Somehow Rukawa had found himself in the soccer field.
---Rukawa ^my feet must've taken me here'---
He stared at his feet, scratched his head and blinked.
He lifted his face, now knowing why exactly he was in the soccer field. For all he knew he had to be in the basketball court. Then he saw HER.
Ito Hitsumi in the middle of the field kicking a soccer ball to her great satisfaction.
She didn't seem to know he was there, which was good or she would've thought he was following her around. In the first place he didn't exactly know why he was there. But there was no denial she was a good soccer player. Too good in fact---
Rukawa winked at the soccer ball, which was now sailing towards him.
He heard a scream.
He tilted his head so the ball flew past him.
Unfortunately, it hit the electrical post behind him and bounced back, hitting him at the nape of his neck.
---Rukawa ^warui…na…^---
He was already stooping low because of the impact. He straightened his body slowly, cursing under his breath and rubbed the back of his head, an indifferent look hovering about his face.
'Rukawa-kun!' Hitsumi was already running towards him, with that look of absolute concern.
He stared at her, with a question mark in his eyes.
'Daijobu?'
'Hai.'
'Why are you here anyway? Aren't you supposed to be in the court? Rui-chan is there, he said you guys have a practice.'
Somehow Rukawa's blood boiled at the mention of Rui-chan's name, although he didnt exactly know why. He kicked the feeling which vexed his very senses and replied monotonously, 'Hai.' Then he left.
---------------------
'Ah, yes it is!'
'I cannot believe she chose you over him…'
'NANI…?!'
'Maybe it's because she is also in Shohoku high…I do wonder why she came here instead of there…'
'She told me her entire family went here.'
'Ah… but still…you over Sendoh?'
Laughter.
Then sounds of crashing and rumbling.
'I would believe if a girl exchanged the genius's Sakuragi over Sendoh!' Hanamichi guffawed.
'She must've thought I look better, play better, am better.'
Rukawa knew that voice. Rui-chan.
---Rukawa ^So that's how Hitsumi knew Sendoh…she was his former girlfriend…^---
When Rukawa arrived in the locker room no one was there, for they were already practicing, scattered, outside. Miyagi however, had insisted they warm up together and play together, as a team, so the rest of the guys suddenly appeared in the locker room, waiting for Rukawa to finish his shower.
'So how many guys did she go out with anyway?'
'I guess I am her sixth…'
'And you don't mind?'
'Ah…she's just a fling.'
Rukawa's blood boiled. Although he could not see Rui-chan's proud expression from the shower room [for the other guys were hanging out in the benches of the locker room], he was still seething. And he was wondering why he was seething.
Perhaps he hit a ten-wheeler this morning to knock him off his senses…he didn't actually look at what he hit after all.
The water from the shower gurgled as it flowed on his naked body.
'Haiyaku Rukawa! Aren't you done yet?' Miyagi yelled. 'We've been waiting for you for half an hour!'
It was just so like Hanamichi to disturb a person taking a shower. Using his extreme strength he kicked the door and ruined the hinges. It swung on one pivot in front of an indifferent, bare, Rukawa [who in turn grabbed the towel and covered himself on impulse].
Droplets of water glistened in his muscular torso.
'Rui-chan?'
'Hitsumi-san!' Rui-chan was ultimately startled.
Rukawa was as indifferent as ever. He looked as if he was brought into earth from outer space and had the slightest idea on what to do. He just STARED, with his little fox-eyes peering from under his wet, jet-black hair. And perhaps he wasn't human at all, for he didn't even blush.
'Gomen nasai…minna-san…' faltered Hitsumi, inching her way out the door, her face the hue of Hanamichi's hair. She bowed repeatedly as she exited, all the other guys too dumbfounded to speak.
----------------------
Breathe in…breathe out…whew…
'Hitsumi-san…'
Hitsumi turned and saw the gentle features of Rui-chan towards her. 'Rui-chan…' she mumbled. 'Gomen ne…'
'Why did you come barging into the shower room like that?' he asked, eyes fixed on hers.
'Atashi…atashi…' she couldn't speak.
'Doushiteno Hitsumi-san?' He was now concerned.
'I…forgot to give you your…your…'
'My…?'
'Your socks. You left them in the bag where I put my soccer shoes yesterday when we were playing basketball…' Her forehead creased and she flashed him a feeble smile as she bit her lower lip.
Rui-chan almost hit the roof. 'I have tons of socks at home Hitsumi-san,' he said weakly as if he was going to pass out anytime. He didn't know whether Hitsumi was so naive, or just plain stupid, or...had no idea AT ALL.
The other guys who have just flurried out of the shower room fainted, hearing this.
'Well…well…you might get mad…' She looked like a little kid suddenly.
'Pathetic,' Rukawa mumbled, as he breezed past them, dribbling the ball in his hands. So a girl saw him without clothes on, big deal. He dismissed the idea immediately, although a hint of pink still lingered in his cheeks. His foxy stare proved no sign of interest with the world.
Hitsumi lifted a brow at him.
--Hitsumi ^so he dressed up that quickly…he must not be a human…^---
'Sou desu ka…that is so sweet of you hunny,' Rui-chan murmured, smiling at her.
'Sweet?' scoffed Hanamichi.
'Now I've seen everything…' Miyagi chimed in.
'Hmph,' commented Seisui.
Rukawa rolled his eyes. He disregarded the world and played ball by himself.
However Hitsumi's gaze was set on Rukawa's perfect body as he made a shot after the other. She had never noticed how flawless he made his shots, and how agile he was. She thought she imagined sparks flying out of the hoop every time the ball went into it.
The sight marveled her.
---------------------
'So she's a flirt?'
Sendoh nodded. 'Believe me, her next target is Rukawa.' He laughed.
'Oh but she is one pretty lass,' Hikoichi commented, chuckling. 'I could still remember last year when you used to bring her here to cheer you up.'
'But those days are over,' Sendoh said wistfully. 'I never saw her bad side actually. She was so sweet and caring, and sometimes so naïve in a cute way…'
'Yeah, so innocent. I never thought she would choose that Ruikiba person over you.'
Sendoh wiped the sweat off his brow. He took a gulp from his water bottle and stared blankly at his teammates practicing on the court before him. 'The competition is tomorrow. Perhaps I'd see what that Ruikiba person is made of.'
'Some people say he reminds them of you.'
Sendoh was surprised. 'Sou na?'
'Except he plays with girls as fast as he plays ball.' Hikoichi's gaze was far away. 'You loved Hitsumi didn't you?'
Still smiling, Sendoh nodded. 'Hai…I still do.'
'Do you think she ever was serious about anyone?'
'No. I just realized I never knew her at all. She barely talked about anything but soccer…she never shared anything of herself to me…I don't even know her birthday.' His laughter rang in the air, filled with bitterness. 'She looks like a shallow girl, but I don't think she is quite.'
'So Ruikiba is just a fling huh? I see then…do you think Rukawa will fall for her?'
'No,' replied Sendoh, chuckling. 'You know Rukawa, he's cold as a rock. Not even if you bulldoze him he would give in. But I saw them play ball together…I'd say he was rather thrilled to play with her.'
---Rukawa ^my feet must've taken me here'---
He stared at his feet, scratched his head and blinked.
He lifted his face, now knowing why exactly he was in the soccer field. For all he knew he had to be in the basketball court. Then he saw HER.
Ito Hitsumi in the middle of the field kicking a soccer ball to her great satisfaction.
She didn't seem to know he was there, which was good or she would've thought he was following her around. In the first place he didn't exactly know why he was there. But there was no denial she was a good soccer player. Too good in fact---
Rukawa winked at the soccer ball, which was now sailing towards him.
He heard a scream.
He tilted his head so the ball flew past him.
Unfortunately, it hit the electrical post behind him and bounced back, hitting him at the nape of his neck.
---Rukawa ^warui…na…^---
He was already stooping low because of the impact. He straightened his body slowly, cursing under his breath and rubbed the back of his head, an indifferent look hovering about his face.
'Rukawa-kun!' Hitsumi was already running towards him, with that look of absolute concern.
He stared at her, with a question mark in his eyes.
'Daijobu?'
'Hai.'
'Why are you here anyway? Aren't you supposed to be in the court? Rui-chan is there, he said you guys have a practice.'
Somehow Rukawa's blood boiled at the mention of Rui-chan's name, although he didnt exactly know why. He kicked the feeling which vexed his very senses and replied monotonously, 'Hai.' Then he left.
---------------------
'Ah, yes it is!'
'I cannot believe she chose you over him…'
'NANI…?!'
'Maybe it's because she is also in Shohoku high…I do wonder why she came here instead of there…'
'She told me her entire family went here.'
'Ah… but still…you over Sendoh?'
Laughter.
Then sounds of crashing and rumbling.
'I would believe if a girl exchanged the genius's Sakuragi over Sendoh!' Hanamichi guffawed.
'She must've thought I look better, play better, am better.'
Rukawa knew that voice. Rui-chan.
---Rukawa ^So that's how Hitsumi knew Sendoh…she was his former girlfriend…^---
When Rukawa arrived in the locker room no one was there, for they were already practicing, scattered, outside. Miyagi however, had insisted they warm up together and play together, as a team, so the rest of the guys suddenly appeared in the locker room, waiting for Rukawa to finish his shower.
'So how many guys did she go out with anyway?'
'I guess I am her sixth…'
'And you don't mind?'
'Ah…she's just a fling.'
Rukawa's blood boiled. Although he could not see Rui-chan's proud expression from the shower room [for the other guys were hanging out in the benches of the locker room], he was still seething. And he was wondering why he was seething.
Perhaps he hit a ten-wheeler this morning to knock him off his senses…he didn't actually look at what he hit after all.
The water from the shower gurgled as it flowed on his naked body.
'Haiyaku Rukawa! Aren't you done yet?' Miyagi yelled. 'We've been waiting for you for half an hour!'
It was just so like Hanamichi to disturb a person taking a shower. Using his extreme strength he kicked the door and ruined the hinges. It swung on one pivot in front of an indifferent, bare, Rukawa [who in turn grabbed the towel and covered himself on impulse].
Droplets of water glistened in his muscular torso.
'Rui-chan?'
'Hitsumi-san!' Rui-chan was ultimately startled.
Rukawa was as indifferent as ever. He looked as if he was brought into earth from outer space and had the slightest idea on what to do. He just STARED, with his little fox-eyes peering from under his wet, jet-black hair. And perhaps he wasn't human at all, for he didn't even blush.
'Gomen nasai…minna-san…' faltered Hitsumi, inching her way out the door, her face the hue of Hanamichi's hair. She bowed repeatedly as she exited, all the other guys too dumbfounded to speak.
----------------------
Breathe in…breathe out…whew…
'Hitsumi-san…'
Hitsumi turned and saw the gentle features of Rui-chan towards her. 'Rui-chan…' she mumbled. 'Gomen ne…'
'Why did you come barging into the shower room like that?' he asked, eyes fixed on hers.
'Atashi…atashi…' she couldn't speak.
'Doushiteno Hitsumi-san?' He was now concerned.
'I…forgot to give you your…your…'
'My…?'
'Your socks. You left them in the bag where I put my soccer shoes yesterday when we were playing basketball…' Her forehead creased and she flashed him a feeble smile as she bit her lower lip.
Rui-chan almost hit the roof. 'I have tons of socks at home Hitsumi-san,' he said weakly as if he was going to pass out anytime. He didn't know whether Hitsumi was so naive, or just plain stupid, or...had no idea AT ALL.
The other guys who have just flurried out of the shower room fainted, hearing this.
'Well…well…you might get mad…' She looked like a little kid suddenly.
'Pathetic,' Rukawa mumbled, as he breezed past them, dribbling the ball in his hands. So a girl saw him without clothes on, big deal. He dismissed the idea immediately, although a hint of pink still lingered in his cheeks. His foxy stare proved no sign of interest with the world.
Hitsumi lifted a brow at him.
--Hitsumi ^so he dressed up that quickly…he must not be a human…^---
'Sou desu ka…that is so sweet of you hunny,' Rui-chan murmured, smiling at her.
'Sweet?' scoffed Hanamichi.
'Now I've seen everything…' Miyagi chimed in.
'Hmph,' commented Seisui.
Rukawa rolled his eyes. He disregarded the world and played ball by himself.
However Hitsumi's gaze was set on Rukawa's perfect body as he made a shot after the other. She had never noticed how flawless he made his shots, and how agile he was. She thought she imagined sparks flying out of the hoop every time the ball went into it.
The sight marveled her.
---------------------
'So she's a flirt?'
Sendoh nodded. 'Believe me, her next target is Rukawa.' He laughed.
'Oh but she is one pretty lass,' Hikoichi commented, chuckling. 'I could still remember last year when you used to bring her here to cheer you up.'
'But those days are over,' Sendoh said wistfully. 'I never saw her bad side actually. She was so sweet and caring, and sometimes so naïve in a cute way…'
'Yeah, so innocent. I never thought she would choose that Ruikiba person over you.'
Sendoh wiped the sweat off his brow. He took a gulp from his water bottle and stared blankly at his teammates practicing on the court before him. 'The competition is tomorrow. Perhaps I'd see what that Ruikiba person is made of.'
'Some people say he reminds them of you.'
Sendoh was surprised. 'Sou na?'
'Except he plays with girls as fast as he plays ball.' Hikoichi's gaze was far away. 'You loved Hitsumi didn't you?'
Still smiling, Sendoh nodded. 'Hai…I still do.'
'Do you think she ever was serious about anyone?'
'No. I just realized I never knew her at all. She barely talked about anything but soccer…she never shared anything of herself to me…I don't even know her birthday.' His laughter rang in the air, filled with bitterness. 'She looks like a shallow girl, but I don't think she is quite.'
'So Ruikiba is just a fling huh? I see then…do you think Rukawa will fall for her?'
'No,' replied Sendoh, chuckling. 'You know Rukawa, he's cold as a rock. Not even if you bulldoze him he would give in. But I saw them play ball together…I'd say he was rather thrilled to play with her.'