Magnetize

I'm back. Hehehe.

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The next day, I went to practice with a heavy heart, my thoughts jumbled into a crazy mess. Shin-chan and I just had a big falling out. Until now, I still didn't know how to deal with the situation.

I wanted to be with him with every inch of my fiber. But he was suggesting that we continue a platonic relationship. So every time we met, what, I had to swallow down this big lump of hormonal imbalance my body was producing in order to normally interact with him? Okay, I get that he was straight, and that he didn't mind me being gay. We had been friends for a long time for him to mind it, I guess.

But it was totally impossible for me to pretend he was just another guy who played basketball. I got erect every time I saw him, or hear his deep breath, or watch his fascinating hands. There was no way, now that he knew how I felt, that I wouldn't be self-conscious every time we were together.

My teammates were already doing free plays when I got to the gym. I felt their attention center on me, but at this point I just didn't care anymore. Let them think whatever they wanted to. All I wanted was just to play basketball to release all the tensions inside me.

I sat on the bench and took out my rubber shoes from my bag, to replace the sneakers I had on. As I was preparing myself to start practice Nobu sat beside me. "Hey, how's it going? We had a lot of fun yesterday. I wish you could've come."

I gave him a small smile. "Yeah. Next time."

Hideki sat on my other side. "Since you weren't there yesterday, you didn't hear the good news."

"What good news?" I asked.

"Our rubber shoes sponsor will finally grant us the new pairs that they promised us. I mean, we can shop for the shoes that we want and put the bill on their tab."

Wow. That indeed was great news. I really had been waiting for this. "Cool! That's awesome. When are we shopping?"

Nobu looked pensive for a moment. "Well, since our schedule's full this week, I guess the only day we're free to buy new shoes is tomorrow."

"Yeah, tomorrow, after practice," Hideki agreed.

This news was really the best I had heard in quite some time. My smile was genuine as I shared their excitement. "Great! Can't wait!"

Nobu and Hideki looked at each other at the same time then back at me. "You sure you'll come with us tomorrow?" Nobu dubiously asked.

"No hard feelings?" Hideki seconded.

I frowned at them, trying to figure out what they were getting at. Then it dawned on me. Oh yeah. Todai would have a match tomorrow. They expected me to bail out again and just shop for my shoes some other time to watch my best friend's game. I gave a small shake of my head and straightened on my seat, stretching my legs. "I'll go with you."

"Really now?" Nobu asked incredulously.

"Yeah, doofus, why not?" I snapped, slapping his shoulder.

"But won't Shin-chan be mad if you're not there to watch his game?" Hideki teased in a nasally whiny voice. He was just trying to be funny, I knew and I didn't become upset at his joke.

I simply shrugged. "He's a big boy. It's fine if I'm not there to watch him."

Nobu suddenly cackled. "Did you two have a spat or something?"

Snorting, I stood and began my stretching routines. "Assholes," I barked at the two of them. Both of them looked gleeful as they studied me over. I knew they didn't mean anything by their jokes. They were two of my closest friends in the team. And instead of shying away from the issue every time they talked to me about it, they just made light of the situation. Which was better because to them, my friendship with Shin-chan was nothing but a close brotherly bond that they respected.

I valued my friendship with Nobu and Hideki. Even when others talked about my unnatural bromance with Shin-chan, they remained neutral.

Kaito suddenly walked over to us to get his bottled water from his bag. He was really huge at six foot six. And he was the most rigorous when it came to physical training. Woe to anyone who actually incited his ire. I didn't hate the guy, but I was always wary of him. He could also be arrogant at times.

"Hey, Kaito! You won't believe what Takao said! He's coming with us tomorrow to buy new shoes."

I winced. Did this idiotic Nobu really have to announce it like it was some six o' clock breaking news? My self-consciousness rose to new heights.

Kaito looked me over and cocked his head. "Doesn't Todai have a game tomorrow?"

I rolled my eyes heavenward. Couldn't these idiots stop mentioning Todai every five seconds in my presence?

"I'm coming. Stop making a big deal out of it!" I snapped at all of them.

"Sure!" Nobu and Hideki replied in unison, snickering. I swear if I had a ball I would have done a blind pass to wipe those smirks off their faces.

When I looked at Kaito, the giant simply nodded at me. "It's about damn time you associate with us, Rook."

I shrugged cooly. "Stop being dramatic, you dork," I answered.

That made Kaito grin and hurled his towel at me. "Okay, cut the small talk. Cap's calling us. Let's start our practice."

I nodded my head and ran towards the center of the court, followed by the three boys.

The next day, as the team was out shopping, everybody looked excited like ten year olds who were opening their birthday presents. I couldn't help it myself. I was getting new rubber shoes!

I spent a lot of time looking for the colors that I liked. Sometimes I would try on a pair and my teammates would tease me for having such bad tastes. So I would try on other ones.

But even as I was trying on pairs after pairs of new shoes, I would space out time and time again, wondering what was happening in Shin-chan's game. Well, their team was really a formidable one. I was sure they would win again today.

This was the first time I was missing a game of his, or rather the first time I wouldn't see Shin-chan play, since I was with him every freaking single match in high school. And even before that I used to watch all his games when he was still in Teiko. Something about me not watching a game of his was some sort of a finality, like a judgment in court that was passed on us. I guess this was really it. Our friendship was over.

All of us boys were able to get the rubber shoes that we wanted, and we decided to eat in McDonald's before heading home. Since there were thirteen of us, all male and noisy, we occupied a large space at the back, joking and laughing until some of the other older customers glared at us for being so loud.

It was the first time I had really eaten out with my team. And I could say it was a lot of fun. The bromance jokes ceased for a moment. I think they were a bit appreciative that finally I went out with them so they did not want to make me feel upset about not being able to watch Todai's game.

I was busily watching some of my idiotic teammates make fools of themselves as they shared dirty jokes after another when Hideki made a move to get his phone from his pocket. I glanced at him, uncaring. I was listening intently at the stories my teammates were sharing.

"Oh wow," Hideki suddenly said. No one paid him attention. "Hey, guys, listen…" He tried to call us but still, no one paid him any heed.

"Guys, cut it out for a sec. My friend from Keio U texted me. He said their team won in today's game," Hideki announced in a loud voice.

My head snapped up to his direction. Keio University? That was Todai's opponent today. Which meant… Shin-chan's team lost?

I was paralyzed by the news at first. It meant Todai's first loss. So their ranking dropped to 5 wins and 1 loss.

Some of the boys even looked over Hideki's shoulders to check out the text message.

Then, as if in some cheap movie's climatic scene, everyone turned their heads at me. I wanted to kick each and every one of them. Instead, I drank my soda indifferently.

Hideki received another text. He began reading each of Todai's member's score. Usually, if it wasn't Shin-chan who was the highest scorer, he would be on the second spot. But Hideki read all of the stats and according to the numbers, Shin-chan only scored five points.

"Five points?" Nobu exclaimed. "He averages thirty each game! Now he scored five points!?"

Again, all of them turned to me.

This time I scowled. "Watcha lookin' at?"

"Why are you still here? Aren't you supposed to get over there and comfort him?" one guy asked.

I gave him the finger. "I'm not his freaking mother."

"Whoa, so the best friend suddenly is the not so best friend anymore," Hideki teased good-naturedly. "Did you guys fight or something?"

I sat back and played with the straw of my soda. "Why are we making a big deal outta this? They lose, so what? They're not invincible, you know."

"So what could be Shin-chan's problem? Five points?" another player asked.

"Why not? He's only human," I retorted.

Since Nobu was a fan of Shin-chan's he knew my best friend's stats. "Uh, he hasn't scored that low since Junior high. In fact the lowest score he has had in his career is ten points."

I gave him a disgruntled look. "Now you sound like a fanboy."

Nobu shrugged. "Just stating his stats, man. I never thought the day would come that he would not deliver, you know. This is pretty big."

I didn't bother to answer. In the first place I didn't have any clue why Shin-chan played that bad on this game. It was too stupid to think that the reason behind it was the conflict between us. Of all the people I knew, Shin-chan was the calmest in any stressful situation. He exuded a commanding take charge aura all the time. But he was still human. People could have off days.

It was just normal. Why would he be any different?

Jeeze, I hoped I wasn't the cause of this. I wouldn't want to mess up his game by distracting him. Especially now that he had an offer to play for NCAA. I truly wished this would not affect that chance.

I sighed heavily, feeling gloomy all of a sudden. I should go there and ask him what happened. But that was preposterous. We both needed some space between us. Things were just not the same. It wouldn't be easy for me to come over and comfort him like I used to. The lines had already been drawn. Boundaries had been erected.

I just couldn't cross those lines.

Hideki nudged me with his foot. "Sure you don't want to go over there, man?"

I looked at all my teammates.

They were expecting me to say something.

I shook my head, took my shopping bag and gym bag, and stood. "I wanna go back to the dorms. Stop being drama queens, would you?"

Without waiting for their answer, I walked away from McDonald's, hoping my sadness did not show too much on my face.

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I'm almost to the confession part. I'm getting excited myself. I just want to give a little disclaimer. Since this is anime fandom, we can't expect MidoTaka to expect like a perfectly normal couple would, right?

So, the confession part between them would be kinda crazy and funny.

Thanks for following. Ai shiteru, minna-san! Arigato gozaimashita!