Park
Rukawa passed a can of hot tea to the lady. "How much?", Amane asked. "It's on me. You brewed me tea last time", he opened his and drank. Amane traced her gaze on Rukawa's chin to his eyes. She opened her camera and took a photo. "I'm starting to learn painting and I need some inspiration. This is one challenging angle to sketch", Amane saved the photo and placed her phone inside her pocket. "You do have a lot of time on your hands", Rukawa commented. "Don't worry, I won't forget to message you now and then", she responded right away. The lady covered her mouth as soon as she realized what she just blurted. "Then, don't forget to remind me about my homework. It usually slips my mind", the lad said without looking at her. There was a slight gap between her and Rukawa as they sat on the bench.
We will figure it out when we grow older.
"That's not good, Rukawa-kun. You won't be able to play any games if your grades are failing", Amane pointed out making the lad sigh. The lady chuckled and commented on how Rukawa's annoyance and irritation is obvious. "Don't worry. You're fortunate to have people helping you. I heard from Haruko that she tutored you before the preliminaries. Your Captain and Ayoko-san are also there to pacify the fight between your and Hanamichi-kun", she continued on enumerating people who's there for Rukawa.
"How about you?", Rukawa put his finger just above Amane's lips to make him stop, probably embarrassed. It made the girl stop talking. "For someone as capable as you, do you still have someone to help you?", the ace slowly retracted his finger. The silence made him look at the girl's face and it startled him even for a bit. Tears were falling on Amane's eyes.
"Uhm. I am so fortunate to have people helping me. I am not that capable at all, Rukawa-kun. If not because of my brother, I wouldn't be entering a co-ed school. I tried to convince him that I can do homeschool. If not because of Yuzuki, I won't be able to survive middle high school. If Yoko and Sachi didn't talk to me on the first day, I would go begging my mother to pull me off. If not because of Sendo-san, I will continue believing that its better to hide in the shadows of being ignored and being just another face in the corridor. Sendo-san was always there to lift my spirit. But then, I feel like shove him away", Amane wondered why Rukawa was just silent. She was shocked to see Sakuragi and his crew surrounding them. Rukawa's being held in Sakuragi's arm and with his other hand covering the ace's mouth. The red-head's crew cried with Amane. "That was so sad, Mizutani. We didn't know you had it hard", they commented. Mito sighed and pulled them away. "You're not part of the conversation", he slapped the back of their head.
"Then, what happened between you and Sendo?", Sakuragi pushed Rukawa to stand on the side. Mito sighed and dragged the other three.
We also want to hear it!
Eih? I though she's with Rukawa.
Shhh! That will break Haruko-chan.
Then, that will be a victory for Hanamichi.
"Even without you talking, did he confess then got rejected?", Sakuragi guessed. Amane shook her head. "Actually, I rejected him even before he confessed", the lady informed. Sakuragi turned into a stone. That was worse than being rejected by 50 girls back in middle high school. "Well, I can say he's second to me being a genius. Shouldn't he be the one crying now?", the red-head asked further. "When he bid me farewell at the hotel, it was just so cold. He would often pat my head and offer a hug but he just waved his hand. I don't want us to be strangers", Amane explained and cried more.
"It's a good thing I came. This fox won't be able to understand this. You see, when a guy gets rejected, it is as if you rejected their entire being. So, they will go through a process of hating themselves. Until they learn to love themselves, they'd face the rejection well and understand that what was rejected is an offer to be lover and not them as a person", Sakuragi explained. "Where did you get those words, Idiot?", Rukawa tilted his head. "I read books about heartaches and also listen to podcasts", Sakuragi gritted his teeth and started lecturing on Rukawa for bringing Amane out in a cold weather.
"Thank you, Sakuragi-kun", Amane stood and gave a smile. She also gave a bow. The red-head boasted about being a love guru. "It's already this late. Let's go back to the hotel", she looked at her phone.
Hotel
"See you tomorrow", Amane waved as Rukawa gave a slight bow of the head. "Why are you with that fox? Do you have hots for him? You're better off with Sendo", Sakuragi pouted. "Uhm but he doesn't need to know now", the lady kept her eyes glued on the guy she found interesting. "Eih?!", Sakuragi was shocked. "He seems fond of you. Aren't you curious how he sees you?", Miyagi joined the conversation. "Miyagi-san, Mitsui-san", the lady turned and saw them with curious face. "He's gaining a lot of fans. You're not afraid that he'll get snatched?", Mitsui asked. "You also have a lot of fans, Mitchi-san", Amane teased. "Let's go back to the topic", he flushed.
"It's fine for me not to tell him now. I'd still give my all out that's why I will support him with the dreams that he set for himself. There's no need to hurry. Hanamichi-kun, I will take heed of your words. I think I also need to start liking myself too after painful rejections", Amane explained as she had flashbacks of her rejecting the fact that she could have done more back in the last year of middle school. "How can you be this pure?!!!", Miyagi started bowing the girl as if she was a goddess.
The Next Day,
Sport Center Coridor
"Isn't it that you're going to give him a good luck charm?", Fujie and Matsui pushed their friend forward. "I can't. My tongue seems to roll whenever I practice in front of the mirror", Haruko shook her head. "Make sure you give it before those fans of him catches us", Fujie suggested. Amane overheard their conversation. "You seem energetic early in the morning", she commented watching the two pushing Haruko. She saw good luck charm and gave a small smile. "Take your time, I'll do my best to hold them from here", Amane gave a thumbs up.
Shohoku team went out of the locker room. Girls from different schools and even university students started flocking around the area. "Who am I kidding? I am just a brick in the wall", Amane was stunned with the number of fans carrying a signatured white with pom-poms for Rukawa. "Ah, Mizutani. Didn't see you there. If you weren't wearing that cute hairpin, I wouldn't have noticed", Fujima appeared with his teammates. "Why are you panicking?", Sendo patted her head. Amane looked up with teary eyes. She sees the same friendly smile from the lad and knew that they already made up.
Hot players from Kanagawa are crowding over here.
Isn't that Sendo from Ryonan?
Kyah! It's Fujima-san!!!
"I was never grateful to be surrounded by hot men", she said under her breath seeing Haruko giving her good luck charm to Rukawa and Sakuragi.
"Did you say something?", Fujima tilted his head. "I believe she was referring to me", Sendo flicked Amane's forehead to bring her back to reality. Girls are gritting their teeth ready to tear her into pieces. "Mission accomplished and now I don't know how to get out alive", Amane just chuckled. It didn't bother her much now. The stares of the people, whether glares or curiosity, she didn't mind about it now.
Chapter end.
YOU ARE READING
Favorite Lesson (Slam Dunk Fanfiction)
Fanfic"I think, wherever you go, people will throw rocks on things that shine. I just want to blend in this time around", Amane answered and started collecting more shells to throw at her brother. Genius at birth, Mizutani Amane excels easily with whatev...
