Chapter Three: Decisions and Actions
Continuing from last time…
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"What's the matter with you?" Sakuragi shouted, staring at him unbelievably.
"Nothing,"
"NO!"
"Why do you care?"
"STOP IT! Rukawa, explain yourself now! We need to know what's going on with you! Or else, we won't accept you as teammate!" Sakuragi finally shouted.
"I don't care." The boy answered unemotionally. "Go ahead."
"What!" everyone exclaimed, even the guys who were just watching the practice. "is that really Rukawa?"
"We are not joking, Rukawa Kaede. Better tell it now." Akagi replied calmly. "what's your problem? You are not like that."
"I don't think you'll understand." He answered grimly, looking at everyone with his dark eyes.
"Just tell it, we will all try to understand."
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So he began shortly narrating his unfortunate story, on how his dad wanted him to be the next company president, and prepares him for such a responsibility. His dad wants him to quit basketball or find a girl--- to secure the continuity of the Rukawa clan, for it is his sole responsibility as the only son and heir of the whole clan. He has set up his mind, trying to give up on basketball than to find a girl for him… even listening so well in his class to get high grades.
There was a sudden silence in the whole court, in that short meeting of Shohoku members. Rukawa, as the ace player of the team, must be helped, so Akagi decided that all should help the poor boy. He was in some state of confusion, and making his concentration and even his mind destroyed. One of the suggestions from the members was for them to find applicants for Rukawa's girlfriend.
"I'm sure the court will be filled with ladies." Kogure replied "to make it harder, on Sunday, they must present a bio-data and themselves for an interview. And Rukawa-kun, you should be here."
He nodded. It's so easy for him to agree.
"And then, we could be able to solve this mess."
Haruko heard it very clearly. Then the very next thing she knew, she was trying to create a bio-data. But… she had second thoughts of doing so., or maybe because of the fear of being rejected.
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Ayako started creating the poster with Ryota and Sakuragi. Kogure and Akagi thought for the questions. The rest came arranging the entrance and exit; even the others helped by making and posting the flyers around the campus. Coach Anzai laughed at the things they were doing for Rukawa. While the boy, was silently sitting amidst his busy team. They were all willing to exert full effort to help him. They really need him to play for their team, and they know that he'll be a great help for their Inter-High chances.
"I really do not wish to involve all of you…" he began to say. "I-I'm sorry."
They were shocked at what he said. Sorry. Did they just heard that or imagined it? Sakuragi sighed, going towards Kaede.
"Don't feel sorry, kitsune. You know, I really do not want to help at the first place… but…" he began. "I think teammates should help each other, right?"
"I think so," he answered with his usual tone. "Anyway, it's my father's fault" he murmured.
Not long after that, females of the school and from other schools had come to Shohoku, for the news was spread that easily. The rest of them didn't expect this, and the whole thing was a big click for everyone. They hurried o make the last preparations, and the next day, they will set the whole thing up.
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"Hey, I might be chosen by Rukawa-kun to be his girlfriend!" a girl said, looking at a hand mirror. "
"You sure?" the girl next to her asked, "look here. They need several requirements. It's really a hook or crook situation."
"Girl with straight A's since Elementary, not blonde. Purely Asian, living in Kanagawa, can tolerate a cold attitude, capable of cooking and housework, knows how to sing and dance, and 100 GIRL." The other girl read, and now she's panting. "You should present a bio data and then be ready to present yourself."
"Rukawa-kun never showed interest on girls because the girl he wants is just rare!" the girls cried out.
"Whatever happens, I'll try to do all of that!" a girl said, probably a member of the avid fan girls.
She began to list the requirements. Ayako tried to read the requirements as she was posting flyers around the campus. She suddenly laughed.
"Oh my god, Kogure must have exaggerated this!" she giggled again. "Well, does Rukawa really like an all-around and smart girl?"
"What? Is there really a girl living like this?" Sakuragi and Mitsui cried out. "That's too much impossible!"
"I know, so it would be really hard." Kogure said, smirking. "I'm sure lots of girls who are just wanting to possess him will back out. I've placed really testable skills so that we would know who's lying."
"Are you sure Rukawa could accept such a girl? Isn't he a woman-hater?" Ryota curiously asked.
"Well, I made him help me out in making this requirements. Of course I tried to ask him what kind of woman appeals to him so… I cam up with all of that." Kogure told them.
"Okay. We got it…" all the boys chorused.
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"HEY!"
"Why are you late!" Sakuragi just received another blow from Akagi.
"That hurts!"
"Okay, team… we'll begin the interview." Kogure said. "Have you guys gathered the bio data? Then Rukawa-kun, you go in here now. As I have said, you choose the one who you really want. Take it easy. If you couldn't find her today, we still have tomorrow."
"I understand." He said.
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"Hello, good morning, is this the Kouya Fast food?" a girl asked in the phone.
"Hai." The other line answered.
"I am one of the applicants for the new crew, I am Erin Machino. I do not know what time is my interview…" she said
"Machino…" the man said. "Oh, sorry… your bio-data is not here…"
"WHAT!" the girl exclaimed "that can't be! I am sure that I have mailed it to Shohoku street!"
"I'm sorry miss, but the street here is Shouku." The man answered. "just send us another one."
"Oh no…" Erin said. "where did the mailman brought it!"
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They have evaluated a lot of girls already. Some tried their best to show off,and some just look like they were just fooling around. Some girls tried their best to sing, and some were so shy at Kaede.
"Haven't chosen anyone yet?" Akagi asked.
"No one." He said. "all of them are bluffers "
Mitsui giggled. "Yeah right, they just wanna be noticed by you."
"I guess it's over now. No one seems to be around now." Sakuragi said. "It's so tiring to watch them!"
Kaede shrugged. Then Ayako arrived. "I came from the office. They gave me a bio data sent at the school. They thought this was for the search."
She handled it to Kaede. "But no one's around now," Kaede murmured.
"Maybe it's mailed wrong," Akagi said, reading the envelope. "It's to Shohoku Street. I guess the address is wrong, and it landed here…"
Kaede read the bio-data. The applicant fit for their requirements. And when he looked at the picture of the applicant, he suddenly felt his heart beating so fast.
"It's not our applicant," Kogure said. "let's just go home now."
"Wait," Kaede said. "I think I knew who the girl should be!"
Everyone looked at him in shock.