Kaede Rukawa 1

You were very good friends with Haruko, and you got along well with Yohei and Sakuragi's other friends.

Especially with the redhead.

Why?...You liked him, you never said anything, but everyone could tell every time you cheered him on.

And that was the strange thing, so many girls rejected him but you liked him, too bad he liked Haruko. And Haruko liked Rukawa... what a mess.

Rukawa never showed interest in any girl, he always ignored Haruko, he didn't even turn to look at her. But with you it was different.

All the girls were crazy about him...you were crazy about Hanamichi.

But he didn't like you for that. You treated him well, you encouraged him from time to time, you brought him water (even though you brought water for the whole team), and you often went with him to his training sessions. You noticed the little things, and the way you could make him laugh, even just a little, was wonderful.

She couldn't stop her feelings for you from blossoming (but she never said anything) even though you liked Hanamichi, and that's why she now hated the poor redhead even more than she already did. She'd never paid him any attention before, but they had a little rivalry because Rukawa was the boy Haruko liked.

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Today was the Shohoku vs. Shoyo match, a pretty important match.

Everyone was nervous...the only one who didn't seem to be was Rukawa, who was sitting on a bench with his head down and his arms crossed.

Then you excitedly entered...and approached Hanamichi, saying motivational phrases to make it easier for him to win.

Rukawa looked at you over his shoulder...and sighed, before getting up and looking at the redhead.

"Try not to get kicked out like the last few times."

He said it in that serious and calm tone, trying to indirectly show you that he was much better than that red-haired monkey.

I didn't understand how you felt attracted to Hanamichi and not to him, who always listened to you, respected you, and reciprocated your feelings.