Disclaimer: Don't own them sorry… :) Although I'm introducing a character soon…
Rating: Haven't you guys noticed I always rate R? Just to be safe… so people won't piss me off for under-rating… or whatever idiotic thing…
Warning: OOCness… a bit of idiocy… did I already mention the characters would be a bit out of character? It's not quite similar to the manga or series… it's— different! :) hehe… but it's bearable—
Notes: Hellouhr everyone! I know this is a break from my usual thingies… but… I noticed that there are not enough love triangles to make your heart tear up over here!! So… I decided to have a leap of faith and write something— normal— for a change… I mean— something not yaoi… :) but I guess yaoi is also normal… ne?
Pairing: see for yourselves… I already gave you a hint that it would be a love triangle…
Yey! The second chapter! You can flame me now!!!…
So everyone… here's the story… a little plot development here and there…
2: I Knew
Takenori Akagi's voice boomed throughout the basketball gym as he commanded his teammates to huddle for a briefing. He wanted everyone to be prepared for the mock-match against Ryonan tomorrow.
"Everyone, practice is over…" he said, motioning for the players to approach him and Coach Ansai.
Mitsui and Miyagi were still mock-punching each other and Sakuragi was laughing like a maniac, obviously pleased by the fact that he pulled a stunt, which made Haruko clap.
Rukawa, on the other hand, was trying to ignore the brown-haired girl, who was, slowly yet steadily, turning into the threat he had been trying to avoid for the past years. He had already noticed that she was the only girl, who was in every game they played, that didn't scream his name... and he had secretly admired her for that. He stole a glance at Haruko before walking toward Akagi.
"Okay everyone— you already know your positions… Miyagi, you know the plays… Mitsui, you take charge of the three-point shots… Sakuragi," he paused a little, "you know what to do— rebounds and slam dunks— don't attempt anything funny this time… Rukawa," he paused even more, "you take charge of the difficult situations— sneaking up on Sendoh and all that… Kogure, you already know what you need to do…" he took a deep breath, "the rest of you, stay fit— expect anything and support the starting players…"
"Hai!" the team roared as one, raising their fists in the air.
"And remember two important things…" said Coach Ansai, "sleep well and do your best… because this competition was never about winning…"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"You are so right!" Sakuragi said, while patting the coach's chin and laughing like a maniac (earning himself a punch on the head).
"Do'aho," muttered Rukawa, stealing another glance at Haruko, before going into their quarters.
"You're just jealous kitsune!" exclaimed Sakuragi, trying to follow the latter's gaze, "what are you looking at anyway?"
"None of your business," said Rukawa indifferently as he tried to get away from Sakuragi's stare. Count on Sakuragi to notice everything… He shook his head then, as if trying to erase a thought. What the hell are you doing? You weren't supposed to steal glances at her anyway… you weren't supposed to fall for anyone, remember?
Haruko looked at Rukawa, and for a moment— or maybe she just imagined it— their eyes met. She gulped as she watched him argue with Sakuragi again. That was just your imagination Haruko, she told herself, or maybe her wasn't looking at you… but at something— or someone— else… not you…
Rukawa made his way out of the gym, ignoring the constant nagging of a certain red-head, who insisted that they still had a score to settle. He thought about what had happened in the gym— and although it only happened for a few seconds, he realized that he was showing a sign of weakness…
Kaede Rukawa hates weaknesses…
He silently taunted himself for having a thing for Akagi's sister…
Haruko left the gym after Rukawa left, after making sure that nobody was looking at her. She looked straight ahead at the tall figure in front of her. She wanted so much to get the chance to be able to talk to him…
Then she remembered Sendoh…
With a sigh, she headed towards the direction of the bridge…
A promise was a promise…
Sendoh sat in silence for a few minutes, while lazily watching his wooden fishing rod and looking at the sunset, debating with himself regarding the exact color of the sky.
Then he thought about their upcoming match against Shohoku tomorrow. He smiled at the thought of having the chance to play with them— since he personally believed that Shohoku and Kainan were the only teams that could possibly beat them.
He then saw, out of the corner of his eye, the same girl he met yesterday. He smiled pleasantly and motioned Haruko to join him.
"Hi," said Haruko, as she sat beside Sendoh.
"Hey," muttered Sendoh, handing her a long piece of wood with a string dangling from it.
"Eh? What's this?" asked Haruko, with question marks on her head.
"A fishing rod," said the Ryonan ace player simply, waiting patiently for Haruko to take it.
"Oh, right…" She blushed as she took the rod and looked at it as if it was some kind of foreign object, "now what?" She asked.
"Er…" Sendoh scratched his head, grinning sheepishly, "you… uh… put worms…"
"Worms?"
"Yep. Worms…"
"… that's a bit disgusting Sendoh-san…"
"You can put biscuits if you want."
"Biscuits?"
"I don't know… just something that attracts fishes… preferably something that wiggles… to catch their attention…"
"Oh… worms wiggle… worms then…"
"… yep…" said Sendoh, grinning sheepishly, "… that's what I concluded too…"
"Funny how much we think alike ne?" said Haruko, laughing a bit, as she picked the worm given to her by Sendoh, "but this thing sure is disgusting…"
"You'll get used to it…"
"I wasn't talking about the worm…"
"…"
"Jodan des… (It was a joke…)"
"Oh… so what were you talking about?"
"…"
"Me?"
Haruko just laughed.
"So I'm disgusting?"
"I said it was a joke…"
"So I'm half-disgusting… since jokes are half-meant…"
They both laughed at that.
"So… I'll see you at the game tomorrow?" asked Haruko, finally managing to stop her laughter and continue.
Sendoh blinked. "You're playing?"
"Wha—?!"
"Jodan des…" said Sendoh.
They laughed again.
"For a moment there I thought you were questioning my gender…"
"…"
"You were?"
"I wasn't… I just didn't see the point of speaking…"
"Oh…"
Silence.
"Na, Sendoh-kun… do you think the fish would like sandwiches?"
"I never tried… tomorrow perhaps?"
"Okay… let's bring sandwiches then…"
Sendoh smiled. "See you at your school tomorrow… don't boo on Ryonan okay?"
"Okay… just don't expect me to cheer…" said Haruko half-jokingly as she stood up.
Sendoh pouted a bit. "You won't cheer for me?"
"We'll see… tomorrow then… ja ne? Sendoh-kun…" said Haruko in a teasing tone.
"Ja," Sendoh called out, "peanut butter…"
Peanut butter? What was that? An endearment— or a sandwich?… Hm… Sendoh must be hungry… Haruko told herself as she made her way to her house.
— end of 2—
Hm… Sendoh and Haruko are pretty close now… yep… as to why they're close, here's my explanation: Sendoh is a gentleman and he has this innocent thing about him… so there… :) I wonder how Shohoku's basketball team would react though… Hm…
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