Disclaimer: SD characters does not belong to me!
Thanks for all the reviews so far! Actually I meant to put Rukawa's interest in Kimiko as merely curiosity, but since than I've received a few feedback about Ru being together with Kim. I won't rule it out, but this is basically a Mitsui story afterall. We'll see how it goes.
Some terms I'll be using: 'Kitsune' means fox. Do'aho' means stupid. 'Ore wa Tensai' means I am a genius. Ano...' probably means 'erm...' in japanese.
In this chapter, '/.../' indicates the character's actions or thoughts while reading his email.
Please correct me if I made any mistakes! and continue to R&R!
Chapter 4: Basketman gets an email.
It was a bright, sunny Saturday at Kanagawa Sanatorium. A redheaded youth was walking along the sanatorium's corridor...or rather, bouncing along (due to his endless supply of energy), and attracting weird stares from visitors with his senseless mumblings.
"Ore wa Tensai--!! Ore wa Tensai--haha."
He seemed too cheerful to be a patient who had been in the sanatorium for more than one month now, undergoing various physiological treatments for his back injury.
Lounge areaIn the Lounge, a lone computer stood amidst the ping-pong table, chess table, television, and other leisure entertainment provided for the patients.
Mr Imai Genji, age 55, was peacefully using the computer at his own pace, when he felt the hair on his back stand...there was a prickly feeling, and a shadow fell over the computer screen. He turned and—
"Waii—wh-who...?!"
A pair of scary eyes belonging to a redheaded youth was glaring down at him, almost triggering his heart attack. Mr Imai sweatdropped and decided to give up his seat.
"Yo-you can use it." Mr Imai said, before scrambling away.
Wearing an innocent look on his face now, Sakuragi Hanamichi, the redheaded youth, took the seat in front of the only computer.
"Wahahaha, people are so kind and polite nowadays, even these old folks."
Sakuragi went online to check his email.
Password: XXXXXX
/Enter/
My Messages 6(1)
New messages : 1
Haruko Takenori ---Friday's training/Sakuragi eagerly clicked on Haruko's e-mail. /
Hi Sakuragi-kun!
How was your therapy today? I know I've already mailed you my weekly update on the news of the basketball team, but today's training was sooo exciting that I had to email you straight away. (I have just returned home from training.)
Rukawa-kun is back! :)
And he looks as good as ever. (Please DON'T tell anyone I told you this, promise!)
/Sakuragi frowns, "That Kitsune!"/
Today was his first training back in Shohoku since he went for that training in the National Japan team (Youth division).
/Sakuragi's frown deepens, "That KITSUNE!"/
Everyone was happy that Rukawa-kun came back; even Brother and Kogure-sempai came to visit. They seldom visit now because Brother always says that he won't be able to concentrate on his studies once he sees a basketball, and Kogure-sempai feels the same, so they left after awhile.
Everybody thought that he would leave Shohoku to join the Japan team. I heard he even apply for a place in UCLA. As you know, the training for Japan team is mostly based in the US.
I am really surprised that he decided to stay in Japan. Oh sorry, Sakuragi-kun, enough about my thoughts about him, I was supposed to tell you about the training.
Remember I told you about the newcomers in the team? Ken, one of the more outstanding players, actually challenged Rukawa-kun to a one-on-one! I know you'd want to know what happened, so I remembered the whole scene. The following will be what I took down for you. (Sakuragi-kun, I'm pretending to be a reporter here! :p )
/ Sakuragi silly grinned at the computer screen and imagines Haruko dressed up like a reporter. Haru-chan is so cute! /
Captain Ryota was introducing Rukawa-kun to the newcomers and outlining today's training programme; a friendly match between the year ones and seniors was planned after the warm-ups and physical training, when Ken interrupted.
Ken: "What? Captain, is Rukawa really so great? Everyone is so excited about his return, and even you look so flustered."
/This Ken is right about Rukawa not being great, though he's a little rude. Ryo-chin may be hot-tempered, but definitely not flustered! /
But before Captain could reply, Ken was hit on the head by Ayako's fan.
"Ken Suzuki, where are your manners? Is this the way you speak to the Captain? And if Kaede Rukawa is not considered good, than do you think you are?"
"Of course, I could beat him right now, Ayako-sempai! It's really unfortunate that Shohoku never had good players like me to take the team to win the championship, and it was probably luck that won the Sannoh game for you guys. Don't worry, everything's going to change since I'm here now."
/ Sakuragi almost smashed the computer. "Luck?! The nerve of that...that baboon!" (Behind him, the people started to leave the lounge. Sakuragi was the only one left soon after.) /
--I'll interrupt here, Sakuragi. I was really upset when I heard what Ken said. Obviously he wasn't here to see to see how much effort we all put in in ALL the games we played, not only that Sannoh game. But he has a point. You know, recently, I've heard some people saying that its only luck, not skills that got us that far in the summer IH games; after all, we lost right after that. Anyway, back to the main point. –
Jun tried to shut Ken up. He covered Ken's mouth with his hand. "Sorry guys, Ken might be a little talkative but he doesn't mean it."
Rukawa, "You really sound like that Do'aho."
"What? How dare you call me stupid. Kaede Rukawa, do you dare to accept my challenge? One-on-one, first to put in 5 balls win." Ken easily shook off Jun's hand from his mouth and issued a challenge to the ace player.
/ Sakuragi sniffed and shook his head. Haru-chan...the ace player is I, Sakuragi the Tensai! That Kitsune had better not do anything to snatch Haru-chan away from me! /
"Do'aho."
"Well, Rukawa, you dare not accept?"
"Rukawa, you don't have to do what he says."
"It's alright Ryota-sempai. I'll just treat this as my warm-up."
Rukawa-kun took a basketball and walked to one half of the court while the rest of the members stood at the sidelines to watch. Mitsui-sempai walked over to Rukawa-kun.
"Show him its not luck." He said simply.
/ Michi.../
"You will take turns being the offensive." Yasuda-sempai was the unofficial referee. He flipped the coin he was holding and it landed as 'heads-up'.
Rukawa-kun won the right to choose since he won the coin toss. (Ken chose 'tails-up'.)
"I'll take the defence first." Rukawa-kun threw the ball to Ken and crouched in a defensive position.
Ken caught and dribbled the ball, trying to get pass Rukawa-kun. "Whatever," he smirked. "Be prepared to lose!"
Ken tried to fake to the right before turning to pass Rukawa-kun on the left. He was fast and almost succeeded when Rukawa-kun caught up from behind. Rukawa was even faster, and knocked the ball away while Ken was trying a lay-up.
"What!" Ken shouted disbelievingly. He turned to guard Rukawa-kun, who already had the ball in his hands. "No matter, it's your turn for offensive now. Let's see you try to get pass me."
Rukawa-kun looked almost relaxed as he bounced the ball slowly. Ken seemed rather good in defending. He was bent low, to give him the option for turning to either side in a spilt second. Every second counted against such a fast player like Rukawa-kun.
However, instead of dribbling towards the net, Rukawa-kun moved back, into the three-point area, and made a three-point shot. Ken was still wondering what happened when the ball swished clean into the net. The court was alight with whispers among the other players. If anything, Rukawa-kun seemed to be even faster on his feet!
Ken's anger vein was popping out, but he was quiet. He took the ball from Yasuda-sempai. It was his turn to play offensive again. This time, Rukawa-kun was taken in surprised when Ken too, moved back and made a three-pointer. It was an exact mimic of Rukawa-kun's earlier attack, but it was an air ball!
I happened to be standing next to Jun and heard him sigh. "He was trying to show that he could do whatever Rukawa could. But his strength had always lie under the basket area...look, there it is!"
Ken had just jumped into the air to hit the ball away from Rukawa-kun.
"Wow, he blocked Rukawa's jump-shot!"
"Did you see how high he jumped?"
Although Ken is shorter than Rukawa, he jumps rather high. I could tell that Ryota-sempai was impressed too; by the way he concentrated on Ken whenever the match progressed under the basket area. However, Rukawa-kun is obviously the better player. Ken managed to get a jump-shot in, but that was the only point he scored. Rukawa-kun was faster on the court, and was more flexible; he could score from any area. He rounded off the match with a dunk. (It was super! Everyone was impressed.)
/Show off...but luckily that Kitsune did not embarrass us by losing. /
That was the details of the one-on-one, Sakuragi-kun. Ken made a lot of noise after that, but Mitsui-sempai knocked him on his head, and made him shut up.
"You idiot, I'm sick of all your noise. If you want to prove that you are better, train harder, not talk harder."
(I think that was what Mitsui-sempai said to Ken.)
Sakuragi-kun, it's been a long day, so I shall stop here now. I heard from Yohei that you would be coming back to school next week! I am looking forward to seeing you at practise again.
In the meantime, rest well!
Love, Haruko
P.s. Ayako-sempai said she would be visiting you this weekend, maybe Sunday...to help you catch up on schoolwork. She told you to expect her visit!
/click/
Sign OutSakuragi grinned at the computer screen and sighed blissfully. She signed off as Love Haruko...she loves me...?
"Sakuragi, there you are! Have you forgotten about your treatment at 10am?"
Sakuragi leapt to his feet. "Ore wa Tensai, Nurse Ryoko! I don't forget anything...just a little late, that's all! C'mon, let's go now! Wahahaha..."
As Sakuragi headed for the treatment room, he thought about the return of Rukawa and the situation of the team, which Haruko described in her email. How could I let you guys have all the fun without me? The Shohoku basketball team is going to receive a surprise from this Tensai soon!
What's the surprise Sakuragi is planning?(More on that later.) So the team has some great new players now...what will Mitsui think?
Next up: More Mitsui and Kimiko (finally). But you guys will have to wait for a longer time before I update since I have to clear my exams! So make use of the time and review already!