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-8- CHAPTER TEN: Basketball Game -8-
"You did it!"
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"WHAT?! SATORU-SAN'S MY PARTNER?!" Almost all the blood of Tomoka goes to her head that makes her temper out of her control. She gritted her teeth. Of all people, why Satoru? She looks at Ryoma accusingly. He didn't tell her!
Ryoma just shrugged his shoulders as if he's saying you are the one who thought about changing partners – not me.
"Tomoka-chan... its okay..." Sakuno calmed Tomoka. But she's having a hard time because Tomoka doesn't listen to her and she herself can't calm her own self. From the moment she knew that Ryoma's her partner for this field trip – for this whole day – her heart has never been calmed.
Tomoka sighed.
"What else can I do?" She said with a dismayed face.
Satoru remained quiet. And so is Ryoma.
"EVERYONE, ON THE BUS NOW!!" Their teacher called. She's at the bus' door.
"Let's go." Sakuno said to Tomoka, without looking at Ryoma and Satoru.
"The right side will be sited by the people who got even numbers and the left will be sited by the people who got odd numbers." Their teacher explains while they are all gathered outside in front of the bus. "You will be sited according to your numbers. Fall in line according to your number!"
"Hmp! We are number 24." Tomoka said and crossed her arms on her chest. "Let's just talk when we get to the amusement park then."
"U-un." Sakuno answered and looked down. Her heart beats faster again. The fact that Ryoma will be her seatmate makes her heart go wild. What will she do? How can she face him?
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8
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Sakuno sat near the window. She remained silent as Ryoma sat beside her. Maybe her neck will get steep before they arrive at the amusement park where they will spend their whole day (that's where their field trip is). She doesn't even want to move. As if her moves are limited and should be limited. That's how conscious she is right now.
While Ryoma, on the other hand, is way too relax.
"Ryuzaki." He spoke all of a sudden that Sakuno almost die in heart attack because of astonishment.
"N-n-nani?" She asked, catching her breaths. Ryoma talks to her. He just doesn't know how it affects her whole being. She's so nervous, really. She couldn't even look at him. She bowed her head instead.
"Just wake me up when we arrive." He said without looking at her. He closed his eyes and tried to take a nap. To calm his heart that's beating wildly from his chest. He may look as calm as he may seem but he's really nervous. He doesn't know how to talk to Sakuno. It will be better to just remain silent – to at least pretend that he's sleeping.
"H-hai..." She answered with a sigh. She's somewhat calmed a little. She thought that it's something but good thing that it's nothing.
She prayed that everything will be okay for the rest of the day...
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8
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"Kyaaaa! Let's go, come on!!!"
Everyone is so excited. They run towards the gate of the amusement park. Group by group, they were instantly mixed by the crowd inside.
Ryoma was pissed when Tomoka and Satoru went with them. He thought he can spend some time alone with Sakuno. But anyway, it couldn't be helped. Tomoka is Sakuno's best friend – and Satoru is Tomoka's partner.
"Sugoi...!" Tomoka and Sakuno are really fascinated on the things they are seeing. There are a lot of rides and a lot of games they could try. There are also a lot of foods! And a lot of people.
"Where are we going first?" Satoru said, smiling friendlily to them.
"You can go with your friends. I can go on my own. Let's just meet on the bus later." Tomoka answered him grumpily. She really doesn't want Satoru's presence. Every time she looks at him, she gets irritate right away.
"Tomoka-chan...! He's your partner." Sakuno stopped her big mouthed friend. Partners should be looking for each other – that's the rule.
"Hmp! It's not me that he wants to be with. It's you!" Tomoka crossed her arms on her chest, facing away.
Ryoma never mind them and look around boringly. Just what he thought. It is really a total waste of time going on a field trip. He's really bored. Where are Horio, Katsuo and Kachiro? He prefers to go with the trio than with Satoru and the loud Tomoka. But by going with them, that means he will let Sakuno alone with Satoru.
As if I will. He thought as his face hardened.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!"
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
"Ne, Sakuno-chan, let's ride on that big ship over there!" Tomoka said to Sakuno excitedly.
"Eh? That's 'Pirate Ship'." Satoru answered and also looked at the big ship that swings back and forth. It is getting higher and higher as it swings alternately.
"I think that's pretty interesting!" Tomoka said and looked at the people who are riding on the said ride. They are all catching their breaths whenever the ship went high. Almost everyone is screaming.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
"T-Tomoka-chan, I don't think I can ride that one." Sakuno said nervously. As she looks at the Pirate ship, she thinks her heart will come out. She can't handle heavy rides like that.
"Come on, give it a try!" Tomoka grabbed her arm. "Come on, Ryoma-sama!" She said and dragged Sakuno along with her.
-8-
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!" Tomoka screamed as loud as she could when they are nearly reaching the highest angular momentum of the ride.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
Everyone's screaming – except for Sakuno and Ryoma.
Every time the ship goes higher, Sakuno takes her deepest breath. That's what she's doing. She couldn't take screaming. She can't scream. It's as if her voice is lost.
Ryoma looked at her and was amused by her.
"You know, it will be easier to just let out your fear – scream." Ryoma said loudly to her ear for her to hear him. Everybody's screaming. They might not hear each other.
Sakuno looked at him and blushed when she saw Ryoma's smiling conceitedly.
She took her deep breath and tried to scream.
"Kyaa!"
The ship goes higher again.
She breathes heavily.
"Kyaaaa!"
And here it goes again.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
"See?" Ryoma said afterwards.
She breathes heavily.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
It really helped. She never thought it will help her getting her nervous away. What Ryoma said is effective.
-8-
"That was crazy! I thought my heart won't endure it!" Tomoka said afterwards. They are walking towards nowhere in particular.
They looked around.
"Ne, Sakuno-chan, do you like stuffed toys?" Satoru asked.
"Eh? Yes." Sakuno answered and looked at him, confused.
"I'll get one for you!" Satoru said excitedly and went to one of the games near them.
The three went after him.
"How much is that?" Satoru asked the old man who's managing the game. It's a basket ball game.
"10 Buck." He answered. "You wanna try?"
"Yes. How to play it?"
"First round: shoot three consecutive shots and you'll win this three." The man said and shows mini animal stuffed toys. "But if you want, you can go to the next round. Shoot five consecutive shots and you will win this two." He shows a two middle sized animal stuffed toys. "Or, you can go to the last round. Shoot five consecutive shots by standing there," he points the circle way farther, where the player should stand in shooting the ball for the third round. "You can have this." He showed the biggest teddy bear ever.
"Wow... It's really big!" Sakuno commented and her eyes went wider and fascinated. "It's also brown..." She said as she never takes off her eyes on the big teddy bear. It's as big as a five years old child. It is color brown – her favorite color ever!
"If you missed one, you're out. You'll never get any prize."
"Can you do it?" Tomoka asked Satoru sarcastically. She knows Satoru's on the basket ball club. Maybe he can? But she's hoping he cannot. "That's pretty far."
"I'll try." Satoru said and give the old man his 10 bucks. The man gave him the ball.
He dribbled it thrice and focused his self on the ring.
Shoot.
Here comes the next one.
Shoot.
He dribbled again.
Shoot.
"You did it!" Sakuno said cheerfully.
Satoru, just by looking at Sakuno smiling happily makes him smile, too.
"Hmf!" Tomoka crossed her arms on her chest. "The big teddy bear is the goal. Don't get too excited."
"Go for the next round?" The man asked.
"Yes." Satoru answered and get the ball.
He dribbled.
Attempting to shoot...
Shoot.
He dribbled again.
I should not rush.
He threw the ball to the ring.
Shoot.
He dribbled.
Throw the ball.
Shoot.
He got five consecutive shots.
"You're really doing well, Satoru-san!" Sakuno said happily. Satoru's good in basket ball. That's really amazes her.
Che. Ryoma thought. The atmosphere is getting not so good for him. Sakuno's giving so much attention to Satoru. He looked the way Satoru plays the game. He thinks the game is pretty easy. He can also do it. He can give the teddy bear to Sakuno as the prize.
But Satoru will already give it to her.
All he can do is watch.
"Ready for the third round?" The old man asked. He was happy that someone will going to have the big teddy bear for the first time.
"Yes." Satoru answered. He was overwhelmed right now. Sakuno's praising him. It also means he's beating Ryoma.
"Stand there." The man said and points the circle where he should stand.
"Pretty far." Tomoka said. "I don't think you can do it." Tomoka added, discouraging him.
Satoru breathe heavily and dribble the ball.
This is for Sakuno-chan. I must do this!
The people are getting more crowded. They got a lot of attention. Well, Satoru got a lot of attention now. It's not easy to go as far as the last round. He is really something.
He threw the ball.
Shoot.
Whew...
He's not even in a game but why he's starting to sweat?
He dribbled the ball.
He threw it on the ring.
Shoot.
Tomoka's starting to be nervous now. Satoru will get the prize. And she doesn't want to think about that.
Please Kami...make a miracle! She called all the gods and goddesses she knows and pray that Satoru will miss a shot.
Just one shot will make his hard works goes to nothing.
Focus... Focus...
Satoru dribbled the ball.
He threw it.
Shoot.
He dribbled again.
He threw it.
But he threw the ball with much strength.
Damn it! I'll miss!
"Kyaaaaaa!" Tomoka jumped out and down with happiness when Satoru missed a shot. It's as if she got the prize. But it goes the other way. They won't get any.
"Too bad." The old man said. "You almost made it."
Satoru looked at Sakuno sadly. The prize he's been wishing for for Sakuno is gone. He can't give it to her now.
"Do you want to try again? You can still try again if you want." The man suggested.
Satoru thinks.
"I don't think I can do it again." He answered shyly. He's really nervous now and trembling. He can't focus. "Gomen, Sakuno-chan." He faced Sakuno with a sad face.
"It's okay." Sakuno smiled at him.
"Let's go to our next ride!" Tomoka said cheerfully and dragged Sakuno as she said her thanks to all the god and goddesses who granted her prayer.
"Wait." Ryoma said.
A/N: Okay, i made it a cliffy... sorry for that... i still don't know what to type next..haha
im thinking of... ryoma will play the game too..but i also think.. that would be too boring... he will get the prize anyway..hmm..what do you think??
which is which? please review! :)