Role Reversal
Chapter 4
Rukawa
'Basket. ball?'
'Yeah, you know, the game with the orange ball which people dribble around and dunk. oh, speaking of dunking, I'd bet you could dunk; you're so tall!'
I blushed furiously at her comments, just as the first bell rang.
Making use of the opportunity to escape from the uncomfortable situation I was in, I muttered something about being late for class and walked off quickly, knowing that I could not conceal my burning cheeks from her any longer.
'Meet me at the basketball courts after school today! I'll be waiting for you!'
I pretended I didn't hear her and walked even faster, her words ringing in my ears. Basketball courts today. after school. Fear not, Haruko-san, I will definitely be there. to see you.
*****
I yawned through the entire day's classes. Now that the teachers were convinced that we were fairly well orientated with our new surroundings, they decided to begin their mercilessly dry and uninteresting lessons.
Physics, Mother Tongue, break, then History, Maths and Geography. Urgh. If not for the fact that I could do nothing else well, I would have quit school long ago. But as I was the ultimate loser: weak, skinny and pale, played Go (it was viewed by my peers as The Game For The Aged), I thought I'd rather go with the flow and complete the image by being a nerd. Of course, being the loser that I am, I continued to get mediocre grades despite mugging all day long.
My daydream about Haruko was rudely, but also pleasantly interrupted by the last bell that signalled the end of school. Everyone started packing their bags and I followed suit, ignoring the frustrated Geography teacher (guess what? I don't even remember his name).
While everyone rushed home, or went to meet up with their friends, I made a mad dash for the basketball courts located in the indoor sports hall. Would Haruko be there?
True enough, Haruko, who possessed a beauty great enough to even rival that of Venus, was already there, shooting hoops. Even though almost half of what she shot didn't get in, I admired her figure, her porcelain white skin.
'Rukawa-san! Come in! I didn't get the chance to tell you this earlier, but I hope you'll join the basketball club. I'm sure you'll contribute greatly to the strength of the team. although I do admit we aren't that good now. but with you, Oniichan, and .' she mumbled something I couldn't hear and blushed a deep crimson, 'I'm sure we'll do really well in this years eliminations! Here.' She handed me a ball, which I held in one hand with ease. 'Try a dunk. hey you can palm a ball! Wow. you sure have potential.'
I could feel my face turning an unmanly shade of red as she complimented me.
'Can you do a dunk? I hear all you have to do is to slam the ball into the hoop! Try it! I'm sure you can do it!'
I gulped audibly; this was one thing I was fairly sure I couldn't do. something losers couldn't do.
I sighed, and saw Haruko look at me with a questioning look in those pale blue eyes I was practically drowning in. 'What's the matter?'
I handed the ball back to Haruko. I just couldn't bear to lose face like that in front of her. 'I'm sorry. I just. can't.'
With that, I walked away from a forlorn-looking Haruko, deciding that I would join the Go club after all. Love was important, but for me, what little pride I had left was at stake; I just couldn't afford to pride myself in nothing and shame myself in everything.
I was just about to open the gym door when Hanamichi, Gundam in tow, burst in. Hanamichi's entrance evidently surprised her, for she blushed right up to the tips of her ears, stuttering away, 'Sa. Sakuragi-kun. no! Sakuragi- san!'
Glancing at Hanamichi, I noted that he looked rather amused at Haruko's reaction to him; she obviously had a big crush on him. Knowing that I would be hurt really badly if I gave my heart to Haruko and have my love unrequited, I decided to give her up to Hanamichi. After all, I felt that it was far better to grazed than to be scarred for life.
My mind made up, I walked out of the gym without a backward glance.
'Rukawa-san!'
I paused for a moment. It was Haruko. Though my brain logically wanted to give up a pointless fight against the charming and good-looking Hanamichi, my heart fought valiantly for the right to love. And its efforts were rewarded. I stopped to listen to her, simply because it was going to be her voice I was going to hear.
'Rukawa-san. why don't you learn from Sakuragi-san? He's a real ace. I'm sure that with the two of you around, our team would be unbeatable.'
I hesitated, heart and mind in an endless struggle for its choice. Haruko's pleading eyes only strengthened my heart's will, and I eventually relented, and followed her back to the gym. If all it took to win sweet Haruko's heart was to be a basketball ace, then I could do it too!
A/n: thanks to all who reviewed. I really appreciated that =) I'll keep working on this fic as long as I have the time to =)
Chapter 4
Rukawa
'Basket. ball?'
'Yeah, you know, the game with the orange ball which people dribble around and dunk. oh, speaking of dunking, I'd bet you could dunk; you're so tall!'
I blushed furiously at her comments, just as the first bell rang.
Making use of the opportunity to escape from the uncomfortable situation I was in, I muttered something about being late for class and walked off quickly, knowing that I could not conceal my burning cheeks from her any longer.
'Meet me at the basketball courts after school today! I'll be waiting for you!'
I pretended I didn't hear her and walked even faster, her words ringing in my ears. Basketball courts today. after school. Fear not, Haruko-san, I will definitely be there. to see you.
*****
I yawned through the entire day's classes. Now that the teachers were convinced that we were fairly well orientated with our new surroundings, they decided to begin their mercilessly dry and uninteresting lessons.
Physics, Mother Tongue, break, then History, Maths and Geography. Urgh. If not for the fact that I could do nothing else well, I would have quit school long ago. But as I was the ultimate loser: weak, skinny and pale, played Go (it was viewed by my peers as The Game For The Aged), I thought I'd rather go with the flow and complete the image by being a nerd. Of course, being the loser that I am, I continued to get mediocre grades despite mugging all day long.
My daydream about Haruko was rudely, but also pleasantly interrupted by the last bell that signalled the end of school. Everyone started packing their bags and I followed suit, ignoring the frustrated Geography teacher (guess what? I don't even remember his name).
While everyone rushed home, or went to meet up with their friends, I made a mad dash for the basketball courts located in the indoor sports hall. Would Haruko be there?
True enough, Haruko, who possessed a beauty great enough to even rival that of Venus, was already there, shooting hoops. Even though almost half of what she shot didn't get in, I admired her figure, her porcelain white skin.
'Rukawa-san! Come in! I didn't get the chance to tell you this earlier, but I hope you'll join the basketball club. I'm sure you'll contribute greatly to the strength of the team. although I do admit we aren't that good now. but with you, Oniichan, and .' she mumbled something I couldn't hear and blushed a deep crimson, 'I'm sure we'll do really well in this years eliminations! Here.' She handed me a ball, which I held in one hand with ease. 'Try a dunk. hey you can palm a ball! Wow. you sure have potential.'
I could feel my face turning an unmanly shade of red as she complimented me.
'Can you do a dunk? I hear all you have to do is to slam the ball into the hoop! Try it! I'm sure you can do it!'
I gulped audibly; this was one thing I was fairly sure I couldn't do. something losers couldn't do.
I sighed, and saw Haruko look at me with a questioning look in those pale blue eyes I was practically drowning in. 'What's the matter?'
I handed the ball back to Haruko. I just couldn't bear to lose face like that in front of her. 'I'm sorry. I just. can't.'
With that, I walked away from a forlorn-looking Haruko, deciding that I would join the Go club after all. Love was important, but for me, what little pride I had left was at stake; I just couldn't afford to pride myself in nothing and shame myself in everything.
I was just about to open the gym door when Hanamichi, Gundam in tow, burst in. Hanamichi's entrance evidently surprised her, for she blushed right up to the tips of her ears, stuttering away, 'Sa. Sakuragi-kun. no! Sakuragi- san!'
Glancing at Hanamichi, I noted that he looked rather amused at Haruko's reaction to him; she obviously had a big crush on him. Knowing that I would be hurt really badly if I gave my heart to Haruko and have my love unrequited, I decided to give her up to Hanamichi. After all, I felt that it was far better to grazed than to be scarred for life.
My mind made up, I walked out of the gym without a backward glance.
'Rukawa-san!'
I paused for a moment. It was Haruko. Though my brain logically wanted to give up a pointless fight against the charming and good-looking Hanamichi, my heart fought valiantly for the right to love. And its efforts were rewarded. I stopped to listen to her, simply because it was going to be her voice I was going to hear.
'Rukawa-san. why don't you learn from Sakuragi-san? He's a real ace. I'm sure that with the two of you around, our team would be unbeatable.'
I hesitated, heart and mind in an endless struggle for its choice. Haruko's pleading eyes only strengthened my heart's will, and I eventually relented, and followed her back to the gym. If all it took to win sweet Haruko's heart was to be a basketball ace, then I could do it too!
A/n: thanks to all who reviewed. I really appreciated that =) I'll keep working on this fic as long as I have the time to =)