Author's note:
Hagaki: Konninchiwa minna!! This is Chapter four!!
Minami: Hope you'll like this one!!!
Hagaki: Gomen to all Sakuragi fans...Again.
Minami: hehehehe
Chapter 4: The First Smile
" Welcome, former team members of the Shohoku basketball team. I'm Nobuhiro Oda, the National Team's captain."
" Thank you very much, Nobuhiro-san." Kogure greeted bowing his head slightly. Mitsui, Ryota, Ayako, and Akagi bowed too.
" C'mon!!! Let's start playing!!! I'll beat everyone on this court, EVERYONE YOU HEAR ME?!"
Akagi punched Sakuragi on the head.
" Shut up!! Oh ~ I'm terribly sorry for the noise, Nobuhiro-san" Akagi apologized, looking really ashamed.
" That's nothing. Actually, we really planned to have a game with you today."
Everyone was shocked.
" TODAY?!!"
" Yup. Today. This is because we want to see if you can still play basketball or not."
Oda walked towards the middle of the court as if he was an announcer.
" Everyone, the game will start a few minutes from now. For the groupings...Masaki, Ryo, Toshiro, Yuji, Mikatsu, and I are team A. For team B, Akagi, Miyagi, Mitsui, Kogure, Sakuragi...and Rukawa."
Rukawa threw a death glare at Nobuhiro. Nobuhiro spotted him but just ignored him.
" For the team B, you could use the spare practice dresses at the locker room opposite ours. The game will start after 10 minutes."
At the locker room, Sakuragi was looking at the spare practice dresses neatly folded beside the lockers. He was looking for a shirt numbered 10. Ryota was already warming up, so is Akagi, Mitsui and Rukawa.
" I can't believe I'm playing with you guys again." Rukawa said with a grin.
' Hn. Don't be so cocky Rukawa or else, I'll lose my temper and I'll punch you!" Mitsui exclaimed.
" He's right. We're not yet rusted ya know!" Ryota added.
" HAHAHAHA!!!" Everybody looked at Hanamichi's direction having the same Not-Again-Look at their faces.
" Nothing to worry about everyone. The tensai's at you're side!!!"
" Okay fine..."
" Yare yare."
" Masaka..."
" Do'aho."
After changing their clothes, they all lined up at the middle of the court. The starting members were: Akagi, Miyagi, Mitsui, Rukawa, and Sakuragi.
" The game will start now!" The referee shouted.
Jump ball. Akagi got the jump ball. Ryota quickly catched it and ran towards the goal. Ryo, the team A's point guard, was guarding him pretty well.
" How about it, Miyagi? Are you rusted already?"
" Urusai!!"
Ryota escaped smoothly from Ryo but then, Mikatsu seized the ball.
" Too bad. Your concentration is too low."
" Fast break!!!" Ryo exclaimed. Mitsui was guarding Mikatsu. He followed him until they reached the three-point line of their goal.
" C'mon former MVP. Oh, my mistake, you're a coach now right?"
" You better concentrate than talking!!" Mikatsu jumped and threw the ball. he then spotted Mitsui smiling. He didn't even dare to move a muscle. He (Mikatsu) thought his three- pointer would be a success, but then...
" You're dreaming!!!" Shouted Sakuragi as he blocked the ball. Mikatsu was shocked. Rukawa caught the ball and ran towards their goal.
" AAAA!!! WHO SAID YOU WILL GET MY HARD WORKED BLOCK?!!" Sakuragi shouted.
" Damn. Now Rukawa, our ace player, has the ball. This will be tough." Ryo said.
Nobuhiro was guarding Akagi. Akagi couldn't make a move because of Nobuhiro.
" What's the matter Akagi? You sleepy? Or are you rusted?"
" Hmp. You'll see...Rukawa!! Pass!!"
Rukawa looked at Akagi. No, he can't pass to Akagi. Nobuhiro is one of the best players he has seen. Then, in all of a sudden, he spotted Masaki at his front. Oh, this is another one. Masaki is the best one when it comes to defense.
He then spotted Ryota who is free. Ok. This will be a fake. He moved to the left and succeeded in faking Masaki. He then made a Fade-away-three-pointer .
(Hagaki: Isn't this too much? Minami: Nope, Not at all)
It was in!!!
" Rukawa! Rukawa! L-O-V-E Rukawa!!! Love me! Love me! Rukawa!!" cried the Rukawa Shinetai.
" When did they get here?" Ryota said.
Minna: Sweatdrop*
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" Aren't we there yet?" Noma asked, looking exhausted.
" We're here." Haruko said as they entered the gym. The Sakuragi-guntai was shocked. The gym was enormous. They then took a seat and watched the game.
" Looks like the National Team gives them a hard time." Youhei said.
Score: 30-31. In favor of team A. Mikatsu made yet another three-pointer, quickly followed by Nobuhiro's lay-up and Ryo's jump shot. Score: 30-38. But the game isn't over yet, Mitsui scored a lay-up shot (which is extraordinary for him to do), so is Ryota. Score: 34-38. Four points to go.
" Phew, The former Shohoku team gives us a hard time. And then there's Rukawa, that doubles our hard time." Ryo said, wiping the sweat that was rolling down on his cheek.
Sakuragi felt hot again. He hasn't scored any, thanks to that Toshiro guy that was guarding him. He wasted 4 points because of the first-class guarding of Toshiro.
" OI! Give me a break will ya! Let me shoot!"
" Baka. Of course, I can't. You're our opponent."
" Sakuragi Hanamichi!!! Don't lose your concentration!!!" Ayako shouted from the bench.
" Sakuragi-kun!!! Ganbatte!!" Haruko shouted from her seat.
" Ha-Haruko-san!!!"
" Hanamichi!!" Ryota passed the ball to Sakuragi. Sakuragi caught the ball and prepared for a jump shot.( Which was a fake) But then, Toshiro read his moves and wasn't deceived by Sakuragi's fake. Sakuragi once more (pretended to) faked, and stupid Toshiro thought that it was another fake again, so he didn't dodged. But then, he saw that Sakuragi threw the ball.
"It's too far for a jump shot, Baka!!" Mitsui shouted.
" Who said it was a jump shot?" Akagi caught the ball and slam-dunked it at the ring. everyone was shocked.
" Nice pass, Sakuragi." Akagi said, patting Sakuragi's head.
Score: 36-38. Okay, one more. Ryo dribbled the ball and passed it on Mikatsu, then on Toshiro, then on Nobuhiro, who made a fantastic lay-up shot. 36-40. The gap increased again.
Ryota dribbled the ball and passed it on Rukawa. There's still time. 30 seconds to go. Masaki guarded him again, and now, his guard was tougher than before. Rukawa can't shoot.
" Rukawa, don't force yourself!! Pass!!" Ryota shouted.
No choice. He passed it to Ryota. Before he could shoot, Sakuragi made a give-it-to-me-sign. Then he saw Sakuragi's condition. He was free because Ryo and Toshiro were guarding him. He made a fake and passed it to the now restless Sakuragi, who made a jump-shot. 38-40. 10 seconds left.
Ryo now has the ball. But, before he could move, Ryota seized the ball.
" It's our show time now, buddy." he said with a smile.
He then passed it to Mitsui on the three-point line. Mitsui was unable to shoot though, he lose his grip on the ball. Good thing Rukawa was there to catch it.
5..4..3...2...he threw the ball. It was a three-pointer.1. . It was IN!!! 0...
Shohoku members jumped for joy. They beated the National Team!!!
" AAA!!!! Rukawa! Rukawa!!! L-O-V-E Rukawa!!!" cried the Rukawa-shinetai.
" We did it!!! We did it!!"
" Rukawa!!! Nice play!!!" Akagi said as he clinged hi arm on Rukawa's head.
Rukawa never felt so happy after a long time. He missed this atmosphere so much. The cheerful atmosphere of his teammates. Unlike his present teammates in the National team.
Haruko and the Sakuragi-guntai ran to Ayako, who took out her camera and took a picture of this happy scene. Then she saw Rukawa having a different expression...
He did something he never EVER did before...
He...smiled...
Ayako nearly dropped her camera.
Rukawa, for the first time in the world history, smiled. His set of perfect white teeth displayed, his face looked brighter than ever. A small dimple was seen on his right cheek. He was so adorable. (both authors faint*)
Then, everyone looked at him. Everyone looked at him, jaws dropped, eyes wide. The cleaners dropped the ball. Haruko and the Rukawa-shinetai fainted because they saw the cutest face of Rukawa. It was so silent in all of a sudden.
Rukawa then noticed shocked eyes looking on him.
" Wha-what did you just...did...Rukawa...?"
" You...smiled...?"
" Of course I did. I'm human. I can smile, do'aho."
Later on, when the court was fully cleaned, Nobuhiro shook hands with Akagi.
" Nice play, Akagi."
" Thank you."
" Well, all of you now are formally called " NATIONAL PLAYERS". Congratulations." The National team Members clapped and cheered for their new members. Akagi and the others rejoiced.
" But......you still need to do 'OUR' basics because you're new. Understood?"
" Yes, we understand."
Nobuhiro smiled.
" Well, the one who will instruct you is Rukawa."
" NANI?!!!!!"
" Why me?"
Sakuragi, Mitsui, and Ryota flared in anger. They remembered the things that they were thinking of a while ago. ( the cloud thingy-thingy) Rukawa stood in front of them and yawned.
" Training lower class...how stupid..."
" Nani?!" Ryota shouted
" Shut up Rukawa!!!" Mitsui exclaimed.
" Teme!!! Shineee!!! Kitsune!!!"
" Hn. Too cocky." Akagi said.
Kogure sweatdropped.
Rukawa sighed.
" Well, what can I do?" He the opened the door and revealed a park circle outside.
" 30 laps." he said.
" What the-"
" Thrity?!"
" Don't complain. That's just easy."
Nobuhiro approached them.
" Join them Rukawa so that you'll be practiced too."
" Fine."
Sakuragi, Mitsui, and Ryota sticked out their tongue.
Later, they were already at the circle, running. They have completed 20 laps. Everyone looked exhausted, except for Rukawa, who was yawning, as if he was just walking. (but he's running, mind you)
" Ten...huff...more...puff..." Mitsui said, nearly fainting.
" Just...hold...on..." Ryota whispered.
" This...is too...much..." Sakuragi said, knees almost on the floor.
" When will we stop..." Akagi asked
' Can...we...have a break...?" Kogure said.
After finishing their 30 laps, they rested for a while. Rukawa, on the other hand, was playing with a practice game with his teammates.
" So..this is the basics..." Mitsui said, lying on the floor.
" So...tiring..." Ryota added.
" K'so!! Look at him!!! He's full of energy!!! Are you willing to be dumped by him?" Sakuragi exclaimed.
" Of course NO!!!" The two shouted, eyes on flames.
Rukawa then spotted them, looking as if they regained their stamina.
" Let's start again. 60 jump shots." he said.
" SIXTY?!"
" NO!! WE WON'T FOLLOW YOU!!!!" the three shouted.
" Oh well." Rukawa then called their captain and they switched places in training.
Nobuhiro smiled at them.
" Okay, I'll train you now." he said.
" Thank God..." the three said, sighing.
" Yoshi!! 60 laps on the court.
Everyone turned to stone.
" Aaa...where's Rukawa?" Kogure asked.
( Authors: Sweatdrop*)
" Now you better listen or else I'll call Captain again." Rukawa said.
" 60 jump shots." he repeated, pointing at the court. Akagi and Kogure followed his order, but the three didn't.
" I said 60 jump shots, do'aho's."
" No..."
" ...we..."
"...won't..."
Rukawa sighed and called for Ayako's help.
" Guys, Rukawa said do 60 jump shots."
Ryota quickly jumped up and ran to the court and followed Akagi and Kogure.
" One down, three to go." Rukawa said.
" OI!! SAKURAGI HANAMICHI AND HISASHI MITSUI!!! GET UP AND DO THE 60 JUMP SHOTS!!!" Ayako shouted.
" No..."
"...way..."
Rukawa had enough and grabbed Ayako's fan and slapped the two heavily.
" Go to the court and do 60 jump shots before I call Captain again." He said, returning Ayako's fan. Ayako blinked twice.
Later...Mitsui and Sakuragi were forced to do 60 jump shots, followed by 20 laps at the gym (all of them), basic dribbling, passing...etc.
After the "BASICS" :p , Everyone lied at the floor, sweaty and out of breath. And then tomorrow, the "BASICS" will be repeated... again.
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Author's note:
Hagaki: Ah!!! Rukawa-san smiled!!!
Minami: *faints*
Hagaki: Please read Chapter five!!!
Minami: And also, please reply!!!
Hagaki: Thanks for all those who replied!!!!
BOTH: ARIGATO GOZAIMASU, MINNA!!!!!!!!!