A/N: Hello readers! Now, here comes chapter 2 of What a Joke! Thanks so much for reading the first chapter most especially to those who reviewed!
LadyTetsu69 - oo na po... wag na po manermon... pero gagawin ko pa rin yung fic na pinramis ko kay KohKoh... at sige inaamin ko na rin na AMP (Ako'y Malaking Pasaway) sabi mo eh...
Ezekiel1017 - salamat sa pagbasa... thanks din sa comment... mahilig ka talagang mambola... wehehehe
A reader - thanks for saying that my fic is cute... and yes, there would be a sibling type relationship... but with the MitOC part... I'm not really sure myself... hehehe
Setsuna Eleison - Rukawa being asleep while he was robbed... why didn't I think of that... I don't get what you're trying to say... what about the plot? I really don't get it...
Disclaimer: Don't sue… Slam Dunk and its characters belong to Dr. T!
Legend: "Dialogue"… 'Thoughts'… (Actions/Sounds/Author'sNotes)
That night at Mitsui's house…
The famous (to us Slam Dunk lovers) 3-point shooter couldn't find the right side of his bed. He keeps on changing his sleeping position but, no luck at all. He comfortably lay down in his bed and looked at the ceiling of his room. A smiling image of Rukawa Kaouru popped in his head.
'I think I'm going crazy.' He said to himself. 'It seems only yesterday that I met her again – wait… it was yesterday!'
FLASHBACK in Mitsui's POV
I was having my morning jog as usual when I saw a familiar figure in front of a/an I-forgot-what-kind store. I'm not even sure if it's really a store. The way I recall it, she was looking inside through a glass window or something. Up to now, I'm still wondering what she wanted inside.
"Hey! You're Kaouru right?" I greeted.
She turned and didn't utter a reply. I guess she was somehow offended. I mean someone whom you've met just once calling you by first name is not really nice. But I wouldn't mind if someone as beautiful and angelic like her would call me Sashi-chan… Hehehe.
"Uh… No offense, Rukawa-san it's just Rukawa is the name I use to address your brother. Gomen." I bowed in apology.
"Oh… in that case no offense taken Mitsui-san." She replied.
"Please, call me Hisashi."
"Uh… Mitsui-san, I'm just not fond of calling people by first name. It's just not me. Hope you don't mind…"
"Oh… ok." 'How disappointing.' I thought. I mean, my one true love refuses to call me by first name… That's so sad, don't you think.
(SILENCE)
"Um… If you don't have any plans Mitsui-san, do you mind going with me somewhere?"
'Wow! She made the first move; maybe I have a big chance. Better grab it!' I thought. Then I said, "Sure, I haven't eaten my breakfast yet anyway."
What a lie! I actually ate a lot back in my house. I know, I know, having a jog after eating is not safe. But hey, if I didn't take a jog, I wouldn't have met her.
"Really? I'll treat you then. You did say that going out with me would be the thanks we could give you for saving Kae-chan nee? (giggles) Let's go!"
Then she led me to a seashore where there is a very beautiful view.
"Breathtaking." I sighed.
You can really say that a man gets sentimental about these things in front of their crushes. I'm a living proof.
"It's always beautiful here after the sunrise…" she said.
"You go here often?" I was intrigued.
"Yeah… just to ease my load a bit. You know, to forget about my problems and, even for just a while, be me."
I was puzzled. She doesn't look troubled at all. Oh well, like what she promised, she bought breakfast for both of us. It's just like a date… I'm so happy! … I wonder why she led me here. After eating, we sat on a bench. Silence then ruled over.
After a while, "Can you show me the real you while I'm asking you questions? If you don't mind" she asked rather shyly.
"Shoot" was my reply.
"What will you do if your parents don't like what you're doing? I mean, what if they want you to stop playing basketball, will you?"
"And for instance, what would be that thing they would want me to do instead?"
"I don't know, concentrating more on your studies perhaps?"
"If I flunk, I'm out of the team."
"So you won't obey them?"
"No way."
"I see." She said in a very sad tone.
"Why ask?"
"No reason, just thinking."
"Thinking what?"
(sigh) "Like what you've just said, if you flunk, you're out of the team right?"
"Right."
"What if they insist that you quit? I mean even if you're a straight A student – and I believe that you are – they really don't like what you're doing. You'll not obey, am I right?"
"Wrong."
"Wrong?"
"You're wrong in one tiny detail. Let me tell you my current situation… former bad boy and gangster, basketball varsity, and not really excelling academically."
"You mean, you're not a straight A student?"
"Hell, no!"
"It's just that, Kae-chan mentioned that there's a senior in your team that can balance his academics and his extra-curricular activity."
"Sorry to disappoint you, I'm afraid that's not me."
"I see… Wait, did you say that you were a former gangster?"
"Yup. What? Are you afraid of me now?"
"No… it's not that… it's just…"
"What?"
"Nothing… really…" she tried to convince me. "Wow… I never thought it was him." She whispered but I heard her.
(SILENCE)
"Next question…" It was her who broke the silence again. "What if the sibling of the one you like is the one who likes you?"
I then imagine the situation… "Sempai, I love you."
"It'll give me Goosebumps." I answered.
"How come?"
"That's because, I believe that the only sibling of the one I love is a guy."
"Oh… so you're the guy who likes the captain's sister. The girl who likes Kae-chan… What's her name again?"
"Haruko and no… I'm not that guy either." I answered. "Wait, how did you know that?" I asked
"Kae-chan told me. We're really close… We have no secrets from each other. Except for myself, no one knows me better than him. And same goes for him."
"Really? Well that's good. Having a daughter who is honest, with no pretences, and very trustworthy is really a blessing for the Rukawa clan…" I praised her.
"You'd be surprised. You know Mitsui-san, I'm…"
(BeepBeep, BeepBeep)
"Oh… shoot! I have to go… Thanks for the time! Ja' matta ne!" She bid goodbye.
END OF FLASHBACK still in Mitsui's POV
I know, I know, I met her yesterday… I was so happy to see her again that asking for her number slipped my mind… That's why I asked Rukawa for it… But, he didn't give me even the first three numbers… oh well, the first three numbers wouldn't help at all.
I wonder what she was trying to tell me yesterday… and I'd be surprised at what? "She's not what you think she is." I suddenly remembered what Rukawa told me when I was asking for her number… What if he's telling the truth? Then, what kind of a person is Rukawa Kaouru? What am thinking… doubting my only love… And if there's something that I'm proud about myself it's that I'm a very good judge of people's character.
"We have no secrets." Kaouru's voice echoed. Wait… no secrets… Now that Rukawa knows that I like his sister, he may have told her… Oh no! This can't be happening!
But… what if she knew what I felt for her? Rukawa frequently guesses what's on other people's minds (I'm basing this on other fics I've read)… what if, it's a gift the Rukawas are born with… then Kaouru wants to know something from me… Then that means… "the sibling of the one you like is the one who likes you…"
Rukawa likes me? Impossible… he's not gay! "No sempai, just bisexual." Rukawa's voice rings in my ear. No! This is just my imagination playing with me… besides… those are only what ifs … Hisashi, calm down… You're thinking too much… Rukawa can't like you… I just hope I can convince myself. Never in your life that a guy would like you… Never!
Come on Hisashi, put yourself together and analyze things – like my physics teacher used to say – Rukawa can't be bisexual. It's a disgrace to his family… And Kaouru, she doesn't know my feelings for her, at least not at that time and besides she thought I was in love with Hauko… Yes… These things that happened are just coincidence. Now I'm at ease. I therefore conclude that Rukawa Kaede is neither gay nor bisexual and he doesn't like me.
(hand phone beeps – someone texted)
I got my phone and opened the inbox; the sender: Rukawa Kaede. Great, just great… out of the blue, he texts me. Can he really read minds? I opened the message that says Sempai, school gym tomorrow… before classes one-on-one. Rukawa will always be Rukawa. Even in text messages he can't formulate a good sentence. Oh well, nothing new… he just wants a one-on-one… but why before classes? Normally he would ask after practice. I don't have to worry so much it's just the time. Change of time doesn't mean that he'll confess, right? And besides, he has nothing to confess!
I'll just give this thinking a rest and prepare for my one-on-one tomorrow with my future brother-in-law! Hehehehe
Normal POV – Narrative
After too much thinking, the three point shooter was then able to go to sleep.
A/N: What do you think? Is it a long chapter? Do you like the flow of the story? Do you think I'm improving? Reviews are very welcome… (you can give your suggestion about the plot, you can ask a question about the story, you can even tell me whereyou think I'm lacking)