Chapter 3

Makoto sighed as she knocked on the door of the house. There was some grumbling before the door opened, revealing a tall redhead with a don't-mess-with-me look. Makoto sweatdropped, and was about to greet him but decided not to because the look on his face simply reminded her of Kaede when he just woke up. And that meant that it was ultimate danger for anyone. Hanamichi just muttered  something as he led his guest into the house. Makoto set down the hamper she brought along and followed Hanamichi to his room.

She looked on as Hanamichi kicked clothes and magazines to the side to pave a way. Shaking her head in resignation, she sat on the computer chair at his desk and waited for Hanamichi to get comfortable.

" AARRGGHHH!!!" Makoto covered her ears just in time before Hanamichi let go of his frustrations. She had learnt her lesson well from the previous night's conversation when Hanamichi suddenly shouted into the phone.

After a few moments, when she was sure that Hanamichi was done, she unplugged her ears.

"Better?"

Hanamichi glared at Makoto. "How would you feel if you were in hospital for three months and you don't get to play basketball for another month cos you're supposed to rest at home!!??"

"Er...bad...I guess."

"Bad....!!!??? That's the understatement of the year!..." Makoto sighed as she continued to listen to Hanamichi's ramblings about the tensai who could play basketball and beat the baka kitsune even with a back injury. The summer break was almost over, and unfortunately, despite Shohoku's win over the powerful Sannoh, they did not win the championships. The new school term was starting next week, but she still had to sit for an entrance exam before she could enter Shohoku High. If Hanamichi was supposed to return to school next month, then she would have a companion to show her the basketball team.

She got up from the chair, just in time to pull Hanamichi from the window that he was trying to escape from. Mrs Sakuragi had pleaded her and Youhei to 'take care of her Hana-chan' while she was away during the summer. How did that woman know her anyway? But fortunately, she thought that Makoto was a guy. Good for Hana-kun, she thought. It was just too bad that Youhei had his odd jobs to do again. It was so much better with him around. Then again, she reminded herself that she would have to start working part-time too, since her parents cut her monthly allowance as a punishment.

"Maa, Hana-kun. We can play basketball again in one month's time. Just wait."

"One month is a long time!"

"Ok, four weeks more then." Surprisingly, Hanamichi seemed to brighten a little, and struck a Tensai pose as he announced to the world (what world?) that they should get ready for the return of the tensai. Makoto just stared. She was suspecting that Hana-kun had injured more than his back during the InterHigh. Or maybe she did not know Hanamichi that well these few months.

'Oh well, Shohoku, ready or not. Here I come,'

tbc