Kaede's POV

It was a minute before the English teacher let us go when he announced that no one was supposed to stay after dismissal today, even the basketball team. I sighed, that meant that I'd have to go home early today. I hate going home early, there's really nothing to do at my house.

I was just putting my Literature and Grammar books in my bag when Hana came up to me and said, "Hey! Does that mean that we don't have practice, too?"
I shook my head, "Unless you want to."
"Nah!" She said, "Youhei's playing today. I'd love to watch him."

'Youhei's playing what?' I asked myself. Hana must have seem the confused look on my face because she laughed and said, "Oh yeah! I haven't told you, have I? Youhei signed up for the soccer team a month ago!"
"Um…" I said, more confused now, "What's soccer?"
"You don't know what soccer is?!" Hana almost shouted, "Man, Kitsune! You should go out some more and I mean go out without your head bowed down and sleeping!"
At that moment, Youhei approached and pecked Hana on the lips and asked, "You coming to my game?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world, Youhei!" Hana beamed.

I didn't like how Youhei just barged in our conversation and kissed Hana on the lips. Are they a couple?

Hana turned back to me and said, "You want to come? Youhei will show you what soccer is! He's like the you, in a way, the super-star of soccer!"

I just shrugged and nodded. I wasn't about to let go of the sight of Hana, not after I saw the two of them kiss. 'What am I feeling anyway?' I asked myself as I walked beside Hana who was cheerfully talking with Youhei. Until now, I can't describe what I'm feeling. It's like there's this 5-pound rock that's been placed upon my chest. What's worse is that whenever I see Hana hugging or kissing Youhei, it's like the rock has just been thrown at me.

Anyway, the soccer game was played near Hana's house. I admit I was slightly amused after watching it. It was a lot like basketball, except that you use your feet and not your hands. The main objective is still to shoot the ball through the rather big goal. I still don't get how these men can't shoot the ball! Of course, there was the … um… goalie, but the net's still larger, right? Arrgh! I don't think I'll ever get the hang of this game.

Youhei was good. Hana wasn't kidding when she said that he's the super-star of soccer. He shot 5 balls out of the 7 that his team did. While he was playing, I took the opportunity and asked Hana if Youhei was her boyfriend. She smiled mysteriously at me at first, but thankfully, she answered, "No." When I asked why they acted like such, she said, "Youhei's been my best friend since kindergarten. We're already like a married couple, even though he already has a girlfriend. The kissing/hugging thing, that's just normal for the two of us. We've been doing that since we could recognized each other's face. Besides, Youhei has a girlfriend." She pointed to a girl sitting four rows behind us and continued, "We've decided a long time ago that if ever we get girlfriends/boyfriends, that girl or boy would just have to deal with it and try not to be jealous. It's already a part of our life and we're not about to do anything about it just for a mate."

Right then and there, I decided that I would try not to be jealous of Youhei. What's ironic is that until now, I don't know what drove me to make that decision.

~*~*~

Youhei's POV

After the game, my teammates, my girlfriend, Eena, and I went to Papa John's Pizza to celebrate. Hanamichi didn't come with us. Kaede had offered to bring her home, so when she smiled at me, I knew. I knew I would be getting a phone call right about…3…2…1…
RING!!!

… now…

"Hello?" I answered the phoned, "Youhei speaking."
"Youhei!" Her voice rang in my ears, "You'll never guess what happened!"
"Hey Mich," I chuckled. 'Mich,' is my nickname for Hanamichi. When we were nine, I got so fed up with people calling her Hana, so I nicknamed her Mich. I'm the only one whose allowed to call her that though. "So what happened? Super rookie asked you out?"
She squealed and told me when Kaede asked her if I was her boyfriend. I laughed at that. Hana is good-looking, I admit, but she's too close to me to be her boyfriend. We would have considered it incest if it were up to her and I. Nevertheless, many people still think we're a couple and maybe that's because of the kissing/hugging part. But that's normal for us, we'll be doing it till our dying days…

"Then after you and your team went off," She continued, "Instead of going directly to my house, I taught him some moves in soccer!"
"You did?" I asked, I can't imagine the Kitsune playing soccer, "Was he good at it?"
"Eena's even better at it!" She laughed, "And you know how bad she is at it!"
Ooooh… I feel sorry for Kaede. Eena maybe my girlfriend, but there's no denying the fact that she sucks at soccer! She can't kick a ball without tripping on one of her shoes!

"He looked so … cute, Youhei!" Mich squealed again. Even from my house, I could see her batting her eyes excitedly. "The wind was blowing against his face and his hair was flying everywhere!"
"Hmmm…" I teased, "The way mine does when I play. Does that mean I'm cute, too?"

"Shut up!" Mich jokingly said, "You know you're always cute to me. How could you not? But anyway, I don't think he noticed it, but he was smiling the whole time we were playing. I wish I could have gotten it on film!"
I laughed at how she could go on about how cute I am to her and then go straight back to how in love she feels for the basketball super-rookie. "Tsk… tsk… was there anyone else there to prove it?" I asked.

"No," Mich proudly said, "I'm the only one who saw it!"
"What?" I answered, "Then there's no proof that the Kaede, Ice King of Shohoku, smiled? Shame!"
Mich laughed and then suddenly turned quiet, "Do you think he likes me, Youhei? I think I do like him."
I grinned and said, "You think?"
"Youhei!" Mich said, "I'm serious here!"
I laughed again, "Yeah Mich. He likes you."
"Yes!" I heard her cheer.

A few more minutes of chitchat, then we hung up. Kaede take care of Mich or I will personally see to it that the Gundam (sp?) break him off to pieces. That's what happened to Rico, Mich's last boyfriend who dumped her for a call girl. No one ever hurts my baby girl and gets away with it.

AN:// So? What do you think? Good? Bad? Youhei too close to Hanamichi or something? Tell me what you think.

P.S. This is the longest chapter yet! Anyone notice that?