::Time Heals All Wounds ::

[Chapter Seven]

[Victory]

Disclaimer: Slam Dunk and its characters do not belong to me!





Kogure caught the ball.

For a moment, all he felt was uncertainty.

Should he shoot? Should he pass it on?

Could he shoot?

It was a three-pointer. Not one of his best chances at getting the ball through the hoop.

As time froze, all he saw was Akagi's trust in him.

The whole team's trust in him.

Her trust in him.



She stood up in the stands, her hands gripping the rail, so much so that her knuckles were white.

"Kogure-kun…"



He carefully placed both feet beyond the curved arc that was the three- point range, and positioned himself for the shot.

It was the best chance for the team.

He, a substitute, was left unguarded, unmarked.

He was free, where others were not. He had the ball.

He released the ball at the right moment, the flick of his arm making it sail through the air in a perfect arc.



Everything had felt right. The solid jump, the bending of his knees, the flexing of his arm, the release.

The basketball flew through the air, untouched by hand or nail.

It sank straight into the net.

And the crowd burst into cheers.



Kogure jumped into the air, an unchecked reaction of joy.

His teammates came round him, slapping his back and congratulating him.

He had done it.



He had done it. Her eyes misted with tears.



Kogure, ever unselfish, had always put the team before himself.

He had welcomed the addition of Sakuragi and Rukawa despite knowing that they would take his place on the team.

He had welcomed the homecoming of Mitsui, knowing that he would be sidelined.

Now, when the team had needed him, he had come through. He had pulled off what many thought was virtually impossible.



"Kogure-kun!" Kimi enveloped Kogure, disregarding his sweaty state, and causing him to be almost bowled over by her.

"You were great!" she whispered. As the rest of the team walked away with knowing smiles on their faces, vowing silently to never let Kogure live this one down.

"But I…" Kogure tried to speak about the achievements of his teammates. But Kimi would have none of it, for sometimes, Kogure could forget that each individual member had a part to play. During that game, he had played his part well, and that was, to Kimi, all that mattered.

She interrupted him, reiterating, "You were great."

So she stood there, her arms around Kogure, whose chin rested atop her head.



'They looked good together,' Ayako thought as she spied on them from her vantage point behind the corner. She smiled to she her two seniors happy.



Kogure walked out of the building with Kimi, after he had showered and changed. They were walking hand in hand, all but oblivious to the world revolving around them. Except when the jibes of the Shohoku basketball team reached their ears.

The team was out to celebrate their victory, and almost everyone who had a personal interest in the team had come along.



Their victory smiles were wiped off their faces moments later.