Disclaimer: Nyahahahaha… I don't own Slam Dunk... I don't even have copyrights for the phrase "slam dunk"…
Author's Note: If there is a reason for procrastination, let me know... Because I'm going to get there and kill the bejeebus outta that mofo…
Voices of Light
Chapter One: "Catnip Infection"
A good mood is hard to find, at least that was what Hisashi Mitsui had in mind in this particular morning with a paper tumbler of hot ocha in his left grip while stepping out from the Odakyu line at Fujisawa station. Since work is off that day for the former MVP, he decided to take a regular check up to his old high school's newest basket ball team's lineup which, as previously reported by Haruko Akagi, similar to the condition when he was still involved.
That being, of course: unapologetically controversial.
With a mischievous grin, Hisashi lightly shook his head, amazed by Shohoku's basket ball team's inevitable connection to trouble and vein-pumping circumstances even after they've cleaned up and increased their reputation by winning various prefecture and national awards. Something that always gambles between the lines of hormonal balance, he thought so harmlessly, always ends with worthy results. Maybe it was a fragment of his wisdom that catapulted such thoughts. After all, the man has gone through so much that it's impossible for him to evade the humorous side of misfortune and irony in his lifetime.
"Today's gonna be so fun." He murmured quietly as he sipped his ocha and continued strolling alongside the sidewalk with another hand in his trouser pocket.
It was relatively quiet between two people inside a neatly decorated office room somewhere inside a building at the heart of Atsugi city. A woman in her early twenties and a sturdy-looking middle aged man, one was standing while the other was seated, respectively. The atmosphere between them was somewhere between heavy and difficult, causing enough awkwardness to set off curiosity of a group of people that couldn't help themselves from eavesdropping the audible traces of conversation behind the closed door.
"What are they saying?" one of the female workers whispered to her male counterpart, and simply receiving a dismissal respond in return from the later while he re-positioned his ear to the door's gap.
Back at the room, however, was another different set of situation. As if the inevitable ruckus behind her is not enough to underline an obvious state of the leaked conversation with her superior, she grew more and more nervous as seconds ticked forward, and that uncomfortable silence became heavier by each heartbeat. She knew her previous statement was enough to stir a sufficient amount of disapproval, and she knew that acceptance was something she over-hoped for. Nevertheless, what happened last night was the unforgiving turning point that revolutionized every inch of her mindset; she betrayed the downward spiral which she thought had presided over her life, and in the name of that very moment, she braved herself for a crucial decision.
"Fujisawa?" the older man broke the silence, prompting the eavesdroppers to mutter as quietly as they could.
Asayake Kiyomi nodded quietly, "Yes…" she replied with her voice nearing tone-less, "Atsugi is home for me, but I fear that if I stay here, I wouldn't be able to go on with my life, that's why I decided to move to Fujisawa …"
"Your life---, "her superior halted mid-sentence, realizing what she meant, "Ah, what happened to your family…"
Small gasps and concerned looks were immediately exchanged between the eavesdroppers as they were reminded of a tragedy that had befallen upon their colleague. Handing over a poignant recollection which turned them around to when she had to endure such fierce pain from a great, great loss all by herself. However, the mention of a particular city from the pried conversation was quick to alter their attention, and it was only a couple of seconds in gap before they all went back to focus what they were doing in the first place.
"Yes." Asayake repeated, her face turned to near-apathy and her tone even more flattened, "That's why I think it is best that I resigned and---"
"I'll transfer you to our division in Fujisawa, along with a new condominium unit." Her boss appropriately cut her off, causing yet another set of gasps behind his office's door.
"Eh?!" she uttered a disbelieved response. Flabbergasted, the girl tried her best to instantly compose herself from the unexpected source of shock, "But Sir! I, I can't!"
"Can't what exactly, Kiyomi?" he promptly retorted her protest, "Letting go an employee such as yourself, is like throwing a chunk of gold bar to the open sea."
A compliment was very much appreciated, but unfortunately powerless to stop her from the frantic disapproval she desperately tries to get across her superior. His response was nothing like she'd expected, not even close to what she had thought she foresaw coming. No, her expectations were a case of being fired, packing up her office paraphernalia, moving out, getting a new place to stay, applying for a new job, and to top it all, leaving the town. Well, getting four out of six forewarnings was perhaps something she can assure herself with, but the other, most crucial two are then altered, leaving her with a reshuffled state of plans.
"Listen, Kiyomi…" her boss sternly underlined as he stood up from his chair and folded his arms in a reassuring gesture, "If it weren't for you and your management skills, I don't know where this design company would be by now…"
Before she could express another argument, the office's door was abruptly opened, and the formerly meddling group of people rushed inside to join forces against her will. Too shocked to even respond effectively, the auburn haired 21-year old could only suffer defeat as her coworkers vigorously pushed every inch of her defense, and made her accept their boss' irrefutable offer alongside with his triumphant grin. Asayake gave up any remaining traces of defiance and puffed a sigh of trounce as tears of gratitude seeped through her eyes and cheers of delight were expressed right before her.
Squeaking noises of rubber soles, the sounds of a dribbling ball that resonated to the whole indoor court, that smooth net swish, all in all are just a tiny part of his addiction towards this particular sport. What would the life of Hisashi Mitsui be without basketball indeed? A space of aimless void, or a dark turn that could consume him mercilessly into the depths of the city's criminal roster, maybe? Holding an MVP title under his belt, the 21 year old three-pointer is positively proud to stand where he's at. A graduate of an underdog high school that shocked Japan with its prestigious awakening in its national basketball history was one of the grounds he's on top of.
"Mitchy!" a voice he knew too well greeted him from across Shohoku high school's front gate. As he looked up ahead, Hanamichi Sakuragi was present with his trademarked grin and fiery red hair, walking next to Ryota Miyagi who apparently had grown impressively taller over the past two years.
Meeting them was a weekly thing for Hisashi to do since he was a respected alumnus and co-coach alongside with Ryota for their former school team, plus the fact that Hanamichi was the chosen captain of that very same squad. It's just natural for them to commune every week to discuss and watch how the game inside that fateful basketball court would fold in under their scheduled radar. After all, they weren't and aren't going anywhere close into letting previously obtained titles and achievements be wasted once they've graduated. The torch must be passed along, and these three are just some of the people who make sure that such realizations come to being.
"Osh!" they all saluted one another with delinquent smirks plastered across their faces.
Hisashi followed his former teammates inside the school's front yard and onto the court's entrance door. He could hear all the too-familiar sounds welcoming his appearance, alongside cheers and curious looks from glancing freshmen once he stepped inside. He saw Kaede Rukawa analyzing the current practice, the third year student and national team player sat on a bench at one of the court's corners and looked casually serious as always. Not far away, Haruko Akagi was doing her motivational yells while she flipped a number at the manual scoring board, following a point for one of the teams. Those absent were Kiminobu Kogure and Takenori Akagi, as these two had become university students and are regularly occupied with their own study. All mentioned are a part of Shohoku's pride and glory, he thought, the obligatory credit that was given to them for every blood, sweat and tears dripped onto the game.
"So what do you think?" the bold alto which belongs to Ayako Morii snapped him back to reality, "It's been three weeks since we see these guys play, right?" she continued semi-rhetorically while taking a stand right next to him.
She was correct. It has been less than a month of evaluation for these newcomers since they joined the club, but it was enough for him and his ex-teammates to see just who's who and which is which in the newest lineup that boils the essence of quality to face off competitions. Reserving his judgments, Hisashi decided to coyly ask the former team manager about a certain issue in return.
"Are they better than us?"
Ayako turned her head to his direction, she released a small chuckle almost immediately as she heard that question. Such reaction was a feast for his senses, as it answered so many satires within that inquiry, and that was enough for the three-point specialist. They trailed off into light laughs which of course, put a minor jealousy remark onto Ryota who was watching his lady from across. Being sentimentally overprotective, the former point guard has unresolved issues when it comes to the many men that she's acquainted with, even when it's one of his closest, most trustworthy friends. Nonetheless, an introspective manner seized him from going further away from the current situation: the girl is his and his alone. It was decided the moment she accepted his love declaration right after graduation a year ago.
In between his recollection of the sweetest memory he'd ever experienced, Miyagi suddenly noticed that Mitsui was looking at his direction, making a gesture for the younger man to join him on the other side. Vaguely puzzled, the former team captain went along and walked to his friend's standing point. Upon reaching them however, he was abruptly halted as the previous shooting guard spoke up.
"Three on three, Miyagi."
--end of Chapter 1—
To be continued…
Endnote: Aaaaaaaahhhh… I'd like to thank the generous Ms. Yuki Akimoto for the kind review yet once more… I understand the loneliness in being somewhat the oddball when it comes to pairings preferences in a yaoi-infested fanfiction genre… honey, you are NOT alone!
So, after much examination and research (including that of asking a Japanese man for clues by showing him screenshots), I decided that where exactly Inoue-sensei was trying to position Shohoku-high is a city called Fujisawa in the Kanagawa prefecture… it has so many similarities compared to any other cities in that area..
As for Atsugi, I chose that place because there's actually a Shohoku College there… I mean, to deliberately ignore such facts would be ironic, don't you think? Hehehehe… anyhoo, I hope you enjoy this chapter as I work onto the NEXT!!
