Disclaimer: Slam Dunk is not mine! Don't come and sue me for using this
anime's characters in my fanfic!
Chapter 1
Walking on a deserted street, a teenage girl looked at the beautiful autumn scenery. The leaves on the trees are turning yellow; some had already fallen down, all around the sidewalk she is walking on. The girl is very pretty. She had long, wavy, black hair, a pair of beautiful, charming, crystal-like green eyes, a small, rosy red mouth and pale complexion that is pinkish on her cheeks. She is slim but tall, around 178 cm tall. Suddenly she stopped in her tracks and looked at the two-storey blue house in front of her.
+So it is here.+ The girl thought as she walked towards the door of the house and pressed the doorbell.
Ding~ dong~
The girl waited patiently, but after five minutes, no one opened the door.
--
Ding~ dong~
The sound of the doorbell traveled around the house, causing the still sleeping Rukawa Kaede to open his eyes in a daze.
+ What the hell? Why is it so noisy here?! + Rukawa thought, using his pillow to cover his ear and continue to sleep.
--
+ How come there is nobody answering the door?+ The girl thought, started shivering as the cold autumn wind blows.
-- Ring~
Rukawa is being woken up again, this time it is not the doorbell, but the alarm. He sat up on his bed and started yawning and stretching, then finally left the comfort of his bed reluctantly.
Ding~ dong~
Rukawa, who is halfway through brushing his teeth, jumped in surprise. Walking to the door as he continues to brush his teeth, he opened the door. To his surprise, a girl fainted right onto him.
--
An hour later.
Opening her eyes, the girl looked around her. Everything seems to be rather blur and unfocused. As she rubbed her eyes to get her sight back to normal, she was surprised. Blinking a few times to make sure she is not dreaming, she sat up. She is no longer outside the blue two-storey house but on a bed which is in a room painted in blue. It is rather big but there are not much things in the room, other than the bed she is sitting on, there are only a desk, a chair, a closet and a laptop, which is on the desk. Suddenly, the door opened and Rukawa walked into the room.
".Oh, you are awake."Rukawa said plainly, without a single expression on his face.
"Thanks. If not for you." The girl started thanking Rukawa, but was interrupted.
"Who are you? Why are you pressing the doorbell?" Rukawa asked coldly.
".Sorry. You must be Rukawa Kaede, right? I am Asagiri Sayuri. I am your sister's friend. She rented a room to me, she asked me to give you this letter." The girl said, a little surprise, because Rukawa Yuki, Rukawa's sister, is a very friendly person, definitely not as cold as Rukawa Kaede.
Rukawa took the letter from Sayuri and started reading the letter. As it is a short one, Rukawa finished reading in less than a minute. He looked at Sayuri, then started walking towards the door.
"Hey! Where is my room? This room?" Sayuri asked.
"This room is mine. Just pick any room you want in this house." Rukawa replied, with his back facing Sayuri.
"Are you going to school? You go to Shohoku High, right?" Sayuri asked, standing up.
"Yes."
"Can I go with you? I have got some registration to do." Sayuri said, walking around Rukawa and turned to face him. They looked at each other's eyes coldly. Rukawa was slightly surprised. This is the first time he looked at a girl directly in the eyes. And what's more is that Sayuri's eyes are the most beautiful and amazing eyes he had ever seen.
"Can I go with you? Because I am rather unfamiliar around here." Sayuri asked again, smiling slightly.
"Okay. Up to you." Rukawa replied, then walked past Sayuri coldly. Sayuri turned around and followed Rukawa out of the house.
--
When Rukawa and Sayuri reached Shohoku, the bell for the start of lessons had already rung, in fact, it is supposed to be the second period already.
"You are late. Aren't you afraid of being scolded by the teacher?"
"Why must I be afraid?" Rukawa asked back.
"Why not?" Sayuri asked back again, smiling. Rukawa glared at Sayuri coldly before turning around and walked into the school building. Sayuri watched as Rukawa walked into the school, a smile on her face.
+How interesting.+ Sayuri thought as she walked into the school too.
--
After school, Rukawa went to the gym as usual. Normally, Rukawa will be the first to get to the gym, but today, someone else is in the gym already. As Rukawa opened the gym door, Sayuri is dribbling the ball slowly, then suddenly picking up speed, and did a smooth lay-up. The ball landed into the basket with a swish. Sayuri picked up the ball and turned around, walking towards Rukawa.
"Good afternoon." Sayuri said, smiling.
"Why are you here?" Rukawa asked, expressionlessly.
"I don't have keys. How am I supposed to go home?" Sayuri asked, with a smile pasted on her face.
"The key is under the carpet in front of the door." Rukawa replied.
"I heard from Yuki that you play very well. Can you prove to me that she isn't lying?" Sayuri asked. Rukawa looked at Sayuri coldly, as he considered. He picked up the ball and started dribbling it, and suddenly, he jumped from the penalty shoot line towards the basket, dunking the ball with a loud bang.
"Impressive slam dunk! Been practicing long?" Sayuri asked just as the door of gym opened.
"Kitsune! Why are you here? Scared that you will lose to me, the tensai, so purposely came here early to practice? But, no use, because even if you train yourself ten more years, you will still lose to me! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Because I am the tensai!" Sakuragi boasted.
"Do 'aho." Rukawa mumbled. What follows next is of course the fight between the two of them. Sayuri watched from aside as the two forever childish boys fight, a smile appeared on her face once again. The gym door opened again this time. Ryota, Mitsui and Ayako entered the gym.
"Stop fighting! Can you hear me! I said stop fighting!" Ryota shouted. But this does not work. Ayako rolled her eyes and took out her invincible paper fan, hitting the duo squarely on the head unmercifully.
"Ite!" Sakuragi exclaimed immediately. Seeing the amusing scene, Sayuri could not help it but started laughing out loud.
"Who are you?" Mitsui asked, looking at Sayuri from top to bottom. Before Sayuri could reply, the door opened again. This time, it is Anzai sensei entering the gym.
"Good afternoon, sensei!" Mitsui, Ryota and Ayako greeted in union.
"Good afternoon, everyone." Anzai sensei said with a pleasant, kind smile on his face. Looking around the gym, his eyes landed on Sayuri and started walking towards her slowly.
"Is it fun in USA?" Anzai sensei asked. Mitsui, Ryota, Ayako, Sakuragi and Rukawa all looked at Anzai sensei and Sayuri curiously.
"USA is no fun. There's no Asian in the team, no one talks to me, and no one is willing to pass the ball to me. It is very boring there." Sayuri replied with a bitter smile on her face.
"So you have decided to return to Japan? Have any interest in entering Shohoku's basketball team?" Anzai sensei asked kindly.
"Is there a girls' team in Shohoku?"
"I just received news from the school that because of the team doing well in the summer IH, they had decided to set up a girls' team."
"Old man, are you sure about setting up a girls' team?" Sakuragi asked as he started pulling Anzai sensei's chin.
"How disrespectful can you get?" Sayuri mumbled under her breath as she rolled her eyes in irritation.
"Sakuragi Hanamichi! Do not pull Anzai sensei's chin! He is the coach!" Mitsui scolded angrily.
"Mitchy, aren't you interested to know whether will there be a girls' team?" Sakuragi asked, continued to pull Anzai sensei's chin.
"Sensei will not lie! Let go of sensei, his chin is made of flesh, not rubber, it's painful!" Sayuri said.
"You are not him, how do you know?" Sakuragi asked, releasing Anzai sensei's chin.
"Then how about I pull your chin and see whether is it painful?"
"No!" Sakuragi exclaimed, backing away from Sayuri immediately.
"Ho! Ho! Ho! The registration will be on tomorrow." Anzai sensei said, kindly.
"Hello, I am Ayako, the team manageress." Ayako said, stretching out a hand for a handshake with Sayuri.
"Hi, I am Asagiri Sayuri. Nice to meet you." Sayuri said, smiling as she shakes hands with Ayako.
"You went to USA to play basketball, is that true?" Ayako asked, with great interest.
"Yeah. I went there since my second year in Middle school, it's Anzai sensei who do the recommendation." Sayuri replied.
"You must be a very good player then. Ah, right!" Ayako exclaimed, as she thought of something. She turned around and asked Mitsui, "Mitsui, why don't the two of you have a 1-on-1 to let us see her skills?"
"1-on-1!?" Sayuri and Mitsui exclaimed at the same time.
"Okay?" Ayako asked.
"Ho! Ho! Ho! I'd like to watch the two of you having 1-on-1." Anzai sensei said, smiling.
"A.Alright then. We will attack in turns. The attacking ends if the ball is being stolen away from the one attacking by the one defending. The first to score ten points wins." Sayuri said, picking up a basketball as she says.
"You attack first then." Mitsui said, preparing to defense. Sayuri dribbled the ball slowly towards Mitsui. The smiling face of Sayuri suddenly became cold and expressionless. Mitsui was a little surprised, and suddenly, Sayuri used the opportunity to get through Mitsui's defense, and did a lay- up with the speed of lightning.
"She is fast!" Ryota said, surprised by Sayuri's speed.
"Ha! Just a simple lay-up only, I can do it too!" Sakuragi said and started laughing.
"Do 'aho." Rukawa mumbled.
"What did you say, Kitsune!?" Sakuragi exclaimed. Rukawa did not reply, just continue to watch the 1-on-1. It is Mitsui's turn now to attack. Dribbling the ball, Mitsui tried to find fault in Sayuri's defense, but surprisingly, Sayuri's defense appears to be faultless and perfect! Unable to get through Sayuri's defense, Mitsui took a step back and leaped up at behind the three-pointers line and shot a perfect three pointer before Sayuri can block him. The ball went in and Mitsui scored three points.
"Just another three more three pointers and I will be the winner." Mitsui said.
"But I won't let you get another point." Sayuri said.
"Don't be so arrogant." Mitsui said, irritated by Sayuri. Sayuri dribbled the ball with no expression on her face. She stopped suddenly, right behind the three-pointers line. Mitsui tried to block immediately, thinking that Sayuri is confirm to shoot a three pointer as a way of revenge. But he is wrong. As he rushed up to Sayuri, Sayuri used the opportunity to get past him and got to the penalty box area, jumping up and dunk the ball in. Mitsui glared at Sayuri, about to explode because of anger. Sayuri picked up the ball and threw it to Mitsui. Mitsui immediately dribbled the ball towards Sayuri.
"Direct attack? Why not shoot another three-pointer?" Sakuragi asked.
"Because the girl got through his defense twice, if he choose to shoot three-pointers to win, he cannot be counted as the real winner." Ryota explained.
"You win means you win what. What real winner, who cares?" Sakuragi mumbled. While Sakuragi is talking to Ryota, Mitsui got past Sayuri's defense but just as he is about to do a lay-up, Sayuri stopped him.
"I said I would not let you score again." Sayuri said. Mitsui clenched his fist, wanting to punch Sayuri in the face. But Anzai sensei stopped the 1- on-1.
"I guess it's time to stop. Ryota, Mitsui and Ayako, I will not be here tomorrow so the three of you will have to do the registration. The three of you should discuss about what to do tomorrow. We only need 10 to 15 girls to join." Anzai sensei said.
"Yes, sensei." Ryota, Mitsui and Ayako said and gathered together at one corner of the gym, starting to discuss about tomorrow.
"Hi, I am tensai Sakuragi Hanamichi, the ace player of Shohoku, also known as Super Rookie and Rebound King Sakuragi Hanamichi! Just call me tensai Sakuragi will do." Sakuragi boasted, appearing in front of Sayuri suddenly.
"Hi. I am Asagiri Sayuri. How many years have you been playing basketball?" Sayuri asked.
"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! I have been learning since the start of this school year! How about you?" Sakuragi asked, as if he is very great.
"The start of this year?. Just a few months only.I have been playing since eight." Sayuri said.
"Ha! Ha! Ha! This is the difference between tensai and commoner!" Sakuragi said, laughing.
"Is that so? Well, maybe. Rukawa Kaede, how about you? When did you start playing basketball?" Sayuri asked, looking at the cold and quiet Rukawa Kaede.
". Around eight years old." Rukawa replied.
"See? This is the difference between tensai and commoner! Tensai no need to learn for such a long time. Only people like Kitsune need so long to learn how to play well." Sakuragi said, laughing like mad.
"Seems like you are really a tensai huh? How about a 1-on-1 with me?" Sayuri asked, showing great interest.
"Of course no problem!" Sakuragi said.
"Well then, three balls to win. The rules same as just now." Sayuri said.
"Three balls? Okay, you attack first. Don't say I didn't give you chance." Sakuragi said. Sayuri laughed and started dribbling the ball. But the arrogant Sakuragi did not prepare to defense her at all.
+So arrogant, I guess it's time to teach him a lesson.+ Sayuri thought. She dribbled the ball slowly at first but suddenly got to the basket, doing a lay-up before you can say 'basketball'.
"Just two more balls for me. It's your turn now." Sayuri said, picking up the ball and passing it to Sakuragi. Mitsui, Ryota, Ayako and Rukawa looked at the two of them curiously.
"Sakuragi Hanamichi is doom." Ryota said. Sakuragi dribbled the ball and suddenly charged towards Sayuri. Sayuri escaped from being bumped into by Sakuragi and stole the ball.
"Ah! Where's the ball?" Sakuragi exclaimed as he jumped up, wanting to the dunk the ball in but couldn't find it.
"It's with me." Sayuri said, dribbling the ball and walking towards Sakuragi. "Ah! So cunning! Female fox!" Sakuragi exclaimed.
"Female fox?" Sayuri mumbled, confused. Mitsui, Ryota and Ayako who are watching their 1-on-1 laughed secretly. And Rukawa just merely ignored what Sakuragi just said.
"Whatever you say." Sayuri said, still confused. Suddenly, she leaped up and dunked the ball into the basket with great force.
"One more ball to go. You don't seem to be that great after all, eh?" Sayuri asked, smiling. Sakuragi clenched his fist and picked up the ball, glaring at Sayuri. But Sayuri got to defense mode immediately. And her defense is not just good but totally faultless.
+I will definitely win.+Sakuragi thought, trying to think of a way to score. He charged towards Sayuri again, but this time Sayuri did not escape away. Just as Sakuragi jumped to dunk the ball again, Sayuri jumped too.
"You are too naïve!" Sayuri said, hitting the ball down unmercifully. Sakuragi is so furious that he is about to punch Sayuri as the door opened and Haruko walked into the gym.
"Ah! Haruko! Do you know that a girls' team will be set up tomorrow!?" Sakuragi asked, excitedly.
"Really?" Haruko asked, surprised.
"Of course it's true. Old man just said it." Sakuragi said, smiling at Haruko.
"He likes her, right?" Sayuri asked, standing beside Rukawa.
"Yes."
"She is cute. Do you like her?" Sayuri asked, curious.
"No." Rukawa replied without thinking.
"So confirm? Why not give it some thoughts?" Sayuri asked.
"I don't like her means I don't like her. There is no need to give it some thoughts." Rukawa replied coldly. Haruko turned and looked at Rukawa, and for the first time, she noticed the presence of Sayuri.
"Ayako-san, who is she?" Haruko asked.
"She is Asagiri Sayuri. Her basketball skill is very food. And it seems like she is Anzai sensei's former student. She will be joining the girls' team." Ayako replied. Haruko nodded and walked towards Sayuri with a smile on her face. Sayuri turned around just as Haruko reached her.
"! . Oh, hi!" Sayuri said, rather surprised that Haruko appeared in front of her so suddenly.
"Hi, I am Akagi Haruko. One of the team manageresses. Ayako-san said that you will be joining the girls' team, is that so?" Haruko asked, friendlily.
"Yep. I will be joining for sure. I am Asagiri Sayuri, nice to meet you." Sayuri said, smiling, looking at the Haruko. Haruko is paralyzed. Sayuri smiled once again and walked away.
+Her eyes. They are so charming.+ Haruko thought. Sayuri walked over to Anzai sensei.
"Sensei, see you tomorrow." Sayuri said.
"You are going home?" Anzai sensei asked, a pleasant smile on his face.
"Yeah. I am tired. See you tomorrow." Sayuri said, smiling before leaving the gym. --
The next day, Sayuri woke up very early to get ready for the first day of school. Just as she finished her early morning shower, the doorbell rang.
Ding~ Dong~
+So early. Who can it be?" Sayuri thought, walking towards the door with only a bathrobe on.
Author's notes: Please review although this story sucks.^_^
Chapter 1
Walking on a deserted street, a teenage girl looked at the beautiful autumn scenery. The leaves on the trees are turning yellow; some had already fallen down, all around the sidewalk she is walking on. The girl is very pretty. She had long, wavy, black hair, a pair of beautiful, charming, crystal-like green eyes, a small, rosy red mouth and pale complexion that is pinkish on her cheeks. She is slim but tall, around 178 cm tall. Suddenly she stopped in her tracks and looked at the two-storey blue house in front of her.
+So it is here.+ The girl thought as she walked towards the door of the house and pressed the doorbell.
Ding~ dong~
The girl waited patiently, but after five minutes, no one opened the door.
--
Ding~ dong~
The sound of the doorbell traveled around the house, causing the still sleeping Rukawa Kaede to open his eyes in a daze.
+ What the hell? Why is it so noisy here?! + Rukawa thought, using his pillow to cover his ear and continue to sleep.
--
+ How come there is nobody answering the door?+ The girl thought, started shivering as the cold autumn wind blows.
-- Ring~
Rukawa is being woken up again, this time it is not the doorbell, but the alarm. He sat up on his bed and started yawning and stretching, then finally left the comfort of his bed reluctantly.
Ding~ dong~
Rukawa, who is halfway through brushing his teeth, jumped in surprise. Walking to the door as he continues to brush his teeth, he opened the door. To his surprise, a girl fainted right onto him.
--
An hour later.
Opening her eyes, the girl looked around her. Everything seems to be rather blur and unfocused. As she rubbed her eyes to get her sight back to normal, she was surprised. Blinking a few times to make sure she is not dreaming, she sat up. She is no longer outside the blue two-storey house but on a bed which is in a room painted in blue. It is rather big but there are not much things in the room, other than the bed she is sitting on, there are only a desk, a chair, a closet and a laptop, which is on the desk. Suddenly, the door opened and Rukawa walked into the room.
".Oh, you are awake."Rukawa said plainly, without a single expression on his face.
"Thanks. If not for you." The girl started thanking Rukawa, but was interrupted.
"Who are you? Why are you pressing the doorbell?" Rukawa asked coldly.
".Sorry. You must be Rukawa Kaede, right? I am Asagiri Sayuri. I am your sister's friend. She rented a room to me, she asked me to give you this letter." The girl said, a little surprise, because Rukawa Yuki, Rukawa's sister, is a very friendly person, definitely not as cold as Rukawa Kaede.
Rukawa took the letter from Sayuri and started reading the letter. As it is a short one, Rukawa finished reading in less than a minute. He looked at Sayuri, then started walking towards the door.
"Hey! Where is my room? This room?" Sayuri asked.
"This room is mine. Just pick any room you want in this house." Rukawa replied, with his back facing Sayuri.
"Are you going to school? You go to Shohoku High, right?" Sayuri asked, standing up.
"Yes."
"Can I go with you? I have got some registration to do." Sayuri said, walking around Rukawa and turned to face him. They looked at each other's eyes coldly. Rukawa was slightly surprised. This is the first time he looked at a girl directly in the eyes. And what's more is that Sayuri's eyes are the most beautiful and amazing eyes he had ever seen.
"Can I go with you? Because I am rather unfamiliar around here." Sayuri asked again, smiling slightly.
"Okay. Up to you." Rukawa replied, then walked past Sayuri coldly. Sayuri turned around and followed Rukawa out of the house.
--
When Rukawa and Sayuri reached Shohoku, the bell for the start of lessons had already rung, in fact, it is supposed to be the second period already.
"You are late. Aren't you afraid of being scolded by the teacher?"
"Why must I be afraid?" Rukawa asked back.
"Why not?" Sayuri asked back again, smiling. Rukawa glared at Sayuri coldly before turning around and walked into the school building. Sayuri watched as Rukawa walked into the school, a smile on her face.
+How interesting.+ Sayuri thought as she walked into the school too.
--
After school, Rukawa went to the gym as usual. Normally, Rukawa will be the first to get to the gym, but today, someone else is in the gym already. As Rukawa opened the gym door, Sayuri is dribbling the ball slowly, then suddenly picking up speed, and did a smooth lay-up. The ball landed into the basket with a swish. Sayuri picked up the ball and turned around, walking towards Rukawa.
"Good afternoon." Sayuri said, smiling.
"Why are you here?" Rukawa asked, expressionlessly.
"I don't have keys. How am I supposed to go home?" Sayuri asked, with a smile pasted on her face.
"The key is under the carpet in front of the door." Rukawa replied.
"I heard from Yuki that you play very well. Can you prove to me that she isn't lying?" Sayuri asked. Rukawa looked at Sayuri coldly, as he considered. He picked up the ball and started dribbling it, and suddenly, he jumped from the penalty shoot line towards the basket, dunking the ball with a loud bang.
"Impressive slam dunk! Been practicing long?" Sayuri asked just as the door of gym opened.
"Kitsune! Why are you here? Scared that you will lose to me, the tensai, so purposely came here early to practice? But, no use, because even if you train yourself ten more years, you will still lose to me! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Because I am the tensai!" Sakuragi boasted.
"Do 'aho." Rukawa mumbled. What follows next is of course the fight between the two of them. Sayuri watched from aside as the two forever childish boys fight, a smile appeared on her face once again. The gym door opened again this time. Ryota, Mitsui and Ayako entered the gym.
"Stop fighting! Can you hear me! I said stop fighting!" Ryota shouted. But this does not work. Ayako rolled her eyes and took out her invincible paper fan, hitting the duo squarely on the head unmercifully.
"Ite!" Sakuragi exclaimed immediately. Seeing the amusing scene, Sayuri could not help it but started laughing out loud.
"Who are you?" Mitsui asked, looking at Sayuri from top to bottom. Before Sayuri could reply, the door opened again. This time, it is Anzai sensei entering the gym.
"Good afternoon, sensei!" Mitsui, Ryota and Ayako greeted in union.
"Good afternoon, everyone." Anzai sensei said with a pleasant, kind smile on his face. Looking around the gym, his eyes landed on Sayuri and started walking towards her slowly.
"Is it fun in USA?" Anzai sensei asked. Mitsui, Ryota, Ayako, Sakuragi and Rukawa all looked at Anzai sensei and Sayuri curiously.
"USA is no fun. There's no Asian in the team, no one talks to me, and no one is willing to pass the ball to me. It is very boring there." Sayuri replied with a bitter smile on her face.
"So you have decided to return to Japan? Have any interest in entering Shohoku's basketball team?" Anzai sensei asked kindly.
"Is there a girls' team in Shohoku?"
"I just received news from the school that because of the team doing well in the summer IH, they had decided to set up a girls' team."
"Old man, are you sure about setting up a girls' team?" Sakuragi asked as he started pulling Anzai sensei's chin.
"How disrespectful can you get?" Sayuri mumbled under her breath as she rolled her eyes in irritation.
"Sakuragi Hanamichi! Do not pull Anzai sensei's chin! He is the coach!" Mitsui scolded angrily.
"Mitchy, aren't you interested to know whether will there be a girls' team?" Sakuragi asked, continued to pull Anzai sensei's chin.
"Sensei will not lie! Let go of sensei, his chin is made of flesh, not rubber, it's painful!" Sayuri said.
"You are not him, how do you know?" Sakuragi asked, releasing Anzai sensei's chin.
"Then how about I pull your chin and see whether is it painful?"
"No!" Sakuragi exclaimed, backing away from Sayuri immediately.
"Ho! Ho! Ho! The registration will be on tomorrow." Anzai sensei said, kindly.
"Hello, I am Ayako, the team manageress." Ayako said, stretching out a hand for a handshake with Sayuri.
"Hi, I am Asagiri Sayuri. Nice to meet you." Sayuri said, smiling as she shakes hands with Ayako.
"You went to USA to play basketball, is that true?" Ayako asked, with great interest.
"Yeah. I went there since my second year in Middle school, it's Anzai sensei who do the recommendation." Sayuri replied.
"You must be a very good player then. Ah, right!" Ayako exclaimed, as she thought of something. She turned around and asked Mitsui, "Mitsui, why don't the two of you have a 1-on-1 to let us see her skills?"
"1-on-1!?" Sayuri and Mitsui exclaimed at the same time.
"Okay?" Ayako asked.
"Ho! Ho! Ho! I'd like to watch the two of you having 1-on-1." Anzai sensei said, smiling.
"A.Alright then. We will attack in turns. The attacking ends if the ball is being stolen away from the one attacking by the one defending. The first to score ten points wins." Sayuri said, picking up a basketball as she says.
"You attack first then." Mitsui said, preparing to defense. Sayuri dribbled the ball slowly towards Mitsui. The smiling face of Sayuri suddenly became cold and expressionless. Mitsui was a little surprised, and suddenly, Sayuri used the opportunity to get through Mitsui's defense, and did a lay- up with the speed of lightning.
"She is fast!" Ryota said, surprised by Sayuri's speed.
"Ha! Just a simple lay-up only, I can do it too!" Sakuragi said and started laughing.
"Do 'aho." Rukawa mumbled.
"What did you say, Kitsune!?" Sakuragi exclaimed. Rukawa did not reply, just continue to watch the 1-on-1. It is Mitsui's turn now to attack. Dribbling the ball, Mitsui tried to find fault in Sayuri's defense, but surprisingly, Sayuri's defense appears to be faultless and perfect! Unable to get through Sayuri's defense, Mitsui took a step back and leaped up at behind the three-pointers line and shot a perfect three pointer before Sayuri can block him. The ball went in and Mitsui scored three points.
"Just another three more three pointers and I will be the winner." Mitsui said.
"But I won't let you get another point." Sayuri said.
"Don't be so arrogant." Mitsui said, irritated by Sayuri. Sayuri dribbled the ball with no expression on her face. She stopped suddenly, right behind the three-pointers line. Mitsui tried to block immediately, thinking that Sayuri is confirm to shoot a three pointer as a way of revenge. But he is wrong. As he rushed up to Sayuri, Sayuri used the opportunity to get past him and got to the penalty box area, jumping up and dunk the ball in. Mitsui glared at Sayuri, about to explode because of anger. Sayuri picked up the ball and threw it to Mitsui. Mitsui immediately dribbled the ball towards Sayuri.
"Direct attack? Why not shoot another three-pointer?" Sakuragi asked.
"Because the girl got through his defense twice, if he choose to shoot three-pointers to win, he cannot be counted as the real winner." Ryota explained.
"You win means you win what. What real winner, who cares?" Sakuragi mumbled. While Sakuragi is talking to Ryota, Mitsui got past Sayuri's defense but just as he is about to do a lay-up, Sayuri stopped him.
"I said I would not let you score again." Sayuri said. Mitsui clenched his fist, wanting to punch Sayuri in the face. But Anzai sensei stopped the 1- on-1.
"I guess it's time to stop. Ryota, Mitsui and Ayako, I will not be here tomorrow so the three of you will have to do the registration. The three of you should discuss about what to do tomorrow. We only need 10 to 15 girls to join." Anzai sensei said.
"Yes, sensei." Ryota, Mitsui and Ayako said and gathered together at one corner of the gym, starting to discuss about tomorrow.
"Hi, I am tensai Sakuragi Hanamichi, the ace player of Shohoku, also known as Super Rookie and Rebound King Sakuragi Hanamichi! Just call me tensai Sakuragi will do." Sakuragi boasted, appearing in front of Sayuri suddenly.
"Hi. I am Asagiri Sayuri. How many years have you been playing basketball?" Sayuri asked.
"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! I have been learning since the start of this school year! How about you?" Sakuragi asked, as if he is very great.
"The start of this year?. Just a few months only.I have been playing since eight." Sayuri said.
"Ha! Ha! Ha! This is the difference between tensai and commoner!" Sakuragi said, laughing.
"Is that so? Well, maybe. Rukawa Kaede, how about you? When did you start playing basketball?" Sayuri asked, looking at the cold and quiet Rukawa Kaede.
". Around eight years old." Rukawa replied.
"See? This is the difference between tensai and commoner! Tensai no need to learn for such a long time. Only people like Kitsune need so long to learn how to play well." Sakuragi said, laughing like mad.
"Seems like you are really a tensai huh? How about a 1-on-1 with me?" Sayuri asked, showing great interest.
"Of course no problem!" Sakuragi said.
"Well then, three balls to win. The rules same as just now." Sayuri said.
"Three balls? Okay, you attack first. Don't say I didn't give you chance." Sakuragi said. Sayuri laughed and started dribbling the ball. But the arrogant Sakuragi did not prepare to defense her at all.
+So arrogant, I guess it's time to teach him a lesson.+ Sayuri thought. She dribbled the ball slowly at first but suddenly got to the basket, doing a lay-up before you can say 'basketball'.
"Just two more balls for me. It's your turn now." Sayuri said, picking up the ball and passing it to Sakuragi. Mitsui, Ryota, Ayako and Rukawa looked at the two of them curiously.
"Sakuragi Hanamichi is doom." Ryota said. Sakuragi dribbled the ball and suddenly charged towards Sayuri. Sayuri escaped from being bumped into by Sakuragi and stole the ball.
"Ah! Where's the ball?" Sakuragi exclaimed as he jumped up, wanting to the dunk the ball in but couldn't find it.
"It's with me." Sayuri said, dribbling the ball and walking towards Sakuragi. "Ah! So cunning! Female fox!" Sakuragi exclaimed.
"Female fox?" Sayuri mumbled, confused. Mitsui, Ryota and Ayako who are watching their 1-on-1 laughed secretly. And Rukawa just merely ignored what Sakuragi just said.
"Whatever you say." Sayuri said, still confused. Suddenly, she leaped up and dunked the ball into the basket with great force.
"One more ball to go. You don't seem to be that great after all, eh?" Sayuri asked, smiling. Sakuragi clenched his fist and picked up the ball, glaring at Sayuri. But Sayuri got to defense mode immediately. And her defense is not just good but totally faultless.
+I will definitely win.+Sakuragi thought, trying to think of a way to score. He charged towards Sayuri again, but this time Sayuri did not escape away. Just as Sakuragi jumped to dunk the ball again, Sayuri jumped too.
"You are too naïve!" Sayuri said, hitting the ball down unmercifully. Sakuragi is so furious that he is about to punch Sayuri as the door opened and Haruko walked into the gym.
"Ah! Haruko! Do you know that a girls' team will be set up tomorrow!?" Sakuragi asked, excitedly.
"Really?" Haruko asked, surprised.
"Of course it's true. Old man just said it." Sakuragi said, smiling at Haruko.
"He likes her, right?" Sayuri asked, standing beside Rukawa.
"Yes."
"She is cute. Do you like her?" Sayuri asked, curious.
"No." Rukawa replied without thinking.
"So confirm? Why not give it some thoughts?" Sayuri asked.
"I don't like her means I don't like her. There is no need to give it some thoughts." Rukawa replied coldly. Haruko turned and looked at Rukawa, and for the first time, she noticed the presence of Sayuri.
"Ayako-san, who is she?" Haruko asked.
"She is Asagiri Sayuri. Her basketball skill is very food. And it seems like she is Anzai sensei's former student. She will be joining the girls' team." Ayako replied. Haruko nodded and walked towards Sayuri with a smile on her face. Sayuri turned around just as Haruko reached her.
"! . Oh, hi!" Sayuri said, rather surprised that Haruko appeared in front of her so suddenly.
"Hi, I am Akagi Haruko. One of the team manageresses. Ayako-san said that you will be joining the girls' team, is that so?" Haruko asked, friendlily.
"Yep. I will be joining for sure. I am Asagiri Sayuri, nice to meet you." Sayuri said, smiling, looking at the Haruko. Haruko is paralyzed. Sayuri smiled once again and walked away.
+Her eyes. They are so charming.+ Haruko thought. Sayuri walked over to Anzai sensei.
"Sensei, see you tomorrow." Sayuri said.
"You are going home?" Anzai sensei asked, a pleasant smile on his face.
"Yeah. I am tired. See you tomorrow." Sayuri said, smiling before leaving the gym. --
The next day, Sayuri woke up very early to get ready for the first day of school. Just as she finished her early morning shower, the doorbell rang.
Ding~ Dong~
+So early. Who can it be?" Sayuri thought, walking towards the door with only a bathrobe on.
Author's notes: Please review although this story sucks.^_^