Yo, minna-san! The fourth one in the list! I think we've focused on Rukawa enough (well, for me, it's still not enough), so let's move on to the other characters, mainly Haruko and also the "extras". This may only be comic relief, but still it's stitched in the story, so move your finger away from mouse pointing the back button or to the chap button unless you want to confuse yourself in the fic. ^^
How'd you guys like some pairing for a change? I've had e-mail's of SD fanatics ordering me to put some romance in the story—but not for Rukawa. So I'll try it on Mitsui, Miyagi, and, of course, Sakuragi! I've already done the bit, but if you guys have some suggestions I could use, I'd be willing to change the script for you. ^_^
Luv-anime-4eva ~ Thanks for trying anyway! Of course, who would think that Elly is funny? O.O Sakuragi and Miyagi and Mitsui will be though. It'll be in the remaining chaps. If it still isn't funny (whack me in the head for crying out loud!) then PLEASE give some suggestions. I'm so inexperienced, huh? ^^
Okay, enough about mush. On to the chap!
Itadakimasu!
4 ~ Dinner Date with Haruko
"Loving is such quiet sufferingParting is such sweet sorrow."
Good thing I left without him suspecting something, Ellyta breathed in relief as she observed the streetlights in Japan.
Everything about this country made her feel at home unlike the tall modern buildings she was used to seeing in America where she spent most of her childhood. The atmosphere was beautiful and the people were friendly and polite. Everything was just the same even after ten long years of her absence.
Well, everything except the one reason she came back home.
I must be stupid, she thought as she walked along the road, looking at the restaurants, people talking and laughing, couples kissing under the moonlight. Here I was worrying that he might be shocked at the news, but in the end I realized all that energy was a waste. So stupid.
She was surprised at first to hear that Rukawa became a certified "super rookie" when it came to the sport that ruined his life and his whole childhood. Girls can't stop talking and dreaming about him in school, and the sports magazine in the prefecture even had articles and pictures about him. Did his experience before really change his whole way of looking at life, at people, at his friends…at basketball?
She shook her head slowly, a pang of regret stung in her heart, as she lowered her eyes toward her handkerchief—moist with blood.
Haruko opened the door to his brother's bedroom. "Oniichan? Can I ask for advice?"
His brother stopped his barbell routine and looked at Haruko in shock. Her hair was a horrible mess, and she carried an armload of dresses, shirts and pants. Lots of them made a trail back to her bedroom, giving an impression of a hiker trying to leave markings to keep from getting lost. "Doushta (What happened), Haruko? What's with the shopping spree?"
She stuck her tongue out at him. "I'm trying to choose an outfit to wear for our date tomorrow night, and I'm hopeless at picking the right one! Which would look better for me? The blue plaid, or this red…uh…thing? Oh no, it's already ripped in the seam! What am I gonna do, Oniichan?"
Akagi held up his hands to show a signal. "Okay, time-out! A date, you say? With who?"
"Sakuragi-kun. He asked me out during practice."
Haruko paused while looking at her gorilla brother, who is transforming into an even more gorilla-like form (that's what I like about SD, it always goes to an alternate reality ^_^). "WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT LETTING YOU GO ON A DATE WITH THAT BAKA SARU?!!! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND, HARUKO!!"
Akagi's shouts practically shook the whole room, and Haruko had to hold on to the doorknob to steady herself, letting all her clothes drop to the floor. "Sakuragi-kun's not that bad, Oniichan. We'll be just eating at a restaurant, I swear!"
Gori doubted big about this. After all, with that maniac around his sister, anything can happen!
"Onegai! We'll just talk and eat, okay? Please, please, please! Besides, Yohei and the gang are coming, too."
The last quote seemed to have calmed the gorilla brother down, just for a little. After a long moment of thought, he finally said, "Fine. Just make sure the four of them goes with you. Or that Red Hair's gonna be in big trouble at practice!"
Haruko jumped around in glee and wrapped her arms around Akagi, who then turned back into his human form (^_^). "Yay! Arigato, Oniichan!! So what should I wear?" she pointed to the array of outfits on the doorway.
Akagi scratched his head and shrugged. "Whatever you wear will be okay for that idiot."
Yeah, and even if Haruko wears a psychedelic skirt from the prehistoric age, Sakuragi would still be head over heels with her. Literally! he added in his thoughts.
Haruko frowned as she studied a red t-shirt. "I guess this will do fine with that black pants. Or what if Sakuragi-kun prefers skirts?"
That did it. Akagi suddenly turned gorilla once more and his voice resounded on the whole block. "I WILL NOT HAVE YOU WEAR SKIRTS WHEN YOU'RE WITH HIM!!!"
A pair of students was talking during their way to Shohoku High. "So, you're coming to the game, then?"
"Of course! I will never fail to cheer for our team!"
"For Rukawa-kun, you mean."
"Oh sure. For that adorable cutie, I'll do anything!"
"I wonder if Shohoku'll win this time. I hear Kainan's the best team in the prefecture! It won for seventeen consecutive years tickets to the Inter-High, and it once became the Best Four."
"Oh yeah? Well, Ru…er, Shohoku beat Eiji, the number one player in Japan, with team Sannoh. You must be losing it. With Rukawa-kun in the starting lineup, Shohoku has a one-way ticket to…"
"WATCH IT!"
The two turned around just in time to see a rider driving his bike dangerously, swerving back and forth on the road like a maniac. As it came near, they realized it was no other than Rukawa, fast asleep. One car was following him in hot pursuit, with its fender looking like it was smashed hard into. "Bakero!! I'll get you for ruining my car!!"
Suddenly, a group of females dressed in pale pink cheerleading uniforms sneaked between the sleeping kitsune and the angry driver. The car stopped, missing them by inches. "We are the Rukawa Shinietai, and we won't let your filthy hands get to our beloved Rukawa Kaede!"
The girl in the middle pointed to the baffled driver. "Let's get him, girls!"
A few seconds of smoke and steam later, the Brigade left the car, or what was left of it. "All my profits were on this beauty. And looked what happened to it!" the driver sobbed. He fingered the dented parts and the wheel burst out. The pair watched the incident in shock. "There oughtta be a law against people like them!"
~* Next Chapter – Omedeto, Miyagi Ryota!*~
There! How's my latest chap? If you want to give suggestions or critique my fic (which I desperately need right now), don't hesitate to give me a review. It helps for both you and me. Sankyu for reading and watch out for the next chap!
Will Ellyta ever have a chance of meeting the laconic player? Or will it be doomsday for her? Well, if you have any suggestions that can take us there, do it, man!
Don't be a stranger!