A/N: Konichiwa minna-san! I¡¯ve finally plopped down in front of the computer to type the next chapter! Actually, I¡¯ve been extra hardworking ¡­ ^__^ I couldn¡¯t decide whether to let Saemi enter Rukawa¡¯s class or Hanamichi¡¯s class, dakara, I¡¯ve decided to write both! This way, you can decide which version you want to read! For all of you who are expecting the typical girl-meets-boy, girl-falls-in-love ¨Cwith-boy story, you¡¯ll be quite disappointed! I still don¡¯t know how this fic will turn out so pls r&r! Suggestions welcome¡­

Disclaimers: Sakuragi and gang are NOT owned by me, (unfortunately) I think we all know who Slam Dunk is owned by so pls don¡¯t sue me! I¡¯m just a penniless girl who happens to love Slam Dunk. ^__^

Chap 2 (Hanamichi¡¯s class)

¡°Here you are, class 1-7, I¡¯ll meet you after class and we can go to watch basketball practice later!¡± Waving, Haruko turned and ran off to her own class, 1-1.

= I wish that we could be in the same class, than at least I would have a friend. How I hate this! I¡¯m always the new girl¡­= Scrunching up her eyes so as to prevent the hot tears from spilling out Saemi took a deep breath and tried to appear calm and collected, just as anyone would expect one of Japan¡¯s wealthiest man¡¯s daughter to look. Early on in life, Saemi had been taught the hard way that the only way to have self-confidence was to look confident and to be icy-cool.

Being small-sized for her age, she had been picked on a lot when she had first started school in America, besides she was Japanese and was looked down upon by some of the insensitive kids. She had returned from school with tears streaming down her face so many times and it had been her father who had comforted her. However, he had no time for her now, it seemed that she was only second to money.

Planting a confident smile on her face, she stepped into class as the teacher was taking attendance. ¡°Konichiwa sensei, I¡¯m the new student, Wantanabe Saemi.¡±

Her teacher, a decidedly unfriendly looking little man with glasses perched on the bridge of his nose stared back at her. ¡°Sit there.¡± he ordered, pointing to the empty seat somewhere near the back of the classroom.

As she walked to her seat, she could hear a lot of whispers. ¡°Isn¡¯t she the daughter of Wantanabe¨Csan, the famous movie producer?¡±

¡°That¡¯s why she looks so familiar, she has had some parts in movies before right?¡±

¡°She¡¯s even more kawaii in person!¡±

Looking straight ahead, Saemi refused to acknowledge any of their comments. That was one of the reasons that she was so close to Hisa-kun, he had known her way before her father had hit the big time, before they¡¯d became famous. He liked her for herself, not just because she was rich or famous. Besides, she¡¯d stopped acting for quite some time to concentrate on her studies, she was quite behind in some classes, though she was never in danger of ever failing anything.

As she plopped down into her seat, the redhead next to her turned towards her and opened his mouth, about to say something.

Saemi prepared herself for the usual barrage of questions.

She was totally unprepared for what he said though. ¡°Ano, if in a basketball match, Rukawa scores 26 points, how many points must I score to have double the points?¡±

She stared at him, mouth agape, what an easy question! Flipping through her textbook, she looked for the maths problem.

¡°Matte, erm¡­ what¡¯s your name?¡±

¡°Sakuragi Hanamichi!¡± he said proudly.

Raising an eyebrow, she continued flipping.

¡°No, no¡­ the problem isn¡¯t found in the textbook!¡±

¡°Oh! Anyway the answer is 52.¡±

Rubbing his head Hanamichi uttered ¡°Kuso!¡±

¡°What¡¯s the matter, Hana-kun?¡± Seeing a light blush spread over his face, she quickly amended what she¡¯d just said, ¡°I mean Sakuragi-kun¡± It was too confusing, after spending time in USA, she got too used to calling people by their first names.

Suddenly, it dawned on her, ¡°that was a real life situation right?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a basketball player aren¡¯t you?¡±

¡°Hai! Orewa Sakuragi Hanamichi, tensai basketball man!¡± He sang out very loudly, causing many heads to swivel around.

= What a do¡¯aho = Saemi thought disgustedly, not realizing that she had said that aloud.

¡°Nani? What did you say?!¡±

¡°Do¡¯aho.¡±

Hanamichi looked all ready to hit her but Saemi gave him her most winning smile and her wide-eyed oh-so-innocent look. It seemed to work for he smiled and continued giving her a description of his genius basketball abilities. = He seems nice enough, though on the daft side, and he¡¯s really puffed up! = Ignoring him, she turned her attention back to the sensei and started doing the maths problems that they were assigned.

Through him, she got to know Yohei, whom she thought was decidedly smarter. When they were alone, she whispered, ¡°how do you manage to put up with him?¡±

¡°We keep his ego in check¡­¡± He said sheepishly.

¡°How?¡±

¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing a good hit on the head won¡¯t solve¡­¡±

¡°You fight? I thought that you¡¯re very close?¡± = I cannot believe that he enjoys fighting, he seems like such a nice guy, well, maybe I was wrong =

¡°Daijobu Saemi-chan?¡± Yohei was peering at her and he looked concerned.

¡°Oh! Its nothing really, I¡¯m just a little stunned. I once had a friend who was badly beaten up by a gang just because she refused to date the gang leader. It was terrible, I visited her in hospital and she was so wounded, puffy eyes, broken nose, the works¡­¡± She shuddered at the memory.

Yohei looked really puzzled when she said that. ¡°Aren¡¯t you Mitsui¡¯s girlfriend? I thought you¡¯d be used to fights.¡±

A light blush spread across her face and she pouted. How could he think that? He was her cousin after all and what did he mean about the being used to fights? In her memory although Hisa-kun wasn¡¯t exactly the a good student he had not been one to pick fights, basketball was his life and he devoted a huge amount of time to it.

When she told Yohei about that he looked shocked, ¡°I think that you¡¯d be better off finding it out for yourself.¡±

Just then Hanamchi came back and that was it, case closed.

He was practically beaming with pride for finally writing the correct answer to a maths sum on the blackboard. No, he had not grown a brain overnight, he had actually brought Saemi¡¯s notebook up and copied the answer off. Glaring suspiciously at him, the skinny maths teacher pointed at him.

¡°Sakuragi, your maths has really improved.¡±

Nodding happily, Hanamichi burst into peals of laughter.

RRRIIIINNNNGGGGGGG!

At the sound of the bell, all the students stood up and after hastily bidding the teacher goodbye, they ran out of the classroom.

¡°Saemi-chan! Sakuragi-kun, Yohei-kun!¡± Haruko came running towards them, with two of her friends trailing behind. ¡°Hayaku! Let¡¯s go to watch the basketball pr¡­¡±

~^@^~

Done with yet another chapter! *Smiles proudly* Well, please read and review, it won¡¯t take much of your time¡­ J To all those who reviewed, thank you all sooo much! Want to find out what happens? Me too! I will try to write faster but no promises, School work is really killing me! Maths is unspeakably tough! *goes swirly eyed* Ja!

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