Chapter 9 - The Pounding of Sakuragi and Rukawa
Monday morning. As Tsuki got out of her car in Shohoku's car park, she was greeted by almost every student present. All of them congratulating her and the basketball team's victory. She smiled politely at everyone, and was soon met by her other teammates as they entered the school grounds.
The day went on as usual with Rukawa sleeping and Sakuragi daydreaming in class while the teachers hurled curses at both of them. But this normality lasted only until the end of lunch.
Rukawa entered the classroom after lunch glaring at Tsuki with a coldness she's never felt coming from him before, and the glare was also filled with white hot anger. As soon as she felt that someone was glaring daggers at her, she turned to look at the perpetrator.
Tsuki sweat-dropped thinking: What's with Rukawa?!
She was totally confused by Rukawa, since she was sure that she hadn't done anything to irritate Rukawa that day, and definitely did nothing to push him off the edge to make him want to freeze her to death with his death glares (o_Ô;;).
Sakuragi and Mito who were hanging around Tsuki's desk during their lunch break were also puzzled by Rukawa's action, and sudden show of intense emotions. For once, Sakuragi didn't go pick a fight with Rukawa then. (Don't think anyone would be stupid enough to go pick a fight with Rukawa under that type of circumstances … ^_^;)
Throughout the afternoon classes, Rukawa was enveloped with his don't-come-near-me-or-die mood while he ignored Tsuki and all her attempts at trying to get him to talk. He even ignored Sakuragi when he called him kitsune now and then during the classes. Finally giving up, Tsuki decided to ignore the fox as well and concentrate on what the teacher was rambling on about in class.
* * * * *
Just as they were going to start practice that afternoon, Anzai sensei came into the gym together with class 2 – 7's form teacher, Koike sensei. Everyone stopped what they were doing to say hi to their coach and the unexpected guest.
"Konichiwa Anzai sensei." "Konichiwa Koike sensei." They all bowed to the two teachers.
"Konichiwa minna-san. Ho. Ho. Ho." Anzai sensei replied with his usual good natured laugh. But Koike sensei on the other hand just nodded at everyone (gees … he's so irritating and impolite isn't he? Hehehe …)
Seeing Koike sensei and knowing that he's the form teacher of Tsuki, Rukawa and Sakuragi, everyone (excluding the freshmen since they didn't know about the 'academic statuses' of Rukawa and Sakuragi from previous year) started to worry about their two star players.
Miyagi walked up to their coach and bowed with respect. "Sensei, we're just going to start practice. Now that you are here, please give out instructions when you feel necessary."
"Ho. Ho. Ho. I am very confident with placing you in the instructing position for the training, Miyagi. But, just before you all start practice today … " Anzai sensei turned to the players, "We need to talk to Sakuragi, Rukawa and Fujima kondachi."
Upon hearing his name, Sakuragi laughed his trademark and maniacal laugh, stomped over to Anzai sensei and started pulling his chubby chin while everyone sweat-dropped.
"Nyhahahaha … What do you need to talk to the Tensai about, oyaji?"
Hearing his laugh, Koike sensei had a really big X mark showing up on his temple.
"Do'aho!" (Guess who said that? *grins* :P)
Sakuragi balled his fists and held one up to Rukawa, "Nani, teme kitsune … "
Miyagi kicked Sakuragi's behind not too gently, "Shut up Hanamichi, stop being a disgrace for our team."
"Nani Ryochin?! … " Retorted an all hyped-up Sakuragi, but before he could say more, Ayako's trusty paper fan stopped his further outbursts. "Itai!" Yelped an all teary Sakuragi who was now looking at Ayako with his oh-so-innocent puppy eyes.
Ayako let out a mushroom breath while shaking her head. The other players did the same (-_-; ~@).
"Okay! Start today's practice now everyone!" Shouted Miyagi, while Rukawa, Sakuragi and Tsuki walking over to the two coach/teacher. Ayako and Haruko also followed the group out of curiosities and concerns.
While the student/player-coach/teacher group exited the gym to find some place to 'talk', everyone back at the gym found it hard to focus on the matter at hand, which was practice. So all they did were dribbled the ball a bit, and their shootings were absolutely appalling. But … who could blame them for being so uneasy right?
Outside the gym near the drinking fountains … … …
"Koike sensei had told me earlier that Sakuragi and Rukawa are not doing that well in class." Anzai sensei spoke softly, his voice full of concern. Looking at the two star players of Shohoku, "As a consequence of this matter, you two may have to be forfeit your rights to compete in the upcoming IH competitions."
Sakuragi shouted, "What!? That's preposterous!"
Rukawa on the other hand remained expressionless, except with an eyebrow raised.
Koike sensei finally spoke, his voice filled with sternness, "Because the basketball team managed to take first place in this year's provincial season, the school had decided to give you two another chance, much to my dismay. But anyways, you two will take a second paper in a week's time in place of the first one. If you manage to pass this second paper for each of the subjects that you failed, then you are allowed to join your teammates in the IH competitions. However, if you fail again, you will not be going anywhere. Do you two understand that?"
Ayako and Haruko were lifted out of their worrying mood after hearing this. Ayako smiled brightly and bowed politely to Koike sensei. "Thank you for giving them another chance sensei."
"Yes, doumo arigatou sensei." Followed Haruko.
The two central characters however were not so pleased with the situation, and both of them snubbed at this arrogantly.
"Ano, what's my position in this? Don't think this issue has anything to do with me ne." Tsuki blurted confusedly.
"Aah, Fujima, of course you're involved in this." Koike sensei smiled. Although he's ticked off with two of the best players in the basketball team, he's still quite proud of Tsuki, for she was his prized student. (Tsuki was ranked first in her academic achievements among the sophomores. ~_~;;)
"Since you are the top student amongst your fellow second year students, and you are a member of the basketball team, I'm assigning you to tutor these two for their exam re-take. So, starting from today, you'll start tutoring them after practices each day." Koike sensei announced firmly, yet pleasingly with his choice.
"Nani!?" This time, Tsuki, Sakuragi and Rukawa all chipped-in in the shouting.
Tsuki was annoyed with Koike sensei's decision. The least he should do was discuss this with her first. "Demo sensei, I … … … "
"No buts Fujima, and that's final." Koike sensei cut in bluntly. "Okay, now that's settled, I'll leave you back to your training schedule then, ja."
Koike sensei left immediately without turning back after saying that, leaving an infuriated Tsuki, a wordless Sakuragi, and a frowning Rukawa. Not to mentioned a surprised Ayako and Haruko.
"Okay then, let's get back to practice minna. Ho. Ho. Ho." Anzai sensei said and turning to enter the gym.
Tsuki growled lowly under her breath. She was not happy, extremely unhappy about what just happened and the forthcoming tutoring sessions. She turned and stomped into the gym with heavy steps trying to take out her frustrations on the innocent ground.
Ayako shrugged and told the two players to get back to practice. She eyed Haruko, indicating her to follow. But Haruko didn't follow Ayako right away. She looked at Rukawa worriedly, "Ano, Rukawa-kun … … … "
Rukawa glared at her coldly and walked back into the gym ignoring her. That hurt Haruko, making her remember what happened during lunch break …
*~*~*~*~* Flashback *~*~*~*~*
After Tsuki had told her to tell Rukawa about her feelings for him yesterday before the Kainan game, Haruko decided that it would be the best if she'd did that. So she confronted Rukawa and confessed her feeling to him on the rooftop of the school building during lunch break.
"Rukawa-kun," Haruko followed Rukawa onto the rooftop. "Ano, Rukawa-kun, I … can I speak with you for a moment?" She said finally after she gathered up all her courage.
Rukawa looked down at Haruko (not the down-grading way, he's too tall to look at her without lowering his head). "Nani shiterunda?" He spoke in his monotonous voice.
Haruko blushed furiously and took a deep breath, "Rukawa-kun, I … I've been in love with you ever since junior high, ever since the first time I saw you play against our school. So, can you please tell me how you feel about me?"
She blurted everything out rather quickly since she feared that if she didn't do so she'd lost her courage and run away.
Rukawa looked at her dully. "Why have you decided to tell me this? Have you not held your silence for all that time? Why now?"
Amazingly Rukawa spoke to her civilly. Haruko looked up at Rukawa and blinked a few times in surprise.
"Sou ka, you have known all these time …" She mumbled.
"Doshite?" Rukawa persisted. To be true to himself, he found that he was rather amused by this sudden confession from the normally quiet and sweet girl (yes, even Rukawa agreed that Haruko was a sweet girl …) since he never anticipated this to happen. He fought the urge to laugh painstakingly, trying to maintain his expressionless face.
Haruko took another deep breath to call back her courage. "Ano, why shouldn't I tell you since I like you? It's nothing wrong in confessing my feelings to the person I like, especially since Tsuki-chan … "
"Tsuki-chan?" Rukawa interrupted Haruko before she could finish what she was saying. His face and voice now turning colder by the second, "You said that Tsuki-chan … Fujima told you to confess to me?"
Haruko who was now looking at her feet didn't notice the change in Rukawa. "Erm, hai … Tsuki-chan said that it's for my own good to confess to you since I won't get anywhere with just looking at you from afar."
Rukawa snorted and turned to walk away.
Haruko ran up aside him, "Rukawa-kun … Ru …"
Rukawa paused in his track. "Whatever you've just said meant nothing to me." He said flatly and coldly, then left the rooftop.
Haruko watched Rukawa's disappearing back as he entered the stairwell with tear filled eyes, and her heart aching badly. She felt as if she's been stabbed in the heart. "Rukawa-kun … … … "
After the little incident with Haruko on the rooftop, Rukawa came down with a case of severe bad mood. He kept thinking and screaming silently: What the does she think she is doing asking another girl to confess her love to me!? Fujima, you idiot!!!!!!! You dense idiot!
Therefore, he gave Tsuki the cold shoulder treatment and the silent treatment (as if he talked all the time :P) for the rest of the day.
*~*~*~*~* End of Flashback *~*~*~*~*
When they returned to the gym after the 'Koike bombshell', the others were just about to begin a game of seniors versus juniors.
Seeing them back, Miyagi hollered, "Oi, get yourselves ready for a game. All three of you are in a team with me and Kakuta."
The freshmen wailed in agony upon hearing Miyagi's arrangements.
"That's unfair Miyagi sempai." One of the freshmen cried.
"Yeah! How are we suppose to even get any shots in playing against 80% of the starting players!?" Another freshman exclaimed in disbelief.
The other freshmen began to call out words such as unfair, unreasonable set up, unjust. Miyagi sweat-dropped at the situation. But this was quickly settled when Tsuki spoke.
"Miyagi sempai, I'll play with the juniors against your team." She said in a very flat, cold tone.
Miyagi raised an eyebrow at her request. "Are you sure, Fujima?"
Tsuki nodded firmly, and then walked over to join the first years.
"What's with neko-chan?" Sakuragi asked Miyagi as he came up to the captain. (Yes, Sakuragi-kun did notice the changes in Tsuki … )
Miyagi shrugged, 'Beats me."
"Okay people, let's start the game now." Miyagi called out to everyone.
When the ball was tossed, Sakuragi and Goto jumped for their team to gain possession. Although Sakuragi managed to slap the ball out of Goto's reach due to his superior reflexes, the ball ended up in Tsuki's hands. She estimated the direction the ball will head for when Sakuragi swung his hand to slap it and dashed there just in time to catch the falling ball.
Tsuki with the ball now in her hands started to dribble. She was very silent and rather withdrawn with her moves compared to her normal self. This was an indication of her being enraged at the moment, but since no one had seen her like this before, they had no idea what's installed for them.
Tsuki thought furiously: First it was Rukawa death-glaring me for god knows why, which was a hell lot of fun. Now, this! No thanks to those two idiots that I have to sacrifice my car exercising time tutor them! Great! Okay, since they raised all the problems, I'm gonna take it all out on them then … by squashing their big stupid egos!
Ending on that thought, she grinned nastily and charged toward the other team's goal. Rukawa was fast on his feet and came up to block her advances, but he failed terribly. Tsuki evaded him so fast that he wasn't able to see her movements clearly. The next to stop her was Sakuragi, and knowing Sakuragi, she jumped as Sakuragi jumped and dunked deliberately in front of the red head. Everyone was lost for words due to the shock Tsuki just entrusted to them.
"Neko-chan, kimi wa … kimi …" Sakuragi now feeling humiliated was seen stuttering in front of someone else other than Haruko.
"Yes Sakuragi-kun, I can jump that high, and I can dunk." She said to Sakuragi cynically. Turning to Rukawa, she said cruelly, "Don't think so highly of yourself Rukawa, you may be the so call ace of the team, but you definitely do not deserve the title since you are such a selfish and self-centered player."
(akane runs to find somewhere safe to hide from Rukawa and Sakuragi fans ^_^;;;)
Tsuki walked away from the pair with Sakuragi still gawking in embarrassment and Rukawa balling his fists so tightly in fury that his knuckles showed white.
"Fujima! I will defeat you one day." Rukawa hissed at Tsuki clenching teeth and fists.
"Bring it on Rukawa. I await your challenge any time." Tsuki said with a meaningful yet nasty grin and turned to leave the court.
"Sensei," Tsuki bowed to their coach, "I don't think I should stay on court further today."
Anzai sensei nodded. "Thank you Fujima-san, you can rest now for you have done your job well."
"Thank you sensei." Tsuki walked over to where Ayako was and sat down next to her.
"What was all that about? Do you know that you just infuriated Rukawa and slapped Sakuragi across his face with what you said?" Ayako yelped at Tsuki with disapproval.
Tsuki shrugged. "Infuriated or not, they should wake up from that wake up call I gave them just now."
Ayako's eye widened, "What was that? Wake up call?"
Tsuki leaned her back against the wall and closed her eyes to shut out everything and everyone: That felt good, at least I feel good after doing that. Those two ahos are hurt by what I said and did, but it's for their own good, and I feel way better now that I've taken out my frustration on them through that as well.
A contented smile crawled up Tsuki's face turning the corners of the red lips up.
For the rest of the game that day, Rukawa and Sakuragi both played like they've never played before, with renewed flames for victory and to improve themselves further. Therefore, they pushed themselves further than before, not holding back any doubts.
Tsuki opened her eyes now and then to check up on how both sides were doing, and the satisfied smile remained on her lips for the rest of the day. The freshmen were having a really gnawing time playing against the seniors, but it'd be an unforgettable experience for them. Also, she's pushed those two off the edge and they looked like they'd storm over and kill her any time, but she couldn't care less, since it'd help them improve their plays.
At the end of practice that day, everyone was totally drained of energy. Tsuki walked up to the sluggish players and smiled sweetly at them.
"Good game everyone." She commented, and earned dagger glares from everyone. She laughed the offense off.
Turning to Rukawa and Sakuragi, "Anyways, since you two are dead tired now, we'd start our little tutoring meet from tomorrow instead of today. And, I think the best way to do this is if you guys stay over at my place for the week so I can watch over your studies thoroughly. So, go home tonight and ask for your parents' approval on this and pack some clothes to bring over." She paused a little, "You two okay with this then?"
Rukawa scowled at her and Sakuragi rolled his eyes and ignored her.
Tsuki considered the scowling and ignoring as a yes to her proposition, she clicked her fingers. "Yosh! That's settled then, I'll see you guys tomorrow in class then. Ja minna-san."
She strolled out of the gym casually and went to get change to go home.
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akane's tea house …
Ano … I think I shouldn't be here at this moment, I should be running away from all you readers out there, trying to avoid all of you from attacking me because of this chapter :P hehehe … I know I've crushed Rukawa-kun and Sakuragi-kun in this chapter, but don't you think that those two do deserve the lesson? Hehe …*runs to hide again …*
Anyways … that's the 9th chapter, and if time permits, I'll have the next chapter up soon :) .
Okies …Ja minna-san! Reviews please??? *I'm begging here* ~_~ Flames are welcomed as always~ Cheers~ =^.^=