The Hermit

Chapter 3

Do I hate myself? I don't really think so… but sometimes I wonder.

Sometimes when I hear a certain song, I can't help but be drawn by it. Before you know it, I'm off to this little world where I perform extra-ordinary feats in the most extraordinary of places. I'm the hero. I get to save the day. Where I walk, people stare at me, thinking… "Hanamichi is so cool! I wish I could do that".

So… does that mean I hate myself? Or is it just natural to wish for things that you know wont really happen. Why is it that… whenever I drift to that place, I'm always the one being admired, the one with that special something. Why cant I picture myself just doing... ordinary things.

I wish I could talk to someone about this. Preferably someone female.

Haruko.

No…

I thought it would be her. I was wrong.

Friends are good and all that. I guess there are just some things that you cant really share… or rather you just want to share with 1 person. One special person. I really thought it would be her.

Well… no use thinking about it now really. I have other things to think about now….

Father said my sisters would be coming home.

My father and I have a pretty close relationship. I don't have trouble talking to him about most things. There are certain things however.. that are just hard to talk to your parents about. Like love. But anyway, most of the time, talking to my father has always been a light-hearted affair. When we talk after long period of separation, we usually catch up on things. Family matters, school, stuff like that. But this time it was different.

What is it with the world today anyway. I have always been detached from most of the things that happen in the shadows. I mean sure… I know about bully's, gangs and stuff like that. Iv been there and done that after all. But kidnapping, extortion… I never thought it would happen to me or my family.  Anyway, my Father told me that a group of people have been trying to extort money from the company in the place where we were doing business… and fearing for my sisters safety, he and mother decided to send them back here… which means I have to watch over them.

I don't know what to feel about this really… there are a plethora of emotions floating around. I'm happy of the idea of my sisters coming back, I'm honoured at my fathers trust in me, fierce pride—at my parents, for not running away. But at the same time… I'm afraid… afraid of failing.

I'm not really what you would call a role model for my sisters… am I?

I feel something stirring inside me…. A strange desire to do something. A thirst.  I want to prove myself worthy of my fathers trust… I want to be something my sisters would be proud of.

Its time for Shohoku to meet the real Sakuragi Hanamichi.

A/N:

The long lost sister thing is pretty common is fandom…. Especially in Slam Dunk, but don't worry. Romance maybe one of the themes of this fic, but I certainly wasn't thinking about them. They wont be falling for anyone on the basketball team… not if Hanamichi has anything to say about it.

Also, I don't know how the rest of you receive the idea of someone living alone while in High School, but I'm including this in the story because I lived by myself while in highschool. So the Idea isn't really that farfetched to me.