Four

In Sakuragi's House Facade

Akira Sendoh checked his looks on the dark-tinted window of a shining scarlet two-door Porsche car. His right arm was hugging a brown paper bag to his chest and inside it was the Baked Macaroni. He promised Sakuragi yesterday that he would bake his favorite food and bring it to him this morning. While his other hand was brushing and keeping the beautiful spikes of his black hair.

The Ryonan ace player flashed his winning close-up smile and admired his reflection. His smile is his best asset and he would never deprive himself from showing it even in the most miserable part of his life.

Suddenly, the door from the other side of the car opened, revealing a raven-haired six-footer guy wearing dark eyewear to maximize his gorgeousness.

Sendoh's jaw dropped when he recognized the face that launches a thousand girls- it's Kaede Rukawa.

The Shohoku Ace closed his luxurious door and locked it. Then he moved forward towards the maroon gate of his destination, paying no heed of the astounded porcupine guy.

Sendoh felt a tinge of embarrassment. He had been checking his appearance on the car's window without taking note of the possibilty that someone might be inside and mocking at him.

Worse, it's Rukawa who surely have seen him in his most ridiculous action.

Rukawa pressed the doorbell once and hovered for a handsome redhead guy to open the gate.

Sendoh examined the rich kid in front of him. From the shoes, he was amazed with the well-polished brown leather Dr. Martens product. Going upward, Sendoh speculated on the Khaki Armani pants and on the white long-sleeved polo that also seemed branded although the brand wasn't shown on the cloth.

Everything Rukawa was wearing seemed to be newly-bought with its cleanliness and orderliness.

Then Rukawa took his shades off and placed it on the left upper pocket of his polo. He eyed the guy behind him with his chilling blue eyes.

Sendoh gulped. Why is he looking at me like we're in a Basketball match? And the hell is he here in the house of Hana-kun???

Not wondering if the spiky-haired was thinking of him, Rukawa didn't remove his daggering eyes from Sendoh. Are you here to see Hana?

Suddenly, the gates opened with a creak sound and a lovely redhead in white pajamas appeared. His hair was a mess and he was yawning a bit. Obviously, he had just gotten to bed.

"Ka-kae... I mean..." Sakuragi's eyes grew like saucers. "RUKAWA?"

Sakuragi was frozen in a snap.

Rukawa merely grinned. He was annoyed having Sendoh a meter away because his courtship to Hanamichi Sakuragi is a secret only the two of them knows.

"Good Morning Hana-kun!" Sendoh all of a sudden found his courage to inch closer to the redhead. "I have the Baked Macaroni here." He sounded like a mother to a little child. "As I promised."

Rukawa glared once more at the intervening Ryonan ace while Sakuragi turned his eyes from Sendoh to Rukawa and back and forth.

Don't be rude Hanamichi. Sakuragi told himself. Yohei and him had just talked last night after their snacks with Sendoh. Yohei advised him that being too negative on a person would never do good.

Yohei's words played on his mind: You hate Rukawa because he's a snob that's why you wonder why you ever had a crush on him. I hope you won't be like that, Hanamichi.

Sakuragi shook his head downwards twice and grinned at the handsome guys in front of him.

"Come in." Sakuragi murmured and closed the gate when Rukawa and Sendoh had stepped inside. The three of them entered the bungalow house in the lead of Sakuragi.

"Nice house." Sendoh said as he roamed his eyes on the simple but clean house of Sakuragi. Then he averted his gaze on Rukawa. Hikoichi said they're the best of enemies. Is he lying to me?

Without looking back at his guests, Sakuragi perched in the middle of the long velvet gray couch.

He looked up at them innocently. "Aren't you going to sit?"

Sendoh smiled on the hospitability and made his way on the left side of the redhead. "Thanks." He tapped Sakuragi's left leg and he didn't care if Rukawa will burst out any minute.

In Rukawa's part, the raven-haired Shohoku ace sat slowly on the right side of Sakurag without any word.

When Sendoh sojourned his brown paper bag on the wooden center table, Sakuragi was reminded of it.

"Oh I forgot. I'll just get some forks and plates in the kitchen."

Sakuragi had stood up before Sendoh could even volunteer himself for the work, like he's aware of the Sakuragis' kitchen parts.

When the redhead had vanished to the kitchen, Rukawa found the right time to speak and confront Sendoh.

"Are you?"

"Are you?"

Sendoh and him spoke the same thing at the same time that provoked them to stop and exchange cold fatal stares.

"You're courting Hana."

"You're courting Hana?"

They simultaneously uttered. Rukawa was like presuming it already while Sendoh seemed to be still confirming.

Having two smart and determined people, it wouldn't take a day for them to realize what's going on.

For Rukawa, what would a Ryonan ace be doing there when he's not even a close buddy of the redhead?

For Sendoh, what would Rukawa be doing there when he's known as the enemy Sakuragi loaths for so much about?

The two aces refused to speak again, having the answers clarified on their mind. A bird wouldn't fly if not for a tree and an apple wouldn't fall without gravity.

When Sakuragi returned with 3 fork and 3 plates, he placed it all on the table and sat.

Now he's the barricade on the two very-motivated aces in basketball and hopefully, as well in love.