Mitsui: Sakuragi, don’t take anyone’s things without permission.
Sakuragi then puts a hand to his mouth to hide his grin (like this -->
) before he signals at Mitsui and Miyagi secretively. Version #4: English dialog [Switch language/version)]
仙流物語 — Senru Monogatari
(Part 2)
-----------------------
A few weeks has passed since the two went fishing. It's also been a few weeks since Sendou gave Rukawa his cell phone. Thanks to that, they've been in contact on and off, although Sendou always gotta be the one to initiate and Rukawa hardly replies more than two lines. Yup. Text messages. That's the way they do it. It's not like they don't like to talk but something tells Sendou that Rukawa would very much prefer the alternative, and he's not all that wrong about it.
And so on and off, they both meet together at the usual basketball court. God knows how many times it's been, a dozen perhaps? And though they usually just play against each other in silence, or talk about the same old things, neither of them seems to mind. Sendou particularly finds it adorable to see the look on Rukawa's face each time he loses by a close shave, which is every time, cause he'd always frown in a certain way and mumbles what it sounds like curse words to himself.
Rukawa also knows that Sendou always laughs at him each time that happens and it pisses him off, but he tries to use that as a source of motivation instead. He's determined to wait for the day when it'd be his turn to laugh at Sendou's defeat. Well, not laugh per se. Cause everyone knows his nervous system is incapable of that...
On a related note, there is this one time when Rukawa's this close to beating Sendou in their usual 10-shot game. 9 shots to 9. Rukawa has just successfully stolen the ball from Sendou and he quickly breaks through Sendou's immediate defense with a feint side step to enter his last shot. But alas he's too conscious about entering this last one that he actually misses it, resulting in a rebound which Sendou grabs mid-air followed by a beautiful alley-oop.
You have no...idea... how pissed Rukawa gets, especially when Sendou can't help but laugh and pat him on the back saying “That’s too bad. It almost got in.” Rukawa knows Sendou does that on purpose. He knows Sendou always says something after every victory to light the fire in him, like he's continuously challenging him. But at the same time he also knows that deep down that is what he wants. It's only through rivalry like this can he get a 200% boost in motivation to help him achieve his goal. After all, he still has a long way ahead of him before he should even realistically think about joining the NBA.
-----------------------
It's practice time again one other Saturday, and most of the boys are in the locker room changing. Sakuragi and the others are already there when Rukawa arrives. As usual, the redhead's bragging about how he's gonna kick everyone’s ass in the rival team for practice today and boasts about how he can top Mitsui's three-pointers with his ‘ingenious’ inside shots alone.
Mitsui: You’re gonna score more points than me? Hahahaha!
Miyagi's heard enough of the usual crap Sakuragi spills twenty-four-seven that's he's practically immune. He ignores the two as he puts his stuff away in his locker.
Sakuragi: Yeah, yeah! Laugh while you can! Just wait till you’re blinded in awe by this genius Sakuragi’s performance!
Miyagi, this time however, can't help it when he hears Sakuragi's ever-so-corny statement. He tries to hold back his laughter but fails anyway, joining Mitsui.
Sakuragi: Aaa! Ryouchin! T__T Why do you laugh at me too??
Miyagi: Blinded in awe?? *still suppressing his laughter* You’re merely a beginner!
Rukawa: …Idiot.
Sakuragi: What did you say?!
Rukawa ignores, pulling the earphones out of his ears and stuffing his bag into his locker.
Sakuragi: You asking for a fight, huh?!
Akagi: Shut up!
And then, that's when a moderately loud song starts playing from somewhere. And it totally freezes everyone in the room.
♫ Anata dake mitsumeteru~ (I am only looking at you~)
♫ Deatta hi kara ima demo zutto~ (Ever since that day I met you~)
♫ Anata sae soba ni ireba~ (As long as I have you~)
♫ Hoka ni nanimo iranaaai~ (I don’t need anything else~)
♫ Yume no high tension~~ (A dream’s high tension~)
(Note: Slam Dunk anime's ending theme #1)
Everyone goes quiet as they stare around the room trying to find out where the sound's coming from. Sakuragi's the only who isn't looking, for he's busy grinning to himself wondering who the hell's using such a corny ringtone.
Kogure: Is that a ringtone?
Akagi: Whose is it?
Suddenly everyone turns to look at Rukawa, their eyes narrow in curiosity.
Rukawa: ……<Why are you looking at me?>
Now that everyone's staring at him, he realizes that the sound is indeed coming from his locker. And so he reopens it and checks his bag to notice that it's his cell phone. To no surprise, this is the first time he's heard his own phone's ringtone (well not his own). After all he's only used it for text messaging and that only makes a beep. He narrows his eyes at the name “Hikoichi” on the screen and answers it reluctantly while everyone behind him watches.
Rukawa: …Hello.
Ultra loud voice: Sendou you IDIOT!!! How dare you skip practice again!?!
The volume is so loud, Rukawa instinctively pulls the speaker away from his ears. It's so loud pretty much everyone in the room can hear it.
Voice: How many times do you think this has been!? And how can the captain of all people be playing truant?!
Kogure: <Isn’t that the voice of Ryonan’s coach?>
Another voice from the phone: Easy, easy, Coach. Please calm dow—
Taoka interrupts: You, stop covering for Sendou!
Rukawa: =_=; ……Uh…
Taoka: What! I’m not listening to your excuses! I don’t care if you’re at your girlfriend’s place or whatever, you ARE coming to practice NOW. Understood?!
Rukawa: ……This is Rukawa speaking.
A moment of silence.
Taoka: ……What?
Rukawa: This is Rukawa. =_=#
Taoka: WHAAAT!? Sendou’s girlfriend is RUKAWAA?!!
Rukawa doesn't know whether to MAJOR sweatdrop or MAJOR pop several nerves, but the boys behind him, especially the trio mondaiji (problematic kids) think they might just die from trying too hard to suppress their laughter.
Taoka: Wait a minute! You mean you’re that Rukawa from Shohoku?!
Rukawa really can't be bothered to continue the conversation, especially when their voice is that loud.
Rukawa: You got the wrong number. Bye. *hangs up*
Then, Rukawa pretends not to care what just happened and proceeds to get ready for practice.
Kogure asks innocently: Was that… Taoka sensei? ^^;
Rukawa shrugs it off: I don’t know. *he closes the locker and proceeds to leave* I’ll be out first.
The rest blankly watches him leave until Akagi raises his voice.
Akagi: What are you day dreaming about! It’s practice time!
Not wanting to get gorilla-punched, the rest quickly finishes changing as well. All except for Sakuragi anyway, who's busy digging through Rukawa's locker, proudly without permission.
Miyagi: Hanamichi! Don’t be digging through people’s stuff!
Sakurag grins: Ooh, there it is.
He finds the cell phone and grins like an idiot until his expression suddenly changes.
Sakuragi: Eh… o__o……
Mitsui: Sakuragi, don’t take anyone’s things without permission.
Sakuragi then puts a hand to his mouth to hide his grin (like this --> ) before he signals at Mitsui and Miyagi secretively.
Sakuragi: Ryouchin, Micchii, c’mere c’mere~
Miyagi: Why would I want to look without permission?
Sakuragi: Hehehe~~ *continues to grin stupidly* I guarantee you’d really want to see this though?
Mitsui: <What are you smiling like that about?>
Alas, Sakuragi manages to get the other two curious enough and they peer over his shoulder to take a look......
Mitsui & Miyagi: …OooOoh…
On the other side of town (or so...?), an angry man continues to fume. He stares at Hikoichi's phone and gripping it so hard the boy thinks it's done for.
Taoka: He hung up on me?!
Hikoichi: Easy, easy. Please relax, Coach! It was a miscall after all.
Taoka: Isn’t this supposed to be Sendou’s number??
Hikoichi: Well it is supposed to be… >_<!
Sendou: Cheers. *he finally appears by the gym entrance, smiling as he waves his team good morning*
Taoka pops a nerve on his temple and stares scarily at him for a moment (only to be greeted by an innocent, puzzled look) before he slaps the phone back onto Hikoichi's hand and walks over screaming impatiently.
Taoka: SENDOUU!!!
Sendou: Yes? ._.
Taoka: Where have you bloody been?!
Sendou scratches his head in embarrassment: Ah, sorry bout that. I kinda slept in. ^^;
Taoka clenches his fist as he mentally cries: <This is why you’re so cheap, Sendou! Why do you always give such an innocent look and be so honest that I can’t hit you even if I want to??>
Hikoichi: Oh right, Sendou san. We called you on your phone just now, but the person said we got the wrong number…?
Sendou: My phone? *he takes out his phone from his pocket and checks for any miscall* It didn’t ring.
Hikoichi: Ah, not this one. The other one. <Your girlfriend’s…>
Taoka is then reminded of how impolite the receiver was. And now that he thinks of it, he’s sure that voice belongs to that boy from Shohoku.
Taoka: =_=# “This is Rukawa,” he says.
He stares at Sendou with narrowed eyes to study him for a few seconds while Sendou can only stare back at him, puzzled.
Taoka: Sendou, don’t tell me you lean that way??
Sendou blinks: Eh? Huh? *blinks again* What?
From that day onwards, inevitably, rumors start going around Ryonan that Sendou’s seeing Rukawa of Shohoku. Sendou finds it a little awkward at first when some of the school girls who used to cling to him start whispering to each other and look at him funny, but it doesn’t really bother him, nor does he mind that such a rumor is spreading. In fact, it’s probably better this way so that the boys from the team will now tease him about just one person instead of like, ten. (LOL) Besides, he knows that there’s no way he could have convinced those who believe in the rumor otherwise. They are for a fact literally ‘seeing’ each other, and he can’t deny that it’s something he looks forward to each time.
As for the boys in Shohoku… let’s just say we know Sakuragi can’t keep his mouth shut.
-------------------------
It's Thursday 3pm. There would have been practice any other day but not today, for the third year students have their mid-term tomorrow. In order to lighten their schedule and workload, coach Anzai has announced that there will be no practice today. Besides, he thinks that the rest of the team deserves a little break after all the hard work they've put in. No one's worried about Akagi of course, since they are well aware that he's excellent in both his sport and academic studies. Kogure will be fine too, Sakuragi thinks, but who knows how Mitsui will cope. After all, he was once one of the five members of the akatengundan (the fail squad). LOL (By the way, the missing fifth member is Aota from the judo club)
So for the rest of the team, it's pretty much a day to relax. In fact, it's so relaxing Rukawa falls asleep through the last two hours of class. His teacher is no longer mad at him, though, for he's actually learnt to pretend he doesn't exist. Soon enough, the last bell rings
and everyone packs up to leave, chit chatting happily as they proceed to leave the classroom.
Rukawa remains asleep on his desk, but one of the girls quietly wakes him up when she hears a beep from his bag while walking past behind him.
Girl: Rukawa kun, your phone rang.
Rukawa wakes up, cranky that someone's disturbed his sleep but he soon forgets about that when the girl points at his bag. He scratches his head and yawns softly, thanking the girl only by nodding before he checks his phone. Really, he may not know that this thing used to be Rina exclusive but he sure is aware that it's now Sendou exclusive for him. He really doesn't want or need one, but he supposes it is somewhat convenient, a little. Probably. Maybe.
...... Nah. Whatever. Sendou made him take it. He flips the phone open and reads his message:
-- We don’t have practice today. What about you?
Rukawa stares at it for a few seconds... and then finally replies:
-- No.
He receives a reply in 40 seconds:
-- Lucky! You free then? Let’s go somewhere?
Rukawa stares at it for a few seconds again before he replies:
-- Where?
He receives a reply in 50 seconds:
-- Let’s decide later. Meet you in 30 mins at XX station?
Rukawa sighs lightly and replies:
-- Ok.
Thirty minutes later...
Sendou: Yo. ^_^ *smiles and waves*
Rukawa walks over quietly. It's a wonder how Sendou gets there so fast considering his school is further to the train station than Shohoku, but Rukawa doesn't care to think any further. At the same time, he notices that Sendou isn't carrying a basketball with him. <We aren’t playing basketball…?> Then, Sendou stops leaning against the wall and asks.
Sendou: What a coincidence Shohoku’s got no practice today too. Is it cause the seniors are having mid terms tomorrow?
Rukawa: …Yeah.
Sendou smiles: Same here then.
Rukawa doesn't reply. He's got nothing to say anyway, but he is wondering where and what they're gonna do today if they're not gonna be playing basketball as usual.
Rukawa: Where’re we going?
Sendou: Where do you wanna go?
Rukawa furrows his eyebrows: <Why are you asking me? You’re the one who suggested it.>
Sendou laughs a little: Hahaha. Is there really no reason to hang out if not for basketball?
Rukawa furrows his eyebrows again: …I didn’t say anything.
Sendou looks at him smiling for the next few seconds, his expression innocent. On the other hand, Rukawa looks back at him awkwardly, entirely lost on what this is all about until Sendou shifts his backpack and makes a gesture.
Sendou: Well, since the weather’s good today, how bout we go for a walk?
Rukawa: ……?
Sendou: Isn’t there a park somewhere around here? Why not we go there?
Rukawa: <…There’s a bicycle store near there… Maybe I can get a new bike along the way…> …Alright.
Sendou smiles, content: Let’s go then.
And so the two of them walk over to the park, which is about a fifteen twenty minutes away. They remain quiet for a while as Rukawa wonders about what kind of bike he should get considering his miniscule savings. On the other hand, Sendou's just walking and enjoying the light breeze, and Rukawa's company, until they get to an area of the park where there's a pond.
It's no surprise to see random couples of all ages around this area; it is a popular spot after all with the pond and ducks and shady trees and all. He even notices some people from his school, even though he doesn't know them in person, and can't help but smile at them. Rukawa has just mentally decided what bike to get when he looks to his side and notice Sendou smiling. He follows Sendou's direction of vision and sees several teenage couples. He pretty much has no reaction to that and shrugs it off when Sendou starts a conversation, the smile still on his face.
Sendou: Hey, you know what? Lately there’s been an interesting rumor going around our school.
Rukawa: ……?
Sendou: For some reason it seems that people are getting the idea that we’re dating each other.
Rukawa is quiet, but his expression shows no sign of surprise. Instead, Sendou's surprised that Rukawa doesn't seem to be surprised.
Sendou: Aw, I thought you’d be surprised.
Rukawa: …Not really. It’s the same thing here anyway.
Sendou: ._. …Eh?
Rukawa: And it’s all thanks to you.
Sendou: o_o… What?
Sighing, Rukawa reaches into his sling bag for his phone and holds it up in Sendou's face.
Rukawa: -_- This.
Sendou stares at the screen for two seconds before it finally clicks. And then he starts laughing.
Rukawa: =_=; ……
Sendou: Hahahaha! Because of this…?
Rukawa: <Don’t laugh.> ……
Sendou: That’s funny!
Rukawa: <No it’s not.> ……
Sendou: Don’t you think it’s cute this way?
Rukawa: …… <Don’t be enjoying it.>
Sendou stops laughing: So… Who saw it?
Rukawa sighs as he keeps the phone back in his bag.
Sendou: Must be Sakuragi, huh. Somehow I can imagine how it all happened.
Rukawa continues to walk without responding, though there's no sign of disturbance on his face.
Sendou: Do you mind it?
Rukawa: Not really.
Sendou: Really?
Rukawa: Really.
Sendou smiles at the fact that both of them can't care less about this rumor when most others guys would be going euw and yuck at each other. He then turns to look at the people around them and mumbles to himself.
Sendou: You and I dating… eh…
Sendou is smiling to himself when he notices that Rukawa has paused two steps behind him. He stops walking as well and tilts his head at Rukawa before he realizes that he's staring at something ahead. Curious, Sendou follows his line of vision only to see Mitsui and another guy walking in their direction, oblivious to their presence as they laugh at each other sharing an ice cream. Hasegawa (of Shouyo) is holding the ice cream cone for Mitsui to eat off from as they walk when Mitsui accidently gets some onto his chin. Hasegawa laughs at him while Mitsui tries to wipe it off with his hand, but then he stops him and uses the tissue paper in his hand to wipe it off for him instead.
Hasegawa: Don’t move.
The two resume walking after that and are going to finish the rest of the ice cream when finally they get close enough to Sendou and Rukawa to realize who they've bumped into. It doesn't take a second for the blush on Mitsui's face and ears to show.
Mitsui: Rukawa? Sendou??
Sendou smiles at them: Hi there, Mitsui san…
Sendou is trying hard to remember the other man's name when the man speaks for himself.
Hasegawa: Hasegawa Kazushi.
Sendou: Oh right. You’re Hasegawa from Shoyo. *a little embarrassed for forgetting his name but smiles to cover it up*
At this moment, Mitsui’s somewhat frozen from this coincidental meeting, his brain frantically going through his encyclopedia of ‘how to react when caught red handed going out with the boyfriend your friends don’t know’. On the other hand, Rukawa simply stares back and forth between Mitsui, Hasegawa and the ice cream. And just to tell you, Rukawa has no memory of who Hasegawa is. LOL
And so the four share a real awkward moment of silence; none of them know what to say next. Sendou wonders if the two are just simply hanging out as close buddies or if they’re dating, cause it sure isn’t everyday that two guys that age share an ice cream in public. Rukawa continues to stare at Mitsui, wondering just for a second if this is the guy from Shoyo that Miyagi once mentioned, cause if it is, hehehe… it would be payback time for the joke Mitsui used to pull on him in front of everyone.
Rukawa: Senpai, I thought you have mid terms tomorrow?
Mitsui: -_-||| <Damn… He’s asking on purpose!> Ah, yeah… I studied in advance yesterday and I thought I could use some fresh air…
Rukawa: I see… *stares at him suspiciously*
Sendou laughs mentally at how nervous Mitsui looks, and then he looks over at Hasegawa to comment.
Sendou: It’s nice that you two look really close.
In response, Hasegawa puts an arm around Mitsui’s waist, which causes him to flinch and blush even more, pulls him closer and leans over smiling.
Hasegawa: Aren’t you too…?
Sendou blinks at them a few times before he glances over at Rukawa who for some reason is giving him the glare.
Sendou: ^^; Oh no… We’re not in that kind of relationship.
Mitsui: What? No?
Sendou: ^^; I think there’s been a misunderstanding. Rukawa just told me about the photo in his phone, and that’s actually just me being silly.
Hasegawa: ……? *doesn’t understand and so looks at Mitsui*
Mitsui: I see…
Mitsui doesn’t quite believe them but he knows he is no position to pry any further and so he stops pursuing. Somehow, he has now started to relax and feel more comfortable being himself and is about to ask Sendou about Ryonan’s progress when he notices the ice cream dripping off the cone.
Mitsui: Shit, the ice cream’s melting.
Sendou: Oops, sorry to have taken your time. I guess we should get going.
Mitsui: Oh, okay.
Sendou smiles and nods at them before he resumes walking past them. Mitsui is also going to wave a proper bye when the ice cream drips onto his shoe.
Mitsui: Ah!
Hasegawa: I’ve got more tissue paper.
Mitsui: You better eat it fast. It’s gross when it’s all melty.
Hasegawa: I don’t actually mind.
Sendou looks back at them a few more seconds as he and Rukawa walk away. Rukawa only glances for a second before he turns back thinking that it’s now even between him and Mitsui. With any luck, Mitsui may just spread the new news that there’s nothing between them. No, it’s not that he finds the rumor disturbing. It’s more the fact that the teasing is annoying, cause Sakuragi does not know when to ever stop.
Sendou: I didn’t know they’re together too… They look happy.
Rukawa: …What do you mean “too”?
Sendou: Well, Sakuragi and Miyagi are dating, right?
Rukawa thinks a for moment: …I wouldn’t know.
Sendou: ^^; <Seriously?>
Rukawa continues to walk as he stares at the ground. It’s hard to tell if he’s actually thinking or just blankly staring at it.
Sendou: Say, maybe our rumor might just come true one day?
Rukawa: -_____- ……
Sendou laughs: I’m just joking. ^_^;
Rukawa: ……
Sendou then quickly changes the topic: Aah… Now I feel like ice cream too…
Rukawa lazily points a finger at a distance.
Rukawa: Over there.
And there it is. A nice little ice cream cart under a tree. It probably is the one where Mitsui and Hasegawa got theirs. The two walk over and Sendou eagerly checks it out.
Sendou: It looks good. You want one? I’ll buy you.
Rukawa: I’m fine.
Sendou: Eh? I said I’ll buy you.
Rukawa: I said I’m fine.
Sendou: Really?
Rukawa: Really.
Sendou: Not even a little?
Rukawa: …… -___-
And so Sendou buys just one for himself, a double scoop with a vanilla chocolate mix. He takes a bite as they continue to walk and almost gets a brain freeze, but he manages to knock himself out of it.
Sendou: This is good.
Rukawa: ……
Sendou: Wanna try some?
Sendou’s just playing with Rukawa’s patience, really, cause for some reason it’s fun anticipating Rukawa’s reaction. He’s expecting to get the usual glare or some sort in response when Rukawa bends over and takes a bite out of the ice cream by the cone. Sendou hasn’t expected that. It surprises him enough that he stands really still and watches until Rukawa raises his head back up to wipe a bit of the ice cream that has landed on the corner of his lips with the back of a finger.
Rukawa: Happy now?
Sendou continues to stare at Rukawa in silence, his lips to be exact, and Rukawa now stares back with a blank look, until eventually he waves a hand at his face in his attempt to wake him up.
Sendou ‘wakes up’: Oh… How is it?
Rukawa: …It’s sweet.
Sendou: ^^; It’s supposed to be.
After a few more minutes’ walk, Rukawa tells Sendou that he wants to stop by a bicycle shop nearby. Sendou remembers why he needs a new bike and agrees to go there with him. Along the way, it quite disturbs Sendou that he can’t seem to stop thinking about the way Rukawa looked when he ate his ice cream. It feels different from all the other times he’s seen him. The way he tilted his head, the way his eyelashes batted when he looked down, the way his lips moved…
Okay, these thoughts have got to stop. Sendou tries his best to switch his mental image to something else. That turns out to be quite an easy task when they happen to pass by a purikura (photo sticker) store where they see a few school girls excitedly step out from.
Sendou: Hey, it’s purikura.
Rukawa: …?
Sendou: Purikura, you know?
Rukawa: …What’s that?
Sendou: Oh… you don’t know?
Then, Sendou's lips curl into a playful smile as an idea comes to him.
Sendou: Since you don’t know, let’s give it a try.
Rukawa: ……?
Sendou: Come on, let’s go~
Sendou continues to grin, grabs Rukawa’s wrist and pulls him into the store. That catches Rukawa by surprise. He’s tempted to pull his arm away but there are several people around and he doesn’t want to alert anyone. And so he furrows his eyebrows as he has no choice but to follow Sendou. Well at least, Sendou’s considerate enough to pick a corner machine where there’re less people. Rukawa stares at the machine uncomfortably as Sendou digs for a few hundred yen coins in his wallet.
Rukawa: What’s this?
Sendou: Purikura. *enters the coins into the machine* We’re taking a picture with it.
Rukawa: A picture?
Sendou: Yup. You know, those little sticker thingies girls usually paste on their purse.
Rukawa: -_- Are you asking to be misunderstood again?
Sendou smiles playfully: Actually, I don’t quite mind.
Rukawa doesn’t quite understand Sendou. Actually, he probably never does quite understand him. But to simplify things, he decides to settle on the conclusion that Sendou’s just playful. Either that, or he simply enjoys fooling him.
Purikura take #1:
Rukawa: …What are we supposed to do?
Sendou: First we set the brightness setting. After that we select the background and patterns.
Rukawa: You sound like you’re familiar.
Sendou: Rina taught me most of it.
Rukawa: …… *looks at the screen and then the buttons underneath to see a green one that says ‘okay’* …Should we press this?
Sendou: Ah no, not ye—
Camera snaps. Outcome: totally bad.
Purikura take #2:
Sendou: ^^; Um… please don’t press that until the settings are done.
Rukawa: ……
Sendou: Oh hey, it’s done. Now look to the front and pose.
Rukawa: -_- Pose?
Sendou: Yeah. You can do anything so long you look to the front.
Rukawa: …What a bother.
Sendou: ^^; A peace sign would be enough?
Rukawa: That’s stupid.
Sendou: Ah, look to the front. Look to the—
Camera snaps. Outcome: pretty bad.
Purikura take #3, final take:
Sendou: ^^; This time, don’t forget to look to the front, okay?
Rukawa: Where is the front?
Sendou: This camera.
Rukawa: ……
Sendou: Oh, don’t forget to smile?
Rukawa: ……
Camera snaps. Outcome: not bad.
Sendou picks up the sticker once it’s finished printing and smiles at it, showing it to Rukawa.
Sendou: Phew. It came out well.
Rukawa stares at it: …It’s weird.
Sendou laughs: That’s cause you didn’t smile.
Rukawa: ……
Sendou smiles: Well then, let’s cut this in half.
Rukawa: Why?
Sendou: We’ve got a lot of copies here. Don’t you want some?
Rukawa: No.
Sendou pouts playfully: That’s cold.
Rukawa: I don’t need it.
Sendou: Aw don’t say that.
Sendou then happily tears one of the stickers out and pastes it on the back of his ID card before he slips it back into his wallet. Rukawa watches in curiosity.
Rukawa: What are you doing?
Sendou: It’d be a waste if I don’t paste it somewhere now that we’ve taken it. Besides, I can use this as a sign of our friendship, no?
Rukawa: …Why on the back of your card?
Sendou: You don’t want to get misunderstood if I blatantly paste it on my wallet, right?
Sendou pretty much gets it right, but Rukawa shrugs it off and steps out of the store. He’s still got his bike to get. At the bicycle store, Rukawa greets the shopkeeper who looks happy to see him. Apparently Rukawa is an old-time customer and the shopkeeper adores him like his own child, sort of, cause he looks quite similar to his own son who now lives in Nagoya. But thanks to that Rukawa also gets the privilege to buy things from the store at a super discount. Well now we know why he comes to this store. =P
Anyway, Rukawa ends up getting a regular bike at half price. Bastard (LOL). He politely thanks the shopkeeper and waves him goodbye before he and Sendou continue walking outside.
Sendou: You’re lucky to get a good one.
Rukawa: I like this store.
Sendou: Should we test ride it?
Rukawa: What ride?
Sendou: Think you can ride me back? We’ll pass by my place on the way back anyway.
Rukawa: No thanks. You’re heavy.
Sendou: Let me paddle then.
Rukawa: ……
Sendou: Don’t worry. I won’t crash.
Rukawa: -__-# ……
Rukawa’s reluctant but in the end he still agrees, reluctantly of course. It’s not that he’s worried about his bike, cause for someone who’s crashed half a dozen times that no longer means anything. It’s just he has never ridden a bike this way before, and he’s quite sure he’s not gonna like it.
Sighing, he lets Sendou take control of the bike as he climbs aboard the back, stepping on the little platform to the side of the back wheel; his bike has no back seat, so the only way to fit a second person on it is to stand above the back wheel.
Sendou: Hold on tight!
Rukawa grabs onto Sendou’s shoulder and sighs internally to himself before the two take off. The ride is well and smooth and Rukawa is actually surprised it feels quite nice this way, especially with the wind blowing against his entire body. He is just about to enjoy looking around the streets they pass by when suddenly he feels overwhelmed by gravity.
Sendou’s going downhill. And he’s totally enjoying it, laughing along the way as he feels Rukawa’s grip tighten around his shoulders.
Rukawa: Sendou!
Sendou: Hahaha! Isn’t this fun~?
Rukawa: You’re too fast!
Sendou: Don’t worry bout it~
Rukawa: =_=#
Rukawa’s about to shout again when suddenly the road gets steeper, making him instinctively put an arm around Sendou’s neck keep himself steady. On the other hand, Sendou’s still laughing, thinking <I wonder what kind of expression he's putting on right now...>
Rukawa: <Bastard…> ###
He’s so gonna trash him after this. After a few more seconds, they finally each the end of the slope and immediately Rukawa lets go of a hand to tap on Sendou’s shoulder, hard.
Rukawa: Stop! STOP!
Sendou slowly brings the bike to a halt and Rukawa gets off the moment he can. He bends over with his hands on his knees as if he’s tired after round of basketball and breathes in to relax himself. Sendou watches him for two seconds before he starts chuckling again.
Sendou: Fun, wasn’t it?
Rukawa: =_=##
Rukawa stares at Sendou angrily that Sendou starts feeling guilty.
Sendou: Sorry, I promise I won’t do it again
Rukawa: Get off.
Sendou: Oh, okay…
Sendou gets off the bike and Rukawa promptly grabs the handle and resumes walking.
Sendou: ^^; Sorry… Are you mad?
Rukawa: ……
The two continue to walk in silence. Sendou’s actually a little afraid of talking in case he pisses him off, not that he’s certain he isn’t already. Maybe he shouldn’t have done that. It’s dangerous after all, and getting Rukawa hurt would be the last thing he ever wants, but for some reason it was tempting. Maybe… maybe that’s because it’s the only other way he can think of for them to be close… physically.
Five minutes later, they somehow arrive at the seaside where Sendou first brought them fishing. The sun is beginning to set (as the sun sets early the closer it gets to winter) and with that the color of the sky changes. It is a pretty orange yellow at the moment, the sun still hanging quite high. As they walk past, Sendou stares into the horizon.
Sendou: The sun’s pretty…
Rukawa: …… *gazes along*
Sendou: Can we stay here until the sun sets?
Rukawa: ……
Sendou: I promise this will be my last request for the day.
Rukawa: ……
Rukawa glances over at the sea again before he agrees to Sendou’s request without saying a word. He simply walks the bike over to the shore where there’s grass and puts the bike down. Sendou smiles and follows him. For a while the two of them just sit quietly on the grass and stare blankly at the horizon.
To be honest Rukawa’s not angry anymore. In fact that probably didn’t last more than a few minutes. He just… doesn’t have much else to say. He can’t deny that it’s been fun though, even though there were a few odd moments here and there. Oh yeah, Mitsui. He remembers bumping into Mitsui earlier on. It’s cool to see how they aren’t afraid to be intimate together in public, even though it’s obvious Mitsui gets embarrassed when seen by the people he knows.
On the other hand, Sendou continues to gaze into the sky far away. He’s glad to have called Rukawa out today. It’s definitely been fun, different from the kind of fun they usually get from playing basketball with each other. He’s aware that it’s almost like a date… and he wouldn’t have mind calling it one either. But that’s the problem. Why wouldn’t he mind…? Does he like Rukawa that way? Is there more from Rukawa that he wishes he can have?
Well it can’t be. Sendou doesn’t remember when he ever starts feeling anything special for the boy. They first met a couple months ago during a practice match between their schools. He’s heard about his name long before that, of course, and after having met him he’s convinced that Rukawa’s a competitive one with a reasonably arrogant attitude. That’s not a bad thing though, cause deep down he knows he’s longed for a rival, and no one fits the bill better than him. So when was it…? When did that change ever come about?
“Why do you think that is?”
“Why would I know?”
“Cause you won’t come after me anymore if I lost, would you?”
“……”
“Bull’s eye, eh.”
Sendou blinks at the setting sun. It’s been a continuous half hour or so since he stared at it. Still, neither of them has said a word. Maybe Rukawa’s still angry. Sendou looks away from the sun and turns his head around. Rukawa’s fallen asleep. He’s lying flat against the ground with a hand over his stomach.
Sendou: <He must be tired…>
It’s almost like a crime for him to be lying there, sleeping so peacefully and defenselessly. Does he even realize that anyone can do anything to him at this moment? Or is he defenseless only because he knows it’s Sendou and he’s safe to be with? Sendou continues to watch him, observing the way his chest rises and sinks with each breath, the way he stirs a little from time to time… the way his lips are tempting him.
Sendou’s heart begins to race, a dozen thoughts rushing through his head. He quietly scoots over towards Rukawa, careful not to wake him up. Then, he reaches a hand out to gently brush his hand over his head, softly running his fingers through his hair. He whispers his name softly, wondering if he’d wake up, but he doesn’t.
Sendou: <Guess he fell asleep…>
Sendou looks into Rukawa’s sleeping face as he continues to play with his hair. He’s not quite sure what he’s feeling inside, and his heart is still racing. He doesn’t know what part of him he’s attracted to, neither is he sure of how exactly he feels for him. All he knows at the moment is that… he really wants to kiss him.
Gathering all the courage he can get, he slowly leans over. He pauses for a moment as he hovers above Rukawa’s lips and gazes into his eyes. Then, he closes his eyes for a moment… before he pushes himself back up and moves back to where he originally sits and lies against the ground facing the other side.
Sendou: <I can’t… I don’t want to be a coward…>
Now it’s quiet… and Rukawa slowly opens his eyes. He looks over at Sendou, who has his back facing him, without turning his head.
Rukawa: <……>
The sunset is prettiest at this moment, the orange sun hanging right along the horizon. And none of them are looking at it.