Disclaimer: SD does not belong to me...

Thanks for aLL the reviews, its really means alot to me. I realised I made some mistake in Part1..the cafe's name is "The Lost Cafe"...I think i mistook 'lonely' for 'lost'. (Was writing in the middle of the night! ) The mistake has been rectified.

Part 2

Akira slurped up the last of his ramen. "You felt it too?" he said to Amber. "I was walking into this ramen shop when I felt as if my wallet was on fire! I stopped and took out my wallet, and there it was, glowing pink—"

"And than it stopped when you took the card out of your wallet; and next thing you know, you were in front of the café?" Amber interrupted excitedly.

Akira nodded fiercely, "Yeah! It was around the corner when I turned."

Amber finished up her tuna sandwich. The both of them had tried to make sense of their situation after the initial shock. They had come to a conclusion that the café was indeed, some kind of meeting place in between places. 'Places' as in 'worlds'. Although they could hear the murmurings of other customers, they could not see their faces clearly. They wondered who the others actually are. Also, Amber did not understand Japanese, yet she understood Akira perfectly, as did Akira with her English.

Amber had also given the details of the so-called comic that Akira was supposed to be from. Creepily, it held the details of the summer IH games during his second year! Also, Akira had no idea about some of the happenings in Amber's 'world'. For example, she was telling him excitedly about the current Athens Olympics, but he had only heard about this 'Olympics' briefly in a Greek mythology book he had read before, long ago.

"Wow..." Amber shook her head wonderingly at Akira. "I never actually thought I'd be talking to you!"

Amber had told Akira that he was one of the more popular characters among girls. "Well, this certainly is a little weird, but it beats celebrating my birthday alone." Akira smiled at Amber, and turned to order another bowl of ramen. If anything, their food was good!

Valentine's Day...February 14!

"Oh right, it really is your birthday huh? I thought it was all made up," Amber said, sheepishly. She stuck out her hand over the table. "Happy birthday!"

Akira took her hand and shook it somewhat shyly. "Thanks."

"Hey Sendoh, aren't your friends waiting to celebrate for you? Shouldn't you be going?"

Akira did not meet Amber's eyes as he replied. "No. Well, I'm celebrating alone...anyway, what about you?" Akira forced a smile and tried to change the subject back to Amber. "There is Valentine's Day back where I came from. Is your date waiting for you?"

Amber shook her head. "No—no, I was supposed to meet some friends, but they all had something else on, so it was cancelled at the last minute."

There was an awkward silence, but Akira's ramen was served at this point. Amber watched Akira slurped up his noodles and laughed. "But its okay right? I can celebrate your birthday with you, and you can be my date!"

"Great!"

Amber tried to liven things up by making conversation. "So Sendoh, if I'm not wrong, you are in your third year now right? And also the captain of the team!" She said brightly, "So how come the players didn't remember your birthday? Especially Hikoichi, I thought he worshipped you!"

Amber knew she had put her foot into her mouth, and almost kicked herself. Akira's expression was totally downcast.

"I'm sorry...I said something wrong again, didn't I?"

"No-no...it's alright."

"Its ok, you can tell me your problems. I won't tell anyone, I promise...no one will believe me anyway!"

Akira looked thoughtfully at Amber's earnest face. "Well...nothing's wrong exactly. It's just that, well, being a captain wasn't as easy as I thought."

Amber nodded encouragingly and Akira continued.

"Before I was captain, I used to hang out with them...you know, Koshino...Fukuda. But I realize after I became captain, that we seem estranged somehow. It's as if they are so used to me giving them orders, they no longer treat me as their friend!"

"Doesn't that show that they respect you?"

Akira put down his chopsticks and spoon.

"I need their friendship more than respect."

Amber looked at Akira in shock. She had never seen this side of him before. True, he was serious during his basketball matches...but now, he seemed more...bitter.

"Perhaps they feel that more pressure with you as their captain. After all, you are a Tensai in basketball."

"No I'm not!" Akira suddenly slapped his hand on the table in agitation, making Amber jump "I've been hearing countless people calling me that...but what is a Tensai? Do they know me better than I know myself? What have I done to deserve that title? I make mistakes too; I'm like any regular person! 'Tensai' this word...it's like making me larger than life."

"It's like, what other people label you as, without bothering to find out who you really are first?"

Akira nodded, slightly surprised at himself. Here I am, telling a stranger the problems that have been building up inside me...but I have no one else back there to confide in. Goodness knows how hard I tried, but no one understands.

"Yeah. You know, the guys think that I am so popular, there's sure to be many people who will be celebrating my birthday...while I was actually looking forward to hanging out with them after training today. Everybody thinks they know me, but none of them do."

"I understand Sendoh...I really do." Amber looked down at the table. "Sometimes, when you put on a happy face, everyone around you will think that you are really happy, or having fun...but what you really want or need, is for them to understand, and to share your problems."

Akira nodded. "Yeah...wha-what am I like? You know, in the comic."

Amber looked up, surprised. "Well, you were always smiling! And you were always nice to everybody, even to Sakuragi when he was rude. Of course, your skills in basketball are amazing! You could be serious too, during a game...like the one against Kainan. But I never saw you sad, or crying when you lost..."

"Always smiling, am I?"

"Yeah, you look really good when you smile!"

Akira gave Amber a small smile. "The night before that Kainan game...I lost my grandfather. He was the first person who taught me basketball- who put a basketball in my hands. He died, and the next day, I had to play in a match. I was feeling really bad, and didn't want to turn up for the match, but everyone was counting on me to win. I couldn't let them down...but we lost in the end anyway."

Amber reached across the table to place her hand on Akira's.

"Hey, I'm sure your grandfather would have understood, if he loved basketball as much as you do. Your parents too..."

"My grandfather was the only relative I have."

What? I would never have guessed that cheerful character in Slam Dunk would have such a sad story to tell. Losing his only relative and having to live up to everyone's expectation while pretending to be happy...

"I know, we should have a good cup of hot chocolate...it always makes me feel better!" Amber raised her hand to catch the attention of the waitress and place her order.

Akira noticed something on her arm when her long sleeve was pulled back while her hand was raised.

"What is that on your arm?"

Amber quickly pulled her sleeve back down. "Nothing."

Akira reached over and grabbed her arm. "It looks like a cut."

He pulled back her sleeve. "What happened to you? Did you fall?"

"No-no...I did it to myself." On her arm were some red, angry welts. She had tried to cut herself.

Akira looked up in horror. "Why?"

Amber smiled at Akira. "Don't worry, I'm not a psycho or anything. Did it on impulse I suppose. Back where I came from, you know, in my world, things aren't going that great for me as well."

Akira looked at the girl sitting opposite him. He realized she was about the same age as him. Do all teenagers face problems? Why are our lives so difficult?

"Sendoh...recently I've changed to a new school. I don't have many friends there, plus all the pressure the schoolwork's been giving me; I got pretty upset thinking about it recently...and this happened." Amber rubbed the scars on her arm ruefully. "I really missed my friends back in the old school, but they are busy with their own lives. They are the ones I was supposed to meet today."

"Amber..."

"That's how I understood, when you told me about your friends being distant...and not knowing how you feel. I was so happy back in my old school! But my parents insisted in moving and changing schools." Amber shook her head and laughed, "But don't worry, no more cutting myself. It hurts!"

There was silence when their hot chocolate was served. Amber took a long sip and sighed, feeling the warm, sweet drink make its way to her stomach.

"Makes you feel better, doesn't it?"

Akira nodded, savoring his own drink.

"I'm sorry."

A/N: Was trying abit of angst here, playing around with Akira's character...since I have a feeling he'll be having a story of his own soon. :)