Hi guys! It's been a long time since I updated or rather came up with another story…hehehehehehehehe! I was inspired to right an angst fic for my beloved Hanamichi. Please review! Arigatou gozaimashites!
"" are for dialogs and '' are for thoughts and texts in italics are flashbacks.
"Haruko…I"
"What is it, Hanamichi-kun?" Haruko asked. She was dragged away from everybody by Hanamichi. 'Is he ok?' she added silently while eyeing the redhead. There was a sudden rustle in the bushes nearby. "This is so familiar." Yohei murmured. "You wanna bet she's gonna be the 51st?" Takamiya asked them. They were watching what would happen next.
"Daijoubu desu ka, Hanamichi-kun?" Haruko asked. The tension between them is growing.
"Haruko-san, ano…." Hanamichi started. 'Shit! I better tell her now!' he added silently.
"Yes?" Haruko prompted.
"I…" Hanamichi stammered.
"This is it!" Oukusu giggled while clutching his popper,
"The practice will start soon…" Haruko told him.
"I like you Haruko-san. I would like you to be my girlfriend."
"N-nani!" Haruko was taken aback.
"I said I want you to be my girlfriend. Please say yes." Hanamichi took her hand and pleaded.
'I can't. I-I love Rukawa.' Haruko mused.
"Please say yes, Haruko.' Hanamichi pleaded. Yohei eyed his best friend with sympathy. "Ready?" Noma asked them.
" Haruko-san?" Hanamichi asked, his voice filled with hope but Haruko's eyes averted from his gaze.
"Gomen nasai, Hanamichi-kun. I-I'm in love with someone else." Haruko said, still not looking at the redhead. Life drained from the redhead's body. He suddenly let go of Haruko's hand and failed to hear anything, not even the sound of cheering from his so-called friends nor the apologies from Haruko. His heart was thumping so hard and so fast that he thought his heart would explode from the pain. He held his head up and looked straight into Haruko's eyes. 'He's changed." Haruko though when she saw Hanamichi's face slowly broke into a smile.
"It's ok, Akagi-san. I'm so sorry for wasting your time like this." Hanamichi said before walking away. This surprised the gundan. "Nani! No thunderclaps? No lightning?" Takamiya asked. "No tears and no songs?" Noma added. Yohei said nothing. He just followed his friend with his gaze.
"Gomen nasai, Yohei." Haruko muttered.
Few hours later…
"Hey, you noticed how quiet the gym is?" Mitsui asked Ryota. The practice raged on as usual with everyone boosted up with energy. Well except for one thing, Hanamichi was quiet, attentive and obedient all afternoon. It seems like a whole new Hanamichi was there. "I have to know what's bothering him." Ayako said firmly to herself.
"Akagi, did you notice that Sakuragi is a bit too helpful today?" Kogure asked their captain. "I don't know Kogure. He must've hit his head or something." Akagi replied while eyeing the redhead who was doing his basic training in dribbling without complains. "Yep, something's wrong with him." Akagi concluded. Rukawa was shifting his gaze from Hanamichi to Haruko who was unable to cheer for the redhead for the first time.
'It'll be over in a few minutes, Michi. You will be home, away from these people who don't like you.' This is the same thing that's been going over and over inside Hanamichi's head all throughout the practice.
"Hey, you think he's gonna be ok?" Takamiya asked Yohei. The brunette didn't answer.
"Ok team, practice is over!" Akagi barked and the rest of the team came towards him. "Don't be late tomorrow and Sakuragi, Ueksa, don't forget to clean!" he added. Hanamichi nodded silently before turning around to get to the supplies' cabinet. Ryota caught up with him. "What's up with you today? You showed up and acted like Rukawa." The smaller player asked worriedly. "Daijoubu desu ka, Ryota-sempai." Hanamichi told him before taking the mop and disappeared. "So what's wrong with him?" Mitsui asked Ryota. "You'll never believe what just happened. " Ryota said. "What?" Mitsui asked. "He called me Ryota-sempai." The small point guard said while staring at Hanamichi.
'In a few minutes I'll be home…safe within out room and Hana will be there to comfort me.' Hanamichi's head is full of these thoughts, not knowing that he's unconsciously created a barrier between him and the people around.
"Gomen nasai, Hanamichi." Haruko eyed the redhead sadly. "Now something's definitely up." Rukawa concluded when he saw this.
A/N: so what do you think? Please review! Thanks!