the lead up to the next tournament!

“So you want to fight?”

“No no but I want to give you a tip.”

“Why? you hate us right?”

“Well not necessarily but You want the tip right tomiko?”

“ y-yeah well reichika you want to hear too”

“ hm well fine but! This is for tomiko not for you”

“ Fine but I wasn’t necessarily trying to give you a tip although you could use it.”

“Well anyway your moves weren't original enough granted mine wasn’t I had form you guys didn’t!”

“ Hannah she didn’t do that good but she was original unlike everyone else.”

Originality huh? I was just doing random stuff in a sequence.

“Oh yeah! Tomiko, your moves reminded me of a certain video game. Why is that?!”

“ s-sorry

“ But Why are you telling us this?”

“ I wonder that as well maybe it’s because I see you as someone to compete with.”

“ s-so I’m your rival?”

“ no way tomiko you we’re good but do better.”

“ Well I still consider you my rival so horoto I'll beat you no matter what!”

“ Do whatever you want, loser! See ya In the next competition.”

“ oh yeah that! Yeah see you then.”

I have no idea why he reminds me so much of bruno ranton but I don’t hate horto Like I hate bruno It’s weird you’d think I’d hate them both maybe because I see horto as a rival… No It's because horto Pushes me to do better right? Why I can’t figure it out yet I don’t know Horto enough to judge him yet.

“ Come on Tomiko, your mom’s probably worried? I know mine will be.”

So I haven't figured Horto out fully. Who cares? I'll figure him out someday and when I do will I Hate him. Hey, there is only one way to find out right! I’ll figure him out through his skating. This is getting exciting!

Half an hour later I parted with reichika as we reached her house. I wasn't in any particular rush to get home so I got some cup ramen from the convenience store and then was back at my house.

What’s it say this time?

“ hey tomi workin` late wish me luck sorry I can’t be there with you too much love you

Mom.“

My mom usually works from noon to 3am so I never really get to see her. I can't believe dad didn’t put mom in his will. This is all his fault he was a foolish man but I can’t help but love him. I mean he is my dad after all.

THE NEXT MORNING…

Every morning I wake up at 3:30 this may seem inconvenient but this is when my mom get’s home so I get to say hello I eat breakfast brush my teeth make something for my mom before she has to go to work later it’s usually very large like 3 hamburgers and fries I don’t think she wants to eat all of it though.

Today I went all out in making a meal. I made her sushi rolls, ramen and teriyaki chicken. Since she works so long I make it extra filling! It probably hurts more than it helps but I make sure she will be full so she doesn't have to buy food on her way home. I won't say we're poor but we don’t really have extra money for fast food every day.

“Hey tomi you headin to school?”

“Yeah food is in the fridge as usual!”

“Well, be safe, see you!”

My mom may not be there too much but she always shows her love for me and for me at least that’s more than enough one day I’ll make it as a successful skater and then I can help mom out. I will be the best not just in Japan but the whole world!

AT SCHOOL…

“ ah! Tomiko, hey I got you a thank you present!!!”

“H-huh? Mr Braun you shouldn’t have. I didn't do it for a reward, I did it to be nice.”

“ Well of course Tomiko I was your teacher. I know you wouldn’t do something expecting a reward but I felt bad not getting you something… b-but that was the most fun I’ve ever had so thank you so much and please accept this gift!!!”

“W-well if you insist! Thanks so much!”

Now let's see what’s in here. Wait first I want to guess hm? Let’s see. It's a small box, maybe led lights for my wheels!!!

O-oh It’s a maintenance tool this was certainly unexpected but I appreciate the thought thanks Mr Braun!

ELSEWHERE!!!

“ HOLD ON REICHIKA!!!”

“ Oh! sup Mr Braun how ya doin?”

“ I-I got you something for what you did the other day I just gave Tomiko her gift. I tried to get something useful for skaters I-I know how hard it must be taking care of your equipment so I got a maintenance tool!!”

“ oh wow I always wanted something for maintenance thanks!!”

“ o-oh yeah no problem well see ya!!!”

AFTER SCHOOL…

“ Hey tomi you back?”

“ Yeah mom But not for long. I just have to grab a few things.”

“Aww we never spend time together, let’s watch a movie or somethin”

“ No. Just go ahead and sleep, you work a lot, maybe we could watch a movie on your day off okay?”

“ Fine but we will watch that movie on my next day off!”

“ Fine, fine, well I’m heading out to the skate park so see you.”

“BYE!! Love you.”

“ Hey Tomiko, you heard the news?”

“ yeah you mean the road to florida girls tourney?”

“ yeah so are you entering?”

“ Well I can't. It's all the way in America and I can’t leave my mom all alone. She would be broke WIthout my cooking.”

“ Well I bet you didn’t know There’s a cash prize associated with winning.”

“ Really, how much? It might be worth It to cook a few meals In advance for her.”

“ drumroll please dun! Dun! Dun ! Dun! $5,000!!!”

*Roughly 723,695.00 yen ( according to google)*

“ No way! Each meal is about 5,000 yen”

(34 usd roughly)

Well I guess If I cook 5 meals in advance It should give enough padding… maybe I should enter.

“ well anyway I’m entering I really think you should you might beat me again though so I won’t push you too much hahaha”

“ you know what I think I will enter thanks reichika It starts In a week Money will be a problem but I think It’ll be fine!”