Author: I own the characters that are NOT from Slam Dunk…. If they are from Slam Dunk, they are property of Inoue Takehiko. Please don't sue me… Also, a foreword, I tend to be long winded when writing my fics, so at least you get the overall picture, as well as the locations/background, and worth your dollar on Internet charges! LOL Please do email/review me, and I can update the previous chapters. Thanks!

Words in italics or between slashes are thoughts, words within ^^ are actions, unless otherwise stated, words in brackets are locations usually before each section.

P/s: This fic MAY be in tune with what actually happened in the original anime, but as this is a fic of mine, there MIGHT be parts that will be OOC… But that's what makes it nice, ne? Bwa ha ha ha ha!!!! ^_^

(=^_^=)  Chapter 12 – Second year, Ryonan High  (=^_^=)

(L.I.D.[author]: Please note, before reading on, if you have the song, Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know BY the singer Britney Spears on your pc or CD, please listen to it later during the fic. Thank you!)

Kuna Yumi stared at the building that was Ryonan High. It was a New Year, January, and she recalled what she had said when she first set eyes on Ryonan High, and smiled in nostalgia. /Seems like only yesterday that I said those words… /

Kuna Yumi, was now a second year student in Ryonan High, and was still a very outgoing, friendly and fat girl. Her previously long dark hair that was usually tied up in a ponytail, was now let down more often, and had been trimmed to be about shoulder length. She still had dark brown smouldering eyes that were as clear as morning dew.

On the first day of school, she was in the same class, though in second year, and the same system of being partners were implemented. When she entered the class, she scanned the room for Uozumi, and soon found the extraordinarily tall male, now sporting a shorter spiky-kind of hairstyle, sitting at the same place where she spotted him a year ago, twiddling with his pencil.

Going up to him with a wide smile, she said; "Ano… hello, Watashi wa Yumi, Kuna Yumi desu. Hajimemashite! Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!"

Uozumi had a weird look on his face, before he realised what game Yumi was playing, and his eyes had a mischievous twinkle to them.

"Aa. Ore wa Jun, Uozumi Jun. Yoroshiku." Replied Uozumi, now having a mock nonchalant look, trying hard not to smile.

"Would you like to be partners? It's alright if you don't want to…" Inside, Yumi was laughing her brains out.

"Iie, it's alright. Please sit down." Replied the Uozumi politely, trying to control his laughter.

Yumi couldn't contain her laughter anymore, and the both burst out laughing loudly and madly, much to the bewilderment of the whole class.

When the both regained their composure, Yumi smiled. "Jun-Jun, you remembered…"

"How could I forget the way we first met, Mi-chan? Ha ha! It was quite funny, come to think of it!" laughed Uozumi. "I'll let you in on something Mi-chan, Tsubetsu-san came over, and asked me to be her partner for the year this morning, can you believe that?"

"Tsubetsu Masako??? Why didn't you accept, Jun-Jun?" Yumi's eyes were as wide as saucers, since Tsubetsu Masako was quite a popular girl on campus, and was one of the most superficial as well.

"I've only eyes for you, Mi-chan…He he…" Uozumi replied, careful not to let his blush and his words become too obvious.

"Honto ni? Stop kidding Jun-Jun!! Look at me! I'm so fat!! Ha ha! Anyway, same time, same place?"

"Aa." /I'm not kidding. /

And so, Uozumi Jun and Kuna Yumi were class partners, once again, for their second year in Ryonan High.

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After school, Yumi and Jun made their way to Dinny's, again, and choosing the same spacious booth, seated themselves.

"Mi-chan, it seems as if it was only yesterday we formally introduced each other, ne?" mentioned Uozumi, looking at their surroundings, remembering the conversation they had at the same booth.

"Hai, so it has, Jun-Jun…" Yumi smiled. "I still can't believe we managed to pass with flying colours! Those exam papers were tough!" Yumi reminisced, sticking out her tongue.

"Ha ha! Tell me about it! Anyway, this year the basketball club have new recruits who have signed up early…do you want to have a look-see?"

"Hai!!"

"Let's see…" Uozumi dug inside his bag, and out came a folder, since he was the new captain for Team Ryonan. "We have new freshmen, miru(Look)!" said Uozumi, passing the file to Yumi.

"Arigato, Jun-Jun!" Yumi scanned the name lists, and saw several names, like Fukuda Kicchou, Koshino Hiroaki, Uekusa Toriyuki, and Sendoh Akira. "These fellows look promising, Jun-Jun…and so are you…" remarked Yumi, looking at their statistics.

"They do, don't they? However, we'll have to test their abilities first…me? Why do you say I'm promising?" asked Uozumi, blushing madly. "By the way, are you still with the Cooking Club, Mi-chan?"

"I agree you have to test them first… Look at you! Previously, you had a hard time with your stamina, and now, you're a hunk with FAB abs!!" winked Yumi. "Hai, I'm still with them, they're a growing club, just like the basketball club, and I have you to thank, Jun-Jun!" laughed Yumi.

"Ore wa?? A hunk?? Why do you have me to thank for?" Uozumi asked, blushing more.

"Hai, you look more kawaii with that new hairdo of yours… Thank god you took my advice and got a shorter hairdo! Much easier to manage, ne?" grinned Yumi, ruffling his hair, which made Uozumi blush harder. (L.I.D.[author]: Uozumi blushes a lot when he's with Yumi doesn't he? Hee hee!) "If not for my connections with the basketball club through you, more girls are hoping to get to know more basketball guys if they know how to cook edible food for you guys! Ha ha ha ha!!!"

Uozumi: ^Sweat drop^

"Ne, Mi-chan, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, fire away!"

"What kind of guys do girls go for?"

Yumi raised an eyebrow. "Jun-Jun? Why the question? … OH MY GOD! Jun-Jun, are you in LOVE?"

"NO! Grrr…."

"Who's the lucky girl?"

/You. /

"It's just a question Mi-chan! No hidden agenda! ^Sweat drop^ OK, I'll rephrase the question, what kind of guys do YOU go for?"

"Mattaku! I thought you had taken a fancy to someone!" sighed Yumi. "Well, he has to be tall, quite so, and kind, caring, responsible, easy to talk to, loyal, understanding. And it helps if he plays sports!" grinned a neko Yumi, who was thinking of Akagi when she said all that.

Uozumi ^Sweat drop^ /Well, I can be all that… for you, Mi-chan… /

The two continued talking for hours, until it was time for Uozumi to send Yumi back home.

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(Back at Yumi's house)

-Ring! Ring! Ring!

"Moshi moshi! Kuna Residence!" greeted Yumi.

"Moshi moshi, anata, how are you on your first day of school at Ryonan High?" asked a welcomed male voice.

"Great Nori-kun! Guess what? The belle of Ryonan High asked Jun-Jun if he'd be her partner for the year!"

"So ka? Ha ha! Did he accept?"

"Hell no! Jun-Jun and I are class partners again! Ha ha!"

"Oh? Aren't you afraid that I'd get extremely jealous, Mi-chan?"

"Nope!"

"Why?"

"Because, if you were, I'd be both happy and sad."

"Please explain…"

"Happy, because I know you want me, and sad, because you don't trust me enough… we tell each other everything, don't we, Nori-kun?"

"Hai, we do…"

"Demo, Nori-kun…"

"Nan da? (What?)"

"Let's say… hypothetically, if another guy went after me, what would you do?"

"Is this a trick question?"

"Trick question ja nai yo, Nori-kun! This is just a hypothetical question!"

"Yare yare, I know how you change topics easily, Mi-chan, daijobu desu…" (L.I.D.[author]: Some girls like to ask questions that pop into their head, any time and any place, namely, your truly. ^Sweat drop^)

"So?"

"The answer's simple."

"And that would be?"

"I'd fight him."

"But fighting's not allowed, Nori-kun! You could get disqualified!"

"Not physically, Mi-chan."

"Then?"

"I'd fight him for your heart… With civility, but with all my might…"

"…"

"Mi-chan?"

"That's the sweetest thing you've ever said, Nori-kun!" sobbed Yumi.

"Sweet words befit a sweet lady, Mi-chan." Chuckled Akagi.

"Baka Nori-kun!"

"Ha ha ha, there's just no way to please a woman, is there?"

"Yes there is…"

"How?"

"For now, a kiss over the phone would do…"

"All right…" and Akagi kissed Yumi over the phone, and could be heard VERY clearly. (L.I.D.[author]: don't forget he has a loud voice, ne? :p )

"Hee hee!"

"Happy now?"

"Hai! Anyways, how are you at Shohoku High? Any new people in the team?"

"Yeap, there's new recruits, with the likes of Miyagi Ryota, Yasuda Yasuharu, Shiozaki Tetsushi and Kakuta Satoru. That's it so far, and several new comers I can't remember…"

"Not bad! Maybe you might win this year, ne Nori-kun?"

"That's right!!"

The two continued their conversation well into the night, and both had sweet dreams about each other.

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As time must increase, the seasons also must change. The subjects being taught by Ryonan High were getting tougher for the sophomores, and Uozumi was having a tough time letting his feelings be known to Yumi.

Uozumi was in his room; looking at the photo of the Christmas kiss Yumi and he shared, courtesy of Ikegami, thinking about his situation. /Why do I have such a complex to let the Yumi know how I feel about her? It's not as if she's a superficial girl, or someone I don't know well… She even complemented me on my new hairdo! Kuso, it cost me quite a bit just to style it like this! But I don't know if she'll accept me… Hell, she accepts me as I am doesn't she? However, as a potential boyfriend? KUSO! What am I to do? I like her so much, it hurts… /

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(14th February)

It was another day for Yumi, nothing special, except that she had a small box of chocolates for her dear friend, Uozumi Jun. Mind you, it wasn't heart shaped or anything, just good quality store bought plain sweet square chocolate. /I'm sure Jun-Jun would love some chocolate, if he didn't already receive any from other females! / Chuckled Yumi, imagining Uozumi's embarrassed face if a girl other than herself, gave him chocolates on valentine's day.

"Ohayo, Jun-Jun!!!" cried Yumi, waving at Uozumi, who was near the water cooler having a drink.

"Ohayo, Mi-chan…"

"Ne, Jun-Jun, I have something for you!" said Yumi, handing him the box of chocolate. "Happy Valentine's day! Did any other girls give you chocolates for valentine's day?" teased Yumi.

"Ano, arigato Mi-chan… Nope, no girls gave me chocolate, Mi-chan." Lied Uozumi. In actual fact, around ten girls from different classes presented their handmade chocolate to Uozumi, to which he politely declined, offering his sincere apologies to them.

"So ka? (Really?) Daijobu desu, you have my chocolates then… Hai, we've better get to class early ne?"

"Hai…"

Yumi entered the class, followed by Uozumi, and what she saw on her desk made her gasp. "Oh my God…"

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(=^_^=) Meow!

Anonymous-san: Who ever you are, arigato, and please leave your email onegai! ^_^

Nellie-san: This is the 20th century… LOL

Mayumi-chan: Arigato! ^_^ At last, someone who likes the two giants! :p I didn't know your nickname was Yumi-chan! LOL But I didn't have you in mind then! Don't YOU feel flattered all of a sudden? :p

Fehrocious-san: What does 'perasaan' mean? O_o Why don't you ask Yumi who she wants? :p Hai, Ikegami is mischievous ne? :p