Chapter VIII. Haruko Challenged by Lae

"See? What did I tell you?! Isn't my Sendoh great?! Beat Rukawa he did!" Lae was so proud of Sendoh when he evaded Rukawa.

"Oi that's too much I think Rukawa should get a credit too." said Haruko.

"He is not worth my Sendoh at all." She looked away.

"You wanna fight?!" Haruko demanded.

"Nani?! Haruko you sound like that violent Sakuragi!" said Fuji one of her friends.

"I do?! Oh. I mean basketball? I challenge you to a basket ball! 5 on 5."

"Okay. You're on. Girls only!" agreed Lae.

"Loser will admit that her hero is defeated by the winner's hero."

"Sure. Huh." This girl doesn't know I play basketball in our team in Tokyo and I've led them to championships. "We'll meet Saturday 8:45 am at the court near the harbor. That way it's easier to go to that destination for the both of us."

"Yosh. I'm not gonna lose to you." said Haruko proudly.

"I'll make sure we'll have an equal chance. I'll find a referee that's neither on our side."

"That's fair enough for me," agreed Haurko.


"I can't believe I challenged a friend of Sendoh to play basketball with me. I'm sure to lose." Haruko was crying. "And she was so tall...about 176 cm..."

"Haruko-chan…did you see what I did and that Rukawa didn't?" said Sakuragi blushing.

"Not now Sakuragi-kun…I have to practice basketball." Haruko's spirit was lit.

"Haruko-chan…what's that all about?" Sakuragi asked for he noticed Haruko wasn't minding what he just said.

"Oh it's nothing. I just made a fool out of myself by challenging Sendoh's girl to a basketball match."

"Sendoh's girl? That punk has a girlfriend?"

"By the looks of it…I really don't know..Please help!" Haruko put her hands together and pleaded for Sakuragi's help.

"Yosha! Haurko-chan…I, the genius basketball man will be here to train you and your teammates."

"Yatta! Arigatou Sakuragi-kun! You're the best."

Hahaha It's another chance for me and Haruko to bond. Nyahaha that wily fox isn't going to be there to ruin it… What happiness...I'll make sure…Sakuragi cried and blushed..when..BANG! Another lump has been created.

"Stop day dreaming about my sister!" said Akagi while he scrunching up his fists.

"Gori.." Sakuragi rubbing his head.


At the rooftop of Lae's house…

"Sendoh-kun that's how I made a big fool of myself."

"It's no worries princess, I'm here. Let's practice together after school." Sendoh assured Lae.

"Hey! I played a little basketball in my days in junior high…but at times…I get asthma attacks.."

"Really I can't believe you Lae! What if something will happen to you?! I won't lose you again." He scolded Lae.

"Hush" Lae put her finger in front of Sendoh's mouth to stop talking. "We'll find a way. But tonight…" Lae fell asleep in Sendoh's arms.

"This is what's been missing for so long. Lae I've got you again." Sendoh burst into tears.

"Excuse me…What's missing what you were saying?" Lae woke up.

"Iie…Nothing…go back to sleep."

"You?"

"I'll sleep a little later, still enjoying the view…" Sendoh meant to say 'still enjoying staring at you'.

"Okay…suit yourself sleepyhead." She went back to sleep.

"Sleepy head's not sleepy anymore now that you're here." Lae slept soundly but can hear the voice of Sendoh so she smiled and blushed secretly as well.

How do I tell Sendoh that I came back because I love him. Oh no. But maybe a guy so perfect like him already has a girlfriend. And me? Just a sister for him. Oh no. Oh dear. It's all my fault. What to do. What to do. Shit! And that basketball game too. What will he even say? I'm sure he'd make fun of me! He'll laugh his head off and we'll never be friends again. But what if…oh! that's never gonna happen.

Shit! I'm so scared to tell Lae how I really feel. Why am I so stupid to think she'll like me more than just a brother. She always emphasizes that "brother, brother, brother" Oh shit. I'm so slow! What to do. What to do. Suck on some lemons?! Oh man. What to say, what to say. I'm sure she'd make fun of me and laugh 'till she coughs and we'll never be friends again! I'm so stupid…

It was a beautiful Tuesday morning, so, in fact, there's school for Sendoh and Lae. She woke him up the way she used to…with a pail of water. Lae splashed the cold water on Sendoh's face.

"What the...I could drown you know!" exclaimed Sendoh who was awaken from his slumber.

"Aww. You're still the same sleepy head. Come on, there's school."

"School? At 7? Come on Lae…I slept late at night you know." Sendoh shook his body from the water that Lae splashed him.

"What did you do? Everyone in the world who has school wakes up at 7 you know?"

"Where in the world did you come from? School at 7 huh? So you want this?" He tickled her until she coughed and coughed.

"Oh my gosh! My asthma!" she coughs and coughs.

"Oh no! I'm sorry. Here breathe...call your mom stay here okay?" Lae laughed as hard as she could.

"Oh. Sendoh, you always fall for that one."

"Stop joking like that! I almost had a heart attack." Sendoh said panting, "Oh alright, let's go already after you pull some more pranks on me."

"That's good. Take a bath! You didn't even wash yourself before going to sleep! And you stink! Bleh!"

They met up again, all ready for school. "You know? I have a guy friend in Tokyo, you know what? He had white hair because he always uses gel." She messed up his 'do'.

"What?" asked Sendoh, "You're trying to stop me from using gel? Nu-uh."

"Alright you got me. Kidding." Ryonan is a 20 minute walk from their houses.

"So, it's you're actual first day. What class are you in?"

"I wonder what my teacher would say…if he'd find out…Geez! I forgot!"

"Really. I can't believe you…" sighed Sendoh.

The sight of them both being so sweet caught up so much attention that the whole Ryonan found out about Lae because of Hikoichi. To Lae's dismay before she could find out…she and Hikoichi were actually classmates. Hikoichi told their teacher that she came to watch the practice game in Shohoku. Lae wasn't used to Sendoh's popularity in school since, they were separated for a long time.