Disclaimer: The absolute undeniable fact that cannot be doubted is this: I do not own Slam Dunk. Pero pwede pa rin akong tumingin diba?
Chazyme: Thanks for the review! Yeah she seemed kinda hopeless on Do You See Me… I'mglad you like this though.. hehehe…
Kalyope Medina Erato: hehe… thanks a bunch… yup! Miuradai! Hehehe… I remembered them… well it was that or Tsukubu or something… yup, she's still in Kanagawa… that's why there weren't that much drama with her leaving and stuff… besides hagino's the one who's really moving a bit far, but still within the country
Santeira: it's okay, you don't have to hurry in the reviews… hehehe… thanks for reviewing, and oh maybe it's ambiguous cause, this is actually the sequel, but I didn't really write it in The Writing On The Wall, since I didn't really expected anyone new to read it, apart from the ones who've already read do you see me… hehehe… but yeah, it's a sequel… and if being a sequel is not the reason, it's just me… hehehe… I will try to improve on that…
Simmic: thanks… hmm… well, I don't really have a plan with that… hehehe… besides, sometimes you make friends under weird circumstances…. Bwahahaa… don't mind me.. hehe
The Writing On The Wall
As I sat for my last subject of the day, I miserably rested my chin on my palm, and when my palm got tired of supporting it, I slowly brought my whole arm down to the table, and remained in the same position until I could no longer feel the blood coursing through my veins, a tingling, and a sense of sensation being lost taking its place.
Today was Shohoku's match with Shoyo. I managed a worn out sigh. As I looked at the blackboard, the constant movement of the chalk across its length, there stood Anzai-sensei mapping out his plan for the game. "Rukawa-kun will remain a small forward," I shook my head. There were only math formula's rooted on it's green space.
I wondered how the crowd would be like as their team entered the court. Last year's triumph had brought attention to the whole basketball team. And along with the prestige, came fan clubs, and fans that can't stop worshipping. It would be impossible to hear anything other than their screaming. You could hardly move amongst the crowd that seemed to build itself into one solid being. And all you would see from below is the sea of colours, red and green, the colours of their respectful teams.
"I need a volunteer to answer this question." It was probably just a reporter wanting to get the latest scoop on the new sensation. Wait - that was my teacher's voice. I buried my head in my hands, and lightly banged it against my table. "Ouch." I murmured. It did not help to bring me back to life.
"Takahashi-san, please go to the Guidance Office." I stood up from the crowd, though a couple of others daring to pretend they were me, who was the number one fan of the basketball team, and had been dedicated this win, a girl responded by grabbing me by the shoulder. "Takahashi-san, you're being called to the Guidance Office." My seatmate Aoi, said.
I quickly stood up from my table, and just as I reached the door, another announcement came in. "Yoyogi Kana please go to the Principal's Office." I almost wanted to give her a smug look of victory. Though I happened to even be exhausted of arguing.
"Ne, Karin, do you know what Rukawa likes to listen to?" Yoyogi had taken her place in line with me, though she left much space between the two of us. "You know, music?" an eyebrow instantaneously rose with that remark. It was as if she doubted my ability to interpret speech. "I have no idea." I struggled to speak the words, for the rising emotion that disrupted my harmony was desperately trying to take over me. "Don't be selfish."
It was glad that I did not have to answer her question as I reached the Guidance Office. "It's your choice if you want to believe me or not, but I'm telling you this just one more time. I - don't -know." I opened the door, and found a man in his fifties, his beard unkempt, and as I blinked my eyes to rub them off of sleep, I noticed the lack of symmetry in them. I shook my head.
"Please take a seat, Ka –" He took his glasses and read the sheet of paper. "Takahashi Karin." I sat as he had asked me to, and wondered of the reason as to why I was sent in. He ruffled the cluster of papers on his table, and opened the drawers as if he had lost something. "Well, in any case, I know it's of short notice, but you're participating on, an, um, off-campus activity, ok?"
I wished to know off the details. "Sir-" The door opened, to reveal a younger woman in a suit, carrying a cup of coffee. "Your coffee sir." She announced, and while approaching his table, he whistled, to which she simply smiled and poured the coffee on his expensive looking outfit. He stood up, took a few of the tissues and tried to wipe away the stain that had soaked his ensemble. The secretary took the empty cup with her, and winked, though she did not seem to be comfortable walking in those heels.
"The transportation is waiting outside sir." With that, she closed the door. "Well, a little bit of a mess there." He stood up and tried his best to straighten out his jacket. "Shall we?" He offered for me to be on my way, though I only rose from my seat. "Where are we going sir?"
"To the off-campus activity, now let's go, go." When I did not move, he walked behind me and started to push me until I had walked a few steps and exited the office. The secretary was leaning on the wall, and as we came outside, she stood up and linked her arm into mine, preventing me from complaining.
I examined more closely my superiors. There was a fleck of white dust resting on his shoulder. When he noticed I had been staring at it intently, he brushed it away, laughing when he said, "Oh my, how embarrassing, it's just dandruff, shampoo and conditioner after all is getting expensive." The secretary laughed along with him, and as they laughed while keeping their eyes at me, I took it as a signal to laugh, though mine came out in choked pieces, it was obvious I was getting more and more uncomfortable by the second.
When we turned on the next corridor, the guidance councillor took off his moustache and began to shake his head, the white dust flying all over the place. "Mitsui!" I was shocked. "Yeah, I mean wigs aren't exactly cheap, baby powder is easier." Now then, I turned my attention of the secretary who stopped to take off her heels, and almost tossed them into the trashcan. "Ah! I can hardly walk anymore."
"Ayako!" Seriously, how do they come up with these ridiculously insane, not to mention dangerous yet somewhat intriguing ideas? Though I would never tell them straight out I found it quite interesting. They are really partners in crime. "Ayako, is there still some left?" Ayako released her hold on me to attend to Mitsui. "Bow your head a bit." He followed her instruction, and she set out to pat away the last remaining specks of powder on his hair.
"What about me?" I suddenly brought them back to the situation they had dug themselves in. "You're out." Ayako said, he arms waving in the air. "Yup, the game's starting in 2 hours, we have to hurry." Mitsui said, looking at his fake Rolex watch.
"In any case, we should get going." Ayako once again linked her arm in mine, and joined hands with Mitsui on her left, and proceeded to walk cheerfully, the gate just right ahead of us. "Takahashi-san!" A scream pierced the hushed environment, and it was not a mistake when I thought of Yoyogi Kana.
She ran up to us, huffing and placing her hands on her knees when she had caught up, and I wondered why we hadn't ran and tried to lose her instead. "Takahashi-san, where are you planning to go? Don't you know we still have class? That wouldn't look good on your record, would it?"
She turned her head to Mitsui, in which she gave an energetic smile. "Mitsui-kun. Wow, you have gotten taller, a bit." She laughed. She neared him and tried to see exactly how tall he had gotten. "Still handsome I see." Ayako tightened her grip on Mitsui's hand.
"Do I know you?" With his seriously confused tone of voice, I snorted. I could not possibly let it out as a laugh. Here she was, intentionally or unintentionally getting dissed by the guy she had dumped on Junior High. It wasn't a surprise really.
She laughed yet again, this time with added force. "Don't joke around Mitsui-kun. Junior High? You know, Yoyogi Kana? Does that ring any bell?" She was getting desperate for recognition. Mitsui snapped his fingers. "Oh yeah, Yoyogi Kana?" He asked as if Yoyogi Kana had been unrecognizable. "Still ug-" At the jab of Ayako's elbow, he stopped himself.
"Oh, hello." She turned now to Ayako. If I could say voice out my opinion, I would rather keep my mouth shut. "Hey your– yo what's up." Ayako greeted, reigning in on the attitude, still keeping close to Mitsui. "And you are?" I almost felt sorry for her – almost. "Nishida Ayako." She smiled yet again, the lines in her face evident. "Nice to meet you."
"Anyways, back to the topic." I almost let out a sigh of relief – and after that, I did. The attention switched back to me. "Don't mind me." She poised herself and continued, "Are you perhaps going to the game between Shohoku and Shoyo?"
If we had been given the chance, we all would have chorused, 'Duh.' Instead, Mitsui just grabbed Ayako's hand and started to walk to the bus station. I started to walk to, following them behind, and shortly after that, I heard footsteps rushing to match with mine. "Wait up Karin!" I ignored her, and kept on walking. "I said wait up!" Everybody stopped in their tracks. "What is wrong with all of you?" After that comment, we resumed on walking.
There was not a single word that escaped our mouths after that, except for Yoyogi who kept on asking questions. "So, where is the game?" I paid for my ticket, and did not wait for her. After a few moments, she had managed to catch up with me. "Do we have reserved seating?" I almost crumpled the ticket in my hand. Why aren't they, and yes I am referring to Mitsui and Ayako, doing anything?
"Stop ignoring me Karin. Remember, I can just as easily ruin your reputation showing this picture of you," She held out her cellular phone, "To the principal." She placed it back inside her handbag. "Yes, and I can just as show this picture of you," I held out my phone, "To the principal." I thought I heard her growl, but I didn't bother myself about it, I was safe, for now.
The ride to the stadium had been one of the most agonizing times of my life. I would have plugged my headphones right at the start of this whole ordeal if I had brought them with me, but I had not expected such a drastic plan just to get me out of school, nor was I informed that such a plan was to take place. I tried to engage myself in the endless building that seemed to occupy every space. "So, does Rukawa have a girlfriend?" She sat herself across me, that I had strained my neck to look sideways to avoid seeing her face to face. I decided to answer in the hopes of shutting her up. "No."
"That's good then. Not that I'm worried or anything, it just makes things much smoother for me, at least our relationship won't hurt somebody." Somehow, I'm starting to think Yoyogi and Nobunaga are related, but somehow her cockiness sounds worse than Nobunaga's. "So, what do you think Rukawa likes in a girl?"
"I don't know." I answered immediately. I've tried to do everything, but nothing works. It's either her skin's so thick she doesn't get the message that I don't want to talk to her, or she's just fooling herself into thinking that I'm not really irritated of her presence. "I bet of course he likes high class girls," She chuckled, "Which I'm an excellent example." I rested my cheek on the glass. She's starting to give me a headache.
Before she could continue to voice out her thoughts, the train stopped at the station and from a distance I saw Ayako and Mitsui exit the train. I quickly stood up and ran after them. "Wait!" I stopped before the crowd pushed me to the exit.
"It's your problem if you can't catch up!" She managed to squeeze out of the crowd before they started pouring inside. She tried to fix her hair, and examined her face on her mirror. "We don't have time for that! The game's about to start!" She placed her mirror inside her handbag, and walked up to me. "Let's go." Finally.
Ayako led us into a different path, which I assumed was the path that leads to the team's lockers. "Are we going to visit them?" I doubt Ayako or anybody else from the team would let her in, since she'd only be a nuisance.
As soon as Ayako realized that, she began to turn around, when Mitsui held on to her. "There's no time." I heard him say. Ayako faced the two of us. "You two stay out here." She looked at me apologetically. I knew what she meant. I used to be allowed to go inside, since I didn't make any noise. Yoyogi seemed to be satisfied with it, and did not complain any further. Ayako and Mitsui entered the locker room.
"At least I have some time to fix my make-up for Rukawa-kun." She brought her mirror once again. "My hair's all messed up." She quickly set to re-touching her face, and combing out her hair, after which she sprayed some perfume.
The door opened, and the team excited, first by their new captain, Miyagi, followed closely by Sakuragi, and then Akagi, though he had only been a guest. After Kogure, Mitsui, and the rest of the team made their appearance, Rukawa showed up, Ayako behind him, and beside Ayako was Haruko.
"Rukawa-kun!" Yoyogi shrieked. He stopped at the door and looked at her. "Hi! I'm Yoyogi Ka-" Rukawa walked away. "So cool!" She still praised. "Good luck Rukawa! Do your best!" By his expression, he didn't seem to hear her. She sighed. "Isn't he so cool?"
"He was." Haruko replied, and before Yoyogi could question her of her identity, Haruko yelled, "Good luck Sakuragi!" Sakuragi's ears enlarged, and he looked back, a huge smile on his face. "Haruko!" Miyagi pushed him along. "Eh? Ryo-chin! Let me savour the moment!" Miyagi hit him on the back of his head. "The game Sakuragi. That's all that should be occupying your mind." Sakuragi nodded, and quickly settled into preparing himself mentally for the game.
I slowly inched away, while Yoyogi was still drooling over Rukawa's back, and sneaked out while Rukawa was still there, or else she'd return back to normal.
I emerged to find that the bleacher had been more or less filled to the brim. Luckily, the Sakuragi-guntan spotted me and made room for me by throwing out one of the other spectators. As Shohoku and Shoyo made their way inside court, the scream was deafening from both sides. I could feel the excitement rush through me, and I could not help but feel the impending start of a wonderful game. I wondered what Shoyo was able to come up with, and at the same time, I wondered what Shohoku would show at this game. I took in a deep breath and screamed as loud as I could. "Go Shohoku!" My voice combined with those who had the same thoughts.
Ok, I'm not good at basketball games but I will try, that's why I'm cutting it here, in order to do some more research… ehehhe… sorry for not updating earlier, but I had like last projects to deal with… but it's vacation now so yeah… hehehe… please bear with me on the basketball scenes… hehehe… thanks for reading!