Word of the day: Courtship

Pairings: Kakei/Sena/Mizumachi

"I cannot believe Mizumachi and Hiruma did this," Kakei sighed, rubbing his temple.

Sena smiled nervously. "I wouldn't imagine H-Hiruma-san agreeing on helping Mizumachi-kun, but now I guess it makes sense since Hiruma-san was bored."

"Would it also make sense if Mizumachi was bored as well?"

Sena shrugged. Kakei sighed through his nose.

"Well, since we're here, might as well enjoy it, right?" When Kakei saw Sena's sweet smile, he couldn't help but smile as well.

"Of course," he agreed and followed the short girl.

Earlier what happened was when Mizumachi had remembered seeing Sena and Kakei together a few days ago. He didn't know that it was just a coincidence that the two met in the convenience store; he just assumed that they had a secret love relationship. Mizumachi thought that, as a dear friend, he would set him up with his secret girlfriend. However, Mizumachi inwardly did not like them being together for some reason, but pushed the feeling aside and wanted to support Kakei's love.

However, he had no idea how to set the two up! Then Mizumachi came up with a solution: Hiruma. It was a fortunate time that the blond terror was bored because if he had better things to do then he certainly won't help the tall linebacker out!

So Hiruma went to Sena and told her to go to the front gates of the public zoo on Saturday—and made it very clear that he was doing this not because of her own benefit but because he was bored. Being afraid of Hiruma, Sena nodded with 4.1 speeds. And Suzuna was getting a feeling that You-nii was setting Sena up—for reasons unknown but the roller-skating girl didn't care—so she insisted on dressing her up, which struck Sena clueless.

As for Mizumachi, he begged Kakei to go to the zoo. "I'm doing this for your own good, pal!" the tall boy exclaimed, tears pouring out of his wide eyes. Kakei was rather disturbed.

When Sena and Kakei met, thinking that them meeting each other again was a coincidence, they explained of why they were here, and then found their stories to be not coincidental at all. "I can't believe this," Kakei and Sena sighed simultaneously, and then Kakei grumbled about how he couldn't believe those two did this.

"When Hiruma-san said that he was helping Mizumachi-kun out on something, I wouldn't have thought that it be something like this," Sena thought aloud.

"What do you mean?" Kakei said, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, first of all, Mizumachi-kun told you to come here to have a good time at the zoo with someone. When Hiruma-san came up to me and told me to come here without much information, I assumed that we would be meeting with other football players. Instead, I discovered myself to be alone, and then you showed up. Isn't it weird?"

The blue-eyed boy nodded. "Yes, I see your point," he agreed. "When Mizumachi told me to have a good time with someone, I thought he meant, well…" Kakei paused, and then rubbed his temple again. "Actually, knowing him, he could have meant anything. He probably would have set me up with a random Poseidon fan for all I know."

Sena grinned. "Well, you are rather popular," she commented.

"Oh, I don't think I'm that wonderful," he snorted. "I'm merely a player defending his team."

"Yes, and yet you have managed to deem the Poseidon name as great and powerful. I find that something a bit worthy of your popularity, Kakei-kun."

When Kakei saw Sena's sweet gaze, always having that zoning-off stare and warm smile, he wondered if the girl's pleasantness was infectious. He smiled back and said, "Thank you, Sena-kun."

Eyeshield 21 nodded and turned her attention to the gates of the zoo. "It's not a problem. Anyway, let's get going; I think I want to see the monkeys first."

Unaware to the two individuals' attention, Mizumachi was situated behind a bush holding binoculars and have a stick taped onto his head—as if that could camouflage his presence. How Kakei and Sena did not immediately recognize the extremely tall boy will always remain a mystery. Seriously, bystanders—nearly all—were staring strangely at the guy, and the reactions of the crowd should have made the two more attentive.

However, that was not the case.

Observing the "couples" go through the gates, smiling happily and walking side by side—almost too closely, Mizumachi couldn't help but frown. For some reason, he was unable to stomach this. He was happy that his stoic pal had a relationship, but he felt…aggravated when it was Sena. The boy shook his head, a determined look on his face, and brought the binoculars to his eyes.

Oh no, he was not spying at all.

"Come on, Kakei, hold her freaking hand!" Mizumachi whispered—a bit too loudly.

After an hour, Mizumachi witnessed Kakei and Sena having an enjoyable time. Sena laughed when the tiger cubs were tackling each other playfully, Kakei smiling to Sena's smile, them having an idle yet intriguing conversation, and the two obviously loving each others' company. It made Mizumachi's stomach churn even more.

"Oh no," Mizumachi gasped—a bit too loudly. His eyes were widened with fear. "All this time I've been hating the relationship between Kakei and Sena-chan…Does this mean that…that…!"

He turned his attention back to the "couple". Eyeshield was pointing to a flamingo and Kakei's lips were moving, probably commenting about something.

"I'm gay for Kakei!"

The exclamation was a bit too loud, causing both Kakei and Sena to turn their heads to where the cry originated.

Sena blinked. "Mizumachi-kun?"

"Ah shit!"

"Mizumachi-kun, what are you doing here?"

"Come to see the animals too?" Kakei offered, raising an eyebrow.

The tall boy rushed in front of Kakei and narrowed his eyes, staring at him intensely. Kakei wondered what had drugged his weird friend. Suddenly, Mizumachi sighed, "I knew I was too straight; there's no way that I would have turned that way."

"…"

"Um." Sena didn't know what to say. She felt that she should say something, but didn't know what to say.

"So!" Mizumachi turned his attention onto the smaller girl. "Sena-chan, how's your date with Kaka?"

Kaka? Sena thought.

Kakei's eyes widened incredulously. "Wh-what on earth are you talking about, Mizumachi?" he demanded.

"Isn't it obvious? I set you two up so that you can have a date without being conspicuous! Duh!"

"…"

Sena blinked, very confused. "Uh…This is a date?"

"Of course it is!"

Sena blinked again. "Why?"

"Because you two are in love. Duh."

Sena did not blink this time. "…"

However, Kakei did. "…"

"What's with the pauses, you guys?" Mizumachi pouted. "Aren't you happy that I managed to get you lovebirds together without anyone knowing?"

"Mizumachi," Kakei said at last, pinching the bridge of his nose while having his cheeks tinted pink, "S-Sena-kun and I are…are not dating."

Sena's entire face was red.

Mizumachi nodded. "Oh."

"Where did you get such idea?"

"Oh, it was just a daydream," he lied.

Kakei gave him a blank stare. "What?"

"Nothin'." He turned to the blushing girl. "Well, since you two aren't dating, I guess it's fine to ask Sena-chan out!"

Sena broke out of her stupor, her face even redder than before. "Wha-what!"

The moral of the story is that you should not make an assumption of love. Courting would be much preferable.