Disclaimer : Slam Dunk is owned by Takehiko Inoue. Shintaro Ken is mine!

Note: Sentences in italics are thoughts.

Of Love and Friendship

Chapter 5: Shintaro's Confessions

Sakuragi's face could rival a thousand lighted bulbs. A silly grin was continuously plastered on his face. Shintaro could only shake his head. He was blabbering about the echinoderms but when he looked at Rukawa's face, the so-called fox boy was already dozing off. He was beginning to think that this must be the reason why his bestfriend chose to tutor the redhead.

Haruko gave Sakuragi a Biology mock test to see how much he had learned. When it was done, she checked it only to find a lot of errors. She pointed out all the errors to him and did the whole thing again.

"Sakuragi-kun, it's spelled coelenterata. It's just pronounced with a silent o. Be careful with the spellings because wrong spelling is wrong."

The two tutors tried to make the most of the two hours they had. Shintaro wondered if they had learned anything for the next day's test.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Congratulations, Haruko, Shintaro-kun!" Fujii greeted them as they walk out of the school going to the ice cream parlor.

"So Haruko, how does it feel to be winning at the Science Fair?" Matsui elbowed her friend.

"Errr…it feels good!" Haruko smiled and looked at Shintaro. He smiled back at her. "Thank you! But really most of the credit goes to Shintaro-kun. I only helped him."

"Maa…maa…how dare you eat all the humble pie?" Shintaro quipped.

"What humble pie?" She looked at Shintaro.

"Ai…Haruko……" Matsui sighed at their friend's cluelessness.

"So Haruko, did Rukawa-kun and Sakuragi-kun passed their exams?" Fujii asked.

"Hai. Although they almost didn't made it. We only gave them a rush review due to the lack of time." Haruko answered.

"Ah. But then they did it so I guess it's okay." Shintaro answered back.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Shintaro-kun! You were really amazing today!" Haruko was beaming at him.

"Heh. Thanks!"

"Your fans were really rooting for you. Isn't that great?"

"Hai. I love their support. They are really nice to me." He said smiling.

"You're really something, Shintaro-kun. You even took the time out just to attend one of their functions!"

"Yeah… it's the least I can do for those girls."

"Ne, Shintaro-kun, why don't you have a girlfriend yet? Your fans don't just come from Shohoku but from other schools as well. I'm sure there must be at least one who you would like."

"Ah… I don't get a girl just so I could have a girlfriend." He grinned.

Haruko blinked trying to absorb what she just heard. "Oh… I… understand."

"Actually, I like this particular girl but she likes someone else." He looked at her and winked.

"Eh? Really? Is she from Shohoku too?"

"Hai."

"Whoa…maybe I know her!" Haruko beamed at him.

"Of course, you know her." He flashed a be-dimpled smile at her.

"Hmm…" Haruko thought for a while. "Must be one of my friends, ne?" She winked at him.

Shintaro let out a hearty laugh and stopped walking. "Really now, Haruko-chan. And I thought I was already too obvious!"

"Huh?"

"I really should be telling this to you, ne, Haruko-chan? I was talking about you. It's you I really like." He smiled and poked a finger at her shoulder.

It took a few seconds before Haruko could even blink or react.

"I—Shintaro-kun!" She was already blushing.

He laughed again and prodded her to walk again. "It's ok, Haruko-chan. I am not expecting any answer from you. I just thought you should know it. Besides I like the way we relate to each other. And I know you like Rukawa-kun." He was smiling mischievously at her while saying the last sentence.

Haruko couldn't believe it. Shintaro confessed to her! But what's more surprising was that he doesn't expect anything from her in return. Shintaro even comforts her every time, whenever she feels down about Rukawa. She feels like an idiot. Why does she like Rukawa? Shintaro is better than him in every way. Girls adore him but he isn't cold to them and yet he is not a playboy either. Aside from Matsui and Fujii, only Shintaro understands her.

"I cannot blame Sakuragi-kun. You are a sweet and nice girl." He winked at her. "I bet Rukawa-kun likes you too. He just doesn't show it. He has this problem letting things out. I can see through him. Heh. You just don't see it when he watches you from the corner of his eyes sometimes. Personally, I am a very open person. I say what I feel."

Haruko blushed.

"Maybe it's time you tell Rukawa-kun how you feel."

"N-nani?"

He shrugged. "He's bound to know it sooner or later. I'm telling you, once you tell that to him, you would feel better no matter what the response you would get from him. At least you know where you stand. He may even know how you feel and just waiting for you to make a move."

"Sh-Shintaro-kun…. why are you so nice to me?" She wanted to cry now for feeling so stupid.

He looked at her. "Do I really have to answer that?" He lowered his gaze to meet her eyes. "You already know the answer. But hey, I am nice to everyone." He grinned and paused for a while to observe her. "You're not going to cry, are you?" He saw a bench and led her to it. "Let's sit there for a while."

"Oh ok… It's just that…."

"Hmm? Just that….?"

"Just that I cannot understand how you can do that. Being so nice even though everyone seems to like you. Other boys would already have a very bloated ego but you---"

"Ah….it's nothing." He shook his head. "I appreciate people who like me but I don't get it into my head." He bowed while knocking on his head trying to fool around.

"Shintaro-kun!"

"Hmm?"

She noticed some light colored hair on top of Shintaro's head. "Your hair is changing color, what happened?"

"Hmm? Oh…I think I have to go to the salon again heheh…."

"Salon? You mean…."

"It's just my little secret."

"Your hair is not really brown?"

"Well, yeah, I am blonde. I just colored it brown so I would not attract so much attention. Mom's an American." He grinned.

"Honto ni?

"Well, I guess I would have to ask you to keep it a secret." He winked at her.

Haruko nodded and smiled at him. Kawaii. She feels so good having a good friend in Shintaro. She knows a lot of girls would kill just to be in her place. What a good friend he is. I'm so glad I met him.