Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this work, who are the creation of Takehiko Inoue. Neither do I have any claim over his work in the manga and anime Slam Dunk. I do not earn any profit from this.
Author's Note: There was some argument about whether this guy should come first, as he is the undisputed dreamboat of the series, but this Author follows no such rules. Hope you enjoy!
Rukawa Kaede
Birthday: January 1
Nickname/s: Kitsune (disputed)
Affiliations: Tomigaoka Junior High, Shohoku High School, All Japan Team
Appearance: Rukawa is famously good-looking, inspiring legions of girls to don the white-and-pink uniform of his (unauthorized) cheering squad. An inch and a half over six feet, he is lean and long-limbed—the kind of guy you might imagine strutting down a runway if he wasn't running around a basketball court. With black hair and dark blue eyes eyes set against ivory skin, Rukawa's features are so fine that the worst criticism to have been heard on the subject (from a bitterly jealous rival) is the comparison to a fox.
Personality, Quirks of Note: Unlike many of his contemporaries, Rukawa only comes alive on the basketball court. Off it, the boy is either asleep or riding around aimlessly on his bicycle, listening to music. (Footage has been found to support the claim that he rides around aimlessly on his bicycle while asleep.) Much discussion has gone into how to get Rukawa engaged, and the consensus is that he needs to be properly enraged. Rukawa is impervious to everything except irritation: unless he's arguing with his teammate, Sakuragi, he really doesn't have much to say. When he does open his mouth unprompted, it's often to say something succinct and bitchy in Sakuragi's direction.
Planning is not really Rukawa's strong point. Recall that he only enrolled at Shohoku because it was near his house, despite efforts from other schools—with stronger basketball teams—to recruit him. A more ambitious player (say, Maki Shinichi) would have made the necessary adjustments to hedge his chances of coming out on top. Rukawa also conceived of the notion that he should move to the United States in order to really play ball. Thankfully, he is willing to be advised by those with more experience and foresight, so he doesn't get himself into too much trouble.
Rukawa is certainly arrogant, but not in the in-your-face, blustery way that Sakuragi is famous for. He is confident enough in his talent and skills to actually believe that he can carry a whole team and control a game—and since he manages to do that most of the time, his instincts are not far-off. His indifference to his teammates is not prideful or haughty, but stems from the earnest conviction that it doesn't matter who he's playing with because the game revolves on how he performs. On the rare occasion that he does fail to carry his team through, Rukawa takes it very hard, because he sees it as a personal failure. This makes him a poor sport.
Rukawa likes cats—ironic, since they are the only creatures who are more indifferent to people who like them than him.
Finances: Rukawa does have some nifty stuff, suggesting he is better off than some despite going to a public school. He also seriously considered moving to the United States, which suggests that he may not have much to worry about in terms of logistics. (Or, again, he may just be a really bad planner.) Rukawa will almost certainly pursue a career as a professional athlete, so finances should not be a cause for concern, provided his funds are managed well. (By someone other than Rukawa.)
Family: While Rukawa doesn't give off a very nurturing vibe (on account of the self-absorption and general indifference), his interactions with his juniors does suggest that he isn't broken on the inside; his heart and humanity are definitely working and are in place—he just doesn't access them as often. As a partner, Rukawa seems to be the kind of person who will only like a person to the extent that he respects them; i.e. if Sakuragi weren't as good of an athlete as he is, Rukawa would actually dismiss him as a moron (as opposed to only calling him a moron in order to rile him). An older partner who can guide him with sensible advice may also possibly work, provided they were fine with shepherding this sleepyhead along as part of the romantic dynamic. As a parent, there are aspects in which he will need prodding so that he is not neglectful, but if you're having kids with this guy, what are the chances that you end up with a miniature of him? (Who will therefore need very little parenting provided they get their way.)
Possible Rivals: Other than his hordes of fan-girls, you may need to look in Sakuragi's direction. Not that Sakuragi would be so inclined (what with the ongoing and possibly perpetual infatuation with Haruko Akagi), but he is one of the few people who can really hold Rukawa's attention. Take notes!
Overall Assessment: Incredibly good-looking, so if looks are all that matter, this should be a no-brainer. Finding chemistry with someone who is only interested in one thing (especially when it's not that thing) is another issue entirely, so unless you're good at basketball and have the ability to get under his skin and get him to pay attention to you, this may be one that's better admired from afar.
End Notes: Feedback is much-appreciated!