"Over here!" Hanamichi shouted excitedly, waving his hands to grab attention. Kiyota saw that scene and, not willing to let Hanamichi show off, he went to block him. Ryota was still bouncing the ball, not knowing who to pass it to, the rest were well guarded by Kainan's team members. At first he intended to pass it to Hanamichi, but that fool shouted so loud, it attracted the attention of others, beads of sweat was forming at his face. He was getting nervous...
Suddenly, he saw another red-shirt fellow, his team mate, cleverly darted away from his opponent, "Mitsui!" he exclaimed as he make a suave pass to him. Mitsui took the ball, dribbled it a few metres, and made a smooth 3-pointer.
"YES! A perfect shot everytime" he thought to himself. The crowd's cheer boosted his ego even more!
"You've done it again this time!" Ryota cried happily as he gave Mitsui a BIG pat.
*sign* ".. wish I have such shooting skills too, then I would have to do the dummy dunk everytime..." Akagi started mumbling to himeself again.
"Dun worry, practice shooting 10 000 times everyday, you'll sure to make it someday." Mitsui gave his helpless advice.
"Ahh.. this stupid Mitsui is teasing me again!!!" Akagi wanted to punch him but in front of so many people? 'Image Akagi! Take care of your image!' he reminded himself and decided to save that punch till later.
"Com'on guys, we've got some catching up to do..."
In the later match, Mitsui did several flawless 3-pointer and that contributed much to the team in trying to chase up with Kainan's points, though they lose by 2 points in the end...
"Hey Mitsui, talk about your secondary days...when you were an MVP player" Ryota said, as they were outside guarding Shohoku's basketball court - Hanamichi and Rukawa were having a one-to-one match to see who would win AGAIN!
"My secondary school days... haha.. the other time, I was still small and all too keen to play basketball. I went to practice at the a neighbourhood basketball court everyday after school, no matter rain or shine..." Mitsui smiled.
This was the first time Ryota saw that kind of smile from Mitsui. It was a honey cum angel smile, like a child's delighted smile when given his dream toy. "Do you always smile like that??" Ryota suddenly asked.
"Huh??" Mitsui, awoken from his day-dream, "What smile??"
"Nevermind..." Ryota replied carelessly. 'I'll make you smile more of that kind...' he thought mirthfully.
"You were talking about playing basketball there, no matter rain or shine .. after that??" Ryota promting Mitsui to continue.
"Oh.. then one day, I saw a lovely girl sitting at a corner, watching me discreetly or so I thought. My guess was right. I saw her there several times. One day, she did came up to me and expressed herself. She told me that she admired my basketball skills and longed to make friend with me. Of course I felt flattered and happy. Soon, we were meeting each other at the basketball court everyday. Sometimes she would play the game with me while sometimes she would sit there placidly and watch me play. Our friendship grew stronger everyday... Then one day, she didn't come to our meeting place. But as I was more eager to practice my basketball skills for the coming inter-school competition, I soon forgot about her. It was during that time that I won the MVP. We were so happy, cheering and hugging each other. Then at the corner of my eye, I saw a familar figure among the boisterous crowd. Unlike them. she was quiet and reserved. But from her eyes, I could see that she felt happy for me too. I excused myself from the team members and went to find her. We went to a nearby park to chat. I asked her why she had not come to the basketball court during the past few weeks. Her facial experssion suddenly turned crestfallen.
... "I can't meet you anymore..." she said, as drops of tears started forming in both her eye rims. "This is the last time I'm seeing you." the tears rolled down, she was trying hard to control them.
"Now.. now don't cry.." I tried to console her but dunno how. "Tell me why..."
"You dunno about my background. My elder brother is a street hoodlum and lately he has offended some bad guys. These mean fellows have been trying to create some troubles for us ever since. You have a bright future ahead, I can't have you involved..." ...
But somehow, I became involved and that took over the first two years of my life in Shohoku. Though it was a traumatic experience, there were also pleasant times. I remembered the street fights we had, though it was dangerous, we've had excitment, and the victory we gain had a great effect on us, we became meaner and stronger. I also met a very good pal there, Tekio. He became my role model. I followed him wherever he goes, sometimes even miss lessons to go fighting with him.
Then one day while fighting outside, I saw my father. He was very angry and he tried to drag me home. I refused to go home with him. Seeing that his attempts were useless, he started reprimanding me, "You're impossible, so that's the reason why your schoolwork has been deteriorating. Your future will be ruined if you continue like that..." and his figure soon retreated.
'So that's all you care about me, just a few words and you're off..' I thought to myself angrily. My parents doesn't care for me at all. My mother was angry with my drunkard and gambler father and so she left us when I was young. She didn't come to find us after that and I lost news of her also. So I was stuck with a father whom I abominated with time.
I grew from bad to worst, I hated basketball for a period of time coz it was the game which he thought me to play. When I was small, he always play with me. I was very happy then and wished to become a basketball player when I grow up. But that thought soon banished and I seek my happiness in the gang. They were a caring lot, at least a lot more caring than my family. My elder brother left home to work in the city at an early age. And my mother took care of my younger sister. We seems like a disbanded family.
Then during the first week of my third year, I went to pick up a fight with you guys..."
"Haha yah... that was a serious one...I remembered being hit badly by one of the guys in the gang..." Ryota recalled the painful experience.
"Well.. I'm sorry about that... but that helped me to return to the correct path... I sometimes thank my lucky stars for that ^_^ " Mitsui explained. " Coach Anzai could be said as my life-saver and Akagi-kun also. They knocked sense into my senseless mind. Then I became influenced by Coach Anzai and my confidence to walking the right path increased. Life became alot brighter. Though I sometimes miss the gang life and my pals there, I do not wish to return there anymore."
"Glad you made the right choice!" Ryota commented, "Your joining has also made a big effect on us."
"How?"
"We became alot more nastier..."
"What you idiot! You were a gang member once also.. #@$^^% "
** PUNCH!! ** ** POUNCE ** ** PUNCH!! **
"Haha.. joking lah.. but anywhere, I joined the gang for fun..."
"Oh yea.. talk about it...I wanna know... Erm.. no I DEMAND to KNOW.."
"Hey, Hanamichi-kun and Rukawa-kun finished the game already.. Let's go and find out who won...
"No.. You tell me first..."
"Oki oki.. mine is not as long-winded and complicated as yours, I joined it becoz for the first time in Shohoku, I was being bullied by several senoir students, and I was very angry but couldn't retaliate as they were bigger in numbers and also stronger. Then a group of second-years came to my rescue. I was touched. We were soon together and I became part of the gang.. that simple"
"Huh like that only ahh.. I didn't know you were so easily TOUCHED ... you must have flooded the cinema when you watch "Titanic"(movie) .."
"WWHAAT!!.. %$%@#%"
** POUNCE!! ** ** PUNCH!! ** ** PUNCH!! **
After the Saturday practice...
"Hey, are you gonna wait for me today?" Ryota was in the locker room, shouting to Mitsui, who was bathing in the bathroom.
"Okay! You better be quick, you bath so slow.." a voice replied from the bathroom.
"Ai..yo.. Micchy quick quick bath lah.. me waiting for ages already.." Hanamichi cried jokingly outside the bathroom.
"Why don't you hurry Akagi, he's been in there much LONGER than I am.. and also don't call me MICCHY .. I'm warning you" the voice replied again.
"Yah hor.." turning his focus to Akagi's bathroom door, "Hey Gorilla.. why are you taking so long ... "
"WHAT! YOU CALL ME THAT AGAIN YOU GET IT FROM ME.. AND I'LL ALSO FORBID MY SISTER TO .."
"Opps.. sorry, take your time.. gorri.. err no, Akagi senpai.. "
"MICCHY !! HURRY UP!"
** POUNCE **
"Ouchh.. who's trying to assainate me!" Hanamichi turned around to search for the assasin. "Ahh.. Ryota.. you did that!"
"I told you dun call Mitsui Micchy..."
"Ahh.. you gang up with Micchy .. What's between you guys lately?? "
"Huh...?? Nothing...Just shut up and wait for your turn" Ryota blushed.
"You don't tell me then I.." Hanamichi went to stand on top of the bench, "Hey guys listen! " he shouted at the top of his voice, "An important announcement! RYOTA AND MICCHY ARE ..."
"OOH Quiet!! " Ryota tried to gag up Hanamichi's mouth. "I'll tell you later.. but make sure you don't spread the words.."
"What were you about to say just now?" another second year student asked as he got out from the bathroom.
"Oh.. er nothing, Ryota and Micchy are going to watch a movie, are you going to join them?"
"No thanks, I don't like movies.."
"Hanamichi, sometimes I'm amazed by your capabilities..." Ryota gave a sigh of relief.
"Of course! After all I'm a Tensai ... Hahaha.." and he disappeared into the just vacant bathroom.
At the open field...
"Hey Micchy, wait for me, don't run so fast..." Ryota was busy catching his breadth. Mitsui was already several metres away.
"You call yourself pointguard and yet you can't catch up with me... " Mitsui got the satisfaction of being ahead of Ryota, but soon Ryota caught up with him.
"It's unfair, you made me run across the road to buy the hotdog for you and yet you ran away first..."
"Oh yea, the hotdog, you looked so funny when you were running, balancing that hotdog at the same time.. hahaha"
"Okay that's it, the hotdog is mine." and he said, Ryota opened his mouth to eat them, Mitsui snatched it swiftly away with his hands.
"I've got it in my hands now... you lose again... "
"Hey look, isn't it Hanamichi over there!"
"Where?"
"Haha I got the hotdog in my hands again, I won!" Ryota exclaimed.
"Okay, let you win one time, or else you'll sure to cry." Mitsui started to find a place to sit down. Ryota went to join him.
"Here, your hotdog..." Ryota passed him the hotdog.
"Let's share it. " Mitsui gave half the hotdog to Ryota.
After that finish the hotdog, they were lying on the dry grassland, staring at the sky.
"Isn't it a lovely day today? Even the clouds are beautiful.." Ryota remarked
"Yeah, I like to watch the mysterious shapes they formed. Don't you just wish to have Ayako by your side?"
"Ayako? I'm trying to forget her, she's just too difficult for me to chase after."
"Is that so? The other time, I thought she accepted your invitation. Both of you were going out together."
"Well, sometimes things dun turn out the right way."
"She doesn't like you? Couldn't be what, she is much more friendlier to you than the rest of us. I even saw her blush a few times before."
"Maybe it's the other way round."
"Huh? You dun like Ayako? Isn't she one reason why you join the basketball club?"
"Well at first it was. Then later....."
"Later what happened?"
"Well you don't really wanna know."
"I wanna know."
"Well.. later I found someone much more attractive than Ayako."
"Then what happened?"
"Oh dun pretend to be that innocence, have you seen me chasing any girl?"
"Hmm.. nope! Dun tell me you are going after Hanamichi... "
"Ah.. Hanamichi! How can that be possible, his just an immature kid, I wouldn't fall for him in a thousand years!"
"I also wouldn't fall for you in a million years.."
"Oh I see, so who have you fallen in love with .. Micchy birdie."
"Hmm.. I won't tell you! You'll have to find the answer yourself!"
"Hey Ryota! See that long hair girl with the Physics tectbook in her hand, that's the girl I'm trying to woo." Mitsui stand aside to let Ryota catch a glimpse the girl.
"Ohh.. it's that Shizumi. Your are in luck pal, she is in the same class as me. Want me to help you date her out?" Ryota offered.
"You can?" Mitsui looked about Ryota, questioning his capability.
"Of course I can! But what if she falls in love with me instead?"
"Well, then I doubt her taste... must be damn bad! "
"Okay, let's make a bet then. Both of us go and chase her, if she accepts you, you do whatever you want. But if she accepts me, then you'll have to be with me."
"But what if she doesn't accept any of us?"
"Then we are back to square one."
"Fair enough!"
"Okay, you have a chance to chase her first!"
Next day, outside Ryota's classroom...
"Hi Shizumi! Are you free this evening?" Mitsui was practising over what to say to her when the class is over. He was getting butterflies in his stomach.
Then the school bell rang and he saw Shizumi walking out. He went to approach her and was surprised that she actually started greeting him first. 'Wow, she's even more interested!' he thought to himself 'Stay clam! Stay clam, Mitsui, you can make it!"
"Err.. Hi Shiz..zu.."
"Ryota-san did not come to school today, his sister rang up the school this morning and said that he has contacted a serious flu." she sounded worried, "Are you going to visit him also? Hmm no.. Let's go and visit him, drop by at my grandpa's medicine shop first, we'll get that packet of herb mixture concocted by grandpa, it's very effective."
"Alright..." Mitsui sounded a bit dissappointed. Then as they were walking down the street, he asked, "Are you always that concern about every classmate who is sick?" hoping that the answer is yes.
"Well..." the girl blushed "sort of.. but I did ring up their houses to ask after them..." trying to find some explanation.
"Hey we've reached Ryota's house!" the girl was all anxious again. She rang the appartment doorbell and Ryota's voice was heard over the speaker. "Who's that?"
The girl retreated, prompting Mitsui to answer the machine.
"That's me, you idiot!" he shouted into the receiver.
"You go in and take this to Ryota-san. I'm going now, err Thanks .." the girl was trying to run off.
'This girl doesn't even know my name! And all she is so concern about is Ryota!' Mitsui felt annoyed this time, but he managed to pull the girl back. "You have troubled yourself, then you should let him know about it." he said.
Just then the door opened. Ryota was standing at the doorstep, "So fast?" he mumbled, thinking that Shizumi had already accepted Mitsui.
"No, she's here to see you, heard that you were sick, but I that you have a healthy face color now..."
"Ohh.. " Ryota chirpped happily, "This morning I was, but this afternoon the flu miraculously disappeared.."
Glad that you are fine now, Ryota-san, I'm going off then." the girl was making a leave.
But on seeing the look of an angry Mitsui, Ryota decided to spite him further. "Oh gosh, I feel the cold coming back again!" as he did a fake sneeze. Sure enough, Shizumi was taken in by the sneeze.
"Oh no.. Ryota-san, you are sick, you better rest on the sofa, I'm sure er.."
"Oh you duno each other, well Shizumi, meet Mitsui , and Mitsui, meet our lovely lady here, Shizumi! " Ryota was having fun introducing them to each other.
She blushed as Ryota mentioned her as a lovely lady. "Hi Mitsui-san, you guys keep each other company, I'm going to the kitchen to prepare the medicine."
For the rest of the evening, Mitsui was fawning all the way as he often catch Shizumi so concerned over Ryota. Soon it was 10 pm and Shuzumi hinted that she wanna make a move first.
"Err Micchy, dun you think you should escot her home, it's so dark outside.." giving Mitsui a wink.
"Well, it's okay, I can manage it, thank you for your concern." Shizumi replied kindly.
"No Shizumi, let him escot you home, it'll be safer."
"Well thanks then Mitsui-san and also Ryota-san."
"Don't mention it. I should thank you, Shizumi-san!" and Ryota gave her a lovely smile, it was a smile that would melt hearts ^_^
When they were at the door, Ryota passed Mitsui a set of his house keys. "Remember to come back after this!" he whispered into Mitsui's ears.
An hour later, Mitsui was back in Ryota's place...
He called, but there was no reply, then he remembered the keys and he used them to open the door.
"Hey where are you?" he shouted.
"In the bathroom..." came the reply.
Mitsui went to the fridge and took a can of l00plus to drink.
After about 15 minutes, Ryota emerged from the bathroom, smelling fresh and wait.. that mint smell, it was Mitsui's favourite! "Hey, you copycat, I use that showergel, you also use the same one!" Mitsui accused Ryota.
"WHAT!? Look at that can in your hands! I drink 100plus, you also drink!" Ryota returned the accuse.
"Well there is only this kind of drink in your fridge, there's no other choice!"
"But you can choose to die out of thirst instead!"
"Well I'm not that silly!"
"But You ARE!"
"Am NOT!"
"ARE ARE ARE!"
"NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NO..."
"Well okay let's stop that. How's the trip home?"
"Humph! She only mentioned you all the time. Seems that she was drowned in that stupid smile of yours!"
"Well, that's my charm!", Ryota looked into the mirror for a moment to admire himself. "So, you haven't tried chasing her? I gave you a chance, I did not go to school today.."
"Before I could try, the chance already ended. She spoke before me, and the first thing she talked about was you. She didn't even know or ask for my name." Mitsui sighed.
"It seems that she likes you! Have you known that before you make the bet?"
"Sort of. But how would I know that she will not like you!"
"I wonder how can a beautiful girl like her have such poor taste!"
"Well, that simply explains that 'love is blind'. Just like me!"
"What you idiot, at least I'm much more prettier than you."
"Ahh ahh ahh.. you finally admit it!"
"Admit what!"
"That I'm much more handsomer!"
"Forget about that."
"Well?"
"What??"
"WELL, the BET!"
"Does that mean that I lost the bet??"
"Who did Shizumi accept?"
"You didn't make any approach... How would I know.. Maybe she'll be scared away by you if you did!"
"It's okay if you think none of us fulfil the bet. But if you are gentlemanly enough,"
"so, what does that have to do with a gentleman!"
"Well, a gentleman does not go back on his words. That's all I wanna say!"
"Wait! Ryota! I guess.. I..I.I.. lost the bet..."