"I'm so stupid!" Kaede heard a familiar voice say. He looked around and stopped when he saw a tall girl with a carrot-top head. She was fuming and Kaede knew why.

"Hey Do'aho," Kaede called, successfully getting the attention of the girl.

Hanamichi turned around and shouted, "Nani?! You dare call me stupid?"
"You said it yourself, not I, Do'aho," Kaede answered, shrugging. "Don't tell me you're blaming yourself."
Hanamichi pouted, "As if you'd care. I'm sure you're all but happy with my performance today. After how many weeks of teaching me, I couldn't get one lay up right."

~*~*~*~

The score was 42 – 43, in favor of Yoishi Team and there was only fifteen seconds left. Miyagi passed the ball to Mitsui, but as soon as he passed it he knew he had made a wrong move. Taka was immediately at Mitsui's side trying to block his way or steal the ball.

Ten seconds…

Seeing an open area, Mitsui bounce passed to Rukawa.

Five seconds…

Fake here… fake there… but nothing works… Gotcha! Seeing Hanamichi near the goal, Rukawa debated whether he would pass the ball to her. 'You haven't taught her how to drive-thru yet!' 'But it's our only chance…'

Three seconds…

Rukawa passed to Hanamichi.

A surprised Hanamichi caught the ball and dribbled in between Yukito and Touya.

'Just lay the ball up,' Hanamichi thought, 'That's how you always see Kitsune do it.'

Two second…

SLAM!!! A large hand hit the ball away from Hanamichi's hand…

One… zero…

BUZZZZZ!

"Yoichi Team Wins!" Haruko, who had refereed the game, shouted.

~*~*~*~*~

"Walk you home?" Kaede offered.

Hanamichi raised an eyebrow and asked, "So that you could scold me more? I don't think so, Kitsune!"
Kaede just shrugged and walked off.
"Hey Kitsune," Hanamichi called, noticing that she was all alone in the street, "Wait for me!"

The two walked in silence until they had reached Hanamichi's house.

"You know," Hanamichi said, "It looks easy when you or Miyagi or some other player does it. Why can't I do it?"
Kaede shook his head and said, "It takes practice, Hana, I haven't even taught you how to do a proper lay-up so don't blame yourself."
"But – "

"Don't blame yourself," Kaede repeated, "We had a good game anyway."
"But we could have won."
"There's always next time and it's just a practice game."
When Hanamichi didn't say anything for a while, Kaede switched subjects, "How do you know the team anyway?"
"Oh," Hanamichi said, "Yukito and Touya are part of the IYBA and the others are just some of their friends that I met. We're just good friends, really."
"Oh," Kaede said, "I need to go."
Hanamichi, though, didn't want to let him go yet. Before Kaede could reach about three yards, Hanamichi ran up to him and kissed him on the cheek.

"That's for cheering me up this afternoon," she explained, blushing furiously. "And this…" She gathered him in a fierce embrace to emphasize her point, "Is for teaching me basketball and for calling me Hana."

Kaede's more than pale than usual face was enough reward for the embarrassment that Hanamichi felt. She couldn't help but laugh out loud as she said 'goodbye,' then quickly leave.

d^_^b

AN:// I'll say it one last time, "THIS IS NOT A CROSSOVER!" Got it? Just liked the names, so deal with it. Anyway, did you like the chapter? Was it good or bad? Kilig ka na ba? Wait till you see the next chapters.. d^.^b