Chapter Six

Yumiko patted down her uniform, making sure that her blouse was opened just right and that her skirt was exactly four inches above her knees. She caught sight of her reflection on the plastic cover of the notice board on the wall pertaining to the gym, and couldn't resist smiling at herself in satisfaction.

[Earlier in the canteen]

"So what's the plan, Yumiko?"

"Yes, tell us, quick!"

She folded her hands primly in her lap and winked at her friends. "We all know that Hanamichi is always calling himself a genius, right? Well, I've got the perfect thing to show him up."

"I'll ask him to the dance…I'm sure no girl in their right mind would ask –him– so it's a safe bet that he'll accept—"

"But I thought you were going with Kohei!"

The blond cheerleader gave the interrupter a –look–. "Of course I am, Matsura! But Hanamichi doesn't know that!"

"Oh…yeah."

"So like I was –saying–, I'll ask Hanamichi to the dance! And I have it on credible sources that one of this year's student hosts is Sujowa Wahishiru, the football captain! He'd be more than happy to help us play the prank…of announcing Hanamichi Sakuragi as prom king!"

Six pairs of eyes blinked at her.

"So?"

"Um…why would you want that…ugh…irritating fellow to be prom king?"

Yumiko rolled her eyes and threw up her hands. "Don't you see? When he's crowned, he'll have to do the honorary dance! But," she laughed, tapping the table for emphasis, "I won't be there! I'll be with Kohei! And we'll be the real prom king and queen after that redhead makes a fool of himself with nobody to dance with! If he even –can– move his feet properly, anyway!"

Titters resounded around the table.

"That's brilliant!"

"What a show!"

"I can't wait to see the look on his silly face!"

[Present]

So here she was, outside the gym, ready to carry out her plan. Basketball practice had probably just started. Calculating just how to make the best entrance, she finally settled for simply pulling open the doors, banking on the sunlight to make the golden highlights in her hair shine and illuminate her tan skin.

Almost every head in the gym turned as she waltzed in, sure and confident. The only one oblivious to her was Rukawa Kaede, standing in a corner and pulling his practice jersey on.

My god…what a babe he is. Too bad I'm already going with Kohei, or I'd take Rukawa-kun for sure.

Back to the plan. She tore her eyes away from the basketball captain's sculpted torso and spotted her target immediately. She just managed to restrain from giggling as she bounded over to the owner of the flaming red hair. Don't laugh, it'll give the game away.

"Good afternoon, Hanamichi-kun!"

The redhead peered at her quizzically. He moved to the right, behind her, to her left, and then faced her again, examining her face. She nearly throttled him, but kept the megawatt smile plastered on her face. "Hanamichi-kun?"

"Who are you?"

Leave it to him! She thought sourly, sorely affronted that not only did he not recognize her, but he also gave no acknowledgement to her beauty. I suppose I can't expect much from a loud-mouthed idiot.

"My name is Yumiko Teruwagasa," she said sweetly, casting her eyes coyly down and willing herself to blush, "I've…I've been watching you for a long time."

Jaws dropped around the gym.

"And…I really admire you, Hanamichi-kun!"

My, my, I ought to receive an Oscar, even if I do say so myself.

"Oh!" the redhead laughed heartily, suspicions forgotten as he dropped the basketball and scratched his head sheepishly. "So, you are one of this genius's fans!"

She resisted the urge to barf, batting her lashes prettily instead and nodding demurely, as if shy. "Well…actually…I wanted to ask you…"

He looked at her expectantly, innocently, and Yumiko felt the disdain welling up inside her again. Why did he have to be such a –baby–?

"…I wanted to ask you to the dance," she finished softly, pretending to look down at her hands while noting Hanamichi's expression out of the corner of her eye. He looked stunned, happy, proud and then hesitant all at once.

Oh, no, don't you back out!

"It would mean so much to me," she purred, moving closer to him. "Please, Hanamichi-kun? Would you take me to the prom?"

"Well…"

Say yes, you dimwit, how long are you going to force me to make a fool of myself standing here like this before you?!

"I suppose I could," he finished, grinning happily from ear to ear.

Aha.

A bright orange basketball whizzed its way in between them, slamming neatly into Hanamichi's chest and knocking him momentarily off balance. From the side, a tall shadow loomed, and Yumiko turned angrily to scold whomever it was who had cut in so rudely…

…And promptly swooned.

"Idiot. Get back to practice."

"Shut up, fox! I'm busy!"

"Hn." A slim, long-fingered hand reached down to retrieve the basketball.

Rukawa-kun is a –god–, her mind chattered happily, processing the fresh, citrus cologne and well-defined shoulders, how his silky black hair fell across his face, how those lazy blue eyes looked out from underneath those long eyelashes, his powerful arms…wait.

She let out a small, artificial gasp. "Rukawa-kun! What happened to your arm! Does it hurt?" She reached out to touch the blue-black bruise on the basketball captain's left arm…and was rudely shocked as Rukawa spun around and walked away quickly before she could say any more about it.

God…he is –so– sexy.

Next to her, Hanamichi's brow was furrowed, and he murmured something that sounded vaguely like, "That's strange…"

She bounced back in front of him, beaming. "So, are we settled, Hanamichi-kun?"

"Eh? Oh! Oh, yes…yes, it's settled then."

Good, her mind snickered as she flashed one last bright smile at the redhead before walking away, Because you're in for it now, Hanamichi Sakuragi.

*** ***

He's making the connection, oh shit, he knows, he knows.

He could practically hear the gears clicking in Hanamichi's head. Stifling his panic before it could become visible and making sure his face was frozen in its usual expressionless mask, Rukawa dribbled the ball back and forth, steadfastly refusing to even face the redhead's direction as he mock-challenged a second-year, only half paying attention. He could feel Hanamichi's eyes on his back, and very nearly swallowed his tongue in his mental cursing.

Stupid, stupid bimbo of a girl…can't keep her big mouth shut…

"Be careful where you throw that ball," he instructed the junior monotonously, hoping his voice could be heard over the general bustle. "Or you'll end up giving me another bruise."

Please take the bait, take the bait, take it, take it…

"Ah? Did I hit you earlier, Rukawa-san? I'm so sorry!"

He sensed more than saw Hanamichi relax after hearing those words as the power forward turned away and bent to pick up the ball he had been practicing with earlier before that annoying female had disrupted things. The feeling of being watched vanished, and he heaved an inward sigh of relief.

Damn. That was close…way too close.

*** ***

[The next day]

As Hanamichi strode merrily towards the neighborhood he had come to think of as a second home in recent days, he slung his carry-on bag over his shoulder, whistling his trademark tune. He could feel the smile on his face beginning to hurt; for an inexplicable reason, he was feeling extraordinarily happy that day.

Maybe it was the fact that he had a date to the annual prom, even if he had never seen that girl before this. The point still stood, however, that he was popular enough that the junior students wanted to be seen with him! While Hanamichi did not pay much attention to the ordinary female (Haruko being the only exception of his high school life so far), he was still human enough to be pleased at being admired.

Another face suddenly appeared in his mind, a fair face streaked with a fiery blush, and bold, challenging blue eyes.

Ruiya? Why am I thinking about Ruiya?

There was something about the fox-girl that made him feel funny inside, and that was not counting the fact that she looked exactly like the one person he had made himself think of as his mortal enemy for three years past. Rukawa Kaede did absolutely nothing to warrant the godlike popularity and worship that the population chose to bestow upon him; the Iceman was cold, unappreciative as hell and perpetually rude in his unflattering silence.

In that way, Ruiya seemed to be exactly the same. She wasn't sweet, shy and she hardly appeared the sheltered innocent. Rather, her glares, abrupt instructions and frigid temper reminded him so strongly of Rukawa that it was unsettling. Even her hands, when pressed to his own and while leading him in the dance moves, spoke of authority and calm indifference to everything not related to whatever it was she was doing at that moment.

The worse part of the whole situation was probably that he found it attractive.

Back up just one second, Hanamichi Sakuragi. You –like– being trod upon, ordered around and pulled about?

The sounds of a basketball slamming against a backboard snapped him out of his reverie, and he looked up, startled to hear a familiar laugh and a muffled groan.

What's the Smiley doing here? And who's that with him?