SLAM DUNK: A PLAYER'S HEART
Chapter 5: Unknowing Heart
"I will be the hero, that you're dreaming of!"
Vanessa Arrha A. De Leon
Another game for Shohoku was already on schedule. The game was going to be held in Osaka, the same place where there opponent school will come from.
As the day of the game approaches, Akagi worked all of Shohoku's players well, their practice almost lasting for 5 hours at most.
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When the day of the game arrived, everyone was so excited. If Shohoku wins the game, then it can already join the qualifying games for the top 12 schools of the Inter High.
When the day came, Akagi immediately asked the team to warm up the moment they arrived. Every supporter of the Shohoku team was already there, Haruko and her friends, the Rukawa Oendan Girls, Mitsui and Sakuragi's group.
Also, basketball teams from Kanagawa Prefecture also came to watch. Ryonan, Shoyo, and Miuradai who were all preparing for the Winter Rounds, came to support Shohoku.
Winter Rounds, are games held during Winter. Its aim is to get 3 losing teams from the past preliminary games to join the Inter High and complete the Final 15 for the Inter High Games.
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Ran was coming late that morning because she had to finish something at Ayako's house.
After she finished her chore, she proceeded to the auditorium.
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"Everyone, concentrate!!" Akagi yelled as the game began.
The game with fast-paced action with Gyoru (opponent school) scoring the 1st 2 points for itself. However, Sakuragi was doing a really good job, since he caught 5 of the 7 rebounds for the first part of the game.
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Ran, who was unusually late for the game, decided to just walk towards the train station. The street that day was almost empty so Ran quickened her pace. As she turned around a corner, she started to feel that someone was following her. She would turned her head once or twice to check her back but there was no one. Yet still something inside her told her to run. When she finally obeyed, she was caught with surprise to see 3 boys blocking the corner as she turned.
One of the men turned and began walking towards her. She tried to back up but found 4 more guys closing in on her.
"Yare... Yare... So you are Sakuragi Hanamichi's sister!" one of the guys said.
"Who are you? What do you need from me?" Ran replied back shakily as she backed up against a wall.
"The only name you need to remember is Kyo Gaita!" he said as he grasped Ran by the arm.
"Iie!!!!" she cried out. As she tried to run away, her right sleeve was torn off.
As she pushed her way through the 4 men, one of the boy's punched her in the stomach and she instantly fainted.
"Take this to the red guy!" Kyo said as he handed Ran's torn sleeve to a man beside him.
"Hanamichi Sakuragi will be surprised the moment he knows what we have in store for his sister!" Kyo said as he carried Ran on his shoulders.
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After the half time break, the game was resumed, this time the score was 43 for Shohoku and 52 for the opponent's team.
As the game was nearing its end, a stranger approached Ayako and left her a torn pink sleeve. The man left with the words, "Give this to Sakuragi after the game!"
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The game ended and Shohoku won, 101-99. All of the crowds cheered as the winners were announced.
After the ceremonies, Rukawa, Sakuragi, Mitsui, Ryota, Kogure and the rest of team were all rejoicing. Ayako, too was so caught up with the excitement that she forgot all about the torn sleeve.
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At the locker room, the shouts of the team could still be heard. Their voices spelled both happiness and exhaustion but they still proceeded with congratulating each other.
That was when Ayako remembered the torn sleeve, she had tucked into her pocket.
"Sakuragi, a guy gave this to me during the game. He said to give this to you.
"For me, but what is this?" Sakuragi said as he took the cloth off Ayako's hands.
As they were all wondering what the torn cloth meant, Uozumi dropped in to congratulate them.
"Congratulations, Akagi!" he said as he shaked Akagi's hands.
"Arigatou, Uozumi! We'll be looking forward to see Ryonan at the Inter High after the Winter Rounds!"
"You can count on that, Ja!"
As Uozumi was about to leave he remembered a thing Hikoichi told him during the game.
"Uhhmm.. Akagi... Did you know? A girl from your school was kidnapped just this
afternoon?"
"Kidnapped??? No we hadn't heard about it yet!"
"Well... Apparently, one of the gangs at your school did it! The girl is a foreigner who had recently enrolled."
"Recently Enroll---"
Sakuragi looked at the cloth as a realization came over him.
"Sakuragi!" Ayako gasped.
"No! You don't mean that---"
Ryota's voice was caught off as Ayako's phone rang.
"Hello! Who is thi-------?"
Ayako froze as she heard someone crying from the other line. Followed by loud screams and then weak, muffed sobs.
Ayako handed the phone to Sakuragi.
"KYODAI!!!!!!!"
The voice sent shivers down his spine. "Hello!" he weakly said.
"Got her!" he heard one of the men say as the call was cut off.
The whole team was speechless. They were all afraid to say anything. Until Ayako finally whispered the name they were all too scared to say. "Ran...."
Sakuragi screamed out aloud.
"Iiee..." Ayako said as tears began to trickle down her face.
Ayako's voice triggered something inside Sakuragi. "I've got to get her!" Sakuragi said as he rushed out the door.
Rukawa followed, leaving the team utterly bewildered.
-------TO BE CONTINUED;)-------