This might take some time to type, cuz I can't stop dancing to 'You' (S Club 7) "Wheeee!" Oh mit-mitchan, you are psychic, yeah? That was freaky. My nose started bleeding after I uploaded the second chapter. Either that, or its the dry air or something. Yeah. Anyway, I think I am going to add Ryo/Aya.

[Three]

Oh dear. I don't know what possessed me to join the basketball team. I've never even touched a basketball, let alone played in my life. What if I mess up? What if I let my team down? Right now I'm headed for the first basketball practice…

Haruko is so excited, and Matsui is trying to calm her down. I don't know, but I suddenly had this feeling… I wanted them to notice me, to let me tell them my fears, to let them allay them. Then Haruko turned around.

"Aren't you just so terribly excited, Yuriko?"

"Oh…Oh yes."

I dare say I'm being selfish and conceited, but I want… I want… to be better at them at something. To stand out. I don't want to be know as "that quiet, sweet, girl". I want to be known for something more.

***

I've never been on the court before. But as I stand here, just under the tall, intimidating metal structure, the hoop, I get this sudden sense, a sense of belonging. And it's so overwhelming.

Ayako is instructing us now. She's laying out her expectations for the team. And then she's running through the things we have to do and learn. Oh. Now she's scolding the RuKaWa Brigade. They're not paying attention, trying to guess which ball Rukawa-kun uses. They've just deflated one that reads 'Sakuragi Hanamichi' in small lettering.

I'm warming up, my muscles all tense, nervously anticipating, but eagerly embracing whatever comes next.

Oh. That would be more warming up.

Finally, we can move on. I'm the only one who doesn't have any idea of the game, so Ayako is taking me aside to explain…

The metal doors clang open, and a short and obscenely obese old man walks in. I recognise him as Anzai-sensei, the coach. He offers to explain to me the game.

The game is immensely complicated to me, So many moves, so many rules.

"Do you understand now?"

"Y-yes." Not really.

He chuckles, "You remind me of my daughter."

"Oh, how old is she?"

"She's passed away."

I stutter some apology, a little embarrassed at asking such a sensitive question.

Haruko comes up wanting to teach me the fine art of the basics, but Ayako interrupts, and tells her that she'll teach me instead, and that she should join the other girls in their practice game. It's Matsui and Ka against Haruko and Wa. Ru is the referee.

Wa is surprisingly good, agile and nimble on her feet. Her only problem is that she cannot keep the ball in control, so it often lands up elsewhere then the intended area. Ka and Matsui make a good team. Ka, impulsive, relies too much on her height to block the others, but Matsui makes up for it by backing her up. Ru looks a bit bored, and has to blow her whistle every few minutes for a foul, or because the ball goes out of the court.

And me, I'm just practicing basics. I've seen Sakuragi Hanamichi doing this before, it looked pretty easy, but then now as I'm doing it, I realise how tough it is. I try to concentrate harder, and do exactly as Ayako tells me to do it.

"Very good!" The compliment from Ayako warms my heart. She appears a little surprised though. Now she's gone over to Anzai-sensei.

Meanwhile

Ayako went over to Anzai-sensei. "Anzai-sensei… she's really quick! I think she's talented in this area."

Anzai-sensei just ho-ho-hoed. "I know, I know…"

Back

I'm a little apprehensive now. What on earth did Ayako talk to the coach about? I flush, as I momentarily lose concentration and control of the ball. Oh dear… it has hit Ru on the forehead.

"Gomen!" I guiltily bow my head.

***

I'm getting tired, after doing basics for half an hour.

I don't have much stamina. I don't go jogging like Haruko, nor do I posses superhuman strength like all those players on the boys' team. I've never been overtly active in the physical aspect. I'm the kind of girl who will stay at the back of the crowd during Physical Education classes (PE) and line up at the very back during things like the high jumps, or at the long jump pits. During the annual PE test, I'd always just make myself do the minimum, then stop. I've never tested my limits, seen how far I could go.

Ayako…how much more must I continue?

I think she can sense that I'm tired, and she lets me stop. The break is a welcome relief. I sit at the sidelines, watching the ongoing game. Now Ayako has joined the game, making it Matsui, Ayako and Ka against Haruko, Ru and Wa.

"Watch the players, tell me their mistakes."

I swing round in surprise. I had no idea that Anzai-sensei had come up beside me.

"Ano…" I am a little self-conscious. After all, how can I point out other's mistakes, when I myself am way behind them? But it is an order from the coach, so I obey.

"Well, Matsui should be taking more risks, and not be afraid to play against Haruko, even though they are good friends. Haruko herself is good, but she and Wa should have a system like the others to agree on who will catch the ball. As it is, they either both dive for the ball, and miss, or assume the other is catching it, and miss…" I flush again, a little shy about voicing my thoughts.

"Mmm… and also note that Ka and your friend Matsui should not over depend on Ayako to get all the points."

The game has ended. It is a draw, although Ayako and Haruko are having a slight tiff about whether the final point scored by Ayako should have been counted.

***

"Ahh! I'm very happy! How do you find the game, Yuriko?" Haruko cannot wait for the next practice.

I smile quietly to myself. "I find it very nice."

[#] Tadaa! Oh dear, hols. end tomorrow, and I'll be getting my Chinese, math, and Geography CA marks back on Tuesday. Oh, and I always did like Yuriko. Please review. It is your duty as a reader. (Look! Propaganda!) Even if you have reviewed alreadi, it wouldn't hurt to review again, right? [#]