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Sendoh drool We also do not own the songs featured in this fic.
Title: Kanagawa Blues
PART 18: COOL CHANGE
Three days later…
Ayako and Koshino tried to avoid each other as much as possible. Miyagi seemed to be watching them a lot. This didn't bother Koshino at all.
Who is he anyway? he thought. But he didn't want to start another fight so he stopped flirting with her. The practice was going well, Mitsui called their attention and announced,
"We all know that the exhibition games are almost a week away. Coach wants us to show how strong we are so I expect you'll do well. Now I want to announce the starting line-up for the upcoming games and for the whole of next season. For point guard, none other than Ryota Miyagi. For shooting guard, Luka Tenshi and for center," he paused for a moment and grinned, "the invincible Ron Taichiko, for small forward, Kaede Rukawa and lastly, for power forward, Hanamichi Sakuragi. Congratulations to you guys and play well. As for the others, you'll get to play whenever substitutions are necessary. Ikeda, you'll back-up the captain, Koshino you can replace Luka in case, Kakuta for Ron, Yasu for Rukawa and Sakuragi, I'll back you up for the summer, I mean that's not likely but just in case, anyway, for the official season, Ishii will be your sub. Any questions?"
Sakuragi raised his left hand fervently and Mitsui nodded.
"Mitchy, aren't you too old to play? You should be joining college basketball by now." Sakuragi asked nastily as Ron gave him an I'll-teach-you-a-lesson kinda look. Mitsui however barely reacted the way he used to whenever he was insulted.
"As you ought to know, Sakuragi, Shoyo is offering us a practice game. They've got the twin super rookies who were desired by big schools such as Ryonan, Kainan, Miuradai, Takezato and even Shohoku. One of them won last year's junior basketball MVP award though the other one was also a candidate and the team captain. Now Shoyo wouldn't show everything they've got so Hanagata and Fujima will also play for the whole summer and that gives me reason to demand the best from all of you. So what's wrong with me backing you up?" He said sternly. Everyone gasped at the mention of the superstars' names, except for Ron who said,
"Wow, Hisashi, where did you dig those info? Been workin' really hard eh?"
"Well, sources. I talked to Fujima last week and as for the twins, they graduated from Takeishi High, you know, my former school. I still have friends there and a former teammate told me about them, he had played with them as a matter of fact." Mitsui answered.
And the team practiced from 7 in the morning 'til 4 in the afternoon. Mr. Anzai however, didn't show up, according to Ayako he had to visit an ill nephew.
The session didn't turn out that bad, everyone seemed to be looking forward to the said practice game which will be held a day before the official summer games.
Koshino was quite excited as well. He wanted to talk to Ayako again because he knew he had to. Maybe next time. He thought. Miyagi, however, didn't even look at him, not even to throw him some dirty looks. Koshino was having second thoughts on asking Ayako out again but he knew what it would result to. I'll wait 'til school starts, then I'll have more time. Not now, I have to focus for the games. He thought.
After the practice, everyone left gym, they were all tired. Koshino rode his bike still thinking about making it up to Ayako though she had gotten over it. He was wondering if it didn't matter to her anymore, if she'd say no, he wouldn't know what to do. I've got to get her off my mind for a while.
The Shoyo players were to arrive at any minute. Everybody was excited at the same time nervous except for Sakuragi who was bragging about beating the twins single-handedly,
"Leave them to me, I'll know how to tame them once I've had a good look, and as for Bench-warmer (Fujima) and Glassman (Hanagata), I've memorized their cheesy moves and so-called strategy…hahaha!" Just then, the Shoyo players arrived with Fujima and Hanagata.
The two teams greeted each other and after that they decided to prepare themselves for the introduction of the new players. Shoyo went first.
"I will coach the team for now and I think Toru and I will act as back-ups for the moment." Fujima said as Mitsui stepped forward and said,
"I will act as back-up too and I'll coach the team as well since Anzai-sensei hasn't arrived yet. For now I introduce to you four of our new members." Ron, Kirin, Luka and Koshino stepped forward, "This is Ron Taichiko, he's in his third year, Luka Tenshi of second year, Kirin Ikeda of first year and Hiroaki Koshino, I suppose you already know him, he played for Ryonan during his first two years."
Hanagata and Fujima nodded and motioned for the new members. There were only three of them.
"This is Hazuki Inoh, a freshman," said Fujima as a tall light-haired boy stepped forward to show himself to everyone. "These two are Aya and Sayo Kawamizara, also freshmen," he continued as the two jet black-haired boys stepped forward.
They must be the twins Mitsui was warning us about. Everybody thought. They didn't seem to be intimidating at all for they weren't tall enough compared to the former Shoyo boys who had played against Shohoku last season. They looked very young and peaceful, they had pale white skin just like Rukawa's though their eyes weren't like his, they were deep black and much larger. Fujima grinned as the two greeted them.
"Well then I suppose we should start." Mitsui proposed as Fujima and Hanagata nodded in agreement.
The starting line-up of Shoyo was composed of three tall guys and the twins who were wearing number 10 and 11. They were the only members who did not pass 190 cm. Mitsui appointed Kuwata to referee the game. Ron and the Shoyo center who was 6 cm taller than him were asked to position themselves for the jump ball.
Shohoku got the first ball by Miyagi. He passed it to Luka who was deciding whom he should pass it to, Rukawa or Ron or Sakuragi who were all motioning. He gave it to Rukawa by an overhead pass, just when Rukawa caught it, a hand as swift as wind grabbed the ball from him. "Shit!" he muttered. It was Kawamizara in number 10 who was followed closely by the other Kawamizara. They were aiming for a fast break.
Miyagi, Rukawa and Sakuragi were fast, they were to catch up, but it was a fake, the boy had just passed it to his brother between Rukawa and Sakuragi. It was so close that they almost caught it. They tried to block him but before they were on the peak of their launch to tap the ball, the opponent had dunked the ball, in their faces. Everyone looked aghast. Toru's lips curled into a satisfied grin, but Fujima wasn't so glad about it, "That was reckless of you," he told the freshman.
Sakuragi and Rukawa were on fire. "I'll show you, showy freshmen." Sakuragi said as Rukawa muttered, "Not next time."
Miyagi tapped their shoulders and said, "Don't mind, at least now we know." However, he was bothered. With that height? They're only about 10 or 11 cm taller than I am.
The first half ended with Shohoku leading by 12. Fujima and Hanagata entered to replace the twins in the second half; the lead was cut down to 5. Just then, Mitsui decided to enter. Koshino also played for a few minutes, he did quite well. Shohoku wouldn't allow the visitors to win; the game ended and Shohoku won by three. The team cheered as the Shoyo players formed a line to shake hands with the winner.
When the visitors had left, Sakuragi was cursing the opponents, "Darn, you should've let me handle those showy freshmen. I told you I'd beat them with each of my hands! And you should've left Glassman to me as well." he told Mitsui as Ron and Rukawa snorted.
"Relax, I told you they wouldn't show what they've got, Fujima let them play for only twenty minutes. Anyway, you all did well, I hope you'll keep it up." Mitsui said.
When everyone was ready to leave, Koshino waited for everyone. But he just watched; he didn't want to talk to Ayako for now. I think I'll just call her. He thought.
TBC
A/N: If you review, we'll keep posting ^_^.