Chapter 2: Remember This?

Sakuragi Hanamichi was on his way to where Akagi Haruko, his crush, and his friends, popularly known as the Sakuragi Gundan was standing when he heard a soft voice call out.

"Onichan!" the familiar soft voice repeated.

He turned around and saw a tall girl, about five feet five with hair as red as his. He changed his feet's direction and turned towards the girl.

"Hey, you!" he growled at the red head.

"Hey, yourself," the girl narrowed her eyes at the taller guy in front of her.

"No fans are allowed in here especially if you're a fan of that Baka Kitsune Rukawa!" he said menacingly.

"I'm not a fan of Rukawa Kaede. I'm a fan of the Tensai Sakuragi Hanamichi," the girl replied with a hint of a smile in her eyes.

Unable to control himself, Sakuragi burst out laughing. "Nyahahahaha!" he laughed out loud attracting the attention of the whole gym, "Hi, Keiko," he greeted the girl while giving her a big bear hug.

"Hi, Hana-kun," she replied, her voice muffled out in her brother's embrace.

When Sakuragi let go of Keiko, she saw that the Gundan, along with Haruko, had already approached them.

"Hi, Keiko!" Haruko greeted. "It's nice that you're back here. I was getting pretty lonely, you know. My friends have given up watching the practice with me." Haruko smiled at the girl whom she has befriended through Hanamichi.

"I figured they would. They're not exactly Rukawa fans, right?" Keiko teased Haruko slightly while receiving death glares from her brother.

Haruko blushed.

"Good to see you Keiko," The Gundan greeted simultaneously.

By that time, Kogure, Akagi and Ayako, along with Miyagi, gathered to greet Keiko. The three are familiar with the girl who is the exact opposite of her brother, especially in terms of being a loudmouth but nonetheless, has the same spunkiness and courage Sakuragi has. All, that is, with the exception of Miyagi who also just came back from the hospital.

Rukawa, being Rukawa, didn't mind the newcomer and continued his practice. Keiko didn't mind, though. She's familiar with the way Rukawa acts.

"Hey, Keiko! Nice to see you," Kogure greeted the girl warmly. "We missed you," the brown-eyed vice-captain said smiling.

"Right! You're the only fan of this Baka Sakuragi," Akagi roared while teasingly messing up Sakuragi's hair.

"Eh, Gori! She's not my only fan! There's loads of them just waiting for the actual game to see this Tensai in action!" Sakuragi protested, in chibi form while Akagi was still messing up his hair. "Nyahahaha!"

Big sweat drops appeared on everybody's faces as Ayako's famous paper fan hit Sakuragi's head.

"Hi, Keiko," Ayako turned smiling at the younger girl.

"Hi, Ayako-sempai, Kogure-sempai, Akagi-sempai," the girl greeted in return to her seniors.

"It's been a long time, ne? So did you catch up on your schoolwork?" Ayako went on remembering the reason why she hasn't seen the girl for a long time now.

"Yup! Finally," Keiko said emitting a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, a clearing of the throat was heard. All of them turned around to see where the sound came from. It came from Miyagi Ryota's direction, who was standing beside Akagi.

"Ah! Ryochin!" Sakuragi exclaimed remembering that his sister doesn't know who Ryota is while rushing to Ryota's side and pushing him towards his sister.

"This is Shorty!" Sakurai introduced while trying his hardest not to burst out laughing.

"Nani!??" Ryota exclaimed in chibi form at Sakuragi and in turn kicking the chibi Sakuragi in the butt.

"Hehehe… Just kidding!" Sakuragi said slapping Ryota in the back returning to his original mode and laughing. "Miyagi Ryota, sophomore," Sakuragi introduced, "You can call him Ryochin!"

"This is my sister, Keiko," he continued poking Keiko in the ribs playfully.

"Hello! Nice to meet you! I didn't know Sakuragi has a sister," Ryota smiled.

"You wouldn't know it if it wasn't for the red hair!" Keiko answered joking about the Sakuragi family's trademark red hair.

Meanwhile, Sakuragi remembered the other new member who was not in the group. He looked all over the gym and spotted Mitsui who had his eyes closed, resting in a corner.

"Hey, Micchy!" Sakuragi shouted at the senior who had recently joined the club.

Baka Sakuragi! What do you want now?, Mitsui thought clearly irritated at being disturbed from the only break he could get. "What?" he shouted all the way across the gym.

"I want to introduce you to my sister!" his teammate answered starting to get irritated that Mitsui wasn't standing up and heading their way. "Come on!"

Sighing, Mitsui stood up and crossed the court to get to where his teammates were standing.

When he reached the other side, he saw the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. She had long red hair and big smiling chocolate brown eyes. Harumph… I never thought redheads were beautiful, he thought grinning inside.

"This is my sister Keiko," Sakuragi began for the second time that day. "And this," he continued starting to introduce Mitsui to his sister, "is Mitsui Hisashi, senior," he finished,

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Nani!?!? Mitsui?!? Mitsui Hisashi!?!? It can't be! He's a basketball player?! I don't believe it!

But…

There is no mistaking that he is the Mitsui that the big guy was talking about. He has the same blue eyes…

His hair… I wonder why he cut it?

He actually looks good.

NANI? What am I thinking about?!? Sakuragi Keiko, stop it!

Mitsui… What a mysterious guy…

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Keiko nodded in acknowledgment at the introduction wondering if Mitsui recognized her.

Mitsui, on the other hand, was oblivious to Keiko's no response and instead, even stuck his hand out for a handshake. Obviously, he doesn't remember who Keiko is,

"Hi, how do you do?" Mitsui shook hands smiling and vowing to himself that he will make Keiko his girl.

"Uh-huh," was the only response that he got from Keiko, which surprised all of the people around them.

Mitsui was about to ask her how she was when a shrill whistle echoed through the whole gym signaling the start of the second half of the practice game. The others said a quick goodbye and quickly ran to the court to avoid Ayako's paper fan. Mitsui, however stayed behind.

"Well, I have to go. It was nice meeting you and I hope we could be good friends," he stated smiling (again) at Keiko giving a hint that he likes her and that he wants to go out with her some time. He turned his back and was about to go when he heard Keiko spoke to him. Mitsui faced Keiko again

"Mitsui,"she called. She reached out for her left sleeve, inching it up until it reaches her elbows.

"Remember this?" she said in a barely audible voice raising her left hand flashing Mitsui a look of the long light scar going up from her wrist to her elbow. She looked Mitsui in the eye as if challenging him with only her eyes to answer her.

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What the hell?!?

Oh, no!

She's Sakuragi's sister?!?

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Mitsui can only hold Keiko's gaze, afraid to answer and yet letting his eyes give away what he already knows.

"I thought so," Keiko whispered in an emotionless voice, voicing neither anger nor resentment, just the kind of voice that sent shivers down the spine to whomever's listening.

Then suddenly, as if to save Mitsui from Keiko's stare, Akagi shouted for him. He broke eye contact and rushed towards the court with a dreadful feeling in his stomach.

Keiko can only stare at his retreating figure, her face still emotionless.