22Haruto's Point of View
"Yes, I finally swam a whole kilo!" I yelled with excitement, before I looked at Shin in the lane next to my own. It seemed like he had swam a lot more than I had despite the fact we started at the exact same time.
In case it wasn't obvious, our football team was using the pool for practice today. My stamina paled in comparison to Shin's - which should be obvious since he's just swam more than one kilometer, but this was my first time being able to even complete a kilometer while swimming.
Sometimes I hate him. It's probably just jealousy, but there are some days where I just want to kill him; fortunately, there are very few of those days.
However, if I were completely honest with myself I'd be able to look over the difference in our abilities because that's not the real reason behind my jealousy.
Whenever his parents come to games, they're there to cheer him on. They don't care if we win or lose, as long as he does his best. They act like a real family.
My parents, on the other hand, are the complete opposite. It's obvious that they care about me, but I'm wondering why they care at all. Even when our team wins, it's not like I'm the one that scored the touchdown or made the field goal. It's usually Shin or one of the other receivers making the touchdowns every goddamn time. Normally, a parent would be happy that their child was able to even play...but not my parents. They yell at me asking why I wasn't able to catch that pass, or get past that lineman - or whatever they feel like yelling at me for. It's like nothing ever pleases them.
People ask all the time if the three of us are even related. At first, it surprised me - mostly because Suzaku and Ayana have been raising me for as long as I can remember. As I got older, though, I realized something.
They're nothing like me. I have blond hair, but Suzaku and Ayana both have black hair. My eyes are light brown, while Suzaku's eyes are green and Ayana's are blue. They both seem to be naturals at sports, while I actually have to work at it - and I'm still worse than the majority of my teammates.
Honestly, I wonder how Monta-kun does it. Everyone at his school only pays attention to Sena-kun, more commonly known as Eyeshield 21, but he still seems so cheerful. Yet, here I am moping about the fact that my parents probably aren't even my parents.
More importantly, if Suzaku and Ayana aren't my parents - then why aren't I living with my real parents...it makes no sense. Are they dead or something? If they are, then I won't get mad since there would be nobody to yell at, anyway. I guess I'd be upset if they were actually alive though. I mean, if they're alive, then why couldn't they try finding me?
Shogun's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, "Alright, everyone. I've just received a notice from the league. Apparently, all players are being required to take a blood test because of the recently passed Family Reconstruction Act. I honestly don't see the point in it, since if any of us really wanted to, we could just do it ourselves - but anybody that doesn't do it is ineligible for the Kanto Tournament. They say that 'some people might have been tricked to believe all their relatives are dead or that they might not care' - of course, I think it's bullshit, but it's required so get on the bus now!"
Wait...Family Reconstruction Act? I never heard about this...maybe this is my chance to find out if I'm really not Suzaku and Ayana's son.
*on the bus*
Takami-senpai asked me, "Are you alright, Sakuraba-kun?"
I nodded and said, "Of course, why wouldn't I be?"
He sighed, "It's just that you've been acting weird since the Shogun brought up that Family Reconstruction Act back at school."
I replied, "Oh...that. Well, you know how everyone always acts surprised when my family introduces each other. They always say stuff like 'is he really your son?' or they'll say 'there is no way those two are your parents' - and to be honest, I just want to find out once and for all. My whole life has been like this. Plus, if they're not my real parents, and my real parents are somewhere else - then I can ask my real parents why they didn't bother looking for me...I guess that's what's really on my mind."
Otawara-senpai decided to cut in, "I doubt your parents didn't try looking for you."
Takami-senpai agreed with Otawara-senpai, "He's right. Chances are, your parents did try finding you but kept arriving at dead ends. They're probably hoping that you'll pop up somewhere."
Shogun's voice could be heard throughout the whole bus, "We're here - now get off so we can get this thing over with!"
The whole team proceeded to walk off of the bus.
*at Preventers HQ*
Shogun asked the lady leading us into the building, "Why couldn't we just go to a normal doctor's office?"
The lady replied, "They don't have access to the international database. Now, if you'll let us start, you'll be out of here a lot faster. We'll be going in alphabetical order."
One-by-one, we all had our blood taken. Most of us just relaxed afterwards, but I was actually getting quite anxious. If there was a hit, maybe I could ditch Suzaku and Ayana. My real parents would let me live with them, right?
Shogun was muttering to himself, "Goddammit! They should have told us we'd have to stay here so they can actually test the DNA."
That's when the nurse came out. She said, "One of you actually had a match."
Shogun looked up and asked, "Who?"
The nurse sighed, "Sakuraba Haruto."
The whole team - with the exception of Shin, Takami, and I - was in shock. I asked the nurse, "What? Who are they? More importantly, where are they?"
The nurse said, "Calm down. I have the file right here, but I'll tell you right now that your mother is dead." Then, she handed me the file.
Shogun glared at me, as if he was ordering me to open it - so I did just that. Like the nurse said, my mother, Cavallone Shizuka was dead - and it looks like it happened during childbirth, so I guess that's my fault.
However, the name of my father was what surprised me.
Cavallone Dino.
I looked at my teammates. Takami looked shocked, yet happy, at the revelation. I asked him what he was thinking about.
He smiled and said, "Looks like Otawara and I were right. Your parents did look for you." He paused for a moment, "My uncle was told by his boss, who was asked by an old friend, to look for someone that didn't seem to fit in with the family they lived with."
His smile turned into a frown, "I guess you won't be competing in the Kanto Tournament."
I was shocked by his statement. "What do you mean? Of course I'm competing!"
He shook his head, "Your father was probably contacted already. From what my uncle says, there's no way he'd let you stay in Japan." He paused and sighed, "He'll most likely take you to Italy - where you should have been raised."
I grimaced. Then I said, "Maybe I can convince him to let me stay...if I stay with one of his friends, then it shouldn't be too bad, right?"
A new voice said, "I'm afraid there's only a few people I'd be willing to trust with your safety."
All of us turned around. My eyes widened, and out of my peripherals, I could see that my teammates' eyes had widened as well. They seemed to have noticed something about this person too...
He looked exactly like me, just older.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well, that's chapter one! Going to write chapter two tomorrow. Not required for me to post, but please review!