Disclaimer: I do not own Slamdunk. I know that. This is just for formalities.. hehe.. Libre naman ang mangarap diba?


Calliope Medina Erato: me too… it always puzzled me whenever I think of why he became a gangster… of all things… but when I wrote this I just thought he wanted to become a rebel or at least somebody that appears to hate basketball or is against it… so I think that's where being a gangster goes into place… because it's one of the most radical changes he could undertake… would it be possible to be repaired? Well based on the "present-type" chapters, that would be a definite yes… how? That is another chapter… hehe..

Coffeemaverick: it is a different gangster side… just what I thought "most" (since saying all would be stereotyping) gangsters would do.. like smoking.. smoking is pretty common even if you're not a gangster… and well drinking is pretty common too.. even I kinda think that I couldn't clearly imagine him as a gangster if I saw him as the basketball player first… oh… and about the mitsui and haruko thing… how should I know? Hehe.. well ask somebody else… knows hehehe… and there's nothing hidden with the it's just some random pick… oh also knows… hehehe… but of course I don't leave things unexplained… will explain it in fact so that Karin will know… hehehe..

Simmic: welcome back! Hehehe… yes… something did happen.. kinda figured if they were that close for a long time and he was kinda comfortable with her around, why not ask her right? Or why didn't Karin do anything to stop him? So yeah… came up with that one… oh really? I didn't know that… I probably forgot.. it's been like 5 years since I last saw slamdunk… must find some synopsis in the internet.. hehe.. but anyways.. I kinda thought that well, he's a gangster and you're either in or your out, and that well he's friends smoke, tetsuo for one… so I kinda thought friends can have an influence, depends how much… so I kinda thought that if mitsui wanted everyone to be convinced that he really dislikes basketball, he'd do something to prove it.. and so that's what I thought… I even thought of putting drugs, but I thought that would be crossing the line a bit… besides he didn't go to rehab so that would be out of the scale I guess…


A/N: well I'm sorry if there's still are a lot of questions I haven't answered, but towards the end everything will become clear, and I'll try my best not to leave loose ends, I always like to think of it as a braid, you're kinda twisting and inserting and what not, and at the end you get to see the result… I think I've planned it so that it will clear things up… please bear with me though… thank you…


ANNOUNCEMENT: for those who have already read the birthday of mitsui, well you can skip it if you like… there's another chapter waiting for you.. hehe..


Do You See Me?

"Do you know what day today is?" You tried to act calm and collected, but your eyes twinkled in excitement. For your gift I suppose. Of course I know what day today is. It's your birthday. "Yeah. Of course." Your grin widened. Can't wait for your present huh? "It's May 22, if I'm not mistaken." You kept on nodding. "Yes, I know that, anything else?" I have something planned you know. It's just a secret I kept from you. I pretended to think, look out the window where Miyagi was chasing Ayako, and then back at you. "No. Nothing. Did I miss something?" There was a frown in your eyes, and I turned away, fearing that if I didn't I'd spill the surprise that I had prepared for this day. "Is that so? Well, I was just joking actually." You tried to laugh, but it was pathetic, so you just sat beside me.

"Mitsui Hisashi! Why are you here? Go back to your classroom. Go on." You picked up your things and left without saying a word. Conscience, go away! I have a surprise ok? Try not to worry. But I can't.

I managed to keep quiet for the rest of the day, and even quieter still as we walked home. You asked if I could come watch you play basketball in the nearby park, but again I declined, saying I had too much homework for the day. You calmly said, "Oh, that's ok," then walked dejectedly, with both hands in your pocket, kicking a stray pebble as you went on your way. It took all of my will power not to crack, but as I cringed and restrained my hands, you were long gone, and I reminded myself, almost. It's almost done.

It started to rain. I dialled your number, and waited as your phone rung. I was about to put the receiver back on when you picked up. "Hello?" Here goes. "Um, Hisashi? Can you come over?" You asked why. "Well, I, um…" The sound of raindrops gathered in strength. Were you caught in its trap? "Hey Karin? Can we talk later? I need to do something first." What? "But-" I tried to protest, but your voice held me back. "She's trapped in the rain and I need to get her out of there." Who? "I need to find an umbrella. Look, I'll call you later ok?" When? Your tone held a voice of urgency, and so I backed away. "Ok." Bye. The dial tone replied.

I stared at the phone for a moment, trying not to worry, worry that first you won't know of the gift I set-up for you, and second that you were slipping away from me, and I didn't know what, when, where, who, and how. You didn't tell me. I stared at the dining table me and my aunt arranged, at the food I helped prepare and cook, at the gift I saved my allowance for, at the greeting I wanted to welcome you with as you walked through the door.

You're lost. Will I find you? Will you find me? How? Will we both find each other? Where? And so I waited. I sat on the couch, watched as the rain slowed down.

I heard my name being called. I sat up straight. I had slept. It had been a dream.

At last I thought I heard the phone ring as fatigue conquered my body, but alas, that too had been a dream.