BLURRY EYES

"Another state, another school. I hope we can't finally settle down here." He sighed and took a can of coke from the bar fridge.

"I wonder if this school has a basketball team" asking his brothers. Sakuya was too busy looking out of the window to hear his brother. He liked Kanagawa for some reason. Shinobu on the other hand was rather silent. Shinji just smiled. He'll make a basketball team if there isn't one. Whatever it takes to make his brothers happy.

The black limo stopped at the entrance of Ryonan High, the school that the Umedas have picked to send their three pride and joy to. The girls froze as the first boy alighted from the car. Sakuya. Their eyes looked as if they were going to pop out. Then came Shinobu. It just couldn't get any better. Even the boys of the school stopped to look at them. Finally Shinji came out and slammed the car door shut. Most of the girls already had nose-bleeds. My, where can they find such a line-up.

Sakuya looked at the swooning crowd of girls and strangely, more than several boys and stayed wordless.

He turned to speak to Shinji, "Shinji-aniki...there's a gym. I hear the playing of basketball." The girls squealed as Sakuya spoke. He blinked and flung a glance at Shinobu. The butler and bodyguards tried to clear way as they led the three boys to Ryonan's principal's office.

Sakuya studied his surroundings. Honestly, he liked Kanagawa. Just then, he accidentally stumbled and knocked into a tall guy. "Oops, easy." he heard a cheerful warm voice said.

He glanced up to see a rather tall guy with strange spiked hair grinning down at him. "Sorry." Sakuya muttered lowly.

Sendoh took a quick look at the 3 brothers. "Oh you guys are the Umeda brothers? I've heard from the principal...welcome to Ryonan. You all play basketball, right? Great. I'm Sendoh Akira, the captain of the basketball team. Nice to meet you."

"Like wise" Shinji shake Sendoh's hand. 'So there is a basketball team here' he though. "Very well then, take us there" he said. It was more of an order than a request.

"But, sir. The principal would very much like to meet his new students" one of the bodyguards protested seeing that they were heading towards the gym.

"He can wait. Pick us up after school" with that he walked towards the gym ignoring the swooning girls and irritating bodyguards.

Sendoh was a little surprised at Shinji's attitude. "Alright then...this way."

Sakuya shrugged. He thought Sendoh was a nice enough dude. At least, he wasn't as stuck up about being captain as some captains were. "I think I'll survive here..."

"Shinji-aniki, father might get worried if we don't have the bodyguards." Shinobu finally spoke.

"Although they are irritating..." He sighed and just continued following the spiky haired guy...whatever his name is.

"I guess your right Shinji-aniki" crashed his coke can and flung it into the bin. 'A perfect shot' he thought as a small smile escaped.

"Now where is this gym of you, Sendoh-san was it??" getting a little irritated.

Sendoh thought wryly, "Nice trio of queer brothers."

"I'm leading and you guys are following aren't you?" Sendoh said forcedly. He was getting a little put off.

Sakuya quietly trailed behind, as he ignored the adoring stares focused on the four of them. "How big is this place anyway?"

Sendoh answered cheerfully, "Oh you wouldn't get lost in here...once you get used to it. It's only THAT big. Hahaha..."

Sakuya snorted inwardly, "Great help." He deadpanned, "Lame."

Sendoh grouched in an undertone, "Oh fantastic, you think I dig being a tour guide to you 3?" as they finally reached the gym. He could not remember feeling so irritated before.

"So this is your gym?" he almost snorted but he didn't. This isn't Tokyo High, so the least he could do was to just accept it. "Nice place ya bros?" looking at them. Shinobu really looks uninterested and Sakuya was checking out the other players. 'The gym in our house looks much better than this' wondering if his brothers felt the same.

He looked around and asked Sendoh. "Sendoh-san, where's your coach?. I'd really like to meet him. As you know, the three of us would be joining your team as of today."

Sendoh shrugged, "He's probably yelling at someone somewhere. If you find this rather short, eager looking boy holding a pen and notebook and screeching, "Check!!" everywhere, you can ask him. He's our manager."

He spun on his heels, "I, have to go see a teacher, take care." and almost stormed off.

Sakuya studied the gym and thought, "It's quite ok, I guess...they keep it clean...relatively big. But smaller than ours back home." He whispered to Shinji," Should we find that guy Sendoh was talking about?"

Shinobu looked around the gym. 'I guess a court and two hoops are enough.' he thought. "Should we look for the coach now?" Shinobu said turning to face his brothers.

"Yea we should" Shinji looks around. "What do we need to do to find the coach here?" he said out loud all of a sudden. Which caught everyone's attention

Sakuya fiddle with his shirt collar as he tried uneasily to avoid the gaze of everyone. "Damn, I hate being stared at."

"We'll find him later then" checking his watch. " Lets go for lunch, my treat. Eeermm, where's the cafeteria?" looking at his brothers as if they had a clue. 'Darn, I'm beginning to hate this place'

Sakuya wished he had got Sendoh to lead them around the campus first.

"Damn, I hate being a freshman in this kind of place..." He approached a girl carefully, "Excuse..." the girl screamed happily and fainted.

"...me..."Sakuya placed a hand on his forehead.

"Shinji aniki, Shinobu aniki...I think it's that block over there." Sakuya gestured randomly.

To his surprise, Sendoh reappeared again in front of them. He flashed a quick smile and pointed, "There's the dining hall. Coach's in the principal's office. He'll see you three later. Mind you, skip the 16th, 19th, 23rd and 34th tables and benches. They're creaky and going to fall apart anytime. Don't attempt to sit unless you guys fancy sore butts. I wonder when the school's going to change them, anyway." Sendoh waved and went off again.

Sakuya blinked at the nonchalant attitude of Sendoh. "Someone not in awe of the Umeda clan? Hmm?" he mused to himself.

Shinobu just shrugged and turned to face his brothers "Well, shall we? I'm already a bit hungry"

* In the principal's office much later~

" So tell me sir, how has been team been fairing lately?" Shinji asked.

 " We were not able to make it to the Inter High, if that's what your asking" the coach said, rather embarassed.

"Ahh, ok. Thats alright. The three of us are here to change that" he smiled.

The Principal was surprised by Shinji Umeda's confidence and felt that the team had good hopes this year in joining the IH championships.

He smiled, "We're counting on you 3 then! Your school entrance applications have been confirmed, You're now officially students of Ryonan High.Welcome!"

Sakuya thought to himself, "Thus starts our new school life."

"Ne, Sakuya... you make it seem like its a story or something" chuckles.

"So then, what do we have to do now?" Shinji asked both the principal and coach Taoka.

 "Come with me, i'll introduce you to your teammates." coach Taoka told them with a rather blessed feeling. Yes bless with three very talented players

They moved out of the office and made their way back to the gym.

"You know, i played with your father once before." directing at Shinji who looked like he buried in his thoughts.

"Funny, he never mentioned you before" coach Taoka deadpaned but the three boys didn't see it and continue walking.

Sakuya could swear that the Coach was hinting at something, but he shrugged and overlooked it.

At the gym,....

Sendoh happily drank lemonade ass he peered closely at Hikoichi's notebook. Hikoichi was rambling happily about something he didn't pay attention to. Fukuda joined up withthe rest of the team. he was bathing in sweat...

Coach Taoka entered the rather noisy gym, noises made by dribbling boys, with three new students behind him.

"Boys" he said in a loud and clear voice. "I would like you to meet our latest addition to the team. The Umeda brothers".

Everyone turned to look at the new players. All three of them haddifferent looks and its rather unbelievable that they could be brothers.

"more rivals" fukuda thought. he went over and looked at the new arrivals...

"Hi... My name is Shinji Umeda, i'm the oldest and the position i play is normally small forward. Have been playing basketball since i was a kid." he bowed and flashed his new team mates the most friendliest smile he could *which wasn't successful*

"I'm Shinobu Umeda, second son and I play forward." he bowed and just took glancesof his new team mates. 'Seems nice.' he thought to himself 'but...' he took another look at the sweaty guy. 'he looks kind of...I dunno... weird... WHATEVER!' he just shrugged and poked his brother in the ribs who's not much paying attention. "You're turn."

"Sakuya Umeda. Last son. I play point guard. Yoroshiku." Sakuya bowed too and scruntinised the crowd.He spotted an excited looking boy waving a notebook and pen, mouthing,"Check Check Check!" and thought, "Must be Hikoichi."

Sendoh smiled, "Welcome...I hope we'll get along and make Ryonan win the IH."

Chapter 2