Natsumi stretched her hands in mid-air and yawned. She hasn't got any sleep yesterday. Why? She is one big klutz.

Their Trigo test was scheduled today along with their oral defense in class. But what did she do all night? Nothing special than sitting on her bed and talking to Fujima in the phone.

"Well, you're free this Saturday, can you…um…go with me and my sister…we're suppose to buy a formal get-up for the party next week, to tell you the truth, I'm bad at these things."

Natsumi smiled. "Sure…I can go with you…besides, it's too lonely to be alone in weekends."

Natsumi sighed. She remembered perfectly everything that they talked about last night. She stared blankly at the piece of paper in her desk. Her mind was a total blank. She didn't know what to answer in number 1 or 2 or in any of the numbers. All she could think of was Fujima's voice on the phone.

"Damn…"

She used to be good at this…she used to excel in mathematics…she used to be perfect…but everything has an end. And for her…this is the time for it.

*~*~*~*~*~*~

Natsumi opened her classroom's door helplessly. "What a DAY?!?" she shouted.

"It's Ok Natsumi…I'm sure you can manage it…" she said to herself. It was 5 in the afternoon, and she was the only one left in the classroom. She inched a step forward and hopped into the stairs before passing through the gym's corridor.

She quietly stared at the silent gym beside her. It was not so long ago when she used to play basketball everyday with her teammates back in Shizuoka. It was her home…"Guess I can't go back to the way I was before…" she smiled at her own thoughts. Natsumi took a step forward just to realize that a ball rolled down on her feet. She felt at ease with herself and smiled.

"At least, I still love basketball…"  Natsumi closed her eyes. Basketball was her and his father's life. It's hard to let go of it, but it was for the better.  "What are you doing here?" a voice finally called.

Natsumi suddenly opened her eyes and scanned the place. To her surprise, a bishounen was now standing behind her. It was him, Rukawa Kaede with his usual grinless face and her sexy, blue training outfit.

Natsumi gave him her usual big grin. "I'm studying he—"

"—infront of the gym?" he butted into her sentence.

Natsumi held the ball high before passing it to the hunk next to her. "I've got something else to do…besides" she turned back and smiled at him "what do you know about me?" she started to stride forward when Rukawa stopped her.

"Shinomori Natsumi, point guard, 1st year section 4 of Josei High School, 30 pt. Ave. per game, 10 asist, coach as well as the captain of the team."

Natsumi smiled again "It seems that you've researched my statistics very well, but I'm afraid that…"

Rukawa held the ball above his fingers and glared at her seriously, "one on one?"

"I'm afraid I can't…"

"Scared?"

Natsumi got her bag and glared back at Rukawa's challenge "There's just some things that are much important…gomen ne, Rukawa-ku…" with that, she was off.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

the breeze blew slowly at the clear waters of the ocean as the waves set forth a dazzling sensation upon two feet playing above the sand.  "Umi…" Natsumi whispered to the zephyr that is playing across her face. She closed her eyes while savoring the sweet smell of the water surrounding her.

"Natsumi-chan!!!!" a voice mingled in her thoughts.

Natsumi looked back just to see Yohei running towards her. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

Yohei stopped behind her and smiled. "I was about to go home when I saw you sitting here all alone." He sat beside her and shared the ocean's calming view. "So…what's up?"

"I was just thinking that's all…"

"About?"

"Me…"

"What's with?"

"That's it…I don't know what's up with me…" she started. "No matter how hard I try to be perfect…nothing happens…"

"But…you ARE perfect…"

"Iya…" Natsumi finally said. "I'm not perfect…I've been trying to do it for so long now. Since the day I was separated from my dad and my twin brother…"

"Twin?"

Natsumi nodded. "I was so close with my father and my brother. Nothing could separate us until my mom came back from states and forced me to live with her. My mom didn't understand why I act like a boy." Natsumi smiled at her sentence. "Living with two boys made me like one. I even dreamed of becoming a basketball player like my dad when I grew up but my mom doesn't like it. She forced me to be a model like her." She looked down at her feet and closed her eyes. " I even sneak out of class just to play basketball in the gym with my friends or even sneak in their games dressed up like a boy. Mom was the only hindrance I've got. Since then, I swore that I would be perfect so that she wouldn't be a thorn stuck in my dreams. I went back to Japan a week after she died. It's even ironic…I was playing in the InterHigh when I received the news that my father also died a year back." Natsumi opened her eyes and stared at the blue waters infront of her. "I just can't help but watch my twin from afar and stop playing basketball because of this left hand."

Natsumi lifted her left hand and forced a smile in between her teary eyes. "It got injured while I was dribbling the ball back in Shizouka…I just hope Anzai-sensei could understand."

"demo…"

"It's crazy…" Natsumi started as she tried to hinder the tears from flowing down her face but she wasn't fast enough. "I'm just a darn loser…"

"You're just a human being Natsumi…" Yohei finally spoke. He changed his gaze from Natsumi to the ocean. "Besides…I'm proud of you…you've changed a lot…"

Natsumi stared at him with confussion, still, he continued his speech with a caring voice. "You used to be a small kid who bullies everyone who touches Hanamichi, the hard-headed tomboy that the whole street is talking about. Now look at you…" Yohei switched his gaze back at her "You're smart, you're beautiful…you excel at everything." He gave her his heart-warming smile before proceeding. "You're close to perfect, Sakuragi Natsumi…"

Natsumi's eyes widened with surprise. "Doshite?"

Yohei smiled. "A couple of times I've seen you and Hanamichi together. I've been Sakuragi's bestfriend since we were three. Wandered why Sakuragi's still in first year?"

Natsumi pulled her head from side to side.

Yohei grinned. "After your father died, I've helped him find money to spend for his living." Yohei stood up. "It's funny…I've been taking care of him since you've been gone and now, I'm helping you with your own problems. Guess twins really are alike even if not physically…you are mentally and emotionally." He smiled and turned away. "There…I must be going home right now!"

"Does he know?"

"Huh?"

"About me?"

He smiled, "Iya…"

Natsumi looked down at her feet once again. "If basketball makes you happy, then go for it. Your father's up there supporting your every decision at all times." Natsumi brought her eyes at Yohei's level and for the first time, she saw Yohei smiling and looking at her sweetly. "If your feel that way ever again…think of me…I'll smile at you so you'll be forced to smile too…"

Natsumi smiled at his corny sentence.

"See?" Yohei grinned. "I wish I could always see you smiling…"

"You will…" Natsumi smiled, "Promise…"

"Well, I better be going now…Sayonara!" with that he was off.

Natsumi wiped the remaining tear that fell from her eye. "Arigato…Yohei-kun…"