-SlamDunk does not belong to me unfortunately.

Cupid

Chapter 2

Makoto flung the door of her house open. Empty. As usual. She dropped the basketball and allowed it to roll to one corner of the kitchen and then made her way to the first aid box. Pulling out a mirror and a bunch of band-aids, she flopped onto the couch and began to tend to her wounds. Another fight. It was crazy. That particular gang that she encountered at least almost every week. She got them good this time. Wincing at the pain as the band-aid came into contact with a bruise on her face, she sighed inwardly as the thought of having to change her route back home after her usual evening practice. If only I weren't the leader's type. Why can't he hit on his own followers anyway?

She knew that the only times they did not pick a fight with her was when she was with Hanamichi and Youhei. But that became rare nowadays, what with Hanamichi having his own team practices till late at night. Ever since Shohoku's defeat to Kainan, they had been even stricter with practice. It wasn't worth bothering Hanamichi either. Makoto wanted to see him win the other ticket to InterHigh competition. She did not want to believe it, but she had developed a crush on Hanamichi. It was not the type of feeling that sent you running away from the person, or made you blush like mad. It was the type of feeling when you care for the person's happiness more than your own, and the feeling was stronger than anything that she felt for her own teammates in Tomigaoka. But she knew that Hanamichi had already fallen head over heels for another girl, Akagi Haruko. He had told her his problems, including having a kitsune as a rival, though he never mentioned his so-called rival's name. She had a good time laughing when Youhei had given her the more amusing details that Hanamichi left out.

'Oh well, it'll be worth it if I actually could make him happy with whoever he loves. Wonder who the kitsune is...' she mused at the thought of helping Hanamichi make a first move on Haruko.

After she bandaged up her wounds, including a gash on her upper arm (that's why she bandaged her wounds^^;), she took up the stuff and got up. Something tumbled out from her shorts pocket. "Nani?" Makoto picked up the object lying on the floor and groaned in despair. It was something she picked up after the fight. A badge with HER school crest on it. She recalled seeing someone familiar in her school's uniform gasping and running away when she was fighting. She was surely to be called by the Principal tomorrow.

The next morning, she ran all the way to school from the station in order to get there on time. Usually, she did not care a damn if she was late for school or not, but if she was going to get called in by the Principal, she did not want him to be in a bad mood.

" Well, Miss Aoshima. This is already the second time that you've gotten into a fight. Your classmate reported that she saw you in a fight with a gang last evening. The marks on your face are proof. I believe I have given you a warning before. It seems that you haven't learnt your lesson. The school has considered your case seriously, and we have decided that we cannot have a student like YOU tarnish the reputation of the school. We have prepared a letter to your parents, and you are officially expelled at the end of the term. By then, we should have gotten the approval of your parents in America."

After the old man finished his speech, he looked up at Makoto, expecting some protest or desperate means to save her place in the school. The girl stared back at him blankly, before blinking and looked at him straight in the eye.

" I have been keeping up my grades, haven't I?"

"...Yes. You have been topping the school so far, but your attitude has failed you."

" Very well, then. If the school cannot take me anymore. But I insist on reading the letter before it is sent to my parents. I take my leave now, sir"

The last words were glazed with ice and the door slammed firmly as Makoto walked out, trying to keep her temper in check. She knew the news would disappoint her parents greatly, but they would just have to accept it. And perhaps stay with the so-called sister I have never met in my whole life forever. She had worked hard, in an attempt to get her parents back to Japan. Her parents had left her, saying that they had gotten into contact with her older sister that was in America, and at the same time, there was a job opportunity they could not give up there. She could not believe her ears when she heard that she had a sister that was fifteen years older than her. Her parents claimed that they had sent her there alone in order to take care of her, the newborn baby. They had said something about wanting to make up for lost time, or something like that. That was the beginning of her second year in junior high.

Evening. She went to the court as usual. But her practice was more of venting her frustrations, as she played rough with her imaginary opponent, dunking each shot with such force that the goal shook a little.

"Oi. Why the temper, Mak-chan?"

Makoto whirled round in surprise, the basketball leaving her hands, and nicely caught by her redheaded friend. He grinned and then threw something at her.

" Thanks, Hana." She took up the Pocari Sweat and sat down, right in the middle of the court. Hana plopped down beside her, setting the ball down on the court. There was an uncomfortable silence for a while. For Hanamichi at least. Makoto was just trying to catch her breath and taking a drink.

" We got the ticket to InterHigh. We defeated Ryonan." There was excitement in Hanamichi's voice. It was obvious that he was trying to stop himself from being too excited, because he had seen that Makoto was in a foul mood. Makoto, on the other hand, was trying to stop herself from crying out in frustration, because she did not want to spoil Hanamichi's mood. She forced a smile and managed to congratulate him. Hanamichi was curious about his friend's sad state.

"Daijobu, Mak-chan?"

Makoto hesitated. "I..I'm getting expelled from school. I gotta transfer to another school by next term."

Hanamichi's eyes widened. This was the first time he had heard of someone being expelled. Normally, he was just scolded by the teachers for making mistakes. But, of course, the school had too many problem students to worry about to care a damn about school reputation. There was another uncomfortable silence. One didn't want to talk about it, while the other did not know what to say.

"...err...then, where are you transferring to?"

" I don't know. My parents wouldn't say anything about it. But the thing I hate most is that I've to stay in THAT school for another month...btw, when's the IH?"

" During the vacation. ....why don't you transfer to Shohoku?"

Now, it was Makoto's eyes to widen. Why didn't I think of that before? I can go to Shohoku!...and join the basketball team too!

" Yeah, I guess. You don't mind if I join the basketball team?"

"Huh? Why not? You're good at basketball anyways-NANI!?"

tbc