Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Slam Dunk.

CHAPTER 1

Resting comfortably on the lounge chair by the balcony, Ayako gazed at the dark depths of the sky. The stars sparkled like diamonds on black velvet. Fascinated, she breathed a sigh filled with content. Tomorrow's the first day of school and the thought of it brought excitement.

She would once again become the manageress of the basketball team; assist in the training of new aspiring players, mostly freshmen. I hope they won't make it too hard for the captain and I, she thought as she spotted the brightest star.

According to coach Anzai, they would have to find new players as soon as possible. At yesterday's meeting, Coach talked about the urgency. It was only her, captain Akagi and vice captain Kogure who were called to attend. They talked about the possible prospects and the future training over tea at coach's house which was not far from where she lived. It was there that he handed a list of prospects. When she scanned the list of new freshmen students, one familiar name caught her attention. Kaede Rukawa. What could he be doing in Shohoku?

She sighed deeply, as if she already knew the challenges the team will be facing. They don't have much time to prepare for the upcoming Inter High Basketball Competition. Coach Anzai is right. We have to find players for the team, but even if we do, there's still not enough time for practice.

Ayako stretched her arms a little which had gone numb from supporting her head. She decided not to worry too much as it was useless. At nine-thirty, she went inside; she had to wake up early.

At half past nine, Rukawa was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. It's weird that he can't sleep. Normally, when his body hit the bed, sleep would claim him at once. All the 'sleep' he had before was probably catching up to him. Though he had an idea what made him still awake at such a late time.

He was not excited to have classes tomorrow; he didn't even like school as much as he liked playing basketball. Being the former captain of Tomigaoka's basketball team in junior high, he had learned a lot but now that he's a freshman at Shohoku, he had to practice harder because the competition's different.

On the first day of school, the hallways of Shohoku High building were filled with students. Most wore excited faces while some have the look of weariness on their faces. One person was leaning at the wall with his arms folded in front of him, looking bored. He wore an emotionless expression while observing his surroundings. At the same time, he was trying to ignore some girls who were overtly staring at him.

He was used to such treatment; he'd been getting unwanted stares since junior high when he became the captain of the basketball team. He could tell by the way they looked at him that they knew who he was.

Rukawa barely smiled, barely spoke; he still couldn't understand why girls continue to stare at him or worse, even go out of their way to get his attention. He never liked girls who chase him; it never impressed him.

A tap on his shoulder broke his train of thoughts. He turned around and saw Ayako smiling at him. She was one girl he couldn't bring himself to ignore. She had been good to him and besides, her character demanded respect. She's naturally friendly and unlike the other girls; she's tolerable; she's not like them who try to get his attention.

Ayako was a schoolmate and a friend, somehow. She wasn't popular in junior high but he knew some of his classmates had a crush on her even if she's a year older. It's not complicated to talk to her unlike the girls back at his former school who give different meanings to his actions. Not that he ever acted on anything. A simple glance for them was equivalent to almost asking them on a date.

"Rukawa, what are you doing here?" she looked happy but not surprised to see him.

"I'll be studying here," he simply said, his expression blank.

"How come?" She prodded, showing interest on the reason behind it.

"It's near my house," he said, as if it was the most obvious reason. No matter how lame the reason, that was true. But that's just second to the real reason. He decided to enroll at Shohoku in spite of the fact that there were lots of schools that offered him scholarships. These schools were included in Kanagawa's top four prefectures and yet he decided to choose Shohoku because he wanted to be the one responsible for leading the team to become one of the top 8 teams in basketball. He didn't want to play for a school where his skills wouldn't matter.

"Is that so?" she said smiling, looking thoughtful. She seemed unaware that some girls were staring at her with envy in their eyes. Whispers could be heard, audible enough for Rukawa to hear. "Who is she?" "Is she his girlfriend?" "Why's he talking to her and not to us?" "We're prettier than she is."

Rukawa looked at the girls with narrowed eyes. The girls thought that they've caught his attention but they were wrong. There was nothing in his expression that signified he's pleased neither with the attention he's getting nor with the whispering.

Ayako caught up and was now aware of what's happening. "Had they been staring at us like that since I talked to you?" He nodded. "Looks like I have to go before your girlfriends tear me apart," she mused. She was about to head down the hall when she remembered something. She stopped abruptly, her curls bounced, "By the way, as the manageress of the basketball team, I am inviting you to the try-outs that will be held at the gym later today at four o'clock. I hope you'd come; to make it official."

"I thought you said you'll never take on it again after Tomigaoka?" he said, though not surprised that she's the manageress.

Ayako's expression clouded for a second then was instantly replaced by a cheerful face. But she failed miserably at that. "I know what you're thinking! The truth is, I would have given it up, but I can't. I need to be in it, I mean it helps me get my mind off of things." Then she laughed, with a hint of nervousness that he easily detected. He also noticed the sadness in her eyes when she said it. "Okay," he said, wondering what those 'things' were but did not dare ask.

When the first bell rang signaling classes were about to begin, he pushed himself away from the wall.

"Just be there, okay? I'll be expecting you," then she hurried down the hall.

"I'll be there," he said, even though she can't hear him anymore. He wouldn't miss it for anything.

Meanwhile, a pair of beautiful eyes looked at Rukawa longingly. It followed his every move like a hawk would do on its prey. She saw him talking to a girl, treating her not in a special way, but he talked to her.

I wonder who she is. They seemed to know each other pretty well. Amira Sendo, a freshman, liked Rukawa Kaede ever since she saw him play at the junior high basketball competition.

Jealousy was now growing in her. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to know she existed.

Rukawa sighed out of boredom; it's not even near four o'clock, yet he was sitting at one of the benches near the Gym. He didn't want to be the first to arrive at the tryouts so he'd rather stay there. Talking about punctuality, he remembered the last time he'd been late and it wasn't good. It was the most important basketball competition and as the team captain, he was expected to be there before the game begins. But what can he do if he overslept and almost forgot about the game. Anyway, their coach only shouted at him which he was able to ignore. They won anyway, that's what mattered.

He glanced at his watch; it's already a quarter before four. He stood and headed for the Gym doors. As he got closer he could hear dribbling and shouting. His adrenalin rushed at the sound of it. When he stepped inside, he noticed the shiny floor and students gathered in groups. A redheaded guy at the far corner of the court caught his attention. It looked like a basketball attached to a body; the guy's head was a flaming red orange. He can't help but smirk at the odd sight.

Ayako appeared beside him and he didn't even felt her presence until she spoke. "So, what's the smirk for?" she asked, with an inquiring look. She didn't miss what crept over his usually expressionless face.

Rukawa looked at her, a little surprised at what she was wearing: white fitted t-shirt and black shorts that almost fit like second skin with a matching red cap to manage her wild curls. She looked boyish and tough like he always knew her to be way back in their school. How come he's always surprised to see her look this way during practice?

"Hey, I'm asking you young man," she said when Rukawa did not reply at once.

"I'm not young. You're only a year older," he pointed. "The guy over there has a funny hair, that's all," he said with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Hmm, that's Hanamichi Sakuragi. He calls himself the basketball genius," she said. "C'mon, I'll introduce you to the rest of the guys." Ayako took him by the arm and they went to the group. She navigated him expertly through a throng of people, stopping occasionally for introductions.

"Hi guys! Toughen the warm-ups!" she cheered. Rukawa noticed how the young players looked at Ayako with admiration. She didn't seem to care that she created distraction among them.

"Finally, I'd like you to meet Takenori Akagi, the captain and Kiminobu Kogure, vice captain," she paused. "That's Hanamichi Sakuragi as I've already told you and Ryota Miyagi, point guard," she finished. "This is Kaede Rukawa, a freshman from Tomigaoka high school, a former schoolmate," Ayako proudly introduced while tapping Rukawa on the shoulder.

Just then, the coach arrived. "Guys, gather around please?" The noisy crowd miraculously complied with Ayako and was all-ears. "This is coach Anzai." He was an old man, too healthy with white hair. "Ho ho ho," was all the coach said.

And so, the try-outs began. The freshmen showed quite the same level of skills but Rukawa was different from the rest; he stood out like a sore thumb.

Try-outs ended at five-thirty and all were worn-out from the intensity.

"Thank you for trying out. Results will be posted tomorrow at the club's bulletin board," coach Anzai said.

Everyone went home except for team members and the coach.

Coach Anzai talked to Akagi for some pointers and then he turned to Ayako for the results she had recorded. For twenty minutes of deliberation, they completed the list of passers. They selected only ten out of thirty participants. And Rukawa's name topped the list.

Though it was already late, Ayako didn't feel sleep coming anytime soon. It was past her bedtime but she's not sleepy. She was filled with hope because the team had Rukawa. She knew he's a good player. In fact, he's more than good based on the try-out results. Having players like him would mean the team might make it to the Inter High.

But she knew the team can't just depend on him. He still needed more practice to improve his skills. We still need some players who have skills that will complement each of the team members.

Then out of the blue, she remembered Rukawa's words at the hallway: I thought you said you'll never take on it again after Tomigaoka?

She liked basketball then. And she liked it more now, surprisingly, after what happened two years ago. . .

to be continued