A Love Within Three Hearts
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk, and its original characters do not belong to me. It belongs to Inoue Takehiko. All the unoriginal characters in this fic are mine, though. What If?, A Fling and A Love Within Three Hearts is a trilogy. If you haven't read the other two stories, read those first
Chapter 10
It's been three days since Kaede stayed over at the Sakuragi's for tutoring. Hana still didn't know whom she loves more. Both Kaede and Len had stared at her using patient eyes. They knew both has her love, but surely she must love one of them more.
Basketball practice...
Kanagawa District Championship is coming soon. Ayako had placed the paper showing their block matches on the wall in the gym.
"We are in the B - Block," Miyagi murmured. "Hmm, we are going to be against either Takezano, Miuradai, or the others,"
"What's the first match?" asked Hana.
"Miuradai against Takezano," Yasuda answered.
"Takezano is Oda's school, they'll beat Miuradai for sure!" Hana answered.
"You sound as if you are supporting Oda's school," Kaede stated.
"Nope, I'm not. I wanna see if he improves in the game. Wanna watch the match with me, Kaede, Len?" asked Hana.
Kaede nodded, while Len answered, "Sure,"
"Hmm, Takezano could be the one we are going to be up against for the last match, maybe me and Yasuda will check it out as well," Miyagi murmured.
******
District Championship Match - Miuradai Versus Takezano
Hana, Kaede and Len sat at the very front. Hana waved at Fuji, who's watching with her friends, and mouthed 'good luck' to her and Oda. Miyagi and Yasuda sat next to Hana, Len and Kaede.
The Miuradai players came out first, and one of the players shouted, "We don't care about Takezano! We only wanted to beat Shohoku High!"
"You can never beat us, morons!" shouted Hana and Miyagi at the same time.
Miuradai lost badly to Takezano by 20 points. Miuradai 40, Takezano - 60.
Takezano also won all their block matches, and so, is up against Shohoku next.
*******
Final Block match - Shohoku versus Takezano.
Lots of people turned up to watch the match. Len's a bit nervous, this is the first time he played publicly in Japan.
"Hey, it'll be okay," Hana told him when she noticed him nervous. "We'll do a triple combination play if Anzai-sensei put me in,"
Len nodded. They had been practicing their triple combination play for almost a month. Hana would either pass to any one of them if any of the opposing team members' guards her tightly or do a zone defence on her. And they'd pass to Hana if they were being guarded tightly.
Oda watched as Hana talked to the guy with the purple hair. This is the first time he plays against Hana since the practice match a year ago. She's grown taller, and Oda knew, their point guard will have a tough time defending her.
At the audience...
Fujima, Hanagata, Akagi, Kogure, and Mitsui watched with Keisuke, Taka and the gundams. While Maki and Jin watched Kainan being up against another team at another stadium.
"I don't think Hana will enter, yet," Fujima predicted.
"Hana's our secret weapon," Kogure said. "I agree with you,"
"Nope. Hana will enter now, Miyagi's having a little trouble with his leg," Mitsui said. "Last year, Hana's our secret weapon, nobody knows she's that good, but this year-"
"Len is the secret weapon, Mitsui. I've seen the way he plays with Kaede. He's good," Taka supplied.
"We just hope he will be," Akagi hoped.
At the Shohoku bench...
"Starting members for today: Rukawa Kaede, Miyagi, Mikage, Touki and Rukawa Len ," Anzai-sensei announced. "All of you know what to do,"
"Hai!" they chorused.
Takezano's coach had announced their starting members as well, Jerseys 5 (Oda), 7, 9, and 13 came out.
"Len, guard #5, Mikage, take three pointers and guard #11, I, guard #7, he's the point guard, Touki guard #13, Kaede, guard #9, " said Miyagi to all of them.
"Hai!" they shouted. "We ARE STRONG!"
Kaede and Takezano #9 went to do the jump shot. Kaede got the ball and swished it to Miyagi, who passed to Mikage, and Mikage scores! Earning Shohoku 3 points. Takezano tried to score after that, but Touki got the rebound and passed to Miyagi, who passed to Kaede, and Kaede dunks, adding up the score to 5.
When the score is 45-5, Hana entered, taking over Miyagi's place. The three of them, Hana, Len, and Kaede did a high five before continuing the game. Certainly, Hana's arrival had made the Shohoku players more confident. Hana would pass to any of them, but particularly, more to either Kaede or Len
Akagi watched Kaede's twin closely. The twins only resembles each other in facial features and height, but the style of playing is so different. Len always pass and never scores, but he took all the rebounds.
"Hana, Rukawa and Len had combined their style of playing to be a triple combination. Hana still plays like me, and Rukawa and Len had other styles. But look at that," Fujima murmured.
Hana is being guarded by three players, seeing that Len is free, she passed to Len, and the three players went to guard Len, who faked as if to pass to Kaede or Hana, but instead, scores!
"Wow! Look at that! Rukawa and Sakuragi even thought that he's going to pass to either of them!" Kogure said. "You've got a brilliant brother, Taka,"
"Half-brother, Kogure. Len had been staying and playing basketball in U.S. all his life," Taka answered.
In the end, Shohoku won 170 - 50. Kaede and Hana hugged, and then, Len hugged Hana. The twins, however, high fived each other. Miyagi high fived Hana, thanking her for doing such a splendid job.
"Looks like we owe Hana a dinner again, Toru," Fujima sighed.
"Don't tell me the two of you betted that she going to score 30 points all on her own, eh?" asked Keisuke.
"We did," Toru answered. "She's doing extremely well,"
"She improves so fast!" Akagi muttered.
*******
Shoyo, Kainan and Ryonan made it to the final round as well. And Shohoku's first match is with Ryonan.
"Okay, we've been playing against Ryonan a lot of times. We must defeat Ryonan again," Miyagi gave his pep talk.
"Don't worry Shortie, we'll play our best," Hana said.
"I know you will, and remember, we are strong!" Miyagi answered.
"Hai!"
At the audience...
"They must defeat Ryonan!" Akagi muttered.
"Aah, I guess Anzai-sensei will put Hana in early again, or why does it look as if Miyagi's entering?" Kogure wondered.
"Gambatte! Shohoku!" shouted Mitsui. The present Shohoku members nodded at their supporters, the ex-Shohoku players.
Both Fujima and Hanagata went to watch Shoyo play against Kainan, which happened to take place at the same time in a different stadium.
******
At the benches
Shohoku Bench...
"We ARE STRONG!" shouted the Shohoku players.
"Hohohoho," Anzai-sensei laughed. "You are indeed strong. The starting members for today, Rukawa Kaede, Rukawa Len, Sakuragi, Mikage, Miyagi,"
"Kaede, you play small forward cum center today, Len, get all the rebounds that you can get, Sakuragi, help Miyagi guard Sendoh, and Mikage, get as much three pointers as you can," Anzai-sensei instructed.
"HAI!" they shouted, and walked towards the court.
Ryonan Bench...
"Sendoh, you realise that you have to play 100% today?" asked Taoka-sensei.
"Hai, I know," Sendoh answered.
"Okay, the starting members for today... Sendoh, Koshino, Fukuda, Asagari, and Yamazaki," Taoka sensei said. "You all know what to do,"
"Hai!" they chorused, and walked to the court.
*******
"Shohoku Versus Ryonan," shouted the referee. "Game Start!"
End of Chapter 10, please read and review...
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk, and its original characters do not belong to me. It belongs to Inoue Takehiko. All the unoriginal characters in this fic are mine, though. What If?, A Fling and A Love Within Three Hearts is a trilogy. If you haven't read the other two stories, read those first
Chapter 10
It's been three days since Kaede stayed over at the Sakuragi's for tutoring. Hana still didn't know whom she loves more. Both Kaede and Len had stared at her using patient eyes. They knew both has her love, but surely she must love one of them more.
Basketball practice...
Kanagawa District Championship is coming soon. Ayako had placed the paper showing their block matches on the wall in the gym.
"We are in the B - Block," Miyagi murmured. "Hmm, we are going to be against either Takezano, Miuradai, or the others,"
"What's the first match?" asked Hana.
"Miuradai against Takezano," Yasuda answered.
"Takezano is Oda's school, they'll beat Miuradai for sure!" Hana answered.
"You sound as if you are supporting Oda's school," Kaede stated.
"Nope, I'm not. I wanna see if he improves in the game. Wanna watch the match with me, Kaede, Len?" asked Hana.
Kaede nodded, while Len answered, "Sure,"
"Hmm, Takezano could be the one we are going to be up against for the last match, maybe me and Yasuda will check it out as well," Miyagi murmured.
******
District Championship Match - Miuradai Versus Takezano
Hana, Kaede and Len sat at the very front. Hana waved at Fuji, who's watching with her friends, and mouthed 'good luck' to her and Oda. Miyagi and Yasuda sat next to Hana, Len and Kaede.
The Miuradai players came out first, and one of the players shouted, "We don't care about Takezano! We only wanted to beat Shohoku High!"
"You can never beat us, morons!" shouted Hana and Miyagi at the same time.
Miuradai lost badly to Takezano by 20 points. Miuradai 40, Takezano - 60.
Takezano also won all their block matches, and so, is up against Shohoku next.
*******
Final Block match - Shohoku versus Takezano.
Lots of people turned up to watch the match. Len's a bit nervous, this is the first time he played publicly in Japan.
"Hey, it'll be okay," Hana told him when she noticed him nervous. "We'll do a triple combination play if Anzai-sensei put me in,"
Len nodded. They had been practicing their triple combination play for almost a month. Hana would either pass to any one of them if any of the opposing team members' guards her tightly or do a zone defence on her. And they'd pass to Hana if they were being guarded tightly.
Oda watched as Hana talked to the guy with the purple hair. This is the first time he plays against Hana since the practice match a year ago. She's grown taller, and Oda knew, their point guard will have a tough time defending her.
At the audience...
Fujima, Hanagata, Akagi, Kogure, and Mitsui watched with Keisuke, Taka and the gundams. While Maki and Jin watched Kainan being up against another team at another stadium.
"I don't think Hana will enter, yet," Fujima predicted.
"Hana's our secret weapon," Kogure said. "I agree with you,"
"Nope. Hana will enter now, Miyagi's having a little trouble with his leg," Mitsui said. "Last year, Hana's our secret weapon, nobody knows she's that good, but this year-"
"Len is the secret weapon, Mitsui. I've seen the way he plays with Kaede. He's good," Taka supplied.
"We just hope he will be," Akagi hoped.
At the Shohoku bench...
"Starting members for today: Rukawa Kaede, Miyagi, Mikage, Touki and Rukawa Len ," Anzai-sensei announced. "All of you know what to do,"
"Hai!" they chorused.
Takezano's coach had announced their starting members as well, Jerseys 5 (Oda), 7, 9, and 13 came out.
"Len, guard #5, Mikage, take three pointers and guard #11, I, guard #7, he's the point guard, Touki guard #13, Kaede, guard #9, " said Miyagi to all of them.
"Hai!" they shouted. "We ARE STRONG!"
Kaede and Takezano #9 went to do the jump shot. Kaede got the ball and swished it to Miyagi, who passed to Mikage, and Mikage scores! Earning Shohoku 3 points. Takezano tried to score after that, but Touki got the rebound and passed to Miyagi, who passed to Kaede, and Kaede dunks, adding up the score to 5.
When the score is 45-5, Hana entered, taking over Miyagi's place. The three of them, Hana, Len, and Kaede did a high five before continuing the game. Certainly, Hana's arrival had made the Shohoku players more confident. Hana would pass to any of them, but particularly, more to either Kaede or Len
Akagi watched Kaede's twin closely. The twins only resembles each other in facial features and height, but the style of playing is so different. Len always pass and never scores, but he took all the rebounds.
"Hana, Rukawa and Len had combined their style of playing to be a triple combination. Hana still plays like me, and Rukawa and Len had other styles. But look at that," Fujima murmured.
Hana is being guarded by three players, seeing that Len is free, she passed to Len, and the three players went to guard Len, who faked as if to pass to Kaede or Hana, but instead, scores!
"Wow! Look at that! Rukawa and Sakuragi even thought that he's going to pass to either of them!" Kogure said. "You've got a brilliant brother, Taka,"
"Half-brother, Kogure. Len had been staying and playing basketball in U.S. all his life," Taka answered.
In the end, Shohoku won 170 - 50. Kaede and Hana hugged, and then, Len hugged Hana. The twins, however, high fived each other. Miyagi high fived Hana, thanking her for doing such a splendid job.
"Looks like we owe Hana a dinner again, Toru," Fujima sighed.
"Don't tell me the two of you betted that she going to score 30 points all on her own, eh?" asked Keisuke.
"We did," Toru answered. "She's doing extremely well,"
"She improves so fast!" Akagi muttered.
*******
Shoyo, Kainan and Ryonan made it to the final round as well. And Shohoku's first match is with Ryonan.
"Okay, we've been playing against Ryonan a lot of times. We must defeat Ryonan again," Miyagi gave his pep talk.
"Don't worry Shortie, we'll play our best," Hana said.
"I know you will, and remember, we are strong!" Miyagi answered.
"Hai!"
At the audience...
"They must defeat Ryonan!" Akagi muttered.
"Aah, I guess Anzai-sensei will put Hana in early again, or why does it look as if Miyagi's entering?" Kogure wondered.
"Gambatte! Shohoku!" shouted Mitsui. The present Shohoku members nodded at their supporters, the ex-Shohoku players.
Both Fujima and Hanagata went to watch Shoyo play against Kainan, which happened to take place at the same time in a different stadium.
******
At the benches
Shohoku Bench...
"We ARE STRONG!" shouted the Shohoku players.
"Hohohoho," Anzai-sensei laughed. "You are indeed strong. The starting members for today, Rukawa Kaede, Rukawa Len, Sakuragi, Mikage, Miyagi,"
"Kaede, you play small forward cum center today, Len, get all the rebounds that you can get, Sakuragi, help Miyagi guard Sendoh, and Mikage, get as much three pointers as you can," Anzai-sensei instructed.
"HAI!" they shouted, and walked towards the court.
Ryonan Bench...
"Sendoh, you realise that you have to play 100% today?" asked Taoka-sensei.
"Hai, I know," Sendoh answered.
"Okay, the starting members for today... Sendoh, Koshino, Fukuda, Asagari, and Yamazaki," Taoka sensei said. "You all know what to do,"
"Hai!" they chorused, and walked to the court.
*******
"Shohoku Versus Ryonan," shouted the referee. "Game Start!"
End of Chapter 10, please read and review...