Chapter 2. Hanamichi Meets His Sibling

"That stupid cry baby is coming here! And I've got basketball tomorrow… I'll get in trouble with gori again…" Sakuragi said. "Better call Youehi to pick her up."

Sakuragi stood up from his bed and headed to the telephone.

"Good evening, this is Sakuragi. Is Youhei there?" Sakuragi said who was leaning on the wall.

"Wait a minute…Youhei!" The high pitched voice continued, "Telephone baka." Sakuragi heard a big bang when Yohei came to the phone.

"Itaii! Yoroshku. This is Youhei." Said Yohei while tending his lump on the forehead.

"Oh Youhei, It's Hanamichi. Who was that cruel little girl?" Asked Hanamichi, "You sure are getting beaten up by her."

"It's my sister. What do you want from me anyway?"

"Sister…You know how I feel…"

"Feel what?"

"My sister is visiting this winter! And she's going to live here with me for a month!"

"I wonder if she's even going to survive with you…" Youhei laughed.

"Shut up Youhei! You don't know what that brat is up to… She's smart…and wise…" Sakuragi was worried.

"Hahahaha! Unlike you." Youhei teased.

"And she's wicked…like a hag…and so ugly…many many pimples… Ewww…"

"Come on Hanamichi, one month isn't gonna be so bad."

"I've got to fetch her tomorrow at 4 sharp. But I have basketball practice! Gori'll strangle me to death if I escape practices again."

"Don't tell me…"

"What?"

"You're asking me to fetch her? Oh no…no you won't. I refuse." Youhei shook his head.

"Okay. Then if it's going to be safe for me…can you guys just go with me?"

"Dandy."

"Okay. Good night then." Sakuragi hung up the phone and returned to his bed. He prepared candles and put up the picture of his dad. He tried to contact him from the other world.

"Dad…please? Help me on this. Hiromi's going to kill me!"

Suddenly, the fire on the candles began to die on be one. "Iie, I was just kidding father. I'll be sleeping now. He he he…" Sakuragi was shaking and hid beneath his blanket.

It was roughly 3 pm in the afternoon when the basketball team began their practices. Hanamichi placed his hands on his shorts and started to bug Akagi.

"Gori…"

"What?!"

"Neh…I um…"

"Nani?! You want to escape practices again?" Akagi then smacked Hanamichi on the head.

"Iie…how did you know?! Heehee…" Sakuragi prolonged the laugh, "I just want to finish early."

"That's so unlikely of you Hanamichi," commented Ryota.

"Ah genius like you needs more time by himself to practice," added Mitsui.

"Ryo-chi, Mit-chy," Sakuragi was about to burst into tears, "Please, it's a matter of life and death."

"You? Afraid of death? Che." Rukawa grumbled.

"Nandato Rukawa?!" Sakuragi scrunched his fists. "You wanna fight?! Wily fox…"

"I can't stand these boys…" Ayako said.

"Okay, but this is the last time?" Akagi was surprised to hear Sakuragi say 'please'.

"Yatta! Arigattou gori…eh…correction, Akagi Captain."

"Yosh! Let's start practice…SHOHOKU! FIGHT!"

"Oooous," chorused the team.

In the meantime at the train, Hiromi was standing and her mother had let her bring an icing pastry for her brother. She looks at her timepiece. It's already 3:30 pm, I think I'm almost there. That bozo better not be behind schedule or else…

Youhei and Sakuragi's gang entered the gymnasium and yelled at Sakuragi.

"Hanamichi! It's already 3:30 pm. She must be nearly here," said Youhei.

"Ahh! Ayako-san, is it really 3:30?"

"Haii," said Ayako as she checked her timer.

"She?" asked Mitsui.

"Who is 'she' Hanamichi?!" inquired Ryota.

"None of your business! Hmph!" Rukawa looked at Sakuragi in disgust. "What are you looking at Rukawa?!" Rukawa exhaled noisily.

"Better be back tomorrow fool!" demanded Akagi.

Hanamichi and his gang were walking to the train station.

"Who are we going to fetch anyways?" asked Takamiya. "I'm getting hungry." His stomach abruptly grumbled.

"You're always a big trouble to us Hanamichi," complained Noma.

"Come on! What are friends for…" Hanamichi pleaded. "Its better you guys come along, so that I'll be safe…"

"Safe from who?" asked Yuji.

"Her sister…" replied Youhei.

"Nani?! You have a sister?!" chorused the three. Sakuragi nodded.

"Yup." Youhei agreed.

"What does she look like Youhei?"

"I haven't found out myself either."

"Oi Hanamichi. Look who's coming…" Takamiya pointed at the direction where Haruko was after the train passed by them. The gang stood back and let Sakuragi lead the way. Haruko waved at Hanamichi and he waved back and smiled.

"Haruko-chan is such an angel…" Sakuragi day dreamed.

"Sakuragi-kun, why are you heading for the train station? No basketball practice?"

"Ah…uh…ah…. Iie, there is… But I've got to fetch my little sister."

"That's so sweet of you Sakuragi-kun; I can't wait to meet her."

"Ah…Haruko-san, I guess I won't bring her to school."

"Why not? I'm sure she so charming, I can spend time with her if you want."

Haruko-chan is just so kind and gentle…demo…that brat will cause me a lot of trouble. I'd better be good to her later…Nyahaha..this is my chance so that Haruko will know how good a brother am I…Nyahahaha…

"I changed my mind…maybe I'll bring her…"

"It's almost 4, I guess, she's almost here. Ja ne Sakuragi-kun…"

Sauragi waved at Haruko as she was lost in his sight. Youhei and the gang then shouted near his ear, "Ba-ka-mo-no!" Sakuragi cleared his ears.

"Bakero! I'll get deaf!" Sakuragi head butt his friends and they all fell down.

"You're always acting like your stoned deaf," Takamiya elucidated.

"And you're asking us a favor," inserted Yuji.

"Come on guys. Hanamichi is just full of pressure right now," said Youhei.

They all heard the sound coming from the train.

"All passengers please leave the train for the next stop." The doors opened.

A girl with bright red hair with her gray coated chowchow went down. She tried to find her brother. The dog was bringing some of her things.

"Sakuragi," yelled the bunch of hooligans. She looked back and saw a bright red head popping from the weird looking guys that were calling out her name.

"Baka." She smiled slyly and looked at the pie she was holding. She winked at the dog.