Author: I own the characters that are NOT from slam dunk…. If they are from Slam dunk, they are property of Inoue Takehiko. Please don't sue me… Also, a foreword, I tend to be long winded when writing my fics, so at least you get the overall picture, as well as the locations/background, and worth your dollar on internets charges! LOL Please do email/review me, and I can update the previous chapters. Thanks!

Words in italics or between slashes are thoughts, words within ^^ are actions, unless otherwise stated, words in brackets are locations usually before each section.

(=^_^=)  Chapter 6  – Friends (=^_^=)

(On Shohoku High basketball court bleachers)

After practice, Akagi approached Kimiko.

"What in heaven's name happened just now, with Mitsui, and why on earth did Yuki-chan hit you on the head with her fan?"

"You're not going to believe me if I told you, Akagi-sempai…"

"…………"  ^Sweat drop^

"Ne, Akagi-sempai, can I call you tonight to tell you all about it?" asked Kimiko, with a cute ears popping out of her head, neko style.

"Yeah, sure."

"Hey, Kimiko, Akagi, shall we all go home together?" Kogure said out loud, approaching them.

"Hai!!!!" replied Kimiko, happily.

/I wonder why is Kimiko-chan so happy today… Shimatta! Since when do I call her Kimiko-chan?/ Thought Kogure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Outside Shohoku High, 1st week February, Wednesday)

Off they walked, into the night, back home. They talked about what they could have improved during practice, and about homework. When they reached Akagi's home, they bade Akagi goodbye, and Kogure and Kimiko were left.

"Thanks for taking the trouble to walk me home since the first day of school, Kogure-sempai!" smiled Kimiko.

"Daijobu, I mean, the three of us finish at the same time anyway, and it's not safe for a girl to be walking alone back home on the streets at night. Plus, we live somewhat near each other too!" Laughed Kogure.

/Should I ask her why she's so happy today? Maybe I shouldn't. If I do, I might seem nosey…/ thought Kogure.

Looking at the stars, Kimiko let out a happy sigh.

"Kogure-sempai, have you ever gotten the feeling that you were on cloud nine?"

"Nani? Aa… That, I have not. Perhaps one day, Kimiko." Replied Kogure, with a wistful smile. /Maybe one day… With someone…  Who needs me... /

"Daijobu, Kogure-sempai! I know you'll get a girl who'll love you for who you are! You're cool!"

With that sentence, Kogure's cheeks began to take up the colour of red tomatoes. "I'm cool? You're just teasing me Kimiko, yamero! Ha ha… Care to tell me what's been on your mind?"

"Honto ni! Ano, how do I put this? Mitsui-san just asked me out."

"He what? Really? Omedetou!" Kogure said, half-heartedly. /Great, just great…/

"Mmm… I'm not joking! Yuki-san even whacked me on the head with her paper fan to make sure I wasn't dreaming, Kogure-sempai! It still hurts though. Itaiii…" moaned Kimiko, feeling her head for the bump. "It's supposed to be this Friday night."

"Ha ha… No wonder… Anyway, does your head still hurt?" asked Kogure, touching her head, feeling her soft hair.

/How I wish I could take away the pain from her head. Such soft hair! Kuso, why am I thinking about her hair?! What a nasty bump it could have been! Man, she made me laugh so much; when Yuki smacked her on the head… it was so comical!/ thought Kogure.

"Iie. Doesn't hurt that much at all now. Yuki-sempai apologized so much after the whack, and I just couldn't stay mad at her for the initial huge bump on my head." ^Sweat drop^ "By the way, are we still on for our picnic at the old oak tree? Best to remind Akagi-sempai that it's this Saturday." laughed Kimiko.

"Yup! We'll arrive at your place to help you bring the goodies. We still feel a bit bad that you're doing all the cooking for the picnic."

"Nonsense! If I'm doing all the cooking, who's going to carry all the heavy stuff? That's where the both of you, come in, Kogure-sempai! Hee hee. Besides, it's the least I could do, if we're going to have an enjoyable study session plus picnic! I do hope that if it's successful, it'll be a regular thing, ne? It's a nice change from the usual boring serious study sessions we've been having, ne, Kogure-sempai?"

"I'm sure it will be, with your cooking, Kimiko. Ha ha… I can't wait to try it."

"Hai, Kogure-sempai…" replied Kimiko, blushing. "Ne, Kogure-sempai…"

"Nani, Kimiko?"

"I'm glad that we're friends… you and Akagi-sempai, have made me feel very welcomed, and I feel we can be close friends, dakara… dakara, I… I would just like to say, Domo Arigato, Kogure-sempai!" with that, she quickly bowed her head.

"Na-nani yo… Please, Kimiko, we ARE friends…" Kogure replied quickly, matching her bow.

Raising her head from the bow, Kimiko wiped away her tears, and smiled happily at Kogure. "I am glad for that."

"Kimiko, I know the class, nor the team has been treating you well, but you can count on me and Akagi to be there for you. They will change their minds, don't you worry."

"D-domo arigato, Kogure-sempai… Ne, Kogure-sempai, would you oblige me something?"

"Nani ka?"

"If you believe we are good friends, you will call me Kimiko-chan instead, won't you?" asked Kimiko, with puppy eyes.

Kogure smiled, which was as genuine as a real diamond, at her plea. "Of course I will. Kimiko-chan. You've reached home already. Oyasumi nasai."

"Oyasumi, Kogure-sempai…"

And with that, they parted, and on the way home, you could see Kogure smiling all the way home, as if he had won the lottery.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(=^_^=) Meow!

L.I.D.[author]: Kogure's such a sweetheart isn't he? I love him soooo much! Don't you just love Japanese romances where there are lots of shyness? Hee hee…