For What It's Worth

Reason #5 – A little friendly competition never did anyone harm. Win or lose, you'll live and learn, kid.

The name of Miuradai's new forward escaped Mitsui's mind as he sprinted behind the straggly-haired youngster. An hour ago, he'd been trembling from nerves, his fingers twitching round the slick cool soda-can and bleeding tiny beads of sweat into the moist metal. It was the anxiety, the others had teased him. Poor ol' Mitchi's heart couldn't take much more.

Whatever the true reason had been, he had left it behind on the bleachers and forgotten.

97 points in Shohoku's favor with Miuradai trailing by one. He didn't like those odds any better than Rukawa, guarded heavily by two beefy guards on the halfcourt line, or Kakuta, still reeling from having the ball snatched from his grasp by the newest whiz-kid on the block. But whatever this punk's name was, he'd grind it into the ground and spit on it later if he could just… make it… in time.

Ten seconds remaining. Miuradai still had it in them to win.

Nine.

His knees threatened to buckle.

Eight.

He clenched his jaw tighter, bit down harder on the rising pain in his legs and simply flung the last of his strength into this final stretch.

Seven. Six. Five.

The freshman took off the D-line, soaring to the net, his arm curved for the birth of a victorious dunk.

Four. Three.

"YAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

The ascent of a large hand with its long fingers splayed like webbing came at the perfect moment. Liken it to a bloody sunset or a joyful sunrise, depending on whose side you were on, but the vision was clear as light: Shohoku's new center, number ten, had swatted away Miuradai's chances of a season trophy as easily as if they were less than paper scraps on a table.

Two. One.

"We're through!"

"Sweet block, Sakuragi!"

Sweaty palms connected in smatterings of celebratory claps, the sounds almost drowned out by the cheers of the home crowd. Mitsui let the smile loose, tasting salt on his lips at their very first win of the winter season. He turned around to the empty bench, searching for the familiar sign of Kogure leaping up and down in delight despite the glasses slipping down his nose, yet all he could see was a blue stretch of wall. Blue – a few shades lighter than the jersey of a familiar adversary and unlikely ally.

He should have been ecstatic at the change in his fortunes, at how lucky he'd been to turn his life around so soon, and he would have until the sight of Ayako running to the court made his stomach flip over.

As he had feared, there was more he'd forgotten along with the freshman's name.

Miyagi was the first to break. "H-Happy Birthday, Aya-chan!"

"Yo, Happy Birthday, Ayako-san! Told you I'd win the game for us, didn't I? Ne?"

A blush spread across her cheeks, coloring every inch of her lovely features, bringing out the sparkle in her eyes and thus, rendering him a dumb mute who only managed a mumbled greeting. At least it must have come off as better than Rukawa's silent nod. It had to, right?

"Sendoh-sensei's Guide to Girls: Lesson One! Greeting Etiquette!

Vocalize your joy at meeting her with a hearty greeting! Your positive feelings will be recognized and returned likewise."

Bah. Obviously, Sendoh-'sensei' hadn't put much effort into his 'research' as well as the Ryonan ace thought. What could otherwise have attracted all those screeching banshees to Rukawa the Human Ice-Cube who made more goo-goo eyes at the basketball than his legion of fans? At their meeting the night before, Sendoh had harped on about his theory about girls regarding the rookie's intensity on-court as a turn-on ("Lesson ten! The X-Factor!"). When Mitsui asked him if they equated that with being good in bed, Sendoh had chuckled.

He dunked his head under the ice-cold fount in the sink, hoping the water could quench his steel and harden it against what was to come. The parcel was still in his bag, perfectly wrapped in white paper and ribbon.

"All right, guys, you know the drill." Miyagi barreled through like a tornado past players twice his size in the locker-room. "Get cleaned up and remember to practice complete and utter discretion!"

"Or it's off with our heads?"

"Hanamichi, don't try my patience – "

"More like off with our balls if we squeal too soon – "

"MITSUI!"

"What's going on in there?"

"Nothing, Aya-chan!"

In due time, they were all out in the evening air, bundled against the early winter air. Mitsui focused on the clouds he smoked through gritted teeth and ignored the weight in his pocket. This part of the day, regardless of whether they would have won or lost, had been meticulously organized by Miyagi. The focus-on-winning part had come easy now that Shohoku had developed a voracious appetite for it. It was the waiting-for-the-spoils bit that was the hardest, even without the freezing wind to contend.

Ayako, on the other hand, seemed happily amused at the goings-on unraveling right before her. When his eyes did wander over to her, it felt easier on them to behold her in wool stockings and a long pink scarf around her neck. It could be dubbed 'strange', 'weird' even, to think he could know someone so well in her t-shirts and caps, and yet not at all when they were replaced for clothes he'd seen on many other girls before her. Yesterday, he'd stood over the precipice of autumn, watching the leaves turn red and gold. Today, he had immediately stepped into winter, looking up to the sky and expecting a snowflake or three at any time. Where had the jump-off point been?

The bus turned round a corner and soon rolled to a halt in front of them. Ayako raised an eyebrow at the sight.

"I don't know what you guys have in mind but…"

"Trust us, it's a surprise." Miyagi replied with that dumb cheesy grin Mitsui hated. He wouldn't be caught dead with a smile like that, not even under certain… circumstances.

They all boarded the bus without any difficulty, unless anyone counted waking up Rukawa who had fallen asleep standing. Which in any case wasn't the most likeable job, especially given that the string of drool hanging over his bottom lip had frozen into a semi-solid icicle. In the end, Sakuragi punched it off, Rukawa kicked back, Ayako took a swipe at both of them with a rolled-up score-sheet which effectively calmed the duo and they were soon on their way.

Mitsui had chosen the venue.

It was comfy, cozy and more importantly, it didn't reek of romantic overtures like that frilly Western-style tea-shop next door. He had come across it with Sendoh on their hunt for the perfect present the night before. What had caught his eye weren't the warm maroon walls or the black lacquered tables or even the menu that would satisfy the most insatiable of appetites (note: Sakuragi).

"Recognize anyone?" he asked their group as they entered.

Sakuragi's gaze latched onto a pair of waiters wiping up a spill on the floor.

"WILD MONKEY!"

Nobunaga Kiyota let out a bestial howl at the shock of the public announcement of that hated moniker, causing Soichiro Jin to splash more detergent on himself in surprise. Their commotion was only overshadowed by the deep-throated roar of laughter which erupted from team Shohoku, overwhelmed at the sight of two members of Kanagawa's top-seeded team reduced to what they saw now.

A furious Kiyota pointed an accusing finger at a grinning Mitsui.

"You promised not to tell anyone!"

"I promised not to tell Maki. Everyone else was fair game. Besides, I'm sure Sendoh must've already blabbed to the whole of Ryonan. And by the way, 'telling' isn't the same as 'showing'."

"Screw you!"

"MWAHAHAHAHAH! Looks like nothing's beneath Wild Monkey's abilities!"

"What exactly…" Miyagi, addressing Jin, couldn't finish the question before succumbing to another wave of laughter. The Kainan duo was certainly a peculiar sight out of their usual uniforms and in servers' garb instead. The maroon clashed horribly with flushed cheeks.

Jin bowed his head low in shame and began their story.

"Well, we were walking home from training as usual – "

"It was getting dark, even with the lights outside – "

"And Kiyota wanted to practice his shooting skills on the way – "

"Sempai wanted to test his passing – "

"So he shot the ball too high, over my head – "

"He couldn't catch it in time and – "

"There was this window. A brand new one, I'm guessing, judging by the manager's reaction…"

"He sure was pissed."

"Of course, he wanted compensation."

"We didn't have the cash – "

"Since I had to pay for Kiyota's and my dinner a while back."

"So we end up as… these," Kiyota snarled as he plucked at the hem of his shirt gingerly. "Until we've covered our debt."

"Please don't tell Maki-sempai or Takato-sensei!"

Earnest as their plea was - one's screech softened slightly by the other's fretful tone - it only 'served' to send more ripples of sniggers through the heavyset shoulders of their nemesis. Images of Kainan's Coach Takato with his fan tight in a death-grip appearing in an overwrought scene depicting Jin and Kiyota's ultimate humiliation flashed through their minds, sending the Shohoku players into fits of bawdy laughter (not counting Rukawa snoozing in his own private corner).

And somewhere beneath the scraps of frivolity, the cloudy edges of mirth blurring his nerves to a hot pool of recklessness, Mitsui felt it. The urge to end the game in one fell swoop was a burn in his chest, him wanting to wipe that dumb grin off Miyagi's face, wanting to wrap an arm around Ayako's shoulders like it was the easiest thing in the world behind a three-pointer, wanting to win this round so bad…

The door swung open and a hulking shadow fell upon them. As the old tale would have gone, a heavy silence should have engulfed the unruly crowd. And so it would have gone as planned, were it not for clichés being as significant as empty plates to Sakuragi.

"Oh, it's just Gori!"

Akagi's expression wavered on the fine line between annoyance and bemusement.

"Hey, he brought Megane-kun with him too! And… and…" For all the world could see, Sakuragi's eyes may have streamed rivers of pink hearts and roses at the sight of Haruko shyly peering from behind her brother's towering form. Disgusted, Mitsui deliberately ignored the pantomime and waved to Kogure. The boy replied with a smile, one of the soft steady ones that felt as natural as a spring breeze springing open a door. Ayako's smile felt just as nice, hinting at cinnamon and something bittersweet if he were to judge by the twist of her lips alone. He could handle this part of falling, the feel of anti-gravity whistling past his ears as he plummeted upside-down into the sky. Endless and light.

'Sendoh-sensei's Guide to Girls: Quick Tip One! Look before you leap for you can never be sure how hard you land!'

The bracelet, innocently wrapped in white paper and silver ribbon, loomed over him in the dark of his pocket. He could whip it out like a magician, like Haruko producing the home-made birthday cake from the package concealed behind her back, with a flick of his wrist and a smug expression of mock surprise…

No, too cheesy. Especially with the whole team bursting into a chorus of 'Happy Birthday!' at the same time. Especially considering how each loud off-key note sent his bravado tipping into the realm of stage-fright. Especially when he opened his eyes and saw the cold hard ground instead of a soft bed of clouds hurtling towards him.

"Is something the matter, Mitsui?" He turned to face Kogure who'd tapped his shoulder. Concern? Hell, he couldn't be as obvious as Sakuragi or Miyagi, right?

Still, he heartily dug into his slice of cake when the time came to show that he had his feet planted firmly on earth even if his mind was prone to wandering through the stars. And still, he waited for a glimpse of her, sometimes a mere shake of her curls in laughter, to remind himself why he could remain in orbit for this long. A peal of laughter from her spelled a good omen for him. A gaze aimed at no one in particular made his doubts spring to life once more. He would follow the path of her sight, then trail off. If there was someone else, he wasn't sure he wanted to know.

"Happy Birthday, Ayako. Please accept this as a token of my…"

"Hey, Ayako! I was wondering if…"

"Here, take it."

One by one, he dismissed each opening line. They each sounded worse than the one before in his head, more so when he muttered them under his breath. Distractions came and went in the form of Akagi dealing blow upon blow to an incorrigible Sakuragi, with Kiyota and Jin rushing about to appease some picky customers… and yet, the peace offering weighed heavily upon his thoughts.

Miyagi's voice wafted into his consciousness. "You've been quiet since we entered, Mitsui-san. Something on your mind?"

"English class."

"Seriously?"

"When something's more trouble than it's worth. A white elephant, they call it."

Mitsui immediately regretted his words as soon as Miyagi narrowed his eyes. His own white package seemed to shrink within its confines.

"Are you trying to tell me that – "

"No, this party's not a waste of time, Pipsqueak. You don't have to jump to conclusions."

Thankfully, the second-year relaxed enough to resume his conversation with Ayako. Just across them on the other side of the table, Mitsui barely made out words like 'economics' and 'last night'. It felt warmer than it looked outdoors and that wonderful smell of freshly baked pizza was nothing short of a teenage boy's culinary heaven. If he concentrated less on what he'd promised to try, let his eyes drift out of focus on the scene and then all he'd see was the pink in her cheeks if he could just make it in time.

She'd still glow brighter than any silver he could splash out on for her.

'Lesson Two!

Courage!'

"… Ayako?"

"Mitsui-sempai, is something bothering you?"

"Nope. It's beautiful – I mean, it's a beautiful cake – it's a beautiful day!"

"Well, it certainly was…"

'Lesson Three!

Wit! Intelligence is a turn-on, especially when it's not one of her best qualities!'

"Damn Sendoh."

"Excuse me?"

"Uh… um, damn waiter! Get back here and bring me another soda, Monkey!"

"Are you feeling ill, Sempai? Your hands are shaking."

"No. No, they aren't."

"Yes, they are. Why else are they behind your head? I think I know you a lot better than you give me credit for."

He couldn't help but let the smile play loose. No, I don't think you do.

'Lesson Four!

Be yourself! Unless you're Fukuda-kun, what's the worst that can happen?'

A lot. A lot could happen.

It was nearing the end of the impromptu party. As ensured by Sakuragi, there were no leftover crumbs or cash ("Dammit, Hanamichi, didn't we tell you to stop at second servings?"). As declared by Ayako, it was the best birthday ever.

"Really, I don't know how to thank you. You guys are the best…"

"So are you."

Miyagi said it first. Miyagi was here first. Miyagi had taken the first step Mitsui had been so wary of.

"So are you, Aya-chan."

The few times that the Shohoku High basketball team had ever been rendered stock-still silent could be counted on a cat's paw. After this, the tally would have to be moved onto a hand. The freshers broke it with a flurry of whoops and cheers with the others soon joining in. Mitsui had never thought he'd find the sound of celebration so loud.

That idiot Miyagi was redder than the logo on his shirt. What did he need to be so embarrassed for? He'd done what he set out to do. Girls admired determination. Ayako must have loved it. He'd always known she would, especially with that look on her face. Maybe Miyagi knew that too, what with that giddy smile.

Lucky.

'Lesson Five

If all else fails, then move along, my friend! After all she's just a girl and there'll be others!'

Ayako wasn't 'just a girl'. She was the girl.

But nevertheless, he slipped his old smirk on and slowly began to clap. The gift would return to his desk-drawer, unwrapped and useless by the time this night was over.