"Say Hamano, why are we going to Kirino's place? I'm sure he's not home yet." Hayami stood next to his friend in front of the house in which the pink-haired defender lived. "I saw him going away with Kariya", he explained only to earn a disapproving look from Hamano.

"That's exactly why we're here. I'm sure we'll find a lot of evidence in Kirino's room." Eagerly, he went to the small building and rang the bell.

Hayami followed him, still hesitating. "Ah, that explains why we're cosplaying. But I'm sure it won't work anyway…."

"Come on, don't be so pessimistic. It's a perfect disguise! And you look too handsome to be the real Hayami."

Ignoring Hamano was positively smiling while insulting him the quiet defender looked at his friend. Perfectly disguised? Rather perfectly crazy, the only thing Hamano had done was wearing his goggles on his nose like he would dive into the water any second. Hayami himself didn't look as ridiculous, but still didn't feel comfortable: The other boy had taken his glasses away so he could only see three meters far. On the way, he had run into a street light twice.

However, the defender had no chance to contradict his friend as the door was opened—not that he would have done so anyway. Doubting the plan, he watched Hamano and his winning smile talking to a woman that appeared to be Kirino's mother.

"We're classmates of Kirino and we wanted to study together today." To look more intelligent he carefully adjusted his goggles. I think he isn't home yet, but we're very busy people and we have difficult exams coming up so we would like to begin without him."

Without doubting them, Kirino's mother let the two boys in and lead them to her son's room. "It's so nice of you to study with my son. Please wait inside while I'll go and prepare some tea."

Hamano grinned victoriously. "See? I knew it would work! Now, let's look for evidence! This will be a fitting present for Kurama."

"But it's Tsurugi's birthday, not Kurama's", the other boy objected timidly. "And all you're talking about is Kurama… Is he… more important to you than I am?"

"Hayami, do we have to talk this out now?", Hamano answered impatiently and slightly annoyed. "We're so close, our victory is just behind this door."

"But I want to know", the quit defender continued bravely. "And I can't even see the door properly!"

"Oh, come on." Still standing on the floor, only a few minutes until Kirino's mother would come back, it was definitely not the right time for his friend to act out of character. "As long as I can see the door there isn't a problem! Although it's a bit fuzzy because of the goggles…."

"It's not about the door…."

"Yeah yeah, Kurama is just a fool", Hamano tried to calm down his friends. "Let's make him look even more foolish, ok?"

Not waiting for a reply, the lively male opened the door. Hayami sighed, still feeling that this wasn't a good idea, but satisfied with the answer his friend had given him.

-xxx-

Shindou took his bag and left the soccer building. Everybody was busy because of some event that seemed to take place in the evening so the Raimon captain had practiced by his own.

Sighing, he thought about the whereabouts of Kirino—the pink-haired defender probably was with Kariya. Why did he spend so much time with him? However, there was still this part inside Shindou that felt happy for Kirino and Kariya regardless of his own feelings. Still, he wished Kirino would talk to him, admittedly his friend had told him his parents hadn't been overly angry with him, but Shindou could feel there was still something that bothered the defender. The Raimon captain just knew.

"Captain!" Tenma was running to him, waving his arms to get Shindou's attention.

"Tenma, is everything alright?", the brunette asked as the younger boy stood in front of him, exhausted from running too much.

The energetic boy nodded. "Can I ask you something, Captain? I really need your advice!" Hopefully looking at his captain he didn't even wait for Shindou's reply and started to explain his request. "You know it's about the birthday party tonight… And Tsurugi! I mean both is actually the same, it's about Tsurugi!"

"So Tsurugi's birthday party is tonight?", the Raimon captain tried to find the connection in Tenma's confused words.

"Yeah, that's what I mean. I mean, I don't mean that, I mean I have a problem and I thought you might be able to help me. That's what I mean!"

Judging the boy's way of speaking he seemed to be really troubled. "Calm down and then let's see if I can help you, ok?" Shindou guided his teammate to a nearby bench and waited until the boy seemed to be more relaxed.

"You see, Tsurugi's birthday party is tonight, Kurama organized it, I'm sure you know, Captain", Tenma began. "Lately, Tsurugi acts all weird when I'm near him, he gets all awkward and what's more, I think he is avoiding me. Maybe he hates me! I shouldn't go to the party then, but perhaps he will hate me even more- ."

"It's alright", Shindou interrupted softly before Tenma would get all worked up about it again. "Nobody hates you, especially not Tsurugi."

"But Captain…." The other boy looked at the older boy, not fully convinced.

Shindou smiled. "He just needs some time. You should go to the party, Tenma. And give him a nice present."

"A present?"

Seeing that the younger boy hadn't understood the brunette explained. "Something that expresses your feelings for Tsurugi or the way you think of him."

"Let's see…", Tenma thought about it. "I think he's really cool and I like how he loves soccer as much as I do…."

Then suddenly he sprang up. "I know!" The boy smiled happily and energetic as ever. "Thank you, Captain! I have to go and prepare the present, there is not much time left!"

Shindou smiled as he watched Tenma leaving. So he wasn't the only one with problems. However, the brunette couldn't find an explanation as for why nobody had invited him to the party. Wasn't he their Captain? And Kurama had organized the party? That boy was acting weirder and weirder every day. Shindou decided that he would have a talk with the striker tomorrow.

I had so much fun writing Hamano. Shindou still thinks that Tsurugi has a crush on Tenma...

I have two questions for you and the winners will get a prize! (Your names will be mentioned in the next chapter)

1. What will Hamano and Hayami find in Kirino's room?

2. Why didn't Kurama invite Shindou to the party?