Part 8: The Pathetic Love-Strucks

Thursday Night: Basketball Court, Kanagawa 20th District.

"Thank you for seeing me for the second time today, Sendoh."

"I will not take much of your time, because I know you have a game against Shohoku tomorrow, and you need rest tonight."

Maki nodded. He observed Sendoh, wanted to find the confirmation that he was the mystery man of the night. The blue eyes did look darker at night. The skin was a little paler too. Is it him?

"I guess I need to clear something to you here. Answering your question to me earlier." Sendoh started the conversation.

"I'm not him." Sendoh said in English, both answering and confirming Maki's thought.

It's not him.

Maki looked at Sendoh again.

The English accent is different. He's not him. And with that realisation, he basically back to ground zero. Back to the beginning. Starting all over again. Who?

"God… I feel like an idiot." Maki realised his situation.

"But you're not. I am the most obvious suspect, I will look around for me even if I'm in your shoes." Sendoh replied.

"You will?"

"I am the most obvious choice." Sendoh laughed. "It's true. I mean, not everyone in the world can pull that type of prank. I wish it was me." But not everyone can bring Maki out of his confidence shelf. And it's not me.

"I still feel like an idiot." Maki muttered.

Sendoh put his arm around Maki, trying to sooth the older guy. "Tell me, I wanna know."

Maki looked at Sendoh, unsure if he can trust this man. But this man is probably the only person who might know the truth, the feeling is stronger than ever. And Sendoh, being Sendoh, is very good at figuring people out. He figured Sakuragi, he done Rukawa, and now, he's about to read Maki.

"That night...it was boring. I'm actually thinking of going outside and dribble some balls. He came, you know, he just came. Everyone is a captive in his world. With his make-up, with his clothes, with his appearance, his seductive moves..."

"Then, came the dance. I never ever in my life let anyone controlled me that way. I never ever in my life felt so helplessly out of control. He drove me crazy. And he still does. Then, he had to take the bird away, and I had to run after him. It's more like... I don't want him to go. I don't want him to disappear. " Maki relieved his experience, still missing that particular sensation.

"He kissed me when I caught him. It was an electrifying kiss. With everything else about that man, he showed me nothing else matter. There's only us exist in the world. And it was a wonderful feeling. The kiss brought me into another level, something that I haven't felt before." Maki finished his story, relying on Sendoh to understand.

"You're in love." Sendoh said simply.

"What????"

"You are. Look at yourself. Obviously, this man took something more than the bird. He took away your pride, he brought down your defence and.... he stole your heart.

"I..."

Realisation hit Maki. Sendoh had spoken the truth about his feeling, about what he tries to avoid.

"You're obsessed of finding this man, you have fall into a deep hole of emotion where you just have no control. He took your heart, and you want it back."

"I…"

"Maki. The first step for you to do is to admit it." Sendoh smiled. "So, how does it feel like to be in love?"

"It was… crazy. But you know, the most painful feeling…" Maki continued. "Is not knowing whether the man feel the same way about you or not."

"That is the risk you got to take." Sendoh told him. " You love somebody without even thinking whether they will love you back or not. It's not the love of convenience or anything."

Maki was quiet. The man was right.

"I really do know how you feel." Sendoh told him. He looked longingly at the night sky.

"Who?" Maki asked.

"Somebody… he just captured your heart. By the time you realised it, it's too late. Oh God! Look at us, we're so pathetic. You and me… You, well, the love of your life appeared once, disappeared, and it started less than a week ago." Sendoh laughed.

"As for me…" Sendoh continued, "I meet him almost everyday, we spent lots of times together, been months now. But we just…they twist us around… and, oh well. They made fools out of us. And they're clueless about it."

"Yea… "Maki understood.

Silence fall upon them.

"Maki…"

"Yea?"

"You will find this man tomorrow. I can assure you."

"Are you…sure?" He was not convinced.

"Trust me. I am that confidence. And I never wrong before."

But Maki was still skeptical.

"Let's just say…if you didn't find him by the game against Shohoku tomorrow ends, I will tell you. But if you do…" Sendoh continued. "You and him will have to go fishing with me and Sakuragi this Sunday."

Maki thought about it. Whatever the consequences are, he still win. And only God knows after a week of whirlwind crazy activities, he needs some peace and quiet. And going fishing should provide the relaxation he needed. And it will probably served as a time-out to get to know him further.

"It's a deal."

Sendoh smiled. "Good."

"I guess, I better get going. Cannot loose against Shohoku you know."

"Good luck with tomorrow's game. And Maki...."

"Yea?"

"Meet us at Ryonan at 7am. Bring your lunch, you can borrow my fishing rod if you want to. And don't be late."

Maki just snorted. He liked Sendoh, enough for him to look forward for Sunday with him, whatever the consequences tomorrow will bring. With his love, hopefully.

"Sayonara!" and he left.

"What was that all about?" Sakuragi demanded, after watching the conversation from far.

Sendoh just smiled his patented smile. He knew Sakuragi is very curious about his meeting with Maki. Twice in a day.

"He just want to know about the thief."

"Did you tell him?"

"No. Why would I?"

"I don't know. I don't trust you with your smiley face."

"But Hana... you can trust me." Sendoh pouted.

"Yea yea... you proved your worth of Tensai's attention."

"Why thank you, I'm flattered." He continued to smile.

"So, what does he want? I thought we already returned the bird, case closed. No more questions."

Sendoh just shrugged. Maki had personally confirmed his suspicion about his continuous search for the thief. The look on his face, the sound of his desperation and the way he behave, as try to take this as confidence as possible, but couldn't. Yup, he's in love alright. Now, if he can just find out if the other man feel the same…

"Sakuragi." Sendoh started to be more serious. "He's in love."

"What????"

Sendoh just nodded. "He's in love with the thief."

"Oh... sh*t."

"Exactly."

"Ohhh...." Sakuragi frowned. "Oh.... my God."

"Uh huh..."

"Ohhh...."

"Can you just stop it with the ooohhhh thingy? It's just drives me crazy."

"Oh!"

Sendoh just rolled his eyes.

"What should we do?" Sakuragi asked.

"I don't know! Who would expect Maki to fall in love with the thief?"

Sakuragi frowned. "hhm... I didn't know Maki loves that make-up gothic type. What kind of man is that???"

"Hanamichi...."

"he he.. err..sorry. Well, we are in deep trouble."

"Personally, I can't bear that man to suffer anymore. We have to face the consequences of our action. He's really crazy about that man. I mean, he practically broke down, it's like... wanting something you know you cannot get." Sendoh said quietly.

"What can we do?"

"We have to tell him."

"That's crazy!"

"Hanamichi… look. This man came into the party, with make-up and gothic style and smooth moves. He shocked people, gotten their attention. He made Maki followed his every move, entranced him with his style and confidence. He brought forward Maki's vulnerability, Maki's other side. He's not the same Maki we know in the basketball court anymore, he's not Maki the number One player anymore."

"He's just a man who's in love."

"This is crazy." Sakuragi repeated his previous statement.

"But there's nothing else we can do."

"I don't want us to get detention or something for pulling a prank like that."

"So?" Sendoh shrugged. " At least all of us will be together in case something like that happen. But no worries, they're not pressing charge or anything."

The fact of being together in the same situation as Sendoh calmed Sakuragi a little bit. "ha ha! You're right. You gonna tell him? Tomorrow?"

"Maybe, we will see what happen. And now, you should get some sleep. You don't want to tire yourself and loose the opportunity to show your skills right?"

"Ha ha! You're right! Everyone has to be ready for this Tensai! ha ha ha!"

"Still..."Sakuragi deep in thought. "The thief is very smart to pull that prank."

"I told you so!" Sendoh said with I-told-you-so look.

"See you tomorrow!" Sakuragi ignored the I-told-you-so look.

"err...Sakuragi?"

"Yea?"

Sendoh was contemplating to tell him something. "Never mind. Good luck with the game tomorrow."

"Thanks. Good night!" And Sakuragi left immediately.

"Good night." Sendoh whispered into the darkness.

-tbc-