I decide to continue this story :)

As I told (way) before, I really like this story and I want to continue it... Soooo,reviews please!


CHAPTER 8: IT'S NOT YOU, IT'S ME

"Team, listen up!" Ryota as the team captain, gather the team in the court to give a few words. "The winter tournament is just around the corner. In seven days, we will play against many teams. Fortunately, we already have Hanamichi back-…"

"HAH! Of course you're all happy! All teams that have tensai like me are guaranteed to have a one hundred percent winning!" As usual, Hanamichi cocky attitude bring some nerve to the team starters. So also as usual, Rukawa responds:

"Do aho."

"What? Why you, kitsune! You should be happy that I'm here to make your job easier!"

"I'm actually enjoying the time when you're not around."

"I know you en-…"

"Shut up you two! Can you guys make up for a while?!" Mitsui—who first intend to separate both of the two rivals—end up in the quarrel as well.

"Nobody tell the tensai what to do!"

"Oh yeah? So what are you gonna do?"

"SHUT UP YOU THREE!" Ryota—using his power as the captain—tries to stop this childish quarrel "WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, DAMN IT! And I'm tired of bending like this!" The three troublemaker shocked and amazed by Ryota… angriness? "Okay! To make it short, we have one and only aim! Winning the winter tournament! SHOHOKU…!"

"FIGHT!"

This is just those days where there are the quarrels and the amazing players of the Shohoku. Hanamichi bounce back easily. Rukawa plays even more magnificent. Mitsui already train to keep his stamina until the game ends. Ryota is as fast as anyone remembers. And the new starters that fill Takenori's position—Shiozaki, complete his homework perfectly as he learns to be more efficient player. The Shohoku seems ready, but so does the other teams. Like Ryonan, who just strengthen their power under Sendoh's lead. Or Shoyo, who already learn from their mistakes and ready to give revenge. Or the strongest team, Kainan. Everybody already know about how dangerous is Shohoku and only the fool that let them selves trapped in the same bait.

There's always sky above sky. Who will rule Kanagawa High School Basketball Competition this time?


It was 8 P.M. and the court should already clean and clear unless Rukawa practice. But tonight he passed and weirdly, there's Hanamichi and Mitsui.

"Hanamichi! Do you want to know how to do double leg through like the one Rukawa used in IH games against Toyotama?" Those sentences steal Hanamichi's attention right away.

"You can do it?"

"I must admit, it isn't as good as Rukawa, but…" In a seconds, Mitsui already in front of Hanamichi and perform the double leg through, passed Hanamichi and shoot. "I'm pretty good at it."

Hanamichi looks amazed and no lie, he really wants to learn it.

Mitsui spin the ball in his fore finger. "I'm actually wanna teach you how to do three-points, but since you just recovered. It might not be a very good idea."

"What?! But I'm fully recovered!"

"No you are not. I've been in your position, even if you already out of hospital, it takes time for your body to really stay on top. So now, just watch, learns, and don't hit me with a ball if you got pissed."

After an hour of 'intercourse' with the double leg through, Mitsui ends it.

"Okay, if you really want to learn this technique, meet me at the gym tomorrow before school."

"Kay… Ng, oy… Mitchy?"

"What?"

"Why do you do this? I mean teaching stuff like this…"

Mitsui sighs, "Takenori asked me to."

"Huh?"

"Yep, he wants you to learn as many as possible technique." Mitsui smiled. "He got a big faith one you!"

"Seriously? That Gori?"

"Believe me. That's pretty cool, y' know? He has that much faith on one person and that person is you."

Hanamichi looks like blushing for a moment, "Well, I just wanna say thanks much to you and to Gori. Send my grateful to him!"

"No way, say that yourself! What am I? A messenger?"

"The thing is… I can't."

"Why not?"

Hanamichi turns his back, "If I say something like that, I can't call him 'Gori' anymore because I owe him that much!"

"Huh, weirdo! Anyway, you better go straight home, so I can give you more of the devilish course again!" That's the last words that come from Mitsui before he rushes out the gym. 'My mom will kill me for sure!'

In his way home, he meets a girl in the gate. Luckily (or not), that girl is Haruko. He can feel his cheeks are burning and his heart beats faster.

"Ha-Haruko, what're you doing so late?"

She giggles, "Right back at you! You were teaching Hanamichi a new technique, weren't you?"

"Yeah, sort of… But seriously, what're you doing here?"

"Well, when I already arrive in the station I realize that my lunch box is missing, so I went back to school to retrieve it and… Check out the gym-.."

He can feel his heart beats even faster but instead of happiness; it's filled with sorrow, "You were looking for Rukawa, eh?" He forces himself to smile and talks casually.

Her face turns red maybe as red as his, "Um… Yeah… But never mind, I'm going home now… See you tomorrow, senpai!" She nearly runs when she left the school, like avoiding the 'You-like-Rukawa' conversation.

"Haruko!"

She stops but doesn't turn her body around.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Mitsui approaches her and taps her shoulder to make her turn around, but when she does… There this fragile girl who breaks down in front of him—like the first time when he knew that she fell in love with his heartless teammate… When he first fell want to protect her and be with her. To see that crying face again is the thing that Mitsui's hate the most, but if that night never happened, if he never saw her cried… He won't even bother to shout her name.

His natural instinct tells him to hugs her and comfort her while his common sense tells him to still aware there's still possibilities that Hanamichi will see that and get very mad; so he decides to take her to the park.


"Are you okay?" He offers Haruko his handkerchief.

"Yes, I am okay now. Thank you for accompany me, senpai." She smiles at him and rushes to leave the park.

"Okay, you've give my parents a good reason to kill me after I go home. Bother to tell this dead man what the hell is going wrong?"

"Eh… I'm sorry, senpai, but…"

"Sorry is the last thing that will work tonight."

"I don't think you'll understand…"

"Try me."

She sighs, "As you guess, this is about Rukawa." His heart aching every time she said Rukawa's name. But he is holding back. "I… I won't get a chance of him. Not even a bit…" Her eyes travel away. "No matter how much I love him, no matter how long I've been in love with him… I still don't stand a chance."

"Why? I mean, how do you know you don't have a chance?"

"I… confessed my feeling…" He stands still for a moment—understanding what's 'confessed' mean.

"And?"

"And he just walked away."

"… He just… walked away… like that?"

Haruko eyes look watery again, "Yeah… And it's pretty obvious what he means by that…"

"And you just okay with it? You won't say anything?"

"What do you expect, senpai? It's my fault and it will be always my fault… I'm too selfish to hold my self back, I can't help it… And he has…" Her voice gets huskier as waters fall from her eyes. "… He has the right to said no, I'm the one who don't realize my position at all, hoping that there's a chance is so stupid… But I… I can't…" She covers her face with her hands and looks completely vulnerable.

"No… I believe you do nothing wrong." He pulls at her face so they're face to face now. "There's nothing and I mean nothing wrong with be truth to yourself."

"But…"

"No, listen. What you do isn't wrong at all but the fact that he walked away like that is his problem. And in my point of view, that's wrong. Even a jerk like me, know that he's wrong. And it's not to comfort you."

"Senpai…"

"Haruko, it's not wrong to tell the truth to yourself… Right?"

"Yes, you're right…"

"So now, we will go home. Before my parents and Takenori work together to kill me."

She giggles, "Okay, let's go home and you will walk me home?"

"And I will walk you home." He huddles Haruko, "Shall we?"

She smiles at him, but this time, more honest.


"So we are okay?"

"What do you mean? Of course we're okay."

"Huh. Just so you know the one in the park isn't Mitsui Hisashi—that one is a fairy god mother disguised as him."

"Haha. Okay, is this Mitsui—my senior at school?"

"Yes, this one it is Mitsui." He looks at the time in his handphone. "Wow, this is so late. You are giving my parents a very good reason to kill."

"So… This is a good night?"

"Seem so, good night."

"Good night." They turn away. But he stops.

"Haruko?"

"Yes?"

"I love you. No matter how much you love Rukawa, no matter how long you've been in love with him. I can't help my self."