CHAPTER 2

Disclaimer: I do not own Hajime no Ippo...

Onwards...

XOXOXO

It was three hours later, and he and Sendo were stretched across the futons that had been pulled close together once more, heads bent close as they examined the latest monthly boxing magazine. Sendo was wearing one of Ippo's t-shirts and a pair of pajama pants that were too big for Ippo. They had been a gift from Takamura-san and were covered with hearts and women in various stages of undress. He'd been utterly grateful they couldn't fit, more than happy to leave them collecting dust on the top shelf of his closet.

Sendo didn't seem to be bothered by what decorated the pants at all, though.

"Bullshit! He might make it!" Sendo snapped as he slapped his hand down across the page.

Ippo was used to Sendo's brash behavior by now, so he only smiled. "His record's not that great, Sendo-sa – I mean, Sendo."

"Makunouchi, you'n me both know that don' mean shit. Anythin' c'n happen in boxing."

That was true. Still, the boxer they were reading about had a record of ten fights, six losses and four wins. The wins had been achieved by judges' calls. Ippo shook his head.

"It just doesn't seem likely is all I'm saying."

"Ha! Whatta you know anyway?" Sendo grumbled with a pout.

Ippo wanted to reach over and tease the man's untamed, brown hair. He'd already discovered the unruly mass was soft to the touch when Sendo had mistakenly brushed it against his shoulder. Even though Sendo had made the same move earlier, Ippo was too nervous to return the favor. He didn't want Sendo to think anything weird about him, or think that he was weird in general.

He hadn't realized he'd drifted off into his own world, until he'd decided to return. He glanced over at the brown-haired boxer and everything froze, stiff as a corpse. Sendo was giving him that same intense look he'd given him on the hill next to the river the first time they'd met, when the man had been insisting that Ippo fight in the All Japan Rookie Championship. Sendo's eyes had always had the ability to make Ippo seize up, no matter the mood – they were that powerful. However, before he could comment on the drilling stare, Sendo looked away and frowned down at the magazine, fingers absently running over the glossy page.

"Hey, Makunouchi," he said softly. Ippo hummed in response, afraid to speak and break the brunet's concentration. "Ya ever been wit' a girl before?"

All the blood drained from Ippo's face as his eyes grew to the size of ostrich eggs. Where had that even come from? Why did Sendo want to know about Ippo's nonexistent sex life? Just the thought of telling his secret was absolutely daunting. He toyed with the fine hairs on his forearms as he avoided even looking in Sendo's direction. What was he supposed to say? Unfortunately, he didn't get a chance to figure it out because Sendo's face was right next to his as Sendo tried to make eye contact.

"Hey. Ya heard what I said?"

Ippo bit his bottom lip and scooted away from the taller man. Of course, he'd heard him. The room was quiet enough to hear footsteps on Mars; how could he not hear him? Ippo was just unsure of how he should respond. He was almost positive that if he told Sendo that he in fact hadn't been with a girl before, the brunet would laugh him into next year...and then some.

"Makunouchi."

Sendo's voice had a little bite to it, and Ippo could tell that the man was growing impatient. Sweat beaded at his temples as he chanced a glance at his friend. The brunet's eyes were like sharpened sword points. Ippo didn't know what to do – he was so caught up in the man's almost threatening gaze. All he could do was sit and stare back, mouth undulating like a sucker fish stuck to the side of a glass tank.

"Don' tell me ya haven't," Sendo said incredulously as he leaned away to seemingly get a better look at Ippo's expression.

Ippo lowered his eyes again, this time with an embarrassed scowl. Well, there went his plan to keep Sendo in the dark about his lack of sexual experience.

"OK, so ya ever kiss a girl at least?"

Oh, this night was only getting worse and worse. And it wasn't like he could just avoid the questions. Sendo was like a German Shepherd with a bone when he set his mind on something. So, Ippo could choose one of two options and hope for the best at this point. One, he could try to ignore the brunet, but like he'd mentioned earlier, he was sure that would never work. Or two, he could actually tell Sendo the truth. He gritted his teeth and winced. Why, oh, why had Sendo chosen to inquire about such a mortifying topic? They'd been having fun – or so Ippo had thought. The brunet hadn't been complaining of boredom, at any rate. A small thought slithered into Ippo's mind out of nowhere, but he shucked it aside as quickly as it had come. He'd never been a liar, and he wasn't about to change now, no matter how humiliated he was certain to be.

"So yer tellin' me ya never had sex, an' ya never kissed a girl?" Sendo asked, dark eyebrows raised until they were hiding beneath his brown bangs.

Ippo sighed. "Yes," he mumbled, voice barely audible. Now, normally, he wouldn't get defensive and react in kind, but for some reason, Sendo's words chaffed. "Well, what about you?!" he snapped. "Have you ever kissed or been with a girl?"

At first, Sendo's expression was one of surprise, but once that wore off, his lips curved into his signature, devilish, yet cocky smirk.

"We're popular boxers, Makunouchi. A'course I have."

Ippo didn't really know why his stomach dropped to his knees the way it did; all he knew was that he was severely disappointed by Sendo's answer. Maybe he'd been hoping that Sendo would be in the same boat as himself, but when he looked at the situation, Sendo was right. They were quite popular. Not to mention, the brunet was a very handsome man – unlike Ippo. However, he'd never thought to use his fame that way. Besides, it wasn't like he'd know what he was doing, anyway.

"U-um," he started, uncertain of how to phrase the question he wanted to ask. "That is...um...Sendo-san-"

"Sendo," the brunet immediately corrected.

"S-Sendo...um..."

"Well, spit it out, Makunouchi! Yer makin' my hands itch."

Ippo cleared his throat as he scratched the back of his head. Since he really didn't know any other way to approach the topic, he decided to just blurt it out – precisely the way Sendo had suggested.

"H-how does it f-feel?"

Sendo arched a brow before he turned his eyes to the ceiling and leaned on an elbow, cheek against his palm.

"Hmm...how does what feel 'xactly?"

Ippo blushed, face hot and tingling. "A-all of it."

"Ehhhh," Sendo drawled with a wicked grin as he focused on Ippo's eyes. "So, Makunouchi wants ta know what it's like ta be a man, huh?"

"Shut up, Sendo-san!"

"Sen-do. C'mon, Makunouchi, say it wit' me. Seeeennnn-doooo."

"Hey!" Ippo snapped, growing impatient, not to mention embarrassed. "Just tell me!"

"OK, OK, OK. Calm down." Sendo turned onto his back and put his arms behind his head. Eyes on the ceiling again, he slowly began describing things Ippo had only ever seen on TV and at Takamura-san's apartment. "A kiss kinda feels gross at first. I mean, ya gotta get used ta havin' somebody's tongue in yer mouth, but after ya get that outta the way, it's smooth sailin'. Far as sex goes, tha's easy. Ya ever touch yerself, Makunouchi?"

"What?! S-Sendo-sa – I mean, Sendo! That's...that's...that's..."

Sendo turned his head in Ippo's direction and met his eyes, sideways smirk tugging at his lips. "Not my business? Well, look. Yer the one wants ta know 'bout havin' sex an' how it feels, right?"

He's right. Plus, you're a man now; time to start acting like one.

"I-I guess."

"So...do ya throw the stick, Makunouchi?"

Ippo sat with a blank face for a few long seconds before he cleared his throat again and tilted his head.

"Um...Sendo...I...I don't understand."

Sendo frowned and slapped his forehead before he lifted himself to his elbow once more. "Good grief, man! Ya gotta get out more! Do ya beat yer meat? Choke yer chicken? Dude, do ya fuckin' jerk off? Or...what's that word? Oh, yeah! Masturbate!"

Ippo's face was probably the color of his boxing shorts by the time Sendo finished his spiel. He couldn't say he didn't know what that last one meant.

"Um...um..."

"Oh my fuckin' God, Makunouchi," Sendo groaned. "Ya better not sit here an' tell me ya never rocked yer own world before. Tha's impossible."

Ippo knew he was flirting with disaster as he shook his head, but he figured he'd been honest so far; there was no reason to chicken out now.

"I-I have."

God, his face burned. He wanted to hide under a rock – he was so embarrassed and uncomfortable. Sendo exhaled harshly and wiped his forehead.

"Whew! Ya had me scared fer a minute there. Well, anyway. Sex is kinda like that – only better. It's warmer, wetter and tighter...dependin' on the girl, I s'pose."

"Hmm. I guess that makes sense."

"Yeah, course it does. So, how come ya never got laid or kissed before?"

Sendo's brown eyes were inquisitive and genuine. He didn't seem like he was poking fun at Ippo this time around, which made Ippo relax enough to shrug his shoulders and lower his head to the futon while he lay on his stomach. He rested his chin on his folded hands and sighed through his nose.

"I don't know. I guess, I've never tried. I never had a girlfriend to think about it with, anyway."

"Well, why not? It ain't like yer hideous 'er nothin'. I'm sure there's plenty a'chicks that'd do ya," the brunet said with a sly smirk and wink.

Yet again, Ippo found himself blushing. He had a feeling Sendo was teasing him this time. He knew he wasn't attractive. Heck, it was the reason the girls had called him a boar during his match with Hayami-san. Ippo shook his head with a small smile as he looked into Sendo's eyes.

"I'm not that great."

"Hn," Sendo grunted and turned his head away.

The expression the other boxer wore was confusing. It seemed like Sendo was upset since his brows were knitted together, and the bridge of his nose was wrinkled. That only happened when the man was truly angry or making one of his teasing faces. But usually, he'd be smiling if he was teasing.

"Something wrong, Sendo?"

"You are great."

Ippo leaned a little closer, unable to hear what the man had just mumbled.

"What?"

Sendo hit Ippo with that blazing stare again, but this time it felt even more electrifying. "I said ya are great. There ain't nothin' that ain't great 'bout ya, Makunouchi, so stop doubtin' yerself. Yer a damned good boxer, ya don' seem ta have the ability ta lie, yer always friendly – yer practic'ly a boy scout. An' yer cute too," he ended with a petulant pout.

I'm hearing things, Ippo thought as he frowned at Sendo in confusion. I gotta be.

"Sendo...did you just call me cute?"

The bridge of the brunet's nose flushed a deep crimson as his pout deepened. However, instead of denying it like Ippo thought he would, Sendo grunted and rubbed the tip of his nose.

"Yeah, I said it. Pisses me off too."

"Eh? I don't think I understand what you're talking about."

Sendo sucked his teeth and gave Ippo an exasperated look. "It's 'cuz yer always blushin' and smilin' and stutterin'! Tha's what chicks do, ya know!"

"I-I...I do not!"

"Heh. Ya jus' did," the brunet said with a smug grin. He sat up until he was upright Indian-styled and shrugged his shoulders, hands out and palms upward. "Look, Makunouchi. I ain't callin' ya a girl. I jus' said it's what girls do, an' it's kinda cute. Tha's all."

Ippo still wore a frown as he considered the man's words. It didn't make much sense, and it did sound like Sendo was calling him a girl, but maybe Ippo was looking at it the wrong way. It was possible. But then, that left the issue of the brunet calling him cute. Ippo peered at him from the corner of his eye. Sendo's attention span wasn't all that spectacular, so it wasn't surprising to see the guy focused on the once abandoned magazine. Ippo slowly sat up himself and rubbed the back of his head. Now that the conversation seemed to be over, he didn't know what to do with himself. Just as he went to stand and head to the kitchen for another glass of water, Sendo's arm shot forward like a snake, his hand wrapping firmly around Ippo's wrist.

"What're ya thinkin' 'bout right now?"

The question caught Ippo so off guard, all he could do was stare at the brunet like he'd never seen him before. What did Sendo mean? Why was he asking a question like that?

"W-what?"

"I don' wantcha thinkin' I'm some typa weirdo, ya know? So, tha's why I asked what yer thinkin' 'bout. Ya look like ya got a shougi match goin' on in yer head."

"Oh...no. I just...I didn't know what else to say."

Ippo carefully extracted his wrist from Sendo's grasp, absently rubbing at it as he watched the brunet watch him, the moment tense and awkward. He didn't know what Sendo wanted to hear. He didn't think the brunet was a weirdo at all. If anything, he still thought the man was simply put: amazing.

"I don't think you're a weirdo, Sendo-san. You're strong and honest, and that's amazing."

Ippo was surprised to see the man's eyes go wide and his eyebrows disappear beneath his brown fringe. He was even further surprised when Sendo blinked, and his entire face went red. Not understanding why Sendo had such a stunned expression, Ippo continued on to the kitchen for his water.

When he returned to the room, Sendo was stretched on his back, arms spread apart and left leg bent, while the right rested flat on the futon. His shirt was riding up along his hips, just enough to give Ippo a peek at his washboard abdomen, and his mouth was wide open as he snored like a revving chainsaw. Ippo chuckled and shook his head. How on Earth Sendo had managed to fall asleep that fast was beyond him, but he would admit it did make things a lot easier. He slipped onto his own futon and pulled his sheet over his legs before he turned onto his side, facing away from the snoring brunet. He buried his face in his pillow, still a little embarrassed about the conversation he and Sendo had had earlier. However, he was also excited. Was this what having a friend felt like?

He hoped so because he liked it.

XOXOXO

He was warm and completely comfortable. So much so that he didn't want to move at all.

Too bad he had to piss.

Sendo opened his eyes and glanced in the direction of where the warmth was coming from, and all thoughts of relieving himself went out of the window. Makunouchi's dark, spiky hair was pressed against Sendo's collar bone, his body tucked close to Sendo's. Sendo was on his side, right arm bent and cushioning his head, while the left was draped over Makunouchi's side.

What the hell? he internally screamed. What the fuck are we doing like this?

He focused on Makunouchi's face that was illuminated just a bit by the moonlight filtering through the vertical blinds of Makunouchi's window. Thankfully, the slightly smaller boxer was fast asleep. Sendo breathed a deep sigh of relief and let his head fall back to the pillow. He had no idea how they'd ended up sleeping like they were lovers. One minute he was resting his eyes while Makunouchi made a trip to the kitchen, and the next he was in la-la land, dreaming of their next fight. This was the last thing he'd expected upon waking up. Hell, he hadn't really expected to be invited on an outing with Makunouchi, either, let alone sleeping in the man's home – in his bed. It was surreal.

Too good to be true.

Sendo turned his head again, and studied Makunouchi's peaceful face. He was yet again taken aback by Makunouchi's innocently good looks. When he'd told Makunouchi that he was cute, he'd meant it; the champion was downright adorable at times. Sendo sighed and slowly tried to remove his arm without waking the smaller man. He would have loved to stick around and stare at his rival all night, but he really had to go again. Apparently the effects of shock only lasted for a short time. When his arm was clear, he carefully eased to his feet and stopped once he was standing. He looked down at Makunouchi, satisfied when he realized the guy was still asleep. He padded to the bathroom and slid the door shut behind himself. As he used the toilet, he thought about a few things, one being what Makunouchi would have done had he been the first to awaken and notice their position. Then Sendo grinned. Makunouchi would have stuttered and blushed like he always did when he was put on the spot. It reminded him of the time Makunouchi had come to his title match against Shigeta. Now, that had been fun. At first, he'd thought the other boxer had grown a backbone and come to return the favor for what had happened after Makunouchi's comeback match. Boy, had he been wrong. Makunouchi only grew a pair when he was in the ring, which was cute and endearing enough to make Sendo uncomfortable. Makunouchi really did have traits like a girl.

Sendo washed his hands and left the bathroom, mind still on the young man asleep in the other room. He was still wondering what Makunouchi's reaction would have been had he seen the way they'd been laying. He entered the bedroom and slid the door shut before shuffling forward and flopping down onto the empty futon. Makunouchi was still asleep in the same position Sendo had left him in. As he settled in, he couldn't help staring at the dark-haired man again.

"Makunouchi," he murmured. His hand raised and lightly passed through the champion's spiky locks. One would think the man's hair was coarse by just looks alone, but it was soft as feathers. Not only that, but Makunouchi had long eyelashes that were currently brushing against the crests of his cheeks. "Heh. How couldja say yer not great?"

His rival didn't move, but he did sigh as if he'd heard exactly what Sendo had just said. Sendo smirked. This guy, he thought. He wrapped his arm around the smaller man again and snuggled closer, taking in the smell emanating from him. It was soothing. So much so, in fact, that it lulled Sendo right back to sleep.

XxxxxxxX

"-endo."

Sendo snorted and turned over, refusing to open his eyes. He was still a bit groggy from sleep and didn't feel like getting up just yet. What the hell time was it?

"Granny, I ain't gotta get up yet," he mumbled.

"Sendo! We have to get ready to leave!"

He sucked his teeth and started to complain some more, when he realized that his Granny's voice was a little deeper than he remembered. He cracked open his eyes and peered around the room, instantly regretting it as the sun assaulted them. After he mustered the courage to open them again, he noticed a big change in the décor of his room.

What the hell?

He sluggishly sat up, rubbing the back of his head and squinting his eyes. Finally, he understood just why nothing was as familiar as it should've been. Makunouchi stood over him, eyes amused, but face as red as a tomato.

Oh, yeah. I'm not home.

"What time izzit?" he grumbled as he made an effort to wipe the sleep from the corners of his eyes.

"Um...it's seven."

"...In the mornin'?!"

Makunouchi's eyebrows raised as he nodded, clearly amused. Sendo stared for a long few beats before shaking his head, eyes wide and mouth open in disbelief. Had Makunouchi really made him get up before the roosters could do their thing? Sendo staggered to his feet and shuffled over to Makunouchi until he was right up in the shorter man's face.

"It's Saturday. Yer a guy. Why ain't ya still sleepin'?" he growled, dangerously close to wrapping his hands around Makunouchi's neck. "Didja even take yer mornin' leak yet?"

Makunouchi gave that infuriatingly innocent grin of his, and all the menace in Sendo's aura disappeared. How the hell could he stay pissed off at this guy?

"I guess you're not a morning person, huh, Sendo?"

Sendo huffed and brushed past the champion, making sure to bump shoulders with him. He wanted Makunouchi to know for a fact that he didn't appreciate being roused at such an ungodly hour if it had nothing to do with boxing. In fact, the only time he woke this early was for road work – not the fucking beach.

He stomped from the room, only to pause in the doorway at the sight of a brown-haired girl, who was staring at him like he had eight legs. Who the hell was the chick? He opened his mouth to ask that very question, but never had a chance. He was damn near tackled back into the room by an enthusiastic arm around his shoulders.

"What the hell?!" he cried.

Deep, manic laughter hit his ears the instant he recognized the larger body overshadowing him. Takamura Mamoru stepped back and placed his hands on his hips as he cackled like a villain. The middleweight champion had on a pair of powder-blue swimming trunks, a white, sleeveless tee and black flip flops. Around his waist was a pink and fuchsia inflatable doughnut with a dinosaur head. Just the sight of him had Sendo chuckling.

"Sendo! Ippo said you were in town! Comin' ta pick up chicks with us?" the man asked with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

Sendo couldn't help but notice the sour look on the face of the only girl in the room at Takamura's question. However, he decided to ignore it for the time being. He turned his attention to the other two men in the hallway, vaguely recognizing their faces, his mind absently placing them as Makunouchi's gym mates.

"Yeah," he grunted. "But who goes ta the beach this early in the mornin'?"

Takamura tilted his head, crazed grin still in place. "Ya gotta get there early for the good spots."

"You and Kimura might be the only ones lookin' for girls," Makunouchi's short-haired gym mate spoke up with a smug smile. "Ain't that right, Ippo?"

Sendo's head whipped around as he glared back at Makunouchi, who was rubbing the back of his neck and blushing to the roots of his dark hair. What the hell was that supposed to mean? Sendo didn't understand until he turned forward again and saw the girl blushing as well, eyes on the floor.

So...wait...

Was that Makunouchi's girlfriend? But hadn't the idiot said he didn't have one of those? Or maybe this was a date setup... Sendo frowned, mood completely ruined. He no longer wanted to go on this little outing; hell, he didn't even want to be in Makunouchi's house anymore. He didn't notice Takamura and Kimura eyeing him funny as he made his way to the bathroom, but he did notice that Makunouchi hadn't said a word to deny his gym mate's statement.

XxxxxxX

He was officially annoyed.

Sendo stared sullenly from the towel Makunouchi had set up on the sand about twenty meters from the water. He was underneath a huge blue and white umbrella, relaxing in the shade, but he was bored out of his mind, and he couldn't get rid of the feeling of acute jealousy lingering in his gut. It was making him grind his teeth and seethe with frustration. He was no quitter, though, so he put up with watching Makunouchi play with the brown-haired girl, who Sendo had found went by the name of Kumi. Mashiba Kumi, to be precise. And that shit just blew his mind. He never would've guessed that the timid girl was kin to the savage beast, Mashiba Ryo.

But back to his predicament.

Makunouchi had the girl on his shoulders as the guys played some type of game that required the females to ride there. He wasn't really paying much attention, but he noticed that, and he didn't like it one bit. Sendo glanced at the other guys they'd traveled to the beach with and realized that he was the only one without female companionship. He could probably find a random girl walking the sand, but he wasn't in the mood. He turned his glare to Makunouchi again and sneered. He couldn't wait until they left the beach and went to the gym for their spar.

He was going to beat the hell out of Makunouchi.

He was so caught up in his own violent world that he didn't notice Makunouchi's gym mate, Kimura, plop down beside him. Not at first, anyway. It took the dark-haired man placing his arm around Sendo's shoulders for him to actually realize he was there.

"Oi, Sendo. Why ya over here all alone?"

Sendo shrugged and went back to stewing. What could he say? That he was pissed because Makunouchi wasn't paying him any attention, even though the jerk had invited him along in the first place? Or that Makunouchi was being too touchy-feely with "Kumi-san?" Yeah, right. Kimura would probably laugh his ass home.

"Don' feel like swimmin'."

"Hohhhh," Kimura said as he rubbed his hairless chin and removed the arm he had around Sendo's shoulders. "Ya sure that's it?"

"Ya got somethin' ya need ta say?" Sendo growled.

"Heh, don't bite my head off. It's just..."

When Kimura trailed off and didn't seem like he was going to finish his comment, Sendo turned a glare on him that should've burned the hair off his head. Kimura got the picture and went on.

"Alright, alright! I'm just sayin'...you're obvious," he stated, gesturing with his hands and dragging the "obvious."

"What're ya talkin' about?"

"You and Ippo."

"What about me and Makunouchi?"

Kimura gave an exaggerated sigh and face-palmed. When he removed his hand, he gave Sendo a blank stare that rubbed the wrong way. He seemed to study him for a few more moments before he decided to speak again.

"Ya know what? I think I'll just sit this one out."

Sendo was utterly baffled at this point. What in the world was Kimura talking about? Was there something that was going over his head? Kimura climbed to his feet and sauntered off towards the snack bar a few meters away, which gave Sendo the chance to turn his attention back to Makunouchi. When he did, however, the champion was ambling towards him, body soaking wet and dripping water onto the sand. Sendo couldn't keep his eyes away from Makunouchi's rippling abdomen and chest, his sinewy arms and shoulders and legs...

"Sendo-sa – I mean, Sendo, you don't want to get in the water? It's a lot of fun!" Makunouchi stated with a huge smile as he plopped down beside Sendo.

That woke him up. Sendo blinked a few times and scrunched his brows and nose at his wandering thoughts. What the hell was wrong with him, really? Now, he was staring at Makunouchi's wet body like it was his favorite meal. He growled under his breath and scooted away from the other man, still upset that he'd been ignored for longer than he liked.

"Oh, ya finally noticed I was still here?" he grunted, ashamed that he actually sounded jealous.

Makunouchi gave a confused frown, and Sendo was dismayed to find himself attracted to it. It was cute as all hell. He turned away from the endearing sight and sighed. What was going on with him? Maybe he just had a lot of built up tension that needed an outlet, and it was making him a little delusional. Yeah, that had to be it.

"What are you talking about? I knew you were here. Why didn't you want to get in the water with everyone?"

Sendo's jaw was fixed as he stared at the distant horizon. "I didn' wanna."

"But why?"

"'Cuz I didn' fuckin' wanna, Makunouchi!" he snapped.

Makunouchi's frown deepened, but it wasn't from anger. It was a sad puppy kind of frown – one that made Sendo instantly feel guilty.

"Dammit," he growled. "Makunouchi, you piss me off."

"I-I'm sorry, Sendo," the other man said quietly, eyes lowering as he drew his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. "I didn't mean to make you upset."

Anger boiled in Sendo's stomach and tried to burst through his chest. "Stop doin' that! I can't take it when ya get all adorable an' shit!"

Makunouchi's head lifted, and his eyebrows flew into his hairline. "What?"

"You heard me. When ya get like that, it makes me restless. Makes me wanna hit ya 'er somethin'."

Instead of going all timid like Sendo was expecting, Makunouchi huffed and scowled. "I'd just hit you back."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah."

Sendo surged to his feet and stood over the dark-haired boxer, hands balled into fists. "We c'n do this right now, then! I'm ready!"

Makunouchi jumped up too, brows pulled together. "Why are you so mad, Sendo?! You were fine last night and this morning!"

A little of the wind left Sendo's sails as he saw the desperate look in Makunouchi's sultry gray eyes. The guy just didn't understand, and Sendo couldn't say it was his fault. He was the one pissed off for reasons that he couldn't even begin to explain. How could he? What the fuck would he say? Makunouchi, you're so cute it makes me wanna hit you, since I very well can't do something like kiss you? No fucking way. He would never humiliate himself like that. For one thing, Makunouchi was a guy, no matter how cute he was. And for another...Makunouchi was a fucking guy! He just wasn't equipped with the right parts for that kind of interaction, even if he did act like a chick at times.

Sendo sucked his teeth and rolled his eyes. "Jus' ferget it, Makunouchi."

He turned towards the snack bar, but before he could take a step, Makunouchi had an iron grip on his arm. Sendo looked at the shorter man like he'd just spoken in an alien tongue. Then, his stomach dropped to his knees, and he knew he was officially screwed in the head when all he wanted to do was pull Makunouchi into his arms and keep him there forever. Makunouchi's gray eyes were glassy like he was on the verge of frustrated tears, but maybe it was just that he was frustrated.

"Aren't we friends, Sendo?"

"I...I..." he started, unsure of what to say.

He had only ever thought of Makunouchi as his rival. Wasn't "friends" stretching it? Or had he missed something? Before he could finish his statement, Kumi came over and glanced at the both of them, eyes wide and almost frightened.

"U-um, Makunouchi-kun, we're going to get some food. Are you coming?" she asked.

Sendo glared at the girl like she'd just threatened his manhood. Stupid girl, his mind snarled. Stupid, stupid, stupid girl. All day, she'd been monopolizing Makunouchi's time, and it was seriously getting on Sendo's last fucking nerve. He sneered and snatched his arm away from Makunouchi before stomping off towards the bathrooms. He didn't have time to sit around Makunouchi and his stupid girlfriend.