Chapter II


"Goodbye, class…" Mr. Hatake lazily stood up as he carried his pocketbook with his right hand and opening the door with the other. Only a fourth of the entire class dared to greet him goodbye while the others quickly busied themselves in their own businesses.

"So you must be Sakura Haruno…" Hidan gave a toothy grin as he stood in front of the pinkette in boredom.

Sakura lifted her head and gave a blunt scowl at the six-footer guy.

"What'd you say if I'll try testing my knuckles on you?" His look became serious as he knuckles his fists hard.

"Principal's office…" Sasori muttered silently to himself as he was busy scanning the student's handbook on his armchair. The moment Sakura heard him say that, she quickly remembered that she has an audience with the principal! She quickly scooted her way out of their messy classroom; leaving Hidan a baffled look.

Running in great speed, she accidentally bumped into her Sensei who happened to be reading his pocketbook again while he's walking into his next class.

"Gommenasai, Sensei!" She bows down several times; giving her apology.

"Pinky, I thought you would be seeing the principal now?" He muttered half-heartedly.

Sakura blushed in embarrassment and replied, "Hai, Sensei! I-I want to know where is the principal's office located?"

He looked surprise and gave her a brief reply, "Pinky, on the third floor, fourth block, and in that block, proceed to the right hallway and go straight."

"Arigato, Sensei!"

She then jogged her way towards the office and decided to take the stairs after finding out that the elevator is full. The stairs go zigzag as she advances her way up. God, this is her first time going up the next floor. It was really tiring that she could feel her knees ache. The teachers must've been avoiding the stairs, she thought.

"3rd floor…" She gasped.

The hallway is pretty clean and there were no signs of life…I mean students. The place is completely deadened with silence. Sakura trudges her way slowly, looking at every room she encountered. Almost all of the rooms were labeled: Grade 11 A, AB, B. This probably must be the hall of the Seniors!

Arriving in the fourth block, the hallway is dimlit and there is an echo of silence. Gods, is this a haunted house?

Tiptoeing her way through the wide-spaced hall, she nearly fainted when she felt someone grips on her shoulder.

"Aaaah!" She nearly died in shock.

"Ms. Are you alright?" a deep but rather innocent voice came behind her.

She slowly shifted herself to her back; now facing the person behind. She could feel goosebumps all over her, the moment she saw the man's figure. He was bringing something…something like a…pot?

"I'm fine sir." She squeaked.

"What are you doing in a place like this?" He asked.

She shifted her gaze towards the right hallway which leads to the principal's office.

"You've been called to the principal's office?"

She nodded briefly. They both stood like that for a few seconds then the anonymous guy left without a word; leaving the pinkette confused.

Was that it? She thought. Now she really is crept out.

Moving on, she could feel cold sweat in her palms, the nearer she gets to the door. Her heart is thumping frantically as her breathing shallows.

What is the matter with me? Why does the principal wanted an audience with me? She thought.

Stopping in front of the door, she could read the bold letters in the signage: Principal's Office. She gingerly grasps for the knob and could feel her body freeze at the cruel metal against her palm. Her heart skipped a beat at every knock she made on the wood. Closing her emerald orbs, she could hear a faint reply from the inside, "Come in."


Opening the door, she was blinded by the bright light emerging from the room. All she could see is the large wooden table sitting contentedly in the middle of the room as two large antique bookshelves guarded the entrance. She carefully went inside after closing the door silently. Two large yellow sofas are placed in front of the table. Five large images are hanged against the wall with a large round clock settled at its center. The table is filled with almost all of the paperworks and documents the principal is up to. The only thing that she could see, despite of the tremendous paperwork is the golden tainted sign on the table: Ms. Tsunade Senju, School Principal.

Wait a second… there principal is still a… Miss?

Creak!

The door opened. Sakura turned her head around to see whose coming. She hasn't realized that there is a back door in the room. A blond lady in emerald green uniform with a matching white blazer emerged from the door. She slowly proceeded into her table the moment she saw the pinkette seated on the sofa. She was carrying a mug in which she placed it on her table. Scanning the documents, she then shifted her gaze to the silent pinkette.

"Sakura…Haruno, is that right?" She muttered.

"Yes, ma'am." She replied politely.

"Do you know why you are here?" She asked; staring right through her emerald eyes. Sakura could notice some visible dark circles under her eyes. Is she sleep deprived?

Sakura blinked. Of course she doesn't have any idea why despite of the numerous assumptions in her head. "No, ma'am."

Tsunade sighed. Now she has to remind her all over again.

"Do you know what kind of school is this, Ms. Haruno?"

Sakura thought for awhile and replied, "An academic private institution, ma'am."

"Then do you know how you got here in this institution?" Tsunade never left her gaze.

"Scholarship grant, ma'am."

Tsunade was pleased by her reply but she remained serious in the matter.

"Have you read about the student's handbook, Ms. Haruno? Of course, it was already expected for students in here to orient themselves first about the rules and regulations in school."

Sakura blinked.

"Has it mentioned about tardiness?" Tsunade cocked a brow. "And do you know how much we tried to eradicate that issue?"

Sakura could feel herself gulp from her sudden guilt. Why has this disease never been cured since she was in middle school?

"Ma'am I-"

"And you missed the club shopping hours." Tsunade shook her head. "And damaged the stall of the Basketball club."

God, she has counted all of her mistakes…

Sakura stared silently on the floor. She felt ashamed and sad of the offenses she has committed even on the first day of classes.

"Sakura, I understand your current situation. Your sister has been always telling me about the inconveniences that might happen because of your... let's say your condition. I believe that you are meant to be in this institution since you have passed the scholarship grant."

Sakura remained silent.

"I know it would be hard fitting in this environment but to tell you, I am doing my best to help each and everyone of you in all aspects. I have read your biodatum and base from it, I could say you have a lot of potential inside you. So if you want to continue your stay in this institution, you must catch up the standards we have set for every student. So please, help yourself. Try to do and show your very best in everything that you do. I am not here to judge you but I just want to help you remind in the current situation you are in now."

"Ma'am…" Sakura muttered apologetically. "I'm sorry."

Tsunade gave a deep sigh and replied, "Okay, I forgive you but next time, try avoiding committing the same or other offenses."

"Yes ma'am."

"And by the way, have you chosen a club?"

Sakura gave her a blank look.

"Oh, yeah, you missed the club shopping…" Tsunade slouched back as she begins ruffling some documents in a folder.

"My assistant, Shizune Hakamichi will be touring you around the different clubs that you could still freely join. And that is 1 sharp. I excuse you this afternoon classes for your sake. Make sure you have chosen a club tomorrow morning so everything would be settled or I would be the one choosing for you."

Sakura smiled and felt grateful after she is given the chance to catch up with the things she has just lost. She immediately stood up from her seat and bows down happily, "Arigato, Ma'am. Arigato!"

Tsunade felt a small smile tug in her features after dismissing the pinkette. She should never let her down.


At Lunch

"So how's your first day of classes, forehead?" Ino smiled as she places her tray on the table in the cafeteria. Tenten stared distastefully at the alien trash on the blonde's tray.

"Eeeew…" Tenten whined.

"Shut up, Tenten! I'm on a vegan diet!" Ino scolded. Now she has decided to take her diet plan seriously.

"I was called to the principal's office." Sakura muttered as she takes a sip from her strawberry juice. She couldn't still get over from what had happened.

Both girls stared in shock.

"Why?"

"Just discussing some few things…" she tries to make it a little bit not-too-personal stuff.

"Oh."

"Hey, I heard that you are in the same class with the silver bully." Ino smirked.

"Unfortunately, yes." Sakura replied back. She could barely taste the salad on her plate.

"So how was it?" Ino couldn't drop it off.

"It was…alright…" She sighed halfheartedly.

"Hey, Sakura, why are you so drained?" Tenten asked; now she has noticed the pinkette's sudden loss of energy.

"Hn?"

"Tell me you have run another mile." Ino grinned; finishing her plate.

"It was just the things that happened all of a sudden." She exhaled deeply. She slowly moves her tray away after finishing her salad and juice.

"Was it that redhead beside you the guy you're talking about?" Tenten asked; munching her apple.

Sakura gave her a soft glare. "He's not!"

"Aaah, so he's that guy… you're seatmates?" Ino gave a large cheeky grin as she stared intently at the now-creeped-out pinkette.

"Yes and no." Sakura replied. "I mean, we're seatmates but this is still not our permanent seats."

"Aaaah… So what's his name?" Ino quickly changed the topic.

The pinkette stared at her blankly. She really doesn't have any idea of his name. She was mentally absent at that time. Teehee…

"I think it was Sa…" Tenten muttered thoughtfully; trying to recall his name.

"Guys, I gotta go now. I have to catch up something, its already 1 sharp!" Sakura quickly waved a goodbye to her friends as she scrambled herself through the cafeteria. She shouldn't be late again.


"You're Ms. Sakura Haruno, right?" The lady in black uniform with her hair tied in a bun asked.

"Yes, Ms." Sakura gasped.

"So shall we begin?" She muttered after adjusting her glasses on the bridge of her nose.

They went into the Club Hall where all the different clubs whether academic or sports are designated in every room. The place is almost empty after the students came rushing for the start of classes.

"Here, all the Clubs with their room numbers are in that brochure. I hope it helps you."

Sakura reads the brochure; examining on the club she could still join.


Literature society – Room 1A

Artists Lounge – Room 1B

Music guild – Room 1C

Theatre guild – Room 1D

Math and Sciences auditorium – Room 1E

Student Council – Room 2A

Basketball club – Room 3A

Swimming club – Room 3B

Track and Field – Room 3C

Tennis/Badminton club – Room 3D

Soccer club – Room 3E

Gymnastics – Room 3F

Board Games society – Room 4A


"So there's the Literature society where poets, writers, mostly journalists belong. If you have a passion for art, although I really don't appreciate abstracts, you might be in the Artists Lounge. The Music guild is for students who love performance arts same as the Theatre guild, if you do have split personalities. Science and stuff? Math and Sciences has a place for you. You can only be in the Student Council if you run in the Student Government. The Basketball club is one of the least-participated clubs and ONLY for guys, except if you'll become their manager or coach. The Swimming club, for beach-lovers. Track and field, for those who'd love to tire their shoes off. Tennis or Badminton club, if you love giving back in return. Soccer club is for those who love to kick and Gymnastics for the graceful and ballistic. I could give you more time in exploring the rest of the campus since Ms. Tsunade gave you the entire afternoon. I'll be just finishing some documents." Shizune left after giving the pinkette a short tour of the school clubs. It was really baffling.

The Music guild seems pretty nice, so as the Student council perhaps sciences? No…maybe? She really is not an athletic-type so sports might not be an option but she does know some. Ugh!

If only she has much time to choose.


She decided to walk back into her room to clear things off. As she was about to turn back, she accidentally bumped into somebody. She could hear loud scatters of files and documents dispersed on the floor.

"Gomennasai! Gomennasai!" The pinkette quickly apologized as she helped the lady picked up her things.

"It's alright." The blue-haired woman crouched beside her; arranging the documents in the folder.

They both simultaneously stood up. Sakura thought of helping the poor lady in carrying her things. There were too much!

"Ms. Let me help you." Sakura offered as she takes some of the documents from the woman's arms.

"Thank you."

They both stopped by the door of the Basketball club where they went in. Flickering the lights, the blue-haired woman places all the documents on her wooden table where two large long benches are assembled on its sides. The pinkette was amazed at the sight of the room. It was filled with a lot of silver and bronze trophies displayed on one of the shelves. The only thing that brought the room to life is the beautiful colorful origami flowers in the vase. The room is a complete ghost town.

"What is this place?" Sakura gasped as she places the documents on a table. She never thought this place would be so deserted for a school like this.

The blue-haired woman replied, "The Basketball club."

Sakura's eyes widened after hearing those words. The basketball club? But why so deserted and lonely?

"Its been a long time…" The woman started.

"What do you mean, Ms.?" Sakura blinked.

"This room was once occupied by players. Although they haven't done too much for the school, they never regret playing the game." She stroked on one of the dusty old frames on a shelf. "They love Basketball."

"But what about now?...I'm sorry if I asked too much." Sakura muttered sadly.

The woman smiled. A sad sorrowful smile.

"That kind of love has never existed today. And even it may, it is too impossible for it to outshine especially when games are for fame and victory."

Sakura could feel the pain in her words. Although that may sound a joke but it is true to reality.

"But why does that kind of love disappeared? I mean everybody's gotta love what they are doing." She explained.

The woman smiled, "Things change and so does people. I'd be packing up by now."

Sakura jolted, "WHAT?...W-Who are you?!"

"I'm Konan." She smiled again as she begins placing the frames in a box.

"A-Are you…" Sakura was choked in her words.

Konan nodded gently.

"You're Konoha's former…"

"Basketball coach."

"Are you kidding?!"

"No."

"But…you're a girl!"

"I am but there are no gender inequalities or such."

Sakura couldn't get over from her shocked state. She has not seen this in her life. A female coach?! She only heard of female sports manager or such, but a coach? In BASKETBALL?!

"So like you're the 'boss' they're referring to?" Sakura wondered.

Konan chuckled. "Yes."

"But why are you leaving?" Sakura asked; wondering what might happen if she'll ever leave.

"Its complicated." She sighed.

"But you've got a team to look for." Sakura reasoned.

"There is no team." She muttered half-heartedly almost to herself.

"But what about Hidan? Isn't he a player?" Sakura could barely swallow her words; mentioning the bully's name.

"He is but there is no team. The team has been shattered long ago and its hard to bring it back again."

Sakura could feel herself steam in anger from Konan's its-already-hopeless words. There's gotta be a way…

"Coach, if you'll leave, the team would be shattered a lot." Sakura replied; her eyes downcast.

"You know, girl, the problem doesn't only lie in the team or what. There are still a lot of things than this. Although the school is relying on academics, sports are just a sideline plus the school's record has never been broken." Konan chuckled a bit.

Of course, Sakura knew of the school's standing when it comes into sports. It is almost flunked out; reaching second to the last. Her sister would always tell her to study into schools where sports and academics are at peak. And her sister is also a sports manager…of Basketball.

"No. I believe there's still a way! Please, don't leave the team! Onegai!" She pleaded.

"There's nothing I can do about it. My devotion to the team has already burned out and I need to switch my job to give a better life for my siblings."

Ugh! Sakura hated to see the Basketball club crumble down. Its not like she cares but the club, school and mostly the people involved. If only she can do something…

"Konan, I'll help you!"

Konan blinked. "Pardon?"

"I-I'll help you… fix the team." Sakura stammered.

"This is ridiculous."

"I'm serious."

"It's already a failure."

"Not until we try." The pinkette brightens up.

Konan knows that the pinkette really wanted to regain back the team. But for what reason? She should be cramming herself up with books to maintain her scholarship grant in this institution not with sports or what.

"What about the consequences?" Konan muttered; waiting for her reply.

"What consequences?"

"Like if we fail or not…"

Sakura thought for awhile and then came up with an idea.

"If we fail, Basketball's out in the school's history and you're free to walk out but if we succeeded, Basketball's in history!" Sakura grinned.

"Are you willing to take the big responsibility?" Konan doubted.

Sakura smiled, "I'm Sakura Haruno and I am ready to take any responsibility I'll have."

Konan was amazed by the pinkette's optimism.

"Sakura, do you take my sudden proposal of placing you as…" Konan muttered thoughtfully. "As the Basketball sports manager?"

Sakura could feel her heart leap out. This'll be a pretty big bunch! You, handling the team? Oh god!

"YES!" She exclaimed loudly.

"Okay, but there's a catch." Konan reminded, "I'll not be always there for the team but it is up to you on handling them since I work for two masters." She winked.

"Don't worry, Ma'am I won't let you down!"

"So shall we begin with your apprentice lessons?" Konan asked.

The pinkette nodded eagerly. Now she'll have something worth- doing.

"But first we must establish a team." Sakura suggested.

Konan chuckled, "Well it is up to you, I can only give you the background info of some students who's got the potential."

Sakura fell silent. And then exclaimed proudly.

"Game on!"


Hi minna-san!

Sorry for the delay, I was trying my best to finish my 2nd chapter but I still need to work with my tight schedule especially when I'm crammed up with homework and stuff. But don't worry; I'll be posting the next chapter soon. You guys should keep an eye to who these players with potential are. You'll be surprised by their background info. And how Sakura manages to get them back.

So long guys, Bye!

Arigato!