A few words from me: Yay! A new installment from me! Our finals are almost over so I'm continuing my fic after a long time of waiting.

Hope you all enjoy it. Please read and review! There are more chapters to come…

BTW, don't laugh if the name Chia sounds familiar (UAAP watchers over there! Ahumm!).

I hope La Sale would win in game three! I'm gonna watch it this Saturday, 4 PM. Support DLSU! To Ateneo, one big fart! Mwahaha! :) (Be good sports, Ateneo peeps!)

Chapter 2

Now That I Found You

"Hey Akagi, Akagi!"

Akagi immediately went back to reality. He had been thinking about that mysterious girl again.

"You have been thinking again about her, right?" Kogure asked. "You seem to be very absent-minded today."

"I know," Akagi said. "I can't take my mind off her. Maybe it's bugging me because I wasn't able to ask for her name."

"I see," Kogure nodded.

"Maybe, if I get to know her name, then I will forget about her."

"I think…" Mitsui butted in. "…that if you get to know her name you will never get enough of meeting her."

"I don't think so." Akagi answered.

"But I do think so. You have not been into any relationship so you don't know. But I have been into some that's why I know. So trust me, what I'm saying is true." Mitsui said.

"I just have to know her name, that's all!" Akagi exclaimed.

"Gori is lovestruck!" Sakuragi teased. He laughed.

"Sakuragi, do you want another 50 push-ups again?" Akagi roared.

"Why does it always have to be me???" Sakuragi cried.

"I thought you liked Britney?" Mitsui asked with an annoying grin plastered on his face.

"Shut up. Do you want 100 push-ups?"

"You have no right, Akagi," Mitsui laughed as he walked away.

I'm gonna find that girl no matter how hard it can be and how long it takes.

Even if I'm told to give up basketball itself.

+++

Akagi was walking home after practice. It was already dark and the white streetlights illuminated the village.

The day was already ending but still he wasn't able to know the girl's name. He sighed, knowing it's too late.

Well, I guess I really have to forget her. I've many other things to do like study for the college exams and winning the tournament. I will never really—

Then, he heard something.

He hid at the back of a wall and peeked at the commotion. It was the same girl whom he saw last morning!

I'm so lucky!!! Akagi thought it sure was his day.

But a group of guys were surrounding her.

"Give us your money, pretty lady," one hissed.

"Please, I don't have money anymore! Leave me alone!" the girl pleaded.

"But you look like you have a lot of money! If you don't wanna give us your money then you just give us yourself, then!" Then the group of guys started to walk towards her with looks of lust on their faces.

The girl looked scared. "Help me!" she cried for help.

Akagi took a deep breath then walked to the men to defend the girl. "Back off!"

The girl looked at Akagi with a relieved look. "Please help me, please!"

The men looked at Akagi nervously. He was so much taller than they were. "Do you want to get hurt?" the gang leader asked, shaking.

"Why will I get hurt? You're already shaking!" Akagi pointed to them. He inched closer and closer to them, then he roared at them.

Terrified, the guys ran away, screaming.

"Morons," Akagi whispered. Then, he looked at the lady. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I am," she smiled. "So, it's you again. Thank you,"

"No problem. I was praying that I would find you again because I wanna know your name." The big gore laughed nervously. "I'm Takenori Akagi… may I know yours?"

"I, uh…" it took the girl a while to answer. "Ch—"

Akagi waited for her reply. "Chia?" he guessed.

"Yeah! I'm Chia Shidou," she chuckled.

"What a pretty name," Akagi murmured.

"Come again?" Chia asked.

"Uh, I mean, w-where do you live?" Akagi stammered.

Chia bit her lip. "I don't have money to rent a hotel room," she looked at Akagi. "I used it all up on going around,"

"You can stay at our house," Akagi offered. I trust you anyway.

Chia gasped. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure!" Akagi cried. "There's enough room in our house! I have a sister who can share her room with you."

"Thanks, but, is it really okay with her?"

"It'll be fine with her! Trust me!"

"Thanks," Chia smiled. "Thanks so much."

"No problem,"

Then, they walked to Akagi's house.

+++

"Good evening, Chia. Feel at home," Mrs. Akagi welcomed her.

"Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Akagi. And good evening to you, too, Haruko," Chia greeted everybody warmly.

"Come inside my room. You can put down your stuff there," Haruko said as she started to lead her inside. Haruko winked at Akagi.

Akagi went to Haruko. "Is it really okay?"

"It's okay! Chia-san is really very beautiful and nice," Haruko sighed. "I wish I can be as beautiful as her."

"Really?" Akagi looked at Chia as she put down her things on the floor and started arranging them.

"Plus, she resembles somebody though I can't remember who," Haruko said.

"Really?" Akagi asked, looking at Chia. "She does, but I can't remember who, too,"

"Kids, dinner!" Mrs. Akagi called.

"Chia-san, dinner is ready!" Haruko called.

"I'll be there in a second! Thanks!" Chia called back.

"I think you should sit together." Haruko grinned as she nudged Akagi.

"Let's go!" Chia cheerily said as she went out of the room.

"Sure," Akagi and Haruko said in unison as they led her to the dinner table.

This is my lucky day, Akagi thought as he happily went to the dinner table.

+++