Chapter 11

Oyaho minna-san! OMG It's been 203937198359 years since I updated this story. I had a major writer's block and yeah. Hope you'll keep reading :D

Kainan are number 1 for the seventeenth year in a row. Now there was only one spot left for the nationals and that belonged either to Shohoku or Ryonan. It is going to be a difficult game to predict since both teams really gave Kainan a tough time getting to number one this year. Some say it'll be Shohoku, after putting Shoyo out of the game in the quarterfinals. Still others say it'll be Ryonan, with their super ace Akira Sendoh…

Setsuko stopped right there and put the local newspaper down. She didn't need to read much further on. As long as Kainan made it to number one yet again, that's all that mattered to her. She got ready for school.

"Setsuko, how was the game between Kainan and Ryonan yesterday?" asked Kocho-san, her nanny for so many years

"Well it was keeping me on the edge of my seat, Kocho-san. They were definitely tough for Kainan but.."

"What about Sendoh-kun? How was he?" she cut Setsuko off.

Setsuko was silenced for a minute and wanted to ignore the question at first, but she was now moving on with her life and that Sendoh shouldn't be bothering her at all. Before answering her nanny, she took the time to compose herself before even mentioning his name.

"Sendoh was matched up against Maki and I think he did really well" Setsuko smiled uneasily. She tried hard to avoid coming across him or even just his name. "Can we not talk about Sendoh this, Sendoh that, for now?"

"I think it's adorable how you react to his name" her nanny laughed

"Kocho-san, I don't want to have anything to do with that person, especially since he is from a rival school" Setsuko replied as calmly as she possibly could, showing her that Sendoh's name didn't bother her indeed.

Anyway, Kocho-san saw Setsuko off to school now. When Setsuko had arrived in school she was greeted by Jin and Kiyota with cheery smiles. Well actually, the whole school seemed to be in 'celebration mode' when she got there. Maki was surrounded with his fangirls who showered him with adorn and chocolates.

"Check out Maki-san. He's pretty busy" Nobunaga teased

"Well I heard you've got your own fan club, Nobunaga" Setsuko smiled at the freshman, making him blush

Indeed there were several freshmen girls who admired Nobunaga Kiyota's skills and cheeky personality but he paid little attention to his fangirls. For him, there was only one girl who he had his eyes on - basketball team manager, Setsuko Ishibara sempai. Unfortunately, he wasn't the only one who felt that way. He watched as Jin and Setsuko made their way past the crowd and to their classroom. They were obviously perfect for each other and he hated to admit it: smart, friendly, and kind, although Jin was definitely softer than Setsuko.

"Jin-san! Setsuko-san, wait up!" he called out and ran after his sempais. He fitted in perfectly like their little brother but he wanted more.

"Don't be so relaxed yet though. We've still got a match with Takezato in a couple of days" Setsuko reminded her companions who seemed to have forgotten.

"Don't worry Setsuko-san. We'll wipe the floor off Takezato" Nobunaga exclaimed rather cockily and Jin sweatdropped.

Setsuko stopped in her tracks upon hearing him. "Nobunaga, remember what Maki said? Never looking down on others is what makes a Kainan player" she smiled at him.

Nobunaga felt ashamed of his arrogance in front of his crush and lowered his head. However, he felt her arm around his shoulders and she whispered playfully at his ear.

"Although, I sometimes don't pay attention to what Maki-sempai says. It's too deep and we're just kids" she giggled

Jin was sent laughing and Nobunaga blushing. Nobunaga finally composed himself and laughed along, and then he made a mistake…

"Well we beat Ryonan so there's really nothing for us to worry. Even if that Sendoh was at the top of his game, Maki will always be better, right Jin-san?"

"Y-yeah" Jin smiled nervously, knowing that Setsuko heard everything well. "Why don't we just move on and talk about school"

"By the way, how's your head Jin?" Setsuko asked, pointing at the bandaged forehead of Jin.

"It's not bothering me anymore, arigato" he smiled.

…meanwhile in Ryonan High…

Sendoh sat sleepily in his classroom. It seems he has gotten over their loss to Kainan and now he's looking forward to facing Shohoku and their super rookie, Kaede Rukawa. He looked out of the window, his chin resting plainly on his palm, and gave out a yawn.

"Aki-chan!"

Sendoh was startled upon hearing the girl's voice calling him. He turned around and saw a tall, auburn-haired girl with the most gorgeous blue green eyes. She walked past the other sophomores and came to his table.

"Don't worry about Kainan. You still have Shohoku to beat and I know you'll wipe the floor off of them" she smirked. Some of the sophomore boys whistled as she passed along, admiring her statuesque figure. The sophomore girls were jealous of the senior beauty.

Meet Yuko Wakabayashi, also known as Sendoh's ex-girlfriend who Setsuko witnessed calling him "Aki-chan". Yuko was now a third year student at Ryonan High. When she had heard of Sendoh coming into the high school, she was delighted, hoping to rekindle their old flame. Sendoh was still in junior high when they were going out but as Sendoh stood taller than the average high school guys and had a charm that attracted girls and women, Yuko didn't mind dating a younger boy. She stands 176 cm, towering over most girls, and exudes grace and beauty. Although she didn't do too well in her studies, she was good in music and bossing people around. She had an amazing voice and could play the piano really well too.

Anyway, enough of Yuko…

"Aki-chan, why do you look so glum?"

"Stop calling me that Wakabayashi-san" Sendoh replied lazily, ignoring her. He was obviously not in the mood to see her face.

"Why the formalities Aki-chan? Don't you remember our history together so you just call me-"

"I SAID STOP CALLING ME AKI-CHAN!" Sendoh slammed at his desk and thundered. Everyone else in the class was hushed and some girls were murmuring to themselves. Without apologizing, Sendoh walked out of the classroom.

Everyone in class stared at the humiliated Yuko and watched her make her way out of the room. Just then, the teacher had just arrived and wondered why everyone was so quiet. "Everybody sit down!" he said.