Author: Hikaru R. Kudou
Email: crystal_clear@comic.com
Rating: General
Genre: General, non-yaoi RuHana
DISCLAIMER: The only thing I own in this story is the plot, nothing else.

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            "Pass the ball!"
            "I got it!"
            "Hey!"
            "Run faster!!"
            "Nyahahaha! The tensai has the ball now!"
            "Oh, shut up!"
            "Do'aho…"
            "Teme!! Rukawa!! How dare you steal the tensai's ball??"
            "Whoa, nice dunk Rukawa!!!"
            "L-O-V-E Rukawa!"
            "Rukawa-kun…"
            A typical day in Shohoku High School…
            "Oi, Sakuragi! Will you please work together with Rukawa? You guys are in the same team for goodness' sake!"
            "Nani? You dare to suggest such a thing to this tensai?"
            "Maa maa…we have a game here…"
            "Hn."
            "Kora, Rukawa!!!"
            Coach Anzai sipped his green tea calmly. Ayako was already taking her all-time-powerful-fan from its 'shrine'. Akagi looked as if he was about to burst any second soon. Haruko, the sister of the ever-fearful gori of Shohoku was, as always, admiring Rukawa Kaede.
            Rukawa swept his sweaty with the back of his hand. So far he had scored 28 points for his team, much to Sakuragi's dismay.
            "That's it for today!" Akagi's strong voice shook the whole building. "I have something to say. Listen up!"
            "Hai, captain!"
            "We will be having a friendly match against Kainan in three weeks' time. I want you to win this one, you hear me?"
            "Hai!" Even the team's voices put together could not rival that of Akagi Takenori.
            "Remember our last match with them? We lost by a narrow shot! This time, I cannot accept another defeat!"
            Ayako nodded thoughtfully.
            Sakuragi shifted uncomfortable. Painful memories returned to haunt him. He recalled passing the ball to the wrong man at the last minute of the game. Uncontrollably, his eyes were watery, despite his efforts to hold his tears back.
            The whole gym was silent. They understood how Sakuragi had felt. Even Rukawa managed NOT to whisper do'aho to Sakuragi. Mitsui could not utter a single syllable, and it was obvious Akagi himself was trying hard not to cry. Miyagi, on the other hand, was too absorbed marveling Ayako's beauty.
            "We understand what we should do," murmured Mitsui, a note of determination in his words.
            "Don't worry Akagi—this time we'll win." Kogure nodded.
            Sakuragi did not interject.
            "They're going down," added Rukawa. There was a resolute glint in his eyes.
            Miyagi finally snapped out of his daydream. He, with difficulty, reached to tap Sakuragi's shoulder. Damn, I haven't grown a single inch taller…
            "Ryo-chin?"
            "We'll get them this time, Hanamichi, trust me."
            Sakuragi was about to say he was fine, but Ayako threw him a warning look. He silenced himself.
            "Adjourned!" yelled Akagi.
            "Hai, arigatou!!!"
            "Ne, Sakuragi…you OK?" asked Mitsui with genuine concern.
            "Don't worry, Sakuragi! The sad look doesn't suit you!"
            Sakuragi by then felt as if there was a massive flood inside his eyelids.
            "Crybaby…" Rukawa walked past him indifferently.
            "Rukawa!" said Ayako in reproach. She caressed her fan, telling Rukawa not to make matters worse. Ayako can be demanding whenever she wants to.
            Rukawa consented and walked out.
            "Hey, Hanamichi, how's about heading to Danny's? I'm starving." Miyagi winked at him.
            "I'm not really hungry…"
            "Oh, come on! Don't be such a sourpuss! It'll be my treat." Mitsui pulled Sakuragi.
            "Ne, Sakuragi…" Kogure adjusted his glasses. "Don't be like this. What happened to the cheerful Sakuragi Hanamichi we all knew?"
            "Demo…I can't help it…"
            "The past has passed. You can't do anything to change it. The only thing you can do is, learn from your mistakes."
            Akagi told the rest to move. Even Gori had the heart not to let everyone witness Sakuragi crying.
            "If you don't get energetic soon you won't be able to play well in the game." Ayako took her cap off. "And this time we can't afford to lose, understand?"
            Haruko was watching Sakuragi. Actually, she only started to notice Sakuragi was in a dilemma once Rukawa exited the gym. She approached the redhead.
            "Sakuragi-kun…let's go," she said softly, "may I, onii-chan?"
            Akagi nodded. "Just this once…" He departed.
            Haruko beamed at Sakuragi.
            "Excellent!" Mitsui pulled Sakuragi again, this time with more force.
            Sakuragi stood up abruptly, causing Mitsui nearly losing his balance. Together, they walked to their favourite hangout.

            Meanwhile, Rukawa had reached his own abode. Tossing his bag aside, he dropped himself on to the sofa. He reached out for his basketball.
            "Sakuragi Hanamichi…" he whispered obliviously. His eyes widened when he realized what he had just said. His eyes rested on the framed picture of the Shohoku basketball team on his television set.
            "I want to win this one, 'aho." He hurled the ball upwards and caught it again. The whole process repeated for a few minutes. He paused. "I want to win this one BAD." He let the ball fly higher as he emphasized on the last word, thus crashing his chandelier into bits. He sighed as he went to the kitchen to retrieve a broom. "That's the third one this week."

~{tsuzuku}~

Author's Notes: Not much in this chapter. Please review before you go. Thanks for reading. *bows*