Disclaimer: Slam Dunk does not and will never belong to me. However, this plot belongs to me. If anyone dares to duplicate Cruel, be it rename it or change the characters' names and make it your own, be ready to get a letter from my lawyer.

Cruel -- Chapter 2: Forfeit
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Ever since seeing Haruko, my whole mind is full of thoughts of her. I just want to see her again. My entire body is filled with adrenaline, ready for flight to run to her class just to steal a peek of her but I dared not. The only thing that I managed to do was to pray silently in my heart that Friday will come soon enough and it will be peer support, so that I could see her.

Finally it's Friday. Friday took eternity to arrive but heck, it's here . Alas! I have an entrance test to sit for before peer support. That means only one thing --- I'll be late!

Once settled down in the computer lab, I started working on my test but goddamn it! The test is so hard. I tried to speed up my work so I could rush over for peer support but to no avail. Damn! Images of Haruko keep appearing in my mind and I felt a sudden strength in me to work faster. It was just as if she was helping me out at the same time. Finally I finished my test and took flight... 3:10, 10 minutes late. Haruko, I'm coming...

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. I passed the room where the peer support session was going on. I saw Haruko. Immediately, my heart almost jumped out. I could barely breathe. At the same instant, she looked out and she saw me. Time froze between the two of us as we looked straight into each other's eyes despite the distance. She waved to me and smiled. I smile at her too but I was panting and tired out from the run. My face was totally red. I do not know if the run had caused the redness on my face or...

"You are late. But never mind. Settle down and join in." Haruko gave me an assuring smile. "Look at you, you are panting so hard, where did you come from? Here." She took a tissue out and leaned forward to wipe my sweat away from my face. I reclined away and she frowned momentarily. Almost instantaneously, my heart took control over all my senses and my whole body went numb and I just allowed her to wipe away the sweat from my face without any word of protests. She was so gentle and meticulous, my eyes kept looking at her as she wipe away my perspiration. The distance between us was so close and I could hear her breathing. My heart lost control just like a wild animal on the loose again. I could feel my face turning red-hot. All of a sudden, she looked at me straight into my glance and my heart thumped faster than before. She started blushing too. Then she walked away from me and went to the dustbin to throw away the sweat-drenched tissue. She walked back to the circle that we were sitting together in.

"Thanks." I muttered. That was the only word I could say before my heart jumped out from my mouth. She smiled at me without saying any word.

"Ok, let's begin today's session..." Haruko began but was cut short was Rukawa.

"PEOPLE WE FORGOT SOMETHING.. FORFEIT!!!" I feel so betrayed by Rukawa. Immediately, the whole group started to shout "Forfeit" and I feel that I'm done for!

"Please people... I have to go for my cca's entrance test, that's why I'm late... I suppose I don't have to do a forfeit because of this right?" I pleaded in vain.

"U wish! We look forward to seeing some entertainment by you... Haha.. Now you now what it means by "tasting your own medicine".. Who asked you to come up with this rule to begin with? You only have yourself to blame.." Satoshi said.

"Don't want... Please..." I pleaded. But no matter what I do, I can't change their mind.

Finally, Haruko speaks. I know deep down that she has to agree to making me forfeit as it's everyone's wish, if she is to go against all of them, everyone would be unhappy with her.

"I think... Erm.. We'll just make Sakuragi forfeit for 15 seconds. How's that? And I supposed its only right that I do the forfeit together with him since I'm your peer support leader thus I should bear part of the responsibility too." Haruko suggested.

"YAY!!!" It was unanimous.

"Wait... There's ain't a need to make her do the forfeit with me. Don't get on her case. I'll do the forfeit myself, don't drag her in please. So what do u want me to do?" I said in despair. Turning to Haruko, I said, "It's ok, I'll do the forfeit myself. I don't want to drag you in. Who knows what kind of forfeit they can think of..."

"Sing and dance your usual -- Lucifer's "Aishiteru".. What do you mean by the kind of forfeit that we can think of? We're not that evil for god's sake!" Rukawa exclaimed.

"Ok fine.. I apologised." I said. "Lets get this over and done with k? 15 seconds.."

"Erm.. We arrived at the conclusion that the dance would look 10000 times nicer if someone could be your dance partner.. So..." Satoshi said.

"I'll dance with you." Haruko walked up towards me and took my hand and rested it on her waist and rested both her hands around my neck gently, her face was blushing red. I was surprised. I opened my mouth wanting to say something but she placed a finger to my lips and rested her head on my chest. I could smell the sweet fragrance she exuded and I ran my fingers down her silky curls, down her spine and held her by her waist. I started singing and guiding her into the dance. She danced beautifully and graciously together with me. How I wished that Time could stop ticking away...

"Ok... 15 seconds' up.. Aren't you glad?" Satoshi stopped the stopwatch. I was still holding Haruko in my arms. I smiled at her and released my hold. "Thanks. You danced beautifully."
She smiled at me.

"Ok. Entertainment time's over. Now let's get back to our session." Haruko said.

We started on our session for the day and we ended late. I do not care how late we end, as long as I can see Haruko for another minute or two, even for another second, I'll be willing... It was as if she had awoken a part of me that I had never known or that I had never thought that it existed... As I packed my bag, I found something, it was a silver ring, it was a pair with the one on my hand. I looked over in Haruko's direction. She looked at me and smiled when she noticed that I was looking at her. I summoned all the courage deep within and walked over to her with the ring in my hand.

"Close your eyes. Give me your hand." I began. Without protesting or asking why, she gave me her hand. I put the ring in her palm.

"What is this for?" She asked.

"You are asking the obvious. It's for you. It's a pair with the one on my hand. Don't worry, it doesn't have any special meaning. This is just some cheapskate ring that I bought from a roadside stall and I have no use for the other one so I'll just give it to you. There's no special meaning behind it." I said.

"Thanks." She said. I turned and picked up my bag. As I turned and leave, a note slipped out from the textbook in my hand and dropped to the ground. I bent and picked it up...

~To be continued~
Read on to find out what was the note and who is it from..