-Chapter One-
THE GIRLS' BASKETBALL TEAM
I am Rukawa Kaede. And this is the story of my first time having a bestfriend. We all know that I am a very quiet and emotionless person but when you get to read my thoughts, there's all the words that are left unspoken. I am very talkative -- in my mind.
Today's the big day. For the first time, Shohoku High School is going to have an All Girl's Basketball team. Coach Anzai is going to post the results in the bulletin board outside the gym. Everyone is excited especially me. I, Kaede Rukawa, for the first time in my life, felt so excited for something that doesn't actually concern me and my team.
beep beep
That was my cellphone's alarm. I received a text message :
"Kaede, are we going to school together?"
That was my bestfriend. Ryu Shinomori. She's the only person in this Earth that I granted the permission to call me Kaede. Except my parents that is.
"Ya. I'll pick you up 15 minutes from now. Cya" I replied.
After 15 minutes of preparing myself, I walked down to her place and picked her up. Its not much trouble for me because her house is on the way. Besides, its just a 5-minute walk from my place. I rang the doorbell and anxiously waited outside the gate as her maids went up to call her. God, her house is huge. She's one of the most – if not, most prominent girl in all of Japan. Her parents are big-time business people and she just moved in from London 5 years ago. They sent her here to live in their home land. But she just lived on her own.
"Hi Kaede!" she greeted me with a smile. 'Beautiful' I thought. Ryu is beautiful. With her black, shiny, straight hair with azure highlights, whose length reaches up to her waist, her pale skin, cherry lips, and her turquoise eyes. I've never seen anyone whose beauty is stunning.
"Hi Ryu..." I replied as she walked towards me. I've never felt so normal in my life. I mean, having a bestfriend and not feeling too tall for someone my age. Ryu is tall not only for her age, but for her gender as well. She stands 5'10. She could be a model. But she chose to be boyish and tried out for the girls' basketball team.
"Oh my God Kaede!!! Coach Anzai is going to post the results today! Gosh I'm so anxious! I hope I get in" she enthusiastically shares. She shares everything with me. And I do the same.
"Who are you kidding? Everybody knows you're the best girl who ever auditioned for the team" I said intentionally flattering her.
"Awww!! That's sweet Kaede!" she says with a smile.
The walk to school didn't take long because we both live 20 minutes away from the school so we walk everyday.
"Come on! Lets race to the gym!" she said with much energy. She always wants to race with me because ever since we got to know each other, I always ran faster than her.
"Ok... But if I win again, you'll treat me to lunch" I told her. She agreed. On the count of three, we started running. And since I had the longer legs and the tougher physique, I reached the gym minutes before she did. And I saw the paper posted on the bulletin board:
SHOHOKU GIRL'S BASKETBALL TEAM:
Starting Five:
Center
Name: Kimomoto Misato
Year: Junior / Third Year
Small Forward
Name: Akagi Haruko
Year: Freshman / First Year
Power Forward
Name: Meiji Aya
Year: Junior / Third Year
Point Guard
Name: Hanada Sayaka
Year: Sophomore / Second Year
Shooting Guard
Name: Shinomori Ritsuko
Year: Freshman / First Year
Other Players:
Blah Blah Blah.. I didn't even bother to read the other 7 players. Its pointless. I already saw my bestfriend's name. She's in. Too bad she's not small forward like me. But anyway...
"Kaede!!! You run so fast!!! Did I get in?" she asked.
"See for yourself" I said coldly. I pretended to be depressed so that she'll get the wrong idea and she'll think that she didn't get in.
"What's the matter Kaede? You look sad? Didn't I get in?" She asked me. I continued to be silent as she nervously read the paper.
"Kaede I got in!!! You little devil you scared me half to dead!" she said with so much happiness as she approached to give me a hug. I hugged/carried her tightly as I smelled her perfume and her shampoo. God, she smells good!!!!
THE NEXT DAY
"Its our first practice today!! Gosh I'm sooo excited!!" she told me.
"I'm excited too... I think Coach Anzai's going to meet us all up and he'll want us to teach you all how to really play" I told her.
"Really?!!?!?" she said with so much excitement. She looks like a kid when she's excited.
The time of the practice came. And I wasn't surprised to see girls warming up as I got out of our locker room and started warming up myself.
"ho ho ho!! Hello everyone... As we can all see, I have gathered the girls and the boys here inside this gym. I think that since there's a lot of time to practice for the next league, I had the idea of letting both teams practice all together. I mean, boys teach techniques to our pretty girls here." Coach Anzai said
"That's a super good idea coach!" Miyagi said as he gave coach a thumbs-up.
"Ok, We'll pair up.. boys and girls.. center and center, small forward and small forward, and the rest follows" Coach said.
"BRILLIANT!!" Miyagi exclaimed becoming more transparent. It's obvious that he likes that point guard girl, Sayaka. Maybe he finally came to his senses and figured out that he doesn't stand a chance to the Tomboy, Ayako.
Shit... This isn't a great idea after all. I'm paired up with Akagi's baby sister – Haruko. I would have appreciated it much if I was paired up with the most beautiful girl in the team – my bestfriend. But instead, she's paired up with Mitsui. I sensed a feeling of jealousy as I heard my other teammates say compliments about the pair.
"That Ryu and Mitsui sure makes a hell of a couple!"
"Ya they're so matching!! Both # 14, both shooting guards, both good looking!"
"Oh Ya!! I'll play match-maker!!" said a voice that I could obviously recognize. That baka Sakuragi. He can't pair my bestfriend up with that gangster. He shouldn't.
It took me a lot of self-control to not beat the crap out of my teammates especially Sakuragi. They can't pair her up with him. She's mine. My bestfriend that is.
A/N: hello!!!!! Its me.. QuistisTrepe-SeiferAlmasy! Gosh! i havent posted a story in a long time! Did you like the chapter one of my story? Please read and review! Reviews keep me going and I'll continue writing if you review it! I'll surely appreciate suggestions and comments!!! Ciao! Tc! Luvyah guys!! See ya next chapter!!!
Spills from the next chapter: Why is Rukawa feeling so jealous? Does he love her? Or he's just overprotective of her since she is the only friend he's got and he's just too paranoid that she may enjoy other's company and be bored with him? Will Mitsui and Ryu be close to one another because they're "partners"? Questions will be answered in the next chapter!! Cya!!!