Part 5
After minutes of waiting for luck to turn around, this minute was already what we were waiting for.
RUKAWA GOT THE BALL!!! :)
"I'm thankful for Rukawa's existence," Yohei laughed. I smiled. Way to go, Rukawa.
Then, the three girls who liked Rukawa a lot started doing their dumb cheers. "Ru-ka-wa! Ru-ka-wa! L-O-V-E Ru-ka-wa!" and shrieks with it. Urgh.
But I started to drool myself. He's so cuuute. and so good. *sigh*
I glanced at Haruko. She was drooling herself.
I still looked at Rukawa. I stared at him for a while. Then, my eyes focused on Micchy. He was looking at me.
WITH A POUT.
Why does he pout whenever I look at Rukawa? Whenever I talk about him? I furrowed my brow. Could he be jealous? We're only friends! My eyes followed where Mitsui went. Could he be in love with me? Because.
Sweat trickled from my forehead.
.I think...
.I think I'm damn in love with Mitsui, too. I'm falling for him. What should I do?
I looked at Rukawa. But I love Rukawa, too. And he has already proposed.He will be terribly disappointed if he found out I liked them both. What do I- ?
Two points for Rukawa!
He made a fabulous dunk. My jaw dropped.
Everybody cheered for him. Rukawa looked at me. "You're great!!!" I cried. He looked at me. Then he went back to his game.
Then, I saw Mitsui look at Rukawa coldly. Rukawa looked at him with blazing eyes.
Then, there was an argument on-court. The Shohoku players versus Rukawa.
Rukawa looked at them with a why-the-heck-are-you-all-mad look.
But I think it strengthened the Shohoku Team.
After a while, Miyagi was controlling the game. He controlled it as effortlessly as he could. And he was proud he could control such game. He was as swift as the wind.
And the points continued to increase and increase by the minute. Everybody was able to score. Sakuragi miraculously did a lay-up shot! MIRACLE!
Thank you Lord for making a miracle. You never fail me. I smiled. But Micchy has not made a miracle yet.
Then, we all got scared. TALL players heavily guarded Ryota. Lord, make a miracle, PLEASE!!!
Ryota looked around to see whom he could pass the ball to. He passed it to.
I grinned hugely.
Miyagi passed it to MICCHY!!!
"GO MITSUI!!!" we all cried. Omigosh. for the first time I'll see Micchy shoot in a real game. I covered my mouth.
From a far point on the court he jumped. And shooted the ball.
It went in.
"Go Mitsui!!! You're so great!!! You impress me!!!" I cried. I clapped hard. Haruko and the others clapped too. Three points for Micchy!
Mitsui looked at me and grinned. I gave a thumbs-up sign to him. "Thanks," he mouthed.
But I noticed he was getting a bit tired already. Every one of them was starting to get tired. They were panting. I looked at the scoreboard. They have already been playing for a long time now.
But still, the Shoyo players were doing their thing and they're doing it quite well. They were all tall. They were like from the Land of the Giants.
A player on the bench entered the game. It was Kenji Fujima. The ace of Shoyo and the captain as well. He also serves as Shoyo's coach and ego- booster.
The game went on again. Fujima was quick and really good. He is the point guard of Shoyo. If Ryota was very quick, then Fujima is already a god. He scored quite a lot of points and many assists too. Toru Hanagata did so well, too.
Meanwhile, at the Shohoku camp, though he had already 3 fouls, The King of Fouls Hanamichi was doing really great in rebounding. As in great, promise. He jumps higher than the others from Shoyo do; though the Shoyo guys are a lot taller.
Hanamichi did a lot of rebounds. He's so great!
Rukawa scored more points. Akagi did more dunks. Ryota assisted well and did a couple of lay-ups.
Mitsui was quite tired.
I began to get nervous. Micchy. Please hold on. I clasped my hands.
We watched the developments of the game. One tried to shoot. But it didn't enter. They tried rebounding the ball. Hanamichi was one of them. Who'll win?
Hanamichi got the ball!
Then suddenly, something happened.
Hanamichi wounded Hanagata. His glasses broke. Hanamichi looked shocked. We all were. Hanamichi is the hope of Shohoku in the game because he can rebound a lot. It was Hanamichi's fourth foul.
I called up Kogure on his mobile phone. He was still seated in the bench. He answered the phone.
"Kogure!" I cried.
"What is it?" He asked me.
"What is happening to Hanamichi?!" I demanded.
"I know. You know what? Hanamichi can't afford to be taken out of the game. And Mitsui too." Kogure said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because Mitsui and Sakuragi are Shohoku's only hope. If they get taken out, Shohoku is out! All of them have a possibility of being taken out. All of them have fouls! Mitsui has one and Sakuragi has four. To complete that, they are all exhausted already especially Mitsui. And Mitsui has a possibility of-I mean, nothing." Kogure did not continue what he was saying.
"What were you talking about, Kogure?" I asked.
"Mitsui doesn't want me to tell you. I'm sorry." Kogure said.
"What is it, Kogure?!" I demanded.
"I'm sorry, I can't tell you. Goodbye." Kogure hung up.
"Shit!" I cried. What was Kogure talking about?!? What is with Mitsui?!?
"Why are you mad?" Yohei asked me. He followed to where I was looking.
"Did you call up Kogure?" Yohei asked.
"I did. Kogure wanted to tell me something about Mitsui but he didn't continue because Mitsui didn't wanna make Kogure tell me." I frowned. "What the hell is Mitsui hiding from me?"
"I have no idea." Yohei sighed.
"Kogure told me Sakuragi and Mitsui is the team's only hope." I said. "And there's a possibility of losing them both in the game."
"Look, Hanamichi can't play well anymore. Mitsui is so tired. What's Shohoku to do?" Youhei asked.
"Take a break." I said. I took out my mobile phone and dialed Kogure's number.
"Kogure! Make them take a time-out, please!" I begged. "Mitsui needs rest."
"I was about to do the same. They need a rest. Especially Mitsui." Kogure told me.
"Okay. Thanks." I hung up.
Sure enough, after a while, Shohoku called a time-out.
At the Shoyo camp, Fujima encouraged the teammates to do better.
At the Shohoku camp, Coach Anzai gave them a talk.
"Guys, do you remember what I told you before?" Coach asked.
The team members thought for a while. "I know, coach!" Akagi cried.
"WE'RE TOUGH!!" they all declared.
Coach Anzai nodded. "Good." After a while, they were all ready.
I glanced at Micchy. He was drinking some water. Oh Micchy. hold on a little more. Please. I'm hoping you'll stay a little while longer there. I looked at Rukawa. Rukawa.just do the best you could.
I glanced at the Shoyo bench. I noticed Mister Jersey 6 (his name is Hasegawa) talking to Fujima. I don't know if I was seeing false or what but they were looking at Mitsui. Then, I remembered that Hasegawa said something mean about Micchy.
"Mitsui!!!" I tried to call Mitsui. "Hisashi Mitsui!! Shohoku number 14!!!" I shouted. I think somebody heard me so they tried to call Micchy for me. He looked at me. "What?" he asked me.
"BE CAREFUL!!! PLEASE BE CAREFUL!" I cried.
He beamed. "Thanks! I will." He made a thumbs-up to me again. I made a thumbs-up, too, although I was very unsure about Shoyo's plans for him. He ran back to the court already. Take care, Mitsui. I was thinking that since Micchy was the most tired among them, they can take him out immediately. They're very wrong.
I held Yohei's hand. Yohei looked at me. "You're nervous for Micchy?"
I bit my lip. A tear fell from my eye. "Yes," I mumbled. "Very."
"Don't worry. It's gonna be okay. Micchy already scored quite a lot. I think he's the highest pointer next to Rukawa. Twelve is already a lot, right?" he asked me. I nodded my head. I couldn't talk anymore. My eyes were already glued to him.
"Don't cry. Micchy is okay. He is doing very well." Yohei looked at me. "In fact, we can cheer for Micchy. We have these plastic bottles over here. Just like Shoyo!" he laughed. I smiled.
"Thanks, Yohei." I said. "You're such a great friend."
"Boys," Yohei called Takamiya and the others. "Let's cheer now! Micchy! Micchy! Micchy! Everybody!!" he called the other people to cheer for Micchy. Until everybody in the Shohoku bleachers were cheering for Mitsui. The cheering was so loud and clear.
Micchy looked at us. He smiled.
I joined in the cheering. Ryota and Sakuragi patted Micchy.
Then, the game started again. The guarding seemed heavy. Or was Mitsui the only one heavily guarded by Hasegawa?
They passed the ball to Micchy. He tried to shoot. But Hasegawa blocked his ball.
"What?!" I cried. "That couldn't be! Micchy can shoot long shots perfectly!"
A lot of times they tried to block Micchy. Especially that darn Hasegawa.
I saw them engaged in a serious conversation. They both looked serious. What could they be talking about?
But still they couldn't stop Micchy from scoring. Until his score was eighteen.
"Micchy is the lead scorer! Look!" Haruko cried.
But I was restless. "But Micchy is so tired already!"
Again, Micchy was going to shoot. But, that Hasegawa blocked Micchy again and this time, he knocked Micchy down!
I stood up abruptly. "ASSHOLE!!!!!" I shouted angrily. "Nobody hurts Mitsui! NOBODY!"
Everybody looked at me. Hasegawa looked at me, too.
Mitsui stood up and looked at me. Everybody was quiet. "I'm fine!" he called out to me.
I stood there, frozen. He smiled at me. His eyes were looking steadily into mine only.
For a while, it seemed as if we were the only people in the gym. I felt something really weird.
This couldn't be happening.
But I made a promise.
Oh my god.
I'm not falling in love with Mitsui.
I'm already IN LOVE with Mitsui.
I wanted to say I loved him. But I couldn't.
I glanced at Rukawa. He was facing backwards. It was obvious he didn't wanna watch the scene.
What about Rukawa?
Mitsui grinned. It was the grin I really wanted to see in his face all the time. Those honest eyes. That caring gaze. That adorable smile.
That adorable smile that made me fall.
Fall so hard I couldn't get back up anymore.
Then he went back to the game. He walked to the free throw line to make his free throws.
He shooted them all effortlessly and quickly.
But, it seemed Micchy's end in the game was already near. He couldn't walk straight anymore.
Hanamichi went to Mitsui but he shoved him away.
He looks so tired already. Oh Micchy.
The score of Shohoku was not far from Shoyo anymore.
"They have to do a really PERFECT shot to either make a tie or get a higher score." Yohei said.
"They need a three-point shot," Ami commented. "Micchy needs to score,"
Sure enough, the ball was handed to Micchy.
I prayed a silent prayer. Lord. give Micchy the point.
He tossed the ball to the net.
My hands were clasped together as I watched the ball fly into the air. Yohei, Ami, Haruko, the Sakuragi Army and the other friends of Haruko were hopeful.
The ball went in.
There was a huge roar from the Shohoku audience.
I smiled. Mitsui looked at me and smiled at me too. Shohoku was already in the lead.
The game continued. The ball was passed to different players. From Sakuragi to Miyagi to Fujima to Miyagi again. Then the ball flew from Miyagi's hands.
Mitsui tried saving the ball. He tried to catch the ball.
I grew nervous again. I started to bite my nails.
Micchy catched the ball and threw it to Rukawa. Rukawa, on the other hand, was surprised Micchy passed the ball to him. Anyway, he already dribbled the ball. And he was able to dunk it.
As for Micchy, he went out of balance. He fell to the floor.
"Omigod!" I cried.
Kogure went to Mitsui. He helped him up.
Is Micchy going?
Kogure called for a substitution. Mitsui was already leaving the game. Kogure helped Mitsui up.
As Mitsui was being walked out of the court, everybody cheered for Mitsui. Claps and cheers were given to Mitsui in appreciation of being the highest pointer. I went down to go to the Shohoku benches. I went to Mitsui.
"Micchy!" I called him.
"Niki," he replied with a smile on his face although he was tired.
Without any word, I hugged him. Mitsui hugged me too.
"You were really great. You're the best player in the world. You showed everybody you're still the greatest MVP!"
"And you're the best friend anyone would wanna have. And the most supporting fan, too." Mitsui whispered in my ear.
Then, the people clapped. We looked at everybody. They were watching us.
We suddenly felt uneasy that's why we broke the hug.
I looked at Rukawa. He had an angry look on his face. Instead I just looked at Mitsui.
"Let's go to the bench." I took his hand and I sat him down.
I got the face towel from Ayako and some water. "Kogure will not let you down." I told him.
"I know." Mitsui smiled. I sat beside him.
"Eww, I forgot! Why did I hug you?!? You're sweaty all over!" I joked.
"Who told you to hug me?!?" he countered. We both laughed.
Then, we watched the Shoyo game with his arm wrapped around me.
The game that led Shohoku into the finals. :)
+++
"Hey Megane, have you seen Micchy anywhere?" I asked.
"Um, I think you shouldn't disturb them right now." Kogure told me.
"Why?" I asked.
He grinned. "Go check 'em out. But just a peek, huh?"
I opened the door. On the floor laid the starting members: Akagi, Miyagi, Sakuragi, Rukawa and Mitsui.
I couldn't help smiling. They were like sleeping little kids after a little kid game. I looked at Mitsui's face. I sighed. I just wanted to kiss him.
But we were only friends.
I glanced at Rukawa. I know he's mad at me, but he has to understand that Mitsui and I are best friends and we need some comforting and some cheering up from each other. Although maybe for Mitsui it seemed like a friendly hug only. But for me, it was a hug saying I loved him more than a friend. I still like you, Rukawa. But I think I'm so confused right now. I don't know what to do.
Yohei, Sakuragi, Ayako and Ryota were right. I should've picked a choice since before. But, who would've thought I would really fall? I thought I only admired Mitsui because he is a great friend to me.
I thought the love that I felt for him was only as friends.
How I wish Mitsui would fall for me too.
+++
The victory of Shohoku was unexpected, especially since Shoyo is the 2nd best team in the prefecture. The Shoyo guys cried tears of disappointment. But it just showed them. They underestimated us! Especially that darn Hasegawa. He underestimated Micchy. Sakuragi did a dunk but it wasn't accepted. It was considered a foul but everybody still cheered for him. He was taken out of the game soon after Micchy but there were even more cheers for Sakuragi than for Micchy! I can therefore conclude that Sakuragi is not a punk in basketball.
But still, Shohoku's two "only hopes" ended up in the benches.
Akagi gorilla-dunked. Everybody showed great skill. Miyagi passed effortlessly. Rukawa scored a lot, too. But the thing is, he's mad at me, I think.
Maybe he's mad at me for hugging Mitsui? Hello!!!
Anyway, The Shohoku Team was already preparing for their fight against Kainan, the best team in the Kanagawa Prefecture. Actually, we were still just waiting for the results of the Kainan vs. Takezono Gakuen game.
But we know that Kainan will win the game. They're the best anyway.
+++
Micchy and I were talking on the phone. Then he told me something about a Soichiro Jin.
"He's really good in long shots and I'm really scared of him," Micchy told me.
"Why? I thought you're the greatest three-point shooter around?" I asked him.
"I'm not. This sophomore is scary. Jin is the shooting guard of Kainan."
"C'mon! You're scared of sophomores?!" I cried. "I know you can do it, Mitsui!"
"You think so?" Micchy asked.
"Yes, of course!" I told him.
"Oh wait, it's already eight o'clock. I gotta take a rest. You wouldn't wanna make us lose, right? I'm Shohoku's ace!" he cried.
"Yeah right. It thought Rukawa was the ace?" I asked.
The line went silent for a moment.
"Okay. If that's what you think." Mitsui said with a disappointed tone.
"Mitsui, why do you always get mad when I mention Rukawa?" I asked. "And you're both hot on each other's nerves. I don't understand you both. You always quarrel."
"Niki. I can't tell you yet." Mitsui said.
"Why?" I asked.
"It's a secret." He answered.
"Oh okay. Good luck tomorrow, Mister ace." I said.
"Good night, bestbud." Then we both hung up.
I went up to my room. I sat and thought of Micchy. Why is he so secretive? Why is he like that?
I got my new magazine and flipped through the pages for a while. But since I was getting sleepy, I just decided to read my horoscope. "Hmm," I whispered.
"Tomorrow, you will already know the answers to the questions you've been waiting for a long time. Your decision on something really very important will make close friends fight each other seriously. Tomorrow may be your lucky and unlucky day in love. You will feel very sad and very disappointed tomorrow. Tomorrow might be an unlucky day for the people close to your heart. One friend of yours is not physically ready for an event tomorrow. Your colors are black and blue. Your numbers are 11 and 14." The horoscope said.
"Eleven and fourteen? Why it's the jerseys of Mitsui and Rukawa," I whispered. Could my horoscopes mean something?
I shrugged away my thoughts and just went to sleep. The game tomorrow will be very exciting.
+++
After minutes of waiting for luck to turn around, this minute was already what we were waiting for.
RUKAWA GOT THE BALL!!! :)
"I'm thankful for Rukawa's existence," Yohei laughed. I smiled. Way to go, Rukawa.
Then, the three girls who liked Rukawa a lot started doing their dumb cheers. "Ru-ka-wa! Ru-ka-wa! L-O-V-E Ru-ka-wa!" and shrieks with it. Urgh.
But I started to drool myself. He's so cuuute. and so good. *sigh*
I glanced at Haruko. She was drooling herself.
I still looked at Rukawa. I stared at him for a while. Then, my eyes focused on Micchy. He was looking at me.
WITH A POUT.
Why does he pout whenever I look at Rukawa? Whenever I talk about him? I furrowed my brow. Could he be jealous? We're only friends! My eyes followed where Mitsui went. Could he be in love with me? Because.
Sweat trickled from my forehead.
.I think...
.I think I'm damn in love with Mitsui, too. I'm falling for him. What should I do?
I looked at Rukawa. But I love Rukawa, too. And he has already proposed.He will be terribly disappointed if he found out I liked them both. What do I- ?
Two points for Rukawa!
He made a fabulous dunk. My jaw dropped.
Everybody cheered for him. Rukawa looked at me. "You're great!!!" I cried. He looked at me. Then he went back to his game.
Then, I saw Mitsui look at Rukawa coldly. Rukawa looked at him with blazing eyes.
Then, there was an argument on-court. The Shohoku players versus Rukawa.
Rukawa looked at them with a why-the-heck-are-you-all-mad look.
But I think it strengthened the Shohoku Team.
After a while, Miyagi was controlling the game. He controlled it as effortlessly as he could. And he was proud he could control such game. He was as swift as the wind.
And the points continued to increase and increase by the minute. Everybody was able to score. Sakuragi miraculously did a lay-up shot! MIRACLE!
Thank you Lord for making a miracle. You never fail me. I smiled. But Micchy has not made a miracle yet.
Then, we all got scared. TALL players heavily guarded Ryota. Lord, make a miracle, PLEASE!!!
Ryota looked around to see whom he could pass the ball to. He passed it to.
I grinned hugely.
Miyagi passed it to MICCHY!!!
"GO MITSUI!!!" we all cried. Omigosh. for the first time I'll see Micchy shoot in a real game. I covered my mouth.
From a far point on the court he jumped. And shooted the ball.
It went in.
"Go Mitsui!!! You're so great!!! You impress me!!!" I cried. I clapped hard. Haruko and the others clapped too. Three points for Micchy!
Mitsui looked at me and grinned. I gave a thumbs-up sign to him. "Thanks," he mouthed.
But I noticed he was getting a bit tired already. Every one of them was starting to get tired. They were panting. I looked at the scoreboard. They have already been playing for a long time now.
But still, the Shoyo players were doing their thing and they're doing it quite well. They were all tall. They were like from the Land of the Giants.
A player on the bench entered the game. It was Kenji Fujima. The ace of Shoyo and the captain as well. He also serves as Shoyo's coach and ego- booster.
The game went on again. Fujima was quick and really good. He is the point guard of Shoyo. If Ryota was very quick, then Fujima is already a god. He scored quite a lot of points and many assists too. Toru Hanagata did so well, too.
Meanwhile, at the Shohoku camp, though he had already 3 fouls, The King of Fouls Hanamichi was doing really great in rebounding. As in great, promise. He jumps higher than the others from Shoyo do; though the Shoyo guys are a lot taller.
Hanamichi did a lot of rebounds. He's so great!
Rukawa scored more points. Akagi did more dunks. Ryota assisted well and did a couple of lay-ups.
Mitsui was quite tired.
I began to get nervous. Micchy. Please hold on. I clasped my hands.
We watched the developments of the game. One tried to shoot. But it didn't enter. They tried rebounding the ball. Hanamichi was one of them. Who'll win?
Hanamichi got the ball!
Then suddenly, something happened.
Hanamichi wounded Hanagata. His glasses broke. Hanamichi looked shocked. We all were. Hanamichi is the hope of Shohoku in the game because he can rebound a lot. It was Hanamichi's fourth foul.
I called up Kogure on his mobile phone. He was still seated in the bench. He answered the phone.
"Kogure!" I cried.
"What is it?" He asked me.
"What is happening to Hanamichi?!" I demanded.
"I know. You know what? Hanamichi can't afford to be taken out of the game. And Mitsui too." Kogure said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because Mitsui and Sakuragi are Shohoku's only hope. If they get taken out, Shohoku is out! All of them have a possibility of being taken out. All of them have fouls! Mitsui has one and Sakuragi has four. To complete that, they are all exhausted already especially Mitsui. And Mitsui has a possibility of-I mean, nothing." Kogure did not continue what he was saying.
"What were you talking about, Kogure?" I asked.
"Mitsui doesn't want me to tell you. I'm sorry." Kogure said.
"What is it, Kogure?!" I demanded.
"I'm sorry, I can't tell you. Goodbye." Kogure hung up.
"Shit!" I cried. What was Kogure talking about?!? What is with Mitsui?!?
"Why are you mad?" Yohei asked me. He followed to where I was looking.
"Did you call up Kogure?" Yohei asked.
"I did. Kogure wanted to tell me something about Mitsui but he didn't continue because Mitsui didn't wanna make Kogure tell me." I frowned. "What the hell is Mitsui hiding from me?"
"I have no idea." Yohei sighed.
"Kogure told me Sakuragi and Mitsui is the team's only hope." I said. "And there's a possibility of losing them both in the game."
"Look, Hanamichi can't play well anymore. Mitsui is so tired. What's Shohoku to do?" Youhei asked.
"Take a break." I said. I took out my mobile phone and dialed Kogure's number.
"Kogure! Make them take a time-out, please!" I begged. "Mitsui needs rest."
"I was about to do the same. They need a rest. Especially Mitsui." Kogure told me.
"Okay. Thanks." I hung up.
Sure enough, after a while, Shohoku called a time-out.
At the Shoyo camp, Fujima encouraged the teammates to do better.
At the Shohoku camp, Coach Anzai gave them a talk.
"Guys, do you remember what I told you before?" Coach asked.
The team members thought for a while. "I know, coach!" Akagi cried.
"WE'RE TOUGH!!" they all declared.
Coach Anzai nodded. "Good." After a while, they were all ready.
I glanced at Micchy. He was drinking some water. Oh Micchy. hold on a little more. Please. I'm hoping you'll stay a little while longer there. I looked at Rukawa. Rukawa.just do the best you could.
I glanced at the Shoyo bench. I noticed Mister Jersey 6 (his name is Hasegawa) talking to Fujima. I don't know if I was seeing false or what but they were looking at Mitsui. Then, I remembered that Hasegawa said something mean about Micchy.
"Mitsui!!!" I tried to call Mitsui. "Hisashi Mitsui!! Shohoku number 14!!!" I shouted. I think somebody heard me so they tried to call Micchy for me. He looked at me. "What?" he asked me.
"BE CAREFUL!!! PLEASE BE CAREFUL!" I cried.
He beamed. "Thanks! I will." He made a thumbs-up to me again. I made a thumbs-up, too, although I was very unsure about Shoyo's plans for him. He ran back to the court already. Take care, Mitsui. I was thinking that since Micchy was the most tired among them, they can take him out immediately. They're very wrong.
I held Yohei's hand. Yohei looked at me. "You're nervous for Micchy?"
I bit my lip. A tear fell from my eye. "Yes," I mumbled. "Very."
"Don't worry. It's gonna be okay. Micchy already scored quite a lot. I think he's the highest pointer next to Rukawa. Twelve is already a lot, right?" he asked me. I nodded my head. I couldn't talk anymore. My eyes were already glued to him.
"Don't cry. Micchy is okay. He is doing very well." Yohei looked at me. "In fact, we can cheer for Micchy. We have these plastic bottles over here. Just like Shoyo!" he laughed. I smiled.
"Thanks, Yohei." I said. "You're such a great friend."
"Boys," Yohei called Takamiya and the others. "Let's cheer now! Micchy! Micchy! Micchy! Everybody!!" he called the other people to cheer for Micchy. Until everybody in the Shohoku bleachers were cheering for Mitsui. The cheering was so loud and clear.
Micchy looked at us. He smiled.
I joined in the cheering. Ryota and Sakuragi patted Micchy.
Then, the game started again. The guarding seemed heavy. Or was Mitsui the only one heavily guarded by Hasegawa?
They passed the ball to Micchy. He tried to shoot. But Hasegawa blocked his ball.
"What?!" I cried. "That couldn't be! Micchy can shoot long shots perfectly!"
A lot of times they tried to block Micchy. Especially that darn Hasegawa.
I saw them engaged in a serious conversation. They both looked serious. What could they be talking about?
But still they couldn't stop Micchy from scoring. Until his score was eighteen.
"Micchy is the lead scorer! Look!" Haruko cried.
But I was restless. "But Micchy is so tired already!"
Again, Micchy was going to shoot. But, that Hasegawa blocked Micchy again and this time, he knocked Micchy down!
I stood up abruptly. "ASSHOLE!!!!!" I shouted angrily. "Nobody hurts Mitsui! NOBODY!"
Everybody looked at me. Hasegawa looked at me, too.
Mitsui stood up and looked at me. Everybody was quiet. "I'm fine!" he called out to me.
I stood there, frozen. He smiled at me. His eyes were looking steadily into mine only.
For a while, it seemed as if we were the only people in the gym. I felt something really weird.
This couldn't be happening.
But I made a promise.
Oh my god.
I'm not falling in love with Mitsui.
I'm already IN LOVE with Mitsui.
I wanted to say I loved him. But I couldn't.
I glanced at Rukawa. He was facing backwards. It was obvious he didn't wanna watch the scene.
What about Rukawa?
Mitsui grinned. It was the grin I really wanted to see in his face all the time. Those honest eyes. That caring gaze. That adorable smile.
That adorable smile that made me fall.
Fall so hard I couldn't get back up anymore.
Then he went back to the game. He walked to the free throw line to make his free throws.
He shooted them all effortlessly and quickly.
But, it seemed Micchy's end in the game was already near. He couldn't walk straight anymore.
Hanamichi went to Mitsui but he shoved him away.
He looks so tired already. Oh Micchy.
The score of Shohoku was not far from Shoyo anymore.
"They have to do a really PERFECT shot to either make a tie or get a higher score." Yohei said.
"They need a three-point shot," Ami commented. "Micchy needs to score,"
Sure enough, the ball was handed to Micchy.
I prayed a silent prayer. Lord. give Micchy the point.
He tossed the ball to the net.
My hands were clasped together as I watched the ball fly into the air. Yohei, Ami, Haruko, the Sakuragi Army and the other friends of Haruko were hopeful.
The ball went in.
There was a huge roar from the Shohoku audience.
I smiled. Mitsui looked at me and smiled at me too. Shohoku was already in the lead.
The game continued. The ball was passed to different players. From Sakuragi to Miyagi to Fujima to Miyagi again. Then the ball flew from Miyagi's hands.
Mitsui tried saving the ball. He tried to catch the ball.
I grew nervous again. I started to bite my nails.
Micchy catched the ball and threw it to Rukawa. Rukawa, on the other hand, was surprised Micchy passed the ball to him. Anyway, he already dribbled the ball. And he was able to dunk it.
As for Micchy, he went out of balance. He fell to the floor.
"Omigod!" I cried.
Kogure went to Mitsui. He helped him up.
Is Micchy going?
Kogure called for a substitution. Mitsui was already leaving the game. Kogure helped Mitsui up.
As Mitsui was being walked out of the court, everybody cheered for Mitsui. Claps and cheers were given to Mitsui in appreciation of being the highest pointer. I went down to go to the Shohoku benches. I went to Mitsui.
"Micchy!" I called him.
"Niki," he replied with a smile on his face although he was tired.
Without any word, I hugged him. Mitsui hugged me too.
"You were really great. You're the best player in the world. You showed everybody you're still the greatest MVP!"
"And you're the best friend anyone would wanna have. And the most supporting fan, too." Mitsui whispered in my ear.
Then, the people clapped. We looked at everybody. They were watching us.
We suddenly felt uneasy that's why we broke the hug.
I looked at Rukawa. He had an angry look on his face. Instead I just looked at Mitsui.
"Let's go to the bench." I took his hand and I sat him down.
I got the face towel from Ayako and some water. "Kogure will not let you down." I told him.
"I know." Mitsui smiled. I sat beside him.
"Eww, I forgot! Why did I hug you?!? You're sweaty all over!" I joked.
"Who told you to hug me?!?" he countered. We both laughed.
Then, we watched the Shoyo game with his arm wrapped around me.
The game that led Shohoku into the finals. :)
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"Hey Megane, have you seen Micchy anywhere?" I asked.
"Um, I think you shouldn't disturb them right now." Kogure told me.
"Why?" I asked.
He grinned. "Go check 'em out. But just a peek, huh?"
I opened the door. On the floor laid the starting members: Akagi, Miyagi, Sakuragi, Rukawa and Mitsui.
I couldn't help smiling. They were like sleeping little kids after a little kid game. I looked at Mitsui's face. I sighed. I just wanted to kiss him.
But we were only friends.
I glanced at Rukawa. I know he's mad at me, but he has to understand that Mitsui and I are best friends and we need some comforting and some cheering up from each other. Although maybe for Mitsui it seemed like a friendly hug only. But for me, it was a hug saying I loved him more than a friend. I still like you, Rukawa. But I think I'm so confused right now. I don't know what to do.
Yohei, Sakuragi, Ayako and Ryota were right. I should've picked a choice since before. But, who would've thought I would really fall? I thought I only admired Mitsui because he is a great friend to me.
I thought the love that I felt for him was only as friends.
How I wish Mitsui would fall for me too.
+++
The victory of Shohoku was unexpected, especially since Shoyo is the 2nd best team in the prefecture. The Shoyo guys cried tears of disappointment. But it just showed them. They underestimated us! Especially that darn Hasegawa. He underestimated Micchy. Sakuragi did a dunk but it wasn't accepted. It was considered a foul but everybody still cheered for him. He was taken out of the game soon after Micchy but there were even more cheers for Sakuragi than for Micchy! I can therefore conclude that Sakuragi is not a punk in basketball.
But still, Shohoku's two "only hopes" ended up in the benches.
Akagi gorilla-dunked. Everybody showed great skill. Miyagi passed effortlessly. Rukawa scored a lot, too. But the thing is, he's mad at me, I think.
Maybe he's mad at me for hugging Mitsui? Hello!!!
Anyway, The Shohoku Team was already preparing for their fight against Kainan, the best team in the Kanagawa Prefecture. Actually, we were still just waiting for the results of the Kainan vs. Takezono Gakuen game.
But we know that Kainan will win the game. They're the best anyway.
+++
Micchy and I were talking on the phone. Then he told me something about a Soichiro Jin.
"He's really good in long shots and I'm really scared of him," Micchy told me.
"Why? I thought you're the greatest three-point shooter around?" I asked him.
"I'm not. This sophomore is scary. Jin is the shooting guard of Kainan."
"C'mon! You're scared of sophomores?!" I cried. "I know you can do it, Mitsui!"
"You think so?" Micchy asked.
"Yes, of course!" I told him.
"Oh wait, it's already eight o'clock. I gotta take a rest. You wouldn't wanna make us lose, right? I'm Shohoku's ace!" he cried.
"Yeah right. It thought Rukawa was the ace?" I asked.
The line went silent for a moment.
"Okay. If that's what you think." Mitsui said with a disappointed tone.
"Mitsui, why do you always get mad when I mention Rukawa?" I asked. "And you're both hot on each other's nerves. I don't understand you both. You always quarrel."
"Niki. I can't tell you yet." Mitsui said.
"Why?" I asked.
"It's a secret." He answered.
"Oh okay. Good luck tomorrow, Mister ace." I said.
"Good night, bestbud." Then we both hung up.
I went up to my room. I sat and thought of Micchy. Why is he so secretive? Why is he like that?
I got my new magazine and flipped through the pages for a while. But since I was getting sleepy, I just decided to read my horoscope. "Hmm," I whispered.
"Tomorrow, you will already know the answers to the questions you've been waiting for a long time. Your decision on something really very important will make close friends fight each other seriously. Tomorrow may be your lucky and unlucky day in love. You will feel very sad and very disappointed tomorrow. Tomorrow might be an unlucky day for the people close to your heart. One friend of yours is not physically ready for an event tomorrow. Your colors are black and blue. Your numbers are 11 and 14." The horoscope said.
"Eleven and fourteen? Why it's the jerseys of Mitsui and Rukawa," I whispered. Could my horoscopes mean something?
I shrugged away my thoughts and just went to sleep. The game tomorrow will be very exciting.
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