Disclaimers: The characters do not belong to me but InoueTakehiko and so on and so forth which I think everyone knows.

Hidden Feelings

I glance over at her and sighed inwardly.

She was so beautiful with her long brown hair, and big, bright, sky-blue eyes. Yes, it was her eyes that first drew me to her.

It was because of her that I'm so into basketball. It was because of her that I joined Shohoku's basketball team. She's the reason I try so hard to improve and be my best. You think it's because I got nothing better to do?

No. I train myself like crazy, spend practically every moment I am awake striving to become better, to become the best because I don't want to disappoint her. Because I want to hear her root for me. I memorized every encouraging word she said to me, but I know it's not me she likes, for there is someone she cheers even louder for.

I never knew what she saw in him, I still don't. I'll never understand. I'm better than him!

Sometimes I don't even know why I bother. I should just quit. That way it would spare me the pain of seeing her and him together. But I do know why. Because this is the only way I can see her practically ever day, the only way I can make her smile, the only way I can get her to notice me, to be aware or my existence.

I just hope Ryota knows how lucky he is to have Ayako.

A girl I had a crush on since Junior High.

The End

Author's note: So did anyone think that it was Hanamichi's POV about Haruko?