Gomen ne for the late update. Help me! I don't know how to continue anymore.
Yes, there's an anime of Slam dunk too.ü
Tohru and Yuki were both at the supermarket when they bumped into Captain Akagi and Haruko. Tohru was the first to see them. "Captain Akagi!" Tohru was waving her hand wildly.
"Eh? Oy, Tohru-san." Akagi's voice boomed. Everybody at the store looked at them. Akagi's tallness was something that always drew attention. Akagi and Haruko approached the couple. "How you've been?" Akagi was the first to ask. "You were not coming to our games lately."
"Gomen ne, Captain but Sakuragi-kun haven't invited me again. I really loved watching games."
"Is that so?" Akagi was surprised. He thought Sakuragi really liked this girl and she's the only girl responding to Sakuragi. "Well you're in luck, I have extra tickets for tomorrow's game and if you want I'll give it to you." Akagi pulled out from his wallet two tickets. You can bring your friend along too." He said referring to Yuki.
Tohru became embarrassed. "Gomen ne, I forgot to introduce you. Captain Akagi, this is Sohma Yuki. Yuki-kun this is Captain Akagi." The two shook hands. "Yuki-kun is good at sports too." She added with prided.
"Yeah? What sports do you play?"
"Soccer, Football, tennis, swimming, golf, billiards, judo, taekwondo, basically everything except basketball." Yuki replied.
"Why not basketball?" Akagi clenched his fists because Yuki made basketball sound like it was a stupid sport.
"As you can observe, I'm not very gifted in height." Yuki smiled to lighten up the tension. He was sensing danger already.
"I see." At this, Akagi smiled too.
"Ahem!" Haruko coughed.
All three turned to face her. "Oh, I'm sorry; this is my sister, Haruko. I believe you still haven't met?"
"Nice to meet you Haruko-san. I'm Honda . . ." Tohru extended her hand.
"Tohru, I know. Nice to meet you too." Haruko said but she was not smiling.
Tohru don't know how to react. "Eh he."
Akagi interrupted. "Oh well, we better get going now. Hope you can go to tomorrow's basketball game and nice to meet you." He patted Yuki at the back. "Bye!"
"Bye!" Tohru and Yuki bade them.
Akagi was thoughtful. I see, so Tohru already has a boyfriend that is why Sakuragi kept his distance. Akagi felt really sorry for Sakuragi. Akagi remembered Yuki. He's so small and thin. Sakuragi could take on him anytime but he didn't. What an honorable guy!
Meanwhile, Haruko was doing some thinking of her own. There's nothing special about that Tohru. She looked stupid and she's not even pretty. What a plain girl. But why did she have a gorgeous boyfriend and Sakuragi running after her?
"Ey, Haruko." Akagi suddenly said interrupting her thoughts. "Why were you rude to Tohru-san? I was embarrassed back there."
"Huh? Nothing. Was I rude? Please excuse me. I just got my period."
"I see."
Haruko was relieved. That excuse works every time.
Yuki's respect and admiration to Tohru increased. It's amazing how Tohru can be not affected by what that girl did to her. She was downright rude to Tohru. What's her problem? Tohru does have a pure heart.
"So would you be going?" Yuki asked as they were walking home.
"Huh? Where?"
Yuki smiled a little. It was just a usual occurrence that Tohru would forget something right away. "The game tomorrow? You know the basketball game?"
"Hai, yes. I'm going. Would you like to come with me?"
"I would love to but I had a schedule tomorrow to go to the main house for my doctor appointment with Hatori. Gomen ne, Tohru"
Tohru smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "Don't worry about it. I can go alone."
"Why don't you ask Kyo if he would like to come with you?" Yuki forced himself to say. He didn't like the idea of Kyo alone with Tohru but he abhorred the thought of Tohru alone with that red-haired man. With Kyo around, it would be harder for Sakuragi to get close with Tohru.
"Hai, I would ask Kyo-kun but I'm not sure he would want to go. He said so himself last time."
"Don't worry. He'll accept." Yuki was sure.
"So, I have an extra ticket for the game tomorrow." Tohru concluded her story as she told the story to Shigure and Kyo at the dining table.
"Gomen ne Tohru-kun but I have to do some work tomorrow." Shigure said.
"I don't want to go either." Kyo stated.
"I see. Don't worry Tohru-san, I'm sure your friend Sakuragi would keep you company there." Yuki said.
"Yes, I guess."
"Alright, I'm coming with you." Kyo snatched the tickets in Tohru's hands. "I'm going to keep this. You might forget it again."
Yuki smiled with relief.
"Kyo-kun," Tohru started as they were on their way to the Kainan stadium.
"Yeah?"
"Arigato."
"For what?"
"I know you dislike basketball but even so, you are here with me. Just so that I will not be alone."
Kyo was loss for words. "Ah eh, here we are."
Tohru looked at the stadium. It was really big and many people were already coming in to the stadium. Everybody have their own teams to cheer on. Many have brought banners of their favorite team.
"I hope you enjoy it with me Kyo-kun." Tohru said.
Kyo grabbed her hand and pulled her into the stadium. "Well, let's hurry already. We might not get the best seats."
Tohru smiled gratefully at Kyo's back.
"Hey, you want some popcorn?" Kyo asked after awhile.
"Hai, if it's not too much trouble." Tohru replied while her eyes stayed glued on the game. It was getting exciting. The game was so close.
"It's no problem." Kyo said then he left.
Not long after he left, Akagi got injured. The referee whistled.
"Captain Akagi!" Tohru gasped. Tohru immediately stood from her seat and tried to go down to the benches of Shohoku. But the guards wouldn't let her. "Akagi-san" Tohru whispered.
From afar, Tohru can see that he was already attended by Ayako-san and some of his team mates. But still, Tohru can't help but worry. She suddenly felt a pair of eyes staring at her and she turned and caught Sakuragi staring who immediately looked away. Is he mad at me? Tohru can't help but think.
Kyo returned with two sodas and a large bag of popcorn. "Oy, what's the commotion all about?"
"It's Captain Akagi. I think he broke his leg."
Kyo looked at Akagi. "He's big, he'll survive." Were the only words he could think of to comfort Tohru.
"Kyo-kun, before we leave later, could we please see if he's alright?"
Kyo was already tired and he wanted to go home but he consented all the same. "Okay."
Kyo was rewarded with a smile.
"If you want Kyo-kun, I'll only be the one to go in." Tohru said to Kyo after the game was over and they were now in front of the locker rooms.
"Okay. I'll just wait for you right here." He pointed to a nearby bench.
"Hai." Tohru went in. She was intimidated by the sweaty players because of their height. They were all towering over her. She wasn't even sure if they had seen her. After further search, she found Sakuragi sitting at the floor.
"Sakuragi-kun!" Tohru greeted.
Sakuragi stiffened at her voice. He looked like as if he just suffered an electric shock.
"Tohru-san? What are you doing here?!" Sakuragi asked surprised and embarrassed. He was quite aware that he smelled bad and the fact that he had no shirt on.
Tohru didn't seem to notice because Tohru was quite used to naked boys. "Where's Captain Akagi? Is he alright?"
Sakuragi pointed to a room. "He's there."
Tohru started to speak. "Saku . . ."
"He's there." Sakuragi repeated. "I'm sorry but I have to go now." Sakuragi immediately stood up and left Tohru standing confused on what just happened.
Sakuragi-kun is definitely angry at me, Tohru realized.
Tohru went inside the room where Sakuragi had pointed earlier and knocked. "Captain Akagi, may I come in?"
Akagi was alone in the room and was feeling sorry for himself because he felt that it was his fault that they lost the game again. "Tohru-san?" he recognized the voice.
"Hai,"
"Come in, come in."
Tohru opened the door and went inside. "Captain Akagi, are you alright?"
"Hai, it's just that my feet became too tired again. I injured my feet then and now it's now sensitive. I can't use it for strenuous work for long."
"I'm so glad." Tohru said. But she then realized that what she said is not appropriate. "What I mean is that, I mean that I'm glad that you're okay but I'm not glad that you're injured and . . ." Tohru just bowed down.
"Akagi managed to smile. "No, Tohru-san, I know what you meant. Thank you."
Tohru went to seat beside him. "I'm sure that next time you'll win. I have great faith in your team. You're the best. In fact, I'm your number one fan."
Akagi laughed a little. "You don't need to say that just to make me feel better."
"But I do mean it. I believe in you"
Akagi got serious." You know, I used to believe too. My aim was the national championship but we can't even be the number one in our area. I now even got an injury. Basketball was my life but now, it seems that my dreams are far from happening."
"Okaasan used to say to me 'Go! Tohru! You can do it!' she always said this to me whenever I feel down. She said that I have to believe in myself because if I don't, then how can others believe in me too? I think that all people should not lose hope because the moment they do, they are already a failure. You get your strength to move on from the people you love and these people will also get their strength from you."
"Your mother was really smart." Akagi smiled.
"Yes, of course. She was kind too and . . ."
The door suddenly opened. "Brother!" Haruko stood stunned.
Akagi was the first to recover. "Haruko, Tohru-san was just visiting me."
"Hai, I'll get going now." Tohru stood up. "Get well soon, Captain and nice to see you Haruko-san." Tohru immediately left.
"Still got your period?" Akagi asked noticing how Haruko ignored Tohru.
"Huh? Um, yes."
Akagi looked at the door. He wondered why he was embarrassed to be 'caught' talking with Tohru.
My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. –Proverbs 1:10