Part Two:

Of Distractions and Accidents

...

My first day at the restaurant wasn't so easy—for me, the least. Just think about all the troublesome things Koushino would ever do! He left the restaurant with that oh-so-annoying-may-I-rip-off-his-face smile and obviously left the both of us—alone. And right now...?

"No, Sendoh-sama! You shouldn't put THAT powdered milk when making a chocolate!" Mayuri instructed.

"W-What should I put then?" I asked.

"This." She said handing out the vanilla. Hesitantly, I took it and poured it on my mixture. I felt self-conscious as I noticed a pair of narrowed eyes keenly observing my may-I-know-if-this-is-still-chocolate mixture. Why was I self-conscious? It's probably because I never experienced being THIS close to a girl which I put as, 'Aphrodite's apprentice'.

"Uhmmm... You're called 'Mayuri', right?" It's rare for me to start a friendly conversation but this so-called Rukawa Kaede's sister is just getting into my nerves calling my name 'Sendoh-sama' and all.

"H-Hai."

"You know..." I took off the spatula out of the bowl as I'm beginning to get contented on my may I call it 'it-nearly-looks-like-chocolate' mixture. "Eating sweets isn't really a thing I could get used to."

"Sou ka...?"

"Uh-huh. Uhm... Ano... Is it alright to ask you a question?" I asked.

She nodded giving me again her oh-so sweet smile. I swallowed the lump on my throat as I suddenly felt my face burning already. "Ano... Mayuri-chan, since Rukawa Kaede is your brother, why did you study in Ryonan High then instead of Shohoku? Surely, it's hard for you to be separated with your... well... brother."

Mayuri laughed gently as she took the mixture I made and placed it inside the refrigerator. "Well, it's actually a long story. But anyway, just to make it short, my onee-chan wants a school nearer our house and it happened to be Shohoku while I, preferred to study in Ryonan High because of Sen--- Uh, I mean because of SENTIMENTAL friends. Ahehehe..."

I just shrugged off and followed her as we went outside. Sentimental friends??? Is there something like that in this human existence?

Oh well!

...

Glancing at the restaurant's wall clock, I noticed that it was already 7 in the evening. So that explains why my stomach has been crying out loud.

As I turned back to ask Mrs. Honjou—the restaurant's manager, that is, Mayuri came out from the comfort room already wearing her casual clothes. I bet she's already going home.

"Sayonara, Honjou-san! I'll see you tomorrow!" she waved off her hand at Mrs. Honjou.

"Bye, Mayuri! Don't be late tomorrow!" Mrs. Honjou said thoughtfully.

"Don't worry! I won't!" she bid her goodbye and accidentally looked at me. Quite startled at first, I bent my head forward and laughed nervously. "Sayonara, Mayuri-chan. Take care, then. Ahehehe...."

Are my eyes tricking me or is it really visible that Rukawa Mayuri is blushing?

"Uh---thanks for the concern, Sendoh-sama! I'll see you at work tomorrow, then! Ja ne!" she was about to walk across me and go home when Mrs. Honjou stopped her from her tracks as the old lady said, "Akira-kun! Can you please walk Mayuri home? Don't worry, it's just a few blocks from here. I'll just take care of the shop for a while."

Mayuri then exclaimed, "Eh????? Uh... There's no need, Honjou-san! Really... I—uh...well..."

The old lady has a point there. It would really appear inappropriate to let a young lady go home by herself at this time of hour especially nowadays. She's a cute girl and who knows what might happen to her? Wait! Did I just say that?

"Ie, it's okay Mayuri-chan. I'll walk you home." I managed to say.

"Eh??? But..."

"I told you, it's okay."

"B-but..."

"Don't worry, I won't kidnap you or anything. I think my face doesn't look like some criminal, don't you think?"

"BUT!!!!!!!"

"What is it?"

"I suppose there's no need to walk my sister home, ahou...." A voice then said.

Turning back, Rukawa Kaede stood stoically giving the 'look' he gave me during the final game in the Inter High.

Now THIS is what I call 'shit'.

"Rukawa, don't think what I think you're thinking." I managed to say despite of the tension between us.

"Too bad, ahou... I'm already thinking what you think I'm thinking." He replied sternly.

"Onee-chan! Stop being weird! You're scaring me!" Mayuri exclaimed.

...

"Ohayou Captain!!!!" the others greeted as I walked inside the gym.

I gave a small sign of greeting and headed towards the locker room. I'm definitely not in the mood to fool around. And I'm DEFINITELY not in the mood of seeing that bastard Koushino right now!

"So there's the lover-boy!"

Oh for heaven's sake! Speaking of the devil...

Koushino—as stupid as ever, went inside and sat on the bench. "Hehehe... I bet you're going to thank me for giving you an oh-so wonderful time you had with that Rukawa-chick! Well... Ten bucks would be fine as a reward for my corporal work of mercy!"

After putting on my shirt, I looked back at him and gave him the 'look of death'. "Ten bucks?! You want ten bucks as a reward?! Do you see this?!" I exclaimed and shoved my freshly-swollen right hand. "Because of your little 'corporal work of mercy', Rukawa Kaede has just crushed my hand in a so-called 'friendly' manner!"

If he just didn't left me out all alone with Mayuri, then Rukawa wouldn't have the nerve to crush my hand like some sort of crab grip.

"Gosh captain... t-that doesn't look so good..." Koushino retorted with his eyes twitching.

Just as I was about to beat the hell out of him, Hikoichi came in and gasped—catching our attentions of course. You know how overreacting that guy is...

"Ah! Sendoh-san! Did you shake hands with Sakuragi again?! That must be terrible! I'm going to check this!" Hikoichi said and began scribbling some sort of information on his notebook.

He's probably writing: "Never shake hands with an undomesticated animal."

I sighed and glared back at Koushino. "Well, come to think of it, Hikoichi is PARTIALLY correct..."

Koushino gulped and let out a nervous laugh. "Ahehehe... Rukawa gave you that, didn't he captain?"

"Eh?! Nani?!! Rukawa Kaede made Sendoh-san's hand swollen?! How?! When?! Why?! I'm REALLY going to check this!!!" Hikoichi butted in again.

"AND JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU THREE ARE DOING?!" Coach Taoka's voice filled the four corners of the room.

So much for explanations, so much for stubbornness and so much for Rukawa and his sister.

"Nothing much, coach. Captain is just having some sort of warm-up." Koushino said—probably covering me up.

Coach Taoka folded his arms and shouted, "WELL DON'T JUST STAND THERE! MOVE!!!"

A chorused "Yes, coach!" was heard and we all went outside the locker room and lined up.

...

The usual noise filled the room. Girls screeching and coach Taoka's irreplaceable orders. The usual "Run faster, you dimwit!" and the "Don't haste, you fool!" and the ever-so present, "Turn this way Sendoh-san!!!! You look so cool!!!" remained echoing all throughout the gym.

Everything that's happening is almost predictable.

"Uekusa! Pass!" I shouted as I ran towards the other side of the court.

Just then, a particular face caught my attention. I looked again sideways and unintentionally stopped myself from running. And yes, I was right. It was her.

Mayuri is watching the practice game and is ACTUALLY waving at me. Now this is something unpredictable.

She looks so cute right now. Wearing the school uniform with a refreshing smile on her face and all...

"Captain!!!"

I got lost on my track of thoughts and I looked back unaware of the upcoming pass—only to find out that I've made a BIG mistake.

The ball hit me—face-flat.

Damn! Did Mayuri see that?

...

"Sendoh-sama! Sendoh-sama! Oh good! He's coming back!" I heard a voice exclaimed in delight followed by the others' exasperated sighs.

I felt a small piece of cloth being wiped just right beneath my nostrils. Looks like the impact was THAT hard, huh? Making my nose bleed and head hurt like crap.

"Sorry, capatain. I didn't know that you were unaware." A voice sounding like Uekusa said.

It wasn't my fault, actually. I got distracted and forgot everything about the play. And neither was it Mayuri's fault because it's not like she wished to distract me on purpose.

Wait...

Mayuri...?

Didn't I just hear her voice a while ago?

"Ie. It's my fault that got Sendoh-sama distracted because I waved at him. Sorry, I didn't realize that there was an important game going on."

That's Mayuri, alright.

I opened my eyes and everybody's eyes—including coach Taoka's deadly ones were locked up on mine. I just made a scandal, didn't I?

"Yatta! Sendoh-san!!!!" went on my teammates' relieved sighs.

I was about to stand up when I realized that I was resting on somebody's lap. Wait! Don't tell me---

"Sendoh-sama! Are you feeling well now? Your nose is still bleeding! Can you stand up?! Oh... What have I done?!!" Mayuri exclaimed as she helped me to stand up.

I felt the hotness of my face as she looked up at me worriedly with face filled with guilt.

"Uh...I'm okay..." I managed to say.

"Hmp. He must be faking it to get close to a girl." Coach Taoka muttered.

"Ah! Captain! This is such great news! I'm going to check this!" Hikoichi shouted and began to write something again.

And maybe this time, he's going to write: "Never get distracted by a red-headed girl if you don't want a ball to hit your face and make your nose bleed."

Well, on the contrary, he might as well write: "Have a ball hit your face and make your nose bleed if you want to get close and paid attention by your crush."

...

Author's Notes:

Everyone....:sniff:...:sniff:... I got my very first flame! Well, maybe that's what I get when I don't update regularly.

A very huge apology to the readers and reviewers for such a VERY, VERY, VERY late update! I ran out of ideas and hopefully I turned out this chapter fine.

I hope you all enjoyed reading this and I do hope that I could update regularly now. And PLEASE! If you want to criticize me, please use constructive criticisms. If you don't like OC's much then best not read it. This goes on to the FLAMERS.

Well, everyone, THANK YOU so much for reading this!

Peace out!