Chapter 2

"Okay, we're here" Mrs. Rukawa said as she stopped the car in front of the Shohoku gate. "Both of you can go now"

"Aren't you coming with us mom?" asked Philip as all of them got out of the car

"Nope. I still have some papers to attend to before my flight. So you two scramble off now if you don't want to miss the game. Then she stooped down and kissed Philip on the cheek. "Just go home with your brother after the game ok?"

"Okay" Philip replied.

Then Mrs. Rukawa bid them good-bye and got inside the car. As the car floated off from their sight, Philip tugged Maori's sleeve and said,

" Come on now Maori! We're gonna be late!"

and they started to walk in the direction of the court. Philip opened the door and they went inside. They found a seat and decided to enjoy the game.

"It's a good thing the 1st half is not yet finished" Philip said while scanning the players.

Maori look at the scoreboard, which says "SHOHOKU vs. RYONAN"

Maori saw the excitement from the eyes of the audience. They chant and shout every time a player shoots a ball.

Maori remembered her times in the convent. They also had these basketball games there for the boys and swimming for the girls. She enjoyed sports in the convent and also participates in the contests.

She also remembered that day when she was still a child, before the start of this celebration in the convent, a family appeared and visited the mother superior, which was sick that day. It turned out that this family is a close relative of her. They were also invited in this celebration. They had a son with them and he participated in the basketball game. He was the most fastest and tallest among the members of the group. They stared with astonishment in the child as he ran and shoot the ball. Maori, back then, were also a participant in the swimming competition, and a water girl as well in the basketball team. After the 1st half of the game, she took the tray of water to the bench and gave each one a glass. When she took the last glass to the 'son' he looked at her and smiled. Maori smiled back and the referee signaled the last half of the game. The son took the lead and eventually, their team won the game. Before the family went home, the son looked after Maori and asked

"What's your name?"

"My name is Maori." She said not taking her eyes away from the 'son'. "And yours is?" she asked

"Sendoh. Akira Sendoh" sendoh replied and thus, beginning a new friendship. The family came back time-to-time and the two became close friends. This was how they lived their lives until one time, when sendoh announced that they were going to Japan, was this friendship ended.

"PRRRRRRRRRRRTTT" the referee whistled, which woke up Maori in her reminisce

"Oh gosh!" Philip said. "Look at the scores Maori! It says 46-49 and it's the last half of the game! My brothers' team is behind! Oh no!"

"Don't worry Philip. There's still more time. They would catch up! You'll see." Maori said to the child amiably.

"By the way, where's your brother there?" she asked again

"He's there! The one with the number 11-jersey." Said the child pointing to the tall guy drinking near the bench.

And as if Rukawa felt somebody talking about him, he looked up and saw his little brother waving at him.

"Ooh! Little brother's here to cheer his big bro!" Sakuragi said. Rukawa ignored him and waved back to his brother....smiling

Nobody saw that gesture except from Maori, Philip, and the fans who's always looking at him (obviously).

The fans screamed so loud that it almost shook the whole gym. This is the first time they saw him smile and obviously, what did they thought? That he's so handsome. They started shouting "R-U-K-A-W-A! R-U-K-A-W-A! L-O-V-E R-U-K-A-W-A!"

"What was that? Maori asked with her face that looked like this: ?-_-?

"They're the fans of my brother! Many girls liked him but he doesn't want either of them."

"Ah. no wonder many girls like him. He's handsome, good in playing basketball and.." Maori said reflectively and stopped in mid sentence, sensing Philip looking at her with those eyes, which Maori thought so weird. As if he's thinking something.

"Eh. stop looking at me like that! ^_^." Maori said feeling nervous

"PRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTT" the referee whistled again, which meant the start of the last half.

The game started again and it is visible that both teams are heating up. Then Maori saw a player who looks familiar to her. She asked Philip.

"Who's that player wearing a number 7-jersey? In the Ryonan team?"

"Ah.. He is the rival of my brother when it comes to basketball..." Philip ended his sentence and thought of telling something and told it anyway. "but I think they're friends deep inside. His name is....."

"PRRRTTTTTTT! FOUL!" The referee shouted.

They forgot what they're talking about and turned their attention to the red haired guy who committed an offensive foul.

At last, it was the last minute of the game and the scores are 69-69. The ball was passed to Mitsui and tried a three-point shot but Ouzumi blocked it. He passed it to Sakuragi whose position was near the ring and SHOOT! He did a Slam dunk! SHOHOKU WON THE GAME!!!

[Author's Note:] Hey!!! Gomen!!! Sorry for updating late!! Thanks for those who signed their reviews. I know this story is super late but I hope you'll still like this one. Look out for the next chap!!! You'll definitely like it! I promise I'll update sooner! Sorry for the grammar. ^_^