For all Seasons
PROLOGUE
"Okay, I think that should be it!"
Glancing over the contents of his sports bag, Sendoh Akira did a quick mental check of anything he may have forgotten.
Hmm…that seems just about…oh wait…
Going over to his wardrobe, he opened one of the doors and picked up the outfit that was hanging from the back of it – his navy blue Ryonan basketball uniform, jersey number seven.
Seven…eh?
Sendoh smiled faintly to himself as he folded up the outfit and placed it in his bag with the rest of his belongings. For almost a whole year he's being listening to the crowds and reporters at those various basketball competitions refer to him as such: Number seven. It was almost uncanny to think that soon this number will belong to someone else.
Only one more week until school starts again…
Time sure flies all right…
Ryonan's coach Taoka had planned a five-day intensive training program as a way of getting the players "back into the pace", as he put it, for when the winter competitions start – not that anyone from Ryonan would dare to even think of slacking off.
Sendoh drew his copy of the itinerary out of his pocket and sighed as he read over it again.
#Day one – Gather at Ryonan station at 7am. Arrive at venue. Afternoon practice game with xxx high.
#Day two – Morning practice game with xxx high. Rotational training in the afternoon.
#Day three – Morning practice game with xxx high. Rotational training in the afternoon.
#Day four – Intensive training.
#Day five – Intensive training in the morning. Winding up in the afternoon. Dismissal from Ryonan station at 7pm.
I hope everyone's up for this…
To assist the coach in the training week, their old captain Uozumi and vice-caption Ikegami, who both recently completed their university entrance exams, have made the special effort to accompany the team on this trip.
Probably just wanted to come along and watch us suffer…
Sendoh smirked to himself…but then it would be so great to see them again…Heck, it'd be great to see everybody again…
Indeed most of the team seemed to have been scattered all over the place for a large part of the summer, Sendoh couldn't help wondering if everyone was up for such a tiring week. Heaven knows Taoka-Sensei has no mercy.
Zipping up the bag and tossing it over his shoulder, Sendoh walked out of his room and quickly made his way down the stairs. Very rarely is he up voluntarily at this time of the morning, and was careful so that he doesn't disturb anybody on his way out.
As he made his way out the door and started his stroll towards the station, his thoughts wandered again to his teammates, and what the year ahead would bring to their team.
The winter games…though those are just a lead-up for the summer ones, we've still gotta do our best…
There'll be new members soon, wonder if we'll get any super-rookies this year…
Though it'll be harder without Uozumi-san as our center, Ryonan is still a strong team…
And I just know we'll all work to make it stronger…
Soon, the station came into sight, and with it, a small sea of blue where the Ryonan basketball team gathered. There was Fukuda, still with the same messy haircut and pouting expression, arguing about something with Uekusa. There was Hikoichi, the over-enthusiast with his trusty pen and notepad in hand, bouncing around all over the place striking up conversations with just about everyone…
And there was someone else…
Sendoh's smile broadened.
Leaning against the railing with both hands in his pockets, smooth ebony hair evenly parted down the center, a faint smile on his face as he listened quietly to his peers talking, every now and again nodding at something someone had said…
Finally again…
Koshino Hiroaki…
Sendoh's pace quickened…
Today's going to a beautiful day…
And this year…
This year will be the best ever…
The silent vow was made, and Sendoh proceeded to join the rest of his teammates.
A/N:
Meant to be posted for SenKosh day…but belated…TT sob…this is what happens if you leave things up to the last minute…!!!The world needs more SenKosh…the world needs a LOT more SenKosh!!!!!