Staunch fan

Author: Silhouette

Email address: silhouette_panther@msn.com

Web:

http://www.silhouette.cjb.net

http://www.thunderstormsenru.cjb.net

Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.

[Author's note: Well, well, well, I'm starting a new fic now…even when (Counts) I have six incomplete fic on hand (avoids flying shoe), but like I told a friend before, I can't stop an inspiration when it comes, and can you believe it I'm in the heat of exams right now. -______-;; I'm a hopeless, rabid, crazy, SD fan who wished exams to hell. ]

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Chapter 1

"Two hundred and four…two hundred and five…two hundred and six…"

The orange ball fell through the net again and again. The remaining rays of the sun cast a lingering sweep through the basketball court, leaving the tall figure there, cast in silhouette.

The faint ring of a bicycle made the person turn, "Konbanwa, Akira." She said.

"Hey Eri, still practicing?"

The familiar warm masculine voice sound assuring in the darkening place.

"Just stopped, it's too dark." Eriko sighed, walking over to her bag and picking up a towel, "What brings you here?" She eyed the tall figure of the spiky-haired boy.

"Me?" He shrugged, "I brought you dinner."

She halted for a while, "You…you don't have any favors to ask from me, do you?"

"Hey, Eri! How could you doubt my personality like this! I'm hurt! " Sendoh protested, stuffing the packet of rice into Eriko's hands, "I poisoned the rice, mind you." He grinned boyishly.

"Arrghh!" Eriko faked a choke and pretended to die, "Yeah, I'm so scared." She rolled her eyes.

"Eri, some how I think you are becoming more and more like Rukawa…" Sendoh sighed.

"As in? Looks? Personality? Or this?" She picked up the abandoned basketball in the court and threw it towards Sendoh, who caught it.

"Hm…not this. You are too far," He smiled, "But you are really starting to be like him, you know, icy, snappy, hm…scowling, mean…" Sendoh laughed as an enraged Eriko pounced upon him, trying to mess up his hair.

"Hmph! I shan't bother about this, I'll proceed to have my much treasured dinner, even if there's poison." Eriko retreated to her bag and sat down indignantly, with the packed dinner. But she was smiling inwardly. Where can you find another boy who would so willingly banter with you and yet never fail to care for you?

"How long have we known each other?" Eriko suddenly asked.

"Not too sure…since…when I was seven years old?" Sendoh looked thoughtful, "That makes it…ten years. I knew you for ten years." He smiled again, "What a misfortune."

"Grr!" Eriko growled absently, concentrating on her food.

"Oh, guess what? A girl gave me a love letter today." Sendoh tried to pull her attention away from dinner.

"So? They do that all the time. I'm always your dustbin." Eriko rolled her eyes, "Spare me."

"When I told her no…"

"What? You rejected a girl again. What's up with your big spiky brain eh? You need a girlfriend." Eriko finally stopped eating, "You are hurting them badly you know…though I know they can be real gaga- stupid."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, " He replied, "But it's just not the time yet, I won't take a girlfriend for the sake of getting a girlfriend…"

"…and she must be someone who has chemistry with you. Hai, I know that." Eriko sighed, "Poor girls."

"I haven't finished what I wanted to say yet! Miko gave me a hurt look and guess what she said?"

"What." Great food.

" 'It's Eriko, right? You were always with her. Never mind, I'll always support you whatever you do.' "

Eriko spewed out the rice she had been so happily eating, "W…what!"

"Hey! Mind your…ugh, it's a wonder if you'll ever become a girlfriend, tomboy." Sendoh grinned again, "I told her no, of course, and she didn't believe me. And oh, goodness, I suddenly became a gay, for those who believed I wasn't your boyfriend."

Eriko was staring at him so weirdly he had to say something, "W…what?"

"You mean you aren't a gay?" She had this big questioning blank look on her face.

"Eri! I cannot believe it. You were one of the people closest to me and you doubt my preference…I'm so hurt." Sendoh pouted, much to the amusement of the girl.

"Oh well, you were always hanging around your darling teammates, "Koshy", "Fu", "Uoz", and you yak on and on about the various opponents you meet on court…from Kitasawa to Maki…then to Fujima…and finally Rukawa and Sakuragi, whom you find the greatest interest in." She smiled wryly, "And spare me your explanations."

Sendoh's wringing hands in the air paused and dropped sadly, "I wish you understood. But…"

"You are not gay. Dear Akira, have you had your dinner yet?" Eriko diverted the depressing subject quickly.

"Yes. You've finished yours? Ok, let's go."

The duo packed up and walked out of the court. Sendoh sent Eriko home on his bicycle.

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End of Chapter 1

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Bio data of female lead:

Name: Eriko Watanabe

Age: 16

Birth date: 23 December 1985

School: Ryonan High School

Hobbies: Playing basketball, bowling, mountaineering, oh, and collecting the love letters Sendoh received.

Additional note: She is Sendoh's childhood friend and they were as close as brothers. Nothing romantic, though. What did she do to Sendoh's various admiring letters? She stacked them up neatly and put them in a chocolate box and send it to Sendoh every Valentine's day, also his birthday. ("Hey Akira, you've succeeded in accumulating five hundred and fifty-four love letters this year. Which makes it two thousand and three love letters for the fourth year running.")

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[Author's note: I love bananas.]