At Shohoku High, where the basketball team reigned supreme and rumors spread like wildfire, the latest news had taken the school by storm—a fanfiction that dared to pair the stoic heartthrob Rukawa Kaede with the seasoned veteran Mitsui Hisashi. The anonymous author had published it on the school's blog, and within hours, it had become the talk of the entire school.

In the bustling corridors of Shohoku High, students huddled in groups, their eyes glued to their phones as they dissected every word of the controversial fanfiction. They were divided into camps—some intrigued, some shocked, and others downright scandalized.

"I can't believe someone actually wrote this!" exclaimed one girl, her voice tinged with excitement. "Rukawa and Mitsui? That's so unexpected! But I like it!"

Her friend nodded eagerly, scrolling through the fanfiction with wide eyes. "I know, right? But it's kind of intriguing. The mysterious and the bad boy! Ah! I wonder how they came up with this pairing."

"Rukawa with Mitsui! That's just... wrong," another student exclaimed, huddled over his phone with a group of friends during lunch break.

"But think about it, man. They do have some moments together on the court. Maybe there's more to their relationship than we realize," another countered, scrolling through the fanfiction with a curious expression.

Meanwhile, in the basketball team's locker room, chaos erupted as the news spread among the players. Sakuragi, notorious for his loudmouth, was the first to voice his opinion.

"Hey, Rukawa! Have you seen this fanfiction about you and Mitchi? It's insane!" exclaimed Sakuragi, teasingly waving his phone in Rukawa's face.

Rukawa, his expression as unreadable as ever, glanced at the screen briefly before shrugging indifferently. "Hn. It's nonsense."

Mitsui, who had been changing into his practice gear, chuckled at the absurdity of it all. "Well, I never thought I'd be shipped with Rukawa, but I guess stranger things have happened."

Sakuragi, always eager to stir up trouble, couldn't resist teasing Mitsui. "Come on, Mitchi! Admit it, you secretly have a thing for Rukawa's icy demeanor."

Mitsui rolled his eyes, laughing. "As if, Sakuragi. I'll stick to girls, thank you very much."

Meanwhile, already at the gymnasium, Miyagi and Ayako were engrossed in their own discussion about the fanfiction. Exchanging amused glances, their mouths twitched upward, hinting at suppressed grins

“Can you believe someone actually wrote this? I just can't unsee it," Miyagi remarked, scratching his head in disbelief.

Ayako shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Well, it's definitely creative. And who knows, maybe it'll give Rukawa and Mitsui something to laugh about. But," she glanced at Mitsui and Rukawa, who had just entered alongside their teammates, her cheeks flushing slightly, "Now whenever I see them, my mind starts to wander."

"W-what do you mean?!" Miyagi said, his tone filled with panic as he quickly covered her eyes with his hand as if to shield her from the scenes she could be imagining.

Ayako chuckled, gently removing Miyagi's hand from her eyes. "Idiot!" she exclaimed, before playfully hitting him on the head with her paper fan.

Later that afternoon, after the usual practice session, Rukawa and Mitsui found themselves alone on the court, the harsh fluorescent lights casting a stark contrast to the dimming daylight outside. The sound of their sneakers against the polished floor echoed through the air, harmonizing with the smooth dribbling and effortless movements, occasionally interrupted by the satisfying swish of the ball through the net. The topic of the fanfiction hung in the air, unspoken yet palpable.

Finally, Rukawa broke the silence, his voice cool and detached as ever. "Senpai..."

Mitsui stopped dribbling the ball, turning to face Rukawa. He found the younger player gazing at him intently, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. "What are you looking at? Don't tell me that fanfiction has you questioning your feelings for me or something," Mitsui teased, a playful smirk playing on his lips.

Rukawa's response was typically brief. "As if."

Mitsui chuckled, shaking his head as he jumped in the air for a fadeaway shot. "Thought so. So, what do you want?"

Rukawa's answer was simple and direct. "A one-on-one."

Mitsui grinned, excitement bubbling up inside him at the prospect of facing off against his talented teammate. "Alright, bring it on," he replied eagerly, bouncing the ball in anticipation.

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The two players squared off at center court, the tension mounting as they eyed each other with a mix of determination and respect. With a nod of agreement, they began their battle, the ball bouncing between them as they dribbled, dodged, and defended with lightning speed and precision, each determined to outmaneuver and outscore the other.

Each possession was a fierce contest of skill and strategy, with Rukawa's smooth finesse clashing against Mitsui's veteran experience. They traded baskets with relentless intensity, each refusing to give an inch to the other, their footsteps echoing off the walls of the empty gymnasium.

As the game progressed, the intensity only grew, the stakes higher with each passing minute. Yet, neither Rukawa nor Mitsui showed any signs of slowing down, their competitive spirits driving them forward with renewed determination. Sweat glistened on their brows as they fought for every point, their breath coming in ragged gasps as they pushed themselves to their limits.

In the end, it was Rukawa who claimed victory, his final shot proving decisive after a deadlock, as it swished through the net with effortless grace. Mitsui grinned, extending a hand in congratulations as he caught his breath.

"Good game, Rukawa," he said, a hint of admiration in his voice.

Rukawa nodded, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Likewise, Senpai."

And as they stood there, bathed in the harsh glow of the fluorescent lights, a sense of mutual respect and camaraderie seemed to bloom between them—a bond forged through the heat of competition and the shared love of the game.

As the days slipped by, the fanfiction continued its circulation among the students of Shohoku High, sparking lively debates and discussions wherever it landed. While some brushed it off as mere fantasy, others eagerly speculated about the identity and motivations of its elusive author.

"I heard rumors that it was that quiet girl from our class who wrote the fanfiction," whispered one student to another during lunch break.

"Really? I never would've guessed. She always keeps to herself," her friend replied, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"But I heard differently; some say it's a guy who's behind it, not a girl," added another student.

"And there's talk that the author could be one of the bench players or someone closely connected to the team, given the elaborate details included in the story," remarked another voice in the conversation.

Meanwhile, in the school's gymnasium, a crowd of students gathered to watch basketball practice, their interest piqued by the recent surge in popularity fueled by the fanfiction. Many came to confirm if the story is based on true events or if its really just a fantasy.

During the warmups, Sakuragi approached Mitsui with a playful grin, eager to discuss the latest chapter's developments.

"Hey, Mitchi! Have you read the latest chapter of the fanfiction? It's getting pretty intense!" he exclaimed, nudging his senpai with a sense of mischief.

Mitsui chuckled, shaking his head. "I can't believe people are still talking about it." His gaze shifted to Rukawa, who was focused on his stretching routine, prompting a mischievous idea to form in Mitsui's mind. Let’s annoy him a little bit. he thought to himself.

Drawing closer to Rukawa, Mitsui locked eyes with him before lightly brushing his thumb against his cheek, “You've got something on your cheek,” he remarked casually.

A collective gasp swept through the crowd of students at the unexpected gesture. The other teammates' expressions of shock were evident as their eyes widened and mouths fell agape. Anticipation hung thick in the air.

In a surprising turn of events, Rukawa countered with an unexpected move—he swiftly planted a kiss on Mitsui's cheek with a nonchalant air. The crowd erupted into a chorus of gasps and whispers.

Mitsui staggered back in astonishment, hastily wiping away the kiss in disbelief. "W-what the hell?!" he exclaimed, caught off guard by Rukawa's boldness.

Nonchalantly, Rukawa replied, "Thought you wanted one. My bad…"

“Y-you! You…” Mitsui was left speechless, unable to formulate a coherent response. "I never imagined my first kiss would be from a guy, you jerk!" he finally managed to stammer out.

As Mitsui struggled to process the unexpected encounter, Miyagi couldn't contain his laughter, tears streaming down his face. "He really got you good, Mitsui-san!" he chuckled, wiping away a tear. "Looks like you're taking the loss this time!"

Sakuragi slung his arm around Mitsui’s shoulders, chuckling, “Well, look at it this way— at least you got a kiss. Hahaha. Me and Ryochin are still virgins,” he feigned sadness.

Mitsui shot back, “Want one too?” But before he could finish, Sakuragi quickly stepped away, “I’ll give you one, then, come over here!” Mitsui playfully chased after the two.

Miyagi dashed with his lightning speed, shouting, “Count me out! I’m saving myself for Aya Chan!”

Sakuragi, darting in the opposite direction, “I’ll only accept a kiss from Haruko-san! Keep away!”

The crowd burst into laughter, thoroughly enjoying the lighthearted banter and antics of the basketball players.

“What the hell are you doing, you three idiots!” Akagi's voice thundered across the court. Just then, Anzai sensei made his entrance, his laughter a soothing contrast to Akagi's stern tone. “I can see the boys are full of energy today, Akagi-kun," he remarked with a fatherly smile, observing their antics with fondness. "Then, let's put it to good use. How about a practice game? First years versus second and third years. Round up everyone, Akagi-kun.”

The practice kicked off with fervor as both teams engaged in a heated battle on the court. Each player poured their heart and soul into the game, the echoes of sneakers squeaking and basketballs bouncing filling the air.

As time marched forward, the once-compelling fanfiction gradually slipped from the forefront of conversation, its allure fading into the background of collective memory. In its place, a fresh wave of gossip and rumors emerged, captivating the attention of the students at Shohoku High. Day by day, the school's social scene changed as students stayed caught up in gossip and curiosity, always drawn into the drama of teenage life.