"Squirt...Squ~uuiirt! Wake u~up!" Yuta sung quietly, perching on the side of his sister's bed and shaking her shoulders.

"If you don't wake up, then I'll chuck water on you again!" Kiyoshi moaned, pulling her curtains open to let the light enter the dark cave. Kaede grunted and pulled her covers over her face and turned away. Yuta laughed and tickled her sides, howling as she squirmed and tried to escape.

"Stop it! I'm awake! I'm awake, okay!? Leave me alone!" Kiyoshi turned and left, he wasn't a morning person either but handled it better than Kaede who still stuck stickers on her face pretending she was 'ill' so she didn't have to get up.

"How are your knees?" Yuta asked, concerned. Kaede sat back down as she saw Kiyoshi return with cereal for her.

"Thanks, and they feel a bit better, still ache a bit." She replied, tucking into her bowl of lucky charms.

"You should have took breaks. If only you weren't compulsive and short tempered," Kiyoshi sighed, his straight face was replaced with an affectionate smile, however and he joined the duo and swiped a few lucky stars from Kaede's bowl.

"Oi, why bring me breakfast when your gonna eat it yourself?" She huffed, striving to hold the bowl away from him.

"So, what are you going to do about the basketball team? Knock their lights out? Overthrow them?" A menacing grin formed on Yuta's face as he listed ways of revenge.

"Stupid," Kiyoshi slapped his forehead and turned to Kaede again, interested in her answer.

"Already hit him with a basketball and gave him a nosebleed, but Hotaru wants to form her own team so I suppose we'll do that. It sound fun but I don't know how were going to do it."

"That's cool!" Another conversation started and the siblings were so engrossed they didn't hear their mother enter the room until she was sat on the bed with them.

"Morning, sweetheart, how are your knees?"

"Better than last night, where did you disappear to?"

"I ran out of lipstick, so I went to buy some more. It's nearly time for you to leave for school shouldn't you get dressed, I'll give you a lift today. Don't forget your knee cream I've put it on the side. Me and the boys will wait in the car for you."

"'Kay." She smiled, heading for the bathroom. When she was dressed, she sent a quick message to Hotaru to notify her of the change of transport although she guessed that Hotaru would have already gone as she knew that if her knees acted up then she would get a lift.

"Lets go then, hurry up! Chop chop!" Yuta tapped the side of the car as Kaede locked the door.

"Don't slam the door!" Her mother called out. "And stop tapping the side of the car, you'll chip the paintwork!"

"Sorry,"

As they arrived at the first stop of the drive, Kaede hopped out and waved goodbye to her family and headed through the gates towards the school. The grounds were filled with a happy chatter which was different from yesterday, when everyone was nervous, and she felt more at ease than before. That was, until the basketball team decided to 'grace her with their presence.'

"Recovered from yesterday's training, I see." The captain sneered, looking down on her with a devilish aura.

"Huh, you call that training? More like a warm up." She replied instantly on guard.

"Really, because from your friend's reaction, I thought that the session was pretty brutal for you. Well, for your knees at least." His icy glare shifted to her knees, his pupils piercing through the black leggings she was wearing under her school skirt.

"Still," He continued, after a response was not given. "It seems I may have underestimated your skills, even if you are a girl, you can still play on the level that we would expect from a first year, which is why, I'm up for negotiation."

"Negotiation...for what?"

"I will let you watch our training sessions, in return for taking care of our club room. It has been messy for quite some time and we'll be to busy to clean it ourselves, as we will be training for the preliminaries. So, what do you say?" He raised his eyebrow quizzically, grinning.

"As if!" Kaede snorted, bursting out laughing. The captain stepped back, confused and enraged.

"Who in their right mind would take up that offer?! Cleaning your mess up, what are you? Five? And in return to watch a bunch of narcissistic snobs play basketball? I'd rather watch the NBA teams on my laptop thanks, they provide much more entertainment than you will!"

"W-what!?"

"I'll pass up on your offer, I have my own team to play for, who are also playing for the preliminaries so we'll see you there," Kaede said smugly, striding off towards the classroom.

"You'll regret that decision, Kaede Kidi!" Another member of the team yelled out, before he was silenced by the captain.

"We haven't even formed a team yet!" Kaede stopped, startled by the statement spoken by John, who had overheard the conversation as he too headed to the classroom.

"Yeah, well we will," she mumbled, slowing her pace slightly.

"You just challenged the captain of our school's basketball team to a challenge held at the preliminaries which we don't even know if we'll go to!"

"Why do you care anyway? You didn't even want to be a part of the team, so why are you bothered by it?"

"Yeah, well maybe I was slightly out of hand, I would like to play alongside you guys, but the training was just stress full. I apologize."

"No need to apologize so formally, we're friends after all. I think everyone was on edge after yesterday, but today we can try to make our own legacy, so keep an optimistic mind!" Kaede smiled. John nodded in agreement and waved as they spotted their friends occupying the seats in the middle left of the room, near the window. The homeroom teacher had not arrived yet so the students were happily mingling with their friends and classmates.

"So you guys ready to form a new team?" Hotaru giggled, happily as she greeted her friends. John seemed nervous, but Kaede patted his back reassuringly and he stood taller, replying to Hotaru (who completely forgot about the ordeal yesterday) with an enthusiastic 'yes!'

"Hotaru and I got the forms this morning from the student council. We waited for you guys but you didn't arrive so we went ahead. Is that okay?" Osamu asked warily, glancing from John to Kaede.

"Yeah, it's fine. I got a lift."

"I was late, so sorry on my behalf."

"Quiet down everyone! Now, as this is homeroom, I don't care where you sit so long as you behave. I'm Mr Okimura and I'll be here if you need me."  The class cheered as they all rushed to choose their seats before they were taken. Hotaru stayed where she sat originally, Kaede and Osamu taking the two seats in front. John sat in the one behind Hotaru.

"Now. These are your seats for the rest of the year so I hope you like them." The class nodded and returned to their separate conversations before the bell rang for the first lesson of the day. As the chorus of rattling chairs on the floor signaled for them to leave, the group of basketball fanatics decided to meet at the cherry blossom tree on the edge of the school entrance grounds to discuss the forms.

 "In all honesty I have never formed a club before...I have no idea how we are supposed to go about any of this!" Hotaru sighed as she took the forms out of her bag and placed them down. The rest of the group followed suit and joined her in sitting on the newly cut grass. They all read over the application and filled it out together, filling out a second version after Hotaru dropped her rice over the first when a football hit her in the back of the head. Kaede managed to take hold of the situation by throwing the ball back to the players, but throwing it over the fence of the school so they had to go and ask permission to get it.

The group waited anxiously as they knocked on the office door which lead to the room where the Student Council held meetings and worked. They heard a quiet chatter from behind the doors which continued as the Student Council Head opened the door.

"Hello, can I help you?" He asked politely, leaving his previous conversation to continue behind him.

"Uh, yes," Hotaru began, nervously. "We're here to hand in our club application forms." She handed the papers to the boy who quickly skimmed over them before giving them a quick 'I'll be two seconds' gesture and handing them to another member who discussed the form with him. They went over it for a few minutes before the girl went to the head masters office down the hall.

When she came back, she looked slightly apologetic.

"I'm really sorry, the forms are all okay, nothing wrong with them at all, but we don't have the funds or space to form a new basketball team. I'm sorry." She handed the form back to Hotaru who nodded solemnly and thanked her before turning to leave, along with the rest of the team. 

The news sat over the students like a looming rain cloud and they went through the rest of their lessons with a frown plastered on their faces. Kaede suddenly felt like all the energy and motivation had been sucked from her and it showed through the way her head fell onto the palm of her hand as she tried to stay awake for the last lesson of the day. They managed to get through the lesson with minimal-if not any-warnings or detentions and they were all glad to head home. John waved goodbye and left for his house, followed by Hotaru, whose siblings noticed her downcast look and were determined to cheer her up. Osamu was also looking considerably upset as well as Kaede who's usual straight face was looking more like a frown.

"See you tomorrow, Osamu." She smiled faintly and waved at the boy who waved back. She entered the house and greeted her family before heading upstairs and throwing her bag on the floor, laying on her bed and hugging her basketball to her chest. As she switched the TV on to the sports news channel, the basketball re caps were on and she felt a sudden urge to play. Changing into her tracksuit bottoms and cropped top, she shoved her feet in her trainers and re tied her hair before heading out.

"Where are you going?" Her mother called from the kitchen. "You just got in."

"To the basketball court, I'll be back for tea." She said, grabbing a water bottle and leaving.

"Teas at 5:30, don't slam the door!"

Jogging down the road she smiled to herself when she saw the court was desolate. It was located down a small alleyway next to the main park which is why not a lot of people knew where it was. It was virtually abandoned, no-one bothered to clean it or re paint the lines so vines and leaves curled round the metal fence and there was a few scattered chalks from people who re drew the lines so they could play. Kaede's brothers had first introduced her to the court when she was 6 and they frequently came here to play. Of all the years she had been playing here, Kaede had only met a few other people who used the court, two being teenagers hoarding bottles of alcohol presumably stolen from their parents before a party. The net was still in tack, surprisingly although the old lock on the fence was busted long ago, meaning there was full access all the time.

Kaede dribbled the ball a few times, practicing a few tricks before shooting the ball into the net and catching it in her left hand, bouncing it under her leg and then bouncing it so it travelled behind her back and into the opposite hand.

She practiced a good 30 minutes without realizing she had an audience until she starting dribbling the ball only to be robbed of it. Smirking she spun around to the culprit and blocking their path with her body, reaching for the ball. They scooted around her and performed a few crossovers and knee dribble, which was intercepted and caused the loss of the ball. Kaede chuckled and dribbled faster towards the net and threw the ball using the pebble throw method. Unfortunately, her opponent was much taller than her and he caught the ball mid air with ease. They smiled and threw the ball back to them softly after they landed back on the ground. She smiled and bounced it a few times, before spinning it on her finger.

"Not bad, Osamu." She laughed.

"You too, nice moves. So cool!" He cooed, catching the ball that Kaede threw at him.

"You've perked up since earlier? What's got you so hyped up?" She asked, sipping on her water.

"I was doing some errands and I found out that there's a new person who's just moved in down the road, in the block of flats on the corner."

"So?" Kaede pressed, confused as to why Osamu was beaming.

"He's an ex basketball player and coach!" When Kaede didn't reply, he continued;

"I was thinking that we could ask him for advice on forming a team!"

"We could, but it would be a bit weird to just turn up at his flat?"

"Oh. Your right..." Osamu uttered in dismay.

"We could always bake a cake and deliver it as a present?" Kaede suggested, feeling uncertain and uncomfortable at how dejected he looked.

"That's a great idea! We just need to find his address and we can do it!" She blushed slightly and smiled at his slightly childish behaviour before quickly regaining her usual character and facial expression.

"Sure. We need to get ingredients as well." Osamu nodded and the two headed back to the grocery store to interrogate the cashier.

"What's your history with basketball?" Osamu blurted out as they walked.

"Sorry?"

"Well, how did you start playing basketball?" He asked sheepishly.

"Oh, right. Well my two older brothers played basketball since they were young and they taught me how to play from a young age. I joined a team when I was in middle school which was fun. I met Hotaru there who was the coach in training."

"Did you win many games?" Osamu inquired.

"Yeah, we were quite good. The team disbanded though, after we left for High school."

"Oh, are you still in touch with your old teammates?"

"Yeah, we chat online a lot, we just don't play or enter competitions anymore. I'd like to continue playing competitively, but at the moment that doesn't look to good." She confessed. Osamu nodded understandingly and thought about asking her about her knees and why Hotaru was always so cautious about them but dismissed the idea, thinking it best to leave it. After all, they haven't known each other for long and although he thought that Kaede was warming up to him, asking her such a personal question could be risky for their current relationship.

"How did you start playing basketball?" She interjected his current trail of thought and he glanced towards her and saw she had turned back to faced him with an inquisitive but calm look on her face.

"Uh," He faltered, scratching the back of his neck. "Well, to tell you the truth I wasn't very good at sports when I was younger. I was pretty rubbish actually. I didn't like sports at all in middle school and the fact people teased me about my height made the years sort of rubbish..." He said in a low tone, suddenly Kaede felt a slight pang of guilt for being automatically biased towards his height and personality.

"Well, I was made to play basketball one day in P.E and turns out I was quite good at it, I never thought to join the team though because I was too nervous. I'd like to join one though!" He ended his short monologue on a positive note and smiled.

"Cool, so I guess most of us have the same aspirations!" She joked as they entered the grocery store.

"Hello, Osamu, back again are we?" The old man at the till welcomed the pair kindly. Osamu waved politely heading over to the counter.

"We were wondering if you knew anything about the man who moved in the flats down the road recently? We'd like to give him a welcoming present but we don't have his address."

"Oh how nice of you!" He smiled. "He lives on the top floor, number 224, he's an old friend of mine, actually."

"Really? I didn't know!"

"We used to play basketball together, back in the old days before he became a world famous player and coach!"

"That's so cool!" The students chorused.

"Well, I'll give him a ring, let him know you'll pop over." The man smiled. Osamu and Kaede bowed and left the shop.

"We just need to get ingredients and a recipe."

"We can search it online at my house if you want?" Kaede offered.

"Okay, shall we do that tomorrow or today?"

"Best do it today, or we'll be in a rush tomorrow. Where shall we bake the cake?"

"We can bake it at my place, if you want?" Osamu offered and Kaede nodded, opening the door only to be immediately confronted by her mother, who looked agitated.

"You're late."

"Sorry, Mum. I lost track of time..."

"It was my fault, Mrs Kaede?" Osamu stepped in heroically, bowing in apology.

"Oh, it's okay dear, what is your name?" She asked, beaming.

"Osamu Ren, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Such good manners, come in, would you like to stay for dinner? We're having Omurice!" She smiled.

"If it isn't to much of a bother, I'd love to!"

"Would you like to contact your parents to let them know where you are?" Kaede's mother offered, gaining odd looks from Kaede and the rest of the Kaede household as they neared the kitchen. Her mother usually acted welcoming and motherly when there were guests, but not to this extent.

"Oh it's okay, my Mum's a nurse at the local hospital and takes night shifts, she left beforehand."

"Oh really? A very respectable job!" She chattered sweetly as she lead them into the dining/living room.

"The male's of the house looked up from their food questioningly..

"This is Osamu Ren, one of Kaede's friends from school." She introduced.

"Oh, your the one who walks Kaede home!" Yuta realized, yelping as Kiyoshi hit him on the back of the head.

"Don't talk with your mouth full."

"So, did you enjoy your first week of school?"

"It was great! I made a lot of new friends!" Osamu beamed. The formal atmosphere soon disappeared as the table began discussing the latest basketball game and the Kaede's invited Osamu to comment and share his views, teasing him when his views opposed another member's.

"Street basketball is better than professional in all areas!" Yuta proclaimed, handing the empty bowl to his mother who was organizing dessert.

"Until the fights break out!" Kaede argued.

"That's the best bit! Then the drama really goes down, like extras!"

"Until someone ends in hospital." Kiyoshi interjected.

"Honestly," Mrs Kidi sighed "Your so violent," She ruffled Yuta's hair as she placed the plate of Mochi on the table, which disappeared in seconds. Smiling proudly, she set to cleaning the dishes, with the help of her husband.

After all the food had been eaten, and leftovers demolished by the hungry older siblings, Kaede and Osamu headed up to Kaede's room to find some recipes for simple cakes.

"Oh, that one looks nice~!" Osamu pointed to the top result on the page they had of a intricate cake with three layers and a variety of foreign flavours. Kaede turned to look at him, eyebrows raised.

"I don't think we can make that. I think a simple cake would be better, we don't know what he likes, or if he is allergic to anything..."

"But were baking him a cake?" Osamu replied sarcastically.

"Everyone likes cake!" Kaede replied childishly. The two printed out the recipe for the cake they had chosen and from which made a list of the ingredients they needed which Osamu took with him as he left the Kaede household.

"Goodbye!" The residents all called out, waving.

"Goodbye, thank you for having me!" Osamu replied, turning the corner.

"Such a nice boy," Mrs Kaede cooed as she locked the door for the night, following her daughter who had retreated upstairs as not to listen to the speech she was being recited about how Osamu was a 'lovely young man.'

"He's cute too," Mrs Kaede grinned deviously, knowing she had her daughter's attention by the way her shoulders tensed.

"If you say so," Kaede retorted indifferent.

"Oh come off it, he is cute! You can't deny it!" She continued to tease the embarrassed teen until both of them were tired. She kissed her daughter on the head and left silently.

"Maybe he is a bit..." She heard Kaede mumble in defeat, her voice muffled by the pillow.

"Point to me~!" She sung and headed downstairs.

 A/N: Whoo~! Chapter 3! As always, votes comments and fans are apreciated! So what do you think about the plan that Osamu formed? Will it work? Will it fail? Also, I thought I would explain a few things about the names of the characters and foods in the comments here: The first thing I would like to point out is the story is set in Japan, in case you hadn't noticed from the title-Bunkyo is a district in Japan which is home to the Tokyo dome. The second point refers to the setting and teh name order. When Osamu visits Kaede's home, he calls her hother 'Mrs Kaede'. This is because in Japan, the family name is used in place of first names, as a sign of familiarity. The first name basis is usually reserved for more personal relationships such as very close friends, family and/or lovers. In Japan, honorifics are also used, however I wasn't sure if I should add them in or not, as some people may not understand them well and given the fact I am writing in English, might make the storyline confusing. So that is why Kaede and her Mum had 'the same name'. The final thing I wanted to explain is the two dishes that were served. Omurice is a contemperary dish which is an omlette made with fried rice and tomatoe sauce.  Here is the link to the Wikipedia page, should you want to read more about the dish : (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omurice) Mochi is a rice cake which can be filled with fillings such as ice cream (which is what Mrs Kaede uses) or red bean pase. The Wikepedia page is here: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mochi) Also, I don't know if this would be of interest to any readers, but the popular anime Hetalia (Which I have written fanfics for if you're interested!) uses this food as a base for characters and has short 'episodes' on the characters in Mochi form, called Mochitalia! That was a really bad explanation....Anyway thank you for reading, sorry for the long A/N and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!