When Hotaru was revising for an up and coming test that was set for Tuesday, she didn't expect a call from an exited Osamu and an overjoyed Kaede to call her and tell her they might  have found a benefactor and coach.

"We went over there today, and he said that if we get a team together he'll come and watch us play and make his decision then!" Kaede explained, trying to hold back her excitement.

"So he didn't actually say yes." Hotaru thought., amused by the positive change in her best friend's behaviour. "Well let's do it! Not now obviously, but we can talk about it on Monday."

"Okay, bye." Kaede clicked her phone shut and then bid her goodbyes to Osamu, heading home where her family were ready to pounce.

"How did it go?" Her dad asked, not glancing away from the tv for one second. Kaede joined him, and started to watch the basketball with her dad, but not before her brothers and mother appeared, blocking her view.

"Did he agree to be your coach?" Yuta asked, Kiyoshi also leaning in to find out the answer.

"Are you two going out yet?" Her mother asked, breaking the tension.

"Mum!" The Kaede children chorused, 'well' was the reply they got, although she had quietened down as to listen to the detailed explanation of what the students needed to do, in order to form their own team.

"That's good, I'm proud of you for taking your own initiative, Kidi." Her father responded, patting her on the head. "Now who's up for pancakes?"

"Me!" The whole room called out, bounding towards the kitchen in a stampede of legs.

When Monday came, the basketball fanatics all met up in homeroom and began drafting out posters for advertisements.

"I don't think that the massive rainbow title was necessary, Kaede," Hotaru prompted, looking over at the poster which was a4 and had a bubble writing title which covered half the page. Kaede puffed out her cheeks and continued to draw vigorously until Hotaru removed the pen from her grip.

"We want to attract players, not kids." She teased. Kaede crossed her arms and leant back.

"You gotta better idea?" She sneered. Hotaru smiled and nodded.

"We need a clean font title, maybe with a basketball in the background. Then, we need the details of when and where the try-outs will be, and the time, which can all be on the same side. Then we can have an image of a basketball player on the opposite side. The writing needs to be big, but not as big as the catchphrase-what will draw people to the poster-which will be 'do you want to win the preliminaries?' another alternative could be 'do you want to join a basketball team?' although I think the latter has less impact. The paper we print these on should be in colour, by the way." John, Osamu and Kaede stared in disbelief at the sheer amount of detail and organization Hotaru had included in the mini speech she had just given, which had attracted a few other students attention.

"That's why your coach!" John laughed, still shellshocked.

"Yeah, but think of how much printing ink we're going to use up!" Osamu quaked.

"I have a plan for that." Kaede grinned menacingly. Hotaru looked to her long time friend and laughed internally, knowing that the plan would be good.

"How many posters do you want?"

"At least 50."

"Who here has a printer at home?" All the group put their hands up and Kaede nodded.

"Well then we each print 10 copies each, then print 10 at school."

"Ten is a lot..." Osamu pondered, worried.

"Well if we print 5 each then, and print 30 at school. Ten each and one person can take them to be laminated."

"Can we even use the laminator?" John inquired nervously, as Hotaru and Kaede exchanged secret glances and nods.

"Do we need to?" Hotaru asked in a low tone.

"I don't know! What if it rains? People won't want to look at a soggy, dripping poster will they?" Kaede jumped to defence.

"I suppose. We'll have to make sure not to get caught..."

"Well then. It's settled. I assume we're making the poster on the computer?"

"Yeah, it would look better, more professional then." They all headed over to their first lessons, exchanging friendly waves, each of them buzzing as their dreams of forming a basketball team came closer and closer in reach.

"Hello, Kaede!" Natsuki, who was in the same English class as Kaede, smiled.

"Hi, Natsuki," spoke Kaede, with a faint grin. Natsuki raised her perfectly shaped eyebrows in surprise.

"You seem very optimistic today, what happened?"

"One step closer to making our own basketball team," Kaede replied dreamily.

"That's so cool! Hey, I can always make the uniforms!" She joked, turning to face the teacher who had just arrived. Kaede giggled softly and as the teacher spoke, suddenly remembered the plan.

"Will someone go and photocopy the worksheets for me?"  Kaede's hand shot up and Natsuki shot a confused look at her friend who usually couldn't care less. The teacher also looked taken back but went along with it anyway. Kaede grabbed the worksheet, slipped the one of the posters she had brought with her, to check it looked okay with Hotaru and set off to the library where the photocopier was located.

"What are you doing out of lessons?" Osamu asked, in a disciplining voice.

"Photocopying." Kaede said in a monotonous tone, flashing the sheet at him. "You?"

"Same." The two filled out the information on the machine, Kaede using it first, before waiting in silence for a few seconds. The Librarian, who had been eyeing them suspiciously, left to get a coffee and as soon as she had entered the staff room down the hall, the two teens frantically photocopied 20 posters. The painful silence was interrupted by the whirring of the machine as they crossed their fingers that the librarian wouldn't come back yet.

"Done!" They sighed in unison as the copier stopped printing and...ran out of ink. They grabbed the posters and worksheets, and scurried off back to their respective classrooms.

"You took a long time..." The teacher stated, suspiciously. Kaede mumbled about the copier running out of ink and sunk back into her seat, shoving the posters into her bag and began to copy down the notes which had been written. Natsuki, who had been frantically drawing out basketball uniforms the whole time Kaede was gone, had finally created her masterpiece design. Grinning proudly, she folded the piece of paper and slipped it into her bag, daydreaming about what fabrics to use and what to add on. In short, textiles stuff.

"Class is over, Natsuki." Kaede tapped her on the shoulder and the pink haired girl jumped before following her friend out of the classroom, not noticing the paper fall out of her bag and into the hands of a newly joined member of the school basketball team.

"So they're forming their own team, hu?" He smiled maliciously. "Better notify coach."

Meanwhile, the girls (Including Natsuki and Shiori who had been notified of the plan) had met up for the P.E lesson and were currently sat on the benches in the changing rooms, awaiting instructions as to what they were to be doing today.

"I think that our best bet would to stick close to the area. Not to far away, or people won't want to join." Shiori nodded, following as the girls left the changing rooms to go to the running tracks.

"I agree. Although we want to make sure that enough people turn up. We could go to Koshikawa, Nishikata and Kasuga. That way, the players can get to us easily." Hotaru responded as they lined up to run. The countdown began and just as they started running, an eruption of cheers, started by Osamu (mainly for Kaede) causing a few of the girls to blush and Kaede to trip, nearly making the girl in front of her fall over also.

"Oh my god!" She screeched in a mock American accent. "Watch where you're going!" She continued in her native tongue. Kaede rolled her eyes and ploughed on down the track, until her knees started to feel wired so she slowed down, where she met with Shiori.

"So your serious about this team?" She asked, showing no signs of fatigue to Kaede's surprise. She struck the blonde as a smart girl with no interest in sport. Stereotypes aren't always accurate, it just goes to show.

"Of course."

"Well if you need help with securing a place to hold the try-outs, I'd be happy to oblige."

"Really?" The school had allowed them to use the gym on the Saturday when the try-outs were to be held, but wouldn't allow them to use it frequently as 'they had their own team to support.'

"Yes. I could organise a place for you to train and sort out the forms for you to all apply for the preliminaries but I wouldn't be able to pay for it."

"Oh we wouldn't make you pay for it! We can get the team to fundraise!" Hotaru exclaimed catching up with the pair, making them jump.

"We could do a car wash! Or sell items and stuff!" Natsuki called out, also joining them. They all nodded, breathless and slowed their pace as they neared the end of the finish line, feet hitting the ground heavily.

"Thank. God. It's. Over!" Natsuki wheezed, bending down and relying on her knee strength to keep her upright.

"It wasn't too bad, right Hotaru?" Shiori shrugged, looking to the girl who had the advantage of slightly longer legs. Hotaru nodded and looked to Kaede with a questioning look which meant 'how are your knees.'

"It was fine." Kaede responded, turning to head for the changing rooms. They passed the boys group who were just finishing long jump. They walked past just in time to see Osamu run effortlessly up to the mark where he leaped gracefully into the air and landed abruptly in the sand. The teacher called out his score and he headed back to the side where the boys where lined up, getting a few pats on the back.

"And he said he wasn't good at sports." Kaede chuckled to herself.

"Hm?" Inquired Hotaru, Kaede shook her head and brushed it off.

"Nothing."

"Oh right." Hotaru said, returning to the conversation with Natsuki about the new shop which had opened in Harajuku that everyone was talking about.

"And it's so cool! There's cute shoes, cute jackets, cute skirts and-"

"Hey!" Osamu smiled, jogging up to the group of girls. They all gave synchronized waves.

"We saw you all running!" Osamu gestured to John who had opted to walking rather than running enthusiastically towards the group. "You were all pretty awesome!"

"Pretty?" Kaede challenged, raising her eyebrows. Osamu nodded and smiled.

"Yeah!" She shook her head and continued into the changing rooms where Hotaru and Kaede burst out laughing, earning a few worried glances from the other girls.

"He really is oblivious to your competitive ways!" Hotaru hollered, clutching her sides.

"Well either he's clueless or he likes you!" Natsuki added, although she wasn't laughing.

"No way. So it's lunch next right?" Kaede dismissed, heading towards the door.

"Denial~!" Hotaru sung in a low voice, snickering.

A/N: I don't like this chapter T.T The chapters leading up to the main plot, especially the school scenes aren't as interesting as I would like, but as nothing much can happen I'm afraid your stuck with this until the story gets going properly. Although if you guys like it then there's nothing to worry about! XD I also noticed that this chapter is shorter than the previous ones so I'm sorry about that.  Votes, fans, and comments are appreciated!!