Disclaimer: I do not own Slam Dunk.
I can think of dozens of different ways to avoid answering that question.
But I don't think I want to carry out any one of them.
Partly because some of them involve me acting like a demented fool who is hard of hearing, and partly because I just want to put this whole mess behind me.
So I tell him the truth, matter-of-factly.
He doesn't quite take it too well.
"NANI? You thought I was that ugly, no good, foxy-face."
Okkkaayyy, he doesn't take it well at all.
"good-for-nothing, no talent, junior high level, emotionless, baka."
"I'm sorry but it was an honest mistake!" I protest in vain. My words only help to irk the redhead even more.
"We are as different as night and day! I am TENSAI, he is NOTHING!!" Sakuragi stresses and make me feel as if I have an IQ that is the same level as room temperature water. He continues to rant and rave, and I grow more and more annoyed at his increasingly patronizing tone. Eventually, I get fed up with him too and start provoking him by stating that tensais are usually famous and that I have never heard of him until as of late.
He retorts by claiming that he is 'BIG' news. He sarcastically reminds me of the fact that I didn't know who Rukawa was either until today, and therefore wouldn't be able to recognize 'BIG' news even when I saw it.
Well, on this note, he is right. . . but he didn't have to bring it up and rub it in my face.
We engage in a full-on verbal battle and start hurling insults at each other.
"You are such a narcissistic, ego-centric maniac who is just so full of it!" I say in a temper.
"Yeah, well. . I didn't quite understand all that you have just said but I'm going to check it up! And if it means what I think it means. ." He takes a step towards me threateningly. I am surprised at his sudden action and my mouth automatically clamps shut. We're standing very close to each other now and the proximity of our bodies makes my heart involuntarily thump faster. I can feel the heat emanating from his body and it actually makes me a little giddy.
"A.and?" I manage to croak out. He looks at me carefully and his expression softens.
"Shoot, I didn't mean to scare you," Sakuragi says and takes a step back. "Are you ok? You look kind of pale."
I nod, not sure of what else to say now.
We walk in silence, both of us using the moment of peace to cool down. I still want to speak to him and apologise for calling him an egotist, even if he doesn't quite know what it means. I just want to straighten things out.
He speaks first though. "And to think I thought I had my first fan," Sakuragi gives a short laugh and shakes his head. "Instead you turn out to be kitsune's fan girl. Tensais are never truly recognized I guess."
I stop him in mid-stride.
"I'm not Rukawa's fan girl," He raises an eyebrow at this. "I'm nobody's fan girl." The expectant look fades from his face.
"I would, though, like to be your friend." I add and smile at him. He doesn't reply immediately. When he finally does, his answer is almost inaudible.
But I catch it anyway.
"We could work on that"
*~*~*~*~
2 weeks later.
Keiko and I have resolved things. I explained to her that I never did lie to her and told her the truth about the Rukawa-Sakuragi fiasco.
She didn't believe me the first time I told her about it. According to her, no one could be so stupid as to mix up Sakuragi Hanamichi and Rukawa Kaede.
I guess I proved her wrong.
When she did believe me, she proceeded to swat my head a few times with her book, and told me to wake up and not be so spacey. This, from the girl who used to be part of the Rukawa Shinetai.
I say 'used to' because Keiko has changed loyalties. Since that day at the gym where Rukawa snubbed all the fan girls, Keiko has decided to devote her attentions to an idol that would be more appreciative. She is currently trying to start a Sendoh Shinetai in school. She thinks that Sendoh would be more appreciative to his fans because he looks a lot more approachable and can always be seen smiling.
Sakuragi tried to get her to start a Sakuragi fan club but to no avail. He promised her that he would smile at his fans all the time. Keiko rejected his offer.
Keiko and I hang out a lot with Sakuragi and his gang now. We eat lunch with them and hang out after school. We often attend the basketball practices, encouraging Sakuragi through discouraging remarks.
"Oy! Kai! Are you ready yet?" I hear a familiar raspy voice yelling at me. I poke my head out of my window and yell back at the redhead below. I tell him to wait.
I race down the stairs and grab my gym togs on the way. Sakuragi is teaching me the art of basketball. He's trying to prove that I'm not allergic to sports. I think that I still am but I enjoy these sessions anyway. I know he's still hung up on Haruko but I can't help liking him. I think it's good that we're just friends now and nothing more, because there is still a lot that we don't know about each other.
"Kai! Hurry!"
As I run out to meet him, I remind myself to thank Rukawa Kaede one day. Without him, the whole mix-up would never happen. Without him, I would not have my newfound friends, without him, I may never have known who Sakuragi Hanamichi and Rukawa himself, really were.
A/N: Please review and tell me if you hate or like this fic. thanks!
I can think of dozens of different ways to avoid answering that question.
But I don't think I want to carry out any one of them.
Partly because some of them involve me acting like a demented fool who is hard of hearing, and partly because I just want to put this whole mess behind me.
So I tell him the truth, matter-of-factly.
He doesn't quite take it too well.
"NANI? You thought I was that ugly, no good, foxy-face."
Okkkaayyy, he doesn't take it well at all.
"good-for-nothing, no talent, junior high level, emotionless, baka."
"I'm sorry but it was an honest mistake!" I protest in vain. My words only help to irk the redhead even more.
"We are as different as night and day! I am TENSAI, he is NOTHING!!" Sakuragi stresses and make me feel as if I have an IQ that is the same level as room temperature water. He continues to rant and rave, and I grow more and more annoyed at his increasingly patronizing tone. Eventually, I get fed up with him too and start provoking him by stating that tensais are usually famous and that I have never heard of him until as of late.
He retorts by claiming that he is 'BIG' news. He sarcastically reminds me of the fact that I didn't know who Rukawa was either until today, and therefore wouldn't be able to recognize 'BIG' news even when I saw it.
Well, on this note, he is right. . . but he didn't have to bring it up and rub it in my face.
We engage in a full-on verbal battle and start hurling insults at each other.
"You are such a narcissistic, ego-centric maniac who is just so full of it!" I say in a temper.
"Yeah, well. . I didn't quite understand all that you have just said but I'm going to check it up! And if it means what I think it means. ." He takes a step towards me threateningly. I am surprised at his sudden action and my mouth automatically clamps shut. We're standing very close to each other now and the proximity of our bodies makes my heart involuntarily thump faster. I can feel the heat emanating from his body and it actually makes me a little giddy.
"A.and?" I manage to croak out. He looks at me carefully and his expression softens.
"Shoot, I didn't mean to scare you," Sakuragi says and takes a step back. "Are you ok? You look kind of pale."
I nod, not sure of what else to say now.
We walk in silence, both of us using the moment of peace to cool down. I still want to speak to him and apologise for calling him an egotist, even if he doesn't quite know what it means. I just want to straighten things out.
He speaks first though. "And to think I thought I had my first fan," Sakuragi gives a short laugh and shakes his head. "Instead you turn out to be kitsune's fan girl. Tensais are never truly recognized I guess."
I stop him in mid-stride.
"I'm not Rukawa's fan girl," He raises an eyebrow at this. "I'm nobody's fan girl." The expectant look fades from his face.
"I would, though, like to be your friend." I add and smile at him. He doesn't reply immediately. When he finally does, his answer is almost inaudible.
But I catch it anyway.
"We could work on that"
*~*~*~*~
2 weeks later.
Keiko and I have resolved things. I explained to her that I never did lie to her and told her the truth about the Rukawa-Sakuragi fiasco.
She didn't believe me the first time I told her about it. According to her, no one could be so stupid as to mix up Sakuragi Hanamichi and Rukawa Kaede.
I guess I proved her wrong.
When she did believe me, she proceeded to swat my head a few times with her book, and told me to wake up and not be so spacey. This, from the girl who used to be part of the Rukawa Shinetai.
I say 'used to' because Keiko has changed loyalties. Since that day at the gym where Rukawa snubbed all the fan girls, Keiko has decided to devote her attentions to an idol that would be more appreciative. She is currently trying to start a Sendoh Shinetai in school. She thinks that Sendoh would be more appreciative to his fans because he looks a lot more approachable and can always be seen smiling.
Sakuragi tried to get her to start a Sakuragi fan club but to no avail. He promised her that he would smile at his fans all the time. Keiko rejected his offer.
Keiko and I hang out a lot with Sakuragi and his gang now. We eat lunch with them and hang out after school. We often attend the basketball practices, encouraging Sakuragi through discouraging remarks.
"Oy! Kai! Are you ready yet?" I hear a familiar raspy voice yelling at me. I poke my head out of my window and yell back at the redhead below. I tell him to wait.
I race down the stairs and grab my gym togs on the way. Sakuragi is teaching me the art of basketball. He's trying to prove that I'm not allergic to sports. I think that I still am but I enjoy these sessions anyway. I know he's still hung up on Haruko but I can't help liking him. I think it's good that we're just friends now and nothing more, because there is still a lot that we don't know about each other.
"Kai! Hurry!"
As I run out to meet him, I remind myself to thank Rukawa Kaede one day. Without him, the whole mix-up would never happen. Without him, I would not have my newfound friends, without him, I may never have known who Sakuragi Hanamichi and Rukawa himself, really were.
A/N: Please review and tell me if you hate or like this fic. thanks!