A/N: Hello to you guys! I'm very thankful for the positive feedbacks I'm getting. This chapter is mostly in Rukawa's POV unlike the fist two which are mostly in Mitsui's. To those who reviewed, thank you so much!

To the reviewers: misskay, magnus priestess, and Setsuna-Ramen Eleison... I wish you'll stick with me 'til the end of the story.

Dislaimer: Slam Dunk is not mine. I don't have money, don't sue!
Legend: "dialogue" … 'thoughts' … (actions/sounds)

Rukawa's Dream:
"A very nice pass to their ace – Rukawa" said the announcer. "He's going for it, ladies and gentlemen… very swift moves to pass the defenders; he shoots… and he scores!"
"Ru-Ka-Wa… Ru-Ka-Wa…" everyone watching the game was cheering for him. He is the unbeatable ace from Asia, Japan's Pride – Rukawa Kaede.
"Kaede, stop dreaming! You know better than to throw your future in a pathetic game!" An angry face of their grandfather appeared that turned Kaede's beautiful dream into a horrible nightmare.
End of Rukawa's Dream.

RUKAWA'S POV
I sat on my bed only to find my sister grinning at me.
"Mornin', having a dream, I see."
"Yeah, everything was great… until sofu showed up."
"Uh-huh… I was enjoying mine too. Until he said that will never be your future. I will not allow it!" she said trying to imitate sofu's face every time he gives us lectures about our future. "But, the two of us shouldn't lose hope… Kami-sama has His ways of doing things, Kae-chan." She gave me an assuring smile.
"(Sigh) … What are you doin' here 'nyway?" I asked. My sister waking me up is very unlikely, she usually let's me sleep.
"You asked me to. You said that you'll have a game with Mitsui-san."
"Oh, yeah…"
"Now you remember."
"I better get ready. Thanks ane-chan."

Then I headed straight to the bathroom. After my shower, I dressed myself up, obviously, and then went downstairs for breakfast.

At the breakfast table…

"Kaouru sweetie, where did you say you liked to have your birthday party again?" okasan asked.
"Any space available 'ma, as long as it wouldn't be a formal celebration."
"Honey, you know we can't do that." otosan protested.
"Yeah… it has to be formal ane-chan. Once the old man finds out, we may not have a party but a burial." I said, knowing that sofu will definitely not allow something that ane-chan would enjoy. It happens every year, be it mine or ane-chan's party. He would always act as if he was the celebrant. It would always be him we would follow. And I'm sick of it.

"Watch your mouth young man!" otosan warned me.
"What? Ane-chan had 15 debuts while she's never turned 18. This Friday, it'll be 16 debuts." I answered back.
"'Ma, 'Pa… Can't we have two parties?" she asked not wanting me to get into trouble.
"Well, I guess we can. So how 'bout this… Friday, the day of your birth, we'll have the formal celebration like what we do every year. Then, Saturday, you can invite your friends over and celebrate with them… But not a word should get to father." Otosan reminded.
"He won't have a clue on this, I promise." Ane-chan assured.
"You'd better keep that ane-chan, who knows what the old man might do… bore you to death…" I commented.

"That's it Kaede you're…"
"'Pa, please… we all know that Kae-chan's last talk with sofu didn't went well."
"(Sigh) Fine, I'll let this pass. Thank your sister Kaede."
"Thanks." I said sarcastically.

While we were on our way to school…

"That wasn't nice Kae-chan…"
"Hm?"
"You, talking about sofu like that…"
"Was it nice? Sofu ruining our dreams and living lives for us, was it nice ane-chan?"
"No, it wasn't. BUT Kae-chan, but… he is still our sofu. Please try to understand… Sofu's old… he wants to see that we'll have a successful future. Make him see that before…" she didn't want to continue.

"Before he died, you mean?" I finished the sentence for her.
"I know that we differ in the way we see things. That's just fine… We have different point of views, and I'm sticking to mine."
"Fine."
"(sigh) Anou… could you, invite Mitsui-san to my birthday? He's such a nice guy, and there's something that he must see. Thanks Kae-chan, bye."

Faster than you can say no, she left and went to the direction of her school. She doesn't study in Shohoku anyway, if she does, tons will befriend her to get to me and same goes for me. Just like when we were in Jr. High.

Shohoku Basketball gym…

When I arrived at our meeting place, it was obvious that he got there ahead of me. From my POV, he seemed bored. I walked toward him holding a basketball.

"And he's finally here!" He was the one who spoke first. What would you expect, I won't act the same way I act in front of ane-chan.
"I'm not late." I fired back at him
"Not late? I've been here for almost half an hour already… and you say that you're not late?"

I looked at the clock in the gym that reads 7:30.

"Did I say 7:00 sempai?"

He gave me a look that would make others think that I committed a crime or something. I didn't like it one bit.

"No, you didn't. You said before classes. Sorry for blaming you being very specific – NOT!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
"'Nuff said, let's play." We began our one-on-one.

After 20 tiring minutes…

"Not bad freshman, not bad… It's worth the 30 minute wait." He said panting.
"Game's not over yet, sempai." Does he think I'll let him win just because he's my senior? If yes, then he is so wrong.
"Oh, it is Rukawa. Look, if we don't stop now, we'll be late. Now, I don't want you to think that your sister's gonna marry a coward so how 'bout settle the score later?"
"Later then." I replied immediately and prepared to leave the gym. Damn him for even thinking of marrying my sister.

"Invite Mitsui-san to my birthday." A pleading look of my sister with puppy dog eyes suddenly appeared in my head. And before I knew it, I was walking toward sempai. GIRLS… how do they make you do that?

"Yes? Need anything?" He asked when he sensed my presence.
"Sempai…"
"What?"
"Come to my house, Saturday 8pm." Then I walked away but he pulled me by the hand – I didn't like it.
"What for?"
"Ane-chan's birthday and she's inviting you. Here. And don't ever do that again." I handed the invitation and left.

END OF RUKAWA'S POV, MITSUI'S TURN

I opened the envelope that Rukawa just gave me. In front of the card reads Rukawa unica hija turns 16. It really was his ane-chan's birthday, and she's inviting me. I'm so happy… I can die now… No wait, I can die after Saturday!

Inside the card was their address. Kaouru's picture is also there. 'Kirei' I thought. But there was a surprise… Rukawa mentioned Saturday right? In this invitation it says Friday 8:30pm. What the heck is going on here?

Then it hit me.

Rukawa doesn't want me to go so he said Saturday… But then, I asked him the details so he was forced to give me an invitation. Well, I trust the invitation more than Rukawa.

Hehehe… Thought you could outsmart me eh, future brother-in-law? Well, think again.

A/N: Oh no! Mitsui got the invitation to the formal celebration where elite people and family friends are invited. Not to mention their grandfather's going to be there. What's going to happen next? I know that a reader out there already knows… (You know who you are! Hehehe)

To Filipino Readers: I have a work written in Tagalog entitled Isang Tagalog Fic. Please do check it out. (Humor po yun) -Nice! Ano ito, promotion?-