DISCLAIMER: The only thing I own in this story is the plot, and some other weird people with weird names.
P/S: The charas are slightly OOC—can't help it, you know.
Author's Senseless Ramblings: Many thanks to blah101, magenta blues and Rousy P for reviewing this fanfic of mine!

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            -Shohoku Basketball Gym
            The atmosphere in the gym was, everyone agreed, different without Akagi's yells and reprimands. The training went on as usual, with each player practising really hard. Kogure practised along, helping his juniors improve their game. Ayako was deep in thoughts, figuring out how to handle the situation without Akagi.
            "Take a break, guys!" she said. "Five minutes!"
            "You need to be a little more aggressive," Kogure adviced Yasuda Yasuharu. "You looked scared when you had control of the ball just now."
            "Hanamichi, you weren't paying much attention in the game," said Miyagi. "Still down in the dumps, huh?"
            Sakuragi quickly argued. "The tensai is all right, no need to worry! Nyahahaha~"
            Anzai-sensei nodded. He approved of Sakuragi's fiery excitement; the basis that everyone else silently agreed was the spark plug of the whole team.
            "You know what, I think I prefer the murky Sakuragi yesterday!" teased Mitsui, earning himself a deadly glare.
            As they chatted on, someone knocked on the gym door. It was a middle-aged man, whom the school knew only too well. Takenouchi Shiyuichi, the austere discipline teacher.
            "Takenouchi-sensei, good afternoon." Ayako said, followed by the rest.
            "Hm!" Takenouchi-sensei approached them. "I'm looking for Mitsui Hisashi."
            Everyone stared at him right after the teacher spoke. Mitsui, his water bottle halfway reaching his mouth, froze.
            "We need to talk. Now. My office."
            "Ah?" Mitsui was dumbfounded. He got up and followed Takenouchi silently, praying non-stop.
            "I wonder what's the matter." Ayako blinked several times.
            "Judging from Takenouchi-sensei's expression—I have a bad feeling about this," remarked Kogure. "Mitsui is included in Takenouchi's blacklist, you know."
            "But Mitsui-sempai has changed for the better! I don't see why Mitsui-sempai should still be blacklisted!"
            "Let's just say Takenouchi-sensei doesn't forgive and forget easily. I heard rumours saying that Mitsui once played a really dirty trick on him or something—last year."
            Ayako remembered and blew her high-pitched whistle. "Break's over! Get back to the training!"
            Sakuragi rose from his seat, and caught Rukawa's cold eyes. They glared sideways for a few milliseconds before resuming their fixture. For once, no enmity spark between them.

            -Takenouchi's office
            Mitsui stepped into the familiar office. He had been there for innumerable times, a variety of reasons and got punished severely. But all that had stopped ever since he turned over a new leaf. So what could be waiting for him?
            "Sit." Takenouchi ordered flatly.
            Kami-sama—just drop the monosyllabic act will yah? Rukawa alone is enough…Mitsui pondered to himself and obeyed. He budged awkwardly in his chair.
            "I've heard a lot of complaints from the teachers lately." Takenouchi tipped his fingertips together. "I don't think I should name them one by one."
            Mitsui swallowed a lump in his throat.
            "On second thought, maybe I should." Takenouchi put his glasses on and unfolded a piece of paper. A long piece of paper. "Three weeks ago, you didn't complete your Biology project. Two days after that, you were seen sneaking out of your Chemistry class. Approximately two hours later, during the Physics test, you were seen copying—" and the list went on and on. Just listening to them was enough to hurt Mitsui's hearing.
            Mitsui's jaw was hanging open, terror-stricken. His dentures seemed as if they were about to fall off any moment soon. "But—but I can explain!"
            "I was told that your grades went down badly these last few months."
            "That was because—"
            "—your basketball."
            Mitsui nearly lost his balance. He exploded before he was aware of what he was doing. "I didn't complete my Biology project because I was absent when the class got the assignment! I wasn't skipping my Chemistry class; I had to go to the toilet! And I never copied in any test!"
            "No use denying it, Mitsui-kun."
            "But it's the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!" Mitsui was by then yelling on the top of his lungs. "And most of all, my basketball has nothing to do with my grades!"
            "Yes it does."
            "NO! You're just saying this because you wanted to have revenge on me! You're just making this whole thing up! I know you still remember last year's incident well and you want to get even with me!" Mitsui swore several times—hence signing his death warrant.
            Takenouchi flared up in an instant. Smoke was coming out of his ears. His frown sunk his beady, watchful eyes. He stood up abruptly, his fists on the table.
            Exactly that moment, Mitsui realized what he was in for. And boy, did he ever regret it.

            -Back to the gym
            "What was that yell?" asked Kuwata Toki. "I could've sworn it came from Takenouchi-sensei's office."
            "Mitsui!?" Sakuragi, Miyagi, Kogure and Ayako exclaimed.
            "Yare yare…" whispered Rukawa.
            "Will you please understand the situation here?" Ayako demanded in reproof.
            Rukawa shrugged.
            A louder scream shook the whole school.
            "Now that's scary," commented Miyagi, gripping the ball he was dribbling. "Takenouchi-sensei's?"
            "None other," replied Sakuragi. "Poor Mitchy."
            "Do you think his ears are still OK?" chipped in Shiozaki.
            "Ahou," muttered Rukawa.
            "I think it's best if we continue…we don't have all day," reminded Ayako. "Remember—who're we going to beat?"
            "Kainan!" they yelled in unison.
            One hour had passed. Mitsui finally reappeared. His face was sulky, his fists punching the door persistently.
            "Gomen ne, minna," said he. "Ore—"
            Takenouchi came up from behind. "Mitsui Hisashi won't be playing basketball for one month."
            "Nani!?" the team blurted out. Akagi and Kogure won't be playing…and now, Mitsui? What is the world coming to?
            "But this is injustice!" objected Ayako. "We have a game against Kainan—"
            "Right now it's more important for Mitsui-kun to concentrate in his academics. And by the look of the things he had done over the past two months, I think I have been very decent in giving out his punishment. He is to attend detention class and so I'm sorry but he is not allowed to participate in any basketball session."
            Mitsui, standing behind Takenouchi, was making faces at him.
            "I believe I have made myself clear. Anzai-sensei?" Takenouchi glanced over at the plump, white haired old man.
            Anzai-sensei laid his teacup down. Mitsui looked at Anzai-sensei, his eyes portraying his expectation.
            "Actually, I disagree," Anzai-sensei said to Takenouchi, "I think one month is a little too long."
            Come on, oyaji!! Sakuragi cheered silently.
            "The game is important, Takenouchi-sensei. Maybe you could postpone his punishment?"
            Takenouchi shook his head stubbornly. "I have been lenient all this while."
            "I'm sure you will find a wiser solution to this. Let's discuss this outside." Anzai-sensei and a reluctant Takenouchi-sensei departed.
            Ayako put her hands on her hips. "What is going on here?"
            Mitsui sadly related what happened in the office.
            "Mitsui-sempai! You can't miss the competition!" insisted Ishii. "We need a three-point shooter!"
            "Don't you think I know that? But what can I do? Takenouchi-sensei even told my parents about this!"
            "This is serious, indeed." Kogure folded his arms.
            "Guys, we have to sort this whole thing out quickly. Governor will kill us if we lose the match!" said Miyagi.
            Surprisingly Sakuragi, the loud mouth, was quiet the whole time. Rukawa could not help but glance at him. The ace was starting to miss his taunts and boastings.
            "I'm sure oyaji will make Takenouchi-sensei see things from his point of view," said Sakuragi, evidently trying to convince himself. "You have nothing to worry about, Mitchy!"
            Mitsui stared at him, appreciating the warmth in his voice. Anzai-sensei re-entered not long after that.
            "Anzai-sensei!" Mitsui voiced out.
            The respectable coach shook his head sadly. "I did, however, manage to persuade him to call your detentions off. So that means—you won't be able to play for the match, but you'll still practise with the rest."
            Another blow. Shohoku would not be having a three-point shooter in the game, the best centre in Kanagawa prefecture, and their very own vice-captain. And the worst part of all was that it was Kainan they were going to face.
            Mitsui felt his knees weakening. He tumbled kneeling on the floor, banging his hands in anger. Silence settled in.
            Rukawa broke the silence with a sigh. "We still have time."
            Miyagi smiled in confidence. "Rukawa's right. We still have our reserves."
            "That's what we are for," agreed Kuwata, "we'll do our best, you can have our word for it!"
            "And the tensai! Never, ever forget the tensai!" interrupted Sakuragi, lightening the mood a little.
            Rukawa never expected he would ever see the day he is thankful to hear those words—the same words he hated in the past.
            "Loosen up, Mitsui!" said Kogure. "We can train our juniors although we won't be playing—you can't be the three-point shooter forever, you know! You should pass your knowledge and skills to others—and now's the right time!" Kogure smiled motivationally at him.
            Anzai-sensei laughed "Ho ho ho!", witnessing the strong bond his boys shared. Ayako also smirked.
            Shohoku's point guard began dribbling. "Come on, guys! We'll take a break at five. After that we shall go and visit guv'nor in the hospital. We'll make sure when he sees us, he'll realize how hard we've trained and how sweaty—"
            "—and smelly," added Sakuragi with a chortle.
            "—and smelly we are! Iku zo!"
            "Yosh!!!" Ayako joined in.
            Mitsui and Kogure proceeded to teaching and correcting their juniors' mistakes. Only one matter in their minds; not to give up before the game against Kainan begins.

~{tsuzuku}~