The tall boy paid the taxi-driver before stepping out of the vehicle. He stood in front of a tall building, a big sign 'Anime Incorp' with big letters glaring ominously at him. As he was about to take a step a roar of engine came from his right and suddenly a Harley Davidson sped passed, an inch of nearly knocking into him.

"Hey!" the boy cried to the the biker but the biker, who was wearing a black leather jacket with the word "Badass" at the back just ignored him and kept on going towards an underground parking lot beside the Anime Incorp building.

The tall boy sighed pushing back his bangs from his eyes and slung his backpack back on his shoulder, walking towards the building in front of him. Meeting a receptionist in the lobby he was directed towards a double door on the right, after he was eyed from head to foot by the woman behind the desk that is, making the shy handsome boy blush. He went in and after walking for a few moments across the corridor he stopped in front of a door with a sticker "SD cast" pasted on it.

Slowly he took a deep breath and opened the door to see a person with a pony tail wearing a jacket with the familiar "Badass" word, standing with his back to him. The boy gulped.

"Hey! Watcha doing here?" a voice suddenly rang out.

He turned around and saw another boy nearly as tall as he was with black hair and striking blue eyes, wearing a white t-shirt and a pair of faded jeans with holes on the knees, looking at him curiously. The biker turned around and grinned, "Well well well, hello again."
The biker's brown eyes glinted dangerously behind the clear glasses perched on his nose.

The boy gave a nervous smile, feeling intimidated even if the person in front of him was shorter than he was. The boy was about to say something when the biker suddenly puffed out a cloud of smoke from his cigarrette into of his face.

The boy coughed, trying to maintain his dignity but failed miserably as his eyes watered.

"I... *cough* I'm... the new guy... *cough* A-Akira Sendoh..." he managed to hack out.

"Really?" the other boy with the blue eyes exclaimed. "Hey, welcome! Come 'ere! Don't mind him. I'm Rukawa Kaede! I'm a Shohoku guy and so is he," Rukawa pointed towards the biker who snorted and took a seat on a couch with a can of beer on his gloved hand.
"He's Kogure Kiminobu!"

"Uh, hi..."

"Here's another Ryonan! He's gonna be your team-mate. Koshino Hiroaki," Rukawa pointed out towards another boy sitting on a chair who nodded his greeting to Sendoh. The boy's dark hair was quite long, reaching his shoulder in faint wisps.

"He's a quiet guy that one," whispered Rukawa before pulling Sendoh towards another boy with red hair wearing a white shirt and a brown suit. "And this one is Hanamichi Sakuragi."

"Well, umm... hi. I hope that you will be kind to lend me you guidance," Sendoh said politely bowing to the people in the room.

"Oh, so polite," Kogure said sarcastically.

"Do be courteous, Kogure-san," said Hanamichi, standing up to walk towards Sendoh to extend his hand, "Welcome, Akira Sendoh."

The redhead's words sounded cultured and the perfectly tailored clothes and the gold watch on his hand gave the impression to Sendoh that this guy is not the average middle-income person. Sendoh gratefully took his hand to give it a firm shake. "Hm. You've got a firm grip there, Sendoh-san," commented Hanamichi.

"Stronger than mine?" Rukawa asked, putting up a mock pout.

"Of course not, Rukawa-kun," chuckled Hanamichi giving a quick pat on the boy's shoulder before turning around to take his seat again.

"What's taking Mitsui so long?" Kogure suddenly grumbled, crumpling his beer can and throwing it accurately into the wastebasket.

"Miss him already, Kogure-kun?" teased Rukawa cheekily.

The spectacled boy gave him a dirty look, "Shut up."

"Don't worry Kogure! We'll look for him, won't we Sendoh-kun!" the blue-eyed boy said pulling Sendoh with him.

"Huh?" Before the other boy could protest, Rukawa was already pulling him towards the door and outside the corridor.

"Where are we going?" asked Sendoh trying to catch up with the boy's cheerful pace.

"To the pantry. Mitsui is probably still making some sandwhiches and tea for us there. Getting a few snacks before the rest do sure beats sitting around in that room with Kogure."

"Kogure-san? I don't think he likes me very much," said Sendoh slowly.

"Don't worry about it," Rukawa laughed, patting Sendoh on the back, "He doesn't like everyone - well, except Mitsui that is. Everyone likes Mitsui."

"He's really that nice?"

"He's the best," Rukawa grinned, "He's kinda like the one who everyone turns to when they have any troubles. A big brother kinda thing... though I doubt Kogure has /that/ kind of affection towards him."

Sendoh arched his eyebrows, "What do you mean?"

Rukawa's blue eyes twinkled, "Ah ah ah, you'll have to see that for yourself."

The other boy smiled, already liking Rukawa from the beginning. The boy is handsome and his blue eyes are framed by long lashes making them look like .. fox's eyes?

"Hey," Sendoh suddenly said, "You're that guy who's gonna play the Shohoku no.1 rookie, aren't you?"

"Yeah!" laughed Rukawa. "Why, how ever did you find out?" he teased fluttering his lashes.

Sendoh chuckled, "And of course Hanamichi's the one who's the main character in this story?"

"Yep! Hana-kun's one cool dude! He's loaded, d'ya know that? When he pulled in with that awesome black porsche and talk that rich talk, I thought that he was one stuck-up yuppie but he's actually a great fella! Suave and gentlemanly and all that..." said Rukawa.

"Yeah, he's ok," nodded Sendoh.
"And how about Koshino Hiroaki?"

"Huh? Him? I dunno. He came in yesterday. He's the silent type. Can't get more than a few words outta him in one hour," Rukawa replied.
"Ah, here we are!"

Rukawa opened a door marked "Pantry" and walked inside with Sendoh behind him. Aromatic smells wafted in the small room making the boys' mouth water.

"Ummm...." Rukawa sighed, taking a deep sniff. "Smells great, Mitsui!"

Standing near a small oven was a boy a few inches shorter than they were, in a sweater and a pair of faded jeans holding a tray of freshly-made cookies.

"Don't tell me you made that here!" said Rukawa incredulously going forward to touch the cookies.

"Hands off! It's still hot!" Mitsui warned.
"No, I made the dough at home and thought that I can make use of the oven here."

"Good idea....ouch! Ouch!" Rukawa yelped jiggling the cookie from one hand to another.

Mitsui sighed," I told you..."
Then he suddenly noticed Sendoh, "Hello. And you are?"

"Oh," Sendoh started at the voice, distracted by the lingering aroma. "I'm Akira Sendoh for Ryonan," he introduced himself, bowing politely.

"Ryonan? Kinda early aren't you? You guys won't be making an appearance for a few more episodes," Mitsui said after he bowed back, his hand lifting up to brush his black hair back neatly in place - when he suddenly realised that he was wearing oven-mittens.

"Well, yeah. But since I got nothing else to do at the moment I thought that I should see how this show's going on."

"Hm. I see," Mitsui smiled and handed him a tray with a teapot of tea, cups and a few cans of soft-drinks.
"Help me carry them to the guys and Rukawa... Rukawa!"

"Yes?" Rukawa blinked innocently, hand poised to take another cookie.

Mitsui sighed.

Back at the SD cast room, the others were gratefully eating and drinking up all of Mitsui's work. Even the taciturn Koshino nearly leapt towards the food when the three arrived with the food-and-drink-laden trays.

Sendoh was however surprised to see a sudden change in Kogure. He was still rude and foul-mouthed but those attributes were toned down when Mitsui was near him.

Rukawa took a seat near Hanamichi and Sendoh followed suit, seeing that it was the only place left. Mitsui sat beside Kogure, the biker easily putting his arm at the back of the couch around Mitsui as he munched on the warm cookie. Koshino kept quiet, eating his sandwhich and taking alternate sips from his can of soft-drink.

They were lounging in their seats with the remnants of their snacks in their stomach when a stout-looking man came in with eight people trailing behind him.

"Hello boys! These people are the ones who will be giving you the looks for the character you'll be taking up for this show... wait a minute... who are you?" he asked Sendoh.

"I'm Akira Sendoh for Ryonan," Sendoh said, standing up to bow to the director.

"Oh yeah! Your agent said you were coming. Well, might as well have them see what style the Ryonan team star should be in, eh? Ok, ok, let's go," the director said briskly snapping his fingers at them.

Rukawa rolled his eyes at the man as he motioned for Sendoh to follow them.

"You are not gonna cut my hair, you ass!"

The director sighed as he ambled towards the angry actor and the frightened hairdresser.

"Kogure, he has to. You're supposed to be a scholar-type kind of student - gentle and kind and...."

"I can be fucking gentle and kind if you want me to but they will not cut off my fucking hair!" yelled Kogure, stamping out his cigarrette.

"Kogure-kun," Mitsui said coming up to him, "it's just hair. It'll grow back soon."

Most of Mitsui's neat glossy hair was gone and now he was sporting a crudely-cut hair style but somehow it made him look more handsome than before.

"Easy for you to say. They cut your hair and you don't look like a dork," Kogure grumbled. Then he turned to the director, "Hey, why don't'cha do my hair like Mitsui's?"

"We can't," said the hairdresser meekly, "Mitsui-san is to play an ex-gangster with a troubled-past and you are ...."

"... a fucking scholar type student who's fucking gentle and fucking kind - yeah, yeah, I know!" said Kogure angrily.

After much cajoling and persuading (with Mitsui's help), Kogure sighed and sat quietly in his chair, barely hiding his grimace as they cut off his pony tail.

The woman stepped back to survery her work before she nodded in satisfaction.
"There! It's done, Akagi-san," she told the person sitting on the chair. Turning to Sendoh she said, "Sendoh-san, it's your turn now." Sendoh nodded and walked up towards the table as the person was standing up to leave the seat.

Sendoh gaped. He rarely meets anyone as tall as he was and Hanamichi comes close to his height but this guy is HUGE!

Rukawa seeing the wide-eyed expression on Sendoh's face grinned and whispered in Sendoh's ear, "If you think he's big, wait'll you see Uozumi."

Sendoh resisted the need to touch his head. They have put in nearly a whole jar of gel in his hair to make his locks stand up straight in the air, saying that it's the best style for his cheerful, easy going character.

"Stupid hairstyle," grumbled Sendoh, restraining from scratching an itchy spot on his head. If the hairdo gets messed up, those hairdressers will put another ton of gel on him again to keep his hair up!

Suddenly he bumped into a person and he was surprised to see Koshino looking at him with a small one-sided smile on his lips.
Now Koshino's hair was cut short to his neck and the front was parted in the middle to create a stylish look. With the long hair cut off, Sendoh was able to see Koshino's face better and he thought the boy looked ... cute.

Koshino arched an eyebrow.
Oh my God! Did I just say that out loud?! thought Sendoh in horror.

"You too," Koshino said before walking away from the blushing boy.

"Great," mumbled Sendoh, "the first Ryonan guy I meet and I foul up by calling him cute!"
Sendoh covered his eyes in embarrassment, "He's gonna think I'm gay or something!"

"You mean you're not?"

Sendoh yelped at the sudden appearance of Rukawa beside him.

"R-Rukawa...uh.. what do you mean?" Sendoh asked after getting his wits back.

"I mean that you aren't gay. That's too bad," Rukawa sighed.

"Huh?"

"I think you're cute and I can guess that Hanamichi likes you as well," the boy told him. Sendoh's eyes went wide. Then Rukawa shrugs and thumps Sendoh heartily on the back, "All the better! That means that there'll be no competition for me for Hana-kun's affection then!"

Suddenly an arm slung itself around Rukawa's shoulder and a voice drawled, "Why Rukawa-kun. What makes you think you need to compete with others for my affection? I think a little assurance session is in order."

Rukawa practically swooned as Hanamichi pulled the boy along with him out of the dressing room.

The next day.

Sendoh was about to enter the SD cast room when the door suddenly opened and a worried Rukawa burst out of the room.

"Rukawa?! What the matter?" Sendoh asked surprised.

"It's Mitsui! He was cleaning some stuff in the pantry and a knife slipped from his grasp and cut his chin! Hanamichi just called me from the hospital and I'm going there right now! Are ya coming?"

"Of course," Sendoh replied running along side the other boy.

They took a taxi and quickly went to the private room the nurse had pointed to them on their way inside the hospital. Upon reaching there, an argument was on. Mitsui was looking miserable with his chin in stitches while Kogure was yelling at the 'asshole' director who is worried about the 'fucking' show and doesn't give a 'shit' about Mitsui's well-being etc, etc. Hanamichi was trying to control the situation but failing to get one word in he suddenly yelled "Hold it! This isn't going to make things better!"

Saying so, he pushed the director out of the room and motioning for Rukawa and Sendoh to follow. Sendoh quietly shut the door on his way out leaving Kogure with Mitsui alone inside.

"C'mon Mitsui," Kogure tried, rubbing the other boy's back soothingly, "It's gonna be alright."

"No, what the director said is true! This cut won't heal and the scar will ruin the whole show!" sniffed Mitsui.

"Nah, they'll think of something," said Kogure, "They can't afford to waste time and find another actor on such short notice. Don't worry, it'll be ok."

"Thanks," Mitsui said sincerely, smiling.

Kogure smiled in return and said, "Ne, I think that scar will make you look cuter."

Mitsui blushed, "Really?"

"Aa."

Kogure bent forward to give Mitsui a gentle kiss and after a few moments he broke away to whisper to the boy, "And Mitsui, no more knives for you,"

"Kogure...!"

Kogure laughed and captured Mitsui lips again, pulling the boy in his arms.

"It can't be done!" the director protested, "There's no amount of make-up that can cover up that scar!"

"Look, Mitsui is supposed to be an ex-gangster right? If you can't cover the scar up, make it somewhere in the story that he got that scar in a gang fight or something," Hanamichi suggested.

The director was about to protest when he suddenly stopped.
"Yeah! Kinda like a big gang fight! We can put him up with that kid Miyagi!"

He took Hanamichi's hand and shook it vigorously, "Thank you Hanamichi. I can always count on you!"

"I aim to please," Hanamichi replied before the excited director walked quickly away.

"That's the spirit!" Rukawa called after him before saying under his breath, "jerk."
Then he turned towards Hanamichi and gushed, "You were excellent."

Hanamichi smiled and offered his arm to Rukawa, "Shall we tell Mitsui about the good news?"
Rukawa grinned taking the proffered arm, "I thought you'd never ask, kind sir."
Sendoh had to smile.

Sendoh was first to arrive the door to Mitsui's room and opening it he was presented with a sight he was unprepared to see.

He quickly shut the door, blushing furiously.

"What? What?" asked Rukawa when he reached Sendoh in front of the door.

"M-Mitsui a-and Kogure... they... they are.. umm..." stammered Sendoh as he made a motion with both his hands.

Rukawa and Hanamichi's expression turned from curious to surprise to humour. They began to laugh.

"So," Rukawa grinned, "I guess now you know what kind of feelings they have, eh?"

Sendoh blushed harder.

Since the director called for a day off to work on the ammendements of the scripts, Rukawa and Hanamichi decided to go somewhere alone and Kogure sent Mitsui home.

"Are you sure you don't want to join us, Sendoh-kun?" Ayako asked the boy.

"Nah, I think I'll go home and take a rest. Or maybe go fishing," Sendoh said. The curley-haired girl was accompanied by Akagi, that tall guy and three others. There was Haruko, the snobbish little princess as Rukawa calls her; Miyagi the over-enthusiastic kid who the director thought ought to get his ears pierced making him more enthusiastic; and Yohei, the book-worm who was now holding an open book in front of his face as they speak.
Although Sendoh thought that he could take this chance to get to know them better, he was still feeling shy and awkward around them.
"Maybe some other time," he said.

"Suit yourself," said Akagi, "Ja."

"Ja," Sendoh waved back as he watched them walk away to their favoured hang-out.

Sendoh picked up his back-pack and was about to walk out the door, when Koshino came in.
The boy looked around the empty room before giving the tall boy a questioning look.

"Mitsui cut his chin, so the writers have to rewrite the scripts. The director's giving us a day off," Sendoh explained, feeling a bit nervous by the boy's stare, wishing that Koshino would say something. Since the first time Koshino spoke to him, he finds himself hoping to hear the boy's voice again.

Koshino nodded his thanks and walked out the door. Sendoh bit his lip and after debating with himself he ran out to catch up to the shorter boy.

"Uh, so, where are you going?" Sendoh asked the boy. Koshino looked at him and after a moment's silence he answered, "Fishing."

"Really? I was thinking of the same thing!" exclaimed Sendoh, "Mind if I come along?"

Koshino shrugged and allowed Sendoh to happily walk beside him. The taller boy wasn't sure what makes him like this cute boy (ok, he admit he's cute) with his silence and mysterious ways but he didn't care. He's got plenty of time to find out.


~The End~