Fandom: Slam Dunk
Summary: It was the most taunting thing to ever graze his thoughts
Title: Make Believe
Author: Hana Rui
Genre: Romance
Pairing: Kaede Rukawa x Ayako [RuAya]
Taunting. That simple ode of despondency was the most taunting thing to ever graze his thoughts. For how else could he describe something that stayed etched in his mind like a mulish mantra sucking the breath out of his body, inch by tormenting inch…?
It had been exactly a month since, they had already done what they were supposed to do, and still the thought just wouldn't leave him alone. It stayed with him like a nightmare he had been fated to wake into every single day for all eternity.
Worse, he could still remember the day it all began as though it was happening again right before his very eyes…
He wasn't really thinking of anything when he stuck his hand into the box and pulled out a piece of paper. Nor did he make much of what he said when Mitsui-senpai, the project organizer, asked him to read what was written on it.
The deal only began sinking in when the muffin-headed pointguard-cum-team captain started whining and appealing to trade places with him.
It was only then that the vaguely flushing rookie realized just what exactly he had gotten himself into.
"No." The word had spilled out of his lips before he could even think of saying it.
"What?" muffin-head cried out, brows almost flying off his face in exaggerated rage.
"You heard me," was his curt reply, deviously defying the other man to make him say otherwise.
And what followed next would probably have been the onset of another bloody ruckus in the gym, had Mitsui-senpai not been quick enough to hold the rampaging midget in place.
He swore that if the guy had as much as gotten a punch in, he would have fought back with all his might. And it would all have been because of what?
He looked down at the piece of paper he was still clutching in his hand and had to fight off the grimace struggling to overcome his poker face. He could not believe he was going through all this trouble for such a lousy piece of… junk.
"My, you are really stubborn, aren't you?" the woman standing beside him sighed exasperatedly before pulling out her ominous looking paper fan and whacking her gnarling boyfriend in the head.
"A-Aya-chan…" Pouting and teary-eyed, the newly appointed team captain resembled a bratty child fresh out of a pitiless spanking session.
He almost scowled at the sight despite the amount of reserve he had placed upon himself. He honestly thought fretting over such a small matter was dumb, but he dared not say that in front of Ayako-senpai, could he? After all, he practically started it all by refusing to give up his role.
If so, then didn't that make him dumber?
"For crying out loud, Ryota. This is just a play. Get a hold of yourself!"
Ah, yes. It was just a play. He almost flinched at that biting piece of truth. It was all just an illusion they would be breathing life to on-stage for the stupid Christmas celebration.
And the miniscule parchment he held in his hand—quite too tightly as though his whole life depended on it—was his sole, priceless pass to turning that illusion into a Wonderland.
For it was only through this he could make himself believe she belonged to him.
"Well, don't mind that rowdy minstrel, my Prince," Ayako was saying while casually coiling an arm into his. "We're gonna show them all what a wonderful couple we make."
His heart skipped a bit, as though struggling to reach towards the skies.
But his arcane excitement died down just as easily when reality slowly began sinking in.
He knew quite too well she was saying that only in jest.
For she was already committed to the guy who was now glaring him down to the deepest dungeons of hell.
And it was right at that very moment of painful realization that the thought began slithering through his head.
Don't say it like you mean it. I might end up believing you.
Taunting. It was the most taunting thing to ever graze his thoughts.
-end-
Note: Written for 52_flavours livejournal: Theme #02 The cruelest month
Thanks for reading! :)