TITLE: B.A.R.F. (School Really Sucks!) 

PURPOSE OF WRITING: No purpose at all! HURRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^O^

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Slamdunk or any of its characters…so don't sue me k? ^_^

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

~ sLL: TY for reviewing! And here's my continuation…finally…^_^

~ hisashi loves yelen: TY for reviewing! Wow…I didn't know that my plot development was interesting. I thought it was very confusing (thus explaining the title of the chap) but hey, at least you understood. ^_^

~ mitsuigal: TY for reviewing! And about your question, just wait and see…^_^

~ eliar swiftfire: TY for reviewing! And Mitsui's thoughts at the end being abrupt…you're right. Thanks for pointing that out…so I changed it. Now it's more confusing…

~ tensaispira: TY for reviewing!

~ choie: TY for reviewing! I'm glad you liked the title… it took me a while to think of different meanings to each letter. And yes, I'm a Harry Potter fan. ^_^

~ zirc: TY for reviewing and for your encouragements!

* I don't know when this happened…GOMEN.

* LAST CHAP RECAP: Yuri and Mitsui fought again, Yuri threatened Mitsui, Mitsui acted like a jerk, Yuri met her dad, Nayuki & Sara left Ayu under Mitsui's care to follow Yuri, basketball team made fun of Mitsui, Mitsui brought Ayu home.

CHAPTER 7: Second Chance

~ Friday ~

YURI

It had already been 4 days since that humiliating incident between my dad and me. I haven't told the director yet about Mitsui's problem cause she's on a vacation leave so we met last Wednesday. Surprisingly, he came on time and he didn't argue with me… not even once.

Well, he would occasionally jump up and down like a frantic kangaroo and he constantly taps his pen on his table but that's fine with me. At least he didn't open his mouth. I don't take it personally but everytime he opens his mouth, he offends someone.

I just hope he behaves the same way today…

Oh! There's Nayuki…

NAYUKI

Finally! Yuri's here… I don't have to talk to myself anymore.

I hope Rukawa-kun passes by…

" Ei Nayuki, you okay?"

" Of course I'm fine. I was just dreaming about my Rukawa-kun. By the way, where's our resident baka?"

" If you're looking for Sara, she just went to the cafeteria to buy some food."

" Ah…I hope she finishes immediately. By the way, have I told you what happened to Sara during P.E.?"

" Ummm…I don't think so. Why? What happened?"

" Well, I just want to warn you. She slipped so many times on our way out of the shower room so her brain must be malfunctioning more than usual again. Just… just brace yourself for a blow-by-blow account of her stupidity, ok?"
" Uh…okay. Thanks."

" No prob --ah! Here she comes…and why is she with that jerk?! ARGH! Remind me to kill Sara later…"

SARA

Mitsui-kun helped me carry my food…how sweet!

I looked for Yuri-sama and Nayuki and when I finally saw them, I smiled and waved. Oddly enough, Nayuki started glaring at me and she was about to run towards my direction when Yuri stopped her.

Wow…I didn't know they missed me this much…

" Oi Sara, do I really have to go there?"

" Of course. You said you want to tell something to Yuri-sama right?"

" Well, it's not important anyway…"

" Don't be shy Mitsui-kun. She doesn't bite you know…"

" Yuri doesn't but Nayuki does…"

" Hehehe…you've got a point there. But don't worry, she'll calm down when Yuri-sama asks her to shut up."

" Fine. Whatever…"

AH! Mitsui-kun…you're so adorable… risking your life just to be with me…

Haaaaay…..

MITSUI

I wouldn't be here if Sara didn't act so stupid back there…

Imagine debating with the lunch lady because according to her, the servings she gave were too much and all the foods served were too greasy and after all that crappy talk, she conveniently assumed that the lunch lady's just jealous of her perfect body…

Sheesh… women…

"The chief excitement in a woman's life is spotting other women who are fatter than she is."

" Oi Sara! WHAT do YOU think you're doing with that JERK?! Wait…I forgot. You don't think!"

" He was just helping me ok? You don't have to be so angry."

" Have you forgotten how much OUR group hates that guy?"

" Have you forgotten that he was the one who take care of Ayu-chan?"

" He was the only one available that time!"

" Well, we should be grateful to him and --"

" I will never EVER be grateful to that jerk! I don't even know what you saw in him…"

" Well, he acts like a human being, for one….unlike someone named Rukawa Kaede!"

" NANI?! Why you --"

And they went on and on and on and on…

Girls…I would never understand them.

YURI

This fight is pointless…

I should just go and eat by myself…

" Yuri!"

Ah…I forgot Mitsui's still here.

" Nani?"

" I believe this is yours."

He handed me a paper bag. I looked inside it and I found a large bento box, 5 pieces of sandwich, 3 chocolate bars, and a carton of orange juice.

" What's this?"

" Your lunch."

" Did you actually think I eat this much or are you being stupid as always?"

" Hey, I am only doing what Sara said. She said that I hand this bag to you once we find where you're staying."

" And?"

" She said she made this because you haven't been eating these past few days."

" Oh…really?"

" Yes…so just take it ok? I have to go cause I'm already starving."

" Well, you can have some of these and --"

" No thanks. I still want to live and play basketball."

" HA! HA! Really funny."

" Wait, aren't you going to stop those two?"

" They can take care of themselves. And besides, it's their daily routine to bicker anyways."

" O-kay. And another thing, I might not come on time later. We have to practice for tomorrow's game."

" Fine…but only 15 minutes understand? And make sure you did your worksheets."

" Worksheets…right. Okay….ja.

" Ja."

And as he was running off, a red-haired guy and a short curly-haired guy immediately dragged him inside the gym, which I assumed were his teammates.

Basketball… I wonder what's so interesting about it that Mitsui will do anything just to stay in that team and…

My thoughts were abruptly stopped when I noticed that a lot of students were already gathering around Nayuki and Sara. Some were snickering, some were looking at them with revolt, and some were looking with amusement in their eyes. 

Too many freaks…not enough circuses…sheesh….

NAYUKI

ARGH! Why am I even wasting my time explaining things to this…this…do'ahou!

" Oi Sara, have you forgotten our group's motto?"

" What motto?"

" It's 'SEE no evil, HEAR no evil, DATE no evil.'"

" I though it was 'Objects in mirror are dumber than they appear to be'?"

" Eh?! Oh…yeah. But you got it all wrong. That's YOUR motto. What I just said was OUR motto, meaning our group."

" Since when? And did you just insult me?"

" Since…today. And…no. I wasn't insulting you. I was just asserting facts about you."

" Oh… but Nayuki, that's a pretty stupid group motto if you ask me. I don't even get it… how can you see, hear and date evil? Is Evil a person? Why will I date him when I don't even know him? I'm not even sure if Evil is a he or a she! Evil…weird name too. I just don't really get it…"

Sara could be really hard to convince when stupidity had already taken over her body…

" Sheesh…Sara, look. I don't think you are fool but what's my opinion compared to that of thousand of others?"

" AAAAAH! I don't want to hear anything from you anymore."

" Stupidity should be painful…want an aspirin?"

" I'm not hearing anything…I'm not hearing anything…"

" Nice face…want a gun?"

" WAAH!!! Nayuki's a meanie!"

" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! You're such a crybaby. And for that, I win again today. So go and buy me a gallon of ice cream."

" You're so unfair…"

" Do it or I'll call you a sore loser who has the face of a million dollar…all green and wrinkled! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

" WAAH!!!"

HAH! That's what you get for fighting with me…

You should have known it was a losing battle for your side…

SARA

I used to think Nayuki's a gibbering idiot. Now I have a much lower opinion of her.

Why am I even friends with her…? Maybe I'm really stupid…

Where's Yuri-sama when I need her most???

YURI

I didn't know there are a lot of idiots out there until I met these two…

Yep! There's one in every crowd and unfortunately, it seems that they always find me…

And so, I left and went to a far away place before people finds out that I am acquainted with those two.

~ Fast Forward: Friday afternoon, at BARF ~

YURI

" WHAT a day…I'm wearing new shoes, and my feet are killing me. Mind if I take them off?"

Mitsui arrived at our carrel, thankfully on time, and that was the first thing he said. I was really hoping that this session would be just like the previous one wherein he just kept his mouth shut. Apparently, it was just a once in a lifetime experience.

" Sure…do whatever you want. Just make sure your feet don't stink."

" My feet smell just fine. Here, you can smell it if you want to."

" HAH! Your feet are so stinky that I'd rather look forward to farts."

" You're disgusting."

" So are you."

Relieved to see that he decided to use a chair today, I scanned through my notes from Wednesday's session while Mitsui, on the other hand, was busy wiggling his toes and saying from time to time, "ooh"s and "aah"s.

Funny how he resembles mating cows right now…

" Okay. As I can see here in my notes, you were going to do the work sheets, and then we were going to go over your homework. So, where are your work sheets?"

MITSUI

" Work sheets? I don't remember anything about work sheets. Are you sure you gave me work sheets? Because if you gave me work sheets then I would have brought those work sheets today."

Okay…so I'm lying again. But she's stupid… she won't notice anyway.

" I gave them to you at the end of our last meeting, remember? I asked you to try answering them, and you shoved them inside your duffel bag. And don't try giving me some lame excuse… I know you're lying. Didn't you notice that you said 'work sheets' five times? You're obviously hiding something."

BAH! I hate this girl…too stinking observant…

" Fine. You got me. I'll look inside my bag."

I fished around my bag, pulling out my school uniform, a Discman, a water bottle, pieces of candy wrappers, another pair of rubber shoes, a tube of toothpaste, a toothbrush, a comb, a pack of gum, a face towel, a --

" I don't think that's the right bag. There's not even a piece of anything which should be in a school bag like notebooks or books or--"

" Go away. I'm busy."

" Fine. I was just stating the obvious."

I glared at her then I continued looking for her 'precious' work sheets. After a few seconds, I finally found it, crumpled underneath some of my worn socks and shirt, which I conveniently forgot to put inside the laundry basket…again.

Mom's going to kill me…I should go to the laundry shop later.

" Oops… they got a little wrinkled."

" Looks like it…ugh! They smell too."

" No they don't."

" Yes they do, but you won't know the difference cause you already smell like it. Ugh… I guess we're going to have to save them for next time."

" Then you shouldn't have asked me to look for them. You just wasted our time… I shouldn't have listened to you."

" Stop acting like you're not happy. Besides, you do have your homework done right? Let me see it…"

I rolled my eyes and rummaged again inside my bag. When I finally found it, I waved it in front of her eyes, and immediately shoved it inside my bag.

" Uh…Mitsui, it would help if I could ACTUALLY see your work. It's EASIER to go over it because that way, I CAN see whether your answers are right or wrong, ne?"

" Oh…okay. These are the problems from pages seventy-three through seventy-six."

" Fine. Let's see what you've got."

YURI

I flipped to the corresponding page in the text. Unlike on our previous meetings, today Mitsui had a big nothing- not one answer right. Not only that, none of the answers made the outmost sense at all.

Problem 1:

Where A,B,C are true and X,Y,Z are false, what's the truth value

of the compound statement? Why?

B à [ X  V (X Λ C)]

* False because I don't know the heck what you're talking about.

Problem 2:

Apply the chain rule to the given set of premises to write a valid conclusion:

If I live in Kanagawa, then I live in Japan.

If I live in Japan,

Then I live near the Pacific Ocean.

* I will go swim in the Pacific Ocean next time. Wanna come? ^_^

I took off the wire-rimmed glasses I sometimes wore for reading then rubbed my eyes…and head.

" Is this some kind of joke? Because if it is, it's definitely NOT funny."

Mitsui looked at me incredulously then after a few seconds, he smirked.

" What are you talking about? Are you questioning my answers?

" I'm talking about the fact that all your answers are wrong. And yes, I'm questioning your stupid answers. I mean, where the hell did you get these? From your stupid teammates?"

" Don't talk trash about my teammates. That's why I'm here, remember? I NEED your help."

" But the other day, you seemed to have caught on! I don't understand…"

Frustrated, I leaned back in my chair, tilting it to that unsteady position between balance and embarrassment.

I can't believe this guy…

One moment he's nice, the next minute he's back to jerk-mode again…

" Mitsui, I'm here to HELP you, not DO your work for you. I can't help you if you won't cooperate. You didn't even bother with the work sheets and the homework. And worse, you chose the perfect opportunity to set aside this special time to humiliate yourself."

MITSUI

Yadda, yadda, blah, blah, blah…

She's beginning to sound like my mom and those baka senseis at school…

" Oi, it's not that I don't want to cooperate. Some of us aren't genius like you ok? I have a life, you know. I can't just spend all my time reading about theorems and logic and stuff. Honestly, I find those things insignificant to our lives anyway."

" Then WHY are you here Mr. I-know-everything-there-is-to-know-about-life?"

" For someone SO smart, you're pretty dumb! I NEED help ok?  How many times do I have to say that to you? It's that simple…can't your brain process that? And you know what, you're doing a lousy job of helping me. I think it would be better if you'll just quit."

I saw Yuri's expression change from angry to amused to really angry and now, she's definitely outraged by my last comment. It looks like she's ready to pounce on me anytime.

" I don't want to hear anything from you. If I wanted to hear from an ASSHOLE, I'd just fart…as simple as that."

" So you're a smart ass eh? Guess that's why they put us together. People think I'm a smart ass too."

" But when they get to the 'real' you, they discover that under the gruff exterior lies a vulnerable heart. Get real… I'm not like the kids on 'Seventh Heaven' and I'm not like you, MISSY."

" Mitsui."

" Whatever MISSY.  You know what, you're pathetic."

" If I'm pathetic, what do you call yourself?"

" Pardon me, but you're obviously mistaking me for someone who gives a damn about what you think about me."

" Rather pathetic is a NERD fossilizing in the library with the social life of a tree or worse, having a very boring life surrounded by worthless scums as friends."

I waited and waited for her answer but nothing came fro her mouth. She didn't answer me with another quick quip or another annoying witty remark.

She just…stared.

YURI

I knew I was kind of a bookworm. A nerd, to use Mitsui's lingo. But that was a label I put on myself. To hear someone else call me that was frankly a little insulting.

When did he have the gall to insult my tutoring skills? Who does he think he is?

Here I was, getting paid to help him, and she was putting me and my friends down?!

From across the room, I saw some of my co-tutors watching us. I scowled back. Then, without a word, I began putting my pencils and scrap papers into my bag.

" You don't need my help. What you need is to actually open a book and actually try to study and understand them. After all, practice makes perfect right?"

" But--"

 " There's no way you read your homework. The homework you were supposed to do was basic, the fundamentals of logic. You know, the chain rule? It is vital to every single branch of mathematics: algebra, geometry, statistics, and trigonometry. Your answer made no sense at all!"

" You don't --"

" I HAVE A LIFE TOO! And if you applied the chain rule to what just happened today, you would conclude that MY life probably shouldn't include tutoring you."

" Will you just –"

" And you don't have any right to diss my friends. YOU'RE the scum, not them. And how dare you judge me?! You don't even know ANYTHING about me."        

I turned around and stalked out of the carrel. My blood was racing. I'd never walked out on a student TWICE before, not even a difficult one. And I already had my share, believe me. There was just something about Mitsui that set me off. For some reason, I felt personally wounded by his comments.

A few seconds later, I heard the thud of shoes behind me.

Now what?!

MITSUI

I was not expecting her to walk out of our class again.  I wasn't even expecting her to lash out at me like that. So, I waited for a few minutes for her to come back and then I'd hear her scream again and lecture me some more.

But she didn't come back. So I followed her. Why? Beats me… I just felt that I had to.

" OI! Wait up."

She just continued on walking, pretending not to hear me just as I assumed.

" Wait, Yuri. Please?"

She stopped when she heard the word 'please'. Because of that, I finally caught up with her.

HAH! Works everytime… I've got to practice using that word more often.

" What do you want?"

" You caught me okay? I didn't have time to do my homework. There was this basketball practice and --"

" Save your excuses, Mitsui. I really don't care."

" Will you stop cutting me off? Sheesh…so, I didn't do my homework, and during homeroom, I filled in the blanks with…with…"

" Stupid things."

" Yep…stupid things."

" Senseless, moronic, dim-witted, silly, mindless and anything synonymous to those words, things which only YOU are capable of thinking of."

" Can't you, for even just a second, stop being sarcastic?"

" Oh…didn't you know that sarcasm is just one more service we offer? And by the way, it's free of charge."

Looks like I'd have a hard time convincing her to forgive me…

" Look…I'm sorry ok? If…if you stop tutoring me, then I'd fail Math. If I fail Math, then I will be kicked out of the basketball team. Then…then…if I apply the chain rule, if you stop tutoring me, then I'll be kicked out of the team."

" …………………………."

" Hey…say something."

" …………………………."

" Was my logic wrong?"

" …………………………."

" I CAN'T be wrong! The logic of that is if a=b and b=c then a=c, right? Or is it the other way around… but I can't be wrong. I just changed the words in the homework you gave me and then…hey! Why are you smiling like that?!"

Maybe she already went nuts… or she's making fun of my answer!

But I can't find what's wrong with my logic… argh!

YURI

Just like I said, this guy never ceases to amaze me…

" Oi! Stop smiling. If something's wrong then just tell me! It's rude to make fun of other's fault right?"

" I'm not making fun of you…I'm just amused."

" What's so amusing? Here I am, setting my pride aside just to ask forgiveness from you and you find that amusing?!"

" It's not my fault. I can't stop myself from feeling strange to see you ACTUALLY thinking."

" What?!"

" Nothing… I was just blabbering.  And don't worry, your logic was right."

" It was?"

" Yep…surprising isn't it?"

" What's that supposed to mean?"

" ………………………………."

" ………………………………."

" …………………………………."

" I'm really sorry. Give me another chance, ok?"

As I looked at him, my heart did an expected flip-flop. He looked so…vulnerable standing there, his eyes big and soulful, his lips slightly parted. And he was wearing these shirt that…

I jumped, startled, as he reached out and touched my sleeve. It actually went shivers through my spine.

Ugh…weird.

" I won't blow it off again. I promise to be more…patient."

" And more respectful?"

" And more respectful."

" And more punctual?"

" And more punctual."

" And less stupid?"

" And less stup – hey! I was NEVER stupid."

" Hehe…kid-ding. So, you're really going to do those things?"

" I'll try."

" Really?"

" Really."

He nodded emphatically. I stood there, trying to ignore his rather rough hand on my arm. I seriously doubted Mitsui's change of heart. He'd probably goof off every time we met, and I'd be getting paid to do basically nothing- to tutor someone who wasn't even remotely interested in improving his Math skills.

But as I looked at him, I just couldn't say no. Besides, I find his character…somewhat interesting. And I do admit that I'm having a really fun time when I bicker with him. After all, this is the only time I could actually talk to him.

" All right…but there are ground rules that you've got to follow. It's my way or the highway."

Hehehe…I'd been dying to use that line ever since I heard it from this…movie, I think.

I heard other people snickering around us. When I glanced at Mitsui's back, I saw my co-tutors looking at us, trying their best not to laugh out loud.

Why? What?!  Did I say something wrong?

" That's the lousiest line I ever heard from you. I don't know why they find that so amusing…"

" Well, I think it's funny. Besides, he laughs last thinks the slowest."

" I'd rather be stupid than laugh at something as lame as that."

" Whatever…so which is it, my way or the highway?"

All of a sudden, his contrite expression turned to one of amusement.

" I told you, Yuri. My feet are killing me. The highway just isn't the option. And besides, I'm not even wearing anything on my feet. What if an accident happened and I accidentally stepped on shards of bottles? Or what if my feet suddenly caught some virus, which will affect my entire body? Do you think I can still play basketball after that? Or what if --"

 " Shut up."

" HAHAHAHAHAHA! Now that is funny right?"

" It's annoying."

" HAHAHAHAAHAHAHA! You're face really looks funny when you're annoyed. HAHAHAAHAHAHAHA!!!"

I think I should have thought about this first…

MITSUI

AHHH… "all's well ends well" … or something like that…

As we were going back to our carrel, I playfully placed my arm around her shoulder.

" So, can I go home now?"

" Did I mention the kick in the groin you'll be receiving if you touch me again?"

" HAH! As if I liked putting my arm around you… you should feel lucky I even touched you! Lots of women would give all their riches just to be with a handsome guy like me."

" Yes, you're handsome, but I will never find your IQ even if I use a flashlight inside that empty brain of yours."

" Thank you. I'm very challenged by your unique point of view. So unique, you're the only one who thought that way."

" Shut up. You know, you should get together with Nayuki sometime. She's better at bickering."

" And what? Be bored to death with her 'Rukawa this' and 'Rukawa that' talk? BAH! Forget it… I would rather bicker with you and attend your lessons."

" Liar."

" You're just flattered."

" Whatever…"

I think I'm already getting the hang of this…

Come to think of it…this could be a start of a good friendship!

….ugh! I sounded so cheesy back there….ugh!….

And not to mention, it sounded really stupid…

CO- TUTORS

" The more you hate, the more you love…"

AWWWWWW….isn't that romantic?

I would give anything to have Yuri's position…

She's one lucky girl to have an adorable student like that guy…

AWWWWWWW….

I guess I'll just wait and see what's going to happen between those two…

***********************************************

~_^ MY! MY!

Finally…after hours and hours of typing…I'm finished!

I can't really say anything…well, I got to go. My mom's already screaming like a banshee downstairs, asking me to help her cook. My sister's already moaning cause she wants to use the computer now…really ugly sight.

So, I hope you guys liked it…

And btw, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!!!!

Love it? Hate it? Let me know!

Pls. Review! Ja! ^_^