"I have tickets for the upcoming basketball game for Kaibara vs. Shohoku. Would you like to watch it?" Yuki asked Tohru while Tohru was serving breakfast.
"Eh?" Tohru stopped what she was doing and looked at Yuki then at Kyo. "Would Kyo-kun come with us?"
Kyo stopped eating and looked at Yuki. "Who would want to go to a stupid game anyway?! It would be full of girls screaming and jumping like idiots."
"Ah . . ." Tohru can't think of anything to say.
"Who said you were invited?" Yuki asked.
Kyo turned red. "Whatever."
"So, would you like to go? It would be fun." Yuki asked Tohru again.
"Hai, it's my first time to watch a basketball game live." Tohru smiled at Yuki.
The referee whistled. "Time-out for Kaibara High!" The referee announced. The score was 91-88 in favor of Shohoku.
"Kuso! That guy is over confident." Sakuragi Hanamichi cursed pointing his finger to a Kaibara High player that was skinned head. Hanamichi was already tired and he already committed four fouls thanks to that guy. Surprisingly, Akagi only patted his head. "Don't worry about it. You did a good job."
Sakuragi immediately changed aura. "That's because I'm really a genius."
"Baka." Rukawa mumbled.
Sakuragi almost shouted at Rukawa but then he heard Haruko's voice calling him.
"Sakuragi-kun! Sakuragi-kun!" Haruko was waving at him from the audience.
Haruko-san, your cheers are like Gatorade (an energy drink) for my body. Sakuragi smiled at her and waved too.
With 10 minutes remaining, Sakuragi was finally kicked out. Sakuragi felt angry especially toward the Kaibara player who fouled him. He was planning to question the decision of the referee when Akagi stopped him. "It's okay. Leave this to us."
Sakuragi looked at Haruko's direction. She looks so sad, Sakuragi thought. I've let her down.
Sakuragi can't bear to watch anymore and he went outside.
"This is really exciting!" Tohru exclaimed. She could feel the tension between the two schools and it was really fun. She can't help but also jump when Kaibara scores.
Yuki watched her. I'm glad she's really enjoying this.
Suddenly, Tohru stood up. "Yuki-kun, excuse me, but I need to go to the restroom." Tohru felt embarrassed.
Yuki smiled. "Ok"
Tohru was walking back from the restroom when she saw a guy banging his head at the lockers. "Eh?" Tohru quickly went to him.
"Ano . . . Excuse me? But are you alright?" Tohru asked uncertainly. She's somewhat afraid of this man because he's so tall and has a weird looking hair.
The man did not bother to look at her. "Leave me alone!" Sakuragi shouted.
Tohru was taken aback. She was ready to leave when she remembered her mother's words. A person who tells you to leave him alone means he's really lonely.
Tohru determined, tapped the man's arm. This time, Sakuragi looked at her.
Sakuragi was surprised. Who's this girl? She's kinda cute. She must be one of my admirers.
Tohru recognized him. He was one of the Shohoku players! "Are you alright?"
Sakuragi just kept staring at her.
"By the way, I'm Honda Tohru. I'm from Kaibara High school. You're a player from Shohoku high, isn't it?"
She knows me! "As a matter of fact, I'm the star player of our team." Sakuragi bragged. "Wait! You're a spy for Kaibara, aren't you?" Sakuragi accused.
"Eh? What are you saying? Spy? I thought Rukawa Kaede was your star player." Tohru said not knowing that it would send Sakuragi on fire.
"Ah hah! Would you like to talk to me about Rukawa? That's why you're here?"
Tohru became confused. "Uh, no. You looked troubled back then. What's the matter?"
She looks sincere. "Ok, I'll tell you but it's a secret."
"Hai," Tohru agreed.
"I was pissed off! Haruko-san, this girl I like saw me get kicked out again in the game. She puts so much faith in me. I've let her down. And that Rukawa! He's stealing my show!" Sakuragi looked miserable that Tohru's heart went out for him.
He must be jealous of that Rukawa guy. In truth, Tohru finds Rukawa cute too. "You seems kind, Sakuragi-kun. Surely, Haruko-san sees that."
Sakuragi's eyes widened. Me? Kind? It was the first time I heard someone say that about me. "I notice Haruko-san looking at Rukawa with shyness and all the girls in our school like Rukawa." Sakuragi narrated.
"It may be so but girls don't fall for looks and abilities alone. Mother said what is important is a man's heart. Sure, many girls admire Rukawa but that's it. It's not love."
Sakuragi looked at her with admiration.
"Hey, where's Sakuragi-kun?" Haruko asked her friends when she noticed that Sakuragi was not on the Shohoku bench.
"We don't know." One of her friend answered.
Haruko worried. "Please come with me, I'll look for him."
Her two friends were hesitant at first but complied.
Yuki checked his watch. Tohru's gone for almost 10 minutes already. He panicked. What if something happened to her? Yuki stood up and went outside.
After looking for 5 minutes, Yuki found Tohru under a tree outside talking to a tall guy with red hair. A Shohoku player! Yuki recognized Sakuragi. What is Tohru doing with him?
Meanwhile, Haruko was at the opposite of Yuki and was already screaming Sakuragi's name but Sakuragi did not even acknowledge her.
"That's odd." One of her friends commented. "Usually, even if you just whispered, Sakuragi hears it."
It is odd. Sakuragi-kun never ignored me before. Is he angry at me? Haruko thought.
Just then, her two friends noticed Yuki.
Hearts were floating around the two girls. "So cute!!!" they said in unison while gaping at Yuki.
Yuki decided to approach Tohru. "Ehem," Yuki cleared his throat.
Tohru turned. "Oh, Yuki-kun, This is Sakuragi Hanamichi. He's one of the players of Shohoku. Sakuragi-kun, he's Sohma Yuki, my friend."
Yuki extended his hand but Sakuragi ignored it. She already has a boyfriend? Sakuragi thought glumly.
Yuki scowled for a second and immediately brought his composure back. "Honda-san, we have to go now."
"Ah,ok, Yuki-kun," Tohru smiled. "Would you be okay now?" Tohru asked Sakuragi.
"Yes," Sakuragi answered. "Thank You."
"For what?" Tohru asked but Yuki looked bored already and she decided to drop the matter. "Ja ne! Bye!" Tohru waved.
"See you!" Sakuragi waved back. She's something else.