Rakka eda ni kaerazu
~ Fallen blossoms do not return to branches ~
-- a Japanese proverb
Chapter Eight: Meet the Team
Summer, Present
Kanagawa, Japan
Shohoku High School
By mutual consent, both Kogure and Michiko had decided to keep the truth of the incident, as well as what happened in the park, a secret. It would not do to bring Fujima into this mess. One family tragedy was enough.
Shohoku High School promised some hope of regularity. Schoolwork, classes and fitting in would take her mind of things. She welcomed her first day of school.
Kogure walked beside the cheerful Michiko as they made their way to school. She had seemed to put the matter behind her. But he knew that it was still a nagging pain that would not be left alone. A wound that was closed, but one that was infected. When would the infection develop?
Kogure became Michiko's voluntary guide around Shohoku, registering her at the office, then taking her to class and around school. Fortunately, they were in the same class. They arrived at the classroom door seconds ahead of their teacher, who smiled graciously at the new girl. Kogure, who happened to be one of her favourite pupils, promptly introduced Michiko.
After school had ended, Kogure and Akagi, who had been introduced to Michiko at first opportunity, invited her to watch the basketball team practice. She had, at first, declined, but when Kogure pointed out that she had in fact asked him to teach her more about basketball, she smiled shyly then agreed.
With that, the trio headed for the basketball courts, where the boys left her in the capable hands of their Year 2 manageress, Ayako, while they went to get changed.
"Ayako-chan, do you like being a manageress?" Michiko asked in curiosity.
"Yes! I'm the only one that can whack the players on the head and get away with it!" Ayako laughed loudly, joined by Michiko. On a more serious note, she continued, "But I do love the excitement and thrills that come with basketball. I love the game, only I'm not really good at it. I'd be hopeless at a girls' team. I just have the head knowledge, not the practical skills."
Michiko nodded, knowing what it felt like. She had loved baseball, but found that she was one of those people who always struck out. She never really got back into baseball after her dance with death. Maybe it was basketball season.
She looked at the players warming up on court. They were mostly tall, muscular and altogether avid basketball players.
Akagi rounded up the team for his customary pre-practice talk. First, he gave them the agenda for the practice session, and talked about the upcoming games – the preliminary rounds. At mention of this, Michiko noticed the serious expression on the face of every single player. It was as if they shared a common goal, and were equally yoked to fulfil it. Some would never have a chance to step onto the courts to play in a real match. Others would be in the starting line-up for every match. Whatever their position, they all worked hard to achieve the team's goal – Inter High.
Then, Akagi introduced the team to Michiko, who bowed shyly when she found the players' eyes on her. Then, she looked up and smiled at them, saying, "I hope you will achieve your goal! Please teach me more about basketball, for I don't know much about the game."
Sakuragi laughed one of his trademark laughs and said, "Learn from the tensai! Soon you'll be scoring dunks! And beating Gori-"
He was awarded with a punch from his captain, who directed him to join the team already on the courts.
Michiko could only laugh.
"They're like that. They appear to be so uncouth, uncaring, but they'll got to great lengths if they find that you're in trouble," Ayako was telling Michiko as they scrutinised the practice session.
Michiko thought of Kogure. Then added, "Not all of them are. Uncouth and uncaring, I mean."
Ayako stared at her for a moment, but didn't catch any of the trademark signs of a girl having fallen in love – dreamy eyes, love-sick expression, hearts virtually dancing in the eyes… "I guess you're right."
"Anyway, back to the game. What Sakuragi is trying to do is called a dunk. Later, you'll see Rukawa perform it perfectly, only on the other side of the court!"
Michiko looked at the two players she was referring to, and grinned when she saw Ayako's prediction come true.
Ayako continued, explaining about the strategic defence each team was using, and the reasons behind them. She broke off abruptly to tell Michiko about the difficulty of a three-point shot and how and why Mitsui could do it so well.
By the end of the practice, Michiko's brain was saturated with basketball facts. She mentioned this to Ayako, who merely laughed and said, "You'll be saturated forever! I don't think you'll forget any bit of my running commentary, since you had the visual effects that accompanied it!"
Kogure came up to Michiko after he had showered and changed, and altogether looked a neat and studious boy again, a far cry from the determined and exuberant basketball player. He asked, "Like it? I saw Ayako talking non-stop to you during practice."
Michiko smiled and answered in the affirmative.
"Do you want to head home now? Or would you prefer going for a drink or snack somewhere?" Kogure asked, ever anxious to please.
"Let's go home. Your homework's still waiting. And besides, you did agree to explain that Physics problem to me, and I must warn you, I'm a dunce at Physics!" Michiko answered.
Kogure and Michiko walked out of the gym together, under the observation of interested eyes. That promised to clobber the truth out of Kogure when they next saw him.






Author's Notes:
And after a long wait, the rest of the Shohoku team finally show up again in this fic! Hope you enjoyed the chapter!


Replies: A big "Thank You!" to all who reviewed; I really appreciate your comments and feedback.

Joy: I'm glad you have a great step-father. It'll be a slightly straighter road for a while, not as many twists and turns at this stage of the story.

Nellie: Fujima's Dad? Or Michiko's Dad? Whose side are you on? *grin* My sympathies lie with Michiko now, because she's in the know, while Fujima is totally clueless about that aspect of his family history.

iron kitty: I like it when people are "moved"! Jolted you into gratitude for your parents?

renei: Thanks. The revelation will come sooner or later. And my heart will break for poor Fujima then!

tensaispira: Yes, her half-brother!

cookies: What is going to tear you apart? The waiting for the next chapter? Or the sad events that are happening, or going to happen?

jeano: Hi again! Hope you'll be reading this one...

White-angel: Hello! Long time no see! Me and my angst fics. You can keep that box of tissues for a while. It's smooth sailing in this chapter, at least!

Konomi: Hi again! Thanks for coming back to read this one. I'll definitely keep at it - I don't abandon projects like this one halfway. Could you leave you email? I like to converse with fellow anime-lovers.

DiaBLo: Will definitely keep writing - won't want to let everyone, including myself, down! ^__^

angelwings: Hajimemashite! Glad to meet you. Sorry about the chapter length, but this is a manageable size for me to update regularly with my current schedule!



This "replies" part is getting long...but I'm not complaining! Thanks for the support and feedback, everyone! *bows*



till next time!
~rurouni