Chapter 2
'It was so hard to leave practise early, especially since I get there late. Taoka-sensei keeps on saying I'm not getting enough practise. Maybe I should tell him I practise with Hanamichi. Nah, he'll probably yell at me letting the enemy know my strengths and weaknesses. I love practising with Hanamichi, he improves so fast and to know that he's improving because of me…ok, not exactly because of me but because of his desire to beat me. But still under my guide and assistance.'
I frowned, 'What excuse can I give tomorrow? I can't use the washroom excuse, or the stomach ache, fever excuse, can't ask Hikoichi to cause a distraction, or start an argument with Kosh…'
I reached Shohoku gym and looked inside, spotting my rival Rukawa, practising.
"Hey, Rukawa."
He stopped and looked at me.
I flashed him a smile, "What's up?"
He turned his back on me already and stated, "Hanamichi's not here."
"Why not? Where is he?"
"With Haruko."
I felt disappointment and a twinge of jealous but shrugged it off, "Guess I won't be playing one on one with him today. You want to play?"
He ignored me and grabbed his towel.
"Well, if you're tired…"
He turned to face me, "You're on."
I smiled amused, "21 points?"
He shrugged.
"You start."
.
I won him 22-19, but it was a hard battle. I stuck out my hand to him, "Good game, ne?"
He looked at my extended hand and snort.
I smiled, "You act like him. He never takes my hand either."
Rukawa knew who I was talking about. Since that first meeting at the practise match I knew Rukawa liked him, but then again that was when I started liking him as well. Hanamichi was just one of those people that'll stand out wherever he was and be caught in the spotlight.
He began towards the locker room.
"Can we talk?" I asked him.
No reply as he went into the changing room. Since I really had nothing better to do and didn't want to go home and listen to messages Taoka-sensei left me questioning where I went, I decided to wait for Rukawa. I took a seat on the bench and pulled out my homework.
Rukawa emerged after 15 minutes yawning.
"Hey."
"You still here?"
"Yep. So you haven't answered me. Can we talk?"
He looked at me for the longest time, like this was a life and death situation, and finally decided to ask, "About?"
I cleared room on the bench for him, "Things I want to know."
He looked thoughtful.
"Come on. I don't bite you know."
With a sigh, he sat down beside me and yawned.
"Do I bore you that much, that just sitting beside me makes you yawn?"
"To the point."
I smiled, "Ok, I always wanted to know why or what do you like about him."
No response. I eyed him, wondering if he had fallen asleep. It was hard to tell with his head down like that and his bangs covering his eye. I tilted my head to get a better judgement view.
"No single reason."
"Oh, you're not asleep…there should be something that stands out…" I prompted, "tell you what. I'll go first. I like him because he's so passionate. He does everything to the best of his ability, he never gives up. Being around him makes me want to improve to, you know. And he's very kawaii and adorable…"
I stopped myself, I had a tendency to talk too much sometimes when I get started on something I really like, "your turn."
After some thought, "Innocence and naiveness."
"Care to expand on that?"
"No."
There was silence again and I felt like it was my obligation to say something seeing how I asked him to sit down and talk, "So, do you hate me?"
"Should I?"
"I don't know. We are rivals. And you never seem happy to see me," he said thoughtfully and added, "then again I don't think I ever seen you happy. Why aren't you happy?"
He got up, "If you got no further questions."
"That was a question," I pointed out.
He picked up his bag.
"Wait. One more. Why does he like Haruko?"
"Because he's a baka," Rukawa said.
"Oi, Rukawa. May the best man win, ne?" I said.
He stated, "That's me."
I smiled, feeling the competitiveness, "Don't be so sure about that. After all I did beat you at basketball, what makes you think I'll lose to you?"
"Hn," he said and walked away.
~T.B.C