Chapter 5 - Two Rivals (Part II)
Author's notes: Okay. I'm not too good at writing flashbacks and POVs. so if there's anything wrong, kindly inform me! ^^;; Only Hikari and Sakura have POVs. er, is that the correct way to put it? O_o
~~
3 years ago
Hikari's POV _________ "No! No! Megumi! Guard her, damnit!" The basketball went through the hoop neatly, and I watched it drop to the ground. I felt a grin spread over my face as I posed. "Yes! Rukawa Hikari scores again!" I crowed. "Darn, can't ANYBODY stop her?" Yurishima Megumi, my best friend muttered. Well, I can't say she's my best friend. Sakura's my best friend, really. No, bestest, BESTEST friend. Megumi's too serious. She's got to chill out sometimes. Crap, she reminds me of my brother. Yes. That's him. Rukawa Kaede, super rookie, blah blah. Why am I talking about my stupid brother anyway? He's away in Tomigaoka Junior High and here I am, stuck in a no-name junior high, in a no-name basketball team. Not that it doesn't help that I've got my best buddies with me. "Hikari! Stop dawdling!" Well, SORRY. "Sorry! I'm late!" That's Sakura. She's always late. Yup. Late for school, late for tuition, late for appointments, late for practice. Everything. "SAKURA! HOW DARE YOU BE LATE!" Thwap. Ow. I winced at the sound. That's our coach, Miss Mikai, with her infamous basketball magazine. Sakura rushed up to me, rubbing her forehead gingerly. "One of these days, I swear I'll complain to the principal." She stuck her tongue at Miss Mikai. ~~
2 years ago
Sakura's POV ___________
"-So which High School are you going to?" "I dunno, you?" "Hmm. I think Kainan's pretty good, they've got a cool basketball team too!" "Maybe Ryonan?" "Oh! Oh! Or maybe Shoyo?" I scratched my head awkwardly as I thought hard. Darn, I should have discussed this with mom and dad. Yup, it's that time of the year again, when I have to choose which school to go to. Hey, wait a second. Isn't it OBVIOUS?! I go where my friends go, of course! But they're all undecided. Drat. "I think I'll go Ryonan! It's one of the best schools in this area! The basketball team rocks, too!" "NO! Kainan beat Ryonan, remember? Kainan's better!" "Shoyo's better!" Crap. "Ah! Hitomi-chan! What are you doing?" That's Hikari shouting at Kagariya Hitomi. She joined us last year-end. Joined our group of three, I mean. Hikari's noticed Hitomi writing down 'Ryonan' as her school choice. We had all agreed to go to Kainan. "I think I'll go to Ryonan," Hitomi voiced her thoughts. "You know they've got this really cute ace?" I shook my head in despair. That's typical Hitomi for you, always thinking about boys. "Me. I think I'll go to Kainan." "NOOOOO!" That's Hikari wailing. Megumi just told us she's going to Kainan. What about me? Which school should I go to? I scanned the list of schools, searching for a name that would catch my attention. . Ahah. Now THIS is eye-catching. Shohoku High School! "Then I'm going to Shohoku!" I announced, Hikari sighed resignedly. "We can still meet up together, RIGHT?" "Of course!" "Then where shall I go?" "COME WITH ME TO RYONAN!" "KAINAAAAN!" "AAAARGGH! SHUT UP! EENY MINY MEENY MOEEE!!!" "Yes! Hikari's coming to Ryonan with me!" "W@#%&)@&#%)&!!!!!" ________
1 year ago, a basketball court, somewhere in Kanagawa.
Hikari's POV
"Pass!" Almost lazily, I threw the ball to Hitomi and she swiftly swished it into the hoop. I gave her a thumbs up and returned to unwrapping a sweet. Should I tell her? Grandma had told me to. But I didn't want to. That baka brother of mine can take care of himself anyway. Why should I, Rukawa Hikari, take care of my younger brother, Rukawa Kaede, when he's been taking EXTREMLY, I repeat, EXTREMELY good care of himself these last four years? "He's not getting proper meals." Yeah right, gramma. "He's got basketball AND studies to look after, he's not getting enough sleep so you have to be there to help the dear boy organize his time." Oh give me a BREAK. How can he NOT get enough sleep when every other day he's sleeping face down on the table during lessons? "What's up?" Hitomi interrupted my train of thoughts by waving her hand in my face questioningly. "Sorry." "Something happen?" "Sorta." "What? Tell me!" I stubbornly kept my mouth shut. "Boy problems?" "?!?!?!?!" "I know! You've gotta crush on someone in our school!" I looked at her oddly, not knowing whether to scowl or to laugh. "I KNOW! YOU'VE GOTTA CRUSH ON SENDOH!" "." "I can't blame you, he looks cute, doesn't he?" I pretended to be sick. (Note: *covers self quickly with shield* Don't kill me!) "No? Hmm." I could let this go on all day; waiting Hitomi to just get a lucky guess and find out I was leaving. I sighed and accidentally swallowed my sweet. I quickly countered by gulping down a mouthful of water. "TELL ME!" I sighed. Should I tell her? Silence. It was unbearable. Hitomi looking at me expectantly for an answer, and me staring off into space. Oh, what-EVER! "I'm transferring to Shohoku High next year." There. I've said it. I stared at the ground, fixing my gaze on an insect, making its way towards the bench. I chanced a quick look at Hitomi. "WHY?!?!" Why? Isn't it obvious? My brother isn't responsible to look after himself so I, his older sister, has to take care of him? Not that I'm not happy about seeing him again. Kaede hasn't written in ages. That's just the way he is: never cares about his family. But should I CARE?! Oh damnit. I'm being so contradictory. But then. Hitomi looked like she was going to cry. "But I'll be so lonely here!" "I know!" I snapped. "But what the hell can I do about it? Everything I do is literally my grandma's order. You're lucky she allowed me to join Ryonan with you!" Silence again. Uh-oh. I shouldn't have shouted at Hitomi. "YOU IDIOT!" . . I watched her retreating figure as the basketball she dropped rolled into the street.
~~ Hitomi never appeared in front of me again. I saw her in the school corridors during the last day in Ryonan but she pursed her lips and turned away from me. It's not like I'm going to America or something, right? I'll still be in Kanagawa; we can always meet up sometime, RIGHT? . Apparently, it's WRONG for Hitomi.
~~
The present
Sakura immediately shooed everyone out of the gym, including an extremely annoyed Nango Koichiro, who left somewhat reluctantly, but not without a final, "I LOVE YOU, MY LOVELY!" Confused, Yuuki, Yuki, Reina and Sakuragi pressed their ears to the door, trying to catch snatches of the conversation. "Who're they?" Ayako asked Sakura. Sakura crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. "Used to be our best friends. Me and Hikari, I mean." She looked towards the door. "But one of them, Hitomi, got really mad when Hikari left Ryonan for Shohoku." Inside the court, no one said anything for a while. Hikari broke the silence. "Well, Megumi, Hitomi, if you've got nothing to say, then I think you should leave. It's time for our practice." "You joining the Inter High championships?" Hikari stared at Megumi like she was crazy. "Yeah." "Good." "We're joining too." Silence. "Oh." Both Hitomi and Megumi glared at Hikari, who moved backward slightly. "See you."
~~
The sound of a basketball reached the eavesdroppers at the door. "Oh! Oh!" Sakuragi said, apparently interested. "Are they having a one on one?" "Go Hikari!" Yuuki muttered. "Oh, move OVER!" Sakura opened the door and stepped in. "LISTEN HERE, MEGUMI! YOU. oh." She watched as Hikari swished the ball into the hoop, swiftly retrieved it and looked at her. "You passing up the chance of a game with 'em?" Hikari winked at them before doing a lay-up shot. Sakura grinned as realization dawned on her. 'They came here to challenge her,' Sakura thought, as she watched Hikari practice. 'They're probably the aces in their teams. if they have a team.' "All right everyone!" she shouted, turning to Yuuki, Yuki and Reina. "Get moving! Practice, practice, PRACTICE!" "YEAH!" As everyone hurried off to get a basketball, Hikari turned to look at the calendar on the gym wall. "Three weeks." Three weeks to the inter high.
Author's notes: Updating less frequently now, and I think I'm running outta ideas. Bad me! I used all my ideas for the other fic. But I think it's sorta abandoned now. Sorry if this chapter is no good, I've got a chibified teacher dancing around in my head and reprimanding me for not handing up my work.
Author's notes: Okay. I'm not too good at writing flashbacks and POVs. so if there's anything wrong, kindly inform me! ^^;; Only Hikari and Sakura have POVs. er, is that the correct way to put it? O_o
~~
3 years ago
Hikari's POV _________ "No! No! Megumi! Guard her, damnit!" The basketball went through the hoop neatly, and I watched it drop to the ground. I felt a grin spread over my face as I posed. "Yes! Rukawa Hikari scores again!" I crowed. "Darn, can't ANYBODY stop her?" Yurishima Megumi, my best friend muttered. Well, I can't say she's my best friend. Sakura's my best friend, really. No, bestest, BESTEST friend. Megumi's too serious. She's got to chill out sometimes. Crap, she reminds me of my brother. Yes. That's him. Rukawa Kaede, super rookie, blah blah. Why am I talking about my stupid brother anyway? He's away in Tomigaoka Junior High and here I am, stuck in a no-name junior high, in a no-name basketball team. Not that it doesn't help that I've got my best buddies with me. "Hikari! Stop dawdling!" Well, SORRY. "Sorry! I'm late!" That's Sakura. She's always late. Yup. Late for school, late for tuition, late for appointments, late for practice. Everything. "SAKURA! HOW DARE YOU BE LATE!" Thwap. Ow. I winced at the sound. That's our coach, Miss Mikai, with her infamous basketball magazine. Sakura rushed up to me, rubbing her forehead gingerly. "One of these days, I swear I'll complain to the principal." She stuck her tongue at Miss Mikai. ~~
2 years ago
Sakura's POV ___________
"-So which High School are you going to?" "I dunno, you?" "Hmm. I think Kainan's pretty good, they've got a cool basketball team too!" "Maybe Ryonan?" "Oh! Oh! Or maybe Shoyo?" I scratched my head awkwardly as I thought hard. Darn, I should have discussed this with mom and dad. Yup, it's that time of the year again, when I have to choose which school to go to. Hey, wait a second. Isn't it OBVIOUS?! I go where my friends go, of course! But they're all undecided. Drat. "I think I'll go Ryonan! It's one of the best schools in this area! The basketball team rocks, too!" "NO! Kainan beat Ryonan, remember? Kainan's better!" "Shoyo's better!" Crap. "Ah! Hitomi-chan! What are you doing?" That's Hikari shouting at Kagariya Hitomi. She joined us last year-end. Joined our group of three, I mean. Hikari's noticed Hitomi writing down 'Ryonan' as her school choice. We had all agreed to go to Kainan. "I think I'll go to Ryonan," Hitomi voiced her thoughts. "You know they've got this really cute ace?" I shook my head in despair. That's typical Hitomi for you, always thinking about boys. "Me. I think I'll go to Kainan." "NOOOOO!" That's Hikari wailing. Megumi just told us she's going to Kainan. What about me? Which school should I go to? I scanned the list of schools, searching for a name that would catch my attention. . Ahah. Now THIS is eye-catching. Shohoku High School! "Then I'm going to Shohoku!" I announced, Hikari sighed resignedly. "We can still meet up together, RIGHT?" "Of course!" "Then where shall I go?" "COME WITH ME TO RYONAN!" "KAINAAAAN!" "AAAARGGH! SHUT UP! EENY MINY MEENY MOEEE!!!" "Yes! Hikari's coming to Ryonan with me!" "W@#%&)@&#%)&!!!!!" ________
1 year ago, a basketball court, somewhere in Kanagawa.
Hikari's POV
"Pass!" Almost lazily, I threw the ball to Hitomi and she swiftly swished it into the hoop. I gave her a thumbs up and returned to unwrapping a sweet. Should I tell her? Grandma had told me to. But I didn't want to. That baka brother of mine can take care of himself anyway. Why should I, Rukawa Hikari, take care of my younger brother, Rukawa Kaede, when he's been taking EXTREMLY, I repeat, EXTREMELY good care of himself these last four years? "He's not getting proper meals." Yeah right, gramma. "He's got basketball AND studies to look after, he's not getting enough sleep so you have to be there to help the dear boy organize his time." Oh give me a BREAK. How can he NOT get enough sleep when every other day he's sleeping face down on the table during lessons? "What's up?" Hitomi interrupted my train of thoughts by waving her hand in my face questioningly. "Sorry." "Something happen?" "Sorta." "What? Tell me!" I stubbornly kept my mouth shut. "Boy problems?" "?!?!?!?!" "I know! You've gotta crush on someone in our school!" I looked at her oddly, not knowing whether to scowl or to laugh. "I KNOW! YOU'VE GOTTA CRUSH ON SENDOH!" "." "I can't blame you, he looks cute, doesn't he?" I pretended to be sick. (Note: *covers self quickly with shield* Don't kill me!) "No? Hmm." I could let this go on all day; waiting Hitomi to just get a lucky guess and find out I was leaving. I sighed and accidentally swallowed my sweet. I quickly countered by gulping down a mouthful of water. "TELL ME!" I sighed. Should I tell her? Silence. It was unbearable. Hitomi looking at me expectantly for an answer, and me staring off into space. Oh, what-EVER! "I'm transferring to Shohoku High next year." There. I've said it. I stared at the ground, fixing my gaze on an insect, making its way towards the bench. I chanced a quick look at Hitomi. "WHY?!?!" Why? Isn't it obvious? My brother isn't responsible to look after himself so I, his older sister, has to take care of him? Not that I'm not happy about seeing him again. Kaede hasn't written in ages. That's just the way he is: never cares about his family. But should I CARE?! Oh damnit. I'm being so contradictory. But then. Hitomi looked like she was going to cry. "But I'll be so lonely here!" "I know!" I snapped. "But what the hell can I do about it? Everything I do is literally my grandma's order. You're lucky she allowed me to join Ryonan with you!" Silence again. Uh-oh. I shouldn't have shouted at Hitomi. "YOU IDIOT!" . . I watched her retreating figure as the basketball she dropped rolled into the street.
~~ Hitomi never appeared in front of me again. I saw her in the school corridors during the last day in Ryonan but she pursed her lips and turned away from me. It's not like I'm going to America or something, right? I'll still be in Kanagawa; we can always meet up sometime, RIGHT? . Apparently, it's WRONG for Hitomi.
~~
The present
Sakura immediately shooed everyone out of the gym, including an extremely annoyed Nango Koichiro, who left somewhat reluctantly, but not without a final, "I LOVE YOU, MY LOVELY!" Confused, Yuuki, Yuki, Reina and Sakuragi pressed their ears to the door, trying to catch snatches of the conversation. "Who're they?" Ayako asked Sakura. Sakura crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. "Used to be our best friends. Me and Hikari, I mean." She looked towards the door. "But one of them, Hitomi, got really mad when Hikari left Ryonan for Shohoku." Inside the court, no one said anything for a while. Hikari broke the silence. "Well, Megumi, Hitomi, if you've got nothing to say, then I think you should leave. It's time for our practice." "You joining the Inter High championships?" Hikari stared at Megumi like she was crazy. "Yeah." "Good." "We're joining too." Silence. "Oh." Both Hitomi and Megumi glared at Hikari, who moved backward slightly. "See you."
~~
The sound of a basketball reached the eavesdroppers at the door. "Oh! Oh!" Sakuragi said, apparently interested. "Are they having a one on one?" "Go Hikari!" Yuuki muttered. "Oh, move OVER!" Sakura opened the door and stepped in. "LISTEN HERE, MEGUMI! YOU. oh." She watched as Hikari swished the ball into the hoop, swiftly retrieved it and looked at her. "You passing up the chance of a game with 'em?" Hikari winked at them before doing a lay-up shot. Sakura grinned as realization dawned on her. 'They came here to challenge her,' Sakura thought, as she watched Hikari practice. 'They're probably the aces in their teams. if they have a team.' "All right everyone!" she shouted, turning to Yuuki, Yuki and Reina. "Get moving! Practice, practice, PRACTICE!" "YEAH!" As everyone hurried off to get a basketball, Hikari turned to look at the calendar on the gym wall. "Three weeks." Three weeks to the inter high.
Author's notes: Updating less frequently now, and I think I'm running outta ideas. Bad me! I used all my ideas for the other fic. But I think it's sorta abandoned now. Sorry if this chapter is no good, I've got a chibified teacher dancing around in my head and reprimanding me for not handing up my work.