Special note:
This chapter is specially for cookies, who celebrated her 14th birthday on 17th October...and shiroi-okami, who celebrated her birthday on the 14th of October. Sorry I missed both of them...Happy Belated Birthday! And have a great year ahead! Take care!



Rakka eda ni kaerazu
~ Fallen blossoms do not return to branches ~
-- a Japanese proverb
Chapter Eleven: Shohoku vs Ryonan
Summer, Present
Kanagawa, Japan
Ryonan High School
In the guest team's locker room, the Shohoku members were waiting in anticipation for Anzai-sensei's announcement of the starting line-up as well as the giving out of the team jerseys.
"Center. Akagi. Number four."
Akagi stepped up proudly to claim his jersey.
"Point guard. Yasuda. Number six."
Yasuda's face lit up, and he said, aloud, "Me?" in disbelief.
"Second guard. Shiozaka. Number eight."
"Ganbatte, Ya-chan, Shio-chan," Ayako called out to her fellow second years.
"Forward. Small forward. Kogure. Number five."
Kogure's face was a picture of happiness. "Yes, sir," he said as he walked briskly to receive the jersey.
Starting member. Kogure could hardly believe it. He fingered the material of the jersey. Number five. He closed his eyes for a moment. Living the moment.
Which was promptly destroyed by Sakuragi's indignant protests.
When the clamour had died down, the team donned their jerseys and were a team once more. Michiko watched as they headed out as one to face the challenged posed by Ryonan.
'Ganbatte, Kogure-kun,' Michiko thought as she watched the ballplayer walk onto the court.
Kogure made seven points in the first half, then scored a three-pointer that turned the tide, which was, unfortunately, turned back by Sendoh's marvellous plays.
Michiko took in the action, better able to follow the game now that she had some prior knowledge about basketball, and saw, besides the game play, the undercurrents in the game.
Rukawa was irked and challenged by Sendoh's mastery of the game.
Uozumi had only one goal: to beat Akagi.
Sakuragi was playing for Haruko, and trying to beat both Rukawa and Sendoh.
Sendoh was just having fun.
The game ended in favour of Ryonan. Distressing Michiko. If they could not beat Ryonan in a practice game, could they beat them in the final playoffs, if they did get that far?
"Don't worry," Ayako reassured Michiko, "we have our secret weapon." She smiled knowingly.
Secret weapon? Michiko's face must have showed her puzzlement, for Ayako laughed and said, "Our starting point guard. Miyagi Ryota. He's not back from his hiatus at the hospital yet."
Michiko brightened. They had a chance, then.
Summer, Present
Kanagawa, Japan
Miyagi residence
He couldn't wait to get back to playing basketball. After all he was the best in Kanagawa. His Aya-chan would be proud of him. He would make her proud.
Ryota took a cat nap after his practice, the longest since he had been discharged. He was well on his way to full fitness.
He fell asleep, dreaming of the cheering spectators and the loudest cheers of all – those of a certain girl with long, curly hair, from her place on the Shohoku bench.
Summer, Present
Kanagawa, Japan
Shohoku High School
Practice had started already, with everyone geared up, for they had seen their opponent and wanted to improve themselves.
Michiko looked at the players warming up on court. They were mostly tall, muscular and altogether avid basketball players. With the exception of one, whose height made him stand out, though it was much the opposite. A particularly short player. Who was always looking at Ayako. Michiko smiled secretly. Maybe the manageress had something else that called her back to basketball.




Disclaimer: Slam Dunk and its characters aren't mine... But Michiko and her family are.


Author's Notes:
Hi everyone. Thanks for waiting patiently for this next chapter; I haven't been receiving hate mail with "hurry up...or else" content. ^_____^ Still in the middle of exams, though. *sigh* Will be updating sporadically again.


DiaBLo: Okay, I'm fine with the "floaty" chapters for now...hope your end-of-year exams were okay...

Joy: How did your exams go? I started on my practicals yesterday. *bleah*

maemi: Hey, I didn't know you read my blog! *grins* Glad you like it. Oh, you could email me with any thoughts to share regarding the posts. I love hearing what others think.

cookies: Happy belated birthday!

renei: No, I *did not* know what your oh-so-incoherent review was all about...*grin* And I will try to do what you ask anyway....*lol*

tensaispira: Interesting, you like the part 20 years ago? I didn't expect that... thanks anyway! ^___^

Tan Kimiko: Cute little side-play. Thanks for reviewing!






Take care...I'll see you in the next update.

~rurouni



P.S. "Children of the World" is up again...read and review, onegai? ^______^ It's not a re-post, if you're wondering...