Chapter 2
Taka apologises again. For those who does not know, occasionally there will be a reporter who rushes in to fill our readers with added info. However, the effect is a little spoilt by Kei's insisted Comments. Taka is doing his best to keep an eye on Kei.
"Good! Take five" roared Akagi.
Some of the freshman dropped to the floor, exhausted from the vigorous practice.
Rukawa wiped the sweat from his face with his shirt, one hand still holding the ball as Kanzaki cautiously neared him, "Ano…Kaede-kun, daijoubu?" he rubbed his head, "You've been a bit…off…did I do something?…uh…I…"
"Oni-chan!"
Rukawa turned…it's her.
The girl excitedly tugged the hand of a woman, then she let go and ran towards the still Rukawa…the ball dropped…but she passed him and was scooped up by Kanzaki. The little girl laughed as she hugged onto Kanzaki and he tickled her.
"Ohaiyo, Kanzaki-kun. Honto gomen for yesterday…Misato wanted to see you," the woman bowed her head in a polite greeting.
Kanzaki grinned and wriggled his finger towards the child he held, "Mi-chan, you shouldn't have done that…see, you made Suzahara-san worried."
Misato pouted and buried her face in the folds of Kanzaki's shirt while Suzahara Yuna smiled, "It was lucky that nothing serious happened…"
Kanzaki suddenly remembered Rukawa, "Ah, Kaede-kun…ne Mi-chan, what do you say?"
Misato peered from Kanzaki's grasp, one thumb in her mouth, then she piped up happily, "Basketball oni-chan!"
The Shohoku members stared, as the little girl struggled from Kanzaki and held up her arms to Rukawa to be picked up.
The cool rookie looked at her for a moment …jaws dropped…as he reached down, enveloped her in a hug and lifted her, as she wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled closer.
Kanzaki fondly stroked her head, "And what else?"
She giggled a small "Arigato" to Rukawa, then pulled at his collar, "Basketball oni-chan, ice-cream, iku masu sho…"
Ice-cream? "Uh." He responded.
---
"Are? Nani? What happened? Huh?" our blushing reporter rushed in.
Our stomping director yells, "Where have you been ? Baka!"
The rest of us, grabbed the director, trying to calm the situation (A/N Keichirou: Tsk Tsk…temper temper…) as our 'soon to be fired, if you don't get going' reporter sheepishly utters, "Hehe…Gomen…gomen…" and jumps in front of the scene, waving a hand to attract our beloved (A/N Keichirou: *makes a disgusted face*) and very much appreciated readers (A/N Taka: That's you…hehe…) (A/N Keichirou: Hah!)
"Ohayo! I'm back…hehe…um, sooo…I'm not sure what happened…matte…"
Our kakoi and kawaii (A/N Keichirou: *gagging noises can be heard in the background*)
writer leans in and whispered in the ear of our confused, not up-dated reporter.
"Ahh…okay…So…" Reporter starts walking, "Rukawa Kaede, cool… quiet… brooding…"
Girls are swooning…again…" (A/N Keichirou: *Sighs* Sad case…)
"Right now, he's yearning for something to fill his emptiness…okay…this is becoming too much of a drama, lets get back to anime," Our reporter scouts around Rukawa's room, "See…Rukawa had a sister…little Kumi…who died when Rukawa was in Junior High. He became very unsociable after that. Then comes Misato, reminding Rukawa so much of his sister…"
---
In the ice-cream shop, Misato eagerly licked her sno' cone, Kanzaki digging into his sundae while stealing little glances at Rukawa who was sucking on an orange-ice, looking rather out of place.
Most of the Shohoku's basketball players were hiding outside, peering into the windows at Rukawa openly talking to the small girl beside him.
"Eh…you didn't wait for us?"
Misato looked up, "Oni-chan!"
Fujima stood with his hands in his pockets, with Hanagata behind him. The Shoyo captain looked at Rukawa and grinned, then he gave Misato a kiss on the cheek, taking a bite of her ice-cream at the same time, making her pout, "Oni-chan…baka." And continued licking.
"Oni…?" wondered Rukawa.
"Uh, Kaede-kun," said Kanzaki noticing Rukawa's lost look, "Fujima-kun is Mi-chan's older brother…"
"And it's true whether you liked it or not…" Fujima laughed as he patted his annoyed sister.
"Oni-chan! I'm not a cat!"
---
(Self-Insert)
"Well…hey…over here…" Our reporter pops up from a corner, "Our fox-eared freshman spends some time with cute little Misato who likes 'basketball oni-chan' better than Fujima since he is always…"
A chibi Misato appears, "…Practicing…practicing…practicing…"
The Reporter sighs, "Rukawa also has been abiding poor Kanzaki who feels a bit unloved. (A/N Keichirou: Hah…Well good for him…I think he should go back to Hanamichi *turns to Taka-kun* Ne…Ne…can we make it a RuHana now… onegai…*turns chibi with puppy-dog eyes*) (Taka starts waving a chibi fist: TAME!)
Now we go to one of those outdoor basketball courts where Rukawa is alone early in the morning. Ah…Fujima-senpai…kakoi…" (A/N Keichirou: *sighs dreamily* Kawaii…)
(End Self-Insert)
---
One of the ace point-guards of the prefecture leaned against the railing, observing Rukawa shooting some hoops.
Fujima smiles inwardly, "Oi!"
Rukawa looked over, "Nani?"
Fujima tilted his head, his eyes closed, "Festival…tonight…you going?"
Rukawa turned away.
Fujima laughs, "Souka…Misato will be with…Kanzaki. Ja…" he walks off.
Rukawa lowered his eyes.
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