CHAPTER 2

They entered the gym. Rukawa took a ball from the rack. "We still need to decide who's the better one here. Remember the challenge last year? You lost. Let's see how far you have improved."

Rukawa whizzed past Sakuragi and laid the ball into the hoop.

"That's unfair! I wasn't ready! Damn you, Rukawa..." Sakuragi complained. Rukawa passed the ball to him, his face showing no signs of guilt.

Sakuragi held the ball in his palms lightly, testing its weight. He missed it. Those few weeks of absence due to his back problem, how he missed holding the ball, listening to its rhythmic bounce on the gym floor. He looked up at the hoop. He remembered his first 'dunk' with Haruko. Lovely Haruko.

Slowly, the ball dropped from his hand. He remembered Rukawa's dunks. Oh, how vivid it was. How he always seemed to be soaring in that second, which seemed like minutes, before smashing the ball right through the hoop, it's sound echoing triumphantly throughout the sports hall.

"Oi, do'aho. What is it? I don't have all day..."

Sakuragi turned to look at Rukawa. "This... This is the place where we had a fight, remember?"

"Too many fights...too many fights..." Rukawa pondered. What is that idiot up to now?

"The one where we lost to Kainan...I...It was my fault and I shaved my hair off..." Sakuragi pointed to his hair. "It's growing back, and the black roots can be seen. I should dye it red again, but...maybe I should dye it blue...what do you think?"

"...It was MY fault we lost..."

"WILL YOU GIVE IT UP ALREADY!! Anyway, do you know why I hesitated when I wanted to hit you?"

"Because you know you couldn't win."

"That's not it, you emotionless fox! I didn't want to... you see... I was attracted to you and... I didn't want to...you know..."

Rukawa was staring oddly at him. "What? You don't have to look at me like that," Sakuragi exclaimed. "But...that was last time...now...he...hehe..." he laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head.

Rukawa sighed. Do'aho. A really big idiot. But his words kept him up all night.

Late. Late. Late... And it's all that do'aho's fault. However, Rukawa was cycling unhurriedly to school. Thank goodness there's no morning practice today. That do'aho's words had kept him up all night till he had overslept.

He cycled through a lane. Well, it looked like a short cut, but he could never tell directions properly. Hopefully, he's not lost.

"You see...i was attracted to you and...I didn't want to...you know..." The dumbass' words echoed. Rukawa wished it would get out of his head. That do'aho. Do'aho do'aho do'aho do'aho do'aho do'a...

Speak of the devil. There's no mistaking that red hair. He seemed rather relaxed for someone who was late for school. Rukawa sped towards him, and then stopped himself. What was he doing? He's not actually eager to see that baka, right? Right. Rukawa continued cycling at a steady pace, though the temptation to bump into him was too great.

Sakuragi put his hands into his pants pockets. He looked up at the sky, and then looked at his watch. Half an hour late for school. Oh, well. Since he's already late, he might as well just stroll to school. What's the rush?

He frowned as he heard a crash behind him. What the... He turned around. A bicycle was lying on the ground behind an overturned rubbish bin. He could see a pair of legs sticking out.

"Hey, are you alright?" Sakuragi asked, concerned. As he neared the boy, he noticed a familiar school uniform. Shohoku? Probably a cheeky freshman.

Sakuragi kicked the boy. "Oi. Get up."

Rukawa blinked. Had he fallen asleep while cycling again? Darn. He shielded his eyes from the sun, and saw Sakuragi kicking at him. What is he doing?

"Get up and fight like a man!"

Rukawa stood up. He took one look at Sakuragi's shocked face, then up righted his bicycle. He hopped on to it and continued cycling, ignoring the stunned redhead.

"Wait...WAIT!" Sakuragi yelled behind him. Why did Rukawa do that? Was it because of what he had said yesterday? Sakuragi looked in front of him. He squinted his eyes. No sign of him. He shrugged. He had only one thing left to do. He dusted himself off and continued walking to school.

"Hey, Rukawa. I'm talking to you. Stop right there. I need to have a word with you." Sakuragi demanded when he caught sight of Rukawa after school.

"Not now. Practice."

"Just for a moment dammit!" Sakuragi grabbed Rukawa's arm and dragged him to the nearest empty room.

"Look, I'm sorry for what i said yesterday. It was wrong. I know you are mad at me. I'm sorry. Just don't ignore me anymore. It was..."

Rukawa scratched his head and interrupted, "Do'aho. I always ignore you in school."

"That's not the point! Look, I'm sorry. Let's start over and pretend that I had never mention anything, alright?" Sakuragi said. He then looked away, realizing that he had talked too much.

"Forget about it? I can do that."

Sakuragi's face fell. Had he expected Rukawa to say that he had the same feelings too? He really had expected too much.

"But...can you forget this...?"

Rukawa leaned over suddenly. The move was so quick that Sakuragi only had enough time to blink before he felt Rukawa's breath on his mouth.

His mouth was only a whisper away. "Try forgetting this..." Rukawa drew his mouth towards Sakuragi's. It was a slow and sweet kiss. A first kiss. Sakuragi wound his arms around Rukawa's neck and deepened the kiss. His tongue slowly met Rukawa's coaxing one.

Sakuragi's head spun as he pulled back. Blood pumped through his veins as he unwound his hands and pressed it to his lips. Had he just...

Rukawa gazed back lazily. Sakuragi could imagine him with a smug grin on his face, but, knowing the real Rukawa, his face was emotionless, as usual. "Hmph." was the only comment he made before he left the classroom.