Chapter1: Gym After Hours
It's 6 o'clock sharp when the practice has ended. The boys are all in the showers, probably changing. I don't know and I don't care. I just need some help to overcome this damn problem that's all. Ayako is now lying in bed. There at the hospital and all because of me. I am responsible for this. So here I am, starring emptily, dribbling the ball slightly in my hand, and thinking.
Flashback.
I and Aya-chan came from the same junior high. Before we meet here in Shohoku. We we're walking home from school and we encounter these gangsters. I can felt Ayako's panic and confusion as they surround us. Ha. I knew these guys. They weremy friends.
"Enough of this! I don't' want to get involved anymore!" I shouted, grabbed Ayako and tried to run away. But with his running ability, he easily catches up. "What do you mean you don't want to get involved huh? Answer me!!"
I felt him grasping tight on my arm, so I let go of Aya's hand. She backed a few steps in fear.I know that he's not letting me go unless I do as he say.
"Lynn, just who do you think you are? We're just a bunch of school bounders! Teachers blacklisted us for what we do! And you say that you'd join in. You'd do all that stuff with us. And now that we have gone this far suddenly you just say you quit?" he said.
"I don't care" I truned my face away from him and tried not to look at his eyes. I don't want to know what he's feeling right now. Cause if I do, I might fall for him again.
"Just that? I don't care? I'm your boyfriend, Lynn! You are not just betraying me, but the whole army!" his graps tightened around my shoulders
"I said .relationship."
"What?!" he stared at me in disbelief.
"I don't care about you and the stupid army I've been in. I've never been a big help anyway. I'm leaving."
And with that, I left him staring confused at me. But one of them act right after I turned around. Ayako's hit with that block of wood one of them swung to her head. If she hadn't been with me that time, she would've been safe. Oh snap. I ran as fast as I could, leaving Ayako there, calling the police to report the accident and as I hide and wait I can hear him shout in disbelief. I know as soon as the police came he'd figure out I'm the one who called.
Ah.. Ayako's safe now. I felt a few seconds of relief. But then fear struck back. I realize that he hates me, and he'll take revenge. All those 5 boys.
End of flashback.
Now everything is different. I do more at basketball, my grades improved, and I have something else to take care about. I am the high school basketball team manager. But last night I have a phone call. A familiar voice.
"You think you'd get out of that easily? Let's see how you've improved. 5 days from now. 10 pm sharp at you know where." He said through the phone, and then hung up.
I gasped. Darn, it's the place our school used to have a beach cookout. It's left abandoned and nobody really went there. So me and my old-shit!-army used it as a hideout.
4 days left and I need help. The boys. I know they promised not to fight, but all I need is for them to help me improve my skills.
Ryota, Mitsui, and Rukawa should be enough. So I waited in front of the showers door. Humming to a song I've been thinking in my head, until Mitsui and Hanamichi popped out. The red hair was rattling about whatever and the other, drying his hair with the towel he's holding.
"! Eh, haii Lynn.." Hanamichi said as he waved at me. He's such a weirdo. So I let the freak pass by, grab Mitsui by his wrist and I told him what I'd like to do.
"Geez.. You're a first grader girl and you seem to have tougher problems than I did a few months ago." He grinned. I am speechless. What is it about 1st grader anyway? "Hey, don't go staring at me like that. As long as didn't notice, why not? I'll need Ryota though" He said, still with the smile.
"Hey Ryota!" Mitsui called him up for me and explains everything. "What about today, right now?"
"Suit's me just fine." I said. "Should we um, invite, no ask help from Kaede as well? He seems… quite tough."
"Ask for it. He won't answer but I'm sure he's willing to help." Ryota answered, and walks away. "I'll be waiting at the gym." He said.
- - - || - - -
Everything is going well. I have all 3 guys supporting me. So, we're confused about how to 'train the girl'.
"I got it." Ryota said suddenly. "Let's see how long you could bear with this!" And he kicked me on my stomach. Once, Twice. I stood still. Three times it is. I said "Son of a bitch. That's quite a kick." But he just grinned and continues. Mitsui is looking at me and Ryota, while Kaede ignores everything and practices his basketball again. It seems like wasn't showering. He just went to change his shirt. "See if you could stay up until 10." Ryota said. And I did it. I made it until 10 kicks.
Mitsui stood up and suddenly give me a hit on my jaws. "Urk…" I fell down backwards. Rubbing my jaws, I cursed silently. I stood up, still holding my aching stomach.
"Watch it. Be aware for every sudden attack, got it?" Mitsui said.
To tired to answer, I just nod in silence.
"You start to act like that icy guy over there. Ha-ha..." add Ryota. He pointed at Rukawa and chuckles.
"I'm trying to bear with the pain you doofus" I said.
"Someone talking about me?" Kaede came closer, panting and sweating. He dribbled the ball slightly before he sat down with 3 of us. He seems not to care. "Asking us to teach you how to fight. Do'ahou." Kaede stares coldly at me, and spoke with his long stern voice. I have no intention to speak. So I kept my mouth shut. I'm not such a dumb red haired monkey who kept fighting with him for illogical reasons.
"Okay um let me ask you guys something. About that 'incident' last year…" I started
"I got hit by a mop" Kaede said
"I lost my teeth" Mitsui continues
"I was crushed by your army at the rooftop Micchy." Finished Ryota
"While you are beating me." Mitsui adds
"Yeah…" Ryota said again. But then I continued "I think you've all answered my questions. But uh I just moved in so I really don't know why everyone shiveres at the sound of your name Mitsui. They just kept on saying 'the incident' without telling." I grabbed a ball and played with it as I speak.
"You are too naïve. Asking for such a thing. There's no theory in fighting like this. It's useless." And Rukawa left.
"Maybe he's right, it is pointless. It's been an hour since we do nothing." Mitsui said. "Ha, what about a punching lesson? I want to know how well you fight. 1 on 1?" Ryota offers but then he said again, "No. It's too soon, but, it's the only way to find out." Suddenly he attempts to hit me on my face, but I dodge it and tried to kick him. But he quickly grabs my foot mid-air and pushed it aside with full force. I fell a few steps backwards. 'Darn, he sure is the quickest point guard in Kanagawa. Quickest fighter either I guess.' I mumbled to myself, hands brushing slightly to my hair since it's falling forward. Seeing this Ryota used the moment to run towards me and pinned me to the wall on my shoulder, while his knees pinned my foot.
He put his face forward, as if he's trying to kiss me. But he hissed "When will you start attacking me?"
I tried to shook him off, but it seems to be impossible. Darn. He is making me mad. While in real world I was trying to release myself, a thought occurred inside my head. 'ugh if I can't even do this then I have no hope on whatever I'll face later.' My mind tells me it's impossible. So I just try my best to break free. I can't even use my arms and feet.
Suddenly I felt a strangle. Darn! I can't breathe. Moments later I turned blue and I was desperate for air.
"Ryota that's enough!" Mitsui shouted from his place. Ryota release me suddenly and I pant heavily. I knelt down since I can't even stand. I choked and breathed deep as I could. "D... on't… ev… ever…hh… strangle…me... Like that again… hh.. you bastard…" I tried to talk between my gasps with my breathing better in every second.
"That's the spirit! It's for your training but, okay, I'll never strangle you again until you are ready to fi…" His sentence was cut off since I tried to hit his jaws, but he dodged and moves left. I took advantage of it and I give him a low kick. Soon, he tripped over it and falls down. Laughing, he said "Hahaha! Now you are like Mitsui! You don't like to lose, do you?" He stood up.
"I remember he told me to be aware of every attack. And that's what you didn't do." I said. "Then try this!" Mitsui swung his fists at me and I dodge it. Yeah! I made it this time! "Nice one… I guess we know you are improved on one thing."
"u huh, and It's because of you and your word advise" Ryota said, "But hey, I got to go now. Meet you guys same time same place tmorow kay?." And he left.
"Don't forget to visit Ayako at the hospital tomorrow morning!!" Mitsui yelled to Ryota who's walking away. He waved as an answer, but he kept going.
It's both of us now. So, I clean up and get ready to lock the gym door, preparing to leave. "You live alone do you?" Mitsui suddenly asked
I nodded as an answer. "My parents lived out of town."
"Aren't you afraid just in case that guy would go to your place and… You know…"
"Hahaha… And what? You're concerned 'bout me?"
"Well I suppose… Huh? What?" He answers groggily. And that face made me giggle. Seriously, the 3 pointer MVP saying such a thing with a laughable expression is hard to believe.
"So if I am concerned about it, what will you do?" I tried giving this flirty smile and who knows? It worked. I cant help but look away and grin. Ahaha a little laughing to get rid of the building tension.
"You could perhaps, stay in my place." He said.
"Really? That would be fun. What will your mother say?"
"…" He kept silent, his face tense.
"Come on, I just know he wouldn't." I sighed.
"How? I mean, how'd you know?" He turned to face me.
"It's just, not his style. I've been fighting with him for three years. I only did a little 'messing up the situation' help. You know.. stuff. And I'm a good info collector. I fight only a little. But he never sneaks into somewhere and beat someone up. He'll give a warning. Always. Just like how he warned me about this." I got up and drank some from my bottle.
"You, I mean, well, this thing. I wonder why it is but whenever I saw you, or talk to you, I felt like I want to share everything and talk to you. This familiar feeling like I've known you for long and I could trust you…" He said.
Oh… I felt the same. But I am not telling him. Is this a crush? I don't want to have the same thing twice. I have to make sure what am I feeling. I could still feel this disappointment about my ex. And I have no intention on repeating the same thing twice.
"Did I say something wrong?" he asked.
"No you didn't. It's just me. So, tomorrow we'll meet at the gym again, won't we?" I asked before I go.
"Yeah I guess." He said. "Bye." He left, turning right from the school, while I turn left. "Isn't your house over there?" He said as he points at the direction he's leaving.
"Oh, I need to do some shopping. It's still 7 anyway." I told a little white lie. I need to go to the beach. Not just the beach, but the abandoned beach. I bet those guys are still there, and I need to check on them. Maybe I wasn't such a good actress, cause at that time, Mitsui is following me behind without me realizing it. But I've been through it so, I'll tell you, that I walk there with him behind, making sure I was okay for a reason I don't know.
In a few minutes I am there and I can hear a thrash can kicked up. My ex is angry for a reason. I need to watch. I need to know and hear. But, sadly I tripped. Yeah... over a darn pebble. And then I saw him looking at my direction. Fuck…
That's all for now. Thanks for those who've read these. It's my first slam dunk fic and maybe I didn't do pretty well so R&R please!! I hope you don't mind to tell me are they OOC? Or any suggestions for the next chapter. Thanks anyway...