Author: I own the characters that are NOT from Slam Dunk…. If they are from Slam Dunk, they are property of Inoue Takehiko. Please don't sue me… Also, a foreword, I tend to be long winded when writing my fics, so at least you get the overall picture, as well as the locations/background, and worth your dollar on internets charges! LOL Please do email/review me, and I can update the previous chapters. Thanks!

Words in italics or between slashes are thoughts, words within ^^ are actions, unless otherwise stated, words in brackets are locations usually before each section.

(=^_^=)  Chapter 1 – Partners  (=^_^=)

"So this is Ryonan High…" stared Yumi, on her first day at Ryonan High, in the Kanagawa prefecture.

"I think I'm going to like it here!" she grinned.

Kunae Yumi, was a first year student in Ryonan High, and was a very outgoing, friendly girl. Although she wasn't THAT pretty, being plump,(ok, with fat on her belly, she's fat, so she isn't perfect! But then, who is?!?!?!)  and 1.54m tall, she was quite intelligent, and tried to do the best in whatever she did. She had long dark hair, that was usually tied up in a ponytail, and had dark brown smouldering eyes, that were as clear as morning dew. She was usually an optimist, but could be a hardcore pessimist, when she wanted to. Hey, she's a Pisces, what do you expect?

On the first day of school, she was seated in her class, when her sensei announced to the class that they were to choose a partner, of the opposite sex, for that was to be the new system, for the rest of the year. They were to be with each other at all times, and be responsible for each other. If one does well, the other benefits. If one gets demerit points, so does the other. The class (mostly girls) groaned with protests, for this meant that the well behaved girls had to be paired off with the most unruly guys in the class. Immediately, the girls chose their partners, and the females chose those guys whom they liked to be partnered with, for the pairing was strictly based on either looks, or if the two parties were previous friends.

/Oh great, just great…/ groaned Yumi. /I now have to choose who's going to be MY partner for the year… God, I hope I make the right choice!/

Noticing the tallest guy in the class, as no one approached him, Yumi began to think. /He seems kind of shy… Poor guy… I know how it feels like… To be scorned… I'l try my luck with him…/

"Ano… hello, Watashi wa Yumi, Kunae Yumi desu. Hajimemashite! Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!"

"Aa. Ore wa Jun, Uozumi Jun. Yoroshiku." Replied the giant.

Yumi: ^Sweat drop^ "Would you like to be partners? It's alright if you don't want to…"

"Iie, it's alright. Please sit down." Replied the giant politely.

As everyone moved to sit with their respective partners, Kunae Yumi could only sweat drop, as she sat down next to Uozumi Jun.

And as the saying goes, the show must go on, therefore, the class went on as usual. Now, the pairing up didn't only mean that they had to spend time together… On the contrary, they apparently had their school lockers and shoe locker side by side as well!

/This has GOT to be the worst day in my life. I try to be nice to my new partner, who happens to be the tallest guy in Ryonan High, and he answers like a block of wood! Plus, I have lockers next to his as well! I might as well resign myself to resting in peace from the silence…/ thought Yumi grimly, opening her locker. /But hey, be an optimist, Yumi-chan! At least he can be my body guard!/

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Uozumi Jun, the tallest guy in Ryonan High, could nearly gawk at the girl who had approached him, to be his partner for the year. /Oh no! I have to pair up with a girl? What do I say? But, she's the only one who has picked me, not because I'm the only one left. She's doesn't seem like the others, since Junior High…/ thought Uozumi. /She seems nice, and might be able to help me increase my grades, so what the hell…/

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As she slammed the door of her locker, and proceeded to meet her friend, Narayobe Aki, she felt as if someone called her name.

"Kunae-san! Kunae-san!" boomed a loud voice in the crowded hallway.

Turning around, and seeing Uozumi call out her name, she nearly wanted to run away at full speed.

"Hai! Nani ka, Uozumi-san?" asked Yumi.

"I believe we have certain things to discuss about the pairing in our class. Ano…" stammered Uozumi, for although he was quite an outspoken young man, he just couldn't handle girls.

"Yes, Uozumi-san, could you please finish up your sentence, since my neck is really getting strained, looking up at you…" drawled Yumi.

Uozumi: ^Sweat drop^

"Ok, does this help?" asked Uozumi, squatting on the floor, grinning.

Yumi could only try to stifle a giggle. /He's quite funny… A guy worth getting to know more./

"Hai."

"Then, if it's ok with you, how about we have a discussion over dinner at Dinny's? It's nothing fancy, but it's good." said Uozumi, twiddling his thumbs. /She's actually quite cute when she giggles… Not all high pitched like those skinny girls./

"I'd love to, Uozumi-san."

"Alright, after class then?"

"After class."

"Ja Uozumi-san, I've to meet my friend now."

"Aa. Ja!"

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"Did I just see what I just saw?" asked Narayobe Aki, Yumi's best friend.

"What, exactly did you see, my dear best friend?"

"I just saw AND heard the tallest guy in Ryonan High ask you out!"

"Oh don't be silly! It's just that we're being paired up together for the year, baka! Ha ha! And who did YOU get?" laughed Yumi.

"Will he be treating you? Ha! I got a hunk of a man, don't you worry! Ha ha!"

Yumi: ^Sweat drop^ "How could you ask that, Aki-chan??"

"Maa maa, you're too soft, Yumi-chan! You should let the guy pay!"

"Sonna! We're all studying, so I shouldn't take advantage of him! You're so mean, Aki-chan!" pouted Yumi.

"Hai, hai! Whatever!"

"Mou!"

And off the two girls went to have lunch, and gossip about other things.

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After school, Yumi and Jun made their way to Dinny's, a western fast food joint. Choosing a spacious booth, and seating themselves, Yumi could feel the numerous stares that were directed at them, as they made themselves comfortable.

/Apparently those people haven't seen a fat and tall person sharing a meal together./ the both of them thought simultaneously, accompanied by a sweat drop.

"So, Uozumi-san, I believe we have some things to discuss regarding the pairing." Remarked Yumi.

"Aa. I… I'd like to thank you for this morning, Kunae-san…" stammered Uozumi.

"For what, Uozumi-san? Choosing you? Frankly speaking, I didn't know whether you were going to accept me, so I think, Uozumi-san, ~I~ should be the one saying thank you… Arigato, Uozumi-san!" thanked Yumi, accompanied with a respectful bow.

"Maa, I think we should cut the –san part, don't you, Kunae-san? It's kind of formal, if we're going to partners for the whole year…"

"Hai, so, may I call you Jun-kun? That sounds kind of weird… Ha ha!" laughed Yumi.

Uozumi: ^Sweat drop^ "Well, may I call you Mi-chan for short?"

"No problem! Hey! I just thought of name that would suit you! Jun-Jun! Would that be alright?" asked Yumi with a grin.

"Aa. That would be fine."

'Ne, Jun-Jun, so, what are you joining for the extra curricular activity?"

"I figured I'd try out for the basketball team. I'm certainly tall enough…" replied Uozumi wryly. "What about you, Mi-chan?"

"I was thinking about joining the cooking club… I hear that I can learn a lot from the club, and brush up on my cooking skills! Plus, I get credits too!" smiled Yumi. "Don't worry, Jun-Jun, it doesn't clash with your schedule in the basketball club… I checked!" winked Yumi.

"Aa. Should be fine. Does that mean I have to go with you?"

"Like sensei said, I go to your basketball practice, you accompany me to my cooking meets!" explained Yumi, with neko ears, making a cute face. /But I sure would like to see your face when faced with girls in kitchens!/

"Aa. Alright then."

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(Back at Yumi's house)

"Goodness! It's been a fruitful discussion, with Jun-Jun!" snickered Yumi, using the cute nickname she chose for the tallest boy in Ryonan High. "Better check my email! I can't wait to hear from my email pal, Akagi-kun!"

Yumi had been email friends with Akagi Takenori, since the beginning of the last year of her Junior High. It had started as a friendship project for her Junior school, and Akagi's Junior school, and they had developed a firm platonic friendship... They had not met yet, since the both of them were too busy studying for their high school entrance exams. However, since they had both passed, with flying colours, there was more time on each other's hands.

"Now, let's see, what did he send me now?" mumbled Yumi as she scanned through her email. "Hai! There it is!"

Reading the email that Akagi had sent her, he apparently wished to meet up with Yumi for coffee, and talk about the things that interested them, as well as catch up on good times. Yumi replied him a yes, and that they would meet on a Sunday.

"Yosh! Now, time for bed! I've got a long day ahead of me tomorrow!"

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(=^_^=) Meow!

L.I.D.[author]: I know, Uozumi's such a sweetie, I couldn't help portraying him as such! Akagi and Yumi seem to good friends ne? I don't know how this fic of mine is really going to end, but all I know is, the journey that they take is most uncertain, and unpredictable. Please R&R to see if I can get more ideas on how to write this beautiful fic about two giants! Arigato!