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

Coffeemaverick: aww… well there will be some cheering up, though the one for the next chapter is much more fun, and clue they already did it before… bwhahaha

Kalyope Medina Burato: hehehe… everybody's just coming back, hehe… yeah, hehehe… oh, you took the words right out of my mouth with the whole friends thing… hehehe… the school she moved into is Miuradai… I know there was some confusion with Aiwa, but I didn't want her to move into a school with like the greatest basketball team, so yeah…

Simmic: well, I just think that it's hard to adjust to a new environment, but adjusting to a new environment when the school's just about to end, it's like well, basically, not a lot of people transfer to other schools at the middle of the school year, so yeah… hehe

The Writing On The Wall

With my forefinger, I lightly pressed on the button in which beside it a dot flashed, blinking to me in red. "Hey, Karin, I'm calling," It was Mitsui with his calm though somewhat exhausted voice. "To inform you that I am angry at you for not coming to our game. I am very well aware that you are somewhat pre-occupied with your studies," His voice was monotone; proceeding in a robotic manner that even I could instantly recognize that he wasn't really serious about any of this. Though for some reason, it clawed at the edge of my heart, wanting me to realize the stitch lines in this un-seamed cover.

"I am disappointed at your actions. For the most part you have attended the games I played in, and though sometimes you may be absent, I would like to inform you that you have missed Shohoku's basketball games for three consecutive times. Now, apparently, I am leaning at the corner, and must die of disappointment. Have a good day." I heard the dial tone, and as the next one loomed in, the voice appeared to be his. "Hey Karin, you haven't called in like, 3 hours, what's up with that? Anyways, I'm alive and well, ok? Well, if people are starting to bother you, Tetsuo's always available anyways, and well you know I can't beat anybody up, so yeah, but I'll still come though, so don't hesitate."

I got tired of standing, and so I reached for the nearest chair and grabbed it, sitting down comfortably, watching as the sun's rays made its way onto the cold glass. "Hey, it's Jin. Um… so you moved already… well, how's your new school? I hope your ok with your studies now, and I'll be glad to help in any way I can ok? So just call me if you need anything, that's all really, oh, and Kainan hasn't lost a game yet, we hope that Shohoku gets into the top four, we're looking forward to our match with them. Well then, bye."

I turned the machine off and went off in search of my homework. And though everything was laid out in front of me, I could not seem to concentrate. My head drifting in and out, my brain wandering the course of its space, and myself, simply tired of all this weight.

Before I even knew what I was doing, I had already called Mitsui. I was on the verge of returning the phone to its receiver when I heard his voice, though unrecognizable was his speech it's sound remained still. I brought back the phone to my ear. "Karin, I know it's you so stop it with the silence thing. You're not the only one with caller id you know." I held the phone out of earshot, and amidst his voice yelling out my name, I shut it out by reuniting the phone with its cover.

I sat there, willing myself to study despite the headache that was forming, and as I struggled to stand, I was not mistaken the phone indeed had rung. "Karin?" Jin's voice reached out. "Yeah, it's me."

"Oh, good." He sounded relieved. "Mitsui just called and told me you called him and that you weren't responding, so he asked me to call you. It seems you're alright though." Mitsui doesn't really run out of ideas to irritate me. "I'm sorry if he bothered you for no reason." And now I had to apologize on his behalf, what a troublemaker.

"It's nothing, but your voice sure didn't sound like for no reason." I let out a desperate chuckle. I had been caught. "So I was right." Is he expecting me to say something? I've never said anything this personal before, this personal feeling I have only kept to myself. Should I tell him?

"It's nothing, and it's everything, and – and –" I tried to hold back the tears. "I don't know, I can't explain it, but I'm just – I feel –" I could not find the right words to say. "I'm tired Jin." I could feel the tears run down my face, could feel them soak my clothing, though I did not do anything to stop it. "I'm tired… of watching my aunt hold what is left of this family, of myself trying to reach a goal that's set up too high– why did this have to happen to us? To me?"

"Enough." His voice was firm, yet gentle. "Don't think of it that way." I listened more closely, could hear his breath as if he was right next to me. "I can't…" I could hear him whisper endlessly, "Shh… Shh…"

"It's not that easy…" I choked the words I had been hoping I wouldn't have to admit.. "Why do you think I'm here?" He blurted out. I placed a hand to my heart, trying to calm the raging tempest. "Why do you think your friends are here?" I took my first breath, my heartbeat frantically trying to even out its rhythm.

I could barely hold the phone steady, all of me losing its will to move. I just wanted to lie down on my bed, close my eyes, and sleep without worries. "Share the burden with me when it's too heavy okay?" I nodded my head. "Okay?" I forgot I had answered him as if he was right in front of me, waiting. "Thank you… very much."

"That's better." He lightened up, his tone alleviated of that heavy note. I sat there, watching the curtains remain still, seeing the leaves motionless, and witnessing the sun sink under the mountains. It was unfortunate that I did not hear my stomach complain of its hunger, though unfortunate when I noticed I was embracing the phone right where the sound would be. There was another jumble of words before I brought it back to my ear. "If you're hungry you know you should eat."

The hum of hunger walked alongside with him, that the blood abundantly flooded my cheeks. "I know." There was another laugh that came from him, and soon I too felt like I wanted to share in this newfound joy found from the simplest things. "I'll call later okay? Go eat." He could not seem to control himself, and just as my cold façade was cracking, we disconnected, and I ran to the kitchen before I could throw myself in bed, roll around whilst my hands enveloped my stomach, and laugh till I could spare not a single breath.

The next morning had thankfully been a weekend, and it was that time that as I stood up from bed in order to throw the curtains over the windows did I compell myself to visit Shohoku once again.

The journey had been invigorating. My excitement ran free, and at times I could not suppressed a smile, even though the people looked at me weirdly. The air was refreshing, and as I got off the bus and faced my old high school, memories soaked through the surface, and I was filled with joy.

I took my time in taking in the surroundings, passing by a path lined with trees, walking alongside it's building, through it's soccer field, stopping only when I saw the outdoor basketball court in the distance.

There was a figure, a ball in one hand, unsure of whether to take the next step and shoot, or just continue on with his repeating strokes of the basketball.

I recognized it as Yohei, and as he lifted his arms to take a shot, I wondered for a second if I could hear once more that triumphant sound of a swish. I heard a much more depressing sound as the ball bounced off the rim. He turned to pick it up and finally became aware of my presence. "Senpai?" He asked, as if it was a question. I did not answer him as if it was a question. "Long time you haven't been dropping by." He continued on casually.

When he noticed my eyes drift towards the basketball he was holding, he hid it behind his back. "You didn't see that shot by chance did you senpai?" I slowly nodded my head, moving to my right while he moved to his left; I was only trying to find a way around to take a look at the basketball.

"I often see Jin do these kinds of shots. You should try it again." He moved backwards as I moved forwards, still securing the basketball behind him. "Go on, Yohei-san." He stopped as he reached the edge of the court, and bit-by-bit moved to the free-throw line.

He hesitantly drew the ball in front of him, dribbling the ball as if he found it heavy to push it back to the ground. After what seemed like eternity, which turned out to be only minutes, he held the ball with both hands, dribbled three times, before he lifted his arms for a chance. Now, what it only took was for him to release his shot.

It sailed through the air with ease, though it still met the same fate as the last one. It hit the rim on the side, and bounced off into the grass. "Yo Yohei, I didn't know you had potential." I recognized that voice. It was Mitsui.

Yohei bounced the ball to him, and he immediately set off to show-off his skills and even played a little one on one game with Yohei, that ended quickly with a three-point shot. "Whoa, wait a second… Karin?" He released the ball, running towards me, holding me by the shoulders, and shaking me like it was 7 on the Richter scale.

"Hisashi!" Ayako's voice distant, yet as she kept on yelling, it was obvious she was right on the path. "Hisashi, what are you doing here? I thought you were just getting something from your locker? Oh hello Yohei, did you see Sakuragi? Tell him to be on time for the morning practices please." Mitsui turned to face her, and as I jutted out from behind him, Ayako's smile was unmistakable. "Karin!" She generously endowed me with a bone-crushing hug, before I finally threw all formalities into the wind that passed by, and returned her hug with equal strength, sincerely responding, "Yup! It's me!"

to be continued… hehe… oh yeah, just some hints… something with yoyogi and rukawa… something with mitsui and jin, hehe… hmm.. what else… and a plan to get Karin out of school in time for Shohoku's match with Shoyo… that's all I'm telling…