Author's Rant:
Greetings Earthlings! Shohoku no Miko landed here in front of the PC and heck, I can't wait to type this dream of mine! Actually this dream has been bothering me everyday and I want to type it now, so I may not forget it. And the fact that the Slam Dunk Charcters are the protagonists in this dream, I simply know that it will fit for my next fanfiction.
Dedication: To all those who read my previous fics, "The Search Is Over", "I'll Be..." and "Angel". I also dedicate this to all my tomodachi's out there... You know who you are. And lastly to MidoriTenshiSakura, my evil twin sister. This one's for your never ending love of Slam Dunk. [And mine too!]
How I wish that Kiyota Nobunaga and Miyagi Ryota were mine... but they're not! And so is Slam Dunk!
The Case Of The Missing Diary
by Shohoku no Miko
Chapter One: Finders Keepers, Losers... What?
She finished packing up all the things she needed to bring with her home and put the backpack on. She was restraining herself from causing havoc. There was turmoil going on inside of her and she wanted to throw the books on the bookshelf, then shatter the vase with her own hands, and send the mop flying out of the window. She sat down again, grabbed a notebook in her bag and threw it above her desk, and brought out the fountain pen she has been using to write in that particular thing. Some of the students were startled by what she did. She looked up and glared at them, and they all looked away, pretending they saw and heard nothing.
Ayako started writing on the notebook sitting on her desk. One by one the students in their class were decreasing, the students remaining inside the room can be counted with the fingers on her left hand.
Dear Diary,
I know it's not like me to write as it is not yet the end of the day, but I can't help it. This day is too much for me. First, my oto-sama, the so-called General of the Kanagawa. He scolded me while we were having breakfast. Not only did he not respect the food we were eating, but he humiliated me. Yeah, it wasn't really humuliating since the only people in sitting around the table are my oka-sama, nee-chan and Yuri-imotochan. But he was yelling like thunder and I know the people in the streets passing by could hear him clearly!
Ugh...
He said that I should quit being the manageress of the team. Hell NO! Why should I quit? Well he was just *informed* that *I* was having an affair. Take note: AFFAIR with a team member. And guess who it is...
Mitsui-sempai.
Yeah, *Mitsui-sempai*. Of all people in Japan, *HIM*? A sempai? I wouldn't dare to. Not that I did not like him. Sure, he is handsome, but he's not quite my type. And I don't want to have an affair with my senior, for Pete's sake! I asked him where he got the idea of Mitsui-sempai and I having an affair. And as I expected, he got it from our neighbor, Sasami-chan. Like, hello? She's just jealous because I get to spend time with her *beloved* Mitsui! Then he even wanted to drive me to school and fetch me from school so that he makes sure I don't go anywhere but there. Hah! Like I would be going to some place else after school... Except the gym where the Shohoku Team practices. I just hate it when he treats us like his soldiers training for battle, leaving us with no choice and making us answer 'Sir yes Sir'...
Next, our Trigonometry teacher, Suzuki-sensei, told me that he wanted me to represent the juniors in an upcoming Math Quiz Bee in the prefecture. Not that I don't want to, it's just that he wanted me to stay after classes and review with him, just for that stupid quiz bee!
And that means giving up my time after class, giving up being the manageress of the team, and giving up what I really wanted to do.
This day sucks. Why does it have to be me? Why does it have to be me, a simple girl living a simple life, following everything her parents tell her, doing her best in school, have to be deprived of the only thing she wanted to do?
"Ayako-san! Ayako-san!" a voice hollered in the hallway.
She looked up from her diary and glanced at the clock. 'Quarter to three... Thirty minutes before practice.' she said to herself as she stood to meet the one who called her. And as she expected the owner of the voice would be, it was Haruko.
"Oi, Haruko! What brings you here?" Ayako said casually, pretending there was nothing wrong with her.
"Ah... Ayako-san... Eh... I... Please come with me, it's important! Onegaishimasu?" Haruko pulled her out of the classroom and down the flight of the stairs, leading to the first floor.
"Okay... Okay... Slow down..." Ayako struggled to minimize the speed, but Haruko pulled her.
Ryota, still sitting on his desk watched as Ayako was pulled by Haruko out of the room. He sighed. "I thought I could go the gym with her today, but it seems Haruko has something to show her. Hah, ganbatte arimasen..."
He stood up and made his way out of the now-empty room, but something on the desk of Ayako caught his eye. "What's this?" He asked to no one in particular as he picked up the item on the desk. The notebook was opened on a page and he proceeded to read it.
As he finished reading the last word written he found out that it was unfinished. He flipped the pages back, then realization struck him. "It's Aya-chan's diary!" He quickly closed it and shove it into his duffel bag, looking at either side of the room to see if someone saw him read it.
Sensing no danger, Ryota sighed audibly and proceeded to the gym.
Practice went on as usual, with Sakuragi and Rukawa bickering at each other, Kogure trying hard to stop them before it's too late, Akagi shouting at the self-proclaimed tensai's ears, Mito and the rest of the Sakuragi gundan making fun of the red-hair, Mitsui laughing at the two fighting and Ayako whacking the freshmen in the head.
'Nothing out of the usual.' Ryota thought. 'It's all right this way. The daily practice would be incomplete if there was someone missing.' He said to himself as an inner smile took over.
Especially if Ayako was not there to cheer him on. 'Nice, Ryota!' He really liked that. He just loves the sound of his name. His FIRST name, coming out of her sweet, tender lips. And how her eyes dance whenever something nice would happen, how her brows would crease if they were in a fix, how her lips would quiver when she tries to suppress her laughter... Everything about her was perfect.
But how come she looks so happy amidst her miseries? How come she could put up a front without anyone noticing how she really feels inside?
Ryota suddenly remembered the things she wrote on her diary. Her oto-sama, the issue her father brought up while having breakfast, thinking she had a relationship with Mitsui, the restriction her oto-san gave her, the trigo quiz bee Suzuki-sensei wanted her to participate in...
And giving up her position in the team.
'Sonna...' Ryota shook his head. No way! He wouldn't allow anybody or anything to deprive his beloved Aya-chan from what she wants to do. And it was only because of her that he joined the team. If Aya-chan was not there, being in the varsity would be at the very far region of his brain.
He heard Akagi shout "Practice's over!", and let out a sigh of relief. 'Finally...' He thought, after a rugged training.
Mitsui noticed the slight change in Ryota's aura. [a/n: Aura doesn't only pertain to magical people, right?] "Oi, Ryota!" He ran to his side.
Ryota looked at him in recognition and smiled. "Mitsui..." He wiped the sweat with the collar of his shirt. [a/n: Like, Basketball players really do that, ne?]
Mitsui saw the lack of enthusiasm in his smile. "Do shou tano? Did you fail your Unit test? Did you lose your wallet? Or did Ayako-san turn you down?"
Ryota laughed half-heartedly. "Saa... Nothing's wrong. Just thinking."
"Thinking? Miyagi Ryota, thinking? About what, my man? Mid-terms, money, folks or girls?"
"None of the above." Ryota said as they grabbed their duffel bag and proceeded to the showers.
"Oh c'mon. There's got to be something you're thinking about." Mitsui inquired of a rather serious point guard.
"Let's go grab some food later. There I would tell you." And the two closed the doors of their respective shower booths.
"So what was it you were going to tell me?" Mitsui chomped on his burger. "Is it something confidential?"
"Not really." Ryota sipped some of his rootbeer. "Do you think it's wrong that you read someone else's diary?"
"Of course. You're invading another person's property."
At the sound of Mitsui's words Ryota spat out the rootbeer in his mouth. "I-it is?"
"Uh-huh. Why? You read your nee-chan's diary?" Mitsui's eyes were smiling at him mischievously.
Ryota knew what Mitsui was thinking. "I didn't! And if I did, I wouldn't tell you what's in it. My nee-chan's not interested in you." Ryota looked away.
"Oh, so you don't want me to be your future brother-in-law? That's too bad, I wanted you to be my future brother-in-law." Mitsui pretended to be hurt.
"Maa... It's not that I read my sister's diary. I... Oh, never mind." Ryota proceeded to munch on his cheeseburger.
"Oh I do mind. You told me you'd tell me. And I want to know what's bothering our little point guard. C'mon, spill!" Mitsui retorted.
"But promise me you won't tell anybody about this, kay?"
"Hai. Watashi wa yakusoku suru. [I promise.]" Mitsui raised his right hand, as if pledging to the Flag of America his loyalty.
Ryota breathed in sharply. "I read Aya-chan's diary."
"You what?" Mitsui hollered, catching some other people's attention. Mitsui smiled sheepishly and mumbled 'gomen ne'. The other customers proceeded to their meals.
"Yeah. I read it. Accidentally." Ryota whispered, and the last word being added at once so as not to make things complicated.
"Oi, Ryota! Mitsui-sempai!"
The two shot dreaded looks at one another at the sound of the voice. They both turned their heads to the direction of the voice and saw a girl with curly hair and cerulean eyes. She was standing next to a little girl, about seven years old. The little girl was the exact opposite of the other one.
"Aya-chan!" the word escaped from Ryota's lips.
"Speaking of the devil..." Mitsui suppressed his laughter.
Ryota kicked his companion on the shin. "She's no devil, she's an angel!" Ryota hissed. Mitsui snarled.
"Hey, what I told you, it's a secret, kay?" Ryota said hastily.
"Hai, hai. Sore wa himitsu desu." He said through gritted teeth.
"Secret? What secret?" Ayako came in front of their table.
"H-huh? It's about Ryoko-chan, my future wife!" Mitsui lied.
"Oh, Ryoko-sempai." Ayako shot a doubtful look at Ryota. He, in turn, shrugged. "Mind if we sit down with you?"
"Oh, we don't mind. C'mon, sit with us." Mitsui helped the little girl up the seat next to him, obliging Ayako to sit down beside Ryota. The little girl eyed him suspiciously but Ayako glared at her, then the girl looked down.
Ayako smiled at Mitsui. "Sorry for my imouto-chan's attitude. She's a bit snobbish when it comes to those she doesn't know."
"Maa... Daijobu. Little girls are really like that." Mitsui replied.
Ryota watched as Ayako smiled at Mitsui. Sure, she looked happy, but there was something wrong...
And her eyes revealed them all.
"So what brings the General's daughters here? Have you eaten dinner?" Ryota fidgeted with the straw of his beverage.
"How did you know that my oto-sama is the general?" Ayako asked, confusion evident in her face.
'Shimatta...' Ryota kicked himself mentally. "Ah... Eh... Everybody in school knows that. Eh... E-he-he-he... Right, Mitsui?" Ryota cast a look at Mitsui.
"Huh? You're the general's daughter?" Mitsui looked shocked.
"She is, Mitsui. Have you forgotten?" Ryota shot him a knowing look.
"She is? Oh, yes, she is!" Mitsui nodded in agreement.
"Oh..." Ayako arched an eyebrow.
"Like I said, what brings you here? Have you eaten dinner?" Ryota gulped the lump forming in his throat.
"Actually I'm taking my imouto-chan to dinner. Oto-sama and Oka-sama had some gathering to attend to, while nee-chan phoned me and told me that she has to sleep over in her classmate's house. And since I went home late, I haven't got the chance to cook. So I took Yuri out for dinner. And it turns out, you're here." Ayako then turned to Ryota. "Please guard Yuri. I'll just take our orders."
"Iiya. I'll just accompany you. Besides Mitsui is here, ne?" Ryota smiled.
"Yeah don't worry about Yuri I'll stay here with her. You two go get food for your dinner." Mitsui smiled slyly at Ryota.
"You sure you'll be all right here Yuri?" Ayako asked her little sister.
"Un, daijobu. I'll wait here, Aya-neechan." Yuri's little voice said.
"Shall we go then?" Ryota's stud gleamed as bright as his smile. Ayako nodded and the two headed to the counter, leaving Mitsui and Yuri.
Yuri looked up curiously to Mitsui. "Ano. Suimasen, nii-chan, demo..."
"Nandesuka, Yuri?" Mitsui asked.
"Are you Mitsui?"
"Hai. Mitsui Hisashi. MVP in Junior High School, 95% Three-Point fieldgoal percentage, jeresy number 14 of Shohoku Basketball Team, and your nee-chan's sempai." MItsui beamed. "Call me Hisa-niichan."
"Are you my Aya-neechan's boyfriend?" Yuri tossed her hair back.
At the sound of the girl's question Mitsui burst into laughter.
"What's so funny, Hisa-niichan?" Yuri pouted, which sent Mitsui laughing all over again. "What?"
"Iiya. I'm definitely not your nee-chan's boyfrined. I've got someone else in mind. You know the one with your nee-chan, Miyagi Ryota?" Mitsui pointed to Ryota, who at that time was at the end of the line with Ayako.
"Uh-huh. What about him?" Yuri asked.
"His nee-chan is my girlfriend. Well, sort of. Soon she'll be. Who gave you that idea anyway?" Mitsui offered her some french fries which she politely declined.
"My oto-sama said that our neighbor, Kaoru-san told him that you and my nee-chan have a relationship." Yuri retorted.
"Saa... We're not lovers. I only like your nee-chan as a friend." Mitsui ate his hamburger heartily. "So where do you study?"
"Tomigaoka Elementary School." She looked away and to the counter, where her elder sister and her friend were. "Ano... Hisa-niichan..."
"Nani?" He noticed that the little girl was looking at the two.
"What's the name of the person with my Aya-neechan again?"
"Aa, Miyagi Ryota. He's your nee-chan's classmate. He's small ne?"
"He is. Demo... does he like my nee-chan?" Yuri looked up to him again.
Mitsui, quite fazed at the little girl's ability to read body language, broke into a grin. "You're a smart girl, Yuri. Come here, I'll tell you a secret." And the little girl listened as Mitsui whispered something in her ear. Ever so slowly, an evil smile formed on the little girl's lips.
"Ryota, could you do me a favor?" Ayako asked as the two of them waited for their turn.
"Fire away." Ryota countered.
"You see... Oh never mind." Ayako turned her head to look away.
"Doushite? What can I do to help you, Aya-chan?" Ryota inquired of worried Ayako. 'Yeah, more like "What can I do to make you love me?"' Ryota thought.
"You see this afternoon I was writing in my diary when Haruko called me. She pulled me into the backyard and I totally forgot about it. I just remembered it when practice was over and when I went back to get it, it's gone." Ayako sounded disturbed.
The line moved and they were up front it was their turn. "Two french fries, one spaghetei, one sundae and two iced teas please." Ayako said to the lady and lady turned to get the order. Then minutes after the lady went back with two french fries and spaghetti. The lady came back with the rest of the orders.
"So what are you going to eat?" Ryota asked.
"Frech fries and Iced Tea. The rest are for Yuri."
"Are you starving yourself? You've got to eat more."
"Un, daijobu. I'm on diet." Ayako picked a french fry and ate it.
"Diet? Honestly, Aya-chan, you're on a diet? You don't look fat to me." Ryota took a good look at her.
"Are you insulting me?" Ayako raised and eyebrow.
"Iie, iie! I'm just telling the truth!" Ryota protested. "Suimasen, ojojo-san, could you add a chicken burger?" Ryota turned to smile at her.
"Mou, Ryota!" Ayako stomped her feet like a little girl.
"That's for you, okay? You've got to eat that or else..." Ryota warned.
The lady brought the chicken burger and placed it on the tray. "That will be Y465.75."
Ayako placed the money on the counter. "Here."
"No here." Ryota pushed the money back to Ayako's hand and placed a Y500 bill on the counter. Then he looked at Ayako. "Dozo..." And he smiled.
The lady got the 500-yen bill and gave the change. "Enjoy your meal." And the two walked away from the counter with Ryota holding the tray.
"Ryota could you help me look for it?" Ayako asked as they walked towards their booth.
Ryota froze in his steps. "Wha-What? Y-You want me to help... you?"
"Onegaishimasu?!" Ayako noticed that she was no longer walking along her companion. She turned and saw Ryota staring off to space. "Oi, Ryo! What's wrong?"
"Huh?" Ryota was taken out of trance. "H-huh? I-I think I... forgot... to get... straws, yeah, the straws."
"Maa, I have it here." Ayako waved the straws.
"S-s-some... extra... ti-tissue, perhaps?" Ryota turned to go back to the counter.
"I've got that too. C'mon, let's go!" Ayako pulled him. The two of them walked to the booth, where Yuri and Mitsui were waiting.
"Gomen ne, Yuri, I kept you waiting for so long. The line in the counter was long." Ayako handed the spaghetti, fries, sundae and iced tea to her.
"It's all right, nee-chan. I didn't get bored at all. Hisa-niichan is fun to be with. Ne, Hisa-niichan?" Yuri looked up mischievously to Mitsui.
"Ayako-chan, your imouto-chan's not snobbish at all. In fact she's a very witty girl. Say, Yuri, do you know who he is?" Mitsui referred to Ryota.
"Huh? I don't know him, Hisa-niichan."
"Oh yeah, I forgot to introduce him to you." Ayako sipped some iced tea. "Yuri, this is-"
"Let me do it, Ayako-chan." Mitsui cut her off. "Yuri, this Miyagi Ryota. He is your nee-chan's classmate and her..." Mitsui cast a knowing look to Ayako and Ryota. "...special friend."
"Hajimemashite, Miyagi-san- I mean, nii-chan." Yuri beamed at Ryota. He, in turn, turned beet red, due to Yuri's name for him.
'Nii-chan... I'm her nii-chan?!' Ryota thought.
"Just what do you mean by that, sempai?" Ayako questioned.
"What? Is there something wrong with what I said? It's shijitsu. I just told her the truth..." Mitsui smiled his innocent smile. Yuri nodded.
They ate their dinner and chatted, and then Yuri wanted to go to the bathroom. "Uh, Ryota, sempai, could you excuse us for a while?" Ayako stood up the moment the two cagers nodded their heads. The siblings went to the washroom leaving the other two behind.
"Oi, Ryota, has she told you anything about the diary?"
"Uh-huh. And not just that, she wanted me to help her look for it! What'll I do?" Ryota remarked, confusion evident in his voice.
"Did you say yes?" Mitsui leaned over the table, obviously interested of what is coming up.
"Uh.. no. She hasn't brought up the topic yet."
"Good. Now let's see... You have to decline it in a nice way. How to say it is up to you." Mitsui placed his chin on his hands. "Oh no here they come!" The two straightened up to their seats and faked a laugh.
"Hey what's the issue? Why are you two laughing?" Ayako took her seat beside Ryota, then nudged him. "What are you laughing at?"
"Huh? Oh, we were just... uhm..." 'Damn! What the hell are we laughing at anyway?'
"Talking about the Celebrity Deathmatch and man, Keri Russell was really bloating!" MItsui tapped Ryota's foot with his under the table.
"Oh yeah! And Whoopi Goldberg came out of a Hotdog Vendor's Cart, that's total crap!" Ayako giggled.
Ryota sighed in relief. He cast a thank-you look to Mitsui while he, in turn, smiled at him.
"Ano... Aya-neechan, I want to go home. I've still got an unfinished assignment." Yuri pleaded.
"Guys, we've got to go." Ayako stood up. "It was nice eating dinner with you."
"We've got to get going too. You want us to accompany you?" Mitsui offered.
"Iie. We'll be all right." Ayako replied.
"Maa, maa... It's all right that women walk in the streets at the dark... I don't think so. Whether you like it or not we're walking you home, ne, Mitsui?" said Ryota. Mitsui nodded in agreement. Ayako shrugged in defeat.
"So... will you help me?" Ayako asked as they walked pass the bookstore. MItsui and Yuri were walking ahead of them.
"Uh..." Ryota stuttered. "I think I can't-"
"Onegaishimasu?!" Ayako stopped in front of him and gave him a puppy-that-was-lost look. She pouted at Ryota's silence.
'Damn! Don't do that on me...' Ryota didn't know what to say. "Uh... yes?"
Ayako brightened up. "You will?! Oh goodie! Domo!: Ayako jumped into his arms. "I owe you one." She whispered at his ears.
Ryota stiffened. 'Oh no! What'll I do?'
...tbc...
Author's Rant:
Hey peeps! Thanks for getting this far. Hope you all liked the first installation of that story. Sorry for all wrong grammar and language, I'm still having a hard time with my glasses lost.
Please review!
~Shohoku no Miko~
Greetings Earthlings! Shohoku no Miko landed here in front of the PC and heck, I can't wait to type this dream of mine! Actually this dream has been bothering me everyday and I want to type it now, so I may not forget it. And the fact that the Slam Dunk Charcters are the protagonists in this dream, I simply know that it will fit for my next fanfiction.
Dedication: To all those who read my previous fics, "The Search Is Over", "I'll Be..." and "Angel". I also dedicate this to all my tomodachi's out there... You know who you are. And lastly to MidoriTenshiSakura, my evil twin sister. This one's for your never ending love of Slam Dunk. [And mine too!]
How I wish that Kiyota Nobunaga and Miyagi Ryota were mine... but they're not! And so is Slam Dunk!
The Case Of The Missing Diary
by Shohoku no Miko
Chapter One: Finders Keepers, Losers... What?
She finished packing up all the things she needed to bring with her home and put the backpack on. She was restraining herself from causing havoc. There was turmoil going on inside of her and she wanted to throw the books on the bookshelf, then shatter the vase with her own hands, and send the mop flying out of the window. She sat down again, grabbed a notebook in her bag and threw it above her desk, and brought out the fountain pen she has been using to write in that particular thing. Some of the students were startled by what she did. She looked up and glared at them, and they all looked away, pretending they saw and heard nothing.
Ayako started writing on the notebook sitting on her desk. One by one the students in their class were decreasing, the students remaining inside the room can be counted with the fingers on her left hand.
Dear Diary,
I know it's not like me to write as it is not yet the end of the day, but I can't help it. This day is too much for me. First, my oto-sama, the so-called General of the Kanagawa. He scolded me while we were having breakfast. Not only did he not respect the food we were eating, but he humiliated me. Yeah, it wasn't really humuliating since the only people in sitting around the table are my oka-sama, nee-chan and Yuri-imotochan. But he was yelling like thunder and I know the people in the streets passing by could hear him clearly!
Ugh...
He said that I should quit being the manageress of the team. Hell NO! Why should I quit? Well he was just *informed* that *I* was having an affair. Take note: AFFAIR with a team member. And guess who it is...
Mitsui-sempai.
Yeah, *Mitsui-sempai*. Of all people in Japan, *HIM*? A sempai? I wouldn't dare to. Not that I did not like him. Sure, he is handsome, but he's not quite my type. And I don't want to have an affair with my senior, for Pete's sake! I asked him where he got the idea of Mitsui-sempai and I having an affair. And as I expected, he got it from our neighbor, Sasami-chan. Like, hello? She's just jealous because I get to spend time with her *beloved* Mitsui! Then he even wanted to drive me to school and fetch me from school so that he makes sure I don't go anywhere but there. Hah! Like I would be going to some place else after school... Except the gym where the Shohoku Team practices. I just hate it when he treats us like his soldiers training for battle, leaving us with no choice and making us answer 'Sir yes Sir'...
Next, our Trigonometry teacher, Suzuki-sensei, told me that he wanted me to represent the juniors in an upcoming Math Quiz Bee in the prefecture. Not that I don't want to, it's just that he wanted me to stay after classes and review with him, just for that stupid quiz bee!
And that means giving up my time after class, giving up being the manageress of the team, and giving up what I really wanted to do.
This day sucks. Why does it have to be me? Why does it have to be me, a simple girl living a simple life, following everything her parents tell her, doing her best in school, have to be deprived of the only thing she wanted to do?
"Ayako-san! Ayako-san!" a voice hollered in the hallway.
She looked up from her diary and glanced at the clock. 'Quarter to three... Thirty minutes before practice.' she said to herself as she stood to meet the one who called her. And as she expected the owner of the voice would be, it was Haruko.
"Oi, Haruko! What brings you here?" Ayako said casually, pretending there was nothing wrong with her.
"Ah... Ayako-san... Eh... I... Please come with me, it's important! Onegaishimasu?" Haruko pulled her out of the classroom and down the flight of the stairs, leading to the first floor.
"Okay... Okay... Slow down..." Ayako struggled to minimize the speed, but Haruko pulled her.
Ryota, still sitting on his desk watched as Ayako was pulled by Haruko out of the room. He sighed. "I thought I could go the gym with her today, but it seems Haruko has something to show her. Hah, ganbatte arimasen..."
He stood up and made his way out of the now-empty room, but something on the desk of Ayako caught his eye. "What's this?" He asked to no one in particular as he picked up the item on the desk. The notebook was opened on a page and he proceeded to read it.
As he finished reading the last word written he found out that it was unfinished. He flipped the pages back, then realization struck him. "It's Aya-chan's diary!" He quickly closed it and shove it into his duffel bag, looking at either side of the room to see if someone saw him read it.
Sensing no danger, Ryota sighed audibly and proceeded to the gym.
Practice went on as usual, with Sakuragi and Rukawa bickering at each other, Kogure trying hard to stop them before it's too late, Akagi shouting at the self-proclaimed tensai's ears, Mito and the rest of the Sakuragi gundan making fun of the red-hair, Mitsui laughing at the two fighting and Ayako whacking the freshmen in the head.
'Nothing out of the usual.' Ryota thought. 'It's all right this way. The daily practice would be incomplete if there was someone missing.' He said to himself as an inner smile took over.
Especially if Ayako was not there to cheer him on. 'Nice, Ryota!' He really liked that. He just loves the sound of his name. His FIRST name, coming out of her sweet, tender lips. And how her eyes dance whenever something nice would happen, how her brows would crease if they were in a fix, how her lips would quiver when she tries to suppress her laughter... Everything about her was perfect.
But how come she looks so happy amidst her miseries? How come she could put up a front without anyone noticing how she really feels inside?
Ryota suddenly remembered the things she wrote on her diary. Her oto-sama, the issue her father brought up while having breakfast, thinking she had a relationship with Mitsui, the restriction her oto-san gave her, the trigo quiz bee Suzuki-sensei wanted her to participate in...
And giving up her position in the team.
'Sonna...' Ryota shook his head. No way! He wouldn't allow anybody or anything to deprive his beloved Aya-chan from what she wants to do. And it was only because of her that he joined the team. If Aya-chan was not there, being in the varsity would be at the very far region of his brain.
He heard Akagi shout "Practice's over!", and let out a sigh of relief. 'Finally...' He thought, after a rugged training.
Mitsui noticed the slight change in Ryota's aura. [a/n: Aura doesn't only pertain to magical people, right?] "Oi, Ryota!" He ran to his side.
Ryota looked at him in recognition and smiled. "Mitsui..." He wiped the sweat with the collar of his shirt. [a/n: Like, Basketball players really do that, ne?]
Mitsui saw the lack of enthusiasm in his smile. "Do shou tano? Did you fail your Unit test? Did you lose your wallet? Or did Ayako-san turn you down?"
Ryota laughed half-heartedly. "Saa... Nothing's wrong. Just thinking."
"Thinking? Miyagi Ryota, thinking? About what, my man? Mid-terms, money, folks or girls?"
"None of the above." Ryota said as they grabbed their duffel bag and proceeded to the showers.
"Oh c'mon. There's got to be something you're thinking about." Mitsui inquired of a rather serious point guard.
"Let's go grab some food later. There I would tell you." And the two closed the doors of their respective shower booths.
"So what was it you were going to tell me?" Mitsui chomped on his burger. "Is it something confidential?"
"Not really." Ryota sipped some of his rootbeer. "Do you think it's wrong that you read someone else's diary?"
"Of course. You're invading another person's property."
At the sound of Mitsui's words Ryota spat out the rootbeer in his mouth. "I-it is?"
"Uh-huh. Why? You read your nee-chan's diary?" Mitsui's eyes were smiling at him mischievously.
Ryota knew what Mitsui was thinking. "I didn't! And if I did, I wouldn't tell you what's in it. My nee-chan's not interested in you." Ryota looked away.
"Oh, so you don't want me to be your future brother-in-law? That's too bad, I wanted you to be my future brother-in-law." Mitsui pretended to be hurt.
"Maa... It's not that I read my sister's diary. I... Oh, never mind." Ryota proceeded to munch on his cheeseburger.
"Oh I do mind. You told me you'd tell me. And I want to know what's bothering our little point guard. C'mon, spill!" Mitsui retorted.
"But promise me you won't tell anybody about this, kay?"
"Hai. Watashi wa yakusoku suru. [I promise.]" Mitsui raised his right hand, as if pledging to the Flag of America his loyalty.
Ryota breathed in sharply. "I read Aya-chan's diary."
"You what?" Mitsui hollered, catching some other people's attention. Mitsui smiled sheepishly and mumbled 'gomen ne'. The other customers proceeded to their meals.
"Yeah. I read it. Accidentally." Ryota whispered, and the last word being added at once so as not to make things complicated.
"Oi, Ryota! Mitsui-sempai!"
The two shot dreaded looks at one another at the sound of the voice. They both turned their heads to the direction of the voice and saw a girl with curly hair and cerulean eyes. She was standing next to a little girl, about seven years old. The little girl was the exact opposite of the other one.
"Aya-chan!" the word escaped from Ryota's lips.
"Speaking of the devil..." Mitsui suppressed his laughter.
Ryota kicked his companion on the shin. "She's no devil, she's an angel!" Ryota hissed. Mitsui snarled.
"Hey, what I told you, it's a secret, kay?" Ryota said hastily.
"Hai, hai. Sore wa himitsu desu." He said through gritted teeth.
"Secret? What secret?" Ayako came in front of their table.
"H-huh? It's about Ryoko-chan, my future wife!" Mitsui lied.
"Oh, Ryoko-sempai." Ayako shot a doubtful look at Ryota. He, in turn, shrugged. "Mind if we sit down with you?"
"Oh, we don't mind. C'mon, sit with us." Mitsui helped the little girl up the seat next to him, obliging Ayako to sit down beside Ryota. The little girl eyed him suspiciously but Ayako glared at her, then the girl looked down.
Ayako smiled at Mitsui. "Sorry for my imouto-chan's attitude. She's a bit snobbish when it comes to those she doesn't know."
"Maa... Daijobu. Little girls are really like that." Mitsui replied.
Ryota watched as Ayako smiled at Mitsui. Sure, she looked happy, but there was something wrong...
And her eyes revealed them all.
"So what brings the General's daughters here? Have you eaten dinner?" Ryota fidgeted with the straw of his beverage.
"How did you know that my oto-sama is the general?" Ayako asked, confusion evident in her face.
'Shimatta...' Ryota kicked himself mentally. "Ah... Eh... Everybody in school knows that. Eh... E-he-he-he... Right, Mitsui?" Ryota cast a look at Mitsui.
"Huh? You're the general's daughter?" Mitsui looked shocked.
"She is, Mitsui. Have you forgotten?" Ryota shot him a knowing look.
"She is? Oh, yes, she is!" Mitsui nodded in agreement.
"Oh..." Ayako arched an eyebrow.
"Like I said, what brings you here? Have you eaten dinner?" Ryota gulped the lump forming in his throat.
"Actually I'm taking my imouto-chan to dinner. Oto-sama and Oka-sama had some gathering to attend to, while nee-chan phoned me and told me that she has to sleep over in her classmate's house. And since I went home late, I haven't got the chance to cook. So I took Yuri out for dinner. And it turns out, you're here." Ayako then turned to Ryota. "Please guard Yuri. I'll just take our orders."
"Iiya. I'll just accompany you. Besides Mitsui is here, ne?" Ryota smiled.
"Yeah don't worry about Yuri I'll stay here with her. You two go get food for your dinner." Mitsui smiled slyly at Ryota.
"You sure you'll be all right here Yuri?" Ayako asked her little sister.
"Un, daijobu. I'll wait here, Aya-neechan." Yuri's little voice said.
"Shall we go then?" Ryota's stud gleamed as bright as his smile. Ayako nodded and the two headed to the counter, leaving Mitsui and Yuri.
Yuri looked up curiously to Mitsui. "Ano. Suimasen, nii-chan, demo..."
"Nandesuka, Yuri?" Mitsui asked.
"Are you Mitsui?"
"Hai. Mitsui Hisashi. MVP in Junior High School, 95% Three-Point fieldgoal percentage, jeresy number 14 of Shohoku Basketball Team, and your nee-chan's sempai." MItsui beamed. "Call me Hisa-niichan."
"Are you my Aya-neechan's boyfriend?" Yuri tossed her hair back.
At the sound of the girl's question Mitsui burst into laughter.
"What's so funny, Hisa-niichan?" Yuri pouted, which sent Mitsui laughing all over again. "What?"
"Iiya. I'm definitely not your nee-chan's boyfrined. I've got someone else in mind. You know the one with your nee-chan, Miyagi Ryota?" Mitsui pointed to Ryota, who at that time was at the end of the line with Ayako.
"Uh-huh. What about him?" Yuri asked.
"His nee-chan is my girlfriend. Well, sort of. Soon she'll be. Who gave you that idea anyway?" Mitsui offered her some french fries which she politely declined.
"My oto-sama said that our neighbor, Kaoru-san told him that you and my nee-chan have a relationship." Yuri retorted.
"Saa... We're not lovers. I only like your nee-chan as a friend." Mitsui ate his hamburger heartily. "So where do you study?"
"Tomigaoka Elementary School." She looked away and to the counter, where her elder sister and her friend were. "Ano... Hisa-niichan..."
"Nani?" He noticed that the little girl was looking at the two.
"What's the name of the person with my Aya-neechan again?"
"Aa, Miyagi Ryota. He's your nee-chan's classmate. He's small ne?"
"He is. Demo... does he like my nee-chan?" Yuri looked up to him again.
Mitsui, quite fazed at the little girl's ability to read body language, broke into a grin. "You're a smart girl, Yuri. Come here, I'll tell you a secret." And the little girl listened as Mitsui whispered something in her ear. Ever so slowly, an evil smile formed on the little girl's lips.
"Ryota, could you do me a favor?" Ayako asked as the two of them waited for their turn.
"Fire away." Ryota countered.
"You see... Oh never mind." Ayako turned her head to look away.
"Doushite? What can I do to help you, Aya-chan?" Ryota inquired of worried Ayako. 'Yeah, more like "What can I do to make you love me?"' Ryota thought.
"You see this afternoon I was writing in my diary when Haruko called me. She pulled me into the backyard and I totally forgot about it. I just remembered it when practice was over and when I went back to get it, it's gone." Ayako sounded disturbed.
The line moved and they were up front it was their turn. "Two french fries, one spaghetei, one sundae and two iced teas please." Ayako said to the lady and lady turned to get the order. Then minutes after the lady went back with two french fries and spaghetti. The lady came back with the rest of the orders.
"So what are you going to eat?" Ryota asked.
"Frech fries and Iced Tea. The rest are for Yuri."
"Are you starving yourself? You've got to eat more."
"Un, daijobu. I'm on diet." Ayako picked a french fry and ate it.
"Diet? Honestly, Aya-chan, you're on a diet? You don't look fat to me." Ryota took a good look at her.
"Are you insulting me?" Ayako raised and eyebrow.
"Iie, iie! I'm just telling the truth!" Ryota protested. "Suimasen, ojojo-san, could you add a chicken burger?" Ryota turned to smile at her.
"Mou, Ryota!" Ayako stomped her feet like a little girl.
"That's for you, okay? You've got to eat that or else..." Ryota warned.
The lady brought the chicken burger and placed it on the tray. "That will be Y465.75."
Ayako placed the money on the counter. "Here."
"No here." Ryota pushed the money back to Ayako's hand and placed a Y500 bill on the counter. Then he looked at Ayako. "Dozo..." And he smiled.
The lady got the 500-yen bill and gave the change. "Enjoy your meal." And the two walked away from the counter with Ryota holding the tray.
"Ryota could you help me look for it?" Ayako asked as they walked towards their booth.
Ryota froze in his steps. "Wha-What? Y-You want me to help... you?"
"Onegaishimasu?!" Ayako noticed that she was no longer walking along her companion. She turned and saw Ryota staring off to space. "Oi, Ryo! What's wrong?"
"Huh?" Ryota was taken out of trance. "H-huh? I-I think I... forgot... to get... straws, yeah, the straws."
"Maa, I have it here." Ayako waved the straws.
"S-s-some... extra... ti-tissue, perhaps?" Ryota turned to go back to the counter.
"I've got that too. C'mon, let's go!" Ayako pulled him. The two of them walked to the booth, where Yuri and Mitsui were waiting.
"Gomen ne, Yuri, I kept you waiting for so long. The line in the counter was long." Ayako handed the spaghetti, fries, sundae and iced tea to her.
"It's all right, nee-chan. I didn't get bored at all. Hisa-niichan is fun to be with. Ne, Hisa-niichan?" Yuri looked up mischievously to Mitsui.
"Ayako-chan, your imouto-chan's not snobbish at all. In fact she's a very witty girl. Say, Yuri, do you know who he is?" Mitsui referred to Ryota.
"Huh? I don't know him, Hisa-niichan."
"Oh yeah, I forgot to introduce him to you." Ayako sipped some iced tea. "Yuri, this is-"
"Let me do it, Ayako-chan." Mitsui cut her off. "Yuri, this Miyagi Ryota. He is your nee-chan's classmate and her..." Mitsui cast a knowing look to Ayako and Ryota. "...special friend."
"Hajimemashite, Miyagi-san- I mean, nii-chan." Yuri beamed at Ryota. He, in turn, turned beet red, due to Yuri's name for him.
'Nii-chan... I'm her nii-chan?!' Ryota thought.
"Just what do you mean by that, sempai?" Ayako questioned.
"What? Is there something wrong with what I said? It's shijitsu. I just told her the truth..." Mitsui smiled his innocent smile. Yuri nodded.
They ate their dinner and chatted, and then Yuri wanted to go to the bathroom. "Uh, Ryota, sempai, could you excuse us for a while?" Ayako stood up the moment the two cagers nodded their heads. The siblings went to the washroom leaving the other two behind.
"Oi, Ryota, has she told you anything about the diary?"
"Uh-huh. And not just that, she wanted me to help her look for it! What'll I do?" Ryota remarked, confusion evident in his voice.
"Did you say yes?" Mitsui leaned over the table, obviously interested of what is coming up.
"Uh.. no. She hasn't brought up the topic yet."
"Good. Now let's see... You have to decline it in a nice way. How to say it is up to you." Mitsui placed his chin on his hands. "Oh no here they come!" The two straightened up to their seats and faked a laugh.
"Hey what's the issue? Why are you two laughing?" Ayako took her seat beside Ryota, then nudged him. "What are you laughing at?"
"Huh? Oh, we were just... uhm..." 'Damn! What the hell are we laughing at anyway?'
"Talking about the Celebrity Deathmatch and man, Keri Russell was really bloating!" MItsui tapped Ryota's foot with his under the table.
"Oh yeah! And Whoopi Goldberg came out of a Hotdog Vendor's Cart, that's total crap!" Ayako giggled.
Ryota sighed in relief. He cast a thank-you look to Mitsui while he, in turn, smiled at him.
"Ano... Aya-neechan, I want to go home. I've still got an unfinished assignment." Yuri pleaded.
"Guys, we've got to go." Ayako stood up. "It was nice eating dinner with you."
"We've got to get going too. You want us to accompany you?" Mitsui offered.
"Iie. We'll be all right." Ayako replied.
"Maa, maa... It's all right that women walk in the streets at the dark... I don't think so. Whether you like it or not we're walking you home, ne, Mitsui?" said Ryota. Mitsui nodded in agreement. Ayako shrugged in defeat.
"So... will you help me?" Ayako asked as they walked pass the bookstore. MItsui and Yuri were walking ahead of them.
"Uh..." Ryota stuttered. "I think I can't-"
"Onegaishimasu?!" Ayako stopped in front of him and gave him a puppy-that-was-lost look. She pouted at Ryota's silence.
'Damn! Don't do that on me...' Ryota didn't know what to say. "Uh... yes?"
Ayako brightened up. "You will?! Oh goodie! Domo!: Ayako jumped into his arms. "I owe you one." She whispered at his ears.
Ryota stiffened. 'Oh no! What'll I do?'
...tbc...
Author's Rant:
Hey peeps! Thanks for getting this far. Hope you all liked the first installation of that story. Sorry for all wrong grammar and language, I'm still having a hard time with my glasses lost.
Please review!
~Shohoku no Miko~