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 13 – Ryonan High, Valentine's Day  (=^_^=)

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

"Ohayo, Yumi-chan!" greeted a classmate, Ayami.

"Ohayo…" replied Yumi, looking at the beautiful bouquet of blue tulips on her desk.

"Hora, you got flowers! You're so lucky, Yumi-chan!!" cried Ayami.

Yumi: "Ano…" ^Sweat drop^ / Don't tell me… /

Uozumi's eye widened as he saw the bouquet. He looked at Ikegami, who had a wide smile, and a knowing look. /Masaka! Baka Ikegami! Are you guys trying to ruin me?? / Apparently, the bouquet had been courtesy of Ikegami and Sendoh, for the both of them were sick and tired of their friend hum and hawing over Yumi.

Now, only two people knew she liked tulips, the first being Aki-chan, for they're best friends. The second being Akagi, for they knew nearly everything about each other. Uozumi didn't know, for he didn't ever have the need for such information.

/Don't tell me Nori-kun sent me flowers all the way from Shohoku High??? He's such a sweetheart!!! /

"Ohayo, Yumi-chan!" greeted Aki, who popped into her class.

"Ne, Aki-chan, did you send me these?" asked Yumi.

"Nope…spent all my okane (money) on chocolates for Ikegami-kun…" Aki shrugged. "Don't tell me that they're from Akagi-kun?" whispered Aki.

Yumi smelled the flowers, and a wide smile crept up on her lips.

"Miru, Yumi-chan, there's a card!" exclaimed Aki.

Sure enough, there was a card, in the bouquet.

"Let's see what it says… ITAI!!!" cried Aki in pain.

"It's MY bouquet, and MY message, dakara (therefore), gomen Aki-chan, but I'LL be the one to read it, thank you very much!"

Aki: ^Sweat drop^

Yumi read the card, and these words were on it:

Dearest Mi-chan,

Please meet me at the entrance of Shiretoko Museum at 3pm.

Your secret admirer.

/My goodness, Nori-kun went a bit far with being romantic didn't he? / Thought Yumi, as she smiled. (L.I.D.[author]: They happen to finish class today early, so sue me! LOL On second thought, please don't sue me! ^_^)

Uozumi looked at Yumi when she read the card, and heaved a sigh of relief.

^Flashback^

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"You want me to do WHAT?!?!?!?!" shouted Uozumi at the top of his lungs, giving Ikegami a HUGE bump on his head with Uozumi's fist.

"Itai! Keep it down, Uozumi! You want to wake up the whole neighbourhood?" cried Ikegami, trying to pacify the near hysterical giant.

"Are you mad??? Whatever possessed you to think that I would do such a thing???"

"Why not? Sound like a wonderful idea." Remarked Sendoh. "Tell her how you truly feel…"

"Sendoh, even you think…" sputtered Uozumi.

"Hai, I do…"

Within the few weeks that Uozumi and Ikegami got to know the rest of the new Team Ryonan, it was Sendoh that the two sophomores bonded more quickly to, for the freshman was very friendly, and had a way with the women who were around him. Well, all except Yumi and Aki that is… (L.I.D.[author]: ^Sweat drop^) Uozumi and Sendoh were at Ikegami's home, since they were doing a weekend group study, (L.I.D.[author]: something to the effect of a sleepover, guy's style… ^Sweat drop^ This is takes place around late January.) and of course, Ikegami wanted the help of Sendoh to push his best friend into hopefully revealing his feelings towards his class partner, Yumi.

"There is no way I'm going to do that! Mi-chan will probably laugh in my face!"

"No, she won't!" Ikegami drawled.

"How the hell would you know, baka!"

"Relax, Uozumi, from what I know about Yumi-sempai, from you and knowing her, she's not the mean girl type, trust me… Hell, I don't think she's the type to hurt anyone's feelings!" remarked Sendoh. "Don't you think so, Uozumi?"

"Hai, I do know her that well…" sighed Uozumi, slumping onto the couch.

"The best time to tell her is on Valentine's Day, trust me! Any girl would love that kind of mushy stuff!" Ikegami smiled. "Take a romantic walk in the museum and then profess your feelings there for her! You did say that she likes museums right?"

"But Mi-chan isn't 'any girl', Ikegami!" growled Uozumi. "And yes, she DOES like museums, demo…"

"But what??" asked an irritated Ikegami.

"Hai, she's special, ne Uozumi? What's her favourite flowers?" asked Sendoh.

"I don't know…" replied Uozumi.

"Tulips. Yumi-chan loves tulips, especially blue ones." Drawled Ikegami.

"How do you know THAT?" Uozumi and Sendoh asked simultaneously.

"Aki-chan told me." Replied a smug Ikegami.

"Mattaku, those flowers are difficult to get in Kanagawa, Uozumi! Plus expensive!" whistled Sendoh.

"How would YOU know?" Uozumi and Ikegami asked simultaneously, surprised.

Sendoh: ^Sweat drop^ "Ano, I used to be a flower delivery boy in junior high… So I more or less know the price of some of the more hard to acquire flowers…"

Uozumi and Ikegami let out an anime puff of smoke from their mouths, and sat in a thinker's position, much to Sendoh's puzzlement, enforced by many yellow questions marks on his head.

"Or you could sing her a song… Itai!"

"Baka Ikegami!" Uozumi growled, revealing another bump on Ikegami's head.

And so not only did the three guys study during the weekend, they also made many propositions on how Uozumi should or could reveal his feelings to Yumi.

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^End of Flashback^

Uozumi looked at Yumi when she read the card, and heaved a sigh of relief. /Whoa! I'm glad she didn't frown when she got the card! But I wonder what Ikegami wrote on it? Who did Ikegami say it was from? /

-Beep! Beep!

Uozumi's mobile phone beeped, indicating that there was a SMS for him. It was from Ikegami, and it contained the contents of the bouquet card. Uozumi sweat dropped, and glared at Ikegami.

Yumi went out of the classroom with Aki, asking Uozumi and Ikegami to look after the flowers since she had to make a call. Both males nodded their heads, Uozumi welcoming the chance to have a good talk with his best friend.

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Once the two girls were at the far end of the corridor, and Aki was the look out in case any Ryonan students were to eavesdrop on Yumi's conversation.

-Ring! Ring! Ring! (Nokia Ring Tone of Akagi's Theme)

"Moshi moshi, Akagi desu." Answered Akagi.

"Ohayo, anata! Arigato gozaimasu!" cried Yumi.

"Are? (Huh?) Why the thanks, Mi-chan?" asked a puzzled Akagi.

"You sent me a surprise and left it on my desk didn't you, Nori-kun?" grinned Yumi.

"A surprise? Didn't we agree to have dinner together at my place tonight? That's when I'll give you your surprise!"

"Demo, if you didn't send it, nor Aki-chan…"

"My my, my darling Mi-chan has a secret admirer, huh? Who is it? I'm going to POUND him into minced meat!!!!" Akagi bellowed in a threatening voice.

"Mou! I really don't know Nori-kun! Please don't misunderstand me!!" wailed Yumi over the phone, near to tears.

"Hai, Mi-chan, nakenai yo. (Don't cry) You know I trust you…" hushed Akagi.

"^Sniff^ Arigato, Nori-kun… But the card said I have to meet him somewhere… It's probably some freshmen trying to get into my good books to score some with the Cooking Club girls… Can I go just to check?"

"Well…Why not? Then you can tell that yarou to give up since you have me! Ha ha!"

"You're so thick skinned, Nori-kun, but I like you for that! Ha ha!! Hai, I'll do as you say, and I'll ask Aki-chan to watch my back, ok?"

"Hai, I'll feel more at ease knowing Aki-chan's looking after you…Will I still see you tonight, kirei?"

"Hai! Most definitely! Ja!"

"Aa. Ja, anata."

-Click

"Ne, Yumi-chan, if Akagi-kun didn't send it to you, then…who did?"

Both girls had HUGE yellow questions marks on their heads.

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Uozumi made his way to where Ikegami was seated, and they began to talk in hushed tones.

"I see Yumi-chan's pleased with the flowers…" grinned Ikegami.

"So what? I won't know how to face her! I'm not going…"

"But you have to! She'll be waiting for you!!"

"Good morning!" waved a smiling spike haired lad.

"Sendoh!" both sophomores exclaimed at the freshman.

Sendoh grabbed a chair, and sat between his two seniors who faced each other. He saw the bouquet, and smiled, "I see it arrived in time…"

"Sendoh?" asked a confused Uozumi.

Ikegami and Sendoh smiled at each other, before the latter spoke up. "I ordered it as soon as possible after our brainstorming session, and scheduled it to be delivered here today, on time… I do have connections in the flower business, you know…"

"And I already have the entrance tickets for the museum…" smiled Ikegami, handing a pair of elegant looking tickets onto Uozumi's large palm.

"You guys… Why are you doing this?" asked a very touched Uozumi.

"You're my best friend, and I know Yumi-chan will accept you!"

"Hey, anything for the captain!" joked Sendoh.

Uozumi nearly cried.

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(=^_^=) Meow!

SyiveSe-chan: Yay! You've reviewed this fic of mine! *hugz you silly* And thanks for the translation! ^_^ Your first review I will treasure! ^_^ FINALLY you don't have anything against Uozumi! ^_^ (or Akagi…) Thank you so much! ^_^ *anime sobs happily*

Fehrocious-chan: LOL You sure have a way with words! ^_^ *hugz* I just love the dialogue! ^_^