SLAM DUNK: A PLAYER'S HEART
Chapter 3: A Chapter-ful Of Hate
"Sacrifice not choices is the measure of true knowledge!"
Vanessa Arrha A. De Leon
"Ikou Ran-chan, the basketball team has a practice game today!" Megumi, a new friend, had excitedly told her.
"Really!"
"Yeah! Come on, before it's finished!"
Megumi pulled Ran and they both ran towards the gym.
When they arrived the game was in a half-time break. Rukawa, Ryota, Kakuta, Shiozaki and Kogure comprised the 1st group while Sakuragi, Mitsui, Yasuda and 2 of the freshmen comprised the second team. The game was 42-40 with Sakuragi's group leading with 2 points.
As Megumi & Ran proceeded to the gallery, the referee blew the whistle signalling the end of the break.
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"Who is the girl at the other side, Megumi-san?" Ran asked as he noticed a 1st year girl cheering breathlessly for Rukawa.
"Uh! Her, she's Haruko Akagi, she's the younger sister of captain Akagi! You know, she's really nice!"
"Honto!"
"Hai! Even your brother likes her a lot. You know the only reason Hanamichi-san entered the basketball team is because of her."
"My brother likes her?"
"Hai!"
"Does she know it?"
"Unfortunately no! She's too naive to know that Hanamichi-san has feelings for her! But he still perseveres to catch her attention!"
"Why is my brother chasing a hopeless girl like that?" Ran's tone changing.
"I don't know, Ran!"
"I don't think I like her, Megumi-san! I don't think I like her!!"
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The game was over 10 minutes later. Sakuragi's team won by 3 points.
"You really did great, Sakuragi-kun! But why did you bump Rukawa-kun in the 2nd half of the game?"
Ran's mood flared up when she heard this question.
"Would you as a basketball player let someone have the ball if you knew victory depended on it?" she said interrupting Haruko and Sakuragi's conversation.
"No! But----"
"I thought you knew a lot about basketball! Why are you then asking stupid questions now?"
"Ran, Yamero!!!" Sakuragi finally said.
Ran did not listen and proceeded, "You know Haruko-chan, Rukawa is comprised of only 2 things, basketball and sleep. If you're not part of that 2 things then I suggest you stay out of his way or my brother's too!"
"Ran! You've said enough!" Sakuragi intervened.
Ran left with a sly grin on her face, Haruko had somewhat perceived what she meant, "You're not a part of that 2 things so stay out Rukawa's way or my brother's if you know what's good for you!"
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"Hey guys, stop it!"
Ran was disturbed by the noise. She turned around the corner to see who it was. 3 rowdy and mean-looking girls were walking towards her. Their eyes meant business.
"So, you are the sister of the red-haired freak, Ran Sakuragi!"
"Doushite? What do you need from me?"
"We heard from you the other day, you know, those lies you said about Rukawa!"
"Those aren't lies? But oh, let me see are you also one of his adoring and equally clueless fans of his?"
"Hai. We're his number one supporters, I can't believe that a girl like you would say something like that about him!"
"I don't really care about anything related to him. It's none of my business and talking about him is just a waste of precious time!!" Ran said as she walked slowly away from them.
"Don't walk away from us!"
"Sharp-tongued and cheeky, I suppose you got that from your stupid brother!!" one of them called out.
Ran stopped. This time the anger within her flared again. But said nothing.
"Are you going to do something about it, Ran?"
Ran breathed calmly to steady herself then she started to walk away. But what happened next, she didn't quite prepare for at all, one of the girls had kicked her into a puddle of mud. They pulled her hair and kicked her legs.
"Let's see you say something to Rukawa like that next time!!" and they left sneering in triumph with themselves.
Ran hid silent tears. She balled her fist to try to control her anger. She stood up ignoring the mud and the dirt and proceeded towards the gym.
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All of the basketball players were stunned when they saw Ran stepped into the gym covered in mud. Her hair was a mess and her legs were all bruised up. None of them said a thing as she headed towards Rukawa who was busy shooting hoops.
She stopped in front of him. Her eyes never leaving his. Although Rukawa showed no reaction to her, he kept his eyes on her, too.
She did not say anything but slowly dropped to the floor and she began to cry. Try as she might she cannot control the tears from falling. She tried to muffle her sobs by putting her hands to her mouth.
"Do you know who did this to me?"
no reply
"Do you know?"
no reply
"3 girls who didn't have anything better to do!" she shouted.
"I don't care!" Rukawa replied back.
She stared at him trying to examine his face. "Nani?"
"I don't care about them or you? Leave me alone!!"
In one swift move, Ran slapped Rukawa in the left cheek leaving a red mark on his face.
"They're yours, take responsibility!!!" she shouted out then ran towards the door.
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"What was that about?" Ayako said after finally catching her breath.
"Shinietai." Sakuragi answered then went out the gym. His palms balled into fists.
-------TO BE CONTINUED;)-------
Thanks for the good reviews!!