[OOC:]Yeah, they use Yen, although it's reasonable to say that some characters also have Dollars/Pesos/Euros, too.[/OOC]

Derek reached the quarter-mile Taiyo track, his designated hangout spot for the day. There were several athletes training there for several Track and Field events; this was a good year for Taiyo's track and field program, as they might have a chance at beating Gorin this year. That' what I love about this place: people never give up on their hopes and dreams...

Derek went to one of the nearby asphalt basketball courts, picked up a ball, and started shooting. I havn't played in a while; I wonder if I've still got game...

Henry, after obtaining a new sports manga, had started going around town reading it. Why? Plot convenience.

Ahem. Anyway, Henry had been walking around town when he suddenly heard the bouncing of a basketball. His glasses suddenly shimmered, and within moments he was standing in the basketball court, specifically on top of the the rim hoop that Derek was shooting for.

"I challenge you!" he yelled, pointing at the other person. "Are you ready to face this city's newest, and best, basketball player ever?!"

Derek looked up and had one thought go through his mind: Who the heck is that?

He stopped dribbling his well-used basketball and looked at Henry, who somehow was balancing on the rim, with a slight grin on his face. "I don't play one-on-one that well...but you're welcome to shoot around with me. Oh, my name's Derek, by the way."

At the free-throw line, Derek was ready to take a shot when he noticed that the new guy was still standing on the rim. "Uhh...could you please move? I gotta work on my free throws."

"Damn! I've had it!"

The loud exclamation came from the desk with a little plaque on it reading "Hayato N." From the indifference of his co-workers, it would seem they were pretty much used to outbursts like this. A passing teacher tapped him on the shoulder.

"Hayato, what's wrong?"

The man behind the desk stood up, straightening out his red track suit before turning to the one who had addressed him.

"Nothing, Ms. Ayasugi, the paperwork was getting to me again."

She clucked and adjusted her glasses, the very image of a prim and proper matron, except that she was barely 25, and hardly more senior than Hayato.

"Now, now, hayato, you know you have to do it, all of us do..."

"Yeah, but stil... Ah, I need a break. I'll come back when my head's clear again."

"All right then. Bye!"

She waved goodbye to him as he closed the door on his way out.

******

Outside, Hayato rammed his hands into his pockets. It wasn't just the paperwork... he had a bad feeling about today. Cliched, yes, but it was true. There was a neggaing doubt in his heart which had set in the moment he had stepped through the iron gates of Taiyo High.

He walked downt he hallway, past the principal's office, when he suddenly saw the principal's unconcious form from between a crack in the door, which had been left ajar.

"What the-"

"You dare refuse my challenge and then ask me to move? This will not go unpunished!" Henry, once in his Otaku forms, was never one to take no for an answer. If someone did say no to him they were often the victim of his character's special attacks.

Of course, as he was from a basketball manga it wouldn't be hard to guess what type of attack he would use. "Special Technique: Fireball!" Somehow, someway, two basketballs appeared in his hands. "Catch!" he yelled as he threw them at Derek, and as he did so basketballs were lit on fire.

Did I mention they would explode once they hit something?

The administration office was empty, with the exception of the Taiyo High principal, who was found unconscious on the floor of his office. Laying next to him was a wooden baseball bat marked with Gorin's insignia, apparently the weapon used for the crime.

A burly, mysterious man, after seeing Hayato's remark from down the hallway, pulled up his cellphone. "Phase Two complete." The man slipped out unnoticed and drove off seconds later.
-------------------------
I guess the druggies spiked my Hawaiian Punch today, because I've gotta be high or something. This guy is crazy!

The two flaming basketballs were flying at Derek. Now, keep in mind that Derek is a 290-ound guy that looks more like he weighs 250 (more muscle, less fat). That said. he can dodge pretty well for a fat guy. Derek dived to the side of the balls, did a small roll, and got up on his feet.

Pointing at the newcomer, Derek angrily yelled "Look, if you want a fight, you got one!"

The PE coach stormed into the room, smacking the door aside with one hand, then froze at the threshold, fists trembling from the sheer rage that filled him now. Then he dropped to one knee and shook the principal.

"Hey! Sir, sir, are you alright? Sir!"

Zipping his Crimson coveralls up to his chest, over an old white "wife-beater," Ben strode out to the garage in black work boots. He stopped, looking at the day's jobs on the clipboard Toyota...toyota...mitsubishi...toyota...blah blah blah blah...WRX.
I call the Subaru.
he yelled out to the garage, turning to see the black car pulling up in front of the showroom. He walked into the office through the garage entrance and waited, the desk clerk turning to him after a frustrated minute of talking to the customer and asking in Japanese
Talk to her, will you? She doesn't understand a word
Sure thing.
Ben turned to the customer, stopping a minute in front of her, looking from top to bottom.
Hello down there
she said, waving
something wrong?
No, I just love the summer

Ariella hefted her bookbag over her shoulder and retrieved her stick. Practice had gone pretty well and she was happy about the team's performance this year. She changed out of her practice jersey in the bathroom and strode out of the school. She turned the corner and entered the manga shop where she worked. After clocking in, she sat down at the cash. Seeing that it would probably be slow business until all the after school activities were done, she didn't expect a big crowd, so she opened up the newest Naruto manga and began reading.

[OOC:]This most excellent fight scene is:
Written by: Ecurt
Edited by: Mr. Viewtiful (Who bows down to Ecurt) (<--You wish, buddy)[/OOC]

Henry glared as Derek rolled out of the way. “You may have managed to dodge that, but you can never beat me!”

The other sweatdropped. “You’re crazy, man!”

Suddenly, a crowd gathered, and music started playing. “Mortal Kombat!”

And so the battle was on…

The Otaku let out a mighty roar, and soon another two exploding fireballs were flying at Derek. The intended target’s eyes widened for a moment, but he managed to dodge the balls themselves. However, the explosion that came afterwards threw him forward – which is where Henry was waiting for him.

“Special Technique: Alley-Oop! Kyeah!” Henry, making a fist, sent Derek flying up into the sky. Then, quickly jumping up past the other, he punched the guy hard and fast towards the ground. Derek, with the wind knocked out of him, could not react as he slammed the backboard of one of the hoops and fell through the bucket, or rather the bucket fell with him on top of it.

At this point Derek decided that the Henry was crazy, really crazy. However, that didn’t matter right now – staying alive was his top priority. Maybe…maybe I could use one of his techniques against him… Granted, he didn’t know how in the world he set those basketballs on fire, or how they exploded in the first place, but he had nothing to lose.

“Take this!” Grabbing his basketball from earlier, he launched it at Henry with all his force.

Henry, grinning at this, disappeared from view, reappearing back on top of the rim. “Special Technique: Mad Jukin'! Y’all can’t touch this.”

“You know what? Try ‘Special Technique: Shut Up!’” Grabbing another basketball, he tried it again. He wasn’t surprised when Henry dodged, but at least he tried.

When the Otaku appeared once again he had a grin plastered on his face. Derek closed his eyes and raised his arms in an attempt to shield himself from the oncoming blow. Then, everything became silent.

Opening his eyes hesitantly, he saw Henry with his mouth hanging open while staring with everybody else at the hoop. It only took him a moment to figure out what happened. “Wow…I made a three pointer.” He rose to his full standing position. “Not too shabby, if I do say so myself.”

Henry didn’t take this well. “NOOOO!!! Nobody scores on me!” His legs suddenly failing him, he collapsed. “I can’t believe I lost! I NEVER lose!” He started pounding his fists on the ground and crying.

Derek loomed over the smaller student, arms folded and his head shaking. “Dude, it’s just a game.”