Saturday practice was going on for team Shohoku and Rika cooked up another
new exercise for them. She proposed they play Dodge Ball in two teams; each
composing of freshmen, juniors and seniors. Anzai openly opposed the idea
but with much persuasion, and a little diversion, they were playing well.
It was her job to practice their agility and speed and her ojii-san's to
make their shots better.
After the game, the coach told them to practice their shots and after a while, the practice game pitted against each other. Rukawa's team won, as usual.
Afterwards, it was the check-up test of Rika again. Miyagi did another fancy shot and only earned a sniff and an eye roll from Rika and a shake of the head from Anzai. Miyagi became so frustrated and growled.
Next was Rukawa. He took hold of the ball, approached the ring and shot casually. The team murmured among themselves knowing that Rukawa could do better than that. However, they were surprised as he earned an applause form both the coach and assistant coach.
"I expected Miyagi to know the answer sooner than any of you," Rika started, "but it seems that Kaede puzzled it out first."
All of the players exchanged glances and asked all at the same time what he had done.
Anzai cleared his throat knowing that no one else knew the answer but Rukawa and said simply, "Let Rukawa explain."
Rukawa blinked and looked at Rika, then the players then to Anzai who waited patiently and eagerly in his answer. "Playing basketball must be as simple as possible to show what you can really do. Showing off will not earn you a pass to a greater level in basketball."
A "huh?" was echoed from one player to another but Rukawa kept his mouth clamped.
"What he means to say," Rika started, "is that simplicity shows the real ability of the player. When you show off it might mean that you are trying to cover up your insecurity that you know little about basketball or how to play it."
The players exchanged approving nods saying that they do make sense. Since it had been answered, they were dismissed earlier. As they were about to leave, Rina suddenly burst in the door and Rika suddenly gave a surprised yelp to which she earned glances from others.
"Rina!" Rika growled at her, "I told you to wait for me at home. What's wrong with your brain?"
"Aw, clamp your mouth or I'll tell." She warned Rina, "So, where's Rukawa?"
"See that door? Just waltz over there." she told her knowing that she didn't do well in Japanese writing and the sign said "otoko" (male). It was the men's shower room.
Everyone else snickered as she went in and when she opened the door, she gaped and earned scowls from those who were there. She hurriedly shut the door and screamed, "What the hell are you thinking, you moron? That's the male shower room!"
"I know," she laughed along with the others, "I told you to waltz there, not IN there."
Rina's face turned red with embarrassment and rage. "Rika, you are going to make up for this or I'll really let him know. You understand me, you twerp?"
Rika nodded but traces of laughter was still evident in her face, "Of course, of course. What do you plan?"
[Get me and Rukawa alone together.] she told her sternly, [I know that's he won't come with me alone, so you come then leave us, OK?]
"Are you that desperate? You - ouch!" she cut herself off having received a sharp blow from Rina followed by other pounds on her head. "OK, OK, I got your message. Stop hitting." In truth, she wanted to hit her, too, but afraid she might kill her older sister instead.
"Good." She sounded satisfied and sat down on the bench. She was beautiful and there was no doubting that. When compared to her younger sister, she looked like a goddess, but her attitude was of the devil's.
Rukawa came out of the showers and Rika hurriedly ran after him, "Hey, uh, wanna hang out? My sister says she'd like to know you better."
He scowled at Rina then turned his attention back to Rika, "Tell that dou ahou to get out of my sight like the rest of the organization (Rukawa Brigade)."
"Kaede," she whined, "please! You have to do this. I know you don't give a hell about anything or anyone, not even me or ojii-san and maybe even your mother but, please. I don't want her to be displeased at all. You have my word, this will be the last time I ask you any such thing."
Rukawa glared at her and picked up his things and headed for the door. "No." he hissed firmly.
Rika got in his way and pleaded again. "Please, please..."
"Why?" he asked as he stopped to head toward the door.
"Becasuse.I..." she hesitated and sighed then smiled, "Oh, all right. You do whatever you want. I have no right to do this anyway. Sorry." She bowed and headed back toward her sister.
Rukawa suddenly grabbed her by her arm and discreetly whispered, "It's about the...fever dream I heard, isn't it?"
Rika sighed and nodded. "You don't have to involve yourself in this, you know. I was just being selfish."
"Tell her I'll be waiting outside." He told her flatly and walked out.
Rika's eyes popped open in surprise and turned toward him. She all but ran to Rina to tell her that he agreed to go out with both of them. The latter jumped up and down squealing like a little girl and hurriedly pulled her sister to the door who was just barely grabbing her duffel bag.
"Hi, Rukawa! Nice to be meeting you again." Rina greeted, "I'm glad you could come with us. So tell me, what are your interests?"
"Basketball." He mumbled loud enough for her to hear.
"I see..." She nodded trying to impress him, she added, "You know, I played basketball before, too. I played, uh..."
"Small forward." Her sister whispered to give her an idea, knowing she had no interest in the game at all much less play it.
"Small forward." She repeated. "And your position is?"
"Power forward."
"Uh, guys," Rika hurriedly cut in before Rina had the chance to comment and make a complete fool of herself which she would blame the former for. "Where do you want to go?"
"Anywhere Rukawa wants." Rina immediately responded.
When Rukawa said nothing, Rika knew it was up to her. "So, the restaurant beside the sea sounds fine by me."
Rukawa nodded and seeing him do so, Rina agreed as well and suggested they take her new car telling Rika to drive for them. The latter growled under her breath but agreed nonetheless. He offered to drive for them but Rina wouldn't allow it and wanted him to be as comfortable as possible. Rika assured him that she was well with that and so they went on.
Rina's idle ramblings went on and on until they reached the restaurant where she volunteered to pay for all of them.
Soon, Rina gave her sister a death glare that told her to get out. Making her phone ring, Rika pretended to answer it and excuse herself pretending she was being called by her mother.
"I'll kill you." Rukawa mumbled as Rika went away. He wanted to die there just listening to her talk. 3 times, he tried to get away from her as politely as possible but she held onto him, refusing to let him go. He growled again, "I swear I'll kill you, Rika."
"Oh, I want to kill her, too." Rina agreed, "She's so annoying and most of the time, she..."
Rukawa just wanted to knock her out and leave her there for all he cared but it wouldn't make a good impression on him as a gentleman however cold he was.
***
Rika stared idly at the ships that were passing by and listened the cry of the gulls and the whipping of the waves to the solid wall of the harbor. She pitied Rukawa. For all she knew, her sister was already leaning on his shoulder and telling him tall tales because of the older one's dislike toward her. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she was startled by the swinging, squirming worm bait in front of her.
She looked behind her and saw Sendou with his ever present smile. "Akira! Come on, don't stay here. My sister's inside the restaurant with Kaede." She pulled him to another part of the harbor well away from the establishment. "What's with the rod?"
"I'm fishing." He told her holding up the bucket of fish he caught.
"You never told me you're fishing." She pouted at him.
"I didn't?" he asked thinking that he did, "Maybe I forgot. So what's she doing with Rukawa?"
"What do you think?" she asked sarcastically.
"Poor Rukawa," Sendou shook his head, "'Once a fish is tangled in a net, he can never escape.'" He quoted.
"Where'd you get that saying?" Rika asked.
"I don't know. I just made it up especially for guys who your sister has her eyes on." He admitted laughing.
Rika laughed as well. "Well, it's true anyway." Their laugher subsided before she spoke again. "So when did you take that up?" she asked pointing at his rod.
"Two years ago. You know how to fish?"
"I don't know anything about salt water fishing but I know a lot about fresh water fishing." She shook her head slightly. "Is it hard?"
"Waiting is the only hard part about it. You want to pass the time doing it?"
"No, they might come out soon. It's best if we get away from here first. I can only imagine what she'll do when she sees you."
They both laughed and agreed to go to a park nearby where Rika asked Sendou to tell him all about the practice game. Every last bit of detail he could remember.
***
Sofia/3sh: It's OK. Sometimes, my mom does that to me too.
ninny: I'm trying to make her as dislikeable as possible.
dunkmoonX: wala yun! Sa tingin mo, sila nga ba yung pairing? Tignan nalang natin.
Tsuyo kereba iki...yowa kereba shine...
After the game, the coach told them to practice their shots and after a while, the practice game pitted against each other. Rukawa's team won, as usual.
Afterwards, it was the check-up test of Rika again. Miyagi did another fancy shot and only earned a sniff and an eye roll from Rika and a shake of the head from Anzai. Miyagi became so frustrated and growled.
Next was Rukawa. He took hold of the ball, approached the ring and shot casually. The team murmured among themselves knowing that Rukawa could do better than that. However, they were surprised as he earned an applause form both the coach and assistant coach.
"I expected Miyagi to know the answer sooner than any of you," Rika started, "but it seems that Kaede puzzled it out first."
All of the players exchanged glances and asked all at the same time what he had done.
Anzai cleared his throat knowing that no one else knew the answer but Rukawa and said simply, "Let Rukawa explain."
Rukawa blinked and looked at Rika, then the players then to Anzai who waited patiently and eagerly in his answer. "Playing basketball must be as simple as possible to show what you can really do. Showing off will not earn you a pass to a greater level in basketball."
A "huh?" was echoed from one player to another but Rukawa kept his mouth clamped.
"What he means to say," Rika started, "is that simplicity shows the real ability of the player. When you show off it might mean that you are trying to cover up your insecurity that you know little about basketball or how to play it."
The players exchanged approving nods saying that they do make sense. Since it had been answered, they were dismissed earlier. As they were about to leave, Rina suddenly burst in the door and Rika suddenly gave a surprised yelp to which she earned glances from others.
"Rina!" Rika growled at her, "I told you to wait for me at home. What's wrong with your brain?"
"Aw, clamp your mouth or I'll tell." She warned Rina, "So, where's Rukawa?"
"See that door? Just waltz over there." she told her knowing that she didn't do well in Japanese writing and the sign said "otoko" (male). It was the men's shower room.
Everyone else snickered as she went in and when she opened the door, she gaped and earned scowls from those who were there. She hurriedly shut the door and screamed, "What the hell are you thinking, you moron? That's the male shower room!"
"I know," she laughed along with the others, "I told you to waltz there, not IN there."
Rina's face turned red with embarrassment and rage. "Rika, you are going to make up for this or I'll really let him know. You understand me, you twerp?"
Rika nodded but traces of laughter was still evident in her face, "Of course, of course. What do you plan?"
[Get me and Rukawa alone together.] she told her sternly, [I know that's he won't come with me alone, so you come then leave us, OK?]
"Are you that desperate? You - ouch!" she cut herself off having received a sharp blow from Rina followed by other pounds on her head. "OK, OK, I got your message. Stop hitting." In truth, she wanted to hit her, too, but afraid she might kill her older sister instead.
"Good." She sounded satisfied and sat down on the bench. She was beautiful and there was no doubting that. When compared to her younger sister, she looked like a goddess, but her attitude was of the devil's.
Rukawa came out of the showers and Rika hurriedly ran after him, "Hey, uh, wanna hang out? My sister says she'd like to know you better."
He scowled at Rina then turned his attention back to Rika, "Tell that dou ahou to get out of my sight like the rest of the organization (Rukawa Brigade)."
"Kaede," she whined, "please! You have to do this. I know you don't give a hell about anything or anyone, not even me or ojii-san and maybe even your mother but, please. I don't want her to be displeased at all. You have my word, this will be the last time I ask you any such thing."
Rukawa glared at her and picked up his things and headed for the door. "No." he hissed firmly.
Rika got in his way and pleaded again. "Please, please..."
"Why?" he asked as he stopped to head toward the door.
"Becasuse.I..." she hesitated and sighed then smiled, "Oh, all right. You do whatever you want. I have no right to do this anyway. Sorry." She bowed and headed back toward her sister.
Rukawa suddenly grabbed her by her arm and discreetly whispered, "It's about the...fever dream I heard, isn't it?"
Rika sighed and nodded. "You don't have to involve yourself in this, you know. I was just being selfish."
"Tell her I'll be waiting outside." He told her flatly and walked out.
Rika's eyes popped open in surprise and turned toward him. She all but ran to Rina to tell her that he agreed to go out with both of them. The latter jumped up and down squealing like a little girl and hurriedly pulled her sister to the door who was just barely grabbing her duffel bag.
"Hi, Rukawa! Nice to be meeting you again." Rina greeted, "I'm glad you could come with us. So tell me, what are your interests?"
"Basketball." He mumbled loud enough for her to hear.
"I see..." She nodded trying to impress him, she added, "You know, I played basketball before, too. I played, uh..."
"Small forward." Her sister whispered to give her an idea, knowing she had no interest in the game at all much less play it.
"Small forward." She repeated. "And your position is?"
"Power forward."
"Uh, guys," Rika hurriedly cut in before Rina had the chance to comment and make a complete fool of herself which she would blame the former for. "Where do you want to go?"
"Anywhere Rukawa wants." Rina immediately responded.
When Rukawa said nothing, Rika knew it was up to her. "So, the restaurant beside the sea sounds fine by me."
Rukawa nodded and seeing him do so, Rina agreed as well and suggested they take her new car telling Rika to drive for them. The latter growled under her breath but agreed nonetheless. He offered to drive for them but Rina wouldn't allow it and wanted him to be as comfortable as possible. Rika assured him that she was well with that and so they went on.
Rina's idle ramblings went on and on until they reached the restaurant where she volunteered to pay for all of them.
Soon, Rina gave her sister a death glare that told her to get out. Making her phone ring, Rika pretended to answer it and excuse herself pretending she was being called by her mother.
"I'll kill you." Rukawa mumbled as Rika went away. He wanted to die there just listening to her talk. 3 times, he tried to get away from her as politely as possible but she held onto him, refusing to let him go. He growled again, "I swear I'll kill you, Rika."
"Oh, I want to kill her, too." Rina agreed, "She's so annoying and most of the time, she..."
Rukawa just wanted to knock her out and leave her there for all he cared but it wouldn't make a good impression on him as a gentleman however cold he was.
***
Rika stared idly at the ships that were passing by and listened the cry of the gulls and the whipping of the waves to the solid wall of the harbor. She pitied Rukawa. For all she knew, her sister was already leaning on his shoulder and telling him tall tales because of the older one's dislike toward her. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she was startled by the swinging, squirming worm bait in front of her.
She looked behind her and saw Sendou with his ever present smile. "Akira! Come on, don't stay here. My sister's inside the restaurant with Kaede." She pulled him to another part of the harbor well away from the establishment. "What's with the rod?"
"I'm fishing." He told her holding up the bucket of fish he caught.
"You never told me you're fishing." She pouted at him.
"I didn't?" he asked thinking that he did, "Maybe I forgot. So what's she doing with Rukawa?"
"What do you think?" she asked sarcastically.
"Poor Rukawa," Sendou shook his head, "'Once a fish is tangled in a net, he can never escape.'" He quoted.
"Where'd you get that saying?" Rika asked.
"I don't know. I just made it up especially for guys who your sister has her eyes on." He admitted laughing.
Rika laughed as well. "Well, it's true anyway." Their laugher subsided before she spoke again. "So when did you take that up?" she asked pointing at his rod.
"Two years ago. You know how to fish?"
"I don't know anything about salt water fishing but I know a lot about fresh water fishing." She shook her head slightly. "Is it hard?"
"Waiting is the only hard part about it. You want to pass the time doing it?"
"No, they might come out soon. It's best if we get away from here first. I can only imagine what she'll do when she sees you."
They both laughed and agreed to go to a park nearby where Rika asked Sendou to tell him all about the practice game. Every last bit of detail he could remember.
***
Sofia/3sh: It's OK. Sometimes, my mom does that to me too.
ninny: I'm trying to make her as dislikeable as possible.
dunkmoonX: wala yun! Sa tingin mo, sila nga ba yung pairing? Tignan nalang natin.
Tsuyo kereba iki...yowa kereba shine...