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:: Rambles ::

Neffie! Somehow I am really starting to believe that we ARE soulmates indeed. You just know how to read my mind! Yes, your guess on my story title is absolutely correct. *grins*

Anyhow, thanks again for reading this. Your reviews meant a lot. And of course, a big bear hug to the AI family. I love you guys too.

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:: Snow-Covered Dreams – Hanagata's Side Story ::

[ 3. To Know You Again ]

Autumn was nearing the end. And soon, everything would be covered by those white pearly drops of snow that were bound to fall from the blue sky once winter makes its appearance. The crisp, cool air had long replaced the usual hot and humid ones. Gusts of wind were sweeping through the dusty roads, carrying the fallen leaves to almost everywhere. And passer-bys had to pull their jackets tighter to keep themselves warm. But to those high-school basketball players, the changing seasons marked the beginning of a new challenge, and a step closer to their long awaited dreams.

The official everyday basketball practice had ended more than an hour ago and yet, the senior players could still be found wandering in the locker room of Shoyo High. Hasegawa was sitting by the window, slowly wiping his face with his sweatshirt, before slipping it off over his head. It was not that he minded wearing something that drenched, that if he was to wring his shirt then and there, he could probably fill up half the empty bucket that was lying about in the room, but merely because he knew if he lingered a moment longer in school, it would take him the next morning to bring his feet back home.

Yes, he was like always, tired and exhausted.

"If I keep getting drained out this way, I don't think I can last any longer." Takano was the first to speak, after an hour of long silence that was broken only by their heavy inhalation of air.

Hasegawa then turned to his friend and muttered wryly, "U-huh. Why don't you quit the team then?"

It was not that he was annoyed in any way by his friend's comment; it was just his usual response to Takano's usual rants after each practice. And if one was to be present everyday in their locker room, one could practically hear them repeating the same conversation over and over again. And it wasn't because they had limited access to their vocabulary; it was just their way of releasing their stress after a tired day – by pulling each other's legs.

"I was just thinking about that! You're welcome to join me too." Takano chuckled.

"Are they still practicing?" Another voice broke out and asked. "Where do they get their stamina from anyway?"

Hasegawa stared at his other friend for one long moment before he growled his reply. "Of all the things in the world, you have to ask that?"

"I guess I tend to forget that they are not normal, fragile humans like us, huh?" Nagano grinned before he proceeded to change into his school uniform.

~~~~~~ ****** ~~~~~~

The they in that earlier conversation of theirs were of course referring to their team captain, Fujima Kenji and vice-captain, Hanagata Toru, whom, like mentioned, were still running about in the school gym when the rest of them could hardly even move a step.

They were at the end of a one-on-one match, with the two of them already sweating like heavy downpours of rain. Yet, it was no contest – it was just one of their many daily practice routines with each other. Fujima was ahead forty-eight to forty-two in a fifty-point game. Although Hanagata could maneuver into excellent guarding and rebounding positions, he was still having trouble keeping the shorter player in place. Especially since Fujima was able to sink in every one of his shots anywhere within a twenty-foot radius of the basket.

"One more to go." Fujima declared, dribbling slowly in bounds, searching for an exit away from Hanagata's defense.

The brown-haired player suddenly halted his steps and leaped high into the air. His left hand arched gracefully, pushing the ball towards the end of the court where the basket was hanging overhead. But just as the red ball released itself from the shooter's grasp, Hanagata sprung up, purposely swatting it back to Fujima's direction. And it was back to the center's call.

"Not if it doesn't get through." Hanagata corrected his friend as Fujima tossed the ball back to him.

The captain smiled. He had always admired Hanagata's gusty determination, especially on defense. And the block that took place moments ago reminded him again what it was like six years ago when he first met Hanagata in Junior High. Hanagata had way surpassed the normal height of a Junior High basketball player even then. And so he stood out from the rest even before they were official introduced to one another. But it was his strong and quick reflexes that caught Fujima's attention when they first played against each other on court. And Fujima had never doubted since then that he was the best center one could ever find.

The best that Shoyo High could ever have.

~~~~~~ ****** ~~~~~~

It was not before another hour when they finally ended their little practice for the day. Well, they would have remained much longer, perhaps until the sun started hiding itself beneath the dark blanket that would cover the sky, if Hanagata had not call it quits. Apparently, he still had some errands to run – something he always had lately. And by that moment, the locker room was already vacant. And it should be. For who would still be hanging around when even the school was empty?

And so the two of them parted ways at the school gate; Fujima took the left turning and he went straight.

Hanagata's eyes wandered around as he walked along the muddy path. The storm the night before had left an occasional puddle for him to dodge now and then. So he took his steps with extra care. He didn't think that it was feasible to add his pants to his sudden growth of extremely dirty laundry at home. Being the considerate son that he was, he had always made sure that things remained perfectly easy for his mother to handle. Or perhaps he didn't want his eardrums to have permanent holes in them; a consequence he would have to face if his mother continued her constant naggings.

He stopped his steps the moment he reached the open court beside the playground. He always had. For there was always some group of people gathered there, playing street basketball. Sometimes he would join along – most of the time, he would just observed them for a moment before he continued his journey to wherever his destination would lead him to.

And that evening, he saw a girl standing on the concreted court instead. There was nothing familiar about her – she had her long raven-colored hair tied loosely behind her, almost touching her waist. Beads of perspiration were slowly dripping down her face like as though she had been on the court for quite some time. But she didn't appear to be that out of breath, the way one would if she had been running about that long. Yes, Hanagata had great eyesight despite the fact that he wore glasses. And it struck him. She probably had just been standing at the same spot since she started – practicing her shots from that distance – until now.

He saw her leaping into the air – and it was surprising for a girl at that height – 1.6 meters by most – to reach that high. She had on the right moves and the ball sunk into the basket smoothly and bounced off the ground.

Great shot!

He silently complimented her and started heading back to where he was supposed to be going. And just as he was about to walk off, his eyes caught another figure that was sitting on the wooden bench by the court. He would have went on wondering why the wooden bench was there – for he could have sworn that he had never seen it there during all those times he had passed by – if the figure was not the same girl that had been haunting his thoughts since summer.

~~~~~~ ****** ~~~~~~

"Yatta!" the girl squealed. "I finally got it in!"

"Mi-chan, can't you see I'm trying to concentrate here? Your squealing is not doing me any good!" The girl by the bench groaned.

The other girl then picked up the straying ball and walked up to her friend. "Nee, Natsuko-chan, what is it you're working on?"

"Chemistry. Care to help?" Natsuko answered, not bothered to look up.

The girl paused for a meaningful contemplation and then grinned. "Well, my knowledge on chemistry goes just as deep as yours on basketball. Do you still want my help on it?"

Natsuko closed the book she was holding and stared at her friend. She couldn't understand what it was about basketball that got everyone around her so intrigued with it. Her best friend was one. The girl who was standing in front of her right now – one of her father's patients, and now her close friend – was another. And then, there was him. Him? Yes, him as in the reason why she chose to attend Shoyo High instead of going to Shohoku High where her best friend was in. Him who?

"Hanagata-san!"

Natsuko's book slipped from her grasp the moment she heard her friend shrieked. And of course, it was not the piercing voice of her friend that had startled her; it was the name she heard her friend calling.

What?

And so she turned around to find Hanagata leaning against the fence that surrounded the court, staring back at her, at them. She heaved in a sigh of relief. For a moment there, when she heard her friend calling out his name, she thought her friend had miraculously read her mind. And yet even though knowing that she didn't, the uneasiness inside of Natsuko had not dissolved completely.

Why is he here?

Hanagata remained frozen to the ground for a second, flabbergasted, having being spotted watching them. Well, anyone would have seen him standing there. There were no trees or bushes. And in fact, it would take a miracle to actually miss someone who was 1.97 meters tall. And so, his feet slowly brought him into the court and closer to the two girls.

"Konbawa!" He greeted, smiling to the two of them.

The raven-haired girl returned his smile. Natsuko, who was still caught up in a trance, unable to respond in any way, just stared dumbly back at him.

Hanagata shifted his attention back to the other girl who was standing in front of Natsuko. And in a split second, he ransacked his mind for the slightest memory of her – her face, her hair, anything that resembled her – and he came up with nothing.

"I don't remember meeting you before." He finally gave up and spoke.

"That is because we have never met." The girl replied, grinning.

"But how…"

"… did I know your name?" The girl helped complete his question. "I just do."

Hanagata stared at her for another moment, before offering his hand. He was getting a little too confused to think of what else to say. "Well, why don't we start introducing each other again? Hanagata Toru."

The girl eagerly took his offer. "And you can call me Mi-chan."

"Mi-chan?" Hanagata asked. He was beginning to wonder if his sense of hearing was indeed impaired. Else, he must have just gotten himself into a maze and that he was starting to lose his way.

The girl saw his bewildered expression and added. "Yes, you can call me that for the time being. I don't want to spoil the surprise."

"What surprise?" Hanagata repeated again. Now he knew he was totally lost.

The girl merely smiled. "You'll find out soon enough."

Natsuko was listening attentively to the conversation that was taking place between Hanagata and her friend at that moment. She was following them perfectly well until the word surprise suddenly popped out, and she too realized then, that she was completely lost.

"Mi-chan!" She called out when she finally found her voice.

Both Hanagata and the girl glanced over to where Natsuko was. The girl then promptly grabbed Natsuko's arm and pulled her up from the wooden bench. "Before I forget, meet my friend, Natsuko. But then the two of you are from Shoyo High. You must have seen each other before."

"Ah. Yeah." Natsuko muttered incoherently.

"We have." Hanagata spoke again, somehow feeling a little out of place.

He could tell that the girl was feeling as awkward as he was at his own presence. And he was sure that she was still feeling angry, or least, annoyed over the earlier milky incident between the two of them. And somehow, he had actually wondered if he should be thankful for that – since it did help leave a deep impression of him on her. Well, maybe not a good one, but at least he was remembered. And that was all that mattered.

He would have remained longer. He wouldn't mind just standing there, looking like a moron, just observing her. But he was running late. And his conscience was telling him that he shouldn't be.

"Well, nice meeting you all. But I need to be on my way now. Ja!" And with that, he smiled one last time before he proceeded to the gate.

"Ja!" The other girl waved back enthusiastically.

And as soon as Hanagata stepped off the court and disappeared into the now crowded street beside it, Natsuko promptly rushed to her friend. Curiosity was killing her softly, slowly inside. She needed to know what was going on – and soon too – before her mind exploded.

"What was it you were talking about? What surprise? How did you know him?" Hundred and one questions blurted out from her mouth.

"Ah. Nothing important. Really." Her friend mused, grinning while she tossed the ball she was holding and started dribbling about.

"Tatsumi Miho! I demand to know what is going on and I demand to know it now!"

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(to be continued)