Chapter 5: Another Bet

Author's Notes:

Hi, minna-san! I decided to put my notes here at the beginning of the chapter unlike the others. Just a reminder, this is set even before Hanamichi learned to shoot under the basket and way, way, way before he learned to shoot from the outside. Well, anyway, I hope you enjoy! And as I've always said, have a heart and review! Onegai!

"Hey, Keiko, catch!" Hanamichi called out to his sister who was standing at the half-court line watching him shoot three-pointers. He threw the ball a little too hard but nevertheless, Keiko jumped and grabbed the ball, as it was about to cross the half-court line.

"Sugoi! Sugoi! Keiko-san that was wonderful! You jump as high as your brother does!" Haruko said walking to where Keiko is, clapping her hands, amazed at the girl's jumping ability like she felt about Hanamichi's jumping ability.

The three were in the school's gym. Haruko and Keiko were there to support their brothers and friends (not to mention crushes) while Hanamichi was waiting for the others since he got out early than the rest of his teammates.

"Thank yo-," Keiko replied to Haruko's praise but was cut of by her brother's loud voice.

"Nyahahaha! Of course, Haruko-san! She's a Sakuragi after all!" Hanamichi said in his loud voice facing Haruko, blushing furiously.

WHACK!

Ayako's famous paper fan hit Hanamichi's head.

"OW!" Hanamichi howled, rubbing the spot where Ayako's paper fan hit. "What did you do that for?!" he complained only to find out that Ayako was striding towards where Keiko and Haruko is standing.

"You're good. I saw how you reacted to Sakuragi's pass exactly as I stepped out of the girl's locker room," Ayako commented the already blushing girl who had never received praise like that before.

"Thank you, Ayako-sempai. Hana-kun's right. It comes naturally, I think it's in the genes," Keiko replied modestly.

"I know! Why, don't you try shooting the ball into the hoop?" Haruko said excitement on her eyes. Obviously, the captain's sister loves discovering "new" talents.

"Huh!? But I've-," Keiko started, thinking that the idea was absurd since she, like her brother, does not know anything about basketball when she was cut off again, this time by the beautiful manager.

"No, buts! Come on! Just give it a try!" Ayako said coaxing the younger girl while pushing her near the penalty line with the help of the enthusiastic Haruko. "Just jump and give it a flick."

Hanamichi, who was by then completely forgotten, decided to join in on the conversation, he too, walked to the penalty line with the three other girls. "Ah! You can do it Ko-chan," he encouraged his sister while calling her her nickname at home. "After all, you're the Tensai's sister! I'm sure a little," he encouraged while giving emphasis to the word 'little', "of my genes rubbed of on you! Nyahahaha!" he finidshed giving off one of those heart laughs that is so infectious that Haruko and Keiko started joining in his laughter.

Unfortunately, Ayako, who has spent a lot of time hearing the adorable redhead's hearty laugh, was already getting tired of his loud ways. Hanamichi got another whack in the head, courtesy of Ayako's paper fan of doom. "Go, on!" Ayako urged as Sakuragi's moans were heard from the back.

Keiko dribbled three times then caught the ball on its fourth bounce. She posed for a jump. She jumped. She let go of the ball and then…

THUD!

Her "flick" was a little to hard, evidence that she has the same energy as her brother does, and the ball went straight. So straight, that it landed on the back of the hoop's board.

Everyone sweatdropped. It was also pretty obvious that not only did she have the same genes as her brother does when it comes to jumping, but she also has her brother's ignorance to basketball.

"Eh… Don't mind! Don't mind!" Haruko cheerfully said as she grabbed another ball from the rack where they placed the balls. "Here! Try again," Haruko gave the ball to Keiko.

"I don't think it's a good idea," the redheaded girl replied sheepishly and somewhat embarrassed at what happened to her shot. She grinned lamely Haruko.

"Nonsense! Your brother was much worse than you are when he started. What with all the headbutts he gave the board…," Ayako trailed off remembering the first time Hanamichi came to the team. "I mean he's still no good now, but still there was an improvement, even though it was little," Ayako oblivious to the smoke coming out of Hanamichi's ears continued, holding her two fingers apart with only a half centimeter's distance, emphasizing her point.

The two freshmen girls just giggled at what Ayako said.

"NANI!? Ayako, you know I'm much better than that! This Tensai has just yet to show his power to the people," the embarrassed protested. He peeked at his senior and saw that she was getting out her paper fan that he hastily changed the subject. "However, Keiko, since you're my sister, I'll lend you some of my secrets so you can at least become half of what I am on court!" he rushed to his sister's side and grabbed the ball from her.

"Baka," Ayako whispered under her breath, smiling inside at the cute site before her and Haruko. Hanamichi was trying to teach Keiko all the knowledge he has about shooting (as if he has any) to her.

I wonder if she's there already…, Mitsui thought to himself as he was about to step from the boy's locker room, already in his training gear. He heard dribbling sounds from inside the gym and was startled that someone got ahead of him to the gym to practice. He thought he was the first one to arrive.

Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice, a voice that he longed to speak to him in a loving way said, "Oniichan! Are you sure that what you're teaching me is right?! I mean that was the twentieth time that it went wrong! There must be something wrong!" the voice betrayed the frustration in the owner's voice.

He stepped cautiously inside the gym and saw the Sakuragi twins. Hanamichi was obviously teaching his twin how to shoot. Keiko on the other hand, not only had frustration evident in her voice, but it was also written in her face. It was obvious that she hasn't made even one successful shot. From behind the twins, he saw Ayako and Haruko trying their hardest not to laugh at Hanamichi who obviously knows nothing about shooting in the inside inasmuch as his sister does not.

"Bakero, Sakuragi," He called attracting attention to him. Four pairs of eyes turned to him. Two, were implying the message that they're happy to see him, one is full of shock and the other one full of anger that if looks could kill, Mitsui would be dead by now.

"Hell-," Mitsui greeted, never having a chance to finish his greeting because in that instance Sakuragi kicked him in the butt.

"Nani, Sakuragi! Why did you do that?" Mitsui cried angrily, as he was about to land a punch on the taller boy's stomach.

"You dared to call the Tensai a Baka! How dare you!" the redhead replied ready to strike himself, even if Mitsui is his senior.

WHACK!

WHACK!

Ayako's paper fan hit the two. "Sumimasen, Mitsui-sempai," the girl who had no mercy as to hit her senior apologized, "It's not nice to fight especially since you promised Anzai-sensei not to fight again." She turned towards the redhead and growled, "And that goes for you too!"

"Harumph!" Sakuragi mumbled then decided to quiet down because it would not do him any good if he fought in front of Haruko.

"What I was saying is that you're stupid to try to teach Keiko how to shoot when you can only do dunks and lay-ups yourself," Mitsui grabbed the ball from the redhead's hands and went to the three-point line. He jumped then threw the ball gracefully. The ball landed into the net with a swishing sound. He grinned at his successful shot and turned to look at Keiko, still grinning. He met Keiko's eyes. Keiko, startled, averted her eyes to her brother's direction to avoid his stares.

"Nani?! Are you saying that you can teach my sister how to shoot better than when the Tensai taught her?!" Sakuragi howled incredulously which made Mitsui turn around towards the fiery redhead. Sakuragi's eyes were full of anger and it was obvious in his eyes that he was trying his hardest not to loose his control or else he'll get another whack in the head.

"I didn't say that, you did," Mitsui teasingly pointed out.

"HAH! I'll make a bet with you that you couldn't teach Keiko better than I did!" Sakuragi spat the words out, not even consulting his sister who has to play a big part in yet another bet.

"You're on! Tomorrow, 8:00 in the morning at the basketball court on Cherry Street," Mitsui smiled inwardly to himself. He strode over to Hanamichi. "Let's shake on it! Loser treats the winner to dinner!" he held out his hands for Hanamichi to shake. Yosh! I'll be able to spend time with Keiko tomorrow!

And with that, the bet was sealed.

Ayako and Haruko can only shake their heads in amazement at what was happening before them.

Meanwhile, Keiko was thinking of ways to kill her brother when they get home. She knows that there is no use protesting because she'll just give in to her brother's puppy dog eyes, which by now, he has perfected. Baka, Oniichan! What in the world did you get me into this time?! She then realized that someone was hovering over her. She looked up and saw Mitsui looking smugly at her a victorious smile playing on his lips.

Keiko sighed in defeat mumbling, "Hai, Hai,…". Tomorrow's going to be a looooong day…