Title: Life, Newspaper and Basketball
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk belongs to Takehiko Inoue. I'm doing this to improve my creative writing. (shucks) Please don't sue me.
Authors Note: Hello there pips! This is my first attempt of a RuHaru fic. There's just so little of them out there...tsk, so depressing...I don't know how I'm going to pull this fic off, since I'm no writer...I'm majoring in ECONOMICS for gawds sake and I'm doing this?! I'm suppose to be doing a fan-fiction that includes math, eco, business...blah.... blah...blah....(authors gone haywire...)
**by the way, this is an AU fic. Rukawa is nicer, I mean NICER! And he's social, heck; he's even a journalist! At the top of all the good things...ya know what I'm saying?
I want to say something to the following great reviewers:
rj-chan gawd sori!! i tot it was spelled ri-chan...g0men! well, its about time for "karma" to hit Haruko...and she'll realize something big out of it...*smiles evilly*
diwata oi, i dont wana lose a great reviewer and a favorite author...wake up diwata!!
Hana-Heart hhhmmm...rukawa doesnt know that he's taming haruko...ur ryt. how about the other way around? do you think haruko know that rukawa can tame her? now thats a thought...
Aino Sisters haruko was just day dreaming, thats why it got cut off when Ms.Mizuki announced something. sorry for the mess. i got heero's name wrong?! (looks at her previous work) i did!!!
Heero: omae wa korosu.
zidane: yikes!! better run....oh and yeah, im g-wing fan...1xR of course! *ducks heero's gun shots*
townberry why did i ever wrote this fic??=), iv got like, 7 chapters to write? oh no, my shoulders gona kill me, big time...=)
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CHAPTER 4: MY OPINION, NOT YOURS!
"So, how did your meeting go?"
As soon as Haruko got home, she had called Matsui. Not bothering to change her uniforms and throwing her stuff at the dining table where his older brother Takenori Akagi was eating. He gave her a nasty look that says, "I'm kinda eating if you didn't notice". But Haruko was too absorbed, no too mention too frustrated, to even take notice of his brother. Akagi just shrugged and resume eating.
"Not too great"
"Why? What happened" sounding concerned.
"It's just wasn't what I expected, that's all...I didn't get the job I wanted..."
"...Oh...so, what's your assignment then?"
Haruko let out a frustrated sigh.
"Opinion columnist! I'm supposed to share my "caring" and "expressive" kind of writing. It's really crap you know?"
Matsui burst out laughing.
"What's so funny" Haruko got irritated. She didn't need a joke from her best friend to add up to her disappointment, what happened earlier was enough to last her a lifetime.
"You are! I thought you were going to say you were in charge of delivering the papers or something!"
"Smart ass! I might as well be..." Haruko replied a little too defensively. Then she got quite.
Matsui noticing Haruko's sudden quietness swallowed her laughter and gently asked.
"Hey, what's wrong with opinion column?"
Haruko smiled half-heartedly
"You know it's the school paper's biggest joke. NOBODY takes it seriously. And besides, I don't have any opinions to write, well except basketball."
"There, you got it! Then write an opinion column about basketball. How they conduct try-outs. Their games. Who's who...You'll not only write your column but you'll be able to help the athletics department by promoting it. Who would ignore the basketball team? No one! Specially Rukawa!" Matsui exclaimed on the other line.
That led Haruko to remember another thing.
"By the way, Rukawa is the editor-in-chief of our College's news paper." Haruko said oh-so-flatly.
Matsui snickered.
"That's sweet!"
Haruko only rolled her eyes.
"He'll be criticizing my work!"
//Like what he's been doing since junior high...//
"Anyways Matsui, really, nobody reads the opinion column. It's so bad that people would just skip it."
"But Haruko, that's exactly my point! It's what make this such a perfect opportunity!"
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"It's so obvious, why do you think people doesn't read it?"
"'Coz it so baaaaaaad..." Haruko repeated, irritated.
"Right! So all you have to do is write an interesting column, and everyone will read it. Like what I've said earlier, basketball!"
"Well..."
"Just think about it. You'll make a name for yourself as the one who turned the column around." Then to sugar coat everything, Matsui added, "Lets see Rukawa beat that!"
"Yeah..." Matsui's reasoning was beginning to sound like a great plan.
"And you can still interview the team and do sports and the opinion column all at once."
"After that, then what?" Haruko said worriedly.
"We'd think about it later...but first, you should concentrate on your first column!"
Finally convinced, Matsui and Haruko chatted with other things. Suddenly, being an opinion columnist doesn't sound like a bad idea or position.
Forgetting her earlier misgivings, Haruko could hardly wait for the next newspaper meeting.
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The next morning Haruko hopped down cheerfully on the stairs, Akagi noticing this asked Haruko why she's so...not herself.
"Hey, what's that suppose to mean?" Haruko demanded.
"Well, considering your "mood" this past few days...er, weeks...uummm, nah, I guess years, well anyways, you were not the type of person who wakes up in the morning, wave hello to the sunshine and bounce stupidly on the stairs...not to mention I haven't heard you say, "I will not let Rukawa ruin this day" mantra."
//I'll have to thank mom later for giving me such an observant brother//
"So, what's wrong with that?"
"Bbbrrr, it's frightening me..."
A loud "clonk" was heard.
"Ouch!! What's that for?"
"That's for being an observant brother" Haruko said still holding the frying pan.
"Such a warm compliment..." Akagi said sarcastically.
"Oi, watch what your saying or I'm not gona cook breakfast for you!"
"Tch, fine...just don't burn the stove like what you did last time. Seriously, what was mom thinking..."
"Speak for yourself, who was the one who almost set the kitchen on fire last year, hm?"
Akagi sank in his chair. Last year, Takenori Akagi TRIED to cook. He was so eager to beat his friend/rival Ouzumi in cooking. When Haruko arrived, Akagi was shouting at her to help him put out the fire.
"What were you trying to cook anyways?"
"Ummm, pancakes?"
Haruko laughed out loud as she recalled the memory of her brother showing her his version of pancake... which is beyond recognition of one.
Akagi coughed, letting Haruko know that she's almost stepping on the hidden line of sibling argument.
"Uumm, right, would you like a sunny side up or a scramble?"
"Whatever just make sure it's edible."
Haruko just ignore his last statement.
"By the way nii-san, I have a big favor to ask of you."
"Shoot"
"I want to interview the team."
Haruko shouted over the kitchen.
"Why?"
"It's for the school newspaper. I'm going to make an opinion column about it. Since it's the only thing I'm good at sharing at."
"Well..."
"Don't worry, I'll do it after practice so I won't be disturbing the you guys. Besides I can't perform helping Ayako and conducting my interview at the same time, ne?" As if sensing his brother's disapproval.
"It's not that..."
"What is it then?"
Haruko appeared in the dining with the breakfast she had just made.
Akagi remembered the day of the try-out. How can he not forget it? Aside for the baka Hanamichi's teasing and his irritating laughter...
///"...m-my name? I-I'm..I'm...who was I again? Oh...I'm H-Hanamichi S-Sakuragi." Extending a hand, asking for a handshake.
"Why you puny little thing!! You're hitting on my sister!!" Akagi yelled.
"Oi, Akagi sempai...teme...your temper!" Grabbing their captain more tightly and pulling him back inside the gym to cool off.///
Akagi shook his head. He wanted to beat the living daylights of Hanamichi, but he knew the potential Hanamichi was possessing.
"Nii-san?"
Akagi snapped out of his reminiscing.
"It's Hanamichi I'm worried about!"
Haruko stared at him for a moment then burst out laughing.
"What?"
"Nothing...it's just that, why what's wrong with him?"
"Don't be so dense! He was hitting on you during the try-outs!"
"Well, I haven't really thought of that..."
"Of course, you were too busy worrying about Rukawa."
I dimensional frying pan connected with Akagi's head. Sending him to la-la land for a while.
"Anyways, don't worry about him. As if he can do something during my interview."
"Okay, okay...you can interview the team."
"Yosh!"
Jumping off her chair and giving Akagi a kiss on the cheek.
"Yuck!"
Haruko just laughed.
"When do you wana do it?"
"Later if that's okay with you?"
After agreeing on the topic, the Akagi siblings finished their breakfast and went off to school.
---------------------------------
Later that afternoon, Haruko interviewed the players of team Shohoku one by one. She asked them how they were pick, what it felt to be a part of the team, what's their plan for this year, who's their favorite player and anything that she finds essential for her column. She was thinking if she should interview Rukawa but fate would save her the decision when Akagi told the team earlier that Rukawa will skip out practice today because of flu. (I was hoping he'd have something worse like cancer, Haruko thought) Finally it was time to interview Hanamichi Sakuragi.
Hanamichi Sakuragi was in the shower; he wouldn't want to face her sweet Haruko with sweat and everything. He even borrowed a perfume from Ryota much to the point guard's dismay.
//What's taking him so long?//
"Nyahahaha, step aside people, or your foul scent may ruin my perfume."
Haruko sighed.
//Game time.//
Haruko went to approached Hanamichi who was still laughing and bragging about his "fresh-from-the-shower scent".
"Hanamichi-kun?"
"Nyaha..ulp..."
Sakuragi who was feeling like the king of the world a top Titanic earlier suddenly became rigid and cold as the iceberg.
"H-Haruko-chan..."
Haruko smiled warmly at him, almost making Sakuragi faint and die happy.
"Ready for the interview?"
"Of course, I am tensai...I'm ready for everything, anything, nyahahahahaha!! Want to talk about my experience? How about how I'll be the greatest player...blah, blah..."
Seeing that Sakuragi won't stop his bragging, Haruko reached out for his hand and started to drag him, causing Hanamichi to shut up and be dragged.
Behind them was a pair of eyes, watching closely.
---------------------------------
"So, that's about it! Domo arigatou Sakuragi-kun"
Haruko closed her notebook and bowed appreciatively, much to Hanamichi's delight and disappointment.
"That's all? Maybe there's more...like what are my dreams for the team, or how I would bring the Shohoku to it's glory?"
Haruko laughed. She really did enjoy her interview with him. He wasn't so bad after all.
"I don't think it'll be necessary Sakuragi-kun. But I would like to hear the rest of it when the time permits. Not as a reporter but as friend."
Sakuragi's smile was broader than the record set for Guinnies, Guiness...or whatever....
"Please call me Hanamichi..."
"Alright, Hanamichi."
"R-right, so about hearing the rest of it, how about we go out one time and..."
Sakuragi wasn't able to finish his offer as a knuckle came down on his head. Hanamichi stood up, made a silly dance before falling down on the floor unconscious.
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"I'm glad that Hanamichi-kun stopped blabbering but to actually hit him, that's so childish of you! I actually had fun doing an interview with him."
Haruko and Takenori Akagi were making their way towards home when Haruko lectured her brother on hitting Sakuragi on the head earlier.
"I didn't! My hand suddenly moved and the next thing I knew, it landed on that dumb ass' head!"
Akagi raised his hand as if trying to make his story believable.
"Oh please, that's lamest attempt at defending yourself from a guilty case of attempted brain whacking!"
"Fine then great one, I plead guilty. But I ain't regretting it! He was going to ask you without asking me first? Hah!"
Haruko smiled at his brother. True he was very defensive but it was always for a good cause.
"The last time I checked, your not Haruko Akagi."
"Nope, I'm her brother. So if anyone wants to take her out, they have to convince me first!"
"Meaning no one will be able to ask me..."
"Feh!"
Laughing at his brother's over protectiveness, the serene night was filled with soft laughter coming from the two Akagi's.
-------------------------------------
Back at the school gym...
"Nyahahaha!!!"
Sakuragi bolted up from his slumber.
"Huh? Where's everyone? Where am I?"
A school janitor approached him.
"If you're talking about your team mates, they left an hour ago."
"Whaaaaaa? Goriiiiiiiii!!!!"
--------------------------------------
After cleaning out from dinner, Haruko excitedly open her computer and started typing at will. She made sure that player's opinion was stressed out perfectly, and of course her opinions too. She typed and typed and typed until she decided that it was perfect. It was 10 in the evening by then.
She was leaning and stretching out on her chair when the phone ringed, making her almost tip over. Since she's still awake, she decided to answer it.
"Moshi-moshi, this is Haruko Akagi speaking. Who's on the line please?"
"Ngaruko? Enk gad your still ngawake..."
Haruko slammed the phone back to the receiver. The voice on the other end raised her skin. It's like a scene from the movie where the killer would ask, "Do you like scary movie?"
//What the hell is that?//
Again the phone rang. After much thinking, Haruko finally gathered her courage and picked the phone.
"Ngaruko?! Don't hang up...it's me Ngukawa!"
Haruko froze.
"Rukawa?"
"Hai!"
"What the hell were you thinking? I almost had a heart attack!"
"I have a flu, or didn't Akagi-sempai told you?"
//Oh yeah...//
"Oh, yes he had told me, sorry I forgot."
A loud sneezing could be heard.
"It's okay."
"Wait how'd you got my number?"
"Well, your part of the colleges' news paper and we keep a record. Have you forgotten that you wrote down your phone number on it?"
Haruko mentally slapped her forehead.
"Anyways, fave you finished yer ngarticle yet?"
"What? You mean my article? Yup, just finished it."
"Good. Let me have a look at it tomorrow, meet me at the alumni's house at 3, ok?"
Haruko hesitated. Why does Rukawa had to see it?
"Do you really have to?"
There was moment of silence.
"Weren't you ngistening to Ms.Minguki? I have to check your work before publishing it."
//Why can't you just have a terminal illness?//
"Gomen."
"Just don't forget to ngisten ngext time. Tomorrow ok? Ja!"
"Ja."
Haruko banged the phone out of sheer irritation.
"Hey, quiet there! Somebody's trying to sleep!" Akagi shouted in his bedroom.
"Sorry!"
Haruko crawled on her bed lying on her back, looking up at the ceiling.
//Why am I so worried about it? It's not that I did something wrong. Fact is, it's the best article I've written in my life.//
With this worried thoughts, Haruko fell into sleep and into the world were she had everything she wanted-and that means no Rukawa.
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"Oi!!"
Kaede Rukawa was jogging his way towards Haruko. His black shiny hair was blown back by the air. The girls around the alumni house checked out the lad who was wearing a blue polo and cream pants, giggling and pointing at how gorgeous he was.
"Hi."
Haruko waved at him. If looks could kill, Haruko Akagi's body would be unrecognizable. The girls were looking at her from head to toe as if assessing her. Haruko on the other hand paid no attention to them. She wanted this "private meeting" to be over and done with.
"How's the flu?"
"Better. I'm the type of person who doesn't get sick for a long time."
//There goes my hope for terminal illness//
"That's good to hear."
"Thanks. So where's your article?"
Haruko nervously handed her work. She had arrived earlier than him and while waiting, she re-reads and re-reads, and re-reads her work as if looking for mistakes.
Rukawa reached for it and had began to read. Haruko looked at him, waiting for a reaction. A positive one.
For a moment Haruko thought that they were the only person there. Rukawa was not hinting any expressions and Haruko couldn't stand it any longer.
"What do you think?"
"The article is good. It has the players' opinions, your opinions and it's an interesting subject. But..."
//But? But what?//
Haruko stood there, waiting for what more he has to say.
"But Haruko, we don't use the newspaper for our personal interest and agenda. Your love for basketball is written all over it, that's good. It's an opinion column, your opinion. But what about the others? Didn't you think of asking them some questions regarding their opinion? It's not a one way street Haruko-chan..."
Haruko bowed her head. Fighting the tears that were threatening to fall.
"What do you mean by that?"
"What I mean is, it's too biased. It's too much...you."
"It's supposed to be too much of me, about what I feel! That's why it's fucking called opinion column or have you made a new meaning for it in the dictionary!"
Haruko Akagi was not thinking at all, she didn't care if people were looking at them already. She didn't mind shouting words of profanity...she just didn't care at all anymore....
"I know it's your opinion column, but sometimes, you have to get their opinion also. That's how you will make your articles, your column to be noticed. You should write in a way, normal people would see it, understand it. Not the way a basketball lover will, because we basketball lovers knows enough..."
Haruko couldn't understand him. To her, he was like an executioner, reading her his sentence. And that sentence is no printing of her article.
"You don't know how much effort I put into it..."
"You're wrong Haruko-chan...I do under-"
A hand slapping him cut off Rukawa. The crowd that has begun to gather around the arguing reporters gasped. Red prints suddenly surfaced on the pale face of Rukawa.
"wha-"
Again he was cut off, but this time, with Haruko's words.
"You think you're so damn perfect? Then write the whole college paper!"
Haruko stomped away from the gaping Rukawa. Then she suddenly turned around and shouted for all the people in the Alumni House to hear.
"And don't come asking for help on luring my brother to bed cause I'm sure as hell won't give a fuck about it!"
That earned some "OOh's" and "Aahh's" from the crowd.
"Haruko-chan, wait! Take back what you said! Oi!"
But Haruko Akagi was out of earshot when Rukawa called her. Sighing dejectedly, Rukawa turned around only to face a crowd that was giving him a weird look.
"What! Hey, I'm not a gay!!"
The crowd just nodded as if saying, "yeah right" and turned away, returning to their own business.
"Fine, don't believe me then! As if I care!"
Rukawa was about to turn around when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to face the person and almost fainted. A guy was leering at him.
"How about luring me to bed handsome."
Rukawa gave him his nicest smile then punched the guy straight in the face.
"I ain't no gay!"
Stepping over the guy's fallen body, Rukawa went off to the direction where Haruko had just did earlier...but he has no plans on following her.
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...sorry if it took me so long to update. We're having our preliminary exams and I had to sit my ass for hours trying to memorize those damn formulas! Hey Diwata-san, ur an accounting student right? ^^
...by the way, for those people who wants to see Rukawa's thoughts...hehehe, he'll have his moment on the next chapter.
...btw, all "//" are thoughts of Haruko...(she does have a lot of conversation with herself, dont you think?)^^
...I'm not demanding for a certain # of reviewers, but it does inspire us writers to do our stuff.
...by the way, have you guys watched princess mononoke? aw gawd, I just watched it, its the bomb!^^
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk belongs to Takehiko Inoue. I'm doing this to improve my creative writing. (shucks) Please don't sue me.
Authors Note: Hello there pips! This is my first attempt of a RuHaru fic. There's just so little of them out there...tsk, so depressing...I don't know how I'm going to pull this fic off, since I'm no writer...I'm majoring in ECONOMICS for gawds sake and I'm doing this?! I'm suppose to be doing a fan-fiction that includes math, eco, business...blah.... blah...blah....(authors gone haywire...)
**by the way, this is an AU fic. Rukawa is nicer, I mean NICER! And he's social, heck; he's even a journalist! At the top of all the good things...ya know what I'm saying?
I want to say something to the following great reviewers:
rj-chan gawd sori!! i tot it was spelled ri-chan...g0men! well, its about time for "karma" to hit Haruko...and she'll realize something big out of it...*smiles evilly*
diwata oi, i dont wana lose a great reviewer and a favorite author...wake up diwata!!
Hana-Heart hhhmmm...rukawa doesnt know that he's taming haruko...ur ryt. how about the other way around? do you think haruko know that rukawa can tame her? now thats a thought...
Aino Sisters haruko was just day dreaming, thats why it got cut off when Ms.Mizuki announced something. sorry for the mess. i got heero's name wrong?! (looks at her previous work) i did!!!
Heero: omae wa korosu.
zidane: yikes!! better run....oh and yeah, im g-wing fan...1xR of course! *ducks heero's gun shots*
townberry why did i ever wrote this fic??=), iv got like, 7 chapters to write? oh no, my shoulders gona kill me, big time...=)
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CHAPTER 4: MY OPINION, NOT YOURS!
"So, how did your meeting go?"
As soon as Haruko got home, she had called Matsui. Not bothering to change her uniforms and throwing her stuff at the dining table where his older brother Takenori Akagi was eating. He gave her a nasty look that says, "I'm kinda eating if you didn't notice". But Haruko was too absorbed, no too mention too frustrated, to even take notice of his brother. Akagi just shrugged and resume eating.
"Not too great"
"Why? What happened" sounding concerned.
"It's just wasn't what I expected, that's all...I didn't get the job I wanted..."
"...Oh...so, what's your assignment then?"
Haruko let out a frustrated sigh.
"Opinion columnist! I'm supposed to share my "caring" and "expressive" kind of writing. It's really crap you know?"
Matsui burst out laughing.
"What's so funny" Haruko got irritated. She didn't need a joke from her best friend to add up to her disappointment, what happened earlier was enough to last her a lifetime.
"You are! I thought you were going to say you were in charge of delivering the papers or something!"
"Smart ass! I might as well be..." Haruko replied a little too defensively. Then she got quite.
Matsui noticing Haruko's sudden quietness swallowed her laughter and gently asked.
"Hey, what's wrong with opinion column?"
Haruko smiled half-heartedly
"You know it's the school paper's biggest joke. NOBODY takes it seriously. And besides, I don't have any opinions to write, well except basketball."
"There, you got it! Then write an opinion column about basketball. How they conduct try-outs. Their games. Who's who...You'll not only write your column but you'll be able to help the athletics department by promoting it. Who would ignore the basketball team? No one! Specially Rukawa!" Matsui exclaimed on the other line.
That led Haruko to remember another thing.
"By the way, Rukawa is the editor-in-chief of our College's news paper." Haruko said oh-so-flatly.
Matsui snickered.
"That's sweet!"
Haruko only rolled her eyes.
"He'll be criticizing my work!"
//Like what he's been doing since junior high...//
"Anyways Matsui, really, nobody reads the opinion column. It's so bad that people would just skip it."
"But Haruko, that's exactly my point! It's what make this such a perfect opportunity!"
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"It's so obvious, why do you think people doesn't read it?"
"'Coz it so baaaaaaad..." Haruko repeated, irritated.
"Right! So all you have to do is write an interesting column, and everyone will read it. Like what I've said earlier, basketball!"
"Well..."
"Just think about it. You'll make a name for yourself as the one who turned the column around." Then to sugar coat everything, Matsui added, "Lets see Rukawa beat that!"
"Yeah..." Matsui's reasoning was beginning to sound like a great plan.
"And you can still interview the team and do sports and the opinion column all at once."
"After that, then what?" Haruko said worriedly.
"We'd think about it later...but first, you should concentrate on your first column!"
Finally convinced, Matsui and Haruko chatted with other things. Suddenly, being an opinion columnist doesn't sound like a bad idea or position.
Forgetting her earlier misgivings, Haruko could hardly wait for the next newspaper meeting.
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The next morning Haruko hopped down cheerfully on the stairs, Akagi noticing this asked Haruko why she's so...not herself.
"Hey, what's that suppose to mean?" Haruko demanded.
"Well, considering your "mood" this past few days...er, weeks...uummm, nah, I guess years, well anyways, you were not the type of person who wakes up in the morning, wave hello to the sunshine and bounce stupidly on the stairs...not to mention I haven't heard you say, "I will not let Rukawa ruin this day" mantra."
//I'll have to thank mom later for giving me such an observant brother//
"So, what's wrong with that?"
"Bbbrrr, it's frightening me..."
A loud "clonk" was heard.
"Ouch!! What's that for?"
"That's for being an observant brother" Haruko said still holding the frying pan.
"Such a warm compliment..." Akagi said sarcastically.
"Oi, watch what your saying or I'm not gona cook breakfast for you!"
"Tch, fine...just don't burn the stove like what you did last time. Seriously, what was mom thinking..."
"Speak for yourself, who was the one who almost set the kitchen on fire last year, hm?"
Akagi sank in his chair. Last year, Takenori Akagi TRIED to cook. He was so eager to beat his friend/rival Ouzumi in cooking. When Haruko arrived, Akagi was shouting at her to help him put out the fire.
"What were you trying to cook anyways?"
"Ummm, pancakes?"
Haruko laughed out loud as she recalled the memory of her brother showing her his version of pancake... which is beyond recognition of one.
Akagi coughed, letting Haruko know that she's almost stepping on the hidden line of sibling argument.
"Uumm, right, would you like a sunny side up or a scramble?"
"Whatever just make sure it's edible."
Haruko just ignore his last statement.
"By the way nii-san, I have a big favor to ask of you."
"Shoot"
"I want to interview the team."
Haruko shouted over the kitchen.
"Why?"
"It's for the school newspaper. I'm going to make an opinion column about it. Since it's the only thing I'm good at sharing at."
"Well..."
"Don't worry, I'll do it after practice so I won't be disturbing the you guys. Besides I can't perform helping Ayako and conducting my interview at the same time, ne?" As if sensing his brother's disapproval.
"It's not that..."
"What is it then?"
Haruko appeared in the dining with the breakfast she had just made.
Akagi remembered the day of the try-out. How can he not forget it? Aside for the baka Hanamichi's teasing and his irritating laughter...
///"...m-my name? I-I'm..I'm...who was I again? Oh...I'm H-Hanamichi S-Sakuragi." Extending a hand, asking for a handshake.
"Why you puny little thing!! You're hitting on my sister!!" Akagi yelled.
"Oi, Akagi sempai...teme...your temper!" Grabbing their captain more tightly and pulling him back inside the gym to cool off.///
Akagi shook his head. He wanted to beat the living daylights of Hanamichi, but he knew the potential Hanamichi was possessing.
"Nii-san?"
Akagi snapped out of his reminiscing.
"It's Hanamichi I'm worried about!"
Haruko stared at him for a moment then burst out laughing.
"What?"
"Nothing...it's just that, why what's wrong with him?"
"Don't be so dense! He was hitting on you during the try-outs!"
"Well, I haven't really thought of that..."
"Of course, you were too busy worrying about Rukawa."
I dimensional frying pan connected with Akagi's head. Sending him to la-la land for a while.
"Anyways, don't worry about him. As if he can do something during my interview."
"Okay, okay...you can interview the team."
"Yosh!"
Jumping off her chair and giving Akagi a kiss on the cheek.
"Yuck!"
Haruko just laughed.
"When do you wana do it?"
"Later if that's okay with you?"
After agreeing on the topic, the Akagi siblings finished their breakfast and went off to school.
---------------------------------
Later that afternoon, Haruko interviewed the players of team Shohoku one by one. She asked them how they were pick, what it felt to be a part of the team, what's their plan for this year, who's their favorite player and anything that she finds essential for her column. She was thinking if she should interview Rukawa but fate would save her the decision when Akagi told the team earlier that Rukawa will skip out practice today because of flu. (I was hoping he'd have something worse like cancer, Haruko thought) Finally it was time to interview Hanamichi Sakuragi.
Hanamichi Sakuragi was in the shower; he wouldn't want to face her sweet Haruko with sweat and everything. He even borrowed a perfume from Ryota much to the point guard's dismay.
//What's taking him so long?//
"Nyahahaha, step aside people, or your foul scent may ruin my perfume."
Haruko sighed.
//Game time.//
Haruko went to approached Hanamichi who was still laughing and bragging about his "fresh-from-the-shower scent".
"Hanamichi-kun?"
"Nyaha..ulp..."
Sakuragi who was feeling like the king of the world a top Titanic earlier suddenly became rigid and cold as the iceberg.
"H-Haruko-chan..."
Haruko smiled warmly at him, almost making Sakuragi faint and die happy.
"Ready for the interview?"
"Of course, I am tensai...I'm ready for everything, anything, nyahahahahaha!! Want to talk about my experience? How about how I'll be the greatest player...blah, blah..."
Seeing that Sakuragi won't stop his bragging, Haruko reached out for his hand and started to drag him, causing Hanamichi to shut up and be dragged.
Behind them was a pair of eyes, watching closely.
---------------------------------
"So, that's about it! Domo arigatou Sakuragi-kun"
Haruko closed her notebook and bowed appreciatively, much to Hanamichi's delight and disappointment.
"That's all? Maybe there's more...like what are my dreams for the team, or how I would bring the Shohoku to it's glory?"
Haruko laughed. She really did enjoy her interview with him. He wasn't so bad after all.
"I don't think it'll be necessary Sakuragi-kun. But I would like to hear the rest of it when the time permits. Not as a reporter but as friend."
Sakuragi's smile was broader than the record set for Guinnies, Guiness...or whatever....
"Please call me Hanamichi..."
"Alright, Hanamichi."
"R-right, so about hearing the rest of it, how about we go out one time and..."
Sakuragi wasn't able to finish his offer as a knuckle came down on his head. Hanamichi stood up, made a silly dance before falling down on the floor unconscious.
-----------------------------------------------------
"I'm glad that Hanamichi-kun stopped blabbering but to actually hit him, that's so childish of you! I actually had fun doing an interview with him."
Haruko and Takenori Akagi were making their way towards home when Haruko lectured her brother on hitting Sakuragi on the head earlier.
"I didn't! My hand suddenly moved and the next thing I knew, it landed on that dumb ass' head!"
Akagi raised his hand as if trying to make his story believable.
"Oh please, that's lamest attempt at defending yourself from a guilty case of attempted brain whacking!"
"Fine then great one, I plead guilty. But I ain't regretting it! He was going to ask you without asking me first? Hah!"
Haruko smiled at his brother. True he was very defensive but it was always for a good cause.
"The last time I checked, your not Haruko Akagi."
"Nope, I'm her brother. So if anyone wants to take her out, they have to convince me first!"
"Meaning no one will be able to ask me..."
"Feh!"
Laughing at his brother's over protectiveness, the serene night was filled with soft laughter coming from the two Akagi's.
-------------------------------------
Back at the school gym...
"Nyahahaha!!!"
Sakuragi bolted up from his slumber.
"Huh? Where's everyone? Where am I?"
A school janitor approached him.
"If you're talking about your team mates, they left an hour ago."
"Whaaaaaa? Goriiiiiiiii!!!!"
--------------------------------------
After cleaning out from dinner, Haruko excitedly open her computer and started typing at will. She made sure that player's opinion was stressed out perfectly, and of course her opinions too. She typed and typed and typed until she decided that it was perfect. It was 10 in the evening by then.
She was leaning and stretching out on her chair when the phone ringed, making her almost tip over. Since she's still awake, she decided to answer it.
"Moshi-moshi, this is Haruko Akagi speaking. Who's on the line please?"
"Ngaruko? Enk gad your still ngawake..."
Haruko slammed the phone back to the receiver. The voice on the other end raised her skin. It's like a scene from the movie where the killer would ask, "Do you like scary movie?"
//What the hell is that?//
Again the phone rang. After much thinking, Haruko finally gathered her courage and picked the phone.
"Ngaruko?! Don't hang up...it's me Ngukawa!"
Haruko froze.
"Rukawa?"
"Hai!"
"What the hell were you thinking? I almost had a heart attack!"
"I have a flu, or didn't Akagi-sempai told you?"
//Oh yeah...//
"Oh, yes he had told me, sorry I forgot."
A loud sneezing could be heard.
"It's okay."
"Wait how'd you got my number?"
"Well, your part of the colleges' news paper and we keep a record. Have you forgotten that you wrote down your phone number on it?"
Haruko mentally slapped her forehead.
"Anyways, fave you finished yer ngarticle yet?"
"What? You mean my article? Yup, just finished it."
"Good. Let me have a look at it tomorrow, meet me at the alumni's house at 3, ok?"
Haruko hesitated. Why does Rukawa had to see it?
"Do you really have to?"
There was moment of silence.
"Weren't you ngistening to Ms.Minguki? I have to check your work before publishing it."
//Why can't you just have a terminal illness?//
"Gomen."
"Just don't forget to ngisten ngext time. Tomorrow ok? Ja!"
"Ja."
Haruko banged the phone out of sheer irritation.
"Hey, quiet there! Somebody's trying to sleep!" Akagi shouted in his bedroom.
"Sorry!"
Haruko crawled on her bed lying on her back, looking up at the ceiling.
//Why am I so worried about it? It's not that I did something wrong. Fact is, it's the best article I've written in my life.//
With this worried thoughts, Haruko fell into sleep and into the world were she had everything she wanted-and that means no Rukawa.
-----------------------------------
"Oi!!"
Kaede Rukawa was jogging his way towards Haruko. His black shiny hair was blown back by the air. The girls around the alumni house checked out the lad who was wearing a blue polo and cream pants, giggling and pointing at how gorgeous he was.
"Hi."
Haruko waved at him. If looks could kill, Haruko Akagi's body would be unrecognizable. The girls were looking at her from head to toe as if assessing her. Haruko on the other hand paid no attention to them. She wanted this "private meeting" to be over and done with.
"How's the flu?"
"Better. I'm the type of person who doesn't get sick for a long time."
//There goes my hope for terminal illness//
"That's good to hear."
"Thanks. So where's your article?"
Haruko nervously handed her work. She had arrived earlier than him and while waiting, she re-reads and re-reads, and re-reads her work as if looking for mistakes.
Rukawa reached for it and had began to read. Haruko looked at him, waiting for a reaction. A positive one.
For a moment Haruko thought that they were the only person there. Rukawa was not hinting any expressions and Haruko couldn't stand it any longer.
"What do you think?"
"The article is good. It has the players' opinions, your opinions and it's an interesting subject. But..."
//But? But what?//
Haruko stood there, waiting for what more he has to say.
"But Haruko, we don't use the newspaper for our personal interest and agenda. Your love for basketball is written all over it, that's good. It's an opinion column, your opinion. But what about the others? Didn't you think of asking them some questions regarding their opinion? It's not a one way street Haruko-chan..."
Haruko bowed her head. Fighting the tears that were threatening to fall.
"What do you mean by that?"
"What I mean is, it's too biased. It's too much...you."
"It's supposed to be too much of me, about what I feel! That's why it's fucking called opinion column or have you made a new meaning for it in the dictionary!"
Haruko Akagi was not thinking at all, she didn't care if people were looking at them already. She didn't mind shouting words of profanity...she just didn't care at all anymore....
"I know it's your opinion column, but sometimes, you have to get their opinion also. That's how you will make your articles, your column to be noticed. You should write in a way, normal people would see it, understand it. Not the way a basketball lover will, because we basketball lovers knows enough..."
Haruko couldn't understand him. To her, he was like an executioner, reading her his sentence. And that sentence is no printing of her article.
"You don't know how much effort I put into it..."
"You're wrong Haruko-chan...I do under-"
A hand slapping him cut off Rukawa. The crowd that has begun to gather around the arguing reporters gasped. Red prints suddenly surfaced on the pale face of Rukawa.
"wha-"
Again he was cut off, but this time, with Haruko's words.
"You think you're so damn perfect? Then write the whole college paper!"
Haruko stomped away from the gaping Rukawa. Then she suddenly turned around and shouted for all the people in the Alumni House to hear.
"And don't come asking for help on luring my brother to bed cause I'm sure as hell won't give a fuck about it!"
That earned some "OOh's" and "Aahh's" from the crowd.
"Haruko-chan, wait! Take back what you said! Oi!"
But Haruko Akagi was out of earshot when Rukawa called her. Sighing dejectedly, Rukawa turned around only to face a crowd that was giving him a weird look.
"What! Hey, I'm not a gay!!"
The crowd just nodded as if saying, "yeah right" and turned away, returning to their own business.
"Fine, don't believe me then! As if I care!"
Rukawa was about to turn around when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to face the person and almost fainted. A guy was leering at him.
"How about luring me to bed handsome."
Rukawa gave him his nicest smile then punched the guy straight in the face.
"I ain't no gay!"
Stepping over the guy's fallen body, Rukawa went off to the direction where Haruko had just did earlier...but he has no plans on following her.
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...sorry if it took me so long to update. We're having our preliminary exams and I had to sit my ass for hours trying to memorize those damn formulas! Hey Diwata-san, ur an accounting student right? ^^
...by the way, for those people who wants to see Rukawa's thoughts...hehehe, he'll have his moment on the next chapter.
...btw, all "//" are thoughts of Haruko...(she does have a lot of conversation with herself, dont you think?)^^
...I'm not demanding for a certain # of reviewers, but it does inspire us writers to do our stuff.
...by the way, have you guys watched princess mononoke? aw gawd, I just watched it, its the bomb!^^