Tsuki belongs to the Ryonan Track and Field team. She starts her morning run at about 5:30 every morning. She has chronic asthma. But she can do hurdles exceptionally well. Running is her way of controlling the sickness. She has not had troubles breathing for the last few years until the morning she saw Rukawa. Tsuki is about 170 cm tall. She is a little light for a tall girl. Maybe it is her sickness that keeps her from gaining weight even though she does sports. Tsuki’s parents died in a car accident when she was ten. Her aunt is the one raising her. By the way, Tsuki is the cousin of Sendoh. She is a year younger than Sendoh. They live in the same house.
Tsuki surely has heard of the name of Rukawa Kaede. Who hasn’t? His fame becomes even bigger after he was named one the Best 5 in the county. But his usual cool and apathetic attitude causes people a hard time imagining how different he could be in the game. It is quite a pity that Tsuki has never seen Rukawa in the game. She either has practice or game for the Ryonan Track and Field team whenever the Shohoku Basketball team has a game. She knew that Rukawa is one of Sendoh’s greatest opponents, but since Sendoh never talked much about his games, she never bothered to ask.
----
Around the same time on the next morning, as usual, Tsuki runs on the road near the basketball court. She happens to see that Rukawa is practicing on the court. Tsuki stops and watches him behind the bushes. For the first time that she sees him with the basketball, Tsuki is deeply attracted by his charm.
Half an hour has elapsed, Tsuki would not leave the bushes and get on with her running. Rukawa stops and rests. He reaches for his water bottle and drinks down all the water. Just when he thinks he wants more, a bottle of Pocari Sweat is thrown at him. He catches it and wonders where does that come from. Tsuki shows herself and says:
“That is about showing my gratitude for yesterday."
Rukawa replies lightly:
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
“But I caused you a lose.”
“No, I wasn’t serious about playing that red hair monkey anyways.”
“Well, it was still my fault.”
Rukawa says nothing and drinks down the Pocari Sweat.
Tsuki senses that Rukawa wants to be alone. So she gets ready to leave. Before she walks out the basketball court, she hears someone says:
“Hey! Thanks for this!”
Rukawa raises up the Pocari Sweat bottle. Tsuki turns around, looks at him straight in the eyes, and smiles. Without giving any expression in return, Rukawa picks up the basketball and shoots in a 3-pointer. Tsuki then resumes to her regular running.
----
At the same time, Haruko is hiding behind the other side of the fence. She feels a little sore when Tsuki gets to talk to Rukawa.
For the next few days, the same thing has been happening. At around 6:30 everyday, Tsuki brings Rukawa Pocari Sweat, and Rukawa thanks her for it. They talk briefly on the subjects of sports and others. In fact, Tsuki is the one who does most of the talking. Rukawa just sits there and gives some light replies from time to time. Haruko can do nothing but hide behind the bushes and feel the pain.
On the seventh day, Tsuki still wouldn’t appear around 7:00 in the morning. Rukawa somewhat broods over the possibilities why Tsuki has not shown up. Just when he is about to leave, Tsuki shows up with two bottles of Pocari Sweat in her arms. She appears to have shortness of breath. Rukawa notices the sudden change in the color of her cheeks as he takes the bottles from her. Tsuki wheezes more rapidly and eventually collapses to the ground. Rukawa lies her down on the pavement and tries to search for the inhaler. He fails to find it because he does not know where to start searching.
Haruko jumps out of the bushes when she sees that Tsuki is in pain. Although it can be embarrassing that Rukawa finds out that she has been watching him, Haruko just wants Tsuki to be okay.