw down the last sip a glass of Coke and crumpled in his fist . Sitting next to she Myth slipped a handful of chips in the mouth and said nothing, but handed back on the bench and allowed himself enveloped by the warmth of the sun. It had taken off his uniform jacket and had half a mind to take off your shoes too, but decided against it. He was not sure to wear socks without holes.
"I do not know why I come to tell you these things ..."
"Why do not you know me," he said with his mouth full. "They say it is easier to talk to strangers."
She grimaced Myth dried and lifted his free hand, touching his temple with his forefinger.
"And especially because you have to be completely normal."
Instead of answering, Fuji took the bag from his hands and crumpled as he did with his glass, he aimed ; the waste basket and shot a beautiful shot from three, centering it in full.
"I'm very impressed, but I'd like you to note that there were still some fries in it ..." Mito said following the path of the foil with hungry eyes and disappointed.
"Oh, sorry. But you know, are in the club's archery ... is not the aim but I'm missing. You in that club are you? "
" In theory, that of baseball. In practice no one. "
" Okay, "she said, banging his hands on his knees," you want me tell you a pathetic story? Haruko and I have known since Kindergarten. We live a few blocks from each other and can be say that we grew up together. As sisters. Same clothes, same passions, even their first crush was the same guy. Except for basketball, of course. Sometimes she and her brother convinced him to play with them, but gave in only after long and exhausting negotiations. An hour of basketball for two Mah-Jong, for example ... But it was something fun and certainly not an obstacle. There was a lot more to keep us connected. Then we come to Shohoku, sees Rukawa her and from that moment nothing else exists. Or rather, there are also Sakuragi and Takenori, but I do not know what I mean ... it's completely game. "
nodded Myth and awaited the result.
"But basketball is not even the issue ... well, it always has been, he was also fanatical average. Nor Rukawa, who earlier did a lot to me, that do not cagherà if ever. "
Fuji ran a curl behind her ear, looking more appropriate words. The earring shone again, small and discreet. "I do not know if I have to be changed, if she is or if we are both ... but I feel that now things are different. It is as if we were suddenly ended up two trains traveling in opposite directions on parallel tracks. We can see, we can talk ... but we can not reach. You know what I mean? "
Oh yes ... the Myth understood how.
"You know when the team went into withdrawal and you helped Sakuragi in those special training? In those days I did was call and tell me what was better, what was great, as it could do for the Shohoku ... And keep in mind that, as he spent his days in that fucking gym, we saw very little. I stood clutching the phone, listened to his monologue and did some commentary for the occasion. Then I was put down and the Magone. "
" Why? "
Fuji leaned in the same position of Myth, folded his hands on his belly and pushed the legs to the sun, throwing his head and closing his eyes.
"Hmm ... this actually prefer not to tell, but already there are ... A guy the third year I had just downloaded. It was also nice, you know? I was there I wanted to die, as red as the wax that is used for the seals ... and he said he was flattered but that he liked another and therefore could not accept. "
spoke Fuji and continued to keep their eyes closed. Her voice came out of the gorge, deep and slow.
"It could be humiliating, but it was just sad. But I had no one to tell it, because Haruko at this moment there are only the national championship, Sakuragi and Rukawa ... Indeed, we Rukawa's all. "
He turned his head and opened his eyes to the myth, finding that the boy was watching her profile, her eyebrows furrowed and her cheek resting on the forearm bent.
"Do not get me wrong ... we talked, of course. And she has followed the standard procedure: he has embraced and consoled me and said a lot of nice things ... did not even confide who insisted that the senpai was concerned ... I could say it was just perfect. But in this case would not be a compliment. "
Myth did not answer and once again the expected result.
"recognition. Here's how it was our conversation ... I could do the same with the school psychologist, "he said with a sad smile.
When they greet Haruko had said something like, call me if you need it, and was probably sincere while holding hands ... but the fact was that it was a lie. She needed here and now, and her best friend was not there. On the other hand, sat next to a guy with whom he had taken during the year so and no two sentences and that he believed a complete idiot. Was talking to him without falsehood and without fears, very personal things, and really crazy in all this was that he was to listen to it seriously and carefully.
"Want to know how I knew but Sakuragi? At the after-school averages, the one where they send their thugs and retards who need to recover the negative votes, "he whispered Myth. "And Noma and others, all in the same band. We spent the afternoons messing around and invent ways to get the least results with minimum effort. And we were pretty good, "he added, laughing quietly. "Having the reputation of bully is not so bad ... we do a lot of friends. "
sat up and leaned his elbows on his knees, leaving his hands dangling in the air. It was true. She did not remember those days better spent on after-school, where, paradoxically, was to count as your grades were low, if you had already tried to rub something in a shop without getting caught and stuff like that. Although he had always felt a little 'out of place, and meet Hanamichi was like the thousands yen in the street, a great stroke of luck. Mutual, he was convinced, and yet the fortune Sakuragi were of the Shohoku and basketball.
"I sometimes hate it. I would listen to him speak and to shatter his face. The things he says, as he tells his new friends ... fucking ... But it's not his fault. It's actually my fault. I can not accept change, even though I knew it would happen. It's too fast, "he said almost to himself. "I wish I had more time ... more than words ..."
"I know not ... nobody's fault, I think. And in any case it makes no difference, because it hurts, right? As a betrayal. "
" Yeah. "He looked at her new face. "Anyway the important thing is knowing how to cash in on the hit and damage limitation."
"Um ... but thou hast spoken?"
"A Sakuragi? Shit, no. What do I say? That is leaving me alone? What am I missing? At the very least would give me the fag, "he said tightening his lips. "Sorry Fuji ... but seriously, what would?"
Fuji did not answer, because myth was right. There were things that were simply understand, feel, or at least guessed. It made no sense to say, it was like doing a translation from English or solve an equation and match the data, x equals y. Put them on paper or give them a voice, even shouting, would not be used to erase the fear of change, to soften the loss of separation. I wish I had more words, he said Mito. Knowing full well that all the vocabularies of all languages of the world would not be enough if the other was not listening to you, if you do not even remotely imagine what was going on.
They stood in silence as the sky began to dye the colors of the sunset. A light wind blowing, which made the sound of leaves above them an unceasing murmur, like that of the waves or the rain of certain afternoons. The blue fading to pink and then nell'arancio, the sun cut the sky with golden streaks violent and began to sink slowly and cautiously into the sea, like a swimmer who is sensitive to cold water.
"You are an interesting guy, Fuji ..." he said, getting up in Mito feet.
"Yeah, right," she said imitating his gesture and picking up the folder from the ground.
"Look, I'm trying not ... can you imagine that we would be ridiculous pair? The best friend's best friend and Hanamichi Haruko ... "he said spreading his arms and stretching lazy.
Fuji smiled and handed him a blow on the chest with the back of the hand.
"You idiot, I know that there are feeling. Also because of us three are not I the one that interests you ... "he replied looking at the leaves above them.
Myth stood for a moment locked in a funny position to be crucified, the bewilderment on her face painted and unable to think of an answer that was not offensive or not betray the truth of that statement as outlined in the silence of the park . Then he blew the air out of the lungs and laughed, and was the first genuine laugh that came out a long time.
"Collect all I have said, Fuji. You're just a bitch. Rather ... I know, this guy in the third year? "
" Sure. The whole school knows him. It is very tall, very big and play basketball. Do you want the shirt number or you get there by yourself? "
Myth laughed again and shrugged her shoulders. There was really nothing more to add.
"So, we go to see the championship?" He said putting on the uniform jacket.
"I have no idea. Among other things, a ticket costs a bundle of money ... "Fuji stared at a point behind Myth of the shoulders and blinked a few times, then brought in his eyes and turned the question: "What about you?"
He left the top button undone and returned that look warm and melancholy.
"I have no idea ..." was the identical response.
But both knew that we would go. And once again they would have swallowed the anger and smile, and she to him to Hanamichi Haruko. Would take place in the stands in the front row, and would have cheered up to wear out your vocal cords and peeling hands, and in the unlikely event of a triumph of Shohoku were tears of joy and flooded the field, screaming and jumping like madmen. And maybe they could even be immortalized in official photos.
At the end of friendship is this, no?
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