The next morning, Rukawa went early to school. Afraid to make the same mistake again. He had even changed the battery of his alarm clock once he got home. Then he sat at the couch and sulk. After sulking, he took a bath and went straight to sleep again at ten in the morning. Rukawa woke up at eight in the evening and fix himself dinner. When he realized that he had ran low on daily supplies, he cursed himself again and went shopping. After getting what he needed, he went home and slept again. Forgetting that he had not had his dinner yet.

            Rukawa cycled to school without falling asleep that day which was quite unusual. The raven hair locked his bike and left it at the bicycle stand. He looked at the blue sky and sighed. A few birds flew across the blue sky and nested on top of the tree. Enjoying nature was like his second life. He loved the way Mother Nature had created everything. So calm and beautiful. He jumped a little when suddenly the school bell rang. Silently cursing, the freshman quickly walks towards the school building. He was late again for the fourth time that week. When he opened his classroom’s door, he could feel every pair of eyes looking at him. He cursed them and walked calmly to his seat, ignoring the death glare from his teacher. Everyone could practically see that their teacher is about to burst into flames. The temperature in the class was suddenly hot. Rukawa ignored it and laid his head on the table. Not interested in the lesson. And the morning went on as usual.

* * * * *

            A pair of blue eyes from the side of the classroom by the window was seen focusing on the black board in one of the classes of Ryonan High. The teacher was writing something on the board and students were busy jolting down notes except for one. Sendoh stared at the board, his mind wandering else where. His best friend, Koshino saw the blank look on the spiky hair’s face and nudged him. Sendoh’s attention was immediately pulled back to reality. When he realized that Koshino was looking at him sarcastically, he grinned. Then he mumbled a quick apology to his best friend and went back to his work. The lesson went by and soon it ended. The classroom became noisy as soon as the teacher exited. Koshino turned to the Sendoh, whom was staring out of the window and asked, “Aki, what’s wrong?”

            Sendoh shifted his gaze from the scenery outside to his best friend. He smiled and shook his spiky head. “Ie. I was just…” he trailed off.

            Koshino look at him with a strange expression on his face. Sendoh looked at him and said, “What? I have something funny on my face?”

            Koshino shook his head and replied seriously, “Look Akira, I am your best friend and you have to tell me what’s on your mind. You looked distracted today, not like your usual self…” Koshino put his arm around Sendoh and continued suspiciously, “Have you by any chance, found a new dream girl?”

            Sendoh laughed when he heard the statement. A few pairs of head were turned towards their direction to see what was happening. Girls had hearts in their eyes and some guys had dirty looks. Koshino glared at those guys and then turned to look at his best friend whom was still laughing. He glared at Sendoh, asking him to stop. Sendoh put up his hand to surrender and then stopped laughing. He was still giggling though. When he stopped, he smiled and wiped away the tears in his eyes from laughing.

             “What’s so funny?” asked Koshino to the spiky hair. Sendoh shook his head.

             “Ie.”

            Koshino sighed. “Look Akira, you keep on saying nothing when I asked you what’s wrong nowadays. Seriously, I’m worried. Don’t tell me you’re still thinking about your ex. She dumped you already Aki!” Koshino said the last part a bit too loudly. Every head was turned to their place eager to listen more about Sendoh’s love life. When Koshino saw the reaction of his class mates, he glared at them and muttered a quiet apology to Sendoh. Sendoh was smiling and looking at him with his bright blue eyes. Koshino groaned.

             “Aki! Tell me! The suspense is killing me!”

            Sendoh grinned. “No. I won’t tell you until it’s time.”

             “Arrgghhh….Aki. I hate you.”

             “But you love me as well right?” replied Sendoh, smiling broadly. His bright blue eyes twinkling.

             “Whatever.”

             “You do and you just don’t wanna admit it,”

             “Okay fine. Say whatever you like…”

            Sendoh grinned when he saw the look on his best friend’s face. He put his arm around Koshino and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek when no one was noticing. Koshino smirked.

             “I’ll tell you when it’s time Kosh…” whispered Sendoh into Koshino’s ear and smiled slyly. Koshino smirked again just when the teacher entered the class.

* * * * *

             “Aki, I’m going home now…” said Koshino to the spiky hair. Sendoh nodded and said bye to his best friend before continuing with his practice. Everyone had left except for a few juniors whom was staying back to mop the floor. Sendoh was about to make a three-point shoot when Hikoichi encountered him. Sendoh shot the ball and it went right in. Perfect. Then he turned around and smiled at his loudmouth junior.

             “Sempai,” greeted Hikoichi to the admirable sophomore.

             “Hikoichi, are you here to inform me about anything?” asked Sendoh while wiping off the sweats on his face. Hikoichi nodded. “What have you got?”

             “It’s about Rukawa-kun, sempai.”

            Sendoh smiled when he heard the name. “Did you get his info?”

             “Yup. Here is it,” said Hikoichi proudly while handling out a piece of paper to Sendoh. Sendoh took the paper and looked at it. Then he smiled.

             “Great job, Hikoichi. Thanks. May I keep this?” asked Sendoh politely, waving the piece of paper in front of him. Hikoichi nodded.

             “Etto…sempai. Can I ask you a question?” asked Hikoichi quietly. Sendoh looked at his junior and nodded. “Sure. Go ahead.”

            Hikoichi looked at the spiky hair senior and asked. “Sempai, why were you so interested in Rukawa-kun?”

            Sendoh was taken back by the question. He had never thought of it. Why was he so interested? Heck. He had never even seen Rukawa! Sendoh, whom cannot produce an answer to the question, could only smile. “I dunno. Just interested.” He answered. Well, it was quite true anyway. He was interested in that guy. But he can’t put it together the pieces of why he was /that/ interested in Rukawa Kaede, the mysterious guy. Then again that guy was a mystery to him, that’s why he was so interested. Hikoichi just looked at his sempai as he answered that question. Sendoh then shrugged.

             “Anyway, thanks for the info Hiko. Well, the others had left, why don’t you just go along. I’ll clean up this place after my practice,” said Sendoh to the junior. Hikoichi looked uncertain for a while, and then he nodded.

             “Arigatou sempai. Then I’ll go now. Don’t practice too late sempai,” advised Hikoichi a bit concerned. Then he walked away when he saw Sendoh smiled.

             “I won’t. Bye,” replied the spiky hair, still wearing that smile on his handsome face. Just another few shots and I’ll go home…

* * * * *

            Rukawa remained silent when he went for basketball practice that day. He could feel the eyes of his teammates on him. Studying his every move. He felt uneasy when he was being watched like that. It feels as if he’s being an experiment rat waiting to be operated. He jumped and makes a lay-up shot after he had break through Akagi’s great defense. All the players were sweating and panting by now. Then Ayako, the team manageress blew her whistle asking them to stop.

             “All right guys! That’s it for today! Dismissed!” shouted the girl with curly hair to the team. Then she went on, “Rukawa-kun, could you please stay for a while? I wanna talk to you.” Ayako waited for the freshman’s respond but got none. She sighed and usher the juniors to clean up the place. The seniors were already inside the locker room, resting and taking their showers. When she saw the red head trying to escape, she said, ‘Sakuragi Hanamichi! You have to stay for extra basic practice!” Sakuragi groaned and strutted towards the corner and practice his daily basics. Rukawa watches and wondered how the manageress managed to control the whole team alone. Secretly he started to admire the ability of the girl, who came out of the same junior high as him. So full of spirit. It was a mystery how everyone has their own ability though. Just like him with his basketball skills and nothing else. Unless you count the skill to sleep in three seconds flat as an ability. His thoughts were interrupted by Ayako’s clear voice. Rukawa turned to face the girl and realized that he was taller than her as much as 35 cm. Ayako had to strain her neck to look at the freshman. Rukawa sighed and sat down so that the girl won’t have a sore neck later. Ayako seems to be relieved a little and sat down next to him. She looked at the juniors whom was working and then set her eyes on the raven hair. Rukawa felt a bit uneasy when he was being looked like that but he ignored it.

             “So…” said Ayako, trying to start a conversation with the freshman. She waited for Rukawa’s response.

             “……..” Ayako sighed when Rukawa kept quiet.

             “Rukawa-kun. Where were you yesterday morning?” asked the curly hair girl looking attentively at the raven hair.

             “Home.”

            Ayako sighed. This is not gonna be an easy task. Getting the usual cold and expressionless raven hair to talk was exactly like asking Sakuragi to dye his red hair to black. “And why were you home? You over-slept?”

             “……………….”

             “Did you know that we lost to Ryonan by only six points?” asked Ayako, trying again.

             “Yeah.” Replied the raven hair quietly. He was silently cursing the alarm clock again.

             “So you knew. Then could you please tell me why you didn’t attend practice yesterday and why didn’t you come for the match against Ryonan? We could’ve won the match with you,” said Ayako while playing with her paper fan. She looked at the freshman, expecting something from him. But all she got was just silence. She tried again, “Rukawa-kun, you have to explain yourself…”

             “I have nothing to say….” Replied Rukawa and he started to get up. Before he walk away, he said quietly, “Thanks for concerning.”

            Ayako looked at him with wide eyes, not believing what he had just said.

* * * * *

                      

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