Sorry if I didn't update earlier... With all the Christmas-New Year parties we got at my place, I barely had time to write. But finally, chapter 2 is here. Please enjoy!


Chapter 2: And thus, we met again...

Ibuki's POV

Since when? Since when had I started to count days? As if I was expecting some miracle!?

It's been one year already! One year since my eyes fell on Nozaki Sakura. And we never met again! Perhaps I was expecting something like in shojo mangas... Some unexpected events which will make us meet again, stumble upon each other and draw us closer...? But as I said, this only happens in shojo mangas! (Not that I read shojo mangas... I mean, I once read one. But only one! And my girl friends and classmates often talk about them. So... No, I'm not a shojo manga fan!)

I was only dreaming all the time. But I don't know why... In the end, I was thinking about her. And only her! One whole year passed by and I was dreaming of Nozaki Sakura. I wanted to see her one more time. Perhaps it would have been nice if we were connected by some sort of red string like in shojo manga... (And again, I say I'm not a shojo manga fan!) Hm... I'm talking nonsense! That would never happen. I just happen to see her performing once. This doesn't mean anything!

I'm being stupid, I know it already! People would seriously think I'm crazy! I just saw her once and then nothing happened. It can't be that I have a crush on her... Right? I know nothing of her, this doesn't mean that I'm being attracted to her! (I somehow have my pride...)

Of course, I discussed the issue with no one. My friend wouldn't understand. My teammates would laugh at me. My parents... Oh please! In the end, I was wondering about Sakura day and night. Wondering if she's doing fine, if she's participating in some other contests, what she's doing... Even during my trainings, or when I'm eating and at night, when I'm sleeping! Was it some form of obsession!? (My my... Am I turning Yandere?)

It took me long to realize that we were from two separate worlds and that we won't meet again. The bitter truth. And after one year, my illusions faded away. I was back to my old self. I indulged myself into training, everyday. I had no time to think about her. But recently, I got into some conflicts with my teammates...

"Ibuki! Pass the ball!"

"I don't need your help to win! I can play all by myself!" I replied fiercely.

"That's not fair!"

"You're being stubborn!"

"YOU are the ones being stubborn! I don't want to play with weaklings like you!" I said in a calm but rude tone.

"Ibuki, stop acting all by yourself! PASS THE BALL!"

"If you want it, then try stealing it from ME!" I responded bluntly.

"Who wants you in the team if you're always being rude with everyone!?"

"And who wants to play with such weaklings as you!?" I said. "If you can't keep up to my level, then just quit!"

That was the declaration of war! It had happened after a basketball match with another school. We eventually won thanks to me. But my teammates started complaining about our "collective" play. But who needs "collective play" when we have someone like me in the team? After all, am I not the best basketball player ever seen in Japan!? My parents and teachers told me I could become extremely popular and rich only with my passion! I was talented and they all know! And my teammates were simply jealous of my talent! They were so envious and so they started blaming me for every little thing! It wasn't my fault if they were not talented or if they did not train enough... If they wanted to score, they just had to train and get better! End of the story... or so I thought.

Very soon, they all decided to plot against me... In my back, they would plan to never pass the ball to me or to even block me. At times, they would even keep me on the bench! I realized that my team no longer wanted to play with me. They just abandoned me... We eventually lost many matches and barely managed to get to the semi-finales of inter-schools, but we lost in the end. But they were satisfied: as long as I'm not able to get the ball, they were ok with it.

"Why did you not pass the ball to me!?" I asked with a threatening tone.

"Who would, Ibuki!? You're always playing by yourself. That's really unfair!"

"Now, you know how it feels to never get the ball!"

"You guys, you're being crazy! We lost!"

"It's ok! As long as you did not get to play!"

And it was only the beginning... Hell was only beginning! From that day, I tried my best to steal the ball from my very own teammates. My play didn't change, I was playing all alone. Eventually, they backfired and stole the ball back. And of course, we lost all of our matches. Our coach was so angry when he learnt about the whole story that he simply quitted and suspended our team. In other words, no match until we made up.

"It's not my fault if they're jealous and if they planned such a thing! Why am I being punished!?" I was too proud to admit that maybe I was the one who was wrong. One of my teammate, a kouhai, a first-year student came to me. He explained that at first he saw a respectful senpai and player in me, but when he saw how I used to play, he was disgusted and wanted to quit... He apologized for participating in the "Let's-not-pass-the-ball-to-Ibuki" plan but I knew somehow that he didn't regret his act. This really angered me.

For weeks I did not get to play. I was training for the whole time. Alone, again. But then, it was only for a short time...

"If you join the team, then we'll pay your studies abroad. You want to become a talented basketball player and train with the best of the best, right!? Then, it might help you to grab your dreams and make them true!"

Those were the words that weird old man told me.

Oh right... If it was just joining a team and play, it would have been ok but... It wasn't about basketball. That old man was talking about joining his football team!

Soccer/ Football! I never played once! (Oh well, maybe I used to play when I was young but... I never played with a team.) I don't even know the rules besides that it's a game we play in 2 teams of 11 players and that each team had to score goals and... Well, it's a bit like basketball, right? The only difference is that we can't touch the ball with our hands. Only the goalkeeper can. Hmm... I thought I knew enough to play. But I was far from the truth...

One week later, I was invited with the soccer team of my school to join an event. I was told that the old man I met (Kuroiwa) was going to announce who would be part of the team which would represent Japan. When I saw the school's team, I thought that we might have some chance to get selected... When I saw the other teams, I realized that there were not only two or three teams! My, my... They were probably all professional players. What am I doing here!? Oh well, if that guy invited me, it must mean that he saw some potential in me. He might even think that I'm better than the other players he had seen so far. Thank God, if I had to play, it would be as a goalkeeper. At least, I can play with my hands and catching the ball isn't such a harsh task!

Kuroiwa took the mic and started announcing the names of the players who would take part in the team. He started with three names: Shindou Takuto, Tsurugi Kyousuke and Matsukaze Tenma. Those names... I really don't know who those guys are. Then one of my senpai from the soccer team explained who they were. Apparently, they were from his old school just before he got transferred. Our soccer team had a match against them and we lost. He then told me that they were incredible players. "Incredible players", that's nothing to me... I'm also one incredible basketball player! There's nothing to get all pumped up! Our captain told us to remain silent, then, Kuroiwa resumed.

Suddenly, he unexpectedly called my name. The school's soccer team looked back at me in surprise and I proudly smiled. Proud that I have been chosen to represent Japan! Even if it was not as a basketball player...

"Congrats, Ibuki-kun!" I heard while the man carried on naming the members of his new team.

If I was chosen, then it was for my talent. Kuroiwa acknowledged it. It didn't please me at all to be part of the team, but to be acknowledged as a talented player was enough for me. Well, I know I might not be that good in soccer and will perhaps face many difficulties, and if I can't cope with it, I can just let my teammates handle the whole match. Soccer meant nothing to me. The deal was to join the team, right? Then, if we win or if we lose, it means nothing to me. Kuroiwa would still fund my studies abroad.

I heard other names that were of course unknown to me. Oh, maybe I heard them somewhere... In the newspapers maybe... Some genius students or players... But that meant nothing to me again. All that counts is that I would be part of the team and that I would be able to study basketball abroad.

It was just for a moment, but I managed to catch it. That name... I heard it before! But maybe it was only a dream...

"Nozaki Sakura!" Kuroiwa said in the mic. Yes, that was it. I heard Nozaki Sakura.

Nozaki Sakura, that was her! For a moment, I thought time had stopped. No, actually, it was me. I wasn't listening anymore. I wasn't thinking anymore. Maybe at that time, I even stopped breathing. For at that moment I thought "I'm about to meet her again!"

The man called us, the eleven chosen players to make a move forward! We did. Then, my eyes were once again on her. Nozaki Sakura. We were there. Standing almost next to each other. And now, after one year, we met again. But that time, as teammates!


Author's Note: Sowwy if I took long, again, I say it! But I hope you like it. I'm better when it comes to POV 'cause I really like putting myself in the characters' place. Well well, next time: Ibuki and Sakura will speak to each other again. What will happen? Let's keep it for the next chapter!

Next update: Next week... or hope so!

Please read and review :)