The sound of the horn blasted from the speakers, sounding that the game has come to an end. The Shohoku teams gave each other tired high fives before they got ready to line up in front of the opposing team for the formal courtesy bows.
With Rukawa playing together with Akagi and Kogure, the team had won because of the extra talent contributed by the fox-eyed boy. As coach sensei expected, Rukawa concentrated on his solo skill instead of team-work but the man hoped that he'll be able to rectify that soon. On the other hand, he was pleased that the team won because that easy victory has boosted the boys morale, especially the year ones.
Sakuragi, however, was not pleased because he was still not allowed to play like the fox-eyed boy was.

The redhead was busy patting the coach's chin and demanding that he be allowed to play in the next game, when he saw Kogure walk to Ayako, the senior covering his left eye with his hand. The redhead saw the two talk before Kogure gave a shake of his head and smiling reassuringly to the girl and then walked out of the door that leads to the locker room.

Before Akagi could give a fist bash to the redhead who was undoubtedly treating the coach with disrespect, Sakuragi left his friends to go after the spectacled senior.



****

Kogure cupped a small amount of water in his palm and then lifted it to his eye which was hurting because of wayward dust that has gotten in. He has tried to blink the pain away but when the hurt still persisted, he decided to just clean the dust away with water because he knew that rubbing at his eye might hurt more if the dust particle brushes against the surface of his eyeball. After managing to flush out the source of discomfort he rubbed his face with his towel, giving a sigh of satisfaction.

"What's wrong sempai?"

Kogure dropped the towel from his face to look at the redhead who was looking at him in curiosity and ... something else. Nervousness? Kogure wasn't sure.

"I had something in my eye," Kogure told him, giving the redhead way when Sakuragi walked to the tap to take a drink of water.
"It's ok now..." the senior said but his words faltered as he stared at the junior who was bending down to touch the cool water to his lips, a few strands of the red hair dropping down to brush against the boy's forehead.

Beautiful...

Kogure shook himself from his musings, afraid that Sakuragi might catch him staring, and turned to leave, "I'm going..."

"Wait, sempai...Kogure-kun....."

"Yes?" the senior prompted but Sakuragi remained with his back towards him.

"...Are you... seeing anyone?"

The spectacled-boy stared at the tall boy's back in surprise. Kogure was silent for a moment before he chose to speak, "No, I don't... but..."

"Sakuragi! Kogure-sempai!"

Suddenly Anta burst into the restroom, smiling in relief when he saw them.
"Akagi-sempai and Anzai-sensei want to talk to the team in the locker room. C'mon, let's go," said the second year student, motioning the two boys to follow them with a wave of the hand.

"Ok, ok," grumbled the redhead, finally turning around to walk out and Kogure followed without question. He was much too confused to form one anyway.



****

"As final year students I want you all to think about the path that you have chosen because after highschool you will be making your most important step to your future..."

Kogure was hardly listening to the teacher's speech because his attention was diverted to the poeple walking about in the school compound. There were his brother and a few other juniors including Sakuragi. Kogure's thoughts went back to that day in the Miuradai locker room and wondered what the redhead's reason was to ask him that question. The spectacled-boy was sorry that the redhead's back was facing towards him because if Sakuragi was just playing around like that time in Kaede's room, then he would have known by looking at the boy's face.

Kogure wasn't aware that the sensei was finished until Akagi stood up to lead the class into a thank-you bow before the teacher dismissed them. Later, Akagi walked up to Kogure's desk in front of his and looked out of the window.

"In the next game, Anzai-sensei wants to let Sakuragi play in court," said Akagi, watching the redhead begin in what seemed to be a small banter between Kaede, "I said that it was ok, because that way we can see what the kid place will be in a team."

"That's great!" exclaimed Kogure, smiling at his friend before turning back to look outside the window. At that moment a young girl with short hair walked up to the redhead, not minding the bickering (if you can call it bickering with Kaede) that Sakuragi and the fox-eyed boy were engaged in.

"That his girlfriend?" inquired Akagi as they watched the girl start a conversation with Sakuragi.

"I don't know," said Kogure in a curious tone, "She's Haruko's friend... Fuji, I think."

Akagi harumphed and crossed his arms over his chest, "As long as he stays away from Haruko, I don't mind. He's as irritating as Aota, flirting with her whenever she's near."

"You're not going to let Haruko with anyone are you?" said Kogure weakly.

"Not until that person, whoever he might be, can prove that he is good enough for my sister," said Akagi glaring at assistant. Kogure chuckled nervously and pretended to look at his watch.

"Oops," said the spectacled-boy hurriedly, "I promised to meet Tachiki-sensei to discuss about that after class activity for the year threes. Ja ne!"

Quickly Kogure left Akagi glowering at his back and breathed a sigh of relief when he reached the outer corridor downstairs safely without the threat of having a big, tall person shake him silly.
Suddenly his steps came to a halt when he saw Sakuragi a few metres in front of him talking with the girl that he saw was with the redhead just a few moments ago. The senior forced himself to continue walking and when he passed by them, he saw by the corner of his eyes Sakuragi turn to look at him. The senior couldn't help but to also turn to give the redhead a nervous smile of greeting before looking at the girl, wondering how close they were. Afraid that he might give himself away, Kogure resumed his quick steps in the direction of the staff room, away from Sakuragi and the girl.

"Was that...." began Fuji.

"Kogure-sempai," said Sakuragi staring at the direction where the senior has gone to.

"Oh yes," smiled the girl, "He's the assistant captain of the basketball team, right?"

"K'so!" swore Sakuragi under his breath before he made to chase after the third year, ignoring Fuji's voice calling out to him.
There was something in the other boy's eyes in that quick glance and he needed to find out what it was.

When he saw Kogure amidst the crowd of students and teachers, Sakuragi called the senior's name, but with the noise around them Kogure didn't hear.

"Kogure-sempai! Ko-"
Sakuragi stopped when he saw a handsome man in his late twenties stepping out of the staff room and greeting the spectacled-boy with a smile. The young man was one of the teachers in the school and he knew that nearly every female in the school was enamoured with the sensei as they were with Kaede. Kogure seemed to like the teacher as well by the happy smile he was giving the teacher that made the redhead's heart twist in disappointment.

Shoulders slumped, Sakuragi turned and walked away.


Previous I Next