Chapter 3

I'm beginning to get used to Shohoku, getting around the school without getting lost, basically. I took the shortest route to the gym, as I munched on an egg sandwich.

It was the basketball tryouts today. It has been horror waiting for this day. I was damn nervous, one more day and I would have died.

I finished off my sandwich and pushed opened the heavy doors of the gym. There were, say, twenty-odd girls there, dribbling and shooting simultaneously. Pressure, intensity...I felt it, like a dark cloud hovering centimetres above ground.

Then I caught sight of Naomi. Suddenly, the remnants of my hopes were deflated. She was much faster and more agile than I was. I was never equipped with these natural talents. Sigh, I tied the final knot on my shoe with force.

"Girls! Gather around. Welcome to Shohoku. I am Anzai-sensei, your coach." Well, he certainly did not look like he'd ever seen a basketball in his life. Round and jolly with an occasional "Oh-hohohoho". His silvery white hair was parted neatly at the side and he wore black trousers and a crisp white shirt complete with a tie. Anzai-sensei...

"We will play a few matches so I can estimate your individual strength. It will be a 3-on-3 since there are 24 of you here. I've chosen the teams randomly using the sign-up sheets. The first team will be..."

Minutes later, I got my teammates. "Hey! I'm Takeno Rika! What about y'all?" I began the introductions.

"Oh hi! Taro Mia," chirped the tall, longhaired girl.

"Kimayi Shita," said the other monotonously. Hmm, she must be a hard nut to crack, eh? She seemed only interested in her book. Of all things to bring to a basketball tryout, she had to bring a book.

"You're in 1-...?" I asked.

"1-6," Taro Mia replied. Kamiya Shita seemed more eager to kiss her book than talk. Oh well.

"My class is 1-10. Whish position do you play?"

And so, O hit it off with Mia.

After lots of blabbering and commenting on the games, it was our turn. We played Naomi's team...

******

History was dead boring. The worse thing was that Yakamoto-sensei made that Takeno Rika wake me up every time my head hit the table. She didn't pat my shoulder gently or wake me up softly. She either poked me with her finger or she'd yell at me like I was on the other side of the globe! Ok, maybe I was exaggerating but I couldn't even get a minute of peaceful sleep!

I felt so drowsy. I headed for the rooftop. It was about 2.33 p.m. Nah, I won't miss the tryouts. Even if I fell into deep sleep, I'd sleepwalk to the gym.

I climbed the last few steps and pushed open the door sleepily.

"Ahhh! Rukawa! Girls, let's rock and roll!" some girl screamed, followed by countless shrieks.

I was shaken awake by high-pitched voices shouting, "Rukawa! Rukawa! L-O-V-E Rukawa! Aaahhh!"

If they had been guys, I would have given them a black eye each. I've had enough of people interfering with me and my sleep! I shot them a look as best as I could with my half-closed eyes.

Attempt failed. Their squeals grew louder by a crescendo and went an octave higher. "Rukawa! Rukawa! L-O-V-E Rukawa! Rukawa! Rukawa!"

I shut the door on them. I will never want anything to do with girls. Now where should I go?

Yawn...My mouth opened wide and I swallowed.

I spotter a bench at the end of the corridor. It looked so inviting; it was beckoning, "Come! Come!" A dreamy smile creeped over my face and I took each step like a possessed zombie. Finally, I plopped onto the bench and adjusted myself into a comfortable position.

Ahhh...

******

I gulped down my second bottle of water, my hands on my hips, taking in each breath sharply. I was drained of my energy.

It had been an evenly matched game unlike some of the others. They won by merely 3 points. I just hope I didn't blow my chances of making the team. I gazed at the 2 teams on court, my mind replaying the game. What had gone wrong?

"Rika! Rika!" Mia waved her hand in front of me. Suddenly my soul got transmitted back to Earth.

"Ye-ah?" I said, distracted. The game was over already and I hadn't noticed. Sigh. My gaze fell on the basketball that was rolling around.

"See, there you go again. Lost in outer space. Anzai-sensei's gonna announce those that got in." She pulled me up and dragged Shita, who was still engrossed in her novel, along.

I snapped out of my thoughts. He is choosing the team" That original nervousness creeped back into me. I felt my heart fall down into the pit of my stomach.

"Girls, these are the qualifyers..." he said.

I bent my head down and wished with all my might...

******

"Aww...he's so cute!"

"No! Don't wake him up!"

"I just want to...you know!"

"Looking is enough...he's so adorable!"

"Hey! Look who's talking! What are you doing now?"

Voices filled my ears... Who was that? My eyelids fluttered open and I used my arm to shield the glaring light. Two figures appeared in front of me. Huh? Where was I?

The two girls gazed at me. "Kaede-kun! Are you trying out for basketball?"

My eyes widened in shock. Basketball tryouts! What's the time? One of them had a watch so I grabbed her wrist to check the time. 2.57 p. m.! I released my grip and ran down the corridors. Oh damn it, I had to be there at 3 o' clock sharp!

I dodged a teacher and squeezed past a guy pushing a huge cart. I couldn't be late! I bounded down the stairs and shoved open the door. Phew! Now, the gym was only round the corner. I zoomed past a couple, interrupting their peaceful date and stopped right in front of the gym's entrance. I bent down to catch my breath.

Then as cool and composed as I could, I strolled into the gym like it was just another day. The big round clock stared down at me.

What? 2.50 only? Is this some kind of joke? I ran all the way here to find that I was early? No, correction extremely early.

Since I was here already, I might as well stay and wait. I walked towards the changing room. Some girls were gathered around Anzai-sensei.

Suddenly something familiar caught my eye. That short brown hair belonged to somebody. Who? Then, she turned around.

Takeno Rika?

******