CHAPTER 2
" Akagi, we need to be there by 8am. Is the team ready?" Kogure asked his captain. The Shohoku team had just finished their training. Tired and eager for sleep, some of the members groaned at Kogure's persistence.
" What is it this time, Glasses Boy?! The Genius Sakuragi needs a time to rest too, you know!" The red headed boy complained as he stuffed his uniform inside his sports bag, and slumped it over his shoulders.
" Shut up. You fool." Rukawa said icily. Sakuragi's face started reddened with anger.
" You want to fight me, huh? You should've told me that earlier! I could've proven to everyone that you're a really stupid idiot in basketball!" Sakuragi said, as he struggled to get out from Mitsui and Ryota's grip.
Unable to control his irritation, Akagi hit Sakuragi in the head.
" GORI! Ouch! Why did you have to do that?! It's not my fault! Rukawa started it!" Sakuragi complained.
" Yes, we're ready." Akagi said, ignoring the irritating complaints from Sakuragi.
" Where are we exactly going, Glasses Boy? You haven't said a word about it. Why the hurry I mean?" Sakuragi asked, following the rest of the team, as they went out the locker.
" One of the sport columnists for The Flame came up to me last week. They wanted to schedule us for an interview." Kogure replied.
" Really?! They probably want to find out how the Genius manages to help the team in winning the game! Ha! Well, I know exactly what to tell them. It's really not that easy, being a genius in basketball is something innate and."
WHAM! Ayako couldn't take it anymore that she slapped her paper fan on Sakuragi's head.
" Can you stop you useless blabbering, Sakuragi?" Ayako reprimanded, giving Sakuragi an irritated and feisty look. Sakuragi ended up hiding behind Mitsui's back. "Kogure, why do they want to know about us?" Ayako asked, allowing Kogure to continue talking.
" Well, from what I remember, I think they want to find out how prepared are we for the semi-championship game versus Shoyo."
Emotions of fear, anticipation, and excitement silenced the team, as they walked with pride and dignity through the campus halls. Students whispered in amazement as they passed by, knowing that from where they came from, the team had showed a great deal of improvement. Akagi smiled contentedly to himself, knowing that this time, they're well prepared for this battle.
-*-
Ayisha ran across the vast football field, towards the cream colored building, up towards the third floor. Her heart was pumping faster than she could handle. It wasn't that she was late. It wasn't until 9 before classes would start but she knew she had a lot of things to fix, just in time for the printing of the month's edition.
She dashed toward the last room in the hallway, upon reaching the third floor. The Flame's office wasn't that big but it was the busiest place she'd ever seen. Ringing phone's went off almost every 5 minutes, the buzzing sound of printer's could be heard in almost every corner, and the monotonous sound of the keys as they were pressed on the keyboard, were the usual melodic rhythms heard within the room. She paused for awhile upon closing the door, as she went in. Taking a deep breath, and exhaling the hyped aura, she exhaled it slowly and went to her own cubicle.
She was about to start typing when she heard unfamiliar male voices from the room next to her. She stood up and peeked over the wall, her eyes darting to the door slightly ajar as it connected to the next room. She could see her bestfriend, Irene, with her long ebony black hair swaying as she laughed. Irene was talking to someone, of that Ayisha was sure but she couldn't figure out. to whom?
Provoked by her own curiosity, she slipped out of her own cubicle and crept towards the door. She tried to look for her editor-in-chief. Realizing that she wouldn't be here for more than half an hour, she peeked in the room. There seated in a semi-circle, where the boys of the Shohoku team, and Irene right in front of them.
" So, you guys are that prepared, huh?" Irene asked.
" Definitely. I've got these boys practicing morning, afternoon, and evening." Akagi replied proudly.
" You got that right! Gori here been's grilling us to do almost what any athlete can do! Run, swim, jog, box.who knows, we'll do probably YOGA later!" Sakuragi remarked. A few snickers were heard from the team.
Akagi's face turned from serious to an irritated image of a gorilla. " I'll make you do it if I had to you Idiot. Just so you can take your mind of my sister for awhile." Akagi snapped back.
Sakuragi's face reddened hearing Akagi mention his sister. Of course, everyone knew by then how much he liked Haruko.
" I don't think that will happen, Akagi." Ryota quipped.
" Talking from experience, aren't you, Ryota? As if everyone doesn't know your supposedly hidden desire for Ayako! Haaaaaaaaaaa! Note that down will you, Irene! Ryota's inlove with Ayako! " Sakuragi teased as he nudged Ryota's side with his elbow.
Irene laughed together with the whole team, as they noticed Ayako blush. She waited while the laughter quieted down, and continued with her interview.
" So, any clues as to who the five lucky guys will be for the starting line- up?" Irene asked.
" That will be a surprise. Of course, we don't want any leaks to happen right? Our first five will be the ticket in winning the game against Shoyo!" Kogure replied proudly. The whole team nodded in agreement and Irene jotted down what Kogure had to say. But Ayisha's feeling was different. She felt her stomach sicken, hearing the sound of a word that used to be familiar to her ears.
" Shoyo." Ayisha silently said to herself.
" Akagi, we need to be there by 8am. Is the team ready?" Kogure asked his captain. The Shohoku team had just finished their training. Tired and eager for sleep, some of the members groaned at Kogure's persistence.
" What is it this time, Glasses Boy?! The Genius Sakuragi needs a time to rest too, you know!" The red headed boy complained as he stuffed his uniform inside his sports bag, and slumped it over his shoulders.
" Shut up. You fool." Rukawa said icily. Sakuragi's face started reddened with anger.
" You want to fight me, huh? You should've told me that earlier! I could've proven to everyone that you're a really stupid idiot in basketball!" Sakuragi said, as he struggled to get out from Mitsui and Ryota's grip.
Unable to control his irritation, Akagi hit Sakuragi in the head.
" GORI! Ouch! Why did you have to do that?! It's not my fault! Rukawa started it!" Sakuragi complained.
" Yes, we're ready." Akagi said, ignoring the irritating complaints from Sakuragi.
" Where are we exactly going, Glasses Boy? You haven't said a word about it. Why the hurry I mean?" Sakuragi asked, following the rest of the team, as they went out the locker.
" One of the sport columnists for The Flame came up to me last week. They wanted to schedule us for an interview." Kogure replied.
" Really?! They probably want to find out how the Genius manages to help the team in winning the game! Ha! Well, I know exactly what to tell them. It's really not that easy, being a genius in basketball is something innate and."
WHAM! Ayako couldn't take it anymore that she slapped her paper fan on Sakuragi's head.
" Can you stop you useless blabbering, Sakuragi?" Ayako reprimanded, giving Sakuragi an irritated and feisty look. Sakuragi ended up hiding behind Mitsui's back. "Kogure, why do they want to know about us?" Ayako asked, allowing Kogure to continue talking.
" Well, from what I remember, I think they want to find out how prepared are we for the semi-championship game versus Shoyo."
Emotions of fear, anticipation, and excitement silenced the team, as they walked with pride and dignity through the campus halls. Students whispered in amazement as they passed by, knowing that from where they came from, the team had showed a great deal of improvement. Akagi smiled contentedly to himself, knowing that this time, they're well prepared for this battle.
-*-
Ayisha ran across the vast football field, towards the cream colored building, up towards the third floor. Her heart was pumping faster than she could handle. It wasn't that she was late. It wasn't until 9 before classes would start but she knew she had a lot of things to fix, just in time for the printing of the month's edition.
She dashed toward the last room in the hallway, upon reaching the third floor. The Flame's office wasn't that big but it was the busiest place she'd ever seen. Ringing phone's went off almost every 5 minutes, the buzzing sound of printer's could be heard in almost every corner, and the monotonous sound of the keys as they were pressed on the keyboard, were the usual melodic rhythms heard within the room. She paused for awhile upon closing the door, as she went in. Taking a deep breath, and exhaling the hyped aura, she exhaled it slowly and went to her own cubicle.
She was about to start typing when she heard unfamiliar male voices from the room next to her. She stood up and peeked over the wall, her eyes darting to the door slightly ajar as it connected to the next room. She could see her bestfriend, Irene, with her long ebony black hair swaying as she laughed. Irene was talking to someone, of that Ayisha was sure but she couldn't figure out. to whom?
Provoked by her own curiosity, she slipped out of her own cubicle and crept towards the door. She tried to look for her editor-in-chief. Realizing that she wouldn't be here for more than half an hour, she peeked in the room. There seated in a semi-circle, where the boys of the Shohoku team, and Irene right in front of them.
" So, you guys are that prepared, huh?" Irene asked.
" Definitely. I've got these boys practicing morning, afternoon, and evening." Akagi replied proudly.
" You got that right! Gori here been's grilling us to do almost what any athlete can do! Run, swim, jog, box.who knows, we'll do probably YOGA later!" Sakuragi remarked. A few snickers were heard from the team.
Akagi's face turned from serious to an irritated image of a gorilla. " I'll make you do it if I had to you Idiot. Just so you can take your mind of my sister for awhile." Akagi snapped back.
Sakuragi's face reddened hearing Akagi mention his sister. Of course, everyone knew by then how much he liked Haruko.
" I don't think that will happen, Akagi." Ryota quipped.
" Talking from experience, aren't you, Ryota? As if everyone doesn't know your supposedly hidden desire for Ayako! Haaaaaaaaaaa! Note that down will you, Irene! Ryota's inlove with Ayako! " Sakuragi teased as he nudged Ryota's side with his elbow.
Irene laughed together with the whole team, as they noticed Ayako blush. She waited while the laughter quieted down, and continued with her interview.
" So, any clues as to who the five lucky guys will be for the starting line- up?" Irene asked.
" That will be a surprise. Of course, we don't want any leaks to happen right? Our first five will be the ticket in winning the game against Shoyo!" Kogure replied proudly. The whole team nodded in agreement and Irene jotted down what Kogure had to say. But Ayisha's feeling was different. She felt her stomach sicken, hearing the sound of a word that used to be familiar to her ears.
" Shoyo." Ayisha silently said to herself.