Rua arrives back home, As Ryuga walks out of the kitchen. "What took you so long?" He ask, as she shrugged, " I just went with some friends that's all.." Ryuga squint his eyes, "You're not going out with a guy are you?" Ryuga said making Rua flustered. "W-what! Shut up!"
"Yeah I know that look.." Ryuga said, As Rua stood up and went up to Ryuga face. "I SAID SHUT UP!!" She yelled, as Ryuga chuckle teasingly, As he boinks her head, "Ow what's the for?" As she rubbed her hair, "Anyways dinners ready."
As Rua eat her dinner, she couldn't help but keep thinking about the boy, Rua's father called her name as he lifts her head up. "So how's your two day at school." Their father said, "Well a monster joined the team." Ryuga said as their dad listens, As Ryiga talks about Kuzo, Their father eyes widen on Kuzo impressive performance as he nodded, as he glance at Rua, "Anyways, What about you?" He asked, which made her stutter. "W-wha.. Umm.." Ryuga cuts her off by spoking up, "She went on a date." He said, "Nii-chan!" She yelled flusteredly, "Now now.. what do i tell you about dating.." Her father said, As she just embarrassingly covered her face.
She sighed, "I actually ran into a boy playing basketball, I just came over to say hi.. that's all." As Ryuga and her father just look at her.
"Geez you're that bad at flirting." Ryuga said, which made Rua flustered again.
The next day
At a scrimmage game between the first years and the seniors, Ryuga was dominating game, dunking on everyone he come across, His athleticism scared the freshman as no dared to go one on one against him, but someone did, It was Kuzo,
As Ryuga rush te ball to the rim, but Kuzo tall figure stops him, making him steps back, as he find a away to get into the ring, He clicked his tongue, looking for a play, "Ryuga Kun Pass!" Kyoka said, As he was standing in the corner, As Ryuga passed the ball to Kyoka, As he shoots a corner 3.
Ryuga rans back to his side of the court, he was little pissed that he got intimidated a little by Kuzo, As Ryuga stays in his position defending the rim, One of the freshman passed the ball to Kuzo, As Kuzo posted him up, He was getting back down by Kuzo, "Argh-! So strong.." As he said in his mind, And then he notice Kuzo turned around, And jumps high, blocking Kuzo post hook shot.
The scrimmage game was over by 62-60, The senior winning the game, As the seniors celebrated, the first year, just sat down in the ground very exhausted, Kuzo just stared at
Ryuga, As Ryuga drank from his water bottle, Then Rua taps Ryuga shoulder, as Ryuga turns around and ask what is it, "Do you know the boy i was talking about yesterday?" She said as he nods, As Ryuga jokingly said "Why? You're going to ask him out." Rua blushed and shakes her head off, "Not that, I noticed something about the boy,
Though he said he didn't want to join the basketball team, but i could tell that he still has the heart to play basketball, he just don't want to admit it."
Ryuga listen to what she said, As he sat down on the bench, "Look we can't force someone to joined the team, Rua." He said, As she spoke up. "I know but-" Ryuga cuts her off, "There's no but miss, What if that boy was injured, what if the boy stops playing basketball because of that injury, fearing that he'll get injured get, that boy has his choice Rua." As Ryuga said, As Rua was surprised on what her brother said, though she knew he was true but.. she thought of the boy could have chance of playing basketball again.
As she was about to spoke up, Kuzo cut her off by saying, "Who are you referring to?" He said as he surprise Rua, As Rua said she was just talking about some boy, Kuzo ask what do the boy look like, As she said the description of the boy, Tall and blonde colored hair boy, "You mean Saichi?" Kuzo said, As Rua was surprised Kuzo know him,
"He and I shared the same class, Though he was quiet but I heard of him.." Kuzo said, Ryuga surprise spoke up, "Wait you mean-!"
Kuzo nodded, "I could tell, its him... The number 1 player back in middle school.." Rua was shocked to hear that the boy she met yesterday was the number 1 player in middle school.
"Wait tell me more about him!" She said, As Kuzo looks at her, and sighed, "Well Saichi Ichiro, The Number 1 player in middle school here in Japan.. I played against him once, He destroyed me and my team.." Rua and Ryuga was shocked on what Kuzo said, "He average 22 points per game, and scoring career high of 90 pts.. no one can stop him until a an acl tore, he stop playing over a year.. and no one ever heard of him since until now..." As Rua listened, she puts a finger in her chin, As she tries to visualize something.
"Oh, I think I've seen on TV, A broadcast of the middle school game.." She said, she was surprised that someone like him was in her school, "Wait.. you said you were his classmate right?" Rua asked as Kuzo looked at her, "Uhh Yeah.. Why.." He asked, as Rua replied, "Well.. I just want to meet him that's all." Kuzo looks at her and wonder if she was a fan girl, as he muttered, "I forgot how popular he is with the girls.." Rua raised an eyebrow, "You said something?" She said, As Kuzo shakes his head off.
"Anyways what do you want to meet him?" Kuzo ask, as Rua replied, "Well, I just met him yesterday, and wanted to ask if he wanted to join the team..." Kuzo looks at her ad sighed, "You can't force someone to joined.." Ryuga rubbed his fingers through his nose bridge, "That's what I've been tell her.. "
"Aww come on! Fine well could you just bring him to me." She said as Kuzo sighed, "Fine, if that's what you want." He said. "Yes!" She exclaimed as she fist pumps.
The next day at the morning .
Rua followed Kuzo to his class, As Kuzo called his Saichi, "Saichi, There someone want to meet you!" He said, Saichi was napping, resting his head to his desk, he lifted his head up and stared at the two.
"What do you two want?" He said coldly, "Not me but she is.." Kuzo said nonchalantly pointing at Rua.
Rua approached Saichi, And crossed her arms, "Well don't get the wrong idea that I want to meet you.." Kuzo stared at her and muttered "So you're a tsundere now.."
"But... I wanted to ask you something... its about yesterday.." Rua said, As Kuzo listened on what about she'll say, As Saichi looks at her deadpan, "Well... I wanted to ask you.. Why don't you want to join the team.." She said, As Sacihi looks at her and looks outside. "I thought you know already but I tore my acl.." Rua softened that she heard it was true, "I have to stop over a year, I was cut off the team my last year in middle school... I don't really want to play basketball right now.. keep persisting me to join no matter what.. I wouldn't still join.." Saichi said. As Rua and Kuzo looks at him.
"Alright then.. if that's what you want but.. I wanted to challenge you, into a one on one, If you win you'll never join the team and I won't show my face to you ever again, but if I win, you'll have no choice but to join." She said as she challenge him, Kuzo has his mouth wide open,bewildered with her straight-forwardness of challenging Saichi, He looks at Saichi. As he waited for a response.
"Fine... Challenge accepted.." He said as the two stared at each other.
To be continued...