ONE ON ONE
Luka stared for a moment. It appeared that he had been contemplating on a math problem he was just given the class before and it took several seconds before the value of the question sank to him.
"Fine," he answered seeming unruffled.
Sakuragi's hatred for Rukawa seemed infinitely abysmal by the moment Luka took the challenge. He and Ron would certainly slip away from the centre of attention once the two took off and get on with their game. They had always been the subject of schoolgirls' petty chatter and a game between them would no doubt be the topic of conversation for the next few days.
"What an insolent teme, I'll have him reduced to ashes," Sakuragi thought to himself. It was quite surprising that he didn't utter it aloud as he usually did.
"You know, Sakuragi, this is such an exciting match to miss. I say we continue our game later once Luka had Rukawa turned to a muddy smug," Ron told Sakuragi, his lips curling to a mischievous smile.
"Oh, come on, Ron. These two are interrupting the defining moment of my talent. Are you just to let go of the chance when girls would have to scream your name-"
"Go for it, Luka! Yeah, that's right, reverse it and go for the score!" Apparently Ron had been too busy watching the game and took no heed of a word Sakuragi was saying.
Sakuragi was now suffering from hysteria, he couldn't believe Ron had no intention whatsoever to rival Rukawa's popularity and this angered him so that he picked up the ball he and Ron had been using and slammed it right behind Ron's head. The latter, however, didn't seem to notice it and went on cheering for Luka, jumping up and down as though he had just won the lottery.
Every eye was on Luka and Rukawa now. It was like watching an 18th century European execution of a well known man where a guillotine blade drops off his neck cutting it neatly and almost perfectly. The score was even: 2 to 2. Sakuragi seemed the only who was not anxious about who was winning and it pained him to see Rukawa again claiming the glory of it all. Without anymore complain, he sat beside Ron and cheered for Luka.
"Yeah, that's right, Luka. Shove him off his feet and drag him out of this building!"
But Luka must have been the nicest player Shohoku ever had for he barely tried to make contact with Rukawa. His movements were so smooth and angelic that everyone there would've thought the scene was in slow motion.
"You see those moves, Sakuragi. That ought to be a requirement for entering a basketball team but that would leave only three of us in this poor team: Luka, Hisashi, and ME," Ron said suddenly, his eyes fixed on Luka.
"You're nuts, you should be in street ball hanging out with some wanted crooks," answered Sakuragi, "So, when are we going back with our one on one game?"
"After I'm done with the winner of this match," Ron nodded at both Rukawa and Luka who were dripping with sweat beads.
Sakuragi couldn't believe his ears. He wanted to smack Ron with a folding chair but before he could pick one up a whistle blew behind him. It was Ryota Miyagi, captain of Shohoku basketball team. With him was Hisashi Mitsui. The game stopped at an instant at 3 to 3 on the score board.
"I would not risk any injury at the present since the official season starts in a week before now, I order this game to be cancelled at once. Now, be prepared for a new offensive strategy-" Miyagi was cut short by Ron who seemed as though his birth date had just been obliterated from the calendar.
"But, captain, this is a once in a lifetime match. Do you realise what it means to every player you have in this team?"
"No," said Miyagi curtly and went on, "As I was saying-"
"Hisashi, This match, it's preposterous to have it stopped or even postponed-" Ron suddenly turned to his cousin for some support but,
"No, Ron." Said Mitsui glaring at his cousin as he turned to everyone, "Miyagi and I have been conducting nocturnal meetings to come up with an ingenious tactic that would prove to be the doom of every team who would go against Shohoku Basketball Team,"
Mitsui and Miyagi, it turned out, had been working laboriously on the said strategy for the last few nights. It was a rather good basketball move invention that everyone was in suspicion that both spent ages in the public library studying basketball manuals. But it wasn't so, Miyagi and Mitsui did think about this new move. As afternoon arrived, the team was dismissed and everyone was in a rather good mood except Ron and Rukawa. Ron had been too disappointed at Mitsui's behaviour that he drove away right after the practice without hitting the showers. This he did on purpose so that Mitsui would walk his way home alone and not with Ron in his black two sitter sports car.
Somewhere In The Middle
After the practice,
I have to do It now, no time will be better. If I don't, then I won't. Koshino was gathering all his courage, after all, Miyagi is in the shower.
He walked towards Ayako who was busy with her record book. He tried to avoid a scene but it was no use, he looked nervous beyond obvious. Sakuragi stopped fixing his stuff to watch him, Mitsui and Kirin looked away.
"Er, are you busy?" He asked the beautiful manager.
"Not really…er, you did great today, I mean, the practice." She said grinning, starting to blush.
Mitsui went to the shower room, Kirin and Sakuragi followed. They knew better than stopping Koshino.
"You were watching-I mean-of course, you should…you noticed then." Koshino said, slightly flattered. Ayako started to blush even more.
"well, I'm supposed to monitor each of you."
"Yeah. Uh, I never got to, er, how am I gonna say…uh, would you…are you and Miyagi together?" he managed to ask before he could stop himself. Ayako looked at him for a while then,
"No, it's…it's not in my mind right now. It's hard to choose, you know…"
"Between me and him?" Koshino asked, not too boldly.
"Uh, between that and basketball." She clarified.
"Oh, sorry. But, I've been thinking, if I'm not gonna tell you this now, then I probably won't. would you-"
"Listen, I'd love to but under such circumstances it's quite hard to take the opportunity. Miyagi's been acting warmly towards me and I think I owe him that for some reason and if we do something that would be a cause of another fit of his anger I guess it would be more than he could handle. I know what he feels about me as well as its dangers," Ayako said all this very fast but Koshino didn't seem to miss a thing.
"So this is what it's all about? Miyagi this and that? Look, I just happen to find it unfair you wouldn't even give me a chance. If all your decisions would have to depend on the mood of Miyagi-" Koshino said in a half loud tone but Ayako took over,
"Not quite. If you're taking this against the captain then please put aside all your thoughts at the moment because it's unhealthy for the team. Secondly, nobody would want a bloody injury since the games are nearing, and lastly, I am trying to decide independently as much as possible but…" She faltered, Koshino struck the reality behind it all.
"But you couldn't. You see, you're afraid he would beat me up like a punching bag again for coming near you and all," Said Koshino. Ayako tried to open her mouth but found no words to say so Koshino went on, "Listen, it's getting late and I'd better be going. If you change your mind about this just give me a ring and I'll pick you up at 7 this coming Sunday," He lifted up his bag, gave her a smile and winked, "Bye." He said speeding down the road. She covered her face when Koshino had gone.
"What's wrong, Aya-chan?" Miyagi had just came out of the shower. Mitsui, Kirin and Sakuragi were behind him, looking quite relieved that Koshino had gone.
"Nothing, I'm okay, just a headache. You see, I have to go, bye now." She went to go before Miyagi could react.
Saturday afternoon.
Koshino dialled Ayako's number.
"Haven't decided yet?" Koshino asked Ayako.
There was a long pause, then,
"Listen, Hiroaki, you know this is not a good idea, I know you find it unreasonable but it's just not something worth risking. I'm really sorry."
Koshino wanted to punch the receiver and out of his control, he said,
"I'll be there in 10 minutes, bye."
And there was the busy tone. Ayako couldn't believe this. He was giving her more headache.
Luka stared for a moment. It appeared that he had been contemplating on a math problem he was just given the class before and it took several seconds before the value of the question sank to him.
"Fine," he answered seeming unruffled.
Sakuragi's hatred for Rukawa seemed infinitely abysmal by the moment Luka took the challenge. He and Ron would certainly slip away from the centre of attention once the two took off and get on with their game. They had always been the subject of schoolgirls' petty chatter and a game between them would no doubt be the topic of conversation for the next few days.
"What an insolent teme, I'll have him reduced to ashes," Sakuragi thought to himself. It was quite surprising that he didn't utter it aloud as he usually did.
"You know, Sakuragi, this is such an exciting match to miss. I say we continue our game later once Luka had Rukawa turned to a muddy smug," Ron told Sakuragi, his lips curling to a mischievous smile.
"Oh, come on, Ron. These two are interrupting the defining moment of my talent. Are you just to let go of the chance when girls would have to scream your name-"
"Go for it, Luka! Yeah, that's right, reverse it and go for the score!" Apparently Ron had been too busy watching the game and took no heed of a word Sakuragi was saying.
Sakuragi was now suffering from hysteria, he couldn't believe Ron had no intention whatsoever to rival Rukawa's popularity and this angered him so that he picked up the ball he and Ron had been using and slammed it right behind Ron's head. The latter, however, didn't seem to notice it and went on cheering for Luka, jumping up and down as though he had just won the lottery.
Every eye was on Luka and Rukawa now. It was like watching an 18th century European execution of a well known man where a guillotine blade drops off his neck cutting it neatly and almost perfectly. The score was even: 2 to 2. Sakuragi seemed the only who was not anxious about who was winning and it pained him to see Rukawa again claiming the glory of it all. Without anymore complain, he sat beside Ron and cheered for Luka.
"Yeah, that's right, Luka. Shove him off his feet and drag him out of this building!"
But Luka must have been the nicest player Shohoku ever had for he barely tried to make contact with Rukawa. His movements were so smooth and angelic that everyone there would've thought the scene was in slow motion.
"You see those moves, Sakuragi. That ought to be a requirement for entering a basketball team but that would leave only three of us in this poor team: Luka, Hisashi, and ME," Ron said suddenly, his eyes fixed on Luka.
"You're nuts, you should be in street ball hanging out with some wanted crooks," answered Sakuragi, "So, when are we going back with our one on one game?"
"After I'm done with the winner of this match," Ron nodded at both Rukawa and Luka who were dripping with sweat beads.
Sakuragi couldn't believe his ears. He wanted to smack Ron with a folding chair but before he could pick one up a whistle blew behind him. It was Ryota Miyagi, captain of Shohoku basketball team. With him was Hisashi Mitsui. The game stopped at an instant at 3 to 3 on the score board.
"I would not risk any injury at the present since the official season starts in a week before now, I order this game to be cancelled at once. Now, be prepared for a new offensive strategy-" Miyagi was cut short by Ron who seemed as though his birth date had just been obliterated from the calendar.
"But, captain, this is a once in a lifetime match. Do you realise what it means to every player you have in this team?"
"No," said Miyagi curtly and went on, "As I was saying-"
"Hisashi, This match, it's preposterous to have it stopped or even postponed-" Ron suddenly turned to his cousin for some support but,
"No, Ron." Said Mitsui glaring at his cousin as he turned to everyone, "Miyagi and I have been conducting nocturnal meetings to come up with an ingenious tactic that would prove to be the doom of every team who would go against Shohoku Basketball Team,"
Mitsui and Miyagi, it turned out, had been working laboriously on the said strategy for the last few nights. It was a rather good basketball move invention that everyone was in suspicion that both spent ages in the public library studying basketball manuals. But it wasn't so, Miyagi and Mitsui did think about this new move. As afternoon arrived, the team was dismissed and everyone was in a rather good mood except Ron and Rukawa. Ron had been too disappointed at Mitsui's behaviour that he drove away right after the practice without hitting the showers. This he did on purpose so that Mitsui would walk his way home alone and not with Ron in his black two sitter sports car.
Somewhere In The Middle
After the practice,
I have to do It now, no time will be better. If I don't, then I won't. Koshino was gathering all his courage, after all, Miyagi is in the shower.
He walked towards Ayako who was busy with her record book. He tried to avoid a scene but it was no use, he looked nervous beyond obvious. Sakuragi stopped fixing his stuff to watch him, Mitsui and Kirin looked away.
"Er, are you busy?" He asked the beautiful manager.
"Not really…er, you did great today, I mean, the practice." She said grinning, starting to blush.
Mitsui went to the shower room, Kirin and Sakuragi followed. They knew better than stopping Koshino.
"You were watching-I mean-of course, you should…you noticed then." Koshino said, slightly flattered. Ayako started to blush even more.
"well, I'm supposed to monitor each of you."
"Yeah. Uh, I never got to, er, how am I gonna say…uh, would you…are you and Miyagi together?" he managed to ask before he could stop himself. Ayako looked at him for a while then,
"No, it's…it's not in my mind right now. It's hard to choose, you know…"
"Between me and him?" Koshino asked, not too boldly.
"Uh, between that and basketball." She clarified.
"Oh, sorry. But, I've been thinking, if I'm not gonna tell you this now, then I probably won't. would you-"
"Listen, I'd love to but under such circumstances it's quite hard to take the opportunity. Miyagi's been acting warmly towards me and I think I owe him that for some reason and if we do something that would be a cause of another fit of his anger I guess it would be more than he could handle. I know what he feels about me as well as its dangers," Ayako said all this very fast but Koshino didn't seem to miss a thing.
"So this is what it's all about? Miyagi this and that? Look, I just happen to find it unfair you wouldn't even give me a chance. If all your decisions would have to depend on the mood of Miyagi-" Koshino said in a half loud tone but Ayako took over,
"Not quite. If you're taking this against the captain then please put aside all your thoughts at the moment because it's unhealthy for the team. Secondly, nobody would want a bloody injury since the games are nearing, and lastly, I am trying to decide independently as much as possible but…" She faltered, Koshino struck the reality behind it all.
"But you couldn't. You see, you're afraid he would beat me up like a punching bag again for coming near you and all," Said Koshino. Ayako tried to open her mouth but found no words to say so Koshino went on, "Listen, it's getting late and I'd better be going. If you change your mind about this just give me a ring and I'll pick you up at 7 this coming Sunday," He lifted up his bag, gave her a smile and winked, "Bye." He said speeding down the road. She covered her face when Koshino had gone.
"What's wrong, Aya-chan?" Miyagi had just came out of the shower. Mitsui, Kirin and Sakuragi were behind him, looking quite relieved that Koshino had gone.
"Nothing, I'm okay, just a headache. You see, I have to go, bye now." She went to go before Miyagi could react.
Saturday afternoon.
Koshino dialled Ayako's number.
"Haven't decided yet?" Koshino asked Ayako.
There was a long pause, then,
"Listen, Hiroaki, you know this is not a good idea, I know you find it unreasonable but it's just not something worth risking. I'm really sorry."
Koshino wanted to punch the receiver and out of his control, he said,
"I'll be there in 10 minutes, bye."
And there was the busy tone. Ayako couldn't believe this. He was giving her more headache.