Part One:
When the Sugar Meets his Candy
The annoying sound of the alarm clock brought me back to my senses as I felt the sun's warmth upon my skin. I am so damn tired to wake up and I'm so damn bored with this usual routine! Oh yes! Even a genius like me—as what they're putting it to be—is a couch potato himself. Oh god! I hate this!
Even if I don't want to—well, I really have to—I stood up from my bed and headed for the bathroom. Just why do I have to do that even if I don't want to? The answer is simple, I don't want Coach Taoka to be screaming and scolding the hell out of me...again!
Damn... this water sure is cold...
I sighed... deeply. People were telling me that I had it all. 'What all?' I often asked. They said that I got skills—I really don't think so—height, which they said that every man wants to have and I think I don't have any doubts about that. Lastly, they told me that I had the most significant thing a man would want to wish for...
Girls... Oh yeah, they sure are so irritating. Running and chasing and screaming out my name—which my other teammates envy—I just wonder why the heck they are chasing after me! Especially that... what was her name? The reporter with the short hair and Hikoichi claims her as his sister... who was that? Ugh... I can't remember! Whoever she is!!!
Anyway, I just don't get it why they like troublesome ladies—not to mention fan girls—like those. Well, unfortunately, they're not my type. What exactly is my type of girl anyway?! Coach Taoka did mention last time about a thing I never got.
===Flashback===
"You lazy fool! What did I tell ya about being responsible, Sendoh?!! NEVER BE LATE!!! How many times do I have to remind you about that??!!!"
"Jeez coach... I'm not deaf, you know..." I retorted as I resumed sipping my slice of lemon.
"Aaaargggh!!!! Would you listen to me, you BAKA???!!! You ALMOST got everything!!!"
"Almost????" I asked with a questioning look.
"Uh-huh. ALMOST!" Coach Taoka repeated.
Just as I began to ponder about those words, Hikoichi popped out to the scene—quite scaring me, to tell you frankly—with his usual preacher-like look.
"Yes, Yes, Sendoh-san! You ALMOST got everything! Yes, there should be the word 'ALMOST'!!!"
"Right... here goes the ALMOST thing again..."
I thought he wouldn't continue but...
"You ALMOST have everything BUT you STILL don't have a girlfriend!!!! Remember, No GIRLFRIEND, No LOVELIFE!!!"
I had to admit. They were right. Oh shucks! Did the whole gym hear what Hikoichi just said? (Not to mention that avid fan girls of his were fully occupying the whole gym... )
"Man! Look what you've done Hikoichi! The girls heard it all!" Koushino shouted.
"Yeah! And you know what? They'll probably fall in line and apply to be Sendoh-san's girlfriend!" Fukuda agreed.
==End of Flashback==
I shook my head and sighed. They got me there—and I mean REALLY got me there. At first, I don't have those stuffs in my mind. I focus on basketball and NOTHING but basketball.
But since I heard that Takenori Akagi, the enormous center of Shohoku team has a girlfriend already, maybe... I was being left behind. Well, who would've ever think about (0) Akagi having a girlfriend???????????!!!
"Enough of those stuffs!!!" I scolded myself.
There's no use thinking about it. I guess I have to find "her"—whoever the girl would be.
"Oh my gosh???!! Is it true? Is it true???" Hikoichi gasped as his eyes sparkled in delight.
"IS WHAT TRUE???" Coach Taoka asked.
"Sendoh-san is already here at 7:30am!!! He usually arrives at 7:32am but now... oh my!!! It's a miracle!!! He arrived two minutes earlier than usual!!! Oh hail the rooster for waking him up!!!"
Everybody fell down the floor anime style (I can't believe I just wrote that!!!! XD).
"Man... he's hopeless!" Coach Taoka exclaimed.
"OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! SENDOH-SAN YOU LOOK SO COOL!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
"YOU'RE SO CUTE SENDOH-SAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKK!!!! SENDOH-SAN IS SO COOL!!!!!!!!!"
"PASS THIS WAY SENDOH-SAN!!!!!!!!! YOU'RE SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"SENDOH-SAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Man...Aren't they annoying? They were the usual lowbrows that wholeheartedly donates noise, irritation and annoyance inside this gym. Won't they just stop screaming?????????? It's like they're watching my every move! Hmph! Whatever!
Meanwhile, Coach Taoka and Hikoichi are having a little talk....
"Hikoichi, don't you think Sendoh is a..."
"As a what, coach?"
"Don't you think that Sendoh is a... gay?" Taoka asked in a whisper.
"WHAT REASONS FOR YOU TO SAY THAT COACH TAOKA?????!!!" Hikoichi blurted out.
Taoka folded his arms and sighed. "No, no... that's not what I meant! I know that Sendoh is not a gay. Well, come to think of it, with all those fan girls screaming out for him, why doesn't he still have a special someone?"
Hikoichi nodded. "Hmmm..... maybe they're not his type. If I was in his position, I wouldn't want an annoying girlfriend either!"
"I guess so..."
I sat flatly on the floor as I reached out for bottled water. Practice games sure are hard and tiring but most of all, up until now, those girls' scream were still echoing inside my ear—as if they were just shouting beside me. Isn't this tough?
"Captain, didn't you say earlier that you have a part time summer job at a nearby restaurant?" Koushino asked and sat beside me as well.
I drew a deep breath and replied, "Yeah, I do... Actually, today is my first day..."
"Was it the restaurant 'Sins & Sweets'?"
"Uh-huh. Why do you ask? Wanna apply there, too?"
"Nope. I just heard from my friend that a cute red-headed girl works there. She's a bit younger than us. I think she's still in her junior years but my friend says she's okay!"
"What's the point of saying those stuffs, Koushino? You want me to date her? Court her and be her boyfriend? Oh please! Give me a break! You know I don't have time for girls!"
"Of course not! I just wanted to ask if I could come with you to see that cute girl myself. So, what do you say?"
"Okay. As long as you wouldn't scare off other customers with the 'cute girl' you're talking about beats you up and calling you a 'pervert'! Yeah... I'm fine with that!"
"Gee... it's not like I'm THAT perverted..."
Who would've ever thought that opening a door would let you see Aphrodite? I never thought of it... even once.
"Ohayou!" greeted a red-headed girl as Koushino and opened the door.
If ever I was dreaming, I was supposed to be in heaven with the goddess of beauty smiling right in front of me. Dear heavens... I think I'm gonna faint...
"Hello! Please follow me and take a seat!" the girl said cheerfully as she led us to a vacant table near the counter. Koushino spat me but... guess what? I can't take my eyes off the girl...
"Uhm... actually, my friend here is a... a new worker at this restaurant. Right, Sendoh-san?" Koushino asked.
The girl clasped her hands embracing the tray she was holding and bowed gently. "Gommen 'ne! I didn't know that you're the new recruit! You're...?"
I gulped—for some sort of reason. "S-Sendoh... Sendoh Akira..."
As I mentioned my name, I caught a glimpse of surprise in her eyes as her eyes as if sparkled in delight (just like Hikoichi! ) . Was there something... wrong that I've said?
"Oh my...! Is it really you?!!! The great ace player Ryonan High is talking about????!!!" she exclaimed.
I felt my face turned red and scratched my head. I was about to answer but Koushino (the darn!) butted in. "Yep!!! That's the great Sendoh Akira everyone is talking about! The ever-so good ace player of Ryonan High and ever-so famous SMILING BROOMHEAD!"
It was as if the girl was SO impressed by Koushino's 'description' of me—or should I say impressed by Koushino's 'get-beaten-up-by-girls-part-three?
She quickly accepted my hand and bowed gratefully at me. "I'm so glad I finally met the pride of Ryonan High! I'm so glad I'm studying with the same school as the great Akira Sendoh! I can't believe I met my brother's rival already!!!!"
"Rival..?" Koushino and I both asked in chorus.
She nodded and as her eyes met mine, I remembered the person who possesses eyes just exactly like that. Oh god... please don't tell me that she is... oh I hope she's not! I REALLY hope she's not!
"Yap! My name is Rukawa. Rukawa Mayuri!" she stated.
Koushino and I looked at each other—sweatdropped! Oh no... looks like luck is turning its back on me.
"Y-You're brother... You're brother is NOT Rukawa Kaede, right...?" I heard Koushino asked.
"Oh! Looks like my big brother is pretty popular here, huh? Well, I don't know if it is bad news but... yes, I am his sister and he is my older brother. Uhmmm... Sendoh-sama??? Are you okay??? You look pale!!! Was there something wrong that I said???"
Oh damn... how lucky can one get sometimes! Just as I thought I could get used to her company. Oh man! She's Rukawa's sister and I do realize how much trouble I would undergo if ever I'm going to court this girl! I just hope I won't go as far as that... but I think it wouldn't be THAT possible.
A/n: So how did it go guys???? Boring? Intriguing? Tell me your comments!!! CONSTRUCTIVE CRITISISMS are welcome! No flames please....