Disclaimer : Slam Dunk is owned by Takehiko Inoue.

Note: Sentences in italics are thoughts.

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^.^ - we shall see. Continue reading ok?

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I Couldn't Ask For More

Chapter 4: Coping With The Changes

"Rukawa-kun?" He heard a female voice call out his name. "It's you! It's really you!"

He turned to where the voice came from and saw a familiar face. Her curly hair is shorter now than when he last saw her in high school.

"Ayako-sempai?" He placed back the magazine he was scanning to the shelf.

The woman turned back to call someone at the counter. "Ryota! Look who's here! Quick!"

Sounds could be heard as if someone is scrambling. "Geez…..Aya-chan, not so---- Rukawa-kun? Whoa!! It's really you!!!!" Miyagi greeted their visitor enthusiastically. The two men shook hands. Ayako left their side as she talked to another customer who came in.

Rukawa felt so warm and happy seeing his teammates again. It's really them! He couldn't stop himself from smiling.

The shorter man blinked. "Whoa…you are smiling!"

Rukawa looked up and rolled his eyes. "Of course, I am happy to see my former teammates."

Miyagi shook his head and smiled. "So how are you Rukawa Kaede?

"I…."

"Man….I am so happy you found us."

"I am fine, I guess. I just came back a week ago. So how are you?" His smile grew wider.

"My…my… you really changed a lot. You are even smiling now!" The former team captain gave him a pat on the back as he led Rukawa to the counter. Ayako joined the two men after the customer has left. "You've really changed! You wouldn't be caught saying that before hahahahah!."

Rukawa tapped the former team captain's shoulder as if waking him up. "You are embarrassing me, sempai. So how are you?"

Miyagi put his arm on Ayako's shoulder and held her close, sporting a silly grin on his face. "We're married now."

He looked at the couple in front of him. "Oh really? So you have finally convinced her." Rukawa chuckled as he recalled the times when the shorter guy would moon over their team manageress but was always ignored.

Ayako butted in. "Rukawa-kun, it's so good to see you smiling and laughing now. We almost gave up on you." She was grinning.

"Hm…so have you finally gotten rid of your paper fan?"

"Ah, I still have it here somewhere. It's reserved for Ryota though." She giggled and sweetly looked at her husband's face. Miyagi gave out a loud 'itai!' when she gave him an affectionate but hard pinch on his side.

Rukawa couldn't help but notice that his two sempais are obviously happy as a couple. He ignored the little prick that he felt inside him and looked around. It was a small shop that caters mostly to ball games. There are display of basketballs, volleyballs and soccer balls of different brands. "Um…so is this sport shop yours?"

"Hai." Miyagi answered. "Aya-chan and I thought it would be a good business since sports is something both of us are interested in. By the way, we heard that you came back to play for the All Japan Team again?"

"Hai."

"What about your stint at NBA?" Miyagi inquired.

"I left NBA already. I'm home for good." He gave out another smile. "So…. how's everyone? I mean …the others?"

"Hm." Miyagi rubbed his chin as he thought of how to answer him. "Well, Kogure-sempai is in Osaka now as he is working there. He's an engineer now, you know."

"Hmn." Rukawa had fond memories of their former vice-captain. He remembered him as a gentle and kind guy. The guy whose eyeglasses get fogged every time he and Sakuragi get into a fight. "He's always been the smart one."

"You're right. Mitsui-sempai is working in Chiba. Captain Akagi I think is in America right now as he got a job there and his family is there as well. Sakuragi married Yohei's sister and he is in Kyoto. I am not too sure what he does now as all his gundam moved there as well. I never thought they would be so inseparable." Miyagi chuckled.

"I see." The basketball player pondered on what he had just heard. He never thought that most of his teammates would leave Kanagawa. "Do you still have contacts with them?"

"Actually, only Kogure-sempai as he calls us sometimes but we don't have his number as he moves around a lot because of his job. I think he stays on the job sites. So he goes wherever their project goes."

"I see." He nodded. For some reason, he feels sad as he realized that it's not so easy to have contact with his former teammates now. So things have really changed. He let out a soft sigh.

"You miss them, do you, Rukawa-kun?" The former team manageress noticed his demeanor.

"Well, yeah… I guess… It's been a long time."

"So, are you married now, Rukawa-kun?" Miyagi asked.

"Um…no." He suddenly felt uneasy as he remembered his argument with his father.

"No? You mean, you, the former basketball heartthrob way back in high school, you, who were chased by girls all the time, is still single?" The shorter boy teased.

"Well, I …what can I say?" He broke into a smile and scratched the back of his head.

"Wait…" Miyagi narrowed his eyes on him. "Don't tell me it's true….?"

Rukawa's eyes widened. "What?"

"Could it be that you're….gay?"

WHAAAAPPP!!! A white paper fan came out of nowhere and landed on Miyagi's head. "Ryota!!!!"

"Ok, ok, I was just kidding! Shesssh…." He rubbed the part of his head where the paper fan landed. Ayako was grinning at her husband.

Rukawa stared at the couple and shook his head. Looks like the former team manageress haven't changed. So goes with the curly-haired guy. Then it came to him that they are both curly-haired. They are really meant for each other. He smiled to himself.

"Here is our calling card. You can call us anytime, Rukawa-kun!" Miyagi passed a small card to him.

"Hai. Arigato." He reached for the card and placed it on his wallet.

"You could give us your number, Rukawa-kun, just so we could get in touch. Ayako is planning to hold a reunion."

"Yes Rukawa-kun! It's a good time to celebrate! You just came back!" Ayako chirped.

"Hai." He scribbled his number on the notebook Miyagi shoved in front of him.

Ayako crossed her left arm to her chest and rubbed her chin. "Hmm…let's see. I wonder if I can contact Haruko-chan as she is always very busy juggling work and taking care of her family."

So she's already married huh? He remembered the girl who also once became their team manageress during their senior year. Wonder why she didn't end up with the do'aho.