Count your blessings
By shinichimaki_gal
Disclaimer: I do not own any Slam Dunk characters so dun bother suing coz I am broke.
Hitora Gin: Nice to hear from you again! Haha! Glad that you find it amusing. And so happy that I don't sound Singaporean-ish. Thanks for your support!
Akane: Hmmm. maybe Aya won't strangle Mitsui. You'll never know if her feelings might change, ne?
Slamdunk-serene: Poor Aya, ne? Help Mitsui, but get this in return. Hmm. must find a way for Aya to take revenge. Haha! Enjoy this chapter!
Heart: Thanks for reviewing and for your help! My friend also said the same thing so I guess it should be correct. Hope you like this chapter! * * *
Chapter 19: Confused minds
"Excuse me," Aya's form teacher peeked into the gym.
"Argh! I thought I handed in my homework already," screamed Mitsui.
"Yes, you did, Mr. Mitsui. But I am not here to see you, but actually Aya," the teacher said calmly, nodding at Aya.
"Haha! Aya-san! What did you do? Throw the book at the teacher this time?" laughed Sakuragi as Aya glared at him before following her teacher to outside the gym.
"Hmm. that's the second time sensei has asked to see her. I wonder what's going on," Ayumi thought.
* * *
"Ms. Aya, have you thought about the scholarship yet?" the teacher asked.
"Actually no. But I will, soon. Is there any problem?" Aya replied.
"No, not at all. However, you have gotten another offer," the teacher said, handing her a large envelope.
"Another one?" Aya opened the envelope and studied the letter inside.
"Nani? But this is the same university that offered the basketball scholarship," Aya said, confused.
"Yes, but they are offering a different scholarship. Their scouts have watched you and your friends performed at a club called "Charlie's" and were really impressed. So they are offering two scholarships: basketball or music. You can choose from either one," the teacher explained.
"Whoa! This is definitely too much to handle," Aya exclaimed, rubbing her forehead.
"Don't stress over. Just think about it and give me a rough answer on Monday, alright?" the teacher asked.
Aya nodded and went back into the gym and sat down, millions of thought racing through her mind.
"Hey, what's that?" Ayumi asked, gently prying it from Aya's tight grasp. She opened it and read the letter.
"Oh my god, Aya! Shizukawa College! That's like the best college in Kanagawa! You are so lucky!" gushed Ayumi.
"I guess I am," Aya replied in a tired voice.
"Everyone, gather!" Akagi boomed.
Aya sighed and put the envelope into her bag and went to join the team.
"Listen up! We are having a game against Shoyo tomorrow. And we are going to win. Nothing is going to stand in our way," Akagi boomed.
"Except maybe Fugima and Hanagata," Aya mumbled under her breath.
"Nani? This is a prep talk, not a discouraging talk, Aya!" Akagi snapped as everyone sweat dropped.
"Well, then. I'll say you don't know how to give one! Listen up! Shoyo, best 4 last year. Fugima and Hanagata, these are the two players you want to keep your eyes on. Of course, the others are also important so don't neglect your duties! It doesn't matter if you win or lose. You only win when you play your own game, at your own pace. Just because they are faster than you, doesn't mean anything. Just play at own pace and you'll win, mentally and physically. Understood?" Aya said, sternly.
"Yes!" the whole team shouted.
Aya turned to Akagi. "Encourage your team to play their own game, not to win. Winning is not everything. You win some, you lose some. Remember that!"
Akagi flushed before dismissing the team. Everyone scrambled out of the gym and went on their way home. Aya grabbed her bag and walked out of the gym, sighing.
"You think you are very great, don't you?" Mitsui bit out, obviously pissed off by her speech.
"No, I don't think so. I just say what I had to say. I used to say that to my team and it worked. So don't start on me, Mitsui. I am in no mood to fight with you right now," Aya replied quietly, walking off, leaving Mitsui staring at her. After a while, Mitsui jogged up to her.
"Hey, I'm sorry. Guess I was just jealous of that brilliant speech. And really thanks for that damage control. It was really cool," Mitsui apologized.
"You're welcome," Aya replied, staring at the ground. The two of them walked home in silence.
* * *
The next morning
Aya woke up extra early and quickly got dressed to go to school to meet the rest of the team. Once everyone was there, they made their way to the basketball court.
"Are we all ready?" Akagi asked. They were standing behind the door leading to the court.
"Yes!" boomed the team and they opened the door and entered the court as the audience cheered.
Both teams met each other at mid-court. Fugima shook hands with Akagi. Suddenly some one caught his eye.
"Aya?" he called. Aya stepped up from behind Sakuragi and waved with a smile on her face. Fugima smiled back before giving her quick embrace.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were in Kainan," he asked, confused.
"Problems with the school administration. Got transferred here," she explained. "Hanagata!" she exclaimed before embracing the tall guy too.
"Who's that girl and why is she hugging her opponents?" A guy from the audience wondered loudly.
"Well, then. Good luck, ne?" Aya wished before following her team to their side. Fugima and Hanagata nodded in agreement and made their way to their own side. At that exact moment, a group standing at a corner caught Aya's eye. It was the Ryonan basketball team. Aya smiled warmly at Sendoh, who looked surprised. He immediately took out his hand phone and sms-ed her.
Aya felt her hand phone vibrate and she took it out. "You made my day with that smile. Does that mean I am forgiven?" it read. Aya looked up and saw Sendoh looking hopefully at her. Aya smiled at him and nodded her head.
"Yes!" Sendoh cheered, making all his team mates stare at him.
"Nani? What's wrong, Sendoh?" Uozumi asked the ace, confused.
"Ar. nothing! Everything's fine," Sendoh smiled.
"Really? I think it has something to do with Shohoku's manager," Koshino pressed, winking at him.
"Nani? How did you know?" Sendoh sounded surprised.
"So there is something going on with her!" Koshino laughed madly. "I am your best friend. Of course, I will know what's going on!" Everyone sweat dropped.
"Well, then. Good luck, Sendoh. She looks really nice," Uozumi congratulated him.
"She is. Arigatou captain," Sendoh replied, smiling at her.
"But if you start to slack, I will make you break up with her before you can even tell her you love her," threatened Uozumi.
Sendoh rolled his eyes. "Like that's ever going to happen. Anyway, the game's going to start. Let's just watch it, okay?"
"Like we don't know that you are going to watch your girlfriend," snickered Koshino as Sendoh blushed a bright red.
"Sendoh-san! You are blushing!" Hikoichi shouted. Aya heard him and turned around to find a tomato-red Sendoh. He looked embarrassed as he waved in a weird manner to her. She laughed softly before waving back and turning back to her team.
"Hmmm. Aya of Shohoku. Yo checku!" Hikoichi thought to himself.
* * *
Well, I thought I could start the game in this chapter but I couldn't. Never mind. Stay tuned, ne?
Disclaimer: I do not own any Slam Dunk characters so dun bother suing coz I am broke.
Hitora Gin: Nice to hear from you again! Haha! Glad that you find it amusing. And so happy that I don't sound Singaporean-ish. Thanks for your support!
Akane: Hmmm. maybe Aya won't strangle Mitsui. You'll never know if her feelings might change, ne?
Slamdunk-serene: Poor Aya, ne? Help Mitsui, but get this in return. Hmm. must find a way for Aya to take revenge. Haha! Enjoy this chapter!
Heart: Thanks for reviewing and for your help! My friend also said the same thing so I guess it should be correct. Hope you like this chapter! * * *
Chapter 19: Confused minds
"Excuse me," Aya's form teacher peeked into the gym.
"Argh! I thought I handed in my homework already," screamed Mitsui.
"Yes, you did, Mr. Mitsui. But I am not here to see you, but actually Aya," the teacher said calmly, nodding at Aya.
"Haha! Aya-san! What did you do? Throw the book at the teacher this time?" laughed Sakuragi as Aya glared at him before following her teacher to outside the gym.
"Hmm. that's the second time sensei has asked to see her. I wonder what's going on," Ayumi thought.
* * *
"Ms. Aya, have you thought about the scholarship yet?" the teacher asked.
"Actually no. But I will, soon. Is there any problem?" Aya replied.
"No, not at all. However, you have gotten another offer," the teacher said, handing her a large envelope.
"Another one?" Aya opened the envelope and studied the letter inside.
"Nani? But this is the same university that offered the basketball scholarship," Aya said, confused.
"Yes, but they are offering a different scholarship. Their scouts have watched you and your friends performed at a club called "Charlie's" and were really impressed. So they are offering two scholarships: basketball or music. You can choose from either one," the teacher explained.
"Whoa! This is definitely too much to handle," Aya exclaimed, rubbing her forehead.
"Don't stress over. Just think about it and give me a rough answer on Monday, alright?" the teacher asked.
Aya nodded and went back into the gym and sat down, millions of thought racing through her mind.
"Hey, what's that?" Ayumi asked, gently prying it from Aya's tight grasp. She opened it and read the letter.
"Oh my god, Aya! Shizukawa College! That's like the best college in Kanagawa! You are so lucky!" gushed Ayumi.
"I guess I am," Aya replied in a tired voice.
"Everyone, gather!" Akagi boomed.
Aya sighed and put the envelope into her bag and went to join the team.
"Listen up! We are having a game against Shoyo tomorrow. And we are going to win. Nothing is going to stand in our way," Akagi boomed.
"Except maybe Fugima and Hanagata," Aya mumbled under her breath.
"Nani? This is a prep talk, not a discouraging talk, Aya!" Akagi snapped as everyone sweat dropped.
"Well, then. I'll say you don't know how to give one! Listen up! Shoyo, best 4 last year. Fugima and Hanagata, these are the two players you want to keep your eyes on. Of course, the others are also important so don't neglect your duties! It doesn't matter if you win or lose. You only win when you play your own game, at your own pace. Just because they are faster than you, doesn't mean anything. Just play at own pace and you'll win, mentally and physically. Understood?" Aya said, sternly.
"Yes!" the whole team shouted.
Aya turned to Akagi. "Encourage your team to play their own game, not to win. Winning is not everything. You win some, you lose some. Remember that!"
Akagi flushed before dismissing the team. Everyone scrambled out of the gym and went on their way home. Aya grabbed her bag and walked out of the gym, sighing.
"You think you are very great, don't you?" Mitsui bit out, obviously pissed off by her speech.
"No, I don't think so. I just say what I had to say. I used to say that to my team and it worked. So don't start on me, Mitsui. I am in no mood to fight with you right now," Aya replied quietly, walking off, leaving Mitsui staring at her. After a while, Mitsui jogged up to her.
"Hey, I'm sorry. Guess I was just jealous of that brilliant speech. And really thanks for that damage control. It was really cool," Mitsui apologized.
"You're welcome," Aya replied, staring at the ground. The two of them walked home in silence.
* * *
The next morning
Aya woke up extra early and quickly got dressed to go to school to meet the rest of the team. Once everyone was there, they made their way to the basketball court.
"Are we all ready?" Akagi asked. They were standing behind the door leading to the court.
"Yes!" boomed the team and they opened the door and entered the court as the audience cheered.
Both teams met each other at mid-court. Fugima shook hands with Akagi. Suddenly some one caught his eye.
"Aya?" he called. Aya stepped up from behind Sakuragi and waved with a smile on her face. Fugima smiled back before giving her quick embrace.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were in Kainan," he asked, confused.
"Problems with the school administration. Got transferred here," she explained. "Hanagata!" she exclaimed before embracing the tall guy too.
"Who's that girl and why is she hugging her opponents?" A guy from the audience wondered loudly.
"Well, then. Good luck, ne?" Aya wished before following her team to their side. Fugima and Hanagata nodded in agreement and made their way to their own side. At that exact moment, a group standing at a corner caught Aya's eye. It was the Ryonan basketball team. Aya smiled warmly at Sendoh, who looked surprised. He immediately took out his hand phone and sms-ed her.
Aya felt her hand phone vibrate and she took it out. "You made my day with that smile. Does that mean I am forgiven?" it read. Aya looked up and saw Sendoh looking hopefully at her. Aya smiled at him and nodded her head.
"Yes!" Sendoh cheered, making all his team mates stare at him.
"Nani? What's wrong, Sendoh?" Uozumi asked the ace, confused.
"Ar. nothing! Everything's fine," Sendoh smiled.
"Really? I think it has something to do with Shohoku's manager," Koshino pressed, winking at him.
"Nani? How did you know?" Sendoh sounded surprised.
"So there is something going on with her!" Koshino laughed madly. "I am your best friend. Of course, I will know what's going on!" Everyone sweat dropped.
"Well, then. Good luck, Sendoh. She looks really nice," Uozumi congratulated him.
"She is. Arigatou captain," Sendoh replied, smiling at her.
"But if you start to slack, I will make you break up with her before you can even tell her you love her," threatened Uozumi.
Sendoh rolled his eyes. "Like that's ever going to happen. Anyway, the game's going to start. Let's just watch it, okay?"
"Like we don't know that you are going to watch your girlfriend," snickered Koshino as Sendoh blushed a bright red.
"Sendoh-san! You are blushing!" Hikoichi shouted. Aya heard him and turned around to find a tomato-red Sendoh. He looked embarrassed as he waved in a weird manner to her. She laughed softly before waving back and turning back to her team.
"Hmmm. Aya of Shohoku. Yo checku!" Hikoichi thought to himself.
* * *
Well, I thought I could start the game in this chapter but I couldn't. Never mind. Stay tuned, ne?