Part 3: The day after

Monday morning: Kainan High School

It was all over the school the next morning, in fact, it was all over Kanagawa. The Kainan bird had been stolen from the gym during the Halloween Ball. And Maki found himself to be more popular than ever. He was the only person who came so close to the thief. But the thief managed to get away from Maki. Getting away from the Ace Guard of Kainan High School?

And some rumours have it he is also partly responsible for the missing bird. But Maki and the rest of the basketball team members ignored the rumours. They also found out the school had decided not to call the police, since they think it's only part of the prank.

"Ok, I don't think it was somebody from our school." Kiyota stated. "Since we know practically anybody that fit that description, and they all were there in the gym last night. So, they have alibi."

"So, he might be a party-crasher?" Jin asked.

"He did spoil the party alright." Kiyota agreed.

"Firstly, we need to find somebody tall. That man is taller than me." Maki said.

"hhmm.... I think the basketball clubs in this region will know anybody tall. They will have the list of tall people." Jin said.

"But they are like... a LOT of basketball clubs in this region! It's like finding a needle in a haystack! Besides, we don't know if the man is a basketball player to begin with!"

"There is high probability he could be a basketball player. He knows Rukawa, he watched our game in the IH, and…" Maki remembered something. "His fingers."

"What's with his fingers?"

"The fingers in his skin is kinda rough. Like the type of fingers that accustomed to years of holding the orange ball. Besides, he fit the type of person that played basketball. " Maki said, playing detective.

"So, do we know anybody who have information about basketball players in this region?"

The two players grimaced. The do know one person who fit that description perfectly. the All-Knowing certain Ryonan player. They don't want to, but they guessed, they don't have any choice.

"Hikoichi Aida." Both of them answered.

*********

Monday morning: A room in Kanagawa

The morning sun greeted the blue eyes when it opened. It's a beginning of the new school week. But like every other normal teenager, Monday morning blues can be hell. Especially after what he did last night.

Last night.

For once in his life, he was thankful for his sister. His nee-chan usually used him as a practise, as part of he training for her occupation. She was a well-known make-up artist. And he had been borrowing her stuff last night. Green, blue eyeshadow, the purple lipstick, the eye pencil, the eye-liner, purple and blue hairy dyes, the black nail-polish, even the fake dragon earring. Heck, practically everything he needed was there.

He yawned. Time for an extra strong coffee. But shower first.

He took his towel and began to strip out of his pyjama. But his eyes caught a certain new item in his room, standing against his bedroom wall. The Kainan Bird. He smiled at last night's memories. The preparation, the adrenaline rush he felt, the excitement, the challenge. I have to do it.

And best of all, Maki. He never looked so handsome, and so inviting like last night. With his brown, thick hair, tan skin, deep brown eyes and the perfectly-built body, and that cute tiny mole underneath his left eyes, he was surely a sight to behold. Funny how he never look at the Kainan captain that way. Last night changed everything.

Both of them had shown a different side to their personality. He had proven to himself he can took the challenge and went all the way for it. The usually oh-so-serious Kainan captain let his guard down. He danced, talked, laughed and flirted with him endlessly. Oh! There is also a small matter of kissing. He's a damm good kisser. He felt a blush creeping into his cheek. But... most importantly, Maki proved he has a vulnerability in him. The way he shyly agreed to dance, the way he talked about things he loved most, the way he was so startled when he first kissed him, and then, responding to the kiss... it was so unlike the dominant Maki he used to in the basketball court.

He sighed, and looked at the bird again.

Sakuragi, you're sooooo gonna get it. He smiled again, for the second time that morning.

Told ya not to challenge me.

******************

Monday afternoon: Ryonan High School

"Hikoichi Aida!! just the man we want to see." The named person stared at the voice, unbelievable! Kainan! There, In front of him stood the famous Kainan trio, the cool Jinn, the obnoxious Kiyato and the famous ace, Maki.

"We need help." Jin said.

"What... what kind of help." he stammered, still in awe the Kainan trio approached him.

"As you heard, well, there's a thief who took our 'good luck' charm. Our proud Kainan symbol, the Kainan Bird. And those person will have to pay...dearly." Jin said.

"Ah... oh. What do you want to know?"

"Well... could we pretty please check your black book? Please...." Kiyota coaxed the shorter man.

Hikoichi just startled with the request. Can he give the book to the enemy? No, no way. But his curious nature won over him. He wants to know who took the legendary symbol too. It will be a give and take situation.

"Ok, but...." he cut short Kiyota's almost wohoo.

"I have to be there when you guys look at my book. And I want in. I want to investigate who took it too, and what happened and all those stuff till the end."

"But..."

"No but, take it or leave it."

They can't argue anymore. They agreed.

***********

Monday afternoon: Shohoku Locker Room

Sakuragi walked into the changing room, ready to start the training for the day. He had been glad to know that his back injury will not be a problem to him anymore. He had recovered at extremely fast speed, much to everyone's surprise and delight. And this time around, he's more than determine to beat his arch-enemy, his teammate Rukawa Kaede.

"I'll beat that Kitsune one day...." Sakuragi mumbled under his breath.

Suddenly, he stopped. Wide-eyed and speechless, his hand slowly but steadily reached for the new object that was hanging on his locker. The Kainan Bird. He touched the Kainan Bird as if the most valueable thing in the world. In a way, it is, knowing the whole population of Kainan High School is probably searching for it.

He did it. Sakuragi still couldn't believe it. He actually did it! Now, he got to meet him, telling him he was right and Sakuragi has been wrong all along, and also apologize to him, which Sakuragi found to be the hardest thing to do.

Sendoh.