Disclaimer: The absolute undeniable fact that cannot be doubted is this: I do not own Slam Dunk. Pero pwede pa rin akong tumingin diba?

Calliope Medina Erato: hehehe.. I like that part too… don't know when I thought about that, already forgot… I know that it wasn't very much of a happy ending… for me it's partly because I do not want her to be so lucky as to get the right one you know like for the first time… I mean, exactly how many people gets that happy ending right away? I feel that happy endings take time, but it doesn't have to be with the person you really like, because in order to create a sort of average person, I can't be all that dramatic and make them catch diseases all of a sudden, or devastating earthquakes, or instant bankruptcy, or death, for me it'd be too much, and so by not ending them up together, I'm creating more of a minor, or relatable fact that readers can much easily relate to, or more of the majority can relate to… sometimes it may be awkward, especially if you've been friends for that long, but my friend tells me that it's also better for you to be friends first… but yeah… new question that will be answered here is… did mitsui ever had any feelings for her? Hehe… well in that case, I guess it's okay… though I can't find much humor to put in here about computers… hehehe.. I hope you'll continue to read this fic…

Coffeemaverick: thank you… hehehehe.. it serves almost as if an alternate answer to the question.. hehehe.. here is the part 2 for that.. took a bit long.. because I was sick… hehehehe… besides… I needed to think quite carefully of the pairing… I don't know if you'll like the pairing… since mitsui and Karin really seemed to be compatible in one way… but I'll try my best to sort of almost justify them… hehe..

Simmic: hehehe… I think a lot of us do want them to end up together… but I want to portray life as it is - it's not so perfect… I want her to be able to experience what life truly is - as something not so perfect… and so by not allowing her to have what she truly wanted, is one indication of that… it's like it's your first shot, it's much more common not to get that shot in, in my opinion… yes… for me… this door has already closed… I even got a quote about that… and so there's a new chapter in her life… and mainly because… the "you" will change… hehe.. you'll have to figure out who though.. hehehe… but I'll eliminate possible prospects as we go by… I'll eliminate a couple right now, at the end of this chapter… I hope you will continue to read this fic…

The Writing On The Wall

"When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us."

-Alexander Graham Bell-

I sat, waited for the sun to rise. I wanted to cry, one last time, but I couldn't, so the rain cried for me. I could feel it dampen my clothing, soak my skin, trickle to my soul. But soon, I could no longer feel the tears, though I could still see them. I did not move. "Hey, are you blind?" A hand waved in front of me. A jolt travelled to my head. "Ok, so you're not." I longed to be alone, and yet, I cannot be. I turned to fully look at him. I could only hear the raindrops tapping on his umbrella. And soon I was all alone, alone with you. "Hey, quit staring at me like I can't see you. 'Cause I can." Funny, that was the answer I longed to hear from you.

He was the reason I stopped crying. He was the something, the anything, and the everything that made me forget. He was-

The umbrella could no longer keep the rain from falling. It numbed my skin, but as it trickled down my cheek it thawed it. It burned, contouring my skin. "Hey, are you alright? I didn't – I mean – please don't – um –" I could hear him, clearly, calling out to me, but I refused to hear him out.

I could no longer hear the steady taps against the cloth, but I could hear it against my ears, feel it against my skin. Amidst the cold, a warm embrace enveloped me, a slow constant murmur in my ear. "Shh… shh…" An already wet cloth mingled with my tears. "Shh…" His warmth was drifting, his voice becoming more distant, and soon it became one with the wind.

I could no longer bear the cold, could no longer ignore it as it seeped through my skin, right down to the bone. "You should go home." I could not bring myself to say anything. I could only mutter up the chattering of my teeth, the shivering of my body. In reply, I wrapped my arms around me. He copied me unconsciously.

"Where do you live?" He pulled the trigger. I stood up, shakily, grasping the air for support. I began to walk, letting my feet do the carrying, letting this hunger for warmth encourage me, letting this thirst for home lead me.

I did not know if he followed, at the present, it was not in my list of concerns. I continued walking in the same half decent strut for a walk, which simply took too long.

In that moment, where I felt neither time nor space, when everything basically stopped, I arrived at my doorstep. I did not realize the gate had been open. I stood there, stared at the wood, clueless as to what to do.

He was beside me all the time. "Do you have the keys?" His words were stumbling one after the other, the effect of its cause. My hand instinctively unzipped my bag, reaching inside for the sound of clinking keys. As soon as I could feel the cold metal on my fingertips, I grabbed it. I could not seem to find the keyhole. His unsteady hand locked upon my unstable one, and together, for a second, steadily stabled it.

I entered the house, not bothering to take off my shoes for once, heading straight to the couch. I sat there, water dripping off of my hair, fingers convulsing, my skin desperately searching for any leftover traces of warmth. I lied on my side, minimizing as best as I could the space I occupied, gathering myself together in that tight constricted space, just so I could save heat. Layers upon layers of blankets were wrapped around me, a few shivers escaped in return. I could hear the kettle whistling, could hear the door open, and close, and then, nothing but silence.

I sneezed. I sniffled after that. How rude of me. I haven't even said anything to him. Not even that two worded thank you. Or even that one worded thanks. Not even that small simple yet immensely profound word.

that's it for chapter one… hmm… who is the guy? He's not Sendoh or anybody else from Ryonan… I did want to put Koshino in… but he looks like mitsui when he was in junior high, so too bad.. hehe… and sendoh is just too popular, I mean, his character's easier to write with, it's because of that smile… hehehe… I wanted more space for a canvas… the title is also an idiomatic expression… in case you're interested…