~*Note*~
Again, thank you for all the peeps who reviewed my ficcie ^_^ And again, sorry for updating soooooooooooooooooo slow....
Disclaimer: Again, I don't own the SD...
Chapter 5
Practice ended early that Saturday afternoon since Anzai-sensei was having a meeting together with the other coaches. One by one, the members of the basketball club left except for six well-known boys. Haruko left with Hikaru to go shopping for that night's event. Mitsui was just finishing tying his shoe laces when Ryota walked out of the shower room, drying his curly hair with a towel. "Jeez, Ryota, for a short guy, you sure take a long time in the shower. What do you do in there?" Mitsui asked as he looked up at his short friend with a grin plastered on his scarred face.
"I happen to be a very CLEAN person." Ryota answered.
"So you guys are going to Aki-chan's party tonight, right?" Kogure intervened before things can get any worse. Ryota's face lit up at the mention of the party.
"Of course! Aya-chan's going to attend." Ryota said getting all hearty shaped and such. Kogure sweatdropped.
"My sister's going, so I have to go." Akagi said picking up his bag and heads for the door, "I'll see you guys later."
"Later Akagi." Mitsui said then Akagi left.
"What about you, Rukawa-kun?" Kogure asked.
Rukawa looked at him and nodded then picked up his bag and left. "Are you sure he's not mute or something?" Mitsui asked.
"Mitsui Hisashi!"
"Alright, alright...I'll stop."
Then out came Sakuragi with only a towel wrap around his waist. "Hah! That was refreshing." he said then he went to his locker and began to put on clothes.
"Well, we better get going. I still have to pick some things back at the dorm. I'll see you guys tonight. C'mon Min-kun." Mitsui said as he stood up, got his bag and held Kogure's free hand, almost dragging the poor blushing boy. Sakuragi raised an eyebrow then leaned slightly onto Ryota.
"Are they...you know?" he whispered. Ryota laughed slightly.
"Sorry Sakuragi. Well, anyway they're not the only one involved. There's Jin and Kiyota, and Hanagata and Fujima..." Ryota said then turned to Sakuragi. "You're not a homophobe, are you?"
Now it was Sakuragi's turn to laugh. "Don't worry Ryocchin, I'm not. I have friends who are gay." he answered. 'Not to mention, I'm one as well.' he added.
"Hey Hana, you ready yet?" a voice along with a head poked inside the locker room. Sakuragi turned to see his best friend.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming." the redhead said as he swung his duffel bag on his shoulder.
"Hey, Miyagi-san." Youhei greeted. Ryota nodded at him as he held his bag.
"Mind if I go with you guys out?" he asked.
"Not at all, Ryocchin, c'mon." Sakuragi said. Ryota twitched lightly as the three of them started walking out of the basketball gym.
"Why do you keep on calling me that?" he asked, feeling a little bit annoyed. "For a guy like you, it's a bit surprising."
"It's a habit of his. He has...nicknames for all of his friends." Youhei chuckled.
"Oh?" he said as he looked at Sakuragi who was sheepishly smiling, "What does he call you?"
"I call him Yo-chan..." Sakuragi replied. A blush crept on his features. Ryota laughed a bit.
"Oi, oi Hanamichi!"
"At least it's better than being called gorgeous." Sakuragi laughed.
"Gorgeous?" Ryota said, raising an eyebrow at Youhei.
"Long story..." Youhei shrugged. Sakuragi laughed once more. Fortunately for Youhei, Ryota let the subject drop.
"So, you guys going to Aki's party? I think she's expecting you two." Ryota said.
"We don't know yet..." Sakuragi said.
"First of all, we don't even know where the place is..." Youhei said.
"I'll gladly give you a lift." he said.
"And Second, we don't know what to wear." Sakuragi said.
"Don't worry about that. Aki provides the clothes. I know it sounds absolutely crazy but she has a thing for dressing up people. No one can say "No" to her. Trust me on this one." Ryota said. "She can be...very persuasive. Hmm...must run in the family. So, how bout it?"
The two best friends looked at each other then at Ryota. Then Sakuragi spoke up. "We'll follow you with my car." he said.
"Great. I'll see you at the parking lot at 6:30 pm." with that said, they went on their separate ways.
~*~
A/N: Aren't I generous? All of them have cars...I wish I had one too ;_;
~*~
Rukawa lay on his bed, looking at the ceiling. It was only 4:30 in the afternoon. Sendoh was out with Maki and Ikagemi, buying Aki a gift and the said birthday girl was busy preparing her birthday bash. He sighed and let his face have its rest. His mind began to drift back to earlier's practice.
Sendoh didn't visit the gym today thanks to a certain all-mighty manageress of the baseball club. So practice went smoothly with the exceptional "talks" between Kogure and Mitsui. But that's normal now. Akagi was being a slave-driver as usual. Ryota was teaching some freshmen including Sakuragi. As for him, he practiced all by himself. Well, that's what it looks like.
Rukawa has been stealing glances on the redhead though to some people, he looks like he is sleeping. He observed him from afar. He's so full of energy, full of life. He attracts people like magnet. He's also a great basketball player. Oh how he wish he could get to know the young man. He sighed then sat up. He looked at his watch. 5:56 pm. "Better get ready. Aki's gonna hunt me down if I don't show up." he said to no one in particular then he headed for the bathroom, imagining an Aki-neko chasing around a Kaede-kitsune with a big mallet in hand.
~*~
"Happy birthday Aki-chan." Ryota said as he hands Aki his gift. Behind him, stood Sakuragi and Youhei whose eyes popped out as they saw her. She was wearing a blue floral strapless bikini top with matching blue floral sarong, wrapped around her slim waist, showing a lot of skin. And a crown of white flowers adorned her silky brunette hair.
"Aah! You guys made it, Sakuragi-kun, Mito-kun!!" she said excitedly.
"Happy birthday, Fujima-san." Sakuragi said as he and Youhei handed their gifts to her.
"Ah thank you for the gift, boys. And uhm...you can call me Aki. Please come" she said as she stepped aside for them to pass. "Ryota-kun, you know where the dressing room for boys are, ne? Your 'clothes' are labeled as well."
The three boys came in and Ryota lead them to the dressing room. Aki was about to close the door when she caught sight of Rukawa. "Why hello, hello. I was beginning to worry that you wouldn't come." she said smirking at him.
"Hn." he snorted. "Aren't you going to let me in?" he asked.
"Wait. 3...2...1..." she counted then a shriek was heard. Aki grinned widely when she saw Ryota coming from the dressing holding what looks like his outfit.
"Aki-chan, what is th-this?" Ryota asked as he holding what looks like a skirt that is made out of straw.
"Your outfit. Is there a problem?" she asked innocently.
"B-but?! How come Mito and Sakuragi get to have the 'surfer look'?" he asked. As if on cue Ayako came into view from behind Ryota.
"Hey, what's holding you back here, Aki-chan?" she asked then looked at Rukawa, "Why hello Rukawa-kun."
Rukawa nodded at Ayako who smiled at him.
"Aya-chan!" Ryota gasped as he took in what she was wearing. Ayako was wearing a plain orange bikini top and the 'skirt'. A small flower was pinned on her loose hair and a flower necklace dangled on her neck. She also has two bracelets and an anklet made out of green straw making her look like a hula dancer. She turned to Ryota then giggled. "Having trouble with yours? Don't worry, some of the guys are also wearing those. Actually, I find it rather cute." she said with a smile as she eyed hers then looked back at Ryota.
That did the trick and off little Ryota went with hearts in his eyes. Ayako gave Aki a knowing smile which the latter grinned back. "I'll be inside if you need anything else." she said then left.
"You planned that didn't you? You knew Ryota was going to complain and you had Ayako ready. And you said that you were afraid of my brigade. You're actually worse." Rukawa said smirking slightly
"I cannot believe you just said four whole sentences." she said faking a surprise look.
"Tch."
"I was joking, Rukawa. And please do not compare me to those three bimbos." she said, pouting slightly.
"Hn. So Are you going to torture me as well?" he asked, face expressionless.
"Whatever makes you say that?" Aki said as the grin came back to her facial features.
"That grin of yours." he said then passed by Aki and went straight to the dressing room followed by Aki of course. He entered the room and Aki stopped at the door. He looked at her and she looked back. "Well?" he finally asked.
"What?"
"Are you going to watch me change?"
"Oops, gomen." she said and with a sheepish smile she left.
Now left alone in the dressing room, he glared at the infernal thing just across him. "The things I do for that girl." he muttered and began to strip starting with his shirt. He was thinking of ways to get back at Aki when the door open and heard a muttered apology. He turned around, enough to see a tinge of red.
~*Note*~
Please feel free to point out my mistakes ...I need it badly...