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

Room #5: First Customer

Kaede paddled his bicycle desperately.

Today he was late for school.

'Damned! I should've not watched that cheesy dorama last night! Now look at me!'

paddle-paddle-paddle. and on a corner.

*scree~~t!*

Kaede hit the brake for he almost run down a person suddenly appeared in front of him.

"Hey! Watch it, moron!" a boy with a school uniform pointed his fist to Kaede.

"What the. You're the moron! Now out of my way!" at the moment Kaede wished that he had run down that jerk.

"If I wasn't in a hurry right now, I'm sure I've kicked your ass." the boy muttered and then ran off to where he headed before.

"Aho!!" and then Kaede blast off with his bike.

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After renegading to slip through the nearly closed school gate, Kaede threw his bike to the bike-shed and dashed to his class room.

He opened the class room door, and.

"You're late Mr. Rukawa," the teacher greeted him with a not so friendly way.

'Damned'

"Stay out there until this class over, please."

"Alright." - 'Damned'

Kaede stood still outside the class room, but not so still on the mind.

'If I wasn't held down by that jerk, I would've made it to arrive at time. From his fancy suit uniform, he's not the student of this school. If in any case I meet him again, I'm surely going to run down his irritating ass.'

And so on, and so on, Kaede keep on muttering until the bell rang.

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Kaede and Hikoichi walked to the gym. Today is going to be their first day to practise with the Shohoku basketball team.

"Kaede, I heard you've been told to stand outside the class. Is that true?"

"Yeah." Kaede replied reluctantly.

"Why is that?"

"Don't ask. how do you know anyway?"

"You've became popular, don't you know that? Every girls are crazy about you and every news about you will be spread out through the whole school in just count of seconds!"

At the gym, the freshmen were told to line up and mention their names, their classes, their previous schools, and their position in a team. And it was Kaede's turn.

"I'm Rukawa Kaede, class 1-10, from Tomigaoka Junior High. I'm ready on any position."

"Very good, Rukawa," Mitsui, the captain, grinned, "As you see guys, now we have an MVP in our team. This is great news for Shohoku, just like when I joined this team two years ago.."

'Narcissist as ever.' Kaede muttered inside.

"And as for the freshmen, I want you to meet our coach, Anzai-sensei," Mitsui moved his hand to Anzai-sensei standing beside him.

Anzai-sensei waved a bit and do some ho-ho-ing.

"He looks like Santa Claus, don't you think so Kaede?" Hikoichi whispered to Kaede.

"Hn.."

"I have to inform this to all of you," Mitsui continued, "Today we have new members, and I believe some of them are pretty good," Mitsui glanced at Kaede.

"But you see, we're not the only team experiencing this. Every team from every school in Kanagawa are also experiencing the same thing right now. They also gain a lot of people with great skills. So from this moment I want all of you to show your efforts and do your best, got that?"

"YE~~s!!" the heartful replies echoed the gym.

"Umm. captain," Hikoichi approached Mitsui during the practice break.

"What is it?"

You said before that every team has their new members, and they're strong. But Kaede, the MVP, is in our team. What do we have to worry about?"

"Well, Rukawa IS the MVP, but that doesn't mean the other players could be beaten easily by him. There might be only a slight skill differences between him and some good players out there. You hear that, Rukawa?"

Kaede who was sitting not so far away from Mitsui and Hikoichi just glanced carelessly.

"Do you know other good players that are also a fresh man?" Hikoichi asked Mitsui again.

"Umm.well, there's some. One of them is Kiyota Nobunaga from Kainandaifuzoku."

"Kiyota Nobunaga? How good is he?"

"Compare to Rukawa." Mitsui glanced at Rukawa, "I say about 55%-45% for Rukawa," Mitsui grinned.

"Wow! That Kiyota must be very good!" Hikoichi was very amazed.

Meanwhile, Rukawa who seemed careless and ignoring those two was doing some thinking.

'Hmm. Kiyota Nobunaga eh? 55%-45%? I don't think so.'

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Kaede paddled his bike slowly and turned to the 'Rukawa Inn'. He sighed.

Don't know why, he felt so tired today. Maybe because of the crazy practice menu' that Mitsui dropped on his team.

'That scar-faced has to forget his dream to win the National Championship if he keeps on torturing his team like this.'

The sky was dark for it already hit night.

Kaede pushed his bike to the front terrace of his inn. But he was surprised to see someone sitting there. He couldn't see who it was because of the dim light.

"Who's there?" Kaede approached the figure.

As Kaede was able to see that person whole-fully.

"You!?" Kaede and that person shouted at the same time.

"What do you want? You want me to run you down with my bike!?" Kaede noticed the person was the boy he almost hit with his bike this morning.

"What are you doing here? Don't tell me you want to stay in this inn too?" the boy who was still wearing his school uniform, said.

"What do you mean by 'too'?"

The boy pointed a huge sport bag beside him, "I'm going to stay in this inn."

"Are you running away from home?" Kaede narrowed his eyes.

"None of your business. Accidentally I found this place. I choose this one because this must be a cheap one. Look at this horrible building. eww. Someone running this inn must be a very poor one."

"That someone happens to be me," Kaede crossed his hands.

"What!? You!?"

"If you don't like this place, find another place. Overall, this is an inn no longer. Now it's a student dormitory."

"Student dormitory? That's better!!" the boy seemed excited.

"Huh?"

"Actually, I AM running away from home. But I won't leave school because I don't wan to leave basketball."

"Basketball?"

"Yep! I join the basketball team at my school. I'm the number one super rookie, you know! Kiyota Nobunaga!"

"Kiyota.Nobunaga?" Kaede mumbled.

"So, I'll take a room if you don't mind," Kiyota grinned.

"You said this building is horrible.."

"Yeah, but it's cheap isn't it? I guess I have to deal with this place due to my financial situation."

"If you're running away from home, they'll find you at school."

"I'll take care of that. Just open the door, okay? I'm getting cold here."

"Actually this place isn't that cheap."

"Whatever! I'll pay!! Just open the door!!" Kiyota got impatience.

Kaede opened the front door calmly, but he put an evil grin inside.

'Hmm. money. no word sounds better than that.'

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"I've only cleaned some rooms, go ahead and choose one."

"I'll take this room," Kiyota quickly entered a room, "Sugee!! Old and a little bit ugly, but this is a nice room!"

Kiyota threw his bag and opened the window, "Wow! Nice view! Oh-yeah, firstly I want to take a bath. Prepare it for me, okay?"

"What!?" Kaede knitted his eyebrows, "I've told you this isn't an inn. Prepare your own needs! I'll be in my room downstairs if you need to ask questions-not favor!" Kaede left Kiyota.

"You're a bad rent man!" Kiyota shouted to the disappearing Kaede.

Suddenly Kaede appeared again by the door, "And I want your rent-money on my desk today."

"Hmph! You desperately need money, aren't you?"

"Something like that, yea. Anyway, I haven't shopped any decent food. If you're hungry, there are some cup-noodles in the kitchen. Help your self."

"I think you should name this place 'poverty shack'." Kiyota was being cynical.

" 'Rukawa Dormitory' will be just fine," Kaede replied calmly. Then he left.

"Wait!!" Kiyota quickly went outside to follow Kaede, "Did you just say.'Rukawa Dormitory'?"

"Yea? Why? Didn't you see the sign board on this building? It says 'Rukawa Inn' right?"

"So. you mean.you're name is Rukawa?"

"Yea. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name's Rukawa Kaede, and I'm the owner of this dormitory. Enough?"

"You're Rukawa Kaede from Tomigaoka Junior High!!" Kiyota yelled out loud.

"You got problem with that!?" Kaede was annoyed.

"This can't be! I'm going to live under the sane roof with my number one rival!"

"What rival?" Kaede got annoyed more.

Kiyota took a deep breath and calming himself, "Rukawa Kaede, as I said before, I'm the number one super rookie. But a lot of people say that you're the best since you're the MVP. So, I consider you as my rival and I'll show all of them, especially you That I'm the only one they should call super rookie."

Kiyota stared straight at Kaede and Kaede stared back.

"Okay then," Kaede said finally, "Kiyota Nobunaga of Kainan, take your best shot to run me down, Rukawa Kaede of Shohokuu," Kaede smiled firmly.

Kiyota smiled too, "Good."

Kaede turned to leave, "Konbanwa, and don't forget to drop your cash!"

"...Man, I didn't know that he's such a money-maniac.." Kiyota sighed.

*tbc*