Disclaimer: SD characters are not mine! Only Amber is...

Thanks for taking time to read this piece. Reviews would be greatly appreciated.

"Wai-wait! Koshino...!"

"Sorry Sendoh, I told you I've already got a date." Koshino barely looked at Akira Sendoh before rushing away. "Got to run, I'm already late!"

Akira sighed and looks around the court...only a few people were left now. As the last try, he called out to Hikoichi. "Hikoichi, want to grab some food with me?"

But Hikoichi was already scrambling for his notebook and pen. "Captain, did you hear that? Koshino has a date...? Does Koshino have a girlfriend? Date on Valentine's Day...must be with his girlfriend! What did you say, Captain? Food? No way, I got to check out Koshino and his date! Bye..."

And Hikoichi was up and running after Koshino.

Akira sighed. Another birthday alone...

Akira quickly had a shower before packing up and locking the doors to the courts. Its tough being the captain, but even tougher having to train on Valentine's Day, which just happens to be my birthday. The complaints from his players were still ringing in his ears, with most of them having dates for today. It's all Coach's fault...

A cool breeze greeted Akira as he walked towards the school gate. It was almost summer season, but the coolness of spring still lingered in the air...and also, the school was empty.

Akira gave a huge mushroom-shaped sigh. The school is lonely like me!

Seeing that no one was near, Akira lay down on the ground near the school gate. "I know how lonely you feel" Akira sniffed, patting the school ground.

"Lonely? Did I hear that you are lonely? Visit TLC, a place just for all the lonely hearts, no matter where you come from."

What??

For a moment, Akira thought the school was talking to him. He lifted his face from the ground to see an old man standing in front of him.

"Yiks, where did you come from?" Akira started in shock and jumped to his feet.

The old man did not reply but just stood with his arms outstretched towards Akira.

Akira sweatdropped and took the small card the old man was holding out to him. It was light pink and says:

The Lost Cafe

T L C

Just around the corner when you need it.

Wait...he wasn't any pathetic loser who has nowhere to go on Valentine's Day!

Akira looked up—and the old man was gone.

Akira looked up and down the street outside Ryonan High School, but other than one couple, there was no old man walking along the street.

He couldn't have walked so fast...

Rrrrruuummbllleeeeee...

A more important issue came up and Akira shrugged of the weird old man. He put the pink card into his wallet into his wallet and set off looking for some food.

Well, I might be celebrating alone, but no reason why I can't eat a good meal by myself.

(In the meantime, somewhere else...)

"No Ying, you guys can't do this to me! I mean, Ling's not coming too...C'mon, we've been waiting for this day! ...WhaT?? You've got a date as well? So what am I? You can't abandon me like this...no wait, I refuse to accept your apologies...he—Hello?"

A flat dial tone greeted Ambers' ears. Her friend had hung up on her. Amber kept her mobile phone in her pocket, and walked dejectedly along one of the streets in the city center.

Oh my gosh, why do I have friends like these?

Amber sighed and hung her head. Alone on Valentine's Day again.

It was lonely, and not to mention depressing, to walk alone on one of the most romantic days of the year. Couples everywhere, either going on a date, or some even rushing to get registered for marriage... Marriage...? What are you thinking of Amber? Aiii...

Amber shook her head to clear the morose thoughts. I am young; I should be having fun today. Instead, I have been abandoned by my friends, and have to be out myself, with no cute hunk by my side. And thinking of marriage? That's what old women do!!

Amber walked along with no destination in mind when she heard—

'An empty street

A open house

A hole inside my heart—'

The busker along the street was just starting his song when suddenly hurricane Amber struck.

"Hey are you an idiot? Playing such a sad song today...don't you give a thought to your listeners huh? Play something else now!"

Amber waved her hands and screamed at the poor busker. She did not notice other passers-by giving her weird looks, and some even laughed...quietly of course.

"Uh...sure miss." The busker sweatdropped and hastened to listen to Amber's commands.

'When a ma-an loves a woman'

Barely into his next song, Amber suddenly turned into a cat, complete with claws and teeth.

"Hey, what kind of entertainer are you huh? Your songs are horrible!" She attacked the poor busker. "Not everyone is in love, just because today is February 14!"

"Excuse me, are you too lonely that you are venting your anger on that poor man?"

What?

Amber turned and was prepared to scream again—but there was no one to scream at.

Amber was so surprised that she lost her anger for that moment. (Behind her, the busker hurriedly packed up his things to leave.)

Than, she felt something tugging on the hem of her shirt and she looked down. Staring up at Amber was a cute, cherubic face of a little girl.

"W-why do you say that?"

Instead of replying to Amber's question, the little girl held up a light pink business card to her.

"Here, this is for you, big sister. Bye!"

Before Amber could say anything, the girl ran away. The little girl was so fast that all Amber could see was the light pink lace of the girl's dress trailing behind before she lost sight of the small body.

Amber stared down at the pink card and read:

The Lost Cafe

T L C

Just around the corner when you need it.

"Great, even a small kid takes pity on me."

Amber continued her aimless stroll, still holding the card in the hands. The card turned warm and pulsed against her hand.

Startled, Amber dropped the card. "What happened?"

She looked down at the floor but the card looked the same. Cautiously, she bent down and touched the card with one finger. It was cool.

"Is this some kind of trick...?"

Amber picked up the card again.

'Just around the corner when you need it.'

Well...I do feel like having a nice cup of tea. Amber turned the card over but could not see any address. Well, the whole thing is some kind of advertising gimmick I suppose.

Amber turned around a corner into the next street and—

"Wow, there it is!"

The Lonely Café...what a weird name, but the décor of the café sure looks cozy! Hmm...and I'm getting hungry too. Wonder if they have any good food as well.

The soft tinkling of bells greeted Amber as she pushed open the door to the café. The smell of chocolate was strong in the air.

"Hi, welcome to TLC!"

Amber followed the waitress to a nearby table and sat facing the door while she waited for the menu. The tinkling of bells signaled the arrival of another customer.

Amber's jaw dropped open.

"A—Akira Sendoh?"

The impossibly tall boy stared and walked towards her.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?"

Amber shook her head. "But...but –you are not real! Oh my gosh, am I dreaming?"

Akira stared down at the strange girl.

"Er...did you just say that I'm not real?"

"You are a comic character! I read about you in a comic—Slam Dunk?"

"What?? H—hey, stop pinching me!"

Amber still couldn't believe her eyes and was pinching Akira to make sure he was real.

"We have customers from many different places, so do not be surprised. If you two will sit down and stop making a scene please...its disturbing other customers."

Akira and Amber looked at the waitress and sat down at the same table.

"Sorry." They both mumbled, slightly embarrassed at their own behaviour.

They continued to look at each other however.

Amber couldn't believe Sendoh just walked out of SD comic.

Akira couldn't believe this strange girl's words about him not being real.

Looks like I'm going to have an interesting time here.

A/N: I came up with this idea when I was too bored. Its kind of like a dream I suppose, to be able to meet someone you really like from a book, or comic, or anime. To be able to share your problems or thoughts with them as well is even better. So why not have a cafe that have 'customers from many different places'? So what will Sendoh and Amber talk about? Hmm, I guess I'm not expecting much reviews for this piece (my friends call it 'weird'), but hoped you enjoyed it anyway!