A/N: Things are starting to heat up between Takashi and Meilin ain't it? Meilin really hates him for a long, and just got worse when she bumps into him in the court. Meilin has snapped and now challenges him for a basket ball match. How will this end up?
Chapter 4: Practice
"I challenge you," Meilin began while her index finger poined at Takashi, "To a basketball match."
Sakura, Tomoyo and Yumi gasped in utter shock. They were dumbfounded by Meilin's impulse to challenge Yamazaki into a match. Sakura's fear had been realized.
The sliding door opened—entered the long brown haired girl from the other classroom, Nakura. She entered perky inside, not knowing what was going. She looked in front of her and saw Meilin and Takashi, sitting on his seat, glaring at each other. Before she could say a word…
"Challenge me?" Takashi asked Meilin with a hint of sarcasm. He laughed for a moment, thinking about it. His eyes then looked at Meilin as if he looking down on her. "Are you serious?"
Meilin paused but did not reply.
"This isn't looking any good," Yumi said.
Nakuru looked at them curiously. She did not know what was going. Then she asked Yumi, "Hey, what's going on?"
Yumi looked at her anxiously. "Meilin had a fight with Yamazaki yesterday and she's challenging him to a match?" she replied. "It's a basket ball match.
Nakuru understood now what was going. She looked at Meilin and Takashi, also becoming anxiously on what's going to happen.
"Yeah, I'm challenging you," Meilin finally replied. "When I win, you stop looking for fights and never see you in one, okay?" She really wanted to end his "career" by doing this.
Well that's an unexpected one, Takashi thought, smirking. He stood while not breaking his stare at Meilin. He straightened up his back to look taller and smiled slyly.
"But when I win," Takashi said, "You'll be my slave for one whole week."
Meilin's friend gasped in shock.
"I knew it!" Sakura whispered to her self.
"That's not fair," Sakura complained. "Meilin, don't accept it!"
Meilin glanced behind her and looked at Sakura who was shaking her head, trying gesture Meilin out of it.
"Why, Meilin, afraid of a little challenge," he said. Those words hit Meilin with such force that she looked at him with an angry face.
Meilin hesitated to reply as Sakura tried to talk her out of it.
"Knew you're just a wimp when you have no advantage," Takashi said.
Meilin quickly stared at Takashi when she heard those words from him. Her fist clenched to a ball in anger.
"What's it going to be, girl?" he said. "Are you backing out, weakling?"
"Meilin don't!" Sakura said.
Meilin winced, not sure of deciding on what to do. Her fist clenched harder.
"Grrrrr—Alright!" Meilin shouted. "You're on!"
Takashi smiled an evil smile.
"Next Friday," she declared. "You have enough to practice. Within that time, you should be prepared to play."
Still sustaining that evil grin, he replied, "Sure. I'll be waiting."
X00X00X
In the girl's locker room
"What are thinking back there?" Sakura asked Meilin.
Meilin took of her white polo shirt, exposing her full bust and pink bra cover it. She looked and her and laughed nervously.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I don't what I'm thinking…"
"You know what situation got your self into?" Sakura said, slipping down her navy blue skirt.
Meilin got her red T-shirt and white jersey. She pulled out of white sneakers and placed it down on the ceramic floor. She glanced at Sakura and said, "I'm just annoyed by the way he teases me back there and I don't him to get away with it."
"But that's not an excuse," Sakura blurted out instantly.
"Did you remember what condition you made with him?" asked Sakura.
Meilin could remember it all to clear. Her head made a big sweat bead behind in embarrassment. She was speechless when she recalled about it.
"Y-yeah…" she muttered, putting her red shirt on her.
Sakura finished dressing up first, wearing her white T-shirt with pink sleeves, matching short shorts and sneakers. Meilin put on her jersey and fixed her self.
"You should practice more," Sakura said.
"R-right."
X00X00X
The orange basketball went in to the orange hoop Meilin had just shot inside the Seijo High Gym. She had her arm up in the air after the shot was made. She smiled with pride.
"Nice one!" Sakura shouted at Meilin.
Meilin looked beside her and smiled at Sakura. "Thanks!" Meilin shouted back.
Meilin and Sakrura ran to up the court to their court for defense.
After a few sessions and a good whole court match, Meilin and Sakura ran out of the gym all sweaty. They were all soaked up with sweat. So they went to the locker room to change.
In the locker room, they were chatting while they were in the shower.
"What a session wasn't it?" Sakura said.
Meilin twisted the knob of the shower. The shower sprayed warm water over her milky skin toned boy, trailing down her back and cleavages.
Sakura's face blushed from the warm sprays of water drenching her. The warm water sued her ache in her body, replacing it with comfort.
"It's a very exhaust day," Sakura finished.
Meilin moaned and said, "I hear that, Sakura. It's really nice to have…" She stretched her arms, then continued, "…good baths like this."
After bathing, they went to their together lockers and dressed up. Soon, they got out of the locker all dressed up and ready to go home for the day.
They were chatting amongst each other when they stumbled upon Takashi as they walked to the school gate. They stopped and looked at him.
Walking toward the gate, Takashi noticed the girls and looked at them. He saw Meilin glaring at him with her firey red eyes. There was even fire burning in her eyes, feeling determined to beat him. He narrowed down his brows and took a last look on Meilin. Then he walked away.
"I'll defeat you," Meilin muttered to her self.
X00X00X
The next morning, the sun shined brightly over the school grounds, giving those radiant rays of light. It gave warmth to the people in the campus from the cold climate of the morning.
The students flocked around campus as they waited for the bell. While they waited, they roamed around the campus or play some game with their friends.
Takashi was inside his classroom just when the bell rang. He was there, doing his usual school agenda—staring at outside the window. He was thinking about the match next week, though he wasn't looking worried about it.
After a few class sessions, the bell rang for Recess. The students went out of their respective classroom and went to the cafeteria from some grub.
Takashi went to his usual stop. He sat on the bench where he met Tomoyo asking if he was available on Sunday so they could have a little chat. He was skeptical about the "talk" though. Why would anyone talk to him? That was one question floating in his mind. He shook his head, trying to shake off the idea.
A few moments later, Tomoyo approached Takashi. Getting near to him, she said, "Good Morning, Yamazaki. May I sit with you?"
Yamazaki looked at her purple eyes and faced front.
"Sure."
Tomoyo immediately sat beside him. She closed hand on her lap and looked down on it.
"So how's school?" she said, making a conversation with him.
"Fine," he straightly said, looking away from Tomoyo.
There a deep silence between the two persons. Tomoyo glanced at him for a moment; he was not looking at her. She stared at him and said, "About you're this coming week…"
Hearing that, Takashi looked at her. "What about it?"
"N-nothing…"
Takashi faced front again and sighed. "Look, if you want to say something, then say it. If not, I'll be leaving…" He stood and was about to leave her.
"Wait!" she called.
Yamazaki looked at her and sat down. "So? What is it?"
Tomoyo smiled for a moment. "Maybe this Sunday… I'm not ready yet?" she said to him.
Takashi made a confused looked at her, but said, "Whatever. I'll listen when you're ready."
Tomoyo stood up, looked at him and said, "You're really a bad person."
Yamazaki looked at her, surprised to her that from her. Before he could say something, Tomoyo left him. A smiled cracked on his face. He was stunted to hear that from her.
X00X00X
Seijo High, outdoor basketball court…
Takashi jumped up shot a good mid-shot to the hoop. The ball flew in mid-air and went in the hoop. It fell down the ground, bouncing a few times before it stopped.
His face was full of sweat as he panted heavily. He had been here for quite a while practicing his shooting. He swallowed his fatigue and approached the ball.
"Hey, Yamazaki," a male voice said from behind Takashi while he was getting the ball.
Takashi got the ball and turned around. He saw a guy, wearing the school's uniform. He had long, spiky, sky-blue dyed hair. He was as tall as Takashi and had those slit-looking eyes as his.
The boy smiled at him. "You mind playing one-on-one?"
Takashi faced him. He quite surprised to him. He didn't even know him. "Do I know you?"
The blue haired boy collapsed if he tripped after he heard that from him. He quickly got to his feet.
"Oh, how rude of me," he said. "I didn't even introduce my self." He stood up straight and coughed politely, clearing his throat. "I'm Kudo, Chichiri—Class D-148."
"Oh," Takashi muttered, looking at him from head to toe.
"So, are you up to it?" Chichiri asked.
Takashi thought about it and said, "Sure."
Chihiri smiled, showing some of his teeth.
Yamazaki passed the black basketball to him and Chichiri caught it with his two hands.
"Your ball," Takashi said.
"Fine by me," he replied, dribbling the ball.
Takashi screen in front of him, his eyes staring at Chichiri's slit-looking eyes.
Chichiri smiled confidently, placing the ball at his side to guard from Takashi.
Takashi put his forward, cueing Chichiri to move in. He moved in, making a crossover to get passed Takashi. Yamazaki saw it coming and angled his body and intercepted him from his attempt.
Chichiri halted and made a Back Roll TurnDribbleto his oppenents's side. This surprised Takashi as he got passed him.
"What the...?" Takashi looked on as Chichiru jumped up and laid the ball up to the hoop. It got in and dropped to the ground, so as Takashi's expression. He was surprised that his opponent got passed him.
Chichiru grinned at him.
"Nice one," Yamazaki said.
Chichiri popped the ball up to his hand and passed it to Takashi. Takashi caught it and looked at him.
"You're turn," he said,smiling.
Takashi began dribbling the ball and formed his stance for an offense. Chichiri moved for the steal. Takashi saw it coming and didn't let him get the ball. He made a crossover behind his back and used his free arm to block Chichiru's advance. His opponent quicklly stopped to a halt and he turned a heel, making a 360-degree turn to the side of Chichiri. He too made his jump. Kudo watched as Yamazaki laid it up to the hoop. The ball got it in hoop, fell down and bounced on the ground.
"Whoaw! What a score," Chichiri said with amazement, placing his hand on his waist.
Takashi got the bouncing ball off the ground. He looked at him and smiled.
"You got some moves, Yamazaki," Chichiri complimented.
Yamazaki smiled at the remark.
Five meters away from the outdoor court, Meilin and Sakura were just about to leave the premises until they heard the sound of a ball bouncing against the cement. Curious, they went to the court to see who was playing.
Chichiri made his shot to the hoop but missed it.
Soon, Meilin and Sakura arrived in the outdoor court and saw two boys playing one-on-one.
"Who could they be?" Meilin asked.
Sakura shrugged her shoulders, but squinted her eyes, trying to see who were playing.
Takashi good had range of the ball when it bounced off the rim. He quickly jumped and rebounded the ball. He rushed to the three point, but Chichiri was there to intercept him, and yet he pulled a spin move maneuver and went passed him.
"Oh no!" Chichiri exclaimed as Takashi turned a heel around. He then rushed toward Takashi.
Takashi had his arms set for a three-point shot. His opponent pumped his legs and jumped to block the ball. In an instant, Takashi made a fakie, fooling Chichiri into jump block his shot. The secondhis opponentwas falling to the ground, he jumped up and made a one-handed three-pointer.
"Oh shoot!"
The ball flew to mid-air, coming in to contactwith the hoop. Chichiri turned around. He, along with Sakura and Meilin, watched as the ball entered the ring. Sakura and Meilin looked in shock when they saw that. Takashi's three-pointer had impressed them--a lot.
"Whoa! What a shot!" Chichiri exclaimed.
The ball bounced on the ground and began rolling to the right side of the court. It stopped rolling before Sakura and Meilin's feet.
Kudo and Takashi turned their heads to where the ball rolled to. The boys saw the two girls staring at them.
"W-wow..." Sakura stuttered in utter amazement. "What a three-pointer..."
Even Meilin was amazed by the stunt Takashi pulled out.
"Nice shot," Chichiri said, placing a hand on Yamazaki's shoulder.
He then smiled at Meilin.
Meilin sneered at him angrily and walked away. Sakura followed her.
"Hey wait up, Meilin!" Sakura shouted.
Chichiri waved good bye to him and left. Takashi turned around and watched him leave him. Then he faced to where he last seen the two girls.
X00X00X
Sakura jogged behind Meilin who was walking briskly out of the school.
"Hey, Meilin, slow down," Sakura said, catching up with her.
Meilin stopped to a halt. She looked down, her long hair at her side blocked the view of her face.
"Meilin-cha, are you okay?" she asked.
Sakura noticed that Meilin was trembling. "Meilin-cha..."
"I'll defeat him," Meilin said. "I'm going to defeat him..."