DISCLAIMER : Following the word itself "fanfiction", I do not own anything in this fiction and credits belong to the rightful creators of the manga: Inoue Takehiko, the publisher, the broadcasting company of the anime and etc.
"This is it..."
Fujima after taking some few deep breaths finally spoke out.
The whole team in green gathered along the bench on their side of the court, having some final discussions to boost the team's morale for today's big match.
"We have always looked forward to this day, and just when we thought we had lost hope being eliminated by Shohoku on the preliminaries, who would know they would actually have the same fate as us..." Fujima continued. "Shohoku is watching... and in a few Kainan would be too..."
"we can't afford to screw this up this time."
"OU!"
"You all knew what to do... Hanagata, Takano, Nagano, Kazushi... I'm all counting on you."
BEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPP!
And finally, the student-referee blew the whistle as a signal for both teams to gather on the court.
"Shoyoooooo...~ FIGHT!"
"OU!"
The five of them throwing their fists up in the air, as they marched towards the court, all in high-spirits, full determination, considering this as a fight to prove them worthy back to their throne.
"I see you're not happy about it haha... Aren't you happy yet about being chosen to take part on that All-Japan Junior Camp?"
Sawakita, still keeping his cool, threw him another sarcasm, however in a less intimidating tone, being careful not to stir up a fight with this hot-headed guy who have been dying for a rematch.
"I gotta go though, the match starts in a few moments. I just snuck out to take a piss... See ya later..." As Sawakita turned his back to head back, Rukawa once again voiced out.
"Why aren't we included..." Rukawa still in his monotone, underlies a tone of aggression and stress, stopped Sawakita on his tracks by such question.
"12 points... just 6 more minutes..."
Sawakita stood in front of him. Eyeing every move he does carefully.
Despite the loud noises around, all he can hear was the ball's bouncing as Miyagi dribbled it in his hands, anticipating to pass it to him...
His confidence had started to escape slowly out of his spirit, still lost and perplexed.
"Japan's # 1?" Sawakita enounced with a smug grin in his face.
"Huh?"
"To be the #1 player in Japan... that's it right?" Sawakita asked further with hints of belittlement.
"It's none of your fucking business" Confused, still at a loss of words, trying to catch his breath.
"Then do it," Sawakita continued. "...In a Japan without me..."
Sawakita, finding such question instigating, did not know how to answer it, leaving a few seconds of awkward silence.
"Too afraid to get beaten by us again?" Rukawa continued asking...
By such statement, Sawakita was brought one step closer to snapping off. He was actually bothered at the same time by the fact that this guy, at this very moment chose to stir up a fight with him.
"Excuse me? US..? The reigning champion?" Sawakita still smiling however in a more impatient and sarcastic tone than a while ago raised a brow. "That's hilarious... considering you all just got lucky with that one..."
And once again Sawakita finally turned back and this time for real. Without looking back, he threw an arm up in the air waving it whilst running to the gym... "Catch ya later!"
Rukawa stood still as he watched Sawakita fade away...
...those words still haunting his mind...
"...In a Japan without me..."
DRIBBLE... DRIBBLE... SCREEECH! THUD THUD...
DEFENSE! DEFENSE!
OFFENSE! OFFENSE!
Those sounds echoed around the court, along with different yells, cheering and chattering as the game ensued
"SLAAAAAM!"
Hanagata landed on the floor with a loud slam as he threw the ball frantically back to the court. "FUJIMAAAA!"
"NICE SAVE!" Fujima on the run caught the ball in his hands automatically, as Fukatsu dashing towards him.
"I won't let you this time, yo..."
Fujima, on a face-off with Fukatsu.
First 3 minutes.
[Shoyo - 02 Sannoh Kogyo - 00]
Fujima took the first point with a jump shot, cutting through Fukatsu's defense.
BOUNCE... SLAPPP!
Fujima, passing the ball, now in Hasegawa's hands, him aiming for a three-pointer.
"MIKIOOO! ICHINOKURA!"
The two ran to block Hasegawa in which unexpectedly...
"WHAT THE!..."
Hasegawa, even before the two can land their feet back to the ground, then bent his knees down bouncing the ball once again down under, anticipating Fujima to catch it back...
SLAAAAAPPP!
"Lame yo..." Fukatsu, with the speed of lightning, stealing the ball, now in his hands. "I told you... it's our turn this time yo..."
"I still can't get over that beard thing..." Hanamichi still mumbling by the balcony, following Fujima's every movement by his eyes.
"Same here... not just him but all of these wierd shit going on in them..." Takamiya nodded. "The shaved brows creep me out the most..."
"Is that some tactic to distract the opponent? Seems like those stuff only work on imbeciles like someone over here..." Ookusu indirectly addressing it to Hanamichi.
"And who is that imbecile you're talking about!"
"Just like you, they prolly did that as a punishment to themselves and a also a motivation at the same time..." Yohei stated. "Don't you have plans to grow your hair longer though, Hanamichi?"
"Naaah... I looked more like a legit basketball player this way, NYAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"There really is something wrong with this match..." Mitsui rubbing his chin spoke, while watching the slowly intensifying match below.
"Other than both being too tense, Sannoh seems to take Shoyo too lightly..." Miyagi, added in agreement.
"Neither of their aces came out to play..." Ayako continued. "It's a downright insult..."
"Yeah... I've never seen Sawakita around, not even on the benches..." Kogure pointed out as well. "Although, as far as I can see from up here, the one in their benches even their coach was a bit too tensed also..."
"SAWAKITAAA...!" Doumoto-sensei gritted his teeth while impatiently tapping his foot on the ground, walking back and forth, restless. "Minoru!"
"Y-yes sir!" Minoru startled, inadvertently blurted out upon being hastily called upon.
"Did he even asked for any of you guys' permission?! WHERE THE HELL DID HE GO!"
"SIR!" Running back to them are a group of Sannoh benchwarmers who were asked to find Sawakita, but unfortunately unsuccesful. "We weren't able to find him anywhere sir!"
"THAT BRAAAAT!"
"Phew!" Naomi arrived panting... "Sorry! Kinda got lost... Wasn't too familiar about this place...!"
"You're late... pffft." Mika scoffed. "The match has already started... But it's okay... It was just like 3 minutes..."
"Soooo! Where's Fujima!" Naomi enthusiastically shifted herself near the balcony to finally get a sight of the match and one of the said heart throbs she always loved to see play. "HOLY CRAP!"
Just as the same reaction as Hanamichi, the revolting sight of Fujima having facial hair and the rest of the team's 'new look' drove her crazy.
"W-WHAT THE FUCK!"
Mika though, not even giving a heed to all those quirks on Shoyo's new look, seemed to be a bit preoccupied about a certain matter, her eyes locked at that area of the gym for Sannoh.
Naomi upon noticing the bothered look on her friend's face asked... "What's the matter?"
"He's not here..."
"SHIT I'm lost!"
Sawakita scurried here and there, trying to fnd his way back to the gym. Apparently, the moment he left Rukawa, he took the wrong alley that lead him to another building and now he cant find his way back.
"Uhh excuse me?" To his relief he finally caught sight of a passer-by he can ask directions from. "Where is the gym again?"
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAHHHH!"
The crowd started to roar wildly after Fukatsu managed to gain back the points by a four-point play, in which Hasegawa committed a defensive foul before Fukatsu's attempt for a three pointer got succesful. And now succesfully got his one free throw in, effortlessly.
"WOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"SANNOH! SANNOH!"
5 Minutes.
[Shoyo - 02 Sannoh Kogyo - 04]
"UWAAAAAAAAAAA! SORRY I'M LAAAAATE!"
Finally, there's Sawakita, darting from the back door up to their benches, beeing greeted back by the infuriated, angry faces of his coach, as well as his teammates who was on the court too.
"WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN! YOU IDIOOOOTTT!"
END OF CHAPTER 7