Chapter XI. Haruko practices with Sakuragi

At Shohoku, Sakuragi escaped basketball practice, and he asked his gang to assist him into practicing with Haruko and her friends.

"Neh, um…Gori, I…um…want to take a break from practice unti Friday…um…I want to practice on my own," asked Sakuragi.

"Nani? Bakamono! You practice alone?" laughed Akagi.

"Demo, can't I do that? I'll have practice training by myself," Sakurgi shyly said.

Mitsui and Ryota heard this and they laughed maniacally. Rukawa just shook his head and said, "Geez."

"Hanamichi? Are you serious?" asked Ryota.

"Ara? Of course Ryochin! I'm a tensaii!"

"Humph! You? You're hopeless Sakuragi," replied Mitsui.

"Nani?! Why you, half woman faggot!" Sakuragi said as he crumpled his fists.

"Oi, oi, mate you guys, let's stop this. Neh Akagi, let Sakuragi go, he did a good job with Ryonan too." said Kogure waiting for Akagi to stop this nonsense.

"Megane-kun, why are you here? Demo…ariagttou," praised Sakuragi.

"Aiya! Kogure-sempai is right captain, He is here to watch how you guys have improved!" added Ayako.

"Hohohoho. Let him go Akagi-kun," said a fat, round man with white hair.

"Ah! You're acting more of a coach now oyaji," said Sakuragi as he pulled down Coach Anzai's chin.

"Yamero bakero!" yelled Mitsui.

"Here we go again," complained Rukawa as he sighed.

"Rukawa…nandato?"

"Alright, come back Monday," said Akagi.

"Gori…" answered Sakuragi as tears slowly filled his eyes.

"Who are you calling gorilla?" Akagi smacked him in the head again.

"Dowaho."

"Orewa tensaii, Sakuragi Hanamichi,"

"Yatta, yatta Sakuragi you can go now," persuaded Kogure.

"You deserve it tensaii, but please stop that ragged song…it's still ho-ri-bble!" exclaimed Ayako.

"Arigattou, Megane-kun, Ayako-san, you now realize how truly genius I am!" Sakuragi laughed hard.

"What a bother," sighed Rukawa.

"Who said you're a genius?" said Ryota and Mitsui in chorus.

Sakuragi smiled as he went out of the gym because he now has a chance to spend time with Haruko. As he went to the same park wherein they practiced his lay-up shots…

Now is the time for me to repay your kindness Haruko-chan. What happiness. Yatta. I can show off to Haruko-cahn without that wily fox distracting her again! Nyahahaha. Yogatta, I'm so glad gori let me go, I was sure he was in a good mood. Yosh! On to practice with Haruko-chan…demo, I have to find Yohei and gang.

Sakuragi searched for Yohei and his gang. He went by a café. There he saw Sendoh, with Lae, of course, Sakuragi didn't know the name. He wiped his eyes because he thought he must be dreaming. He then, sneaked into the side windows with high bushes.

Nani? This punk has a girlfriend? She is very pretty, looks like an angel…Sakuragi was disrupted when three girls came barging in the café screaming Sendoh's name.

"Sendoh-san! Aaaah!"

"Sendoh-san, can I get you're autograph?"

"Oh. Um. Sure. Here."

The three girls glanced up at Lae as if they wanted her to disappear. Lae just stared away, because she was so shy.

"Aaaah! Thank you Sendoh-san."

"Can we shake your hand?"

"Okay." Sendoh held out his hand.

"Aaaaah!!" the three girls screamed disturbing some of the café's customers. The manager of the café went out to stop the girls from screaming.

"Um. Excuse me girls, but I think you're disturbing some of my customers here. I'm sorry sir, did they disturb you?"

"Oh no, they were no bother at all." Sendoh noticed Lae was still staring blankly at the side where she caught Sakuragi gazing at them too.

"Please girls, if you want to stay here don't scream, I think I'd just better sent you out."

"Stupid manager!"

"Ugh! My only chance to talk to Sendoh." The guards dragged the girls out of the restaurant.

Shimatta! The girl knew I was looking at them! Sakuragi then, moved his eyeballs away and pretended to walk. That Sendoh is really something huh…thought Sakuragi to himself. He still snuck back to the window and tried to listen to their conversation. He looked at the three girls in disgust. The girls glared back at him.

"Nani? Is that the red haired from Shohoku?"

Huh. They now realize how popular and good I am.

"Yeah, he never stays out of trouble"

"Nani? Why you…"

"Run!" The three girls dashed when they saw Sakuragi's horn's rearing. Sakuragi went back to sneaking.

That Sendoh is really something…but this girl…Haruko looks prettier than her…nyahahaha…

"Neh, Sendoh-kun, I um…I really have a lot to catch up to," Lae paused, "I mean, with your current status in school, I really, can't stand it sometimes."

"Lae-kun, I don't know what to say."

"Iie, it's not you're fault, it's mine…if I only haven't left you…I uh…"

"Sakuragi?" muttered Sendoh.

The two heard a scream from the outside. Sendoh knew right away that it was Sakuragi. He was terrified by Yohei and Takamiya wearing ghost masks.

"You guys scared a hell out of me! Shit!"

"What are you doing Sakuragi?" asked Youhei.

"So yo, maybe he's peeping some sexy chick, let us see," persisted Takamiya.

"They're looking at us run!" said Sakuragi as he and his gang dashed away from the café's sight when he saw Sendoh rising up from his seat.

"What were you doing there anyways?" asked Yuji. (The guy with the blond hair)

"I'm sneaking up on Sendoh and his rumored girlfriend!"

"Nani? Is she pretty?" inquired Noma.

"Like an angel…but Haruko is much more prettier than her."

"Oh?"

"Aaah! Shimatta! I forgot I've got to train Haruko and friends for up coming basketball game!" exclaimed Sakuragi.

"Ara?"

"Come with me! You must help me guys!" Sakuragi heaved the gang into the park where Haruko and her friends were already waiting for them…

Suddenly the whole basketball team was there at the park when Sakuragi came.

"Ara? The team is here," said Youhei.

"Bakamono! You're late! You kept my sister waiting!" Akagi knocked Sakuragi on the head.

"What a bother." moaned Rukawa.

"Why are you guys here?" posed Sakuragi.

"Duh, isn't obvious? Captain asked us to help Haruko with her match with Sendoh's rumored girlfriend," answered Ayako.

"Ayako-san," wondered Sakuragi.

"You think you could get away with this?" asked Akagi.

"Iie…I…um…"

"Sakuragi-kun, is it okay if I asked brother to come here?"

"It's nothing Haruko-chan, you can do whatever you want," Sakuragi was pleased.

"Dowaho"

"Rukawa-kun." Haruko was glad that Rukawa was there to teach her.

"I can't let your filthy hands touch my sister!"

Oh no! Rukawa is here! I can't show off to Haruko! My plan is not working! Wily fox Rukawa.

The team practiced hard and they helped Haruko and her friends the basic pass and shots for basketball. Sakuragi was not delighted for Rukawa was there to meddle with his big show-off moments.


Meanwhile, at the café…

"What was it Lae? What's wrong? You look so blue."

"Iie, actually, it's nothing, I..um…just glad you're with me again."

"Oh. Okay, me too." Silence transpired between the two who want to shout out their feelings for each other.

"Um, let's go for my basketball practice, remember? My team is waiting for me."

"Haii. Let's go."