Rakka eda ni kaerazu
~ Fallen blossoms do not return to branches ~
-- a Japanese proverb
Chapter Nineteen: The Last Stop on the Road
Summer, Present
Kanagawa, Japan
A stadium
The crowded stands were full. Full to their maximum capacity of waving, cheering fans.
Shohoku versus Ryonan.
For the Inter High.
Summer, Yesterday
Kanagawa, Japan
Kawasaki residence
"Shohoku will win…" Michiko murmured in her sleep.
Summer, Yesterday
Kanagawa, Japan
Various places
Rukawa Kaede dribbled the ball slowly.
Pondering about tomorrow.
Then, as quickly as his reflective mood had come, it left. And Rukawa Kaede was once more cold, focused, determined.
Kogure Kiminobu completed the last of his stretches. Tomorrow would be a long day.
A long, arduous day. With a long arduous journey.
Akagi Takenori closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of the summer sun. He opened them again. To an empty Shohoku gym. Tomorrow would be the deciding factor.
Sakuragi Hanamichi made his last shot for the day. It sailed neatly into the basket. The result of days and hours of practice. Which were credited by one word: genius.
Miyagi Ryota envisioned himself in the game tomorrow. He wanted to do well. For the team, for Anzai-sensei, for himself, for Aya-chan.
Mitsui bent his knee. And straightened it again. He mentally willed it to not let him down in the upcoming game. Tomorrow. 'I will do it, we will do it, Anzai-sensei. I owe it to you. I owe it to the team. I owe it to myself.'
You are strong.
We are strong.
The Shohoku team was coming to the last stop on their Kanagawa leg of the Inter High.
And waiting for them at that last stop was none other than their nemesis, Ryonan.
And the question on everyone's lips was: would it also be the last stop on Shohoku's road to the Inter High?
Spirit.
Courage.
Heart.
Aflame in every single basketball player's heart was the desire, the will to win.
Shohoku and Ryonan.
Both were raging fires.
All-consuming fires.
In the name of, in the quest for, victory.
Thank you cookies, renei, unchained and Alexia for reading and reviewing!
cookies: glad you liked the chapter! ^____^
renei: thanks! here's another short chapter, but one that sets the scene for the next few chapters. *excited* I can't wait to write about their awesome game...
unchained: I love twists too! That's one of the reasons why this story is my baby...
Alexia: wow...reading all those chapters in one shot....you have a lot stamina *grin* Thanks for reading and bothering to review for each of the chapters. your kenji? *battousai glare* (and yes, that's where my name comes from...) hope your exams went well...if they're still on i presume you won't be reading this...

~rurouni