Five

When the plates were arranged vertically by Sakuragi, Sendoh began unwrapping his Baked Macaroni from the paper bag and plastic. He laid the foiled container on the oak center table.

"Lemme do it." Sendoh mumbled and took the fork from Sakuragi's hand. He used the fork to cut the melted cheesy surface and put a square slice on Sakuragi's plate. "I hope you would like it Hana."

"As long as you say FOOD, I like it!" Sakuragi joked and waited for Sendoh to serve himself with a square slice of the pasta. "How about you, Kae... Rukawa?"

Rukawa remained silent with his back leaned on the soft couch and his arms crossed on his chest.

Sendoh loathed the presence of Rukawa in Sakuragi's house, but as he wears a friendly mask since the time he met him, this moment wasn't an exception.

He hated the raven-haired number 11 Shohoku player since the moment he first laid his eyes upon him. He knew he was too cold on his fans and even teammates, plays for himself and always very silent. Sendoh wondered what give him the courage to make a move on Hanamichi when he couldn't even strike a conversation with the adorable redhead without insulting him.

Rukawa eyed the Baked Macaroni like a poisonous food as Sakuragi waited for his response.

"I'm full."

Sakuragi still felt conscious hanging with Rukawa. Not only because he likes him, but because when someone had just reconciled with an enemy, he or she would feel uncomfortable talking with him or her for a while.

The redhead turned his attention back at Sendoh without any other word for Rukawa. He didn't know what to say at all, it's not like he had been on that situation before-- having Rukawa to hang with.

"How's Shohoku, Hana-kun?" Sendoh asked while taking a taste on his Baked Macaroni.

"Fine." Sakuragi took a huge munch on the pasta and chewed it thoroughly on his mouth. "Why are you calling me Hana-kun?" The redhead protested peacefully with his mouth full.

He likes you, duh. Rukawa murmured in a sound to rival the mice.

No one heard him so the conversation took place. Sendoh loved staring at the cute face of Sakuragi. He looks like a child asking where th sun goes during nighttime.

"Is it bad?"

Sakuragi's forehead wrinkled as he analyzed the situation. "Not really... the gundan calls me Hanamichi, but Hana... it's to feminine."

"You don't like it?"

"I prefer you call me Hanamichi."

"I want Hana." Sendoh said trying to annoy the redhead jokingly. It's his own strategy to steal Sakuragi's attention.

"He said you call him Hanamichi."

Suddenly, Rukawa spoke in the coldest way possible. Sendoh's tactic was too ostentatious for him.

"Are you included here?" Sendoh responded without taking his smiley mask though the sarcasm was exposed.

Sakuragi was definitely aware of the aces rivalry in court and he wouldn't want that to extend till his household.

"Oops." He made use of the situation being in the middle of the two. "Hey Sendoh... nice macaroni. Would you mind if I keep some for Yohei? He'll be here in a minute."

Sendoh retaliate his killing gaze on Rukawa and returned his attention to the redhead.

"Sure Hana-kun."

"Hanamichi." Rukawa glared at the spiky-haired Ryonan ace.

"Shut-up fox boy!"

"Hey!" Sakuragi stretched his both arms to prevent the collision of the aces. "Sendoh can call me anything he wants, ok? Never mind Rukawa... it's alright."

Sendoh grinned victoriously and Sakuragi succeeded on maintaining the peace inside his residence, perhaps only for a little while because Rukawa didn't withdraw his chilled looks on Sendoh.

Suddenly, a ring-ring sound vibrated on air and Sakuragi recognized perfectly the home telephone. He asked Sendoh to take the green cordless phone on the side-table and hand it to him.

"Moshi-moshi." Sakuragi said. It was his mother on the other line and he had to excuse himself from his two visitors. He went to his room for a more private talk with his mother.

Again, the Shohoku Ace and the Ryonan ace are alone in the living room of the Sakuragis for another quarter of bickering.

Sendoh glanced at the ever-silent Rukawa and when the latter felt the weight of the stare, he faced it with brave cobalt blue eyes.

"Too confident as ever, Rukawa." There was a mischievous grin on the Ryonan ace' face.

"..."

"Similar in Basketball, you're still a Freshman, a beginner."

Suddenly, Sendoh's looks turned threatening and lose its mildness but Rukawa didn't surrender nor felt weak. He paid the hostility with a chilling blue eyes.

"But I won and you lose."

Sendoh grinned a bit with the reply he received from his rival.

"It's Shohoku who won, not only you. Don't look at yourself like you're a god."

Rukawa clenched his fist. He wanted to release the fire it was building inside and fire it on Sendoh but suddenly Sakuragi returned from his room after a phone conversation with his mom.

Thankfully, the hot confrontation in the living was hindered.

"Any problem?" Sendoh queried as Sakuragi sat on the couch and took another taste of the pasta.

"None. She's just asking me to have a grocery this afternoon."

"I..."

"I'll accompany you."

Rukawa was about to offer himself to accompany the redhead but Sendoh was much faster than him.

Sakuragi heard the intentional speaking of Rukawa though he wasn't able to finish it. Actually, he had called Yohei after speaking to his mom and his bestfriend will join him in the grocery.

"Thanks. But no thanks."

Sakuragi continued eating while Sendoh eyed Rukawa across the redhead. It's either I or none of us, Rukawa.

As if hearing him through telepathy, Rukawa exchanged glares with the Ryonan ace. First come first served, asshole.