Disclaimer: I don't own Slam Dunk, it's Takehiko-sensei's

Room #3: Do Basketball!

First day of the first semester.

Aida Hikoichi entered his new school gate happily.

"High school, high school, I'm a high school student now! Check!"

*BANG!*

Hikoichi fell on his butt after something heavy bumped his butt.

"What the-…Ah! Kaede!?"

Rukawa Kaede sat on the pavement scratching his head. A bicycle was lying helplessly beside him.

"Uun… Huh? Hikoichi?"

"Wow, didn't you had enough sleep? You look very sleepy."

"Ah…"

"Let's check out our new school, " Hikoichi grinned and helped Kaede stood up.

Kaede followed Hikoichi for he was half asleep to think.

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"I'm a bit disappointed that we're not in the same class, Kaede," Hikoichi said to Kaede during the lunch break.

"Hn…"

'To be honest, I don't really care,' Kaede thought.

"Which club did you choose, Kaede?"

"Basketball club."

"You play basketball while you were in Junior High?"

"Yes…"

"Hmm… Basketball club eh? I think I'll go to the same club with you, " Hikoichi scratched his chin. "Anyway Kaede, how's your inn?"

"Umm… actually, after school I'm planning to shop the needs to fix that inn."

"Need help?"

"Thanks, but I got that covered. Anyway, Hikoichi, if you're planning to join the basketball club you'd better hurry put your application to the teachers' office."

"Should I get the form there too?"

"Yes."

"Accompany me, will you?" Hikoichi put a puppy-eye look.

"Yes… " Kaede sighed to see the little-brother-ly manner of Hikoichi.

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As Kaede and Hikoichi got near the teachers office, they saw two students were standing in front of the office. They were pretty close to the students, so they were able to hear their conversation.

"So, you've made up your mind, Kogure?"

"Yes…"

"I guess this is it, huh? So much for a dream…"

"Don't get me wrong, Mitsui…"

"Whatever," Mitsui turned to leave Kogure.

"Mitsui, wait!"

But Mitsui kept on walking away.

"What's with them…?"

"Mind your own business, Hikoichi. A-hem! If you'll excuse us," Kaede spoke to Kogure who was standing in front of the door.

"Oh! Sorry…" Kogure stepped aside and then walked away to where Mitsui went.

Kaede and Hikoichi went to the desk where they put the application forms.

Hikoichi decided to fill the form right there so he can immediately put his filled application on the other desk with club members applications piled on top of it.

Kaede heard two teachers were talking next to him.

"He said that to you?"

"Yes, he did. Actually I was a little surprised. Kogure always looks very excited about his activities in the basketball club. But then he decided to quit and concentrating to his studies."

"But his studies aren't bad. In fact, they're pretty good. I don't understand why he quit."

"His father wants him to go to Toudai (=University of Tokyo)"

"Toudai? Wow… I can understand his father's decision."

"But… I think Kogure should decide things for himself…"

"Again, we can't do much to help him convincing his father, can we?"

"Yeah… that's too bad…"

"Kaede? Kaede? Hello~…" HIkoichi waved his hand in front of Kaede's face.

"Huh? Oh…what?"

"I'm done, let's go."

Kaede and Hikoichi left the office.

As they walked on the corridor, Kaede saw someone walking from the opposite direction.

It was the guy Kogure called Mitsui. His face looked upset.

'Maybe it was about Kogure quitting that he and Kogure were quarreling about before.' Kaede thought, 'Ah… why should I bother, anyway. It's none of my business.'

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Kaede had just gone home from shopping.

 Actually he meant to shop the things to fix the inn. But with his budget, he couldn't get all of the stuffs he listed.

'Well this inn is quite huge, anyway. I'll just use half part of this building, so it's OK if I don't fix all part of it,' Kaede grab a tool box and choose the parts he needs to fix.

"Shut up, Kogure!!"

A voice outside almost made Kaede drops his tool box.

"What the-?" Kaede, irritated by the noise, quickly went outside.

In front of his inn, Kaede saw Mitsui was yelling and pointing at Kogure.

"Morons, don't fight in front of someone's property,"    Kaede muttered, "Hey! You two! Take your household fight to somewhere else, okay! I don't want any bad luck blown in to my house!!"

"Huh?" Mitsui narrowed his eyes, "You shut up! I'll fight wherever I wanna fight! Including in front of this haunted house you called yours!"

"Yaro…" Kaede approached Mitsui with his fists clenched tight.

"Mitsui, cut it out. I'm sorry sir, we'll leave immediately," Kogure spoke.

"Don't call him 'sir'! He's just a little bishonen brat!"

"I think you're the brat, scar-faced."

"What did you say!?" Mitsui was ready to hit Kaede.

"Mitsui, don't!" Kogure pulled Mitsui's arm trying to stop him moving further.

"Get off me, Kogure! I'll show him who's the man here!"

"Man?" Kaede sighed, "Then let's fight like a man. Take back those fists, let's do basketball."

"What?" Mitsui and Kogure spoke almost at the same time.

"Basketball. You play basketball, don't you Mitsui? There's a basketball court just around the corner. If I win, you have to apologize to me."

Mitsui grinned, "If I win, you have to polish my shoes using your tongue."

"Deal."

*tbc*