Chapter Six: Two Rivals.

An hour after practice, Yusuke walked out of the school, wearing his uniform with his duffle bag. He walked over to the bike rack and unlocked his bike. He then hopped on his bike, riding away from the school. During the sunset, he rode over to the convenience store. He put his bike on the bike rack, putting his duffle bag on the bike handle. He walked into the convenience store, sighing. He pulled out his phone from his pocket, checking a grocery list. 

"Akane Tamura, Age 16, Headed for the Osaka Prefecture Championships!" Said a person on the radio. A man with spiky blonde hair looked up from his phone at Yusuke.

"Yo, Yusuke! What's up?" The man said. Yusuke smiled,

"Hi, Mich-san," Yusuke said, grabbing Pocky sticks from a shelf. He looked over at Michi.

"When do you have more cookies and creme coming in?" Yusuke asked. A white box flew toward Yusuke. Yusuke caught the box, pulling out his wallet. 

"How much?" Yusuke asked.

"310 Yen," Michi said. Yusuke pulled out three 100 yen notes and a 10 yen coin. He handed the money to Michi.

"Thank you very much," Yusuke said. Michi chuckled,

"Why so polite Yusuke?" Michi asked. Yusuke shrugged,

"I dunno," Yusuke said. Yusuke walked out of the convenience store, putting his bag over his shoulder and hopping on his bike. He'd bike down the sidewalk till he started passing a basketball court. He heard the bouncing of a basketball on the court. Yusuke looked over and saw Ryuzaki practicing. Yusuke hopped off his bike, locking it to the wall. 

He ran onto the court, waving at Ryuzaki. "Yo! Ryuzaki!" Yusuke said. Ryuzaki coldly glared at Yusuke. Yusuke sprung up in fear. Yusuke scratched the back of his head,

"Hey, I uh-" Yusuke said before Ryuzaki threw the ball at him. 

"Horse, you go first..." Ryuzaki said. Yusuke nodded, dribbling the ball and walking back to the three-point line. 

"Simple... Three-point shot..." Yusuke said. Yusuke dribbled, jumped up, and shot the ball toward the hoop. The ball went through the hoop with help from the backboard. Ryuzaki grabbed the ball, walking to where Yusuke stood.

"New Rule..." Ryuzaki said. Yusuke raised a brow, nodding. 

"Whenever someone makes a shot, they have to ask the opponent a question and they have to answer 100% truthfully," Ryuzaki said. Yusuke nodded, with a slightly suspicious look on his face.

"Alright, so what's your question..?" Ryuzaki asked. Yusuke rubbed his chin, 

"Uhm..." Yusuke said.

"What's your motivation..?" Yusuke asked. Ryuzaki scoffed, 

"Stupid question, It's uh... To Win..." Ryuzaki said. Yusuke nodded, as Ryuzaki jumped shooting the basketball. The basketball swooshed not needing to hit the backboard. Ryuzaki cleared his throat,

"Since you asked me I'll ask you, what's your motivation..?" Ryuzaki asked. Yusuke rubbed his chin, 

"Hmm... To win with a great team!" Yusuke said, smiling. Ryuzaki chuckled, 

"Funny..." Ryuzaki said under his breath. Yusuke raised a brow, 

"What's so funny about that?" Yusuke asked. Ryuzaki shook his head, 

"You haven't made a shot," Ryuzaki said. Ryuzaki walked to half court, facing the other hoop and shooting from behind the back. He then made the shot. Yusuke looked shocked,

"Ah, crap..." Yusuke said. Ryuzaki chuckled, passing Yusuke the ball. Yusuke ran over to half court, turning toward the other hoop and dribbling the ball. 

"Here's my next question..." Ryuzaki said. Yusuke attempted the shot but missed, 

"Crap... Go ahead." Yusuke said. Ryuzaki nodded, catching the ball. 

"What's your dream..?" Ryuzaki asked. Yusuke looked at Ryuzaki in confusion. 

"Whaddya mean?" Yusuke asked. Ryuzaki looked at him like he was stupid,

"Ya'know, a dream?" Ryuzaki said. Yusuke nodded, scratching the side of his head. Yusuke sighed, crossing his arms. 

"Go to The Olympics maybe..." Yusuke said. Ryuzaki raised a brow, 

"Really? I thought you'd want to be some kinda mangaka." Ryuzaki said. Yusuke shook his head,

"No way, I enjoy my health... But... I mainly wanna do something to support my mom..." Yusuke said. Ryuzaki silently nodded, walking to the free-throw line. He dribbled the ball twice, shooting it into the basket. 

"Simple... why do you play Basketball?" Ryuzaki said. Yusuke nodded. Ryuzaki passed the ball, stepping back. Yusuke walked to the free-throw line. 

"Because... I want to..." Yusuke said. Ryuzaki raised a brow, 

"C'mon, gimme an actual answer..." Ryuzaki said. Yusuke nodded, shooting the ball. 

"Because I wanna beat my brother, I also want to play on the greatest team," Yusuke said. Ryuzaki looked at Yusuke in surprise. 

"Your brother...? But he plays for the Milwaukee Bucks... They're really good this year..." Ryuzaki said.

"My Question..." Yusuke said, walking toward the sideline. 

"What's your home life like..?" Yusuke asked. Ryuzaki looked at Yusuke in shock. Ryuzaki shook his head,

"A different question, please..." Ryuzaki said. Yusuke shook his head,

"You made the rule," Yusuke said. Ryuzaki sighed, 

"It's uhm... Lonely..." Ryuzaki said. Yusuke shot from the sideline with one hand. He then passed the ball to Ryuzaki. 

"Uhm... Yusuke..." Ryuzaki said. Yusuke looked over at Ryuzaki in confusion. 

"What's up?" Yusuke asked. Ryuzaki sighed,

"I uh... Lied..." Ryuzaki said. Yusuke raised a brow, 

"Broke your own rule..?" Yusuke said. Ryuzaki scoffed, 

"Shut up... God why would I tell a loser like you this..." Ryuzaki exhaled, covering his eyes. 

"When I said my motivation is to win... That's not all of it..." Ryuzaki said. Yusuke looked over at him, worriedly. 

"It's for my mom too... She's really sick... And if we win the Miyagi prefecture tournament and then go to All Japan... After that Nationals... And then hopefully an American University... And then obviously pro..." Ryuzaki said. Yusuke smiled,

"Let's go there, together..." Yusuke said. Ryuzaki scoffed, 

"Tch, like I'll go there with you... I'll make it on my own.." Ryuzaki said. Yusuke stood up, smirking. 

"Oh yeah!?" Yusuke said.

Ryuzaki nodded, "Yeah!" Ryuzaki said.

Yusuke walked up to him, putting his hand out to high-five.

"We're gonna have to start together..." Yusuke said.

The two high-fived.

"As long as I get to kick your ass at some point!" Ryuzaki said. The two smiled, looking each other in the eyes.

"Let's get Kakeru to nationals..." Yusuke said.

"Together?" Ryuzaki said. 

"Together," Yusuke said, nodding.

The two bumped fists, 

"Together!" The two said in unison.