Can You Keep A Secret?

One-shot.

"Haruko-chan, I've got to rush home! Make sure you lock up the gym before you leave. Rukawa probably still wants to practice a bit, though. Gotta go!" Ayako, Shohoku's basketball team manager, frantically grabbed her things and dashed madly for the exit.

The rest of the basketball team were shuffling out of the gym after yet another strenuous training session. Captain Miyagi and his vice-captain Mitsui were conferring privately near the locker rooms, while team ace Rukawa was practicing his jump shots.

As assistant manager, Haruko now had responsibilities. She arranged the stats sheets Ayako had left behind, patiently waiting for the three team starters to leave, so that she could lock up the gym. She busied herself with little errands, going around, as the boys minded their own business. Minutes passed, and they settled into each others' company, the only sound accented by Rukawa's dribbles.

"Hey! We're leaving." Miyagi waved, wearing the strap of his gym bag on his forehead.

"Don't stay too late, kids." Mitsui laughed at his own joke, whatever it was, and followed the small point guard out into the cool autumn night.

Of course, Rukawa kept shooting hoops like nothing had happened. His focus was unbreakable...though his rhythm seemed a bit off.

Now, the assistant manager and the team ace were the only ones left in the bright gym.

Haruko glanced at her watch. It was getting late, and her brother would worry. She needed to leave soon, and Ayako had entrusted her with the responsibility of locking up the gym. But Rukawa was still practicing his shots with no imminent intent to stop anytime soon.

Haruko weighed up her options.

She could lock Rukawa up for the night in the gym, and let him practice his heart out, only to release him the next morning.

Or she could leave now, and ask Rukawa to lock up when he was done. But there was only one copy of the gym key for the basketball team, and if they lost it, they'd lose the privilege of practicing in the gym. That had already happened to Ayako once - of all people, it had been the former team captain, Akagi, who'd lost the key! And he was supposed to be a model student! Haruko never thought that her brother could be so irresponsible. Anyway...

She could wait for Rukawa to finish, whenever that was, and lock up once he left.

That would be her best option. And she gets to see him in action, too...

"You should leave. It's getting late." Rukawa said suddenly, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"But I have to lock up the gym..." Haruko held up the key to emphasise her point.

"Suit yourself." Rukawa went back to his shooting, but even Haruko could tell that the ace was distracted. He'd been like that throughout practice lately, as his shots weren't going in cleanly straight through the net as usual - it either hit the backboard, or rolled around the hoop before going in. Once too many times, the ball rebounded off the hoop, much to the ace's consternation.

Rukawa-kun, what's wrong? Haruko watched his movements, a tinge of worry tugging at her heart, seeing his under par performance.

Five minutes later, he stopped.

"Can't focus."

"Sorry, Rukawa-kun..."

Rukawa looked at her wordlessly and headed to the locker room. He emerged a short while later, all freshened up. Haruko watched his movements, and was surprised to find him directly in front of her; an odd expression on his face.

"Can you keep a secret?" Rukawa rushed his words, his voice low.

Haruko was dumbfounded; she didn't know how to respond to his request. She quickly found her tongue, nodding her head. "I won't tell a soul."