Disclaimer : Slam Dunk is owned by Takehiko Inoue. Yamada Hideo & Morita Keiji are mine!
Note: Sentences in italics are thoughts.
Author's Notes:
Okay, this fic will showcase a mean and rude Rukawa. Some will say it's an exaggeration of his character but some readers like Rukawa that way. They say his appeal lies in his snobbish and rude attitude.
If you are the type who likes a nicer Rukawa, check out my other fanfics (Of Love & Friendship, A Friend, I Couldn't Ask For More and Madness). Creating female OC's is not one of my strongest points though I have created a female OC in Madness named Rani. Madness is a romantic sex comedy.
What makes Rukawa a very interesting character to me is because his personality is very raw. He has a lot of potential to grow as a person, therefore very interesting to use in a story. My muse just keeps on bombarding me with ideas faster than I can type them.
There are two male OC's and one minor female OC for this fic. This fic will go along with the mood swings of the author, from drama to angst to romance to humor. Just like what real life is.
Prologue: Spring Vacation
Rukawa Kaede made a fake to his left then dashed to his right. He could see his imaginary opponent distracted by his moves. Ball in his hands as he leapt up high in the air, beads of sweat from his body flying in all directions. Ball slammed in and he gripped his hands on the metal ring for support. The reverberating sound of his dunk has never been more satisfying.
With the grace of a bird, he softly landed on the ground and smirked at his imaginary opponent.
School will start in about a week. He will be in his third year of high school and was named the new Shohoku basketball club team captain. To his surprise, Sakuragi, his rival since first year never made a fuss out of it.
The handsome, raven-haired man has gone a long way since first year. He has learned to smile…er…smirk. And although he talks to his teammates, he is still the same reserved Rukawa. He plays even more aggressively now that he is in his last year in high school. There were times when he would come off as arrogant because of his burning desire to become the best. More than ever, his determination to win in the Inter-High and be the number one basketball player in Japan was burning in his heart. And then America was waiting for him. He would chase his dream and nothing and no one was going to stop him.
Sakuragi Hanamichi spent the last few days of spring vacation hanging out with his army. It was a very short vacation, just eleven days. Although still loud, basketball has taught him to be patient. He's not that hotheaded anymore and accepts things in life as they come. He's even helpful when the time calls for it. He realized that he really loves basketball and not just because Haruko is into it. And although he loves basketball, he never forgets the fact that he has friends too, so his life does not revolve just around basketball.
~ ~ ~Flashback~ ~ ~
"Sakuragi-kun! You naughty boy, you are red all over!" Haruko teased him after confessing his feelings to her inside the gym's locker room.
"Heheh…."
She dragged him in front of a big mirror and curled her arm around his arm. "I think we are perfect as friends, don't you think so?"
They stared at their reflection. After a while, Sakuragi grinned ear to ear. "Nah, I think we are perfect as best friends."
Sakuragi admired their reflection. To him, Haruko was like an angel who could do no wrong. He would never, ever have any hard feelings for her.
Haruko looked at the mirror closely and noticed something on top of her best friend's locker. "Sakuragi-kun?"
"Y-Yes?"
"What's that thing on top of your locker?"
Sakuragi quickly left Haruko's side, grabbed his athletic supporter and stuffed it inside his bag.
Haruko was giggling while he was blushing all over. "Well, hurry up so we can lock the gym!"
~ ~ ~End of flashback~ ~ ~
He's never been happier because even though Haruko turned him down, they shared a very open friendship. It's the kind of friendship that's rarely seen in any male-female bondings. There was an acceptance that was not bound by conditions and being always there for each other when the need arises.
Haruko Akagi browsed over her notes. They definitely needed new players this year. It wasn't a good year last year. They had to make do with third years and second years for starters. On top of that, Sakuragi had to take a break from playing one season because of the back injury he sustained during his first Inter-High Games. The redhead had to recuperate completely as back injury is a very dangerous one. Captain Miyagi and Ayako had graduated from high school and so were most of the players. She wrote down her plans for the team. Their goal: The Inter-High Championship Crown.
She had long given up on Rukawa knowing that she would never have a place in his heart. When Sakuragi learned that, the redhead confessed to her but she had to turn him down. To her surprise, the redhead was very civil about it. Instead of ranting and raving, the redhead accepted and respected her decision. She and Sakuragi even became the best of friends.
Ayako, the former team manageress has taught her to be firm in her decisions and of course, when and how to use the paper fan. She rarely used it though since Sakuragi and Rukawa didn't bicker a lot like they used to. She'd be having more responsibility now as a full-fledged team manageress, especially now that Anzai-sensei wouldn't be able to come regularly during their practice and training. His doctor has advised him to take a lot of rest and not to put too much stress on himself after having another heart attack. Coaching Shohoku basketball team must have put too much stress on him. Thank God she has an assistant in Mizusawa.
Mizusawa Ichiro will be in his second year in Shohoku. He was Rukawa's kohai from Tomigaoka Junior High. Being a former team captain, he was a very good player but an unfortunate foot injury barred him from playing the game for life.
He was determined to take the team to the Inter-High with his Rukawa-sempai but since he could no longer play, he joined the team as an assistant team manager to Haruko.
Haruko was just passing by the park when she heard the bouncing of a ball. Thinking that it could be Rukawa or Sakuragi, she took a peep and saw a rather tall, bespectacled young man doing a series of perfect three-point shots.
"Sugoi….." she uttered in awe.
Even though she's been around basketball players for most of her high school life, the game's moves never failed to amaze her.
The young man noticed her and shyly looked away. Haruko practically knew everyone in town having lived there most of her life. This boy though she was sure she hasn't seen him before.
"I haven't seen you around here before," she said.
"I… just moved to Kanagawa," he answered, not looking at her.
"Oh, I see." She walked over to face him. "Your three-point shots are superb. Where did you learn to do that?"
"I- I just practiced on my own."
"Really?" Haruko's face beamed up. A person who has an initiative to learn. Now that's definitely something. "From what school are you?"
"Umm… I haven't enrolled yet. I am going to be freshman in senior high."
"Eh? Why not? School is about to start in a week."
The team manageress noticed that the skinny boy was somewhat fidgeting. A sure sign of lack of self-confidence.
"Why don't you go to Shohoku then?" She smiled as she introduced herself to him. "I am Haruko Akagi, Shohoku basketball team's team manageress and I am inviting you to join the club."
"Morita Keiji." He bowed in respect. "T-thanks for the invitation."
"Why go to Shohoku? Why not to Kainan?" His father asked him. "That's where the bright people usually go."
"Because Shohoku's the one who wanted me," he answered.
Morita Keiji knew he had the potential if only people would appreciate him. He tried joining the basketball club in junior high but they never took him in because they said he was a nerd. And truly, he's a nerd. That he cannot deny. He wears glasses, he is clumsy and on top of that he is skinny. He learned basketball by practicing alone and by reading books. Even though he was at the top of his class, he has a very low self-esteem because most people shunned him. Nobody gave any importance to him except his teachers and parents. Girls never bothered to talk to him.
He was determined to prove that nerds also have a place in sports.
~ ~ ~Flashback~ ~ ~
"Rukawa-kun, you are reaaally amazing!!"
The object of her praise just walked past her but she ran to catch up on him. Her brother followed her.
"I am your number one fan!" She said excitedly.
"Ch," the famous basketball player snorted.
She stopped in front of him, her eyes glowing with so much happiness and anticipation.
"Can my brother and I have pictures with you?"
He stopped walking and gave her an icy glare. "Get lost."
~ ~ ~End of flashback~ ~ ~
Yamada Hideo would clench his fists every time he remembers that incident. His only sister, Hitomi was terminally ill and she spent the last days of her life doing what she enjoys best, watching Rukawa Kaede play. He accompanied his sister to every game Rukawa played and she yelled like crazy every time he makes a point.
That was just about eight months ago, during the Inter-High Games. He was holding a camera so he could take Rukawa and his sister's picture together. That was his sister's very last wish, to have her picture taken with her idol, Rukawa Kaede. The famous basketball player though brushed them off like they were some dirt. One week later, his sister died broken-hearted and her last wish was not granted.
From then on he practiced the game his sister loved. He practiced like crazy even though he was not a member of his school's basketball team. He vowed that he would go to Shohoku and join the basketball club. He was determined to outshine and bring Rukawa Kaede down.
"Why Shohoku?" His schoolmates would ask him. "You practically live beside Ryonan High."
Because Rukawa Kaede is there.
Yamada Hideo was an average student, quite handsome and has a very unpredictable personality. His heart is burning for basketball just as it is full of hatred for Rukawa Kaede. Of course, nobody knew about it but him. He was the personification of the saying 'still water runs deep'.
He was determined to end Rukawa's glory days and put him out of the game for life.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A/N: Mizusawa Ichiro's story appeared in Slam Dunk Movie 4.