Chapter 10: Eirin

Kasamatsu has been so busy with practicing for Inter-High that I've hardly seen him at all. It's one rainy afternoon, though, when club work finishes early, that for some reason, I find myself nearing the gym. Rather, running toward the gym. The raindrops pound down on me, and even as I race toward the building, I still get soaked, my leg aching.

They're still practicing when I let myself in, my shoes squeaking against the floor, my clothes leaving puddles. They're so involved that I don't think anyone notices me, even though I let in a loud gust of wind.

Apparently, my thinking is flawed, though, because a second later, I catch a blond head barreling toward me, and I have to duck out of the way to avoid him before he crashes into me. My leg almost collapses, but I manage to catch myself.

"Ichikawa-san!" Kise says, grinning. "Did you come to watch me practice? That's unusual. Oh, and you're drenched."

I wrinkle my nose. "Yeah. Just like you."

Kise glances down at himself, and wipes some of his sweat from his forehead. Using his shirt. Which reveals . . . I try not to think about it.

"Kise!"

We both turn at the voice, but Kise's not quick enough, and still receives a kick in the back for ditching practice.

"Yukio," I greet.

"Don't call me that in public." Kasamatsu scowls. "But what are you doing here, anyway?"

I shrug nonchalantly and Kasamatsu lets it drop. He pulls Kise to his feet and says, "We gotta get back to practice, but it's only a few minutes. I'll catch you after, okay?" Then he drags Kise back unceremoniously to where some of the guys are eyeing me curiously. Probably wondering how Kasamatsu can talk to me straight-faced.

"Senpai," Kise whines, struggling against Kasamatsu. "That should be my line!"

"What!" Kasamatsu's grip weakens in surprise, and Kise falls to the ground with a thud, though he quickly rights himself. With a smile on his face, too.

"I mean," Kise says, glancing at me. "I'm the one who should be walking Ichikawa-san home, right?"

My face goes red. Did Kise really just say what I think he did?

Kasamatsu looks similarly flushed, but his is more in confusion — the "I don't know what's going on, but I think my ace is flirting with my childhood friend" kind of flustered thing. He glances at me, and seeing that I look like I might blow up any second, he assertively lands a blow in Kise's side, who yelps, and then yanks him back into practice.

Thank goodness for childhood friends who aren't afraid of taking action.

Five minutes later, and practice is over. To my horror, both Kasamatsu and Kise approach me at the same time. I'm just about wondering if I should ditch the whole thing when Kise accurately reads my intentions and calls out to me, "Ichikawa-san, wait up for me!"

I wince, but still my body (which had been half-turned toward the glorious-looking exit).

"Eirin," Kasamatsu says when he reaches my side, and a questioning look switches between me and Kise.

"Um . . . "

I really don't know how to explain this one.

Dropped photo. Strange intentions. Walks home?

Yeah, they make no sense.

Kise, on the other hand, is looking expectantly back from me and Kasamatsu. "Do you two know each other?" he says.

I've never mentioned the fact that I know Kise's captain or that said captain is my only friend. Mainly because Kise does all the talking. Partly because it's none of his business.

"We're friends," I say, because Kasamatsu's face had gone red and it looked like he might choke on his tongue.

"I see." Kise glances back at me. He doesn't seem fazed by my short explanation at all, but simply plows on. "So, what do you say, Ichikawa-san?"

I don't need him to clarify to know what he's talking about.

Kise has only walked me home a few times before, and while they haven't been entirely unpleasant, it's not like I look forward to them. Perhaps he knows this, because for some reason, he asks me each time. For a guy like him, I find it oddly considerate. And I've never refused. Not since the first time.

"Okay," I say.

He pumps his fist in the air. "All right, then! We'll see you later, then, Kasamatsu-senpai."

"Yep. See ya, Yukio-chan-senpai."

Kasamatsu might kill me someday, but being able to call him that is worth it.

"So you like basketball, Ichikawa-san?"

It's the first time we've ever broached the subject of basketball. Kind of surprising, seeing as it's such a big part of his life. (And mine, but that's beside the point.) The last few times he's taken me home, we haven't really talked much about anything. He sometimes says something random, trying to get a smile out of me (or so goes his excuse), but topics related to school will rarely come up. I guess I'm just not that talkative of a person. Strangely, he doesn't seem to mind.

"Yeah, I suppose," I say.

"Kasamatsu-senpai really likes it, doesn't he?"

I blink a few times, surprised by the question. "Yeah. I guess so."

He falls quiet for a few moments. Looks down at his feet. Kicks a few pebbles into the mud.

I suddenly feel bad. Because he is trying. In a way. To befriend someone like me, who obviously is not friend material. And today, even in the short five minutes I was there, he seemed . . . to be working hard in basketball as well.

"How are the preliminaries?"

The question falls out of my mouth before I can stop it.

"Huh?" At first, he seems confused. Probably by the fact that I actually asked something. Then a soft smile stretches across his face. "Oh, they're good. I think they'll go pretty smooth."

"Well, the team is pretty nice," I say. "I mean, it's probably one of the strongest I've seen in a while."

"You think?"

"Don't you?"

He shrugs. "I don't know. I just do the best I can and try to get in as many goals as possible."

"I've . . . noticed that."

"What do you mean?"

I snort. "You always like hogging the ball to yourself. Do you rely on your teammates at all?"

He looks confused by the question. "But I'm better than them," he says. "If I can get the shot in, why shouldn't I have the ball?"

He really is an arrogant mess. "Just because you have some talent doesn't mean you're better than them. Just because you're the ace doesn't mean you should be the only one making shots. Because you're the ace, you should be leading your team and doing as much as possible to ensure everyone can use their full potential and strengths."

Blinking several times, he opens his mouth for a moment — then closes it. He doesn't say anything for the next few feet we walk.

I continue, as if I haven't just stunned him silent for the first time. "Kasamatsu's worked really hard on this team and to improve his own personal basketball skills. He's done more for the team than anyone else, as any good captain should. Kobori may not talk much, but he keeps the team solid, steady, and can provide a good voice of reason. Moriyama may seem like an idiot sometimes, but he never fails to deliver when it's on the court. He's flexible and unpredictable, and those are his strengths. Hayakawa keeps the energy up on the team — when spirits are down, you can count on him to lift everyone up again. No matter what, he'll find a way to get done what needs to be done. Your team . . . it's really a great mix."

Kise slows. "Yeah? That so?"

"Mmhmm." There are clouds in the sky. Right now, they're covering the sun, but as the wind pushes them out of the way, the sun returns, its light burning through my eyes. I have to turn my face away.

"There's also this ace," I say. "I'm not so sure about him yet. He's got some work cut out for him, but I think his potential . . ." For a moment, words fail me, and quiet hovers in the air. I can tell Kise is listening, waiting. I swallow, and force myself to continue. "His potential is probably off the charts."

Kise suddenly stops and spins around to face me. He reaches forward, like he's about to touch me, but then stops.

"Is that all?" he asks.

I wish he wouldn't look at me like that.

"No," I say. "He's also kind of big-headed. Always pushing to know more about himself and how great he is. Gets kinda annoying sometimes. But, in the end, I suppose some of it is deserved."

He grins. I let out a huff and move past him. I thought I'd taken a wide enough step — no, I'm sure I did. But I can feel him step in closer to me, so that when I pass, our shoulders brush.

A/N: So I really like this chapter (well, I really like Kise, so that's probably obvious), so I hope you enjoy it as well! Thanks to everyone who has followed, favorited, and left reviews so far!

~ J. Dominique