Disclaimer: I don't own Slam Dunk and its characters…. However I do own all the verses in italics… (btw that comes later ^^)

Author's note: Arigato everyone who reviewed! I'm so honoured *wipes tears from eyes* ^.^ And mainime, I really, really, really love your fics ^.^ Keep updating! Anyway…. Here's the next chapter!

Admirer

By: sLL

(The next day, after school)

            Mai stood at the entrance of the shopping centre. She wiped her sweaty palms on her faded old shorts. She felt very underdressed. Whoa… does every girl have to wear spaghetti straps or tube tops? Two nine-year old girls walked past her. Spaghetti straps again. They even had makeup on. She swallowed nervously.

//Chicken! I told you you're a nerd! Even those nine-year olds dress better than you...// the little voice in her head appeared out of nowhere.

            Shaddup… I'm going shopping now ok? Mai shut the little voice out completely. Taking a deep breath, she walked into the first shop she saw.

            "A-ano… do you have any clothes that would suit me?" she asked the salesgirl there. To her surprise, the salesgirl just stared at her as if she was crazy. What a rude salesgirl… She waited. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.

            "Oro?"
           

            The 'salesgirl' pointed at the shelf next to them. Mai looked at her in bewilderment for a moment and looked in the direction of the shelf. Uh-oh. Every kind of pastry in the food kingdom had to be there sitting on the shelf comfortably and invitingly. Mai's cheeks flushed in embarrassment. Arhh! How could I make that mistake!? "Uh… Gomena-"

            Grrooowwwwwwlllll…RrruuuuMMBLLEEE!!!!!!

            Mai stared at her tummy in horror. Of all times... From the corner of her eye, she saw the salesgirl trying her best not to howl with laughter.

            Mai ran out of the shop and the shopping complex as fast as her legs could carry her, her face turning bright red with embarrassment. She sat beside the water fountain outside the complex, her head in her hands dejectedly. She took off her thick-framed glasses and rubbed her eyes.

            //Told ya you were a nerd… What normal person would ask for clothes in a BAKERY!?// the little voice whispered and started laughing hysterically AND loudly.

            "Shaddup NOW or you're DEAD!" Mai suddenly stood up and shouted. Around her, people turned and stared. "What are ya'll looking at?" she snapped, almost dropping her spectacles.

            //Ah, that's more like it, girl! Being a little gangsterish would attract your Micchy more than being the nerd you are// the voice commented dryly.

            "T-t…" Mai sputtered in fury at the little voice's daringness.

            Suddenly, someone yanked her scrunchie out of her hair. Her hair cascaded down from its previously tight bun, falling in chestnut brown waves around her face. Her eyes bulged in surprise.

            "Maa, maa!" the scrunchie stealer laughed, holding his hands in front of him as she turned around with a look of utmost fury on her face. Upon seeing who it was, her mouth hung open slightly.

            Am I dreaming? Kami sama… did you finally answer my prayers? Tell me… is that really Mitsui Hisashi, the MVP, the guy of my dreams standing right  in front of me!? He dangled her scrunchie in front of her, a teasing look in his eyes as if he was daring her to come get it. Kawaii! She screamed mentally. She resisted the urge to let her chibi self control her and turn her eyes into little hearts. Act cool, she reminded herself.

            //As if you know how to do that//

            SHADDUP!

            Mai made a grab for the scrunchie. Swoosh. Her hand grabbed a fistful of air. Mitsui stood there, laughing at her. She tried again. Grab. Swoosh. Grab. Swoosh. Grab. Swoosh. Grab. Swoosh. Grab. Swoosh. Grab. Swoosh. Grab. Swoosh. Grab. Swoosh. Grab. Swoosh. Grab. Swoosh. Grab. Swoosh. Grab. Swoosh. Grab. Swoosh.

            Panting, Mai gave up. "Onegai, give me back my scrunchie?" she made her cutest expression, looking into Mitsui's eyes for the first time in her life. Oh. My. God. Mai found herself staring into twinkling orbs of the deepest shades of blue, many mixed, concealed emotions swirling in their deepest depths. It's like the deep blue sea… the waves, some small, some big, some hidden… they're his feelings…Mai caught her breath. Her heart rate doubled.

            "Try one more time," Mitsui smiled at her. He held the scrunchie up high, as high as his arm could go. As his frame towered over Mai by about a foot already, she knew she couldn't get it. But looking into his twinkling, dark blue eyes, she couldn't refuse anything he asked. She bent her knees and mustered all her strength into her jump.

            Thud! Mai landed on the ground ungracefully after her much-much-higher-than-normal jump, still failing to get her scrunchie. Her foot slipped and her body tilted precariously over to the front. She could feel herself falling. HELP! I can't embarrass myself in front of Mitsui! Kami-sama, anyone, help!

            One foot from the ground, a miracle happened. Two strong hands grasped her arms and pulled her to her feet. Those deep blue eyes looked at her again. His handsome face was etched with worry. "Daijobu ka?"

            "D-daijobu," she stammered, dazed. His hands left her arms and the look of worry on his face was replaced with a grin once more. He gently put her scrunchie back into her hand.

"Nice to meet you, gotta go now, Ja ne!"

"Ja ne…" Mai smiled at him, feeling happier than she'd ever felt in her entire life. She turned around and started to walk away.

Suddenly, a loud, shrill, high-pitched voice sounded through the crowd.

"Micchan, don't tell me you were,like, flirting with that fat nerd?" it whined.

Mai's smile left her face immediately. She turned towards to the sound of the voice. A pang of hurt pierced through her heart. An utterly gorgeous and equally air headed bimbo clung on to Mitsui's arm like it was her only way left to live.

"Ah, I wasn't flirting. She's a nerd? She's kinda cute though, never seen her before," Mitsui's voice replied, lifting Mai's spirits.

"Aah, Micchan, don't say that! You know I'm, like, a million times cuter, riiiiight? Besides, she's FAT!" the bimbo batted her long eyelashes at Mitsui.

Mai narrowed her eyes. She's so irritating, can't Mitsui see that? Fat, huh? I'll show them! Mai put her glasses back on and went home, a plan forming in her mind.

~.~.~.

sLL: *runs around the room screaming and laughing hysterically* Nyahaha! No date this chapter! ^.^

Mai: Come on, I don't even know! WhYY does SHE have to be there!?

Bimbo: And so, like, Micchan is so cute and, like..huh? Why am I here?

Mai: *kicks the Bimbo into outer outer outer space, cackling evilly* Ahh… that feels so good!

sLL: Hehe…. You won't feel so good later…. ^.^ Nyahahahaha! *walks off singing 'Ore wa tensai..'

Mai: Noooo! Don't torture me! What are you gonna do? Tell me! Come on, onegai?

sLL: *whistles nonchalantly, putting hands in pockets*

Mai: Ahh… do I really have to end the story the same way everytime?

sLL: *nods sagely*

Mai: Alright….. then here goes…

sLL: *looks at Mai expectantly*

Mai: Oro?

~.~.~.

^.^