Edit: Sorry, the strikethroughs seperating the content went crazy. I am reloading this chapter again so gomen . "
To my reviewers: Wow! Thanks. It's so surprising to have supporters already so quickly, especially since this is my first serious fanfic. I'll try to upload as much as I could, daily if I could help it. But please do correct me whenever you spot errors. It's a way to help this fic grow! Thanks! )
Chapter 1: Right before school starts...
"TJ 107... TJ 107... Shohoku 99... Shohoku 99..."
"Sakuragi, pass the ball to me!"
"Damned it Ryota, I'm going to get this shot in, NOW!"
"No...!"
"GO INN ALREADYYYYYYYYYYYYY! ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"
Sakuragi bolted out of his bed, breathing still very, very heavy. He checked his digital clock. 05:55 AM. "Darned, now I lose 35 minutes of sleep. I can't possibly sleep back..." He growls in a very annoyed tone and stood up. "But at least I've got 25 minutes of practice downstairs first before I go to school..."
Memories of the fateful friendly match in Singapore had a profound effect on his mental state. Sakuragi had hoped to be a match hero and gave it his best shot, his best shot yet at trying to impress Akagi Haruko, the girl of his dreams. Unfortunately, her love-shaped eyes were, still, only for Rukawa Kaede, his rival-in-love who doesn't even know that he was Sakuragi's rival.
"Darned it... had I not try to impress Haruko so much as to lose my head..."
It was true. Ryota probably had the best chance of scoring since his momentum was about to bring him under the basket for a nice lay-up shot then, but Sakuragi, of all things, tried a three pointer. Sakuragi still remembers the annoying sneer on Rukawa's face as they returned to defence after Sakuragi's glorious but wasteful air-ball.
"Do-aho... idiot..."
"Is Rukawa right about me all this while? He warned me before about being distracted, but I never knew it was that disastrous..."
"YOU HAVE ONE NEW MESSAGE." Screamed Sakuragi's NTT DoCoMo mobile as he picked it up simultaneously. He almost dropped it, his right hand grabbing the phone gingerly one centimetre from the floor.
"Argh, forgot to turn down the mobile's volume again. Who could possibly message me now?"
"From: Haruko-Love
Can you come to school in 15 minute's time? Ayako says the coach wants to have a few words with everyone and it's urgent."
"15 minutes? Now why would it be a problem? The question is, why meet now?" Sakuragi wondered aloud as he pondered on the recent twist of events that happened.
Three months ago...
It was a sweaty day for everyone. Anzai had instructed everyone to actually run 20 rounds around the school compound, to train up their stamina. Everyone did, and by the end of it everyone was already very, very tired from putting their feet through the long-distance run. Only Sakuragi, Rukawa and Ryota maintained constant for the run. Although it was quite obvious that they were fatigued, it was just that all three of Shohoku's main stars were too tight-lipped and too proud to actually mention that they are tired.
After the run, Anzai sensei asked Ryota to gather everyone around him in a circular formation. He did – an unfortunate guy getting clipped in the ear for being sluggish – and they all sat down, to listen to Anzai sensei's instructions.
"...Sorry, Shohoku High School, but... I have already requested the Japanese High-School Sports Association to have ourselves withdrawn from the Winter Championships. I am sorry that I didn't inform everyone earlier."
"But why, oyaji (father)!" Gagged Sakuragi, utterly surprised at the withdrawal decision. He had prepared for the last three months so hard, even Rukawa was surprised when he saw Sakuragi making repeated shots at the basket for four whole hours. To tell him that there will be no matches to play with be an utter blow to his morale.
"Because... the school is sponsoring you guys to go to an all-Japanese high schools' tour to Southeast Asia, facing off against some of the best high schools in the Southeast Asian region. Kanaeru High School and Tokeru High School will be the two other participating schools in this tour, and you'll have a chance to play. I was informed of this tour at the last minute and... honestly, it wasn't my decision."
"Stupid ol' dean... he nearly got me into trouble showing me red in the face... now I'm going to...!"
"Wait, baka! Do you want to ruin your own chance to represent Shohoku!" Ryota managed to halt Sakuragi in time, whose rage was slowly dissipating.
"Damned it," he growled, punching yet another indent into the steel door. Never mind that the school had already spent a few tens of thousands of yen trying, just trying, to replace the 3 other steel doors that had been damaged one too many times.
"One more thing before we call off today's debrief. By the time Rukawa and Sakuragi graduates, I'll also be leaving. Two years and a few more months to go."
There was a sharp intake of breath as more gasps popped out from among the players. Anzai sensei, leaving? It will be a major disaster for the Shohoku team!
"My doctor has advised me to rest because my heart condition, to tell you the truth, is not quite well. But I convinced him to let me go on for a few more months, then I'll start passing the baton down to a fresher face who might be even better than me."
"A new coach, you mean? But who can possibly match your skills in guiding people?"
"You'll see, Sakuragi, you'll see..."
Shortly afterwards...
The old bento-selling old man was downstairs, as usual. Since the Summer Championships, the silver-haired otoko has been there every morning, selling his home-made tamago (egg) bento complete with a few generous slices of sashimi. For 400 yen, it's a steal. Heaven wonders why he hadn't become some celebrity yet.
"Old man, I'll have one of those tamago bentos again."
"You again, you red-haired monster! How many bentos have you taken from me without..."
A 5000-yen note popped up.
"I didn't had the time to say sorry then. I was cash-strapped! Gee, you sure sound fiery even with your hair being white and all."
"Ok fine, I'll let you off. Here you go." The old man said, grudgingly handing Sakuragi the tamago bento.
The egg yolk smelt so... special. It wasn't like anything the red-haired punk had tasted before elsewhere. Guess it's some skilful handiwork by this silver-haired fiery-tempered man. "I wouldn't be surprised if he's a chef somewhere else," muttered Sakuragi.
"Yes I am, young man. Only that I quit 'coz Tokyo wasn't a place for an old man whom those... hee... hee... what you call those 1000-yen coffee-drinkers again?"
"Hippies."
"Ah yes, they think an old man like me, with no walkie-talkie or whatever you call them, have no more to do with their so-called Neo-Tokyo. It's so sickening to be discriminated against, you know. So I quit my job. I'll rather be smelling the sea air anytime, punk!"
Sakuragi sighed. It was true. Before he had the mobile, those Tokyo people gave him this sneering look whenever he walked on the streets of Akihabara. "Those kids certainly need a mental assessment," he would growl.
Then the mobile phone went mental on Sakuragi again.
"YOU HAVE ONE..."
"Shut up already!" Scowled Sakuragi for the second time in 5 minutes. "Sheesh! Now who the..."
"From: (voice-message-worded)
Oi, did someone message you about something? Mobile's in repair shop after last week's drain accident so I can't message you. Rukawa here."
"Rukawa? Fine, I'll call his home then. His falling into drains so often doesn't help much."
Meanwhile...
It was 06:00AM. Rukawa had already awakened and was munching on some apples – his usual fruit for a breakfast – when he received a timely call. "About time that do-aho called," he muttered.
"Moshi-moshi? Dare?"
"Rukawa? The better-than-you tensai here. Haruko says there's an urgent meeting in school now. Ten minutes. Ride full speed now or die."
"Damned," cursed Rukawa. What the heck required such an early assembly? "But hey, thanks."
"No problem man. Just don't thank me too much or I would have thought you were..."
Click.
"Yaoi? NOT A CHANCE, baka."
Rukawa quickly grabbed his house keys and dashed out of the semi-D house, full speed into main street. A nagging suspicion tells him something special is about to happen. Whether or not it was bad, doesn't matter. But it has got to be something real urgent.
Somewhere in a vehicle, nearing Shohoku High School...
"Ne-chan... Is Shohoku anywhere in sight yet?"
"Not yet, dammit. You're so anxious about your first day in school already. Don't forget that Father had not forgiven you yet for screwing up your promotional exams this badly. Neither have I given you a ticking-off for forcing me to accompany you to Shohoku."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. But basketball is my life just as much as it's yours! Don't you want to join the girls' basketball team or something?"
"I do, you hyperactive little squirrel, but not like I'll overreact like you!"
"Fine, fine, Yukigawa Mai, I will keep my trap shut if you want. But about Kanaga-sama..."
"Why, you little...!"
The soon-to-be Shohoku freshman gave a teasing look on his face, as if telling his sister "Haha, gotcha!"
"YUKIGAWA ARASHI!"
"Ah, ah, butler-sire, I'm getting strangled, help"
"I'll kill you if you mention Kanaga again! RARRRRRRR!"
The butler-cum-chaffeur smiled, hearing his proteges "killing" each other from behind.
"Old master... a good decision for them to come here, ain't it? At least we're away from the snobbish environment in Tokyo..."
"Oh, look at the clock, sis. It's 6:05 AM only. Aren't we a bit early?"
"Better get used to the surroundings first... wait! WAIT! Where are you..."
"Wheeeeeee! An indoors basketball court! Seeyoulateraurevoirsayonarabye"
"Argh... that little imp...! Still... I think I'll go there first too... after all, I need to revive my dormant skills. Time to show that Hanami Kaito that I can be a difference."
Jumping quickly to a semi-D...
"Gosu-chan?"
"Yeah, mum?"
"Stay away from bad company, ok? I don't want you to end up like your wretched father."
"No problem, mum. Actually, we could still stay in Nagoya... but why...?"
"Your dad will... pay us an unexpected visit... and I didn't want anything to happen again so..."
"Yeah, I got what you mean. Still... won't you forgive him?"
"No way. Not after he's done this to me."
The still-raw scar of something that resembles a deep slash wound revelled in all its ugly glory, on the lady's right arm.
"I guess it's no use arguing then... see ya, mum! I'll be back by 7!"
"OK, take care..."
A deep voice appeared somewhere near where this 2.1 metre tall young man was walking past.
"Take care, son.. I'm so sorry things turned out this way..."
In the side streets a few turns away from Shohoku...
"Oi, Uchi-urchin. Where you headed for, you sissy wimp?"
The hedgehog-haired youngster was suddenly confronted by three ugly figures. He knew who they were. The infamous Kami-X (for Kami-Korosu, which also means God-kill) and his two sidekicks, Kuroichi and Shiroichi.
"What do you want, X? I'm freaking sick of fighting all day already! I need to get myself a decent job instead of..."
"Looming around the streets, threatening to rape young little girls if they don't hand over their purses?"
"You know how you earned your keep, I know how I want to live my life. So beat it. X, you probably know that there IS someone in Kanagawa who could possibly expose you and throw you into a cell nicely locked up. Or kick your butt into the Sea of Japan."
"We'll still be looking forward to your return. After all..."
"After all, it was ME who helped you ran the whole gang. Face it, sooner or later you'll be arrested." growled hedgehog-boy.
"If I am arrested, so will you."
"So be it! I am freaking sick of your loud words, man. Beat it! I never want to see you in my life again! If I do, we'll perish together!"
"Fine, punk, you'll watch it. You'll regret the day you messed with Kami-Kurosu."
"And you'll regret it more when I teach you a few manners." Hedgehog-boy returned the threat coolly.
"Come on, Kuroichi, Shiroichi, we'll leave him be. For now."
The sidekicks, bare apparitions of themselves after having a dose of "Ecstasy" a few hours back, followed X like do slaves to their masters.
Aoiyama Uchiro sighed as the three retreated into the shadows once again.
"Man, where's you, my sister? I need you so badly now! Get me out of this rut now!"
He checked his coordinates and his watch.
6:00 AM and just 50 yards from his new school, his new life.
Now directly in the school compound...
"Whee! Shohoku, here I come! Woohoo!"
The very-early-birds of Shohoku turned around, expecting to see Sakuragi. After all, only Sakuragi is capable of such antics. But it wasn't.
"Oh, it's some freshman kid," muttered one of the seniors.
"What the heck is so exciting about coming to such a drab college?" Another senior whispered unbelievingly.
"The sights, the sounds, the love of basketball! This is the start of the story featuring me, myself and I!"
"OK, that kid seriously needs a shrink," muttered Senior A.
Now we move into the basketball courts we call an "arena"...
Ayako, as usual, the early assistant helping to set up everything around the basketball courts. With a surprise guest this morning – Anzai sensei.
"Sensei, why'd you suddenly decide to go for a holiday now?"
"I figure we'll have some new, interesting characters from all over Japan. So I just want to gather all our players here and see who shall be inquisitive enough to come in here. Oh, that sound... Sakuragi's shoes."
The thumping grew louder and louder and quicker-paced as something moves down the corridor at high-speed.
"Whew, didn't quite wanna miss a moment of this amazing lights in our new school," Arashi grinned, as he looked up into the multi-bulb lighting hanging above the Shohoku basketball arena. "Now, who's this red-haired behind me?"
"I am your future captain, and a tensai bigger than you are! My name, in case your ignorant little brain doesn't know, is Sakuragi..."
"Umm, sorry, but I know only of Rukawa Kaede as a talent, and I don't seem to remember that the TENSAI had red hair. Or am I mistaken?" Arashi gives that "Haha, I'm foolin' around and trying to mess with you" kind of expression.
"Damned it, I'm way better than that fool is! You'll see what happens when you mess with the tensai Hanamichi!"
"You are on, red-haired monkey! It's a duel to the death!"
At the same time...
"Oh, freak, there goes my street-star bro going hyper over basketball again." Grumbled Mai as she saw his bro all revved up for a duel with the house "tensai".
"Haha, expected. The do-aho is at it again." Rukawa mouths.
"Baka!" Both Mai and Rukawa said at the same time.
Mai, being the first to realise this, began to have her face flushed in mere seconds. Rukawa noticed that cute reaction and almost immediately giggles to himself.
"What's so funny, you jerk?" Cried the innocent flushy-face.
"No, no, it's just that... I never actually noticed that a girl can go all red just by saying the same words with another guy on-cue. What's your name?"
"Mai. Yukigawa Mai. That flowy-haired brownster is my bro, Arashi."
"OK. It seems like your bro is just as hot-headed as our Power Forward. We could use an addition like him, but let's just see how good he is. Now, there, a surprise move!"
"Wha...?"
Before Mai can finish uttering the word, a loud smash resonated across the arena. The sound lingered on and the dust settles...
"Ack..."
TO BE CONTINUED...