Myagi and Sakuragi invited Sendoh to stay and watch the practise, but Sendoh declined, saying he had other things to do. In fact, he was keen not to go through the emotions of being by the court and not able to play.

"Hey, man," one of the Warriors he hadn't met yet walked up beside him as he left. Behind them, the half-court games were starting up. "Nice to meet you. I'm Kieran."

Sendoh shook his hand. Kieran was one of the shortest players in the Warriors, but had an eager face and bright eyes.

"Heard you're a bit of a baller," Kieran said as they started down the corridor outside the court.

"Used to be," Sendoh told him. "I quit after high school."

"Oh yeah, how come? Not your thing anymore?"

Sendoh let out a breath. "Naw. To be honest, I still love it." He flashed Kieran a grin. "Wish I could keep up with you guys still playing."

"I can't imagine giving it up."

"Ah," Sendoh sighed. "To be honest, I sometimes regret it. But, you know, my course really takes all my time."

"Yeah? What you studying?"

"Law."

Kieran lifted his eyebrows. "Law? Yikes." He chuckled. "That's heavy. So, do you love law like you love basketball?"

Sendoh opened his mouth to reply, but hesitated. Since joining the university, he'd been successful in putting basketball out of his mind. But since meeting Kaede, he'd been forced to confront his decision. There was a big difference between merely avoiding a thing, and seeing it right in front of you and letting it go.

It was now, more than any time in last two years, that he was feeling the powerful tug of uncertainty upon his psyche. Of course, he could still play for fun. He liked to go one-on-one with Kaede. He liked to watch games. He could go to the law facility whenever he wanted and shoot a ball around to clear his mind and help him think.

He hadn't really given up basketball.

What he'd given up was a dream. A dream of succeeding. A dream of going pro. A dream of standing at the top of the basketball world. His chance at the big time.

What he'd given up was a future that he'd wanted since he was a child.

He met Kieran's eyes.

Do you love law like you love basketball?

He breathed out slowly.

Although he'd given up on his thirteen-year-old self, he'd gained something else, too. He had new dreams now. And if he reversed the question, and asked himself if he would be prepared to give up on his dream to become a lawyer in order to have another chance at being a pro-baller, the question became much simpler.

"Yes," he realised, surprising even himself with the sudden firmness of his revelation. "I do. I really really enjoy studying law."

I miss basketball, he realised. And perhaps I'll always ask myself… what if?

But I don't regret choosing law.

It was the right thing for me.

Kieran's eyes crinkled up with a smile. "That's amazing," he said. "I admire your conviction! Good luck to you, man."

"Thanks," Sendoh nodded to him. "Good luck to you, too"

Rukawa found Sendoh at the front of the building after showering and changing. He was wearing his usual casual sportswear, and Sendoh felt himself light up inside just upon seeing him.

"Hey!"

"Hey."

Sendoh beamed.

It was a wonder to him that he hadn't noticed this before. Of course, he had known that Rukawa was something… special. But he'd worked so hard to convince himself that all he wanted was friendship that the revelation that he wanted so much more than that was a strangely liberating one.

Even though he knew there was no way that he could possibly tell him, just admitting it to himself was like escaping from a straitjacket. His emotions felt like they were running free and clear, where before everything had been strange and congested. All the difficulties and awkwardness and frustrations he'd been experiencing - to the point where he was finding their friendship difficult - were lifted. The problems were things he'd created himself. His frustrations could finally be explained. He breathed long and free.

This feeling…

He swallowed down any temptation to let it out. He wanted to keep it close to his heart, examine it, get to know it, a little bit longer, in private.

"So, we're going back to your place?"

"Yeah."

"By foot?"

"It's not far."

They feel into step beside one another. The night was already dark, and the campus lights were brightening the pathway in patches. They walked in silence, but Sendoh did not feel any need to break it. The sound of their feet against the ground crunching softly was soothing to his newly stirred emotions. He breathed the night air, and felt wholly content. There was something so nice about walking alone together at night.

Rukawa took them across the green campus, out one of the gates and into the surrounding residential streets.

"Are you sure this is alright?" Sendoh finally enquired, glancing around at the many tidy family homes.

"Yeah," Rukawa responded. "I told mum already."

Sendoh blinked. "Oh! Right! You… live with your parents."

Sendoh did not know why it had not occurred to him before this moment. He'd been so pleased to have the chance to eat dinner with Kaede that he hadn't thought about it until now. A second thought struck him in the very next moment. "You live with…" he lifted a hand and cupped his own cheek, "…Professor Grump?!"

Rukawa, hearing his tone, glanced at him from the corner of his eye. "Mn," he confirmed. "Is there a problem?"

"Ahh-" Sendoh swallowed anxiously. "N-n-no, it's just-"

It's just that he wasn't prepared for this.

At all!

He hadn't even sorted out his feelings yet. He had been thinking that they'd have something like a… date. A nice dinner. Opportunities to chat. Time to get to know Rukawa better. A chance to work out whether or not Rukawa maybe had any similar feelings.

And yet here he was, about to… meet the parents?

He began a sudden and unexpected bout of mental gymnastics, attempting to shove his newly liberated feelings back into the tiny box of total denial.

We are just friends.

Just friends.

Friends!

Friends friends friends friends friends!

Going to Rukawa's house, and meeting his parents, was… totally normal! For friends!

He concentrated on his breathing.

Don't… overthink this.

You're friends.

This is fine.

This is not weird. At all.

Before he knew it, Rukawa was already opening a fancy iron gate, and they were walking up a short garden path to the door of the Rukawa residence. Sendoh followed after him, peering up at the dark two storey building, trying to disguise his nerves. It was a small city home, quite different from Sendoh's parent's rural farm.

The garden was small but well tended, and lit with softly glowing lamps. Sendoh spotted a couple of stone lanterns amid the foliage, and a ceramic butterfly affixed to the house wall. It would have feel welcoming and friendly if he hadn't been feeling so nervous.

Rukawa pulled out his keys, but before he could even put them into the lock, the door was opened, and a tall intimidating figure stood silhouetted in the bright light.

Sendoh squinted up at him, feeling like his stomach had turned to liquid.

"So-" Rukawa senior was looking down at the two of them, "-here for dinner, are you?"

Sendoh dropped into a bow. "If you don't mind," he said quickly. "Thank you for your hospitality."

"Hn." Professor Grump stepped aside, and the two boys left their shoes in the entranceway, and stepped into the house.

-tbc