Chapter 4: Rejection

The next day at lunchtime, all the members of the Shohoku Basketball Club ate their lunch just outside the gym's front door. A game was going to be held that weekend and they have to practice every chance they get. Akagi decided that they should eat lunch together then do some passing drills to make full use of the time that they're not doing anything.

"Nyahahaha! You don't have to worry! As long as you have this Tensai around, we will never lose a game! Nyahahaha!" Sakuragi bragged in his usual way while putting spoonful of food in his mouth.

"Do'aho," came Rukawa's usual reply who was a seat away from Sakuragi in the circle. Akagi was sitting in the middle of the two troublemakers.

"Teme! Kitsune!" Sakuragi growled. "You're just jealous because you're not a Tensai!" Sakuragi added as he tried to lunge at Rukawa from behind Gori's back.

"Yare, Yare," Rukawa's monotonous voice replied in chibi form.

Akagi, as usual, was losing patience at the two who were bickering like little kids. "I'll punch you two," he threatened as he landed each of his fists to Sakuragi and Rukawa's head.

Sakuragi howled in pain in chibi form while clutching the lump, which was already growing. "Gori! You already did!"

The others just laughed at the familiar site in front of them. Sakuragi's always fighting with Rukawa and Akagi's always punishing them. It rooted from Haruko and then as time passed by because of basketball too. They never did get along but the team was already used to it.

"By the way," Miyagi broke in noticing that his long time crush was nowhere to be seen. "Where's Aya-chan? She is coming, isn't she?"

"Tsk...Tsk… Miyagi you're a lost case!" Mitsui grinned teasing the younger boy who was seated beside him.

"Harumph… You're just jealous because your love life is zero!" Miyagi shot back at his senior.

"Not for long Miyagi. Not for long," the blue-eyed shooting guard smiled secretly.

"Hahaha! You, guys! Yes Miyagi, Ayako-san is coming," Kogure answered good-naturedly from Mitsui's other side. "Now, who is the lucky girl, eh Mitsui?" he inquired with a twinkle in his brown eyes.

Sakuragi, who by now managed to get the lump in his head smaller, smiled wickedly in Mitsui's direction and interrupted his seniors' converation. "Eh, Megane-kun, Micchy's gonna ask my sister to go out with him!" he spilled noticing that Mitsui's cheeks were on its way to becoming red as his hair.

Even before the first bell rang, Mitsui had tracked Sakuragi down on the First Year's floor. He told Sakuragi of his intentions to ask Keiko out. After all, he didn't want to make anymore trouble especially if it was with his teammate. Sakuragi, it turned out was okay with it. Although, he did make Mitsui's life a living hell since he can't stop teasing his Sempai.

"Nani?!? Mitsui-san, you're gonna ask Keiko-san to go out with you?" Kakuta who was in Keiko's class said unbelieving.

"Yeah, something wrong with that?" Mitsui answered in a suspicious tone.

"Ah… Not really… But I've heard from the guys in my class who wanted to ask her out that she wouldn't go out with anyone," the freshman explained.

"Told you Micchy. Keiko's a very picky girl!" Sakuragi interrupted again.

"She'll go out with me!" Mitsui said airily. I'll make her fall in love with me…

Just then a shadow was cast upon Mitsui and the other basketball players sitting outside. The person who owned the shadow was standing behind him. "Who'll go out with you, Mitsui-sempai?" Ayako's cheerful teasing voice was heard.

"Aya-chan!" Miyagi exclaimed happy to see his 'Aya-chan' that hearts started to appear where his eyes were before. He turned around and stood up to greet the manager.

"Haruko-san!" Sakuragi said turning into chibi form, his cheeks blushing as the same color of his hair as he saw that Ayako was not alone. He did what Ryota did as sign of respect.

Just then, they saw a flash of red hair and Keiko appeared from behind Haruko. "Hi, guys!" she greeted cheerfully.

The others returned her greeting while Mitsui also did what Ryota and Hanamichi did. "Hi, Keiko," he greeted somewhat timidly as the other members exchanged knowing glances behind Mitsui's back trying hard not to burst out laughing for this was the first time they saw the reformed gangster act timid.

For the second time around, Keiko just nodded her head in acknowledgment, not even uttering a single sound. And for the second time around, the other members of the club including Hanamichi was surprised by the action. Only Mitsui seemed unfazed by what she did, after all he was expecting her reaction to be that way.

Kogure, being the sensitive one in the group ushered the others whom had already finished their lunch, inside the gym to give the three couples some privacy. Even Akagi was ushered in by Kogure.

Ryota and Ayako went their separate way, away from the other two couples since it was known that the two were in a 'mutual understanding' stage but not yet a couple. Haruko on the other hand, who was only Hanamichi's friend, talked to the red head as they walk toward the gym. Keiko was then left outside with Mitsui. Both were staring dumbly at each other. Keiko, a little uncertain why they were left alone there and Mitsui being dumbfounded to even utter a single letter.

Keiko decided to break the silence between them. "Look, I don't know what's happening and why they all left all of a sudden but I am assuming that you want to talk to me or else you would have gone inside. Am I right?" she started impatiently crossing her arms across her chest and tapping her right foot on the ground.

"Ah! Hai!" Mitsui answered embarrassed that he was caught off-guard.

"Well?" impatience still evident in her voice.

"Umm…," the former MVP stammered. He never remembered acting this way before in front of a girl. Usually he was cool around girls. Then again, this girl is different from the others. He has never asked a girl who got in trouble because of him on a date. "I was wondering if you'd like to go out and see a movie with me tomorrow after practice," he finished all in one breath.

A look of shock came across Keiko's face, which was hard to miss, but in an instant was already gone. She knew that he likes her but she didn't expect that he'd ask her out the very next day they were introduced to each other. She composed herself and looked coolly at Mitsui and replied the word that Mitsui was dreading to hear in a flat voice, "No.".

"No, I won't go out with you," she repeated coldly, her arms still crossed across her chest and her right foot tapping the ground.

"Why!??" Mitsui questioned although he knew partly the reason why. However, this did not stop him from asking her why.

"I don't go out with gangsters," Keiko replied glaring at the taller boy in front of her.

"Excuse me?!? Am I hearing right? And may I add that you are friends with one of the most notorious gangs in school?!?" Mitsui narrowed his eyes, his voice getting louder because he doesn't see any relevance in Keiko's excuse since she does hang out with one of the most notorious gangs in school. K'so! She's just trying to make this hard for both of us.

"And may I also add that my friends don't attack innocent people?" the girl shot back her brown eyes full of anger, her voice getting louder as Mitsui's did.

That did it. It was like an arrow that pierced Mitsui's body. He was silent for a few seconds. Then suddenly his voice grew soft and he whispered in a soft voice, "I didn't attack you. My friends did and I'm sorry for that. Onegai, reconsider?" Mitsui stared straight into her brown eyes his blue eyes pleading for her to take back her previous answer. He reached out his left hand to take Keiko's right hand in his.

Keiko was again shocked by his actions and she lowered her eyes so she can avoid his gaze. She didn't expect that she'd get an apology from him, after all, he was right. He didn't do anything to her. She's just mad at him because that night that she was attacked, she saw kindness and softness that she can't believe can be found in any guy, much less a gangster who made a bet that involved another person being hurt.

"Whatever," she mumbled squirming her hand so Mitsui will have to let go of her. She turned her back on him and was about to go when she suddenly turned to face him again, "Please tell my brother that I'll watch practice after school lets out," and with that she started to run away from him.

Mitsui sighed. This is going to be harder than I thought.

Mitsui debated with himself if he was going to follow Keiko. He heaved a sigh again. He decided to talk to her later when she comes to the gym after school. He'll try his luck then.