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:

~ tensaispira: TY for reviewing 2x! And I hope you finished dl-ing whatever you're dl-ing that time.

~ sLL: TY for reviewing! And it's ok if it's short… it's the thought that counts ne?

~ hisashi loves yelen: TY for reviewing! Glad that it made you laugh…^_^

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

* LAST CHAP RECAP: Yuri and Mitsui fought AGAIN but at the last minute, they patched things up.

CHAPTER 8: Mitsui's Dilemma

~ The next day: Saturday ~

MITSUI

For the past gazillion hours, I lived and breathed Mathematics and ugh! …it's really a horrible experience. I hadn't intended to put so much time on this damn work sheets but I made a promise to Yuri yesterday and as a man, I HAVE to stick to it.

Beside, the death stares Nayuki, her straight-out-of-the-jungle friend, constantly gave me this morning when I thought I could slack off a little bit were pretty unnerving. I bet that's what Yuri did right after our session yesterday: blabber everything to her friends.

Not to mention that I had to prepare for the upcoming Math test we'll have sometime this week, which loomed over me like a never-ending nightmare. That old hag, Kamaro-sensei, thought it was funny not to tell his students when we'll be taking that freaky exam.

How I wish I could just strangle him really tight around the neck like this…then everything else would fall into place.

" SAYONARA SENSEI! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-huh?"

I looked up and saw everyone staring at me like I was some kind of a fool. Kamaro-sensei shook his head then resumed talking to the board. Everyone, on the other hand, began whispering with each other.

Well…everyone except Yuri, who was acting the diligent student that she is, and Sara who continued her disrupted 'beauty sleep'.

I should really do something about this newly acquired talking-to-myself hobby of mine…

NAYUKI

I noticed that everyone was trying hard not to laugh cause sensei will definitely kick us out of the room. Not that we care though… it's just that the canteen's not open yet.

And Yuri, being the kind but boring person that she is, glared at anyone who makes a noise.

Ooooooooohhh… I can't wait for the bell.

Mitsui will never hear the end of it… HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

SARA

Why can't these people be more like Yuri-sama?!?!?!

Don't they know it's bad to laugh at other's mistake?

AKARI [A/N: Remember him? He's the cocky school pres. and Yuri has a 'mild' crush on him]

Ever since Mitsui became a 'goody-goody boy' and joined that basketball team, he became more and more disgusting. Not that its bad though… his stupid antics never cease to keep everyone awake. That way, the teachers wouldn't get mad at me for not doing my job, which is disciplining my classmates.

Now I have another story to share at lunch… cool!

YURI

I know what everyone's thinking about me… a BORING and SUPER NERDY girl.

Well, to tell you the truth, the only reason why I'm still silent even though Mitsui just embarrassed himself in front of the whole class is…

… I'm trying to imagine how having a brain and a decent personality can really make you look normal.

Too bad Mitsui doesn't have any of the two.

And I'm not being rude. He's just plain insignificant.  

~~ After 20 more minutes: RRRRRRIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGGGG!!! ~~

YURI

My brain hurts after thinking so much useless stuff…

" HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA!! MITSUI NO BAKA!! HAHAHAHAHAAHA…!"

" URUSAI!"

Oh God. Why can't you make Nayuki shut up? And please don't let Sara join in this mess…

" Mistsui-kun's not stupid!"

Too late.

" Are you sure? After all it takes ONE to know ONE right? HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!"

" I didn't get that… what did she mean by that Mitsui-kun?"

" ………………………………………….."

" HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA!!! MITSUI AND SARA NO BAKA!!!!"

" ……………………………………………"

" Stop that! You're hurting MY feelings…and Mitsui-kun's."

" MITSUI NO BAKA! HAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA!!!"

Mitsui was already clenching his fists but all of a sudden, the irritated expression on his face was changed with a smug look.

" Let her laugh all she wants. I'm not offended by what you say because the things that make sense only offend me."

" NANI?!"

" Wow… that was a totally nice comeback!"

" ……………………………………………"

" You're getting good at witty remarks eh? Have you been getting pointers from Yuri here?"

Nayuki suddenly pulled me and started to inspect me. I just rolled my eyes to express my annoyance about the whole situation.

" Will the two of you just stop this nonsense and leave him alone? It's really giving me a headache."

Nayuki and Sara's jaws dropped while Mitsui sighed and mouthed a thank you. I just shrugged and continued telling them off. The two, on the other hand, just gaped at me. After a few more minutes, I got tired of talking and sensing that they weren't listening anyway, I sighed and decided to just have my lunch alone.

As I was walking out of the room, I heard some footsteps behind me. I looked back and saw Mitsui following me. I suddenly felt conscious and uncomfortable….the same feeling I felt when he touched me yesterday.

" Ei Yuri. Where are you going?"

" Where do normal people like me go during a lunch break?"

" Where did you get the idea that you're normal?"

" Whenever I'm around you?"

" Why can't you just answer my question?"

" Making sense isn't just your area of expertise, is it?"

" What?"

I live and breathe annoyance whenever he's around me…

" I'm eating my LUNCH ok? That's why this time is called a LUNCH BREAK cause it's the time for people to eat LUNCH. Not library break or CR break or being-utterly-slow break… it's LUNCH break. Get it?"

" Well, you should have answered that in the first place instead of another question right? Then it would have saved you the trouble of explaining to me."

" Why are you asking me anyway?"

" You're right…how could have I been stupid to think that you actually defended me back there out off the goodness of your heart? Seems like you did that just to get rid of me eh?"

" What do you mean?"

" Because a while ago, I was thinking of inviting you to eat lunch with me to express my gratitude. But, seeing that you already switched on your bitchy-mode, I think I'd rather pass for another century or more."

" Oh…"

Oh.  

Then he walked off, looking all grumpy and mad, scaring the hell out of student's who were hanging outside the corridor.

Since when did I become this stupid walking-breathing idiot?

MITSUI

Stupid Yuri.

NAYUKI

What the hell just happened…. ?!

Yuri DEFENDED our mortal enemy who really hates our group. But I can accept that cause I know, inside that tough image is a really nice girl. But, what's really bothering me were Mitsui's actions. He INVITED Yuri for lunch.

Yuri turned him down of course. Surprisingly, that move really made Mitsui mad. What's really weird is that Yuri had always done that to him so what's the big difference now? 

Can somebody please explain what's going on here?!?!?!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[My dear readers, from this point on, everything will be Mitsui's thoughts, ok?]

MITSUI

Sunday.

My supposed-to-be rest day but here I am, thinking.

I still can't forget what happened yesterday. I don't know why I was so worked up when Yuri turned me down. Well… not actually because I didn't get to ask her but it was already implied by the situation.

Maybe because you're starting to….like her?

EH?? Where did that come from?

I don't know… you're heart?

Ugh. How sickening…

I should just concentrate doing these work sheets…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After my Monday session with Yuri, which was the most pathetic session I ever had since were not still talking with each other, I spent time with the rest of the team, practicing.

BONK!

SWISH!

BONK!

BONK!
BONK!

Yep… that's right. I could count in my hands the number of shots that went IN. Sheesh… I could practically count them using one hand only.

THIS is not happening to me…

She's ruining the only thing I could be good at and be proud of it!

I should patch things up with that girl first thing tomorrow…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tuesday is the day. The day to get everything settled.

 Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to talk to Yuri because she was either busy doing imaginary things like reading a book upside down or writing down something even if her pen's cap is still placed on. Her friends were no help either.

I think she's just deliberately ignoring you…

Shut up.

Why are you even trying hard to get her attention anyway?

I'm NOT getting her attention. I just want… everything to be normal again.

Anyway, after our usual practice, I immediately went home and finished a five-page English paper I was working on for almost… a month now. It was actually due last week but I only got to finish now. I'd had all the good intentions to finish it on time but I concentrated too much on Math that I completely forgot it.

If Yuri finds out about this…

… why am I even thinking what she would think?

Oooooooookay. This is really getting out of hand…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wednesday.

Another session with her. You're thinking I cleared everything up right?

Nope. Not today. I didn't get to talk her again.

Feeling sulky, I brewed myself a big mug of coffee and locked myself up in my room. Not that anyone would notice I locked up anyway… no one's even here.

I was scanning my homework when I recognized some of the things that Yuri had outlined that day. Excited, I began to try answering any number. They didn't look easy, but then again, they didn't feel me with that immense feeling of anxiety I have been going through every time I see numbers and equations.

RRRRRRRRRIIIIIINNNGGGG!

RRRRRRRRRIIIIIINNNGGGG!

I tried ignoring it, thinking it might be one of those bakas, namely Sakuragi or Miyagi. They had been teasing me all day about being a lovesick puppy.

As if they're not… and I'm not lovesick cause I'm NOT in love.

The phone continued on ringing. Finally, I can't stand it anymore so I decided to just answer it and if it's those two bakas, I'll just yell and tell them to bug off my case.

" Hello?"

" Oi Micchi! What took you so long?"

" What do you want?"

" Nothing."

" Why did you call then?"

" NO reason."

" Get lost."

" NYAHAHAAHAHAHHA! Micchi no --"

I cut him off. He was just rambling meaningless things anyway.

RRRRRIIIIINNNGGGGGG!

RRRRRIIIIINNNGGGGGG!

" What?!"

" You know, normally, people would say 'hello' first."

" Miyagi?"

" NO. Actually, Mitsui sweetie, it's Yuri, the girl of your dreams…"

" ……………………………………………………"

" I just called to say that I'm really a guy whose dying to be in your arms and --"

" GO. TO. HELL."

I was about to put the phone down and continue working on my homework but I heard Miyagi yelping for attention in the other end of the line.

" What do you want?!"

" Nothing."

" What the hell is wrong with you?"

" What the hell is your problem?!"

Right now, everything was starting to get through me. I had been working on the FIRST page of my homework for the past half hour, Yuri still doesn't want to talk to me, her friends always gives me this…look, my teammates had nothing better to do than tease me all day long, and all I'm eating right now are left-overs.

I hate my life.

" Oi! What's your problem?"

" MY PROBLEM?!"

" …………………………………………………"

" Let me tell YOU my problem ok? MY problem is 'Find the truth values for a and b that would make a b false."

" Huh?"

" Exactly."

I slammed the phone down. Thankfully, Miyagi didn't call back. By the time I turned off my desk lamp five hours later, my eyes were watery and weary while angles, sides, vertices, and equations were deeply engraved on my brain cells.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thursday.

I found out that practice does make perfect. In Math, Kamaro-sensei sprang one of his infamous surprise quizzes and collected our homeworks.

But I didn't sweat a drop.

I worked all night to finish that homework that up to now, everything was still fresh in my memory. And while I have not gotten everything correctly in our quiz, it would be at least evident that I tried. When sensei called me to go on the board, I walked up there with confidence.

I answered the problem correctly.

" Ve…very good, Mitsui."

Everyone eyed me with awe in their eyes. Once on my seat, Sara congratulated me and Nayuki kept on asking how in the world I got a score higher than hers. I was about to say that I'm better than her in EVERYTHING when Akari raised his hand.

" I don't understand. How did he come up with that answer?"

Sensei looked at me. And for the first time, Yuri also looked at me, as if challenging me to prove myself. Here was the true test of my comprehension.

Did I really my stuff or was I just really copying it from someone else?

" Well, it's all because of the Law of Simplification. See, if you extract the single statement r from the compound statement…"

~ Later ~

This was the best day of my life because for the first time, I actually liked Math. I hadn't exited the class with a twisted knot in my stomach. It felt so good to be called in class and know the answer. It was the same feeling I have whenever I get a basket during a game.

I owe everything to Yuri.

Then I spotted her. She was alone… or she decided to be alone because her friends were being the freaks they usually are. I was about to go after her when Kogure came out of nowhere.

" What's up?"

" I just passed a test. Congratulate me."

" Congratulations then."

" HAH! You should have seen sensei's face… by the way, where's Akagi?"

" He's practicing, as usual."

" Oh…hey. I have to go. I need to talk to Yuri and --"

" No you can't. WE all have to practice NOW. That's why I'm here."

" What?"

" Akagi asked me to get you. We need to practice more than usual."

" BUT--"

" Just talked to her later. You're classmates anyway right?"

Before I could reply, Kogure was already dragging me to the other end of the corridor.

~ Later again ~

" YOSH! Good work everybody."

Then, everyone started doing their own thing. As for me, I immediately went home. I was so tired and hungry. As I was about to open our front door, I heard some rustle from behind. When I turned around, it was Tetsuo.

" Oi sportsman."

" Tetsuo? What are you doing here?"

" Just thought I'd stop by. It's been a long time --"

" Don't tell me you're hiding from the cops again…?"

" Let's just say I did something I'm not supposed to do."

" Yare, yare…"

" So, what's new?"

" Nothing. I'm just…busy with some things."

" I can see that. You've been busy since you returned to the basketball team."

Silence followed. I was about to ask him to come in when he spoke.

" Say… would you like to hang around tomorrow?"

" Tomorrow?"

" Yeah. It's sort of… my birthday."

" Oh …right. I forgot."

" That's ok. You've been busy after all. So. are you in?"

I hesitated. I was still feeling all determined, focused, and proud – actually beginning to catch on Math.

Could I afford to skip a session? And I still haven't made up with Yuri yet… she'll never let me be absent.

But… birthdays come only once a year…

" So?"

" Fine. Tomorrow after classes."

" Great. Tomorrow then… ja ne."

I scratched my head as I watched Tetsuo walk away.

And here I was thinking of having a good night sleep… damn!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday.

I didn't get to tell her during class hours because the school officials held a meeting for the whole day. So, I decided to just head down BARF Inc. and do the right thing – think of an excuse to get out of our session and leave Yuri a message.

It was the smart thing to do…right?

But, to my surprise, Yuri was standing at the library entrance. She was in the middle of a conversation with an eccentric-looking guy dressed as if somebody just died.

" Yuri, can I talk to you?"

" Uh…sure. By the way, this is Takamoto Kazui. He's a sophomore. He was my student last year."

" Dude! Nice to meet you…"

" Mitsui."

" Hisashi Mitsui?"

" Yeah."

" Wow. I've heard about you and your transition from a being a gangster… cool. How did you do it man?"

" I…don't know."

" Awesome…!"

I nodded, trying not to stare at the small diamond stud that glittered in his nose and not to mention his spiky hair, and the spikes around his wrist, and the three earrings placed on each ear. I was surprised that Yuri had a friend who looked so… alternative. Your typical 'rocker' image… or 'high-on-drugs' image.

Yuri shifted her weight from one leg to the other while balancing a stack of book on her arms.

" So, is there, uh, something you need help with? Not that you still need one anyway…"

" What?"

" You did great yesterday. I was actually proud you're my student. Even I was speechless."

" Um… thanks. You know, it's rare for you to compliment me."

" I know… so you should treasure that."

" Don't worry. I will."

She smiled. She really smiled.

I can't cancel our meeting… I just can't…

But before I could talk myself out, I suddenly blurted what I'm really supposed to say.

" I can't make our session today."

" What? Why?"

" I'm…I'm getting a cavity filled."

" Ugh. Ouch."

" Ye…yeah. I've been putting it off for a while but my mom says I've got to go. Wanna see?"

I opened my mouth and pointed to some vague area. That wasn't actually a lie. My dentist had been on my case for the longest time; I just never scheduled an appointment.

" Well, don't worry about it. You've got a lot of potential and as far as I can see, you're really improving."

" You don't know half of it. Thanks to you, and to my really great mind of course, there's a slim chance I'm actually going to pass Math with a decent grade."

" Uh-huh. Great mind… right. At first, I had doubts but now… I can't see the reason why you won't pass."

She smiled again. A smile that's meant for me.

For me.

" So… does this mean you're not mad at me anymore?"

" Me? Since when did I NOT become mad at you?"

" Um… not bitchy-bickering-galore mad. What I meant was not-in-speaking-terms mad. And besides, in case you haven't noticed it yet, you've been complimenting me for the past few minutes."

" Then you should already know my answer."

I was enjoying every moment of the end of our 'cold war' when the bell rang.

" Well, if I want to pass our next class, I'd better get going. Catch you later Kaz! And Mitsui, good luck with the tooth. I'll ask Nayuki and Sara to pray for your welfare if you want to…"

" Thanks, but no thanks."

With a nod goodbye, Yuri joined the horde of students streaming down the corridor.

" Man… that is one terrific girl."

I turned and saw Kazui looking at Yuri, admiration and respect sparkling in his eyes.

" She's so busy with tutoring and studying and being on the school council but she still takes time to help other people out when they're in trouble. You know, really listen to them. Like in my case. I'm anemic so when I suddenly bumped into her today, which sent her things to topple all over, and asked her what's the easiest way to have color on my cheeks but will not make me look gay, you know what she did? She SLAPPED me. See… my face's all red. Nobody will suspect I'm anemic. Now THAT'S really cool… right man? She totally rocks."

" …………………………………………………………………………"

" Not to mention even though she has this geeky appearance, she has a really great butt."

" …………………………………………………………………………"

His first comment made me pause. I hadn't really looked at Yuri as anything more than a tutor, but these past few days, my feelings said otherwise. Obviously, she has a lot more interests than I gave her credit for. She suddenly seemed this… person I want to know more about.

But I have to admit the example this guy gave was really pathetic. I can't blame Yuri if she slapped him.

Then I reflected on his second comment. He had a point there too.

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

 ~_^ MY! MY!

Wow. I finally finished it. Hope you liked it… If there are any errors, please alert me ok? I haven't reread the whole thing because I want to finish it immediately.

And if you have time, you can check out my journal at and leave me a message if you do visit it ok?

Love it? Hate it? Let me know!

Pls. Review. JA! ^_^