Sakuragi stepped out of the gym, feeling good as he breathed in the warm mixed cool air of the afternoon. They have just finished the game between Toyotama and won by 3 points. Nobody would've thought Kogure would be the one to score the winning point as the senior only have less than 70% chance with 3-P shots and with seven more minutes to go, people thought that either Rukawa or Akagi would've brought them to victory.
"Or I would've," grumbled Sakuragi to himself. If that baka gori haven't been so stingy with the ball I would've been able to astound the crowds with my slam dunk skill...
A soft voice invaded his thoughts with a query, " Sakuragi-kun? Daijoubu desu ka?"
The redhead turned around and came face to face with the sweet and pretty Akagi Haruko.
"Ahahah!!" laughed the redhead trying to cover up his embarassment at being caught talking to himself, "Aa! Daijoubu!"
The girl nodded and smiled, "That's good. So, we managed to get into the finals, ne, Sakuragi-kun."
"Hai!" barked the redhead, startling the girl with his enthusiasm, "Next, we're gonna beat Kainan and be the champion of Kanagawa!"
"I'm glad to hear that, Sakuragi-kun," Haruko beamed, "And guess what? I'm your new assistant manageress!"
The boy grinned, "Really? That's cool.... but why so early?"
"Well," Haruko began, "this is the last term the third year would be active in the school sports. They will start with their exam entry to the university and Ayako-san has already enrolled me to help her. This game between Kainan will be the last highshool basketball game oonisan and the other seniors will be playing before they quit."
Sakuragi practically stopped in his tracks.
The last game that Kogure will be in before he leaves. The third years have never won a tournament... It's his and Akagi's dream to win just once for the team.... I'll be damned if I let them down in this one!
*****
"Sakuragi!" shouted Miyagi, "Watch out! That kid's gonna shoot!"
Sakuragi quickly ran in front of the 3-P shooter, Jin, to block his attempt at a goal. Being tall has it's advantage and with his strong physique the fast but slender Kainan player was unable to push or intimidate him back from his radius of shooting. Jin slipped past the redhead, but instantly regaining his wits Sakuragi placed himself again in front of his opponent.
Not being able to break the redhead's barrier, Jin passed it to his teammate Kiyota but much to the Shohoku team's relief, Kiyota's attempt at scoring failed.
The game went on, tension running high for both teams - Akagi, Kaede, Miyagi and Kogure barricading Maki from scoring and Sakuragi blocking Jin from shooting. Their defense was tight but that also meant that the Shohoku team would be unable to score as well if they concentrated on this only strategy.
When a chance was seen, Sakuragi stole the ball but the redhead was quickly pressured to either lose the ball or try to score himself. Unwilling to be intimidated by that oyaji Maki, Sakuragi barralled on ahead...
For Akagi... and for Kogure!
...not seeing that Maki was already in position under the basket to defeat his attempt at a slam dunk ...
...Kogure...especially for him!
~~~~
Kogure, who was running after the redhead with Miyagi beside him, tried to find a way to help Sakuragi find a clear way to score but seeing that Maki was already in front of the redhead, feet planted firmly to the ground in a clear way of showing firm control, the spectacled-senior grew worried.
No, Hana-kun! Don't be foolish! Kogure begged inwardly. He was already too exhausted to speak, let alone yell to get through to the redhead amidst the crowd's noise.
~~~~
"K'so!" swore the redhead. He knew he won't be able to get past Maki...
/We're gonna win this!
/There! Is that Kaede?! Kaedepleasecatchthisballandifyoudon'tscoreoneforusbeforetheminuteendsI'mgonnakillyou! vowed Sakuragi when he saw a tall form running beside him from the corner of his eyes. Jumping to fake a lay up, he passed it to the player beside him but when the ball left his hands only then did he realise that he has just thrown their last chance for victory to Jin.
"NO!!" screamed Sakuragi, shooting off to make chase to the Kainan player as he landed on his feet.
~~~~
Kogure felt his heart constrict when he heard the enraged cry coming from the redhead.
Hana-kun...
Following Miyagi back to the other side of the court to try and retrieve the ball back from Jin, the vice-captain felt his feet about to fall apart just before he heard the sound of the whistle signalling the end of the game.
~~~~
We've lost... it's all my fault... this was his last chance for a win... it's all my fault...
Sakuragi was unable to move. His harsh breathing was the only indication that he was still out there. His chest heaved rapidly and then his shoulders started shaking. Try as he might, he couldn't stop himself from crying.
~~~~
After the formal bows between teams, the Kainan players went to their lockers with exhausted but smiling faces and hoots and calls of victory. The Shohoku team drudged back to their own changing room in morose silence followed by a saddened Ayako and the ever understanding and patient caoch Anzai.
Kogure was the last to walk through the door but before the door from the court swung shut, someone held it fast to slip inside. Kogure realised who it was when a hand held him by the arm and there was Mitsui in front of him with a concerned look on his face.
"Min-kun... hey, you did well out there..."
Mitsui stopped with worry when Kogure dropped his head and began crying silently. The spectacled-boy cursed himself for acting so emotional in front of Mitsui but he just couldn't banish from his mind the picture of the redhead's fury and finally distraught at their loss. When he saw Sakuragi crying his heart screamed to wrap his arms around the redhead's shaking frame and hold the junior until the tears stopped flowing. Kogure couldn't believe how strongly he have felt for the redhead's misery - tasting the redhead's tears in his - as if they were one, body and soul.
"I love him..."
"What?" Mitsui titled his head towards Kogure's down-turned face.
Kogure looked up to show Mitsui his eyes glistening with tears and shockingly pure emotion that the scarred-face player was taken aback for a moment.
"Mitsui, I love Sakuragi."
Mitsui was wordless with surprise at Kogure's confession but then his lips lifted in a sad smile.
"Aa," said the Ryonan player, tugging at Kogure's arms to pull the boy close for a comforting hug, "I see that you do."
Now crying openly for anyone to see, only that they were alone in that corridor, Kogure leaned heavily into Mitsui's embrace and clutched his friend's body tightly. Finally he understood where his feelings stood and he was grateful that Mitsui accepted his decision not only with a smile but with a shoulder to cry on.
I love Sakuragi...