Ore Wa Tensai Sakura: Last Chance
Part 4

by Annie D
the_80s_chick@lycos.com



Sunday passed all too quickly, and it was Monday again. A school day.

Sakura had been on edge ever since the talk with Haruko, and the anxiety multiplied at a logarithmic rate with each step she took to school.

How was she supposed to act now? Sakura was not a subtle person, and was an open book to anyone who had vision in half an eye. How could she go to school since he was in her class? And sitting next to her no less? How could she go to practice? How could she play with him? How the hell could she continue her life?!

He'd laugh at her. Well, no, Rukawa never laughed, but he'd certainly derive immense morbid amusement from seeing that she was now so… crazy for him? She most certainly couldn't force herself to use the l-word. Being rejected 50 times by girls she had only briefly considered kind of pretty was nothing against being rejected by someone who flared up her heart so much that whenever he was around he became her entire damn world.

Sakura slammed her head against the outer wall of the school.

She leaned back and let the tremor shudder her brain, hopefully letting the pieces of her mind settle into a more suitable arrangement.

"Sakura-chan?"

Sakura turned and saw Haruko watching her from the school gate. Good god, she had completely forgotten about Haruko!

And just over Haruko's shoulder she saw Rukawa cycling toward school.

If Sakura's heart did a little flip whenever she saw Haruko, it did an honest-to-goodness 360 rollercoaster super twist before jumping into her throat and plunging into her stomach when she saw Rukawa.

Oh no.

Sakura looked at Haruko, who had also noticed approaching Rukawa. The brown-haired girl immediately blushed.

Haruko still likes Rukawa. Oh no.

Sakura slammed her forehead one more time.

There was a screech of a bike's wheels braking. "What are you doing, do'aho?"

No anger. Just a tremble through every muscle in her body, as if those very words were caressing her skin.

Sakura screamed and ran off.

*****

Rukawa watched Sakura disappear off into the distance, the smoke trail clearly marking the pathway and the speed at which she had taken off.

What the hell was that all about? he wondered.

"Ohayo, Rukawa-kun."

Rukawa looked down into the smiling face of Haruko. He felt the same pang of annoyance he got whenever he saw the girl, but managed a decent nod before turning to enter the school grounds.

*****

Rukawa creaked his eyelids open ever so slightly. The desk next to him was still empty, and it was already third class of the day.

Where is she?

*****

"Are you sure Sakura-chan didn't go to class?" Haruko asked Fuji. "I saw her at the gate this morning. She ran off for some reason, but I was sure she'd go to class."

"She didn't go to class, I'm positive. Trust me, we'd know."

"Even if she didn't go to class, she'd come to practice," said Haruko, who looked around the gym as though hoping that Sakura would miraculously pop out of thin air. "She'd never skip practice."

Rukawa looked out the double doors of the gym, hoping for a sign of the red-head do'aho. Where are you?

*****

The answer to that question was this: Sakura was hiding in her room, head stuffed under her oversized pillow. Her little legs (okay, so they weren't that little) had brought her home on instinct for a safe haven, and she practically flew up the stairs into her room. Her mother was at work, lucky for her.

How can I go to school? How can I face him? How can I face her?

The ball was the coming weekend. The national finals were the week after. School didn't matter much, and the ball was still optional (even if she had already paid for the ticket) but NATIONAL FINALS. Everything they had worked for. Shohoku had never gotten that far, ever! Even her oversized tensai ego couldn't save her from this one.

Stupid kitsune. Stupid kitsune. Stupid kitsune.

The phone rang.

Sakura took the receiver numbly. "Moshi moshi?"

"Sakura-chan, you're okay! Oh, I was so worried something had happened to you."

Sakura swallowed. "Haruko-san. I… I'm not feeling well."

"Oh, I see. Anything I can do to help?"

"No, no, I'm okay on my own."

"Will you be coming to school tomorrow?"

"Oh. I don't know."

"… I hope you get better. Um… I don't mean to sound pushy, but how long do you think this bug will last? Do you think you'll be able to go to the ball?"

"I… honestly don't know." Sudden tears pricked her eyes. Haruko had been so looking forward to going, and seeing her there… An idea suddenly popped into her head, one that could possibly solve everything. "You know…" she managed a fake laugh, "…I was just thinking about what you said about Rukawa."

"Oh?"

"Maybe you could ask him to the ball."

"Nani? Oh, no I couldn't possibly do that…"

"Why not? You like him enough, don't you?" Something within Sakura started to crack. She bit it down. "But it's your choice, really."

"… Maybe… I'll… I'll think about it."

"Do that," Sakura said, her voice strangely distant even to her own ears. If they're together, they could make each other happy. Haruko would be happy, Rukawa would be happy. And I'll be able to survive as long as I see that *they're* happy. And this way, I'll be able to focus in class and in basketball. Yes, the tensai's best idea yet.

But the strongest bit that clinched the decision was this: Haruko had liked him first. And Sakura cared about her, even if it was turning out to be in only a sisterly way and not the way she had thought for so long.

"Ja ne, Haruko-san."

"Ja ne." Click.

She stared at the phone, then lifted the receiver again to dial another number.

Ring-ring. Ring-ring. Click. A guy's voice. "Moshi moshi?"

"Sendoh?"

*****

Rukawa woke up just in time to avoid hitting the heavyset tree that had been planted in the school courtyard. He calmly swerved past it and rode on, narrowly avoiding a bunch of shrieking girls, a trash-can and a teacher.

While parking his bike he immediately switched on his Sakura radar to its highest detection setting. The girl hadn't gone to class or practice three days in a row, and it was worrying him. He had overheard Haruko telling Anzai-sensei that the do'aho was sick, which could be possible, although one couldn't be too sure with the likes of her.

Subject acquired.

She was walking with her gundam friends alongside the main school building, and they were busy chatting amongst themselves. Rukawa noted that she did look a little sick with slight circles under her eyes and her skin was a shade paler, so maybe the leave of absence wasn't just a ploy to skip class.

He strolled along nonchalantly within hearing distance behind them.

"So did you ask that freshman girl you wanted to?" Sakura asked Noma.

"She rejected me," he said, sighing heavily. Yohei thumped him on the back.

"We can all go stag together!" Yohei laughed. "Takamiya didn't get a date, either." Takamiya grunted.

"Oh, I'm not going stag," Sakura said. Rukawa almost fell over.

"Rrrrrreally?" Takamiya asked, sidling up to her. "Who is it?"

"Sendoh."

"Nani?!" they all chorused together.

Sakura shrugged. "He was available, so I asked him, and he said yes. That's all there is, really."

"Whoa, Sakura, you've got much better luck in the love department as a girl then you did as a guy," Takamiya laughed.

Sakura thumped Takamiya over the head with her fist, but it was half-hearted. She coughed a bit. "Not feeling well. See you guys at lunch, okay?"

Rukawa felt like all his insides had suddenly been sucked into nothingness. Sendoh? Worse yet, she asked him?!

Rukawa was too stunned to realise that Yohei had noticed him standing there, and was looking at him with a strange expression on his face.

His legs acting automatically, Rukawa lugged himself to class, where Sakura was already in her seat, half-sprawled across her desk and snoring slightly. Rukawa carefully walked behind her to settle into his seat. Her eyes were twitching behind their closed lids.

You asked Sendoh?

What started out as another bad mood jump-started by jealousy soon developed into the depression of disappointment. Rukawa most certainly handled depression better than he did anger, because while anger required him to release the tension (sometimes violently), depression only required him to hide behind a icy mask, which was what he was best at.

As lunch break arrived, Sakura was poked awake by another student. She smacked her lips a bit, lifted her body up and trudged out the door like a particularly sleepy orang-utan. Not once did she look at him. No usual glare, no annoyed grunt, nothing.

Like I don't exist.

Rukawa started to walk to the roof for another nap when he felt something, or someone, tap against his back. He turned.

"Rukawa-kun?"

Not you again.

"I was just wondering… Well, that is… Are you going to the ball?" Blush blush.

Rukawa looked at her. Sakura liked this little thing, right? He could never quite figure out the reason for that, though he had tried. Haruko was so… flat. (Not in that way, idiots!) She didn't have the life that Sakura had. No fire. He loved that fire.

Why hadn't Sakura asked Haruko to the ball? Oh wait, Haruko liked him. Hmph. That was when he got the idea. Well, if Sakura could make his life a hell by going with Sendoh, he could make hers just as bad by going with Haruko.

So Rukawa said, "Do you want to go with me?"

Haruko fainted. Rukawa took that as a yes and went off for his nap.

*****

The evening of the ball finally arrived. Haruko was getting ready with her friends Fuji and Akemi at her house. Sakura had been given an invitation to join, but declined as she wasn't really… well… in the mood for that kind of thing. She would have pretty much just thrown the dress on and gone straight to the ball, but her mother refused to let her do such nonsense.

"You have very nice hair, Sakura," her mother told her as stuck another pin in the midst of red locks.

"Hmph. You put any more gel in there and I can rival Sendoh."

"Aaaah, he's such a nice boy," her mother said, nodding. "Very good looking."

"Mom!" Sakura shrieked. The image of Sendoh appeared in her head. Good-looking, yeah, but not as good-looking as… Oh no, why did her mind always have to end up thinking about the stupid kitsune? It was like he had a magnet that constantly wired her thoughts towards him.

"You know, you never did tell me what you did to your hair."

"It just went red."

"Just went red?"

"Hai."

"Like that business with your new name?"

"Exactly."

"Oh well, if you say so." Her mother stepped back. "Finished."

Sakura stood up, picked up her handbag and lumbered to the door.

Her mother frowned. "Aren't you even going to look?"

"No." Sakura started down the stairs, feet awkwardly managing each step as best as they could. Haruko had convinced her to get heels, but very short ones as there wasn't much point in increasing Sakura's height, even if Sendoh was still much taller than her. She headed to the living room.

Sendoh, in full dashing tuxedo-ish garb, looked at her and his eyes immediately lit up. "You look—"

"Don't even bother," Sakura grumbled. She grabbed his arm and half-dragged him to the door. "Mom, we're going!"

"Have fun, kiddies!"

*****

The ball was successful in that everyone present seemed to be enjoying themselves. It was held in the ballroom of some hotel or the other – didn't really matter much as long as the setting was nice and the food digestible. But the main reason people were there was for the mingling, which was what everyone did.

Haruko was having the time of her life. She clung onto Rukawa's arm like he was some extremely rare treasure (which he was, really), the girlish pride within her enjoying every single dirty glare she got from jealous schoolmates.

But her date, Rukawa, was bored out of his skull. After picking her up from her house, he had barely spoken to her at all. and once they had arrived he had drifted off quite a few times, but Haruko didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, she was deriving insane happiness just from being able to stand or sit next to him all the time.

Rukawa was just about to fall asleep again when his Sakura alarm went off.

"Sakura-chan, you look great!" Haruko exclaimed, increasing the distance between her and Rukawa just by barely a few inches in order to greet the new arrivals.

It was a pity that Rukawa barely speaks, because at that moment the effect of going totally speechless would have had more impact.

"So do you, Haruko-san," said Sakura, nodding. "Told you the soft brown suited your skin better."

Her escort nodded at him. "Rukawa."

Rukawa narrowed his eyes. Sendoh.

Sendoh's eyes seemed to say: You shouldn't have stalled.

"I'm glad the dark blue turned out well," Haruko said. "It's quite hard to find an outfit that won't clash with your hair."

"Ah well," Sakura half-shrugged. (Shall I describe the dress? Yes? Prussian blue soft velvet form-fitting backless halter-top with ankle-length skirt and tiny silver flowers at the hem. I want.)

"Sakura-chan!" Takamiya practically fell onto her, causing Sakura to start swatting at him rapidly with her handbag. The rest of the gundam were also suddenly in the scene. "And hello Sennnnndoh," Takamiya added.

"Hello, Sendoh!" Noma and Ohkosu chorused knowingly.

Sendoh grinned. "Hey." Rukawa's scowl intensified.

"You look great, Sakura!" Ohkosu said. "So do you, Haruko-chan."

Haruko smiled. "Thanks. You enjoying yourselves, guys?" They nodded.

"Wait 'til the dancing starts, then you'll see us in action," Takamiya said, grinning broadly.

Yohei smiled up at Sendoh. "I would've thought you'd be busy, with university and whatever."

"Oh, of course I'd spare time to accompany Sakura," Sendoh said happily. "Quite a nice set-up you Shohoku have here."

Yohei did exaggerated look-over for Sakura. "Man, you look great." Sakura smiled, but didn't say anything. Yohei then continued, "You look so great, I'm actually feeling pretty silly that I didn't ask you to the ball myself."

Sendoh laughed. "That's what happens when you assume so much."

Yohei grinned, eyes flicking to Rukawa for a mili-second. "Exactly."

"Guys, I need a drink, where's the refreshments table?" Sakura asked.

"This way," Noma said, as the gundam started pushing her in a direction.

"See you, Sakura-chan!" Haruko called as Sakura was swept away.

Sendoh grinned. "Great meeting you, Haruko-san. You too, Rukawa." He turned and walked away.

Haruko linked her arm into Rukawa's, no matter that Rukawa's arm was actually just calmly stuffed into his pants pocket. She looked up at him. "You okay, Rukawa? You look like you swallowed a lemon."

Rukawa shrugged and started walking in another direction, forcing Haruko to follow him wordlessly.

In the depths of his mind, he was cursing wildly. Sakura hadn't once give him a dirty look because his date was Haruko. She hadn't even looked at him. Damn damn damn damn damn.

*****

When the dancing started, Sakura had immediately dragged Sendoh away from the crowd in case they were forced onto the floor. Sakura may be a smooth sailing point guard on the court, but when it came to dancing she was worse than a frog with two left feet.

They took refuge on a balcony outside the ballroom, away from the hubbub. Sakura immediately turned her face up to look up at the clear night sky.

"Why did you ask me?" Sendoh asked her after a while of silence.

Sakura looked at him. "Because I know you're a friend and wouldn't take this the wrong way."

"You could have gone stag."

Sakura shrugged.

Sendoh inched a little closer toward her, but not for naughty purposes, mind you. "What's wrong? You haven't called yourself the tensai all night, and that's a sure sign something's wrong."

She sighed. "It's stupid."

"Not as much as keeping it to yourself."

Sakura looked at her hands, then at the sky, then back at her hands. "I think I'm… Well…" She blushed.

"In love?"

Sakura sputtered.

"Yes, it's that obvious, but only because I know you better than most other people bother to," Sendoh said. "Is it Haruko?"

Sakura looked at him in surprise. "No."

Sendoh's mouth twitched into a smile. "Rukawa?"

"Nani?! How did you—Oh no, it really is that obvious, I'm going to kill myself, does everybody know and now how can I play—"

Sendoh shut her up with a light smack at the back of her neck. "No, it's not that obvious, because no one else would be willing to believe such a thing. Everyone knows you're rivals and that you hate each other, such a thing would be impossible."

"Then how do you?"

"Hate is the opposite pole to love, and just as attractive." (This quote belongs to Terry Pratchett, word!) "And not to mention you came back from the dead in a girl's body, so who's to say what's impossible?"

Sakura went quiet.

Sendoh nudged her in the shoulder. "Aren't you going to tell him?"

"Nani?! Peh, never! Never never! I have my pride!"

"Is pride worth losing something like this?"

"Baka. When did you get all philosophical?"

"I think it's all the chemicals in my hair seeping into my brain. Happens sometimes."

Sakura frowned. "No. I'll never tell him."

"Because of pride?"

"No!" Sakura snapped. "Because Haruko likes him! She liked him since long before, and she's confessed her feelings to me in my confidence as her friend." She paused, then added softly, "I'd rather quit basketball than betray her."

Sendoh was surprised at this. "Because of Haruko…?"

"She is my friend, and I care about her very much," said Sakura. "She's very sweet and nice, and I'm sure she can make Rukawa happy, once he realises all that. I mean, look at me. What have I got to offer him? I'm an idiot, a do'aho as he keeps calling me. Do you have any idea, any idea, how much I hate myself?"

Sendoh smiled gently. "There's nothing to hate. That's why you keep calling yourself the tensai, isn't it? It's your way of hiding your low self-esteem. See, you are like Rukawa, he hides his feelings, too."

"Shut up, Sendoh." She took a deep breath and sighed. "I've made up my mind. I'll just ignore him, put everything I have into basketball, win nationals, then… then… life goes on."

Sendoh cocked his head. "What if Rukawa likes you?"

Sakura snorted. "Fat chance in hell."

"I mean, what if?"

She tapped her forehead. "Error. Error. Cannot compute."

"Remember the keychain—"

"Don't even start with that damn keychain! I hope whoever left it there has a slow and painful death."

Sendoh went quiet for a while. "You are a do'aho."

"Hmph. It's not the same coming from you. I've had enough. Take me home, Sendoh."

"Are you sure—"

"Don't you dare try to talk sense to me!" Sakura snapped. "If you won't take me home, I'll get a cab. And if you open your mouth about this to anyone, I will duct tape your entire body and use you to sweep the basketball gym!"

Sendoh stared. "My lips are sealed."

"You swear? You will tell NO ONE, but any means vocal or written. No exceptions, all of the above et cetera et cetera?"

Sendoh sighed. "I swear."

"Good. Now take me home."

*****

History likes things to be neat. (Oops, another Terry Pratchett quote.)

Sakura had made Sendoh swear not tell anyone about her confession, which had put a stopper on his intention to tell Rukawa absolutely everything. An immediate happy ending didn't look to be in the near future to the hopeless romantic within Sendoh, but a promise was a promise, even if it was a stupid one.

But, as anyone who's ever seen anything remotely soap-opera-ish would know, a conversation as revealing as the one above would need an unknown witness, someone who had innocently walked past the balcony at just the right time and overheard from just the right point, and was conveniently involved in said silly story.

So who better than madame Haruko herself?

Haruko watched in stunned silence as Sakura and Sendoh left the ball. Her eyes moved to her table, where Rukawa was sleeping, as some random girls tried to get his attention in order to drag him to the dance floor.

Sakura's in love with Rukawa?

She won't tell him because of me?

She wants me to be with him?

Oh my goodness…

*****

Later that night, Rukawa was back in his apartment, alone. He was still dressed in the tuxedo, and was staring at a letter in front of him that had arrived by courier a few weeks ago.

To: Rukawa Kaede.

It has come to our attention that you are graduating from Shohoku High in four week's time. Our offer to you to rejoin the All-Japan basketball team is still open, although you have not replied to our previous inquiries. This shall be our last letter of offer; we shall need a reply by the 21st of October after which this offer will be null and void.

Dial the number of the All-Japan Osaka main office printed below to accept or refuse. If you ignore this letter, it shall automatically be considered a refusal.

We hope you will make the right decision.

Rukawa's hand went to the phone.