Chapter 1- The Game
Beep…beep…beep. I covered my head as my watch beeped for the second time. I'd had little sleep that night due to all the homework I had. "Hey sleepyhead! Wake up! We'll be late for school!" yelled a voice. I couldn't tell whose; I was too sleepy. My hand searched blindly to turn off the alarm. After a couple of minutes, I sleepily rose from my bed and stretched out. After taking a couple of steps to the bathroom I trip over something. "What the…?" I look to see my schoolbag in the middle of the hall. I stand up slowly as I rub my soar rear.
After taking a shower I changed into my uniform and ran downstairs. "What took you so long?" asked Kasumi. Kasumi's my cousin. We're the same age and we go to the same school too. That's right! I forgot to introduce myself! Where to begin…? My name is Koyama Sekami. I'm a 15-year-old Ryonan High School student. I live with my Aunt Reiko and cousins, Kasumi and Satoshi. I live with them since my family lives in the country. I have a part-time job at a video rental store. Since the pay is okay I usually find myself shopping, mostly at sales though.
"Hey come on Sekami! Just grab something and let's go!" shouts Kasumi. I grabbed a rice ball off the plate and headed out the door. We each got on our bikes and started off towards school. "So, are you going to watch?" asked Kasumi. I tried to answer but instead of words, rice came flying out. Kasumi started laughing hard. I swallowed what was left of the rice. "I'm sorry," said Kasumi, trying to control her laughter. "Never mind that. Now what was that you were saying?" I asked. "The practice game. You know, the one with the Shohoku basketball club?" said Kasumi in a duh-isn't- it-obvious kind of way. I mentally hit myself. "Sorry. I guess it just slipped my mind."
We reached school just in time. Since Kasumi and I are in different sections, we only see each other during break times. The bell rang and it was time for me to get to my classroom. As the teacher discussed the math problem, I stared out the window daydreaming. I imagined what the practice game would be like. Soon my little daydream became a deep slumber…
"Come on! Slow and steady!" It was Sendoh, our point guard. Loud cheers erupted in the gym. Suddenly, the ball was in Shohoku's possession. I couldn't make out the faces of the Shohoku players but I saw the jersey numbers clearly. It was Shohoku's jersey number 11 that took the ball away from Sendoh. Number 11 scored 2 points for Shohoku. Now, the ball was with Koshino. He made a shot but it missed. Shohoku's number 10 got the rebound. He threw the ball to number 7 but he didn't catch it. Soon, I found the ball headed straight toward me!
WHAM! I fell backwards on my chair! I heard the class start to laugh. I just knew I turned bright red at that moment. "Is anything wrong Koyama?" asked the teacher. "Uh, no sir." I said with an embarrassed smile.
"You what?! That's so unreal! You? Daydreaming? Then falling asleep during class? Ha! I don't believe you!" Kasumi and I were in the cafeteria buying some food when I told her what had happened earlier in the classroom. "Why? Is it that farfetched?" I asked defensively. Kasumi patted me on the back. "Of course it is. You're always buried in your books. The last thing you would do is sleep during class." We sat down at a table near the window. "I got a little distracted that's all."
It was now time for the game and Kasumi and I were so excited. "So, do you think your dream is a premonition?" asked Kasumi. I thought for a while. After all, there was a probability. "I don't know." I answered finally. "Whoa! Look!" said Kasumi excitedly as she pointed madly. And I could see why. It was our basketball team. "They look spunky don't they?" I asked. Kasumi nodded. "Uh-huh."
After a couple of minutes of anticipation, the Shohoku basketball team arrived. After warming up and changing, the game was about to begin. "Wait…" Kasumi looked at me. "What is it?" "Sendoh isn't here yet…" Kasumi looked around. "Oh dear…" Just then, the doors flew open and guess who it was. It was none other than Sendoh! After Sendoh got changed, the game began.
That's when I saw him, that's when I saw Shohoku's number 11. As the game got more intense, I noticed that my eyes were focused on him. "Amazing…" I whispered to myself. "Yeah, aren't they?" Kasumi agreed. After a couple more minutes of watching, Kasumi noticed that I was in a daze. She waved her hand several times in front of my face. "Earth to Sekami. Do you read us Sekami?" Kasumi then snapped her fingers. "What? Were you saying something?" I said after finally coming back to my senses. "Oh no, Sekami. I wasn't saying anything at all." Kasumi replied with a slight hint of sarcasm. "Who were you staring at anyway?" she asked. I felt my face heat up as I turned a bright red. "I wasn't staring at anyone! What gave you that idea?!" Kasumi just smiled.
The game was over. We won 87 – 86. "It was a really close game wasn't it Kasumi?" Kasumi nodded. "Shohoku's not bad. I'd say they have a chance to reach the finals." I couldn't agree more with her. We were on our way home when I decided to find out who the players of Shohoku were. "Who are you going to ask?" she asked me. I grinned at her cleverly. "Hikoichi, of course."
* * *
The following day, just before classes started, I approached Hikoichi. "Good afternoon Hikoichi." I greeted politely. He turned around. "Oh, good afternoon Sekami. What are you doing here?" he asked. "I'm here to see you." He looked at me disbelievingly. "Is that so…?" I couldn't help but smile at his reaction to what I had said. "You see, I heard that you're an expert when it comes to researching. So, I was wondering if you could tell me about the Shohoku basketball team." Hikoichi's face brightened instantly at my compliment. "Of course Sekami. Where do you want me to begin?"
After 5 minutes, I found out all I needed to know. "Thank you for your time Hikoichi." I said as I exited the classroom. I was on my way to class when I met Kasumi in the hall. "So, did you find out anything useful?" asked Kasumi. I nodded. "When Hikoichi researches, he researches." Just then, the bell rang. "I'll have to go home early Sekami. Is it ok if you walk home by yourself?" asked Kasumi as she entered her class. "Yeah, it's ok." I replied quickly.
It was english class but since the teacher was absent, I decided to organize the notes I had taken down. "So, number 11 is named Rukawa Kaede." I whispered to myself. "Small forward, 187 cm, 75 kg…graduated from Tomigaoka Junior High. Hmm, is considered a super rookie and is very popular with the girls…" I sighed. "Too bad I'll never meet him."
After classes I went straight home. I didn't feel like going to the library. And besides, I was getting pretty hungry. Upon arrival, I saw Kasumi and Satoshi playing videogames in the living room. "Die you ugly sick-o!" Satoshi yelled. "Get ready to meet your maker you revolting freak." Kasumi yelled back. I sighed. 'Sibling love, how precious…" DING- DONG. It was the doorbell. I opened the door to see Aunt Reiko standing right in front of me. "Aunt Reiko? Why did you ring the doorbell?" I asked. She smiled at me and said, "I forgot my keys inside."
"Dinner's ready! Come down you three!" Kasumi, Satoshi and I were upstairs playing cards when dinner was ready. "Finally! I thought my stomach would never stop growling!" Satoshi said as he got up. "But you're always hungry Sato…" Kasumi remarked.
* * *
"Wake up Kasumi!!!" I yelled for the tenth time. There was going to be a sale and I didn't want to miss it. "Why is it you wake me up this early for a sale when you yourself can't even get up for school?" Kasumi grumbled. "It's in my genes." I said cheerfully. "Which one? (genes or jeans…)" she replied.
After I finally got Kasumi out of bed and into the bathroom, I picked out which clothes to wear. At last we were finally ready to go. "How much money did you bring?" Kasumi asked me. "￥10,000 and a credit card." I replied looking through my bag. "WHAT?! Don't tell me you plan on using that much!!!" I looked at her hopelessly. "My dear Kasumi, you should always bring extra just in case of emergencies. What if you find the perfect outfit and you happen to be out of cash?" Kasumi shook her head and sighed.
Just as we were about to turn the curve, we saw a man ride into a telephone pole. We quickly rushed towards the injured man. "Are you all right?" I asked. Just as I helped the man up, I noticed that he was none other than Shohoku's Rukawa Kaede!!!
Beep…beep…beep. I covered my head as my watch beeped for the second time. I'd had little sleep that night due to all the homework I had. "Hey sleepyhead! Wake up! We'll be late for school!" yelled a voice. I couldn't tell whose; I was too sleepy. My hand searched blindly to turn off the alarm. After a couple of minutes, I sleepily rose from my bed and stretched out. After taking a couple of steps to the bathroom I trip over something. "What the…?" I look to see my schoolbag in the middle of the hall. I stand up slowly as I rub my soar rear.
After taking a shower I changed into my uniform and ran downstairs. "What took you so long?" asked Kasumi. Kasumi's my cousin. We're the same age and we go to the same school too. That's right! I forgot to introduce myself! Where to begin…? My name is Koyama Sekami. I'm a 15-year-old Ryonan High School student. I live with my Aunt Reiko and cousins, Kasumi and Satoshi. I live with them since my family lives in the country. I have a part-time job at a video rental store. Since the pay is okay I usually find myself shopping, mostly at sales though.
"Hey come on Sekami! Just grab something and let's go!" shouts Kasumi. I grabbed a rice ball off the plate and headed out the door. We each got on our bikes and started off towards school. "So, are you going to watch?" asked Kasumi. I tried to answer but instead of words, rice came flying out. Kasumi started laughing hard. I swallowed what was left of the rice. "I'm sorry," said Kasumi, trying to control her laughter. "Never mind that. Now what was that you were saying?" I asked. "The practice game. You know, the one with the Shohoku basketball club?" said Kasumi in a duh-isn't- it-obvious kind of way. I mentally hit myself. "Sorry. I guess it just slipped my mind."
We reached school just in time. Since Kasumi and I are in different sections, we only see each other during break times. The bell rang and it was time for me to get to my classroom. As the teacher discussed the math problem, I stared out the window daydreaming. I imagined what the practice game would be like. Soon my little daydream became a deep slumber…
"Come on! Slow and steady!" It was Sendoh, our point guard. Loud cheers erupted in the gym. Suddenly, the ball was in Shohoku's possession. I couldn't make out the faces of the Shohoku players but I saw the jersey numbers clearly. It was Shohoku's jersey number 11 that took the ball away from Sendoh. Number 11 scored 2 points for Shohoku. Now, the ball was with Koshino. He made a shot but it missed. Shohoku's number 10 got the rebound. He threw the ball to number 7 but he didn't catch it. Soon, I found the ball headed straight toward me!
WHAM! I fell backwards on my chair! I heard the class start to laugh. I just knew I turned bright red at that moment. "Is anything wrong Koyama?" asked the teacher. "Uh, no sir." I said with an embarrassed smile.
"You what?! That's so unreal! You? Daydreaming? Then falling asleep during class? Ha! I don't believe you!" Kasumi and I were in the cafeteria buying some food when I told her what had happened earlier in the classroom. "Why? Is it that farfetched?" I asked defensively. Kasumi patted me on the back. "Of course it is. You're always buried in your books. The last thing you would do is sleep during class." We sat down at a table near the window. "I got a little distracted that's all."
It was now time for the game and Kasumi and I were so excited. "So, do you think your dream is a premonition?" asked Kasumi. I thought for a while. After all, there was a probability. "I don't know." I answered finally. "Whoa! Look!" said Kasumi excitedly as she pointed madly. And I could see why. It was our basketball team. "They look spunky don't they?" I asked. Kasumi nodded. "Uh-huh."
After a couple of minutes of anticipation, the Shohoku basketball team arrived. After warming up and changing, the game was about to begin. "Wait…" Kasumi looked at me. "What is it?" "Sendoh isn't here yet…" Kasumi looked around. "Oh dear…" Just then, the doors flew open and guess who it was. It was none other than Sendoh! After Sendoh got changed, the game began.
That's when I saw him, that's when I saw Shohoku's number 11. As the game got more intense, I noticed that my eyes were focused on him. "Amazing…" I whispered to myself. "Yeah, aren't they?" Kasumi agreed. After a couple more minutes of watching, Kasumi noticed that I was in a daze. She waved her hand several times in front of my face. "Earth to Sekami. Do you read us Sekami?" Kasumi then snapped her fingers. "What? Were you saying something?" I said after finally coming back to my senses. "Oh no, Sekami. I wasn't saying anything at all." Kasumi replied with a slight hint of sarcasm. "Who were you staring at anyway?" she asked. I felt my face heat up as I turned a bright red. "I wasn't staring at anyone! What gave you that idea?!" Kasumi just smiled.
The game was over. We won 87 – 86. "It was a really close game wasn't it Kasumi?" Kasumi nodded. "Shohoku's not bad. I'd say they have a chance to reach the finals." I couldn't agree more with her. We were on our way home when I decided to find out who the players of Shohoku were. "Who are you going to ask?" she asked me. I grinned at her cleverly. "Hikoichi, of course."
* * *
The following day, just before classes started, I approached Hikoichi. "Good afternoon Hikoichi." I greeted politely. He turned around. "Oh, good afternoon Sekami. What are you doing here?" he asked. "I'm here to see you." He looked at me disbelievingly. "Is that so…?" I couldn't help but smile at his reaction to what I had said. "You see, I heard that you're an expert when it comes to researching. So, I was wondering if you could tell me about the Shohoku basketball team." Hikoichi's face brightened instantly at my compliment. "Of course Sekami. Where do you want me to begin?"
After 5 minutes, I found out all I needed to know. "Thank you for your time Hikoichi." I said as I exited the classroom. I was on my way to class when I met Kasumi in the hall. "So, did you find out anything useful?" asked Kasumi. I nodded. "When Hikoichi researches, he researches." Just then, the bell rang. "I'll have to go home early Sekami. Is it ok if you walk home by yourself?" asked Kasumi as she entered her class. "Yeah, it's ok." I replied quickly.
It was english class but since the teacher was absent, I decided to organize the notes I had taken down. "So, number 11 is named Rukawa Kaede." I whispered to myself. "Small forward, 187 cm, 75 kg…graduated from Tomigaoka Junior High. Hmm, is considered a super rookie and is very popular with the girls…" I sighed. "Too bad I'll never meet him."
After classes I went straight home. I didn't feel like going to the library. And besides, I was getting pretty hungry. Upon arrival, I saw Kasumi and Satoshi playing videogames in the living room. "Die you ugly sick-o!" Satoshi yelled. "Get ready to meet your maker you revolting freak." Kasumi yelled back. I sighed. 'Sibling love, how precious…" DING- DONG. It was the doorbell. I opened the door to see Aunt Reiko standing right in front of me. "Aunt Reiko? Why did you ring the doorbell?" I asked. She smiled at me and said, "I forgot my keys inside."
"Dinner's ready! Come down you three!" Kasumi, Satoshi and I were upstairs playing cards when dinner was ready. "Finally! I thought my stomach would never stop growling!" Satoshi said as he got up. "But you're always hungry Sato…" Kasumi remarked.
* * *
"Wake up Kasumi!!!" I yelled for the tenth time. There was going to be a sale and I didn't want to miss it. "Why is it you wake me up this early for a sale when you yourself can't even get up for school?" Kasumi grumbled. "It's in my genes." I said cheerfully. "Which one? (genes or jeans…)" she replied.
After I finally got Kasumi out of bed and into the bathroom, I picked out which clothes to wear. At last we were finally ready to go. "How much money did you bring?" Kasumi asked me. "￥10,000 and a credit card." I replied looking through my bag. "WHAT?! Don't tell me you plan on using that much!!!" I looked at her hopelessly. "My dear Kasumi, you should always bring extra just in case of emergencies. What if you find the perfect outfit and you happen to be out of cash?" Kasumi shook her head and sighed.
Just as we were about to turn the curve, we saw a man ride into a telephone pole. We quickly rushed towards the injured man. "Are you all right?" I asked. Just as I helped the man up, I noticed that he was none other than Shohoku's Rukawa Kaede!!!