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 17 – Third year, Ryonan High - Camping! (=^_^=)
It's the third year of Yumi's education in Ryonan High. After the incident with Akagi and Uozumi, she was the talk of the school. She now sported a short hair do, and was still plump.
On the first day of school, she had wanted to partner up with someone else, for he thought it was unfair for her to be with Uozumi as partners, but Uozumi wouldn't take no for an answer, and in the end they were still class partners. Yumi dated Uozumi, and found that she also had many common interests and issues that were similar to him. But Akagi was the same, and it caused her much anguish on who to choose. Months went by, and Uozumi burned to beat Akagi at the upcoming practice game. Unknown to her, a plan was being devised.
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"Are?" exclaimed Yumi.
"You heard me, Coach Taoka would like you to join us for our training camp. He thinks we need an extra person to help us see where we go wrong and support us." Smiled Sendoh.
Yumi: ^Sweat drop^ "Ano, all right, if the coach said so…"
(Flashback)
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"Uozumi! What's the matter with you!!! Didn't you have breakfast this morning?!" shouted an irritated Coach.
"Sumimasen!!" shouted Uozumi.
"Mattaku! I just don't know what's wrong with that boy! He seems to be so out of sorts, and doesn't pay attention!" grumbled coach Taoka.
"I know what's wrong with him, sensei." Drawled Sendoh.
"You do?"
"Hai. Ichi no Onna. (a girl.)"
A vein nearly burst out from coach Taoka's forehead. "Onna?!?!?! He's like that because of a girl?!"
"Hai."
"Naze? (Why)"
Sendoh related the story to coach Taoka, about Yumi and about her ties with Shohoku High, and how Uozumi was so determined to win her heart, that he partially wasn't focused enough on basketball.
"Mattaku! Uozumi will be the death of me! Sendoh, what do you suggest we do?"
"Sensei, we have the training camp coming up soon right?" asked Ikegami.
Coach Taoka nodded.
"Why not we ask Yumi-chan to join us, on a pretext? We can get Yumi-chan to prep up Uozumi into ship shape!"
Coach Taoka thought for a few minutes, before nodding his approval at Ikegami's suggestion. "So be it, Ikegami, Sendoh, it's up to you now."
"Hai, sensei!" shouted the two players.
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(End of flashback)
Team Ryonan's training camp was going to be at Ryonan High. They were to have a week of extreme training and physique honing. For Yumi and Uozumi, however, according to Ikegami and Sendoh, it was a honing of their supposed attraction for each other.
From day one, the team drank, ate, lived and breathed basketball. The boys were exhausted, mostly sweaty and hungry. But they put up with it, in order to be in the best shape for their match against Shohoku High. Uozumi was dreading the camp, for he knew that he was going to be dead tired, and hoped he would survive. But when Yumi appeared and cheered for him, whacked him on the head if he didn't do what she knew was his best, and even fed him during meals sometimes, much to his team mates teasing, he felt it was all worth it. Throughout the camp, Ikegami and Sendoh created situations whereby Uozumi knew he was being watched by Yumi, and was pressured to do his best, and for Yumi, she sometimes ran a bit with Uozumi, stopping when she got exhausted as well. That was her way of cheering Uozumi on, and it lit a determined fire in Uozumi to strive even harder. Coach Taoka noticed this, and commended Ikegami and Sendoh.
"Good job boys, make sure he does so until the match ends, understood?"
"Hai!"
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As for Yumi's point of view, she was doing what she ought to have done, for she too noticed Uozumi's fire dying down, and accepted the invitation to join in the camp. It didn't bother her that she was the only girl there, for her job was to make sure the team did well to the best of their abilities, and she DEFINITELY made sure that Uozumi did his. Yumi would whack Uozumi on the head with her fist, and would create a small, but effective lump on Uozumi's head, to which he would fire up again, to her and the team's amusement. However, she was holding back, not knowing whether she should show her feelings for Uozumi. She still felt guilty for liking two guys, namely Akagi and Uozumi.
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And for Uozumi's point of view, why his fire was supposedly dwindling was because Yumi spent more time with Akagi the previous year, and his esteem was quite low. However, during the camp, his esteem soared, as Yumi cheered for him and gave him the occasional head punch, which he knew she was rooting for him to do his best. Uozumi was happy. But not happy enough. He got the feeling that Yumi was holding back, and it bugged him to no end.
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On the 6th night of the camp, everyone was tired and sleepy from the rigorous training, and everyone promptly slept the minute their head touched their futon, which was at the courts. However, two people had developed insomnia.
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10:30 pm
/Mattaku, how am I going to sleep? Should I tell Jun-Jun? Should I not tell Jun-Jun? Argh, I'm so frustrated! Who will I choose? I'm so confused! I know! I'll go for a swim! / Thought Yumi, getting up, and silently going to the girls locker room. /There shouldn't be anyone there, and the guys are so exhausted, they'll sleep like a log! / Thought Yumi happily, giggling at the images of snoring men, in chibi form.
Yumi changed into her dark blue one-piece swimsuit and wore a t-shirt and a pair of shorts over it, and then headed towards the indoor swimming pool, with her goggles. The swimming pool was left open, for Team Ryonan reserved it especially for the camp, so the team could easily access it for the weekend.
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/Ahhh… that feels so good! / Thought Yumi as she dived into the cold water, and swam across the blue waters. Yumi loved swimming, for it enabled her to feel as light as a feather, in the medium, and it made her feel free. Open. Totally happy. She swam for what seemed to be a long time, and felt so rejuvenated. Suddenly…
/Oh crap, I have to go and PEE! / Thought Yumi out of the blue.
(L.I.D.[author]: MAJOR SWEAT DROP AND L.I.D. FAINTS)
And so, off she went, towards the exit, heading to the ladies toilet. Unknown to her, a figure stood by the shadows, watching her every move…
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(=^_^=) Meow!
Icko14-chan: LOL Yep, hey, it could happen in real life, no? ^_~ *Looks between Sendoh and Mitsui, and sweat drops* LOL Do continue the dialogue, very cute! ^_^
JCM-chan: Thanks so much. ^_^ Really do appreciate your support! ^_^
Fehrocious-chan: Glad your ankle is better now. And yeah, I was hoping someone could draw it for me, ala photo mode, provided they're good at drawing, coz I want to see Yumi getting kissed by the two! LOL! ^_^ Poor you, having a sleepy Kaede with you! LOL
Charon-chan: No problem, try not to keep late nights ne? ^_~ Glad you like this fic! *Whew!*