Synopsis:The story plays around between the two main characters Rukawa Kaede and Karin Maho. Their friendship started with an unforgettable encounter; grew into a love interminable. But when Rukawa left America, everything changed. What happened to Rukawa? What will happen to Maho? (Rukawa x OC x Sendoh)
Disclaimer: I don't own Slam Dunk and all their characters.
Chapter 4Changed
It was three days since Kaede and Uncle Hohoemi arrived in Japan. They stayed in a hotel first as they wait for their new house to be fully furnished. Their new house was also wired with those security devices. They lived in a village exclusive for those high class families just for their safety. After their second day in Japan, they transferred to their new house. The house was too small compared to their mansion, but big enough for the two of them. Furniture inside were really high class. There were no maids since Uncle Hohoemi was capable to take care of Kaede alone. This was also a preparation for his independence when he reached sixteen.
In an online chat…
Maho:How's Japan, Kaede?
Kaede: More peaceful than New York.
Maho:laugh but what can you say about Japan?
Kaede:I love to be here. My nihonggo is not bad after all. laughing
Maho:Good for you. smile How do you find your new life now?
Kaede:Better… I mean it is the best!
Maho:smile I'm glad for you.
Kaede:Well, tell something about you… What's new these days?
Maho:Me? I'm going to play tennis tomorrow. I hope I learn fast…
Kaede:Well, good luck!
Maho:By the way, when will you go to school?
Kaede:The start of classes here in Japan will be next week. I'm excited.
Maho:Make friends Kaede, okay?
Kaede:Of course I will. And I hope there will be a basketball team in my new school.
Maho:I'm sure there is. My grandpa told me that most of the school in Japan has a boy's basketball team.
(It was almost three minutes and Kaede was not making his reply)
Maho:Earth to Kaede…
Maho:buzz…buzz…
Maho:ZZZzzzzzzzzzz……
Kaede:I'm sorry, Maho. Uncle Hohoemi called me.
Maho:Is he telling you to sleep now? It is already night there in Japan, right?
Kaede:hmmpp…
Maho:You better go to sleep, Kaede. Good night! kiss and hug
Kaede:Good night! I love you, Maho.
Sign out…
It was the start of the school year in Japan and Rukawa was lucky that he arrived in Japan at the right time. He was now going to school by himself, wearing his new pair of uniform and a black backpack on his back. Uncle Hohoemi already toured him around the prefecture so he already knew his way to school and how to go home.
As he walked on his way to school, a lot of girls were making glances at him. After looking, they kept on giggling. This situation was not new to him. Ever since he was in New York, a lot of girls got crushes on him; but, he kept on ignoring them.
When he reached his new school, he was stunned on what he saw. The school was too far different from his old school. This school was bigger with lots of trees in the school ground. A lot of students rode with their bicycles, making him remember to ask Uncle Hohoemi to buy him one. This was something that made him to like Japan. Everyone, even children, was entitled with their own sense of independence.
His appearance differed from them since he was a mixed blood – his father was Japanese and his mother was American. His Japanese blood stood out more. His eyes, nose, lips and face structure was more of Japanese but his blue eyes, incredible height and fair white skin was surely from his American blood. This was responsible for his good looks that attracted almost every woman.
He had already entered his classroom. Everyone looked at him. The girls were love struck when they saw him. The boys were also stunned with his looks.
"Ohayo, minnasan!" he greeted them, bowing his head. He didn't know what to do after seeing all their reactions so he just decided to greet them and proceed to a vacant seat.
The girls crowded him. They were giggling and whispering with one another.
"Hello. My name is Sakura Akino." one of the girls said.
"And I'm Aira Hukan." one added.
"I'm Chin Takuza." another one said.
All the girls greeted him, still giggling. Glued on his seat, he just tried to smile with everyone.
"What's your name?" one of them asked.
"Rukawa. Kaede Rukawa." he said simply.
The girls gleefully screamed after hearing his name. His name was beautiful and sounds 'manly'.
"Are you Japanese? You look like you're of different blood."
"Hai. But I'm half American."
"Were are you from?"
"New York."
While the nonstop "interrogation" was happening, a group of boys entered the circle of girls. These girls became irritated as these boys dodged them away.
Rukawa shifted his eyes to this group of boys and wondered what they want from him.
"Hey, man. New here?" one of them asked. His height was incredible.
"Hai." he answered, still wondering what's up with them.
"Are you into basketball? You're height tells me so." a guy with curly hairs asked him.
"I play basketball but I never played on a team before." Rukawa answered.
The boys looked with one another as if they became glad upon hearing that Rukawa played basketball.
One of the boys came forward. He was not that tall but his body structure told him that he was into sports.
"Then maybe you wanted to join Tomigaoka Basketball Team. My name is Sousuke Nakasume and these are my friends. We are joining the basketball team and maybe you're also interested. We thought that with…"
He was not finish with his statement when suddenly their teacher burst into the door and instructed everyone to seat down.
"Do you want to join?" he asked, looking to his teacher who was now approaching her desk.
"Hai." Rukawa answered. He was not sure if his ability was enough to be accepted but his desire to play basketball and to be on a team was something he was sure of.
"Newbie, fall in line!", a big tall guy shouted, holding a ball into his hand.
The newbie which were consisted of mostly freshmen gathered in front of this big guy and straightened themselves like military soldiers. Rukawa joined the group, but he did not follow that military thing.
"I am Inou Etake, the captain of this basketball team. I was surprised that there are many freshmen who want to join the team. So I've decided to reduce this number by testing your skills."
Everyone look with one another.
"Everyone will be given a chance to shoot ten times in the three pointer line. Those who can shoot seven will be admitted. But this will not reassure you that you can join the team. Those who will be admitted for today will still undergo training every day until we filter the best among you. Understand?"
"Hai!" they said in chorus.
"Then let's start the test. Line now everybody."
Nakasume grabbed Rukawa with him so they can be together in the line. He was glad to found a new friend who had also the same interest with him. The other friends of Nakasume were at Rukawa's back. Their knees were shaking and they became quiet because of nervousness. Nakasume laughed at them. Rukawa also laughed at that scene.
The test started. The test was not that easy as they thought. A lot of them failed to complete the seven points requirement. This test only proved that basketball was not always a game of luck. Luck was only ten percent; skill and ability was ninety percent.
The regular players became dismayed upon seeing these players. A lot of them were willing to play but unfortunately, they are not talented.
"Next…" the captain ordered.
Nakasume went to the three pointer line. He dribbled the ball as he concentrated. His first shot was in! then in… in… missed… missed… in… missed… in… missed…
It was his tenth shot that will decide whether he will be admitted or not. His friends, including Rukawa, crossed their fingers, praying that this last shot will come in.
Nakasume took a deep breath. His eyes targeted the ring. He slowly raised his arms and threw the ball. Swoooosh!!! The ball went in! He was now the fifth player to be admitted.
Now, Rukawa was next. His new friends cheered for him as he approached the three pointer line. Captain Etake signaled him to start.
He dribbled the ball first. He remembered the day Maho taught him how to dribble. It was the day when he first touched a basketball and the day he came to love it. He raised his arms and released the ball from his hands. The ball went in flawlessly. Everyone was in awe after seeing this amazing shot from an amateur. Then, he proceeded into his second shot and it still went in. Then the next… and next… and next until he finished all these ten shots. All the shots went in.
Everyone cheered for him as he joined back to them. Even the regular players were astounded with him.
"I never thought you're that good. You told us that you never played into a team before, ne? But how come you're so good?" Nakasume said as he gave him a tap in the back.
Rukawa scratched his head as Nakasume gave this compliment.
"I have basketball tensai who taught me how to play."
The test continued and ended until all the players where done. Six players were admitted. Unfortunately, it was only Rukawa and Nakasume who passed among their group.
"Hello. Can I speak to Maho?"
"Kaede?"
"Hey. What's up? Do you miss me?"
"Yes, of course. How are you?"
"I'm enjoying this kind of life… a life free to do anything. I walk to school by myself. I can now go too my friends house. sigh I hope you're here too."
"Me too. Anyway, how's school?"
"After all the trainings I've done, our coach decided to make me a regular player."
"Really? Does your team have good players?"
"Yes. In fact, our basketball team was said to be one of the best in this district."
"Then I guess you'll improve more while playing in a team."
"I guess so. Then, I will be able to beat you in a game."
"Hahaha. You're so confident as ever."
"I'm not boasting! I'll win over you someday."
"In your dreams. Hahaha… Well, I have to go to school now. Bye, Kaede. I love you."
"I love you too, Maho."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The girls were screaming as Rukawa made another layup. Their screams were heard all over the place. Captain Etake was annoyed with these noisy girls. He commanded one of his subordinates to close the door. The girls cursed him as he closed it – just following the order of his superior. Poor guy!
It was already five months since Rukawa joined the basketball team. They were now on their way to championship. Everyone could say that Rukawa became one of the best junior high players in the district.
The afternoon practice was over and the players proceeded in their locker room. They took a shower to refresh their selves and to remove their unpleasant smell.
Rukawa packed his things, readying himself to go home. Nakasume approached him. He pointed his lips into the door. He shifted his eyes to the door and saw a girl in uniform. She was tall and definitely beautiful. She had long brown wavy hair and dark brown eyes. She was Rinso Yakumi - the school's darling known because of her giftedness in playing the piano. Everybody liked her because of her fine behavior and also because of her personality. A lot of guys drool over her but it was Kaede Rukawa who got her attention.
"Kaede, you're angel was waiting for you." Nakasume teased.
"Huh?" he said as if he didn't understand what he was saying.
"Hey, a lot of girls were after you. I think it won't hurt you if you date one of them. And it is not really bad to date a Rinso Yakumi. She's really beautiful and talented of course. Why don't you give it a try?"
Rukawa reflected on what Nakasume said. Rinso Yakumi was beautiful. She was gentle and fine. She always made lunch for him and gave him water during practices. She's rare. He thought he might be regretful if he did not seize her. But he also remembered Maho? He'll be cheating on her if he did that.
"Thank you for sending me home, Kaede. And thank you also for a wonderful date." Yakumi said as she bowed her head.
"Uhmm…"
"What's it Kaede?"
"Can you be my…" Rukawa could not finish it.
"Be what?" Yakumi asked as she raised her eyebrow.
Rukawa was unease. He could not say those words, as if something was blocking his throat.
Yakumi moved her face closer to his with a questioning look. She already knew what he wanted to say but she wanted to hear it from him.
Kaede cleared his throat and looked her in the eyes.
"Can you be my girlfriend?" Finally, he blurted it out.
"Yes." she answered as she hugged him tightly.
"Young master, it was already nine in the evening. What made you so late?" Uncle Hohoemi asked.
Rukawa did not know what to answer. He could not say that she's dating another girl.
"I went to a friend's house." he said, trying to cover his lie.
Uncle Hohoemi seemed to catch him lying. He was with him ever since he was a child. He knew him so much that he could tell whether if he was lying or not. He just shifted his gaze away from him to avoid being discovered.
"Maho called a while ago but I told her that you're not home yet. I told her that I'll ask you to call her when you arrive."
"Maho… I could not tell her…" he thought.
Rukawa went to the stairs and planned to take a rest on his room when Uncle Hohoemi called him.
"Aren't you going to call her?" he asked.
"I'm going to call her tomorrow." he said.
He proceeded to his room and laid on his king size bed. He stared into the ceiling, reflecting on everything he was doing.
The phone rang. The busy Uncle Hohoemi placed his pot holder in the counter as he left the kitchen to answer the phone. There was no phone in the kitchen so he had to move to the living room to answer it.
"Moshi moshi. Hedo Hohoemi speaking."
"Hello, Uncle Hohoemi. This is Maho. Can I speak to Kaede?"
"Oh, Maho-san. Please wait for a while. I'll give the phone to him."
Uncle Hohoemi went up stairs. He knocked at Rukawa's door. He opened it and saw the phone in his hands.
"Young master, Maho was in the phone."
Rukawa was stunned. He froze like an ice berg.
"Thank you, uncle."
He grabbed the phone and closed the door.
"Hello."
"Hello, Kaede! How are you?"
"I'm fine. Why did you call?"
Maho was dazed with his question. But she did not mind it.
"It was almost three weeks since you last called me. I called you once but you're not home."
"I'm sorry. I was busy with school and also with our basketball practice."
"And also girls? Hahaha…" she teased.
"No."
"Really, huh? I guess there are lot girls there who drool over you. Maybe you're busy with them. Hahaha."
"I told you that I'm busy with school and basketball!" he said, almost yelling at her.
She was shocked on what happened. She was just joking him. She did not mean it. Even Rukawa was shocked too on what he did.
"I guess I'm so guilty." he thought.
"I'm sorry, Kaede. I was just joking and I didn't mean to annoy you." she said, her voice was shaky.
"I'm sorry too. I was just so tired."
"I understand."
"I think I cannot call you these coming days. I'll be busy with our practices since we are preparing for finals."
"Okay, Kaede. Well, I think you have to take a rest now. Bye, Kaede. I love you."
Rukawa hung up the phone.
Maho sat on the corner of her bed. What happened today was too much for her. She never thought that Kaede could yell at her. But as what she said, she understands. She will understand.
Weeks had passed where there was no conversation between the two of them. Rukawa did not even try to call her. He became busy with a lot of things – school, basketball and also girls. Since he became popular inside and even outside the campus, a lot of girls were after him. He enjoyed dating and even playing with girls. He suddenly changed into a new person– a person too far different from before.
Maho was still waiting for his calls. Every week, she was calling him. But she always ended up talking with Uncle Hohoemi. Uncle Hohoemi would either say that Kaede was not home or he's asleep. She would just ask him how he was and Uncle Hohoemi would just say his fine.
Months had passed and still, she could not talk to Kaede. Now, Rukawa's phone number was unattended. She could not find any means of contacting him.
"I'll wait for you, Kaede. Please wait for me too."
End of Chapter 4! Like it? I want to know your opinion about my work. Please R&R!