Disclaimer : Slam Dunk is owned by Takehiko Inoue. Shintaro Ken is mine!
Note: Sentences in italics are thoughts.
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Kikiam – (looks down) I know, it's my descriptions. This is my first fanfic so I hope I would do better in the future. About Shintaro, well, there's more of him in the future so….I am actually thinking of making a RuHaruFuji fic evil grin What would Kaede-kun do? Damn, I don't even have any idea. I never knew it was so hard to think of ideas. Glad Kaede-kun made you squeal though hahahah!
RUHARU ^_^ - I hear you. -_~
Lotus – yes, I agree with you. Sometimes I tend to think Rukawa doesn't deserve a nice girl like Haruko. Just like you, I love Sakuragi, he never failed to make me laugh. LOL
afrokane – yes, Haruko is a very important character in Slam Dunk. Without her, Sakuragi, the lead character would be non-existent as she was the reason why he joined in the first place.
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Of Love and Friendship
Chapter 8: Rukawa's Thoughts
It's been more than a week now since Rukawa started walking Haruko home and all he could utter are 'let's go' and 'see you tomorrow'. He is starting to wonder what Haruko sees in him. He knew he is being a jerk and he was just thankful that she is a patient person. Somehow he had to make it up to her. She supports him and stands by him even though he's being a jerk. He very well knew that Haruko is just waiting for him to speak.
But I do speak to her. And I care a lot about her. Maybe I just don't show her enough. Maybe I just do things differently.
He recalled the time during their first year when they were playing against the combined forces of Shoyo and Ryonan. He just passed by her after shooting a ball and she said he was playing great. I greeted her, didn't I? I acknowledged her. Even my so-called Rukawa Brigade got jealous of her when I did that. It maybe a small gesture but I never do that to any girl. Just to her. I think I almost smiled when I saw her reaction that day. I must have made her day. [1]
Then he thought about that incident after their game against Takezono. That was Sakuragi's second game. He saw her waiting out for all the players to go out but Sakuragi was talking to her. He was walking in their direction and when she saw him, Haruko praised him.
-Ru-Rukawa-kun, you were very outstanding today!-
-Ah…is that so?-
I actually stopped to hear what she has to say and I responded to her. I responded to her! He shook his head. For some reason, he was feeling a bit down when he saw them and he had to walk away, as always. [2]
Haruko wondered at the tall ace walking beside her. From her vantage point, she saw him shook his head. She wondered what he could be thinking but she thought it's alright. At least she gets to be with him. That was more than she could ask for.
He sighed. And what about that time when we played against Tsukubu? Some guy named Rango Koichiro started yelling Haruko will be his girlfriend even before the game started. I just found out that he made a bet with the do'aho that whoever would win that game, Haruko would be his. Idiot. Did he really think I would allow that? I don't know what happened to us that day but at the start of the game, we weren't performing. And this Rango just kept on shouting that Haruko will be his. The do'aho wasn't paying attention when Rango made a rebound and dunked, then he shouted that when the game is over, he would pick Haruko up immediately. Damn. That is something I cannot allow. Never! That was when I finally scored a basket. That was for her.
I knew the do'aho wanted to play and show off to Haruko. He wanted to make a shot since he doesn't want me to shoot and steal the limelight from him, even though Captain Akagi clearly told him to just take care of the rebounds. In his effort to make a shoot, he was called on offensive charging. Another damn! While Mitsui was lecturing him on the merits of being a good rebounder, I couldn't control myself any longer. I kicked him really hard and told him that if he doesn't want to win that game, he should just get out of the court! People should have seen the look on my face. No, I don't really hate Sakuragi. I just want to taunt him to play well. I will never let any man get Haruko just because we lost a game. I guess people just can't see that. [3]
In his heart, Rukawa knew he and Sakuragi could be good friends. He knew that if Haruko didn't have any feelings for him, Sakuragi wouldn't waste his time annoying him. He never acted so jealously over the other team members simply because they had nothing to do with Haruko. He will come around.
His thoughts brought him to another incident when Haruko approached him at the school gym to speak to him about his kohai Mizusawa Ichiro. She just called my name once and I immediately faced her. We walked to the school grounds and talked. I talked to her. I knew it wasn't anything romantic and all but I talked to her for a long time. I listened to her and there were just the two of us. I would never be caught talking to any other girl like that. It was because it was her. If I didn't want to talk to her, I could have just walked away from her without a word. I would still learn about Mizusawa's case anyway. Doesn't it count? [4]
I knew it. It's because I do things differently that's why they say I am cold. I am not a robot. I am human. I have feelings. Even Haruko can't read my subtle gestures. Maybe I should change my tactics before things get out of hand. But how? Damn!
"Ru-Rukawa-kun…..it's our house now. Thank you for walking me home." She smiled at him but swiftly gazed towards the street when he faced her.
"…" Already?
"Uh…take care, Rukawa-kun." With that she turned her back on him and stepped towards their gate.
"Erm…" Haruko froze. Is he going to say something? She paused for a while. Ah no. He won't.
"Can I join you and Shintaro for lunch tomorrow?" It was a very soft voice but she clearly heard every word.
She turned around to face him. Although still confused she managed to respond. "Don't you usually sleep at that time?"
"It's ok, I can always sleep some other time." His dead tone reply as he continued looking at her.
"Oh… alright." She waved goodbye as she entered the gate.
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Lunch Time. Rukawa was already waiting outside Haruko's classroom. He actually missed his sleeping time so he decided to catch up a few minutes of nap while waiting for her.
"Shintaro-kun….Rukawa-kun said yesterday that he wants to join us for lunch. Would it be alright?"
"Hey, of course. Let's go." The tall boy headed to the door. Haruko was following him.
Shintaro wanted to burst into a fit of laughter when he saw Rukawa. Oh man, what a talent. The black haired boy was sleep-standing outside with a small drool coming out of the corner of his lips.
"Rukawa-kun?" Shintaro's voice woke up Rukawa from his dreamland. "Let's go."
Haruko noticed a lot of girls at the corridor were staring at them. Uh-oh…this is not good. This is definitely not good! She decided to let the two towering boys walk ahead of her. She doesn't like the look on the girls' faces. She could already read what's on their minds.
After a couple of minutes trying to strike a conversation with Rukawa, Shintaro noticed that Haruko wasn't walking along with them. When he looked back, he saw her trailing a few feet behind them.
"Oi. Haruko-chan! What's keeping you?" Shintaro walked back to get her.
"Ah…ok." She walked beside Shintaro thinking it's ok now since they already got out of the corridor.
The moment they got into the canteen entrance Haruko wanted to turn around. There are a lot of girls inside. She gulped, trying hard not to show her discomfort while trailing behind Shintaro and Rukawa. What have I gotten myself into? It would have been no big deal if she was with Shintaro as usual but being with both Shintaro and Rukawa is too much. If dagger looks could transform into real daggers, she would be dead on the floor right now.
They started eating once they settled on one of the tables. Shintaro did most of the talking. Surprisingly, Rukawa was listening intently to him. Haruko on the other hand, silently ate nodding once in a while to Shintaro's blubbering. She wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. A couple of times, she dropped her chopsticks as she was feeling the evil glares and the thick atmosphere around her.
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She wanted to congratulate herself. She's still alive and school is over. Good thing Rukawa is not in her class or else she would probably decide on transferring to another class.
"Ice cream?"
"Sure." He smiled. "I'll try double dutch this time." He said while trailing behind her. He almost bumped into her when she suddenly stopped walking.
Oh no! "Ru-Rukawa-kun? What are you doing here?" Rukawa was standing outside their room.
"Waiting for you." In his usual dead tone voice.
Haruko noticed the girls ogling at the two boys while some with dark faces are looking at her.
"Would you look at that…..looks like she has finally hooked the two of them."
"She must be using black magic." It was followed by some laughter.
"What a bitch."
"Bitch…bitch…bitch…." A few girls from the group chanted as they pass by them.
She couldn't take it anymore. She wanted to cry. No. She would have to fight back this time. Her fists clenched tightly on her sides, she braced for herself and started shouting at the group. "I am not a bitch!!! Leave me alone!"
For the second time, she dashed out of the corridor leaving the two tall boys behind. Rukawa who doesn't seem to understand what was happening frowned. He was about to follow her but Shintaro's tight grip on his arm stopped him.
Shintaro's eyebrows met while he bit his lower lip. "Let's give her time to be alone. Don't worry I know where she will go." He sighed. "Man, I haven't seen her so angry." He chuckled. "I didn't know she had it in her."
All Rukawa could do was stare at the taller boy in front of him. Shintaro placed a hand on his shoulder. "We have to talk. There's something you ought to know."
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[1] Slam Dunk Anime Series Episode ? *AN: I forgot the episode number, maybe anyone out there could tell me?* (Shohoku vs. Shoyo-Ryonan)
[2] Slam Dunk Movie 1 (Shohoku vs. Takezono)
[3] Slam Dunk Movie 2 (Shohoku vs. Tsukubu)
[4] Slam Dunk Movie 4 (where Mizusawa Ichiro made an appearance)