Rukawa stirred a little in his bed. The alarm clock was ticking away. He groaned when his hand hit against the desk stand beside his bed. He slowly opened his eyes and squint to take a look at the alarm clock. 8:45 am. Oh well, still early though. But didn’t he set the alarm at 6.00 am yesterday night? How come it’s not ringing? Wait. Why did he set the alarm at 6:00am? Isn’t it too early? It’s quite early for practice though. Wait a sec. Practice?

            Rukawa quickly sat up straight. Practice! He was supposed to get up for practice and prepare himself for the match against Ryonan! He took a last look at his alarm clock. Picked it up and examine it, wondering why it hadn’t ringed. Darn! It was out of battery. Rukawa sighed. Making a mental note for himself to change the battery later. He quickly ran into the bathroom and wash up. He’s totally late. Akagi is not going to be happy about this. Rukawa sighed again, preparing himself in a flash. He didn’t even have time to comb his ruffled hair. Heck. Who cares? He’s more worried about what Akagi would do to him later. After 4 minutes and 57 seconds, he jumped onto his bike and started cycling like mad. Probably faster that any vehicle on the street. During his journey halfway, his stomach rumbles. Then only he realized that he hadn’t had his usual breakfast yet. Silently he cursed the alarm clock.

* * * * *

            The tension was getting more and more in the bus full of Shohoku basketball players as the bus neared the Ryonan High’s entrance. Most important of all, Rukawa Kaede was still not found. Secondly, with the so-called tensai around, the chance of winning against Ryonan is very very very slim. All of them, that is except Sakuragi, could only cross their fingers and hope for the very best. Ayako was even consoling them by saying most probably Rukawa was already in Ryonan’s gym waiting for them. If only those words were true…

            The bus put to a stop in front of Ryonan High’s school gate. Akagi, the leader got up and thanked the bus driver. Followed by the others and lastly Ayako. She reminded the bus driver to fetch them at exactly 11 o’clock. The bus driver just nodded and when Ayako jumped down from the bus, he drove away. The team, lead by Akagi, since Anzai-sensei was not around, head towards the basketball gym of Ryonan High. When they reached the gym, Akagi knocked the door and was greeted by a few juniors which have to crane their neck to look up at him. Kogure quickly introduced themselves and a few moments later, they were brought into the gym. The team greeted Ryonan’s coach and was escorted to the locker room. Everyone could see that Akagi was exchanging challenging looks with Uozumi, Ryonan’s captain. Kogure smiled at their behavior while Sakuragi was searching around for Sendoh, the famous ace of Ryonan High. He bullied a few Ryonan players into telling him Sendoh’s location and abilities. A few juniors got scared and quickly pointed to him whom is Sendoh. When Sakuragi saw the spiky hair, he grinned slyly. With style, he marched up the sophomore.

            “Sendoh Akira huh?” greeted Sakuragi, scanning Sendoh from head to toe. Sendoh just smiled at the red head and greeted him cheerfully. Sakuragi grinned slyly again. “Listen here Sendoh, I’m gonna beat you! Because I’m Sakuragi Hanamichi, the basketball genius! Ore wa tensai!” Then he laughed like a maniac. Sendoh looked at Sakuragi questioningly. The he sweat dropped when he saw Akagi planting a big hard punch onto Sakuragi’s red head. Sakuragi groaned in pain while Akagi apologized to Sendoh and dragged the trouble maker away. Sendoh smiled to himself. Looks like the game’s going to be an interesting one.

            Sendoh was about to walk to the locker room when he bumped into Hikoichi. The junior seems to be busy checking and scribbling something into his notepad. When he saw Sendoh, he gave the spiky hair a worried look. Sendoh, upon seeing his face, asked, “Anything wrong?”

           He was expecting the “nothing’s wrong” answer but instead, Hikoichi shrugged and let him see the list he had jolted down. Sendoh looked at the list and read it one by one. After finish reading, he looked at Hikoichi again. This time, with a questioning look on his cheerful face.

            “I see a name list of Shohoku players. So…what’s wrong?”

            Hikoichi sighed. Then he stared at the notepad and then he shoved it into Sendoh’s hand. “I just did a check list on the members that arrived and a name is missing.”

            Sendoh looked at the list again. His mind wondering whom was missing. Then he smiled, “I’m not good at guessing. You tell me.”

            Hikoichi had the look on his face that says, ‘What? You don’t know?’. He sighed again. Sendoh waited, with a smile on his handsome face.

            “Rukawa Kaede. The guy that I told you about just a few minutes ago? He’s not here.”

            Sendoh upon hearing Rukawa’s name, stood up straight. He was interested in the guy. But disappointment rush over him when he realizes that Rukawa was not among the Shohoku crowd. I wonder where he is.

            “It’s too bad sempai. I wanted you to see him. Since he’s so talented, popular, cool, attractive, beautiful, rich….”

            Sendoh wasn’t listening. All sounds were drowning into their little space and him in his. He was wondering whom is Rukawa Kaede? Rukawa Kaede. The name is beautiful. Kaede… It means ‘maple’. He was keen to meet the guy with such a sweet name. So talented and ‘attractive’ and ‘beautiful’ as well. He wondered what is it that makes the guy so popular. Was it his looks? Or was it his talent in playing basketball, just like Hikoichi told him? Or perhaps just his wealth that people were interested in? His coolness? How come he had never heard of the name before even though the player was so popular? Sendoh sighed despite himself. Maybe he was too busy dating girls to realize what was happening in the basketball circle. But then, what could interest him? He had everything. He had talents even though he never worked hard for it. He had brains and a smart one. He had his charm and looks. He was popular among girls and friends. What more could he ask for? He was happy. But something about Rukawa Kaede interest him and he hated it when he doesn’t know what it was. He sighed a little and then smiled when he realized that Hikoichi was still busy jolting down stuff into his notepad, not looking at him anymore. He still had the smile on his face when Hikoichi turned to face him.

            “I sure hope Rukawa Kaede would be here soon…” he said.

            Sendoh nodded in agreement and walked over to his team mates leaving behind Hikoichi, whom was back to his work.

* * * * *

            Rukawa cycled into the school residence and parked his bicycle at the stand. He ran to the basketball gym as fast as he could. When he neared the place, everything was as quiet as a dead place. He sighed when he tried to open the gym’s door. It was locked. Darn! They weren’t here. They left without him! He silently cursed the alarm clock and himself again. Then he looked at the watch that was in his pocket. 9:27 am. The game had started and he wasn’t there to be in it. If he goes to Ryonan High as soon as possible, he might be able to make it for the second half. He quickly ran back to his bike and climb onto it. He cycle as fast as he could out of the school area and headed towards Ryonan High. But in the middle of his way, he slowed down and stopped. He silently cursed himself again and again. If only he had listened when Ayako tried to tell him where Ryonan High was instead of dozing off. Knowing he could do nothing in that situation, he just gritted his teeth and went home. All the way blaming himself and cursing the alarm clock.

* * * * *

            Piiii….

            The whistle blew indicating that the match had ended. All ten players were panting heavily and out of breath. Then foot steps were heard as the juniors ran towards the seniors and handed them towels and drinks. Players were seen sitting down on the court floor letting themselves to be fussed by juniors. Both captains, Uozumi and Akagi were facing each other and shaking hands. Akagi had a determined but disappointed look on his tired face while Uozumi had a triumph look. Then the players shook hands with each other, congratulating and telling each other how well they have played. All Shohoku members had a down look. Including the juniors and as for Sakuragi Hanamichi, he was furious because he can’t beat Sendoh. Then he walked up the ace player and yelled at the spiky hair.

            “Wait Sendoh and you’ll see. This genius will beat you! I’m gonna beat Rukawa and then you’ll be next! Since I’ve beaten Gori!” and he keep on yelling until Akagi punched in on his head for the eleventh time on that day. Sendoh just smiled at the red head’s monkey behavior and when Akagi apologized for the insult. Sakuragi was fuming and had a funny look on his face.

            Ryonan won the match by leading six points. The result was 87-81. A great game for both teams. Then after cooling themselves down, the players headed towards the locker room and change into their clothes. Sakuragi was still blabbering away and a few times earning a whack from Ayako’s fan. Akagi was silent with his own thoughts. Mitsui was entertaining Kogure and they were chatting away. Miyagi was blaming a little on Rukawa for not attending the match.

            “Wait till I get my hands on that little brat. I’ll kill him for sure…” said Miyagi.

            “By the way, I wondered whatever happened to Rukawa…” wondered Ayako, the team manageress. She was worried about the freshman. Rukawa rarely skipped practice and if he does, he’ll inform her first. But the chance of him skipping practice was close to zero. “Do you guys think he had an accident or anything while he was on his way…?”

            “Nah Ayako. Daijoubu. He will be all right. Can you be worried about a guy who cycles with his eyes closed and still make it safely to school? I bet you anything that he’ll be all right and most probably waiting for us at school. I’m gonna smack him when I see him…” said Mitsui clenching his fist in front of him.

            “Mah mah Mitsui. Don’t be rude. I think Rukawa-kun just lost his way to Ryonan High,” explained Mitsui to the team.

            “If only he would listen when I told him the school’s location…” sighed Ayako. When she realized that all the players were looking at her she continued, “He was dozing off…”

            All of them sighed except Sakuragi. “I hope he had an accident and now he’s dead…” commented the red head. And all of them looked at him with death glares in their eyes especially Akagi.

            “Do you think we’ll win if Rukawa’s here?” asked Miyagi suddenly. All heads jerked up and looked at him. Miyagi looked around him. All of them were nodding their heads. “Surely we’ll win right? Then let’s get back and kill that guy for disappointing us!”

            All of them agreed except Akagi, Ayako and Kogure.

* * * * *

            Sendoh stood there and listened. He was straining his ears to listen to the conversations among the Shohoku players. Then he smiled. Interesting. This Rukawa guy does have his effects on the team huh? If only he was here today then he could really see the real talent of Rukawa Kaede. So Shohoku lost because the freshman wasn’t present? Then he grinned when he overheard Mitsui talking about Rukawa’s weird behavior. Cycling safely to school with his eyes closed? Cute. I really wanna meet this attractive guy… Sendoh was trying to hear more when suddenly….

            “Sempai!”

            Sendoh’s heart jumped a beat. He turned around and sees that his loudmouth and busybody junior, Hikoichi was behind him. He heaves a sigh. Then he tried to smile, he wanted to hear more about Rukawa. Then suddenly he had an idea.  

            “Hikoichi. Are you busy?”

            “Huh? No sempai. Why do you ask?”

            “Umm…can you find out something for me?” asked Sendoh to his junior, his arm around Hikoichi’s shoulder.

            “Sure. What information do you want?” questioned the loudmouth looking attentively at his senior.

            “Find me stuff about this Shohoku guy,”

            “Rukawa-kun?”

            Sendoh smiled and pat Hikoichi’s back. “Smart guy. Find out whatever you could about him. I want every single detail okay?”

            “Hait sempai! I’ll go right away!” replied the eager Hikoichi and took off the gather information. Sendoh smile to himself. Rukawa Kaede. We’ll meet soon enough…

* * * * *