The annual festival was held in the school compound and everyone was busy preparing their stalls to sell their wares; food, handicraft or old junks that they could find which people might be interested in buying. Profit was not the main goal in this activity but the enjoyment in socialising with everyone regardless of their position at school, be it a member of the staff, a third year, a second year or a first year. Various official clubs of informal social circles each has a desginated stall. The art club was busy selling personalised hand-printed t-shirt, the photography club taking pictures in a makeshift studio for interested patrons, the football club offering a 'scoop the goldfish' game and delicious aroma came from the freshly baked cakes by the girl's netball team.

Kogure always enjoyed this sort of activity and since in this festival he did not have any jobs allocated to him, he leisurely strolled by the many stalls, watching the students, staff members and the wares for sale with lazy interest. He checked his watch and wondered where Akagi has gone to. They have come to check out the festival together but when the two came upon a thick crowd buying cotton candy from the buxomous girls from the tennis team earlier on, the two friends have been forced to seperate and Kogure was left behind to search if Akagi has waited for him somewhere less crowded. The spectacled-boy figured that it wouldn't be difficult to search for someone as tall as Akagi but after half an hour not seeing any sign of his friend, he destined himself to wander in the busy school compound alone. He sighed, thinking to himself, It isn't so fun if you're by yourself.

Kogure continued scanning the area in the hopes of seeing Akagi when he saw a red stall with a sign with white wordings that said "BBQ Balls" a few feet away from him. About five customers were standing in front of the stalls and Kogure guessed that they were waiting for the 'basketballs' to cook. The boy grinned. The basketball team have been selling that food since he came upon the idea two years ago. The edible 'basketballs' were made from sticky rice and covering the rice balls were slim strips of crab sticks which coloured the snack orange to complete the picture. The senior made his way towards the stall but as the crowd parted, he saw that manning the stall was Sakuragi barbequeing the rice balls and beside him was Akagi Haruko. Kogure stopped dead in his tracks as he watched the painfully sweet scene the two juniors made. The two were wearing matching red aprons and Haruko was giggling at the careless attempt Sakuragi was doing at cooking.

Turning around, his feet brought him towards the only place where he could find peace and quiet and certainly a sense of belonging - the gym.



****

"Sakuragi! You're ruining it!" yelped Ayako instantly taking possession of the skillet from the redhead's hand.

"No I'm not!" protested the junior trying to snatch the utensil back but he was stopped by a glare from the manageress.

"Yes you are," said the curly haired senior, giving the skillet to Haruko and pushing Sakuragi away from the small grill, "I'll do the cooking from now on."

The redhead pouted, "And what'll I do?"



****

Kogure was using his sneakers that day and so he didn't feel very guilty as he walked on the gym floor, crossing the court and stood in the middle gazing at the surroundings around him. The air smelt so familiar that he couldn't help but allow the barrage of memories coming through from the past.
After a few minutes of reminiscing he walked out and went towards the locker room. The surprising fact that the locker room's door wasn't locked didn't register to him as he walked in and instead a strong odour of male sweat permeated through his senses. It was already dark outside so it was darker in that small room but he looking around he was able to see hanging by the hooks on the wall beside the lockers, the Shohoku's red and black uniforms. Sakuragi's no.10 jersey was at the front and Kogure wasn't aware that he has neared the hanging uniforms until his fingers touched the material of Sakuragi's jersey. Aided by the light coming from the corridor outside, his fingers traced at the black numbers of the uniform while wondering whether Sakuragi has grown or that he it was just his imagination that the redhead's jersey was bigger than before.

Suddenly, he noticed a shadow falling over him and turning around he saw that it was none other than the owner of the no.10 jersey standing at the door, staring at him in surprise.

Kogure quickly took his hand away from the jersey and looked away in embarassment.

Kami-sama! He saw me touching his uniform! thought Kogure mortified, He must think I'm sick or something...

Without a word, the redhead entered the locker room and went towards the shelves holding the sneakers and odd clothes and towels and proceeded to rummage through one of the shelves furiously.

"What are you looking for?" asked Kogure suddenly, attempting to ease the uncomfortable tension in the small room.

Not turning around Sakuragi answered, "I'm looking for the practice vest I was using yesterday when I forgot to hand it in. Ayako told me to look for it now before 'it can never be found again'. That's what she said."

"Oh," said Kogure as he watched Sakuragi's back a few metres away from him.

"Umm... how are you and Mitsui doing?" asked the redhead non-chalantly.

Kogure bit his lip, pushing the words that he wanted to say back to the recess of his mind.
It doesn't matter now, does it? He is clearly happy with Haruko so why should I trouble him with that?

"He... he's fine..." Kogure said. It wasn't the exact answer the redhead was looking for but at least it sufficed. Backing away towards the door, the senior said nervously, "I... I... got to go..."

Kogure was practically stumbling out of the room in his haste to get away and when he was already outside did the redhead find the missing vest.
Instead of congratulating himself of the find, Sakuragi clutched at the material as his mind warred with his feelings.

"Shimatta!" the redhead cursed and dropped the vest he was holding to run after the senior.

"Ko-" he began to shout but looking outside there was no sign of Kogure any where.

It has been torture not being with the boy and he cared for the senior in a way he has never felt for anyone before. All he wanted was for them to be together again; talking, laughing and walking together side by side like before. Although his life was rushed along with tests, exams, new friends and activities he couldn't stop thinking about Kogure. Since the third years were busy preparing for the final examination, the redhead couldn't make himself to get up and see Kogure lest he disturb the senior's tutorial schedule. And Mitsui... what happened to that Micchy? The two were so close and them being third years, they have a lot in common. He didn't want to push Kogure but it hurt to think that the spectacled-boy has indeed chosen Mitsui over him.
Turning around to face the brick wall in front of him he began to release his pent-up frustrations by knocking his head to the wall while cursing, "Shit! *thud* Shit! *thud* Shit! *thud*"

"Do'aho."

The redhead stopped his unmerciful (and hurtful) attack on the cracked wall when he heard the familiar cold voice insulting him. Whirling around to glare at his friend, he growled, "Shut up, kitsune!"

Rukawa glared back with his icy blue eyes and said, "What? You really are the fool, y'know."

Sakuragi's hand fisted, itching to punch the boy's face black and blue, "Temme-"

"You're gonna give up just like that?" said the fox-eyed boy undeterred.

Sakuragi turned his head away and said bitterly, "What else can I do? He has those memories with Mitsui and how can I compete with that?"

Rukawa rolled his eyes and his voice held a hint of frustration, "That's just it. Those are just memories. Why dwell in the past?"
The fox-eyed boy saw the redhead's eyes widen but he went on, "Now is what is important."

Sakuragi just stood there staring at him.

"The tensai? Yeah, right. You're giving up so easily," Rukawa said condescendingly.

Sakuragi remembered what Mitsui said to him in that same manner.

/"What? Afraid are you? Hmph. Some competition you are."

Suddenly the redhead's body was in motion running towards the direction where he thought Kogure might have gone to.



****

Kogure leaned against a tree, re-evaluating the three years of his life in Shohoku highschool. A bonfire has been lit in the middle of the compound and the students were milling about, meeting friends and greeting new ones. Ah, the excitement of youth where romance and friendship can be found anywhere as long as one has the dedication to look for it.
The spectacled-boy has found Akagi a few minutes ago, sharing a big slice of pie with one of the girl's from the netball team. Kogure smiled. At least one of us has a love life...

A tug on his sleeve brought him out of his self-piteous thoughts.

"Kogure," Miyagi said, "Can you please do me a favour?"

"What is it?" asked the senior, pushing himself to stand upright and brushing the seat of his pants from any loose barks from the tree.

"Can you get Ayako from the Arts Room?" the basketball guard pleaded with wide hopeful eyes, "I want to ask her out but I need it to be perfect.... by the bonfire!"

Kogure arched an eyebrow, "Why not get her yourself and then bring her out here?"

Miyagi's face looked scandulous, "Then it'll look like I'm trying too hard! I want it to be like a chance meeting. Romantic don't ya think?"

The senior pushed his glasses up and answered uncertainly, "Uh.. yeah.. sure, whatever you say..."

Ten minutes later, a tall redhead was seen pushing his way through the crowd obviously in search for someone. Spotting Akagi and Miyagi under a tree a few metres away from the bonfire, Sakuragi made his way towards them. When he reached the two seniors he asked, "Have you guys seen Kogure?"

Ayako suddenly appeared from behind the tree and grinned at the junior, "Oh, him? I think he's at the Arts Room, putting away some stuff for me. What do you need him for?"

"Nothin'," mumbled the redhead walking quickly away.

"I think he's with Mitsui!" Miyagi called out to him.

Sakuragi's footsteps gained speed and soon he was running, passing by Rukawa with barely a glance. The fox-eyed boy watched the rapidly disappearing figure of the redhead before turning towards his sempais and looked at them with question in his eyes. Each of the seniors gave various wordless answers. Akagi gave him the o.k. sign, Miyagi stuck out his thumb in the air while Ayako merely smiled.

It better work, Rukawa grumbled mentally, I'm getting tired of this match-making thing.

"Why did we do that for?" asked Miyagi, puzzled.

Akagi sighed and patted the shorter boy's shoulder as he got ready for another round of explanation. At least Ayako was there to help him in this.



****

Haruko was pulled out of her conversation with one of her classmates by her friend.

"There's Sakuragi!" hissed the double pony tailed girl to her, "Now's your chance to see if he's going to ask you out!"

"B-But..." Haruko began to protest but she was already pushed into the path of the running redhead.

"Umm... Sakuragi...."

Instead of stopping, the redhead swerved past her, not noticing her at all. Haruko wondered what it was that the redhead was so intent on that he didn't notice her in front of him. He was usually so attentive when she was present.



****

Inside the Arts Room Kogure didn't find anyone there in the dark room except himself. Not bothering to switch on the lights he managed to make his way towards the windows where he could see the bonfire outside and more than half of the student population were still walking about enjoying the night with food and friends. Soothing but cheerful music came from the speakers which were tied onto posts and trees around the compound marking the unoffical closing ceremony of the festival with a happy note.

Kogure placed his palm against the glass pane of the window and mused.
So this is the last highshool festival for me...

Suddenly he heard rapid footsteps thumping in the building and Kogure was certain that someone was running in his direction. Before he could even move the loud voice of Sakuragi echoed through the walls, "MITSUI!!"

Kogure panicked, wondering why the hell Sakuragi was looking for Mitsui here of all places.

"Mitsui! Come out! I'm not giving up!"

What?

"Yaro! I'm not gonna give Kiminobu up!"

Kogure gasped, his body suddenly immobile by those words ringing along the empty corridor.

I'M NOT GIVING HIM UP......!!"

Sakuragi burst into the Arts Room, adjusting his eyes to the shadows in the room.

Shit! Nobody's here..., the redhead thought before he cursed out loud, "Where the hell is he?!"

Marching inside the room thinking that maybe his rival was hiding behind the chairs and desks he didn't see a foot sticking from behind a desk beside the wall until he tripped on it.

"Ooff!" the redhead wheezed as he fell to the floor on his butt, "What the-"

Turning around to see what has tripped him he was surprised to see a form huddled in the dark between the desks beside the wall. Although the person's face was hidden behind the jacked-up knees, Sakuragi recognised the build and familiar features.

"Min-kun?" he asked tentively.

When Kogure didn't speak, he crawled towards the senior and that was when he saw the boy's shoulder shaking. The redhead scowled, "You're laughing at me?! Stop it! Say something!"

Kogure's face lifted and instead of seeing a teasing grin on the senior's face, Sakuragi saw that tears were flowing freely from tortured brown eyes.

"Hana-kun..."

Sakuragi found himself caught by those soulful wet eyes behind the clear glasses and crawled closer.

"Min-kun..."
The redhead slowly dropped his face towards the senior's.

"I d-didn't know..." whispered Kogure between hiccups.

The flames from the bonfire showed no signs of fading yet as the students sang and danced around the fire, in harmony with one another. The music played clear in the evening and food were passed around until there was no more to eat.

The orange light from the bonfire outside illuminated the Arts Room, showing a redhead on fours sharing a kiss with a brown-haired boy still huddled between the desks. Weeks of longing and hurt diminished with that kiss - another lovely memory to add in their young lives.

The End


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