Chapter three: Knowing You

Title: There's Something About…

Warning (s): Grammar mistakes, as usual na? (blame Ms Word) and there are probably some yaoi hints.

Disclaimer: I do not own Slam Dunk, but any unfamiliar characters and Hidaka Soujiro are mine.

Huge thanks to:-

Karu- chan: *huggles wuggles* love you a lot! ^_^

Madiha: Thanks hun! You're everything! *hands 10 boxes of chocolate pockies*

Yumi: *glompies* I LOVE you! *huggles wuggles* Thanks for everything! I do hope you keep on reading or… I'll be really really sad ^_^ll. (oh yah, my favourite character in Yami No Matsuei is… Muraki! Well actually I'm stuck between Muraki and Tsuzuki ^_^)

LID: *huggles neesan* Thx for reading ^_^

SLL: Sankies! ^_^ I really appreciate that you liked this ficcie!

Yuichi: ^_^;; erm, thanks ^_^

E.C: Although you're gone, but I know you're there somewhere. *wink*

Hikaru R. Kudou: ^_^ hope you like this one!

Evil Kitty: Hee hee ^_^ please do read my next chappies!

Doujin: yup, I'm planning to 'toture' Mitchy by using Hidaka ^_^ll. Bad aren't I?

Lanie: My lovely imouto! *glomps* You have to read her fics! They're awsome!

+ Everyone out there who knows me, reviewed my other fics, likes my fanarts, etc. Love you all. Y

Note: Have you tried to imagine what Hidaka Soujiro looks like? Click the link below! Pic made by Yumi! (whatta sweetheart! Thanks Yumi!)

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Everybody in the class scrambled out after the final bell rang, even though the unbelievably boring Biology Teacher still yapping around.

I too, grabbed my bag including a couple of my textbooks and stormed out, probably knocking a few of my classmates down on my way out.

Walking down to the next aisle, I headed towards my locker to dump some, or should say all my unwanted books.

As soon as I arrived, I inserted the key inside the small- rounded keyhole.

Unlocking it, I flung the locker wide open.

But instead of 'dumping' it, it was 'un- dumped'.

Heaps of junks and textbooks dropped and piled into a mini mountain.

I flushed with embarrassment as students around looked at me.

Some of them snickered and giggled.

"Way to go man," One of my stupid unnatural- blond hair classmate said, later on joined by his fellow mates.

I gritted my teeth. Oh how I wish I could just bash him right there…

I inhaled deeply, repeatedly reminding myself not to get into trouble. No biggie…

"Need us to give you a hand, Mitsui- senpai?" He said slyly, and laughed again.

"Gah, just go away," I said, not even bothered to look at those ugly ducklings.

They laughed and snorted out loud.

Why am I the victim here? It's embarrassing.

I shrugged and started to separate the pile.

But then, the laughing stopped instantly.

There was a long pause.

"Trouble, Mitsui- senpai?" A voice said.

I looked up. And there was another pause.

There, stood Hidaka Soujiro, the famous gaijin of Shohoku.

"Ya!" He greeted and gave a smile.

"Busy I see?" He asked as he saw the pile.

I blinked for the umpteenth time.

"Hi- Hi- Hidaka!" I choked out and realised my face was getting hotter each second.

"Maa maa, we better get these cleaned up before it gets worse na," He said, squatting down and started collecting books.

I noticed his long fringe fall as his head bopped. He looks-

I blushed furiously. Seriously god, what's happening to me?

"Oooh waah! Le- le- let me give you a hand!"

I thought it was a vision or something… cause the ugly unnatural blond just happened to squat next to Hidaka, joined by his ugly gang and helped to clean.

I stared at them with awe. If I'm not forgotten, those guys just laughed at me… and now they're helping me?

"You are so right!" the ugly blond said to Hidaka. (I just can't help calling him ugly blond).

"Hm?" Hidaka blinked at him. "What?"

"We really need to clean these up before it gets worst! Am I right guys? Ne Mitsui- kun?" He said.

I noticed his face was red in colour.

I crooked an eyebrow.

But to me, it was getting worst. Out of the blue, a group of girls came, asking for help. It was okay I guess, but the thing was, they weren't helping. The just sat cuddling up next to Hidaka and crumpled my papers in process.

And more and more unknown students came flocking by.

"Teeheehee! Don't forget ne, Hidaka- kun!" A girl said with a wink and walked away, giggling away. Good thing that was the last girl around.

I glanced at the ugly blond and his gang.

He was still gushing over Hidaka. He's worst than I am.

"Eto… ano… Hidaka- kun, do you want to hang with me- aaa-h I mean us?" He said, laughing.

Hidaka smiled. "Wari na, but I've got plans," He rejected.

"Oh," He said. I could see the disappointment swept upon his face. "I see… hm, I think I better go…" He said and walked away.

"Chotto mattekudasai na! Kechi!" His gang said and ran after him.

Hidaka chuckled. "Nice guy,"

I snorted. "He acted that because he wants to attract your attention,"

He looked at me. "What?"

"A—ah iie! Nothing to worry about!" I said, laughing nervously. I turned to my locker and flung it open.

And it happened again.

"Mattaku…" Hidaka said, looking at the new- made pile. He smiled at me.

"Atleast we've got to clean this together now, quietly I hope,"

He said, squatting down again.

The word 'quietly' made me blush. I looked around and realised the corridor was empty.

"Oh… sure…" I said, joining him.

He started to collect the books and stacked the papers into one.

I stared at him. "So," I cleared my throat.

"What do you think of Shohoku?"

Hidaka chuckled. "The people are very nice," he said, emphasising the word 'nice'.

"Both girls and guys,"

"Oh," I said, looking at my D- grade math paper in my hand. I realised my cheeks were getting hotter by each second.

"Alright… in you go… and finitto!" Hidaka exclaimed, looking more satisfied with the result. "I hope it won't happen again,"

"Even if it does, I hope you're around," I blurted out. I blushed as he gave me a warm smile.

"So, uh," I said, locking my locker. "You rejected that ugly bl- I mean, Kechi's invitation. So you've got plans huh? Dating?" I asked and stole a glance at him.

Hidaka laughed. "Not really," There was a cheeky glint beneath those bright green eyes of his.

"You, senpai, owe me a lunch," He said, now grinning.

"Na- nani?" I blinked.

He laughed. "I cleaned out your locker voluntarily twice senpai,"

He poked his index finger into my chest. His face was close to mine.

"I rejected that unnatural blond because you and I are going out for a lunch together. How does that sound?"

I couldn't help to feel… uncomfy.

"Hm?" Hidaka continued to grin.

Evil. He looks like an angel but he just simply… evil.

Why is he doing this to me?

"Bu- but why do I've got to pay?" I blurted out.

There was a pause.

Then Hidaka laughed. The cheeky expression drained out from him.

"I was just kidding bout that," He ran his fingers through his hair, still chuckling.

"But seriously, cmon, let's go for a lunch! I'm sure you're pretty hungry too,"

Quite true.

"Oh, okay," I said, smiling at him. Going out for a lunch with the most popular gaijin in school is something.

The green- eyes smiled. "Jya, ikimasho ka?" He asked.

"Hai, hai," I said and we walked across the corridor together.

"Oh yeah," I piped out.

"Hm?"

"I just realised that you called Kechi 'unnatural blond'…"

Hidaka just grinned.

Cheeky evil green- eyed gaijin.

"Hontou ni…!" Hidaka exclaimed as he dug his face into the small- sized menu.

"All of them looks extremely delicious!" He said, causing the young waitress standing next to him giggled.

"Kawaii," she chirped.

Hidaka chuckled. "Hmm… I think I'll have this… and this… plus this one too," he said, pointing to the several of kashis (Japanese cookies, sweets, etc).

"Na, Mitsui- senpai, do you want anything?"

I burped.

The young waitress looked disgusted, but Hidaka laughed. "I think we'll just have that, thanks a lot," He said and the waitress left.

"Really," I started.

"Aren't you full?" I said, glancing over to the empty stacked colourful plates waiting to be taken away.

The green- eyed gaijin smiled. "It has been a while since I had kashi,"

He looked at the menu again and then to me. "You sure you don't want any?"

"No thanks, really. I'll just watch you eat,"

I burped again. Man, I've never eaten this much.

I stole a glance at Hidaka. And he has such an appetite. This kid could eat anything!

"Hai, there you go," the young waitress came back. She looks happy serving Hidaka.

Hidaka beamed at the deserts.

"I'll eat now senpai, ittadakimasu!" With that, he took a mini pink- coloured bun.

"Oishii!" He exclaimed. "Red beans! I could hardly taste these in America,"

I smiled at him.

"How was America, by the way? Was it nice there?" I asked while looking at the funny- looking cookie on his plate.

"Hm," He took another mini bun. There was a pause.

"I prefer living in Japan," He muttered something under his breath, but I couldn't catch it. He then took the funny- looking cookie.

"Hmm… peppermint… and a slight taste of cocoa…" He said, munching over it, beaming.

Just then two girls walked by our table. I recognised those uniforms immediately; Shohoku girls.

They noticed the gaijin sitting (and happily eating) in front of me.

"Ah, Hidaka- kun!" One of them with long ponytail chirped, looking all red in a sudden.

Hidaka snapped from his 'kashi- land'.

"Oh, Yumi- chan! Konnichiwa," Hidaka said, smiling at her.

She blushed furiously. I could see the other one frowned.

"And Keri- chan too! Nice seeing you here,"

Instantly she beamed.

"Don't you have basketball practise today?" The girl called Yumi asked, after stealing a glance at me.

"Only starts at 4.30, so we've got time to hang around before it starts," he replied, happily took another cookie.

"So I guess I'll be seeing you again at school tomorrow na?"

She blushed again, nodding. "Hai! Matta na,"

"Matta ashita!" With that, she left with her friend, giggling away.

I looked at Hidaka with knitted eyebrows. He looked back at me with a half- eaten cookie clipped between his lips.

"Oh, that?" He said, munching it at once.

"My Science project partner, Yumi. Nice gal,"

"Your definition of 'nice' is complicated," I said, giving him the remember- that- nice- unnatural- blond- look.

He chuckled. "No really, she's a nice girl. She was pretty happy when the sensei paired us,"

"Of course," I snorted. "Who wouldn't?"

He chuckled again. "Maa… I'm not that perfect,"

He poked the last cookie on his plate with his chopsticks.

There was an odd pause.

"Oh yeah," He snapped. "I heard you won the Most Valuable Player Award when you were in junior high school. Way cool," he said, looking interested. "I could see that clearly—you were awesome yesterday,"

I grinned. "You did great yesterday too. So we kinda have the same thing about basketball,"

"Hm?" The cookie he was poking broke into two. He cursed silently. "What?"

"Hn. You and I make great 3p shots," I grinned at him.

Yesterday's practise came into my mind. Sure enough, Hidaka made perfect 3p shots. And Ayako claimed that he was good in faking like Mr. Muffin Head.

Pink patches were seen on Hidaka's cheeks. "Thanks, but that's the only thing I'm good into. Hope you'll teach me senpai,"

"Then you'll be better than me,"

"We'll see about that," He said and locked my eyes. Was that a challenge?

"Sumimasen, are you done with those," Another young waitress approached us as she pointed her index finger at the stacked plates. I could see she was examining Hidaka.

"Hm? Oh yeah, all of em. Except for this na," Hidaka replied, pulling the last desert plate. "And please bring over the bill too, thanks,"

"Hai!" She said and walked away with the empty plates to the other waitress. I noticed they were happily giggling about Hidaka.

"Na Mitsui- senpai, since this cookie was broken into two; here, take the bigger one," He said, holding the bigger piece with chopsticks and inserted it into my mouth before I could say anything. "Mmmf!"

"Delicious? Ahuh," He said, taking the last piece.

I blushed.

"There you go sir; 2570 yen in total," The waitress came, handing the bill to Hidaka

"Ah, souka…" Hidaka took out his wallet from his back pocket.

"Here you go…" He placed a 3000 yen bill onto the tray.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" I snapped, taking out my wallet.

"I thought I was the one who should do the payment! Here, take this instead!"

I said, pushing Hidaka's money aside and placed mine.

Hidaka pursed his lips into a small pout. "Hey! No fair, I placed the money first," He said, now pushing my money aside. "And I ate more meals than you do,"

"But I'm your senior so I'll make the payment," I said, now locking his green eyes.

"And you're a gaijin so it's not fair to make you pay,"

Hidaka sighed. He surrendered by pulling his 3000-yen back.

"But I'll make sure I'll pay when we go out again,"

I beamed. Is that supposed to mean we're gonna have lunch again sometimes?

"You know," Hidaka said after the waitress left.

"Everybody keeps saying I'm a gaijin but I'm not really a gaijin,"

I blinked.

"I was born here in Kanagawa but moved to America when I was a year old. That doesn't really make me a foreigner right, senpai?"

"I thought you're half American…?" I asked, looking at his green eyes. Those colour couldn't be fake.

Hidaka nodded. "My mum's American and my dad's local. Met when they studied in the same University here,"

He fiddled with a straw.

"I see," I nodded. "Then what makes you come back to Kanagawa?"

"Sick of living there," He said. I noticed his tone changed.

He looked outside at the window.

"Oh…" I kept quiet.

Maybe it was wrong to ask him about—

"Both my mum and dad died in a car accident in America,"

Hidaka blurted out.

I felt heavy in my chest, it's as if something had stopped my breathing.

I tighten my grip.

Hidaka-

Hidaka is an orphan?

Oh god…

Hidaka was still looking out at the window. His face showed sadness and emptiness.

He shut his eyes and sighed out loud.

"Sorry," I whispered. "I'm really sorry,"

Hidaka didn't say a word. His eyes were still closed.

"Here's your balance sir, and receipt," The waitress came back. I snapped.

"Oh… thanks,"

"Saa," Hidaka spoke.

"Ikimasho ka?" He rose up, but he didn't looked at me.

I nodded and followed him behind.

We walked out in total silence, barely ignoring the group of young waitresses who were happily waving at Hidaka. But frowned when he didn't act or say anything.

I don't like the silence, really.

I looked at Hidaka. His long fringe covered up his eyes. But I could see he was still down about the conversation.

Then after a short moment of walking, he stopped his tracks.

I too, stopped.

"Look, Hidaka," I snapped, facing him.

"I'm really sorry for bringing up the topic… I… I didn't know…"

Hidaka remained silence.

"So please, say something…"

"… Ice cream…"

I blinked. "Eh?"

"Ice cream parlour… at your 2 o'clock," He said, pointing to a direction. I spun around and saw an ice cream parlour across the street.

"Eh?" I blinked repeatedly. "Hidaka?"

"Cmon! I hadn't eaten any ice creams for so long!" He exclaimed, taking my hand into his and dragged me across the street.

A few cars honked at us.

"Hidaka! Wha-?"

Hidaka laughed out loud. There were shines in those green eyes.

"You'd thought I'm mad at you because of that conversation we had in the café?" He asked, now smiling.

"Oh come on, I admit I was pretty down when we bought that up, but that happened when I was a kid, so I kinda passed the 'stage'," he said, giving me a playful punch.

"So don't take it seriously na?"

I sighed in relief.

"Yeah, okay. But still, I'm apologising,"

"Thanks," He smiled. He instantly beamed when the ice cream man greeted him.

"Oh, I'll have the chocolate chip ice cream… two scoops please,"

I groaned.

He glared at me cheekily. "What?"

"After all you had for lunch… and now you're eating a double scooped ice cream?"

"Yeah! I told you, I hadn't eaten any ice creams for so long! You want one? Oh oyaaji, gimme another double- scooped chocolate ice cream for my friend here—you like chocolate do you? Atleast you look like a chocolate person,"

He said, beaming at his ice cream.

"No- no wait I'm too full-"

"There you go!" He said, thrusting the ice cream chocolate into my palm and hurriedly paid the ice cream man.

"Now it's my turn to pay na? Thanks oyaaji! Let's get going Mitsui- senpai!"

He dragged me again.

"Hidaka! Chotto matte yo-"

He stopped dragging and looked at me. "You want a taste of my chocolate chip?"

I raised up a hand. "No, thank you. But-"

"Oh cmon, be a sport Mitsui- senpai! It's not fair to let me enjoy this yummy- looking ice cream all alone,"

He said, grinning cheekily at me. "And I suggest you better eat that up before it melts,"

I sighed, surrendered.

"Oh okay, okay,"

He smiled.

"Thanks for the ice cream,"

"Anytime senpai," He said, licking his ice cream with joy.

"Hm, You know something Mitsui- senpai?" He said, looking at me.

"Hn?" I enjoyed mine.

"Although we just knew like, less than 48 hours…" He said, now smiling.

"But I feel like as if we've known for a long time,"

There was some kind of weird sensation when he says that.

I smiled.

"Yeah, I feel the same too,"

He smiled widely and continued enjoying his ice cream.

"Ooouh…" I groaned out loud again. I didn't realise that I was kneeling on the floor now.

"Daijoubu desu ka, Mitsui- san?" Yasu, the vice president asked, full of concern.

I turned my face at him. "I'm… I'm too… full to play…"

Yasu blinked. "Nani?"

"Have you ever eaten 8 plates of sushis, a double scooped chocolate ice cream, a huge bag of kashis, two peppermint breads and a bar of chocolate within an hour?"

"Ano…" Yasu gulped. "No… but I'm sure nobody couldn't eat more food within and hour…"

"Hm? What's wrong Mitsui- senpai?" Hidaka approached me, also looking concerned.

I just managed to moan.

How come he's FINE and full of energy after he had all those- all those food? How did he manage to stuff them in his stomach?

Hidaka blinked, puzzled.

"Kora, kora! What's the commotion? What the hell happened to you Mitsui? Hurt your knee or something?" Miyagi asked, knitting his eyebrows.

I snorted. "It's none of your concern Mr Muffin Head…"

Shit, I feel like exploding-

"Oi, Ryochin! Where's Haruko-san?" Sakuragi asked. His loud voice echoed through the gym. "Haruko- san~! Doko e?!"

"Urusei na! How many times I've told you not to shout!" Miyagi said, pinching Sakuragi's cheek.

"Ite- te- te! Not—the—Muffin Pinch! Yow!" Sakuragi struggled from the pain yet evil pinch from the captain.

[mitchan: Heheh… Gori's secret 'weapon' was The Gori Punch… and now Miyagi's weapon is the Muffin Pinch! How'd you like that?]

Miyagi immediately released when he saw Ayako passed by.

He cleared his throat.

"I believe Haruko- chan will come a bit later… I think she's having some kind of-"

"Minna-san~! Sorry I'm late!" Haruko's voice was heard from the main door. She waved fanatically at everyone with a hand.

"Haruko- san!" Sakuragi guffawed and jogged to his lil' 'sweetheart' and accompanied her in.

"Hey, what do you have there?" Hidaka asked, pointing to a big box she was holding.

"Oh this? Kore wa…" She said, opening the lid.

I rose up to see what's in the box. From the smell… I could sense it's a—

"… chocolate cake! Fujii- chan had her birthday party in class, so because she had plenty of left overs, she gave the cake to the basketball club so that we can share together!"

She squealed.

"Hontou! Fujii- chan is such a sweetheart! Ne Ryota, why don't we take a break and enjoy while it's still good?" Ayako asked, winking at her muffincake.

Ryota nodded furiously, insisting that they could share apiece together.

Hidaka was beaming. "I simply love chocolate cake! Mitsui- senpai, let's have some too!"

The sight of the cake makes me feel awful. I didn't realised my face was turning green.

"I think I'm gonna be sick-"

With that, I stormed out of the gym, clasping my mouth tightly.

The gym was in silence for a moment when they heard Mitsui's sounds of puking and throwing up.

The silence broke off as Sakuragi spoke.

"Is Mitchy pregnant or something?"

Silence fell on them again, all sweatdropping.

"Doahou…"

-continued to chapter 4

Mitsui: How could you—I repeat, how COULD you create such a man with such an appetite? And how'd you do it Hidaka? *groans*

*mitchan and Hidaka looked at each other, smiling sheepishly*

mitchan: Well, there are plenty of guys who eats a lot (but still as cute/ sexy/ charming as ever)! Not just us, girls you know. (oh yeah, I love food! ^_^)

Hidaka: *smiles* Sorry.

Mitchan: Nawh! This guy needs some extra food anyway. *pats Mitsui*

Mitsui: I will NOT be forced to eat that amount of- *pauses* *clasps mouth and stormed to the nearest bathroom*

mitchan: Poor guy, tsk tsk.

Hidaka: ^_^;; *munch*

Oi where are you going? It's not over yet! And you still need to review this chappie!

*smiles sheepishly* Oh okay okay. Time to learn simple Japanese words with

Mitchan!

*senpai… senior

*Ya!… (a way of greeting) something like "hi". Normally used by men.

*Wari… sorry

*Chotto mattekudasai!… "wait up!"

*iie… no

*hai… yes

*Mattaku… I think it's something like "oh no"

*Nani… what

*Jya… OK

*ikimasho… "let's go"

*hontou… really

*kawaii… cute

*kashi… Japanese sweets, cookies, etc

*Oishii… delicious

*Matta… "see you!"

*ashita… tomorrow

*sumimasen… excuse me

*souka… "I see"/ "oh"

*oyaaji… old man

*daijoubu desu ka?… "are you alright?"

*doko e?… "where?"

*urusei… shut up

*ite/ itai… "ouch"/ pain

*minna- san… everyone

*kore… this

}—

illyBlack