Boku-tachi no kisetsu: Our Seasons
By Yukohana
PART 3 Koi wo shite-iru you de: It feels like I'm in love with you Sendoh-Miko-Mitsui
The game against the Ryonan will be later this afternoon, four o'clock probably, at our school's gymnasium. It's almost eight in the morning and we have just finished breakfast. Ojii-san, however, called captain Akagi on the phone and told him to gather the players at the gym for a practice. He invited us to watch, but Miko's knees still ache a little. Oba-san, for that reason, suggested that we stay until noon while she treats Miko's slightly swollen knees so she would be perfect by the time the practice game should start. But by lunchtime, Miko was already insisting that she's fine. She wanted to check the practice, and honestly, I did too. So we both gave Oba-san our best puppy-looks and assured her that we will look after each other. After almost thirty minutes of pleading, she finally gave up.
When we got to Shohoku high's gym, only some freshmen players were there mopping the floor, they said that the team is out for lunch including Ojii- san, and that the practice should start after an hour so we decided to roam while waiting.
Miko suddenly craved for an ice cream so we walked looking for an ice cream store. We spotted one, which is fifty meters from a sea. The place was cozy, plus the view was very relaxing. Miko had a Coffee Crumble flavor, while I went for the Chocolate Chip Cookies. We had a few laughs when that guy Akira entered the store. He has a big duffel bag hooked on his shoulder. He walked straight to us, "How are your knees?" he asked Miko.
"They're perfectly fine now." She answered moving to the side and gestured Akira to have a seat beside her. "Ice cream?" she offered.
"Thanks, I think I'll order mine." He marched to the counter and went back with a Double Dutch flavor. He sat beside her and gave me a smile. I grinned back, I guess he's not as bad as I thought.
"You often go here?" I asked.
"Whenever I'm free. I. fish." he said laughing lightly.
"What's wrong with fishing?"
"Yeah." Miko agreed.
"Nothing. I. It's just. nothing." He was almost blushing.
"And do you ever catch some?" I jeered.
Akira raised his eyebrows and his lips formed into a twisted smile. We laughed. The three of us had a great bonding. Akira turned out to be a very nice guy. He has so much to say about fishing, about the sea. He has this great passion in life that was made obvious with the lightness of his aura.
Did I mention that I think she likes Miko? Oh, well, yeah! Another Miko admirer here! How do I know? His smile never wears out. When she speaks you could see how attentive he is. And his eyes were glued to her almost all the time, that I think he's not indeed aware of my presence.
Well, I couldn't blame him or Mitsui. Miko and I, without trying to sound conceited, are fairly good-looking, but even if we were less pretty, or if we weren't even pretty at all, I think they would've still liked her. You see, my cousin has this unique personality, she has a positive spirit that makes her charming and impressive at the same time. She's bright and amusing, she's just full of energy.
"Fishing materials?" Miko asked, her eyes glued to his bag.
"Oh, no. That's my jersey and playing shoes. I have a game."
GAME! We almost forgot! Simultaneously, we lifted our wrists and checked on our watch. The time reads, three thirty.
"Oh no!" We shouted.
"We should be going now! It was nice to spend time with you." I said, walking fast to the door, Miko following me. So was Akira.
"Yeah. Maybe we'll see each other again sometime. I need to run too." He answered. We were racing with each other out the store. He got on his bike while Miko and I called for a cab.
When we got to the gym, it was already crowded. There were Rukawa's cheerers, Sakuragi's friends seated beside Haruko's friends, Mitsui's friends and other students of Shohoku High. Both teams were on their respective benches, but fortunately, the game hasn't started. I wonder why.
"What's taking Sendoh that long?! He's keeping the game!" I overheard a girl beside us complain. Sendoh? I remember Sakuragi mentioned that name. Yeah, the one he would guard.
"Sendoh is Ryonan's ace player. They say he's so great that nobody can stop him. Ojii-san makes Rukawa guard him since Rukawa is Shohoku's ace." Miko explained.
"A battle of two aces?" That's interesting. "Let's find a better seat." I suggested.
"I know the best seat." She dragged me to the bench of Shohoku. "Ojii-san! You said you'd reserve us a seat beside you." she quipped.
Ojii-san laughed, "Of course. Here." Beside him were two empty stools. We took the seat and thanked him. "How are your knees?"
"They're as perfect as before!" She returned her gaze to the players, Mitsui flashed her a sweet smile. Miko instantly turned pinkish, she smiled back, "Good luck!", she told him. Mitsui closed his fist and beamed.
Well, Akira is nice, but I'd still be Mitsui and Miko's cupid!
A whistle from the referee signaled the start of the game. Haruko wished the team good luck, emphasizing it to Captain Akagi and Sakuragi, while Ayako to Ryota. I looked at Rukawa, should I? Should I wish him good luck too? Should I tell him to beat Ryonan? Sendoh? He's the only one from the "starting five" who wasn't greeted. Well. I guess that's not a problem with him, he's a snub anyway. While asking myself of these questions, Rukawa turned and our eyes incidentally met. U-oh here goes my pounding heart again. I didn't know whether to look away or stare back, smile and voice out all the words of encouragement I have been practicing at the back of my mind. I know. I'll just wish him luck as casual as how Haruko, Ayako and even Miko were able to deliver. I took a deep breath, slowly released the air, relaxed and waited shortly until my heartbeat has settled down. I smiled and opened my mouth, just as I was about to let the first word out Rukawa looked away. Perfect!
"Rukawa." Miko called as she slightly pinched me on the side.
I was partially alarmed and didn't know how to react first when Rukawa looked back at me. Miko! I'm gonna kill her! She made him think I was the one who called. She quickly pretended to be talking to Ayako when Rukawa faced us, and so, it turned out that I was the only one expecting for him. I didn't want him staring gravely at me for long, I tried to put on a wry smile but still feeling embarrassed. "Good luck." I hope no one noticed but my voice was a little trembling. Silence that seemed forever and then he walked to his teammates. I felt so stupid that I was so ready to put my hands on my cousin's neck! I faced her with my "I'm gonna kill you now" look, but her weird semblance made me retard and examine her instead. This was how she looked: she was staring directly at the court, her eyes were wide, her mouth half open, and her body was frozen like ice. Weird? Very.
"Akira." I heard her say despite the roars of the audience inside the gym.
I looked at the direction she was staring at, and it WAS the guy we were just having a good conversation back in the ice cream shop wearing the jersey of the opposite team. "He's a basketball player?!"
"He's a Ryonan basketball player!" as we exchanged the same puzzled looks.
"Akira Sendoh." Ojii-san sneered. "He's one of the greatest player here."
"Akira is Sendoh?! The 'ace player'?!" we simultaneously blurted out.
"Why? What's wrong" Haruko and Ayako asked, both confused with our reactions.
Miko grinned at them, "Nothing." she tried to sound convincing, then muttered under her breath, "I just can't believe it."
"Same here." I answered. "The fisherman is actually an ace player candidate for the MVP race."
Akira then walked to Shohoku's bench and apologized to Ojii-san, since he's the coach of Shohoku, for delaying the game. Upon noticing our presence he gave out a wide smile. "Hey" and greeted us.
"So you're the controversial 'ace player' everyone has been waiting for." Miko jested.
Akira blushed a little or is it just me assuming things. "You're Shohoku High students." He commented.
"Yes we are. And you're a Ryonan High student." I replied mocking his surprised-yet-still-very-calmed tone. "Our team will beat you." I teased.
"We'll see about that. coz I'm actually on a good mood into winning a game right now."
"Oh, you are?"
"Yeah. I have two new students to impress."
"One of them your inspiration?" I added in a joking tone. Now, he really did turn crimson but just laughed at it. "You know, you shouldn't keep the game too long. people are waiting." indirectly pushing him to go back to the court for the jump ball. the start of a very interesting game. He beamed at us and started to walk away, "Hey! Don't expect me to cheer for you." I called out.
"So you're one of them." he said looking at Rukawa's cheering squad.
Miko laughed, which made Akira redden once again, and caused me to flush not just in humiliation but in annoyance as well. "Good luck anyway." She told him.
As I watched him move to the center of the court, I noticed Mitsui eyeing at us. at Miko and Akira probably. at Miko most probably. Jealous?
Each player positioned themselves opposite the players they were supposed to guard: Sakuragu against the equally tall guy, Ryota against the shortest from Ryonan, Mistui fronting the curly-haired guy, and the two aces, Rukawa and Sendoh, fronting each other. Captain Akagi and his look-alike from the other team were to contest over the jump ball.
"As usual, Sakuragi and Ikegami, Ryonan and Koshiro, Mitsui and Fukuda, Captain Akagi and Uozumi, and Rukawa and Sendoh." Ayako discussed with Vice- captain Kogure, did I mention that Kogure is cute as well? Plus he's not yet taken by any girl.
"This is going to be a great game." The latter stated. His eyes luminous in spite of the round high-graded eyeglasses he was wearing.
The crowd went wild, so did Miko and other Shohoku players. I returned my gaze to the court, the game has begun and the first ball possession went to Shohoku, to Rukawa particularly. He sped off to the Shohoku ring and dunked the ball perfectly. My eyes widened and my jaw dropped in awe. I felt my heartbeat went raging. The same exact feeling back at the train station. What am I doing dreaming of Kogure?! Kaede Rukawa. if only you can be as friendly as he is. On second thought, nah! Even if you're as cool as an iceberg you're still my favorite player! I giggled with these thoughts.
That's just about it for now. Sorry if it takes me a while to post the new chapter. I'm trying to write a Detective Conan fic right now (one of my favorite anime), but that's another story! I hope you're still liking this fic. Especially you dear cuzuinsis! Reviews are very much appreciated! Disclaimers: Dr. T, Inoue Takehiko, is responsible for Slam Dunk and the bishounens of the said anime. Miko and Ame are from me.
PART 3 Koi wo shite-iru you de: It feels like I'm in love with you Sendoh-Miko-Mitsui
The game against the Ryonan will be later this afternoon, four o'clock probably, at our school's gymnasium. It's almost eight in the morning and we have just finished breakfast. Ojii-san, however, called captain Akagi on the phone and told him to gather the players at the gym for a practice. He invited us to watch, but Miko's knees still ache a little. Oba-san, for that reason, suggested that we stay until noon while she treats Miko's slightly swollen knees so she would be perfect by the time the practice game should start. But by lunchtime, Miko was already insisting that she's fine. She wanted to check the practice, and honestly, I did too. So we both gave Oba-san our best puppy-looks and assured her that we will look after each other. After almost thirty minutes of pleading, she finally gave up.
When we got to Shohoku high's gym, only some freshmen players were there mopping the floor, they said that the team is out for lunch including Ojii- san, and that the practice should start after an hour so we decided to roam while waiting.
Miko suddenly craved for an ice cream so we walked looking for an ice cream store. We spotted one, which is fifty meters from a sea. The place was cozy, plus the view was very relaxing. Miko had a Coffee Crumble flavor, while I went for the Chocolate Chip Cookies. We had a few laughs when that guy Akira entered the store. He has a big duffel bag hooked on his shoulder. He walked straight to us, "How are your knees?" he asked Miko.
"They're perfectly fine now." She answered moving to the side and gestured Akira to have a seat beside her. "Ice cream?" she offered.
"Thanks, I think I'll order mine." He marched to the counter and went back with a Double Dutch flavor. He sat beside her and gave me a smile. I grinned back, I guess he's not as bad as I thought.
"You often go here?" I asked.
"Whenever I'm free. I. fish." he said laughing lightly.
"What's wrong with fishing?"
"Yeah." Miko agreed.
"Nothing. I. It's just. nothing." He was almost blushing.
"And do you ever catch some?" I jeered.
Akira raised his eyebrows and his lips formed into a twisted smile. We laughed. The three of us had a great bonding. Akira turned out to be a very nice guy. He has so much to say about fishing, about the sea. He has this great passion in life that was made obvious with the lightness of his aura.
Did I mention that I think she likes Miko? Oh, well, yeah! Another Miko admirer here! How do I know? His smile never wears out. When she speaks you could see how attentive he is. And his eyes were glued to her almost all the time, that I think he's not indeed aware of my presence.
Well, I couldn't blame him or Mitsui. Miko and I, without trying to sound conceited, are fairly good-looking, but even if we were less pretty, or if we weren't even pretty at all, I think they would've still liked her. You see, my cousin has this unique personality, she has a positive spirit that makes her charming and impressive at the same time. She's bright and amusing, she's just full of energy.
"Fishing materials?" Miko asked, her eyes glued to his bag.
"Oh, no. That's my jersey and playing shoes. I have a game."
GAME! We almost forgot! Simultaneously, we lifted our wrists and checked on our watch. The time reads, three thirty.
"Oh no!" We shouted.
"We should be going now! It was nice to spend time with you." I said, walking fast to the door, Miko following me. So was Akira.
"Yeah. Maybe we'll see each other again sometime. I need to run too." He answered. We were racing with each other out the store. He got on his bike while Miko and I called for a cab.
When we got to the gym, it was already crowded. There were Rukawa's cheerers, Sakuragi's friends seated beside Haruko's friends, Mitsui's friends and other students of Shohoku High. Both teams were on their respective benches, but fortunately, the game hasn't started. I wonder why.
"What's taking Sendoh that long?! He's keeping the game!" I overheard a girl beside us complain. Sendoh? I remember Sakuragi mentioned that name. Yeah, the one he would guard.
"Sendoh is Ryonan's ace player. They say he's so great that nobody can stop him. Ojii-san makes Rukawa guard him since Rukawa is Shohoku's ace." Miko explained.
"A battle of two aces?" That's interesting. "Let's find a better seat." I suggested.
"I know the best seat." She dragged me to the bench of Shohoku. "Ojii-san! You said you'd reserve us a seat beside you." she quipped.
Ojii-san laughed, "Of course. Here." Beside him were two empty stools. We took the seat and thanked him. "How are your knees?"
"They're as perfect as before!" She returned her gaze to the players, Mitsui flashed her a sweet smile. Miko instantly turned pinkish, she smiled back, "Good luck!", she told him. Mitsui closed his fist and beamed.
Well, Akira is nice, but I'd still be Mitsui and Miko's cupid!
A whistle from the referee signaled the start of the game. Haruko wished the team good luck, emphasizing it to Captain Akagi and Sakuragi, while Ayako to Ryota. I looked at Rukawa, should I? Should I wish him good luck too? Should I tell him to beat Ryonan? Sendoh? He's the only one from the "starting five" who wasn't greeted. Well. I guess that's not a problem with him, he's a snub anyway. While asking myself of these questions, Rukawa turned and our eyes incidentally met. U-oh here goes my pounding heart again. I didn't know whether to look away or stare back, smile and voice out all the words of encouragement I have been practicing at the back of my mind. I know. I'll just wish him luck as casual as how Haruko, Ayako and even Miko were able to deliver. I took a deep breath, slowly released the air, relaxed and waited shortly until my heartbeat has settled down. I smiled and opened my mouth, just as I was about to let the first word out Rukawa looked away. Perfect!
"Rukawa." Miko called as she slightly pinched me on the side.
I was partially alarmed and didn't know how to react first when Rukawa looked back at me. Miko! I'm gonna kill her! She made him think I was the one who called. She quickly pretended to be talking to Ayako when Rukawa faced us, and so, it turned out that I was the only one expecting for him. I didn't want him staring gravely at me for long, I tried to put on a wry smile but still feeling embarrassed. "Good luck." I hope no one noticed but my voice was a little trembling. Silence that seemed forever and then he walked to his teammates. I felt so stupid that I was so ready to put my hands on my cousin's neck! I faced her with my "I'm gonna kill you now" look, but her weird semblance made me retard and examine her instead. This was how she looked: she was staring directly at the court, her eyes were wide, her mouth half open, and her body was frozen like ice. Weird? Very.
"Akira." I heard her say despite the roars of the audience inside the gym.
I looked at the direction she was staring at, and it WAS the guy we were just having a good conversation back in the ice cream shop wearing the jersey of the opposite team. "He's a basketball player?!"
"He's a Ryonan basketball player!" as we exchanged the same puzzled looks.
"Akira Sendoh." Ojii-san sneered. "He's one of the greatest player here."
"Akira is Sendoh?! The 'ace player'?!" we simultaneously blurted out.
"Why? What's wrong" Haruko and Ayako asked, both confused with our reactions.
Miko grinned at them, "Nothing." she tried to sound convincing, then muttered under her breath, "I just can't believe it."
"Same here." I answered. "The fisherman is actually an ace player candidate for the MVP race."
Akira then walked to Shohoku's bench and apologized to Ojii-san, since he's the coach of Shohoku, for delaying the game. Upon noticing our presence he gave out a wide smile. "Hey" and greeted us.
"So you're the controversial 'ace player' everyone has been waiting for." Miko jested.
Akira blushed a little or is it just me assuming things. "You're Shohoku High students." He commented.
"Yes we are. And you're a Ryonan High student." I replied mocking his surprised-yet-still-very-calmed tone. "Our team will beat you." I teased.
"We'll see about that. coz I'm actually on a good mood into winning a game right now."
"Oh, you are?"
"Yeah. I have two new students to impress."
"One of them your inspiration?" I added in a joking tone. Now, he really did turn crimson but just laughed at it. "You know, you shouldn't keep the game too long. people are waiting." indirectly pushing him to go back to the court for the jump ball. the start of a very interesting game. He beamed at us and started to walk away, "Hey! Don't expect me to cheer for you." I called out.
"So you're one of them." he said looking at Rukawa's cheering squad.
Miko laughed, which made Akira redden once again, and caused me to flush not just in humiliation but in annoyance as well. "Good luck anyway." She told him.
As I watched him move to the center of the court, I noticed Mitsui eyeing at us. at Miko and Akira probably. at Miko most probably. Jealous?
Each player positioned themselves opposite the players they were supposed to guard: Sakuragu against the equally tall guy, Ryota against the shortest from Ryonan, Mistui fronting the curly-haired guy, and the two aces, Rukawa and Sendoh, fronting each other. Captain Akagi and his look-alike from the other team were to contest over the jump ball.
"As usual, Sakuragi and Ikegami, Ryonan and Koshiro, Mitsui and Fukuda, Captain Akagi and Uozumi, and Rukawa and Sendoh." Ayako discussed with Vice- captain Kogure, did I mention that Kogure is cute as well? Plus he's not yet taken by any girl.
"This is going to be a great game." The latter stated. His eyes luminous in spite of the round high-graded eyeglasses he was wearing.
The crowd went wild, so did Miko and other Shohoku players. I returned my gaze to the court, the game has begun and the first ball possession went to Shohoku, to Rukawa particularly. He sped off to the Shohoku ring and dunked the ball perfectly. My eyes widened and my jaw dropped in awe. I felt my heartbeat went raging. The same exact feeling back at the train station. What am I doing dreaming of Kogure?! Kaede Rukawa. if only you can be as friendly as he is. On second thought, nah! Even if you're as cool as an iceberg you're still my favorite player! I giggled with these thoughts.
That's just about it for now. Sorry if it takes me a while to post the new chapter. I'm trying to write a Detective Conan fic right now (one of my favorite anime), but that's another story! I hope you're still liking this fic. Especially you dear cuzuinsis! Reviews are very much appreciated! Disclaimers: Dr. T, Inoue Takehiko, is responsible for Slam Dunk and the bishounens of the said anime. Miko and Ame are from me.