Hikaru Itsuko: Like I've stated in the very beginning, it's RuHana ^^ But then I love SenHana as well so I couldn't help it.

Jubei: You wouldn't mind Makoto with Hanamichi? ^_^ I love RuHana and SenHana too.

M.S.Renae: I don't really understand what you mean by "smelling the hint of a plot" ^^; This fic seems a bit too light-hearted to be angst actually… I thought it was more of romance/humor, but it wouldn't send you rofling on the floor so … ^^;;; I made a few changes to chapter 8… I don't know if it would make a difference ^^; Thanks for telling me about the errors ne.

Kristel: Yea… I posted this fic in sdbc before. Babble made me start writing fics anyway. This was my second fic posted waaaay back. Posting it here after editing ^^;

Minna-san: Thank you!!! I'm so happy that people like the story ^_^

Notes: I suppose giving Makoto another problem would prove how much of a guy she looks like…but this does happen in real life. This is a pretty short chapter so bear with me.

Cupid

Chapter 9

"Aoshima-kun!"

Makoto turned around, almost colliding into the person who called her. It was Fuji. It seemed strange that she was not with Haruko, if they were going the same way- to the gym. Fuji was panting breathlessly, and when she regained to her normal breathing. She trusted an envelope into Makoto's hands.

" About last time...Arigato." Then, before Makoto could react, Fuji sped off like never before, her face red with...embarrassment? Makoto blinked blankly at Fuji's retreating figure and then, at the envelope. Shrugging her shoulders, she went on her way to the gym.

In the locker room, Makoto decided to read the letter since no one was there yet. She glanced through the whole message and then felt like her whole world just crashed down on her. Did Fuji like her just because she had saved her? How was she going to reject her friend like that? And this only added to her current problem on trying to 'unintentionally' bring Rukawa and Hanamichi together.

"Kami-sama! What have I done to deserve this!?"

Hanamichi stepped in just as she wailed.

" Deserve what, Mak-chan?"

" Nothing." Deciding that she needed to sort things in her mind, Makoto went to vent her frustrations on the hoop again. Maybe she would ask for someone's opinion later, if possible.

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

" Eh...Hana-kun?"

"Nani, Mak-chan?"

"er...what do you think about same-sex relationships?"

"Nani!?" Hanamichi sat up, staring at his friend who was lying down flat on her back beside him. They had just finished another exhausting game of one-on-one, and since there was no school the next day, they decided to take a little break before continuing.

"Just answer the question." Makoto sat up too, fiddling with the basketball in her hands.

Hanamichi scratched his face with a finger, unsure of what to say.

" It's alright, I guess. As long as you love the person, gender doesn't matter. In fact, I would actually admire a person who would actually declare his love despite society and blahblahblah..."

Makoto found herself stunned as Hanamichi's rambling. Never did she imagine something so deep coming out from Hanamichi's lips. But, if that were his answer, Kaede would probably stand a better chance. Hanamichi's voice made her snap back to reality.

" Why are you asking this, Mak-chan?...Ite! Don't tell me you're..."

WHAP! The basketball hit Hanamichi in the gut.

"Baka. I'm straight. But...Fuji-san has a crush on me. I don't know how to reject her though...Hey! We were talking about you, not me!"

" Huh? What about the tensai?"

"We were talking about the 'tensai's' view on homosexual relationships. How can you be so sure you're open to the idea?"

" Are you saying the tensai's narrow-minded!?"

"Maa, Hana-kun. Ok, let me give you a scenario. If Sendoh tells you that he loves you, what would you do?"

"&*^%!!?? Why would Sendoh say that!?"

"Just answer the question. It's just a 'what-if' situation..."

Hanamichi expression was blank, with a simple scowl on his face.

" I'll bash him in the face. He's my number-one enemy, after all."

" Huh? I thought Kaede was your number-one enemy?"

"...Not my number-on enemy now...since I'm beginning to treat Haruko-san like a friend...er...but I still have to defeat him! But he's better to be a teammate than an enemy..hehehe...the tensai has strategy you know..."

Hanamichi fumbled and blabbered as he flushed a rosy-red at the mention of Rukawa's name. Makoto tried to repress a smirk from showing on her face. So...Hanamichi likes Kaede more than I thought...

" Then, what if it was Kaede who said that he loved you?"

"Nan da yo!? Why are you asking me these questions!?" Hanamichi's face was even redder than his red hair. He resembled a boiling kettle. This time, Makoto could not stand it anymore. She let the smirk spread wide on her face, replying quietly, as if not wanting Hanamichi to hear.

"I just want you to be prepared." Then, in a much louder voice,

"Are you ready? Let's continue. You might not be able to defeat your 'enemies' if you're slacking, you know."

"MAK-CHAN! THE TENSAI NEVER SLACKS!!"

tbc