Ivelle: Thanks for reading loyal fans! Your reviews are what keep us writing each chapter. We're just happy that people could appreciate the unusual pairing of KaiZuka. But no more words . . . read on!

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FALLING

Chapter Five: Admiration or Love?

The next day at practice, Kaidoh unceasingly glanced at Tezuka, asking himself each time, 'Admiration? Or love? Admiration? Or love?

Still unsure of what love would be, Kaidoh approached Momoshiro after practice. He was currently babbling to Echizen.

"Hey, Momoshiro. You free to talk?" Kaidoh interrupted.

Both players turned their attention to Kaidoh, who was tense with complexity.

"Echizen and I are going to get some burgers," Momoshiro informed, pointing to Echizen.

Kaidoh looked at the freshman with uneasiness.

Echizen then feigned disapproval, "Don't want any. I'm going home." He faked a yawn and strolled away.

Kaidoh noticed a knowing smirk on Echizen's face as he left.

Momoshiro looked disappointed, but then announced to Kaidoh, "Well I still want burgers."

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Kaidoh watched as Momoshiro stuffed burger after burger into his large mouth.

Finally getting up the courage, Kaidoh hesitantly asked, "H-How do you know . . . if you love someone?"

Momoshiro instantly stopped eating and gaped at Kaidoh, surprised. Unfortunately, not a second later did he burst into a raucous laughter.

Kaidoh hissed and furrowed his eyebrows. Momoshiro eventually looked over at Kaidoh still laughing, but immediately quieted when he saw his serious look.

"You're serious?" Momoshiro asked in disbelief.

"Of course," Kaidoh mumbled, still resentful.

"Well . . . I've never loved a girl, but when I like one," Momoshiro began, also becoming serious, "I get excited when the idea of seeing her comes up, and I feel . . ." Momoshiro drifted off thinking of the words to say. " . . . Happy. I feel happy when I see her or even hear her voice. Well, happy doesn't justify it. I get all warm and fuzzy. And whenever I'm around her, outside I may seem all cool and collected, but on the inside I'm jittery because I don't want to do or say the wrong thing. I don't want to embarrass myself in front of her. And I want to please her. You know, buy her a drink, or make her laugh. Uh . . . well, that's all I can think of," Momoshiro ended his explanation and waited for Kaidoh to respond.

However, Kaidoh was going over all of this in his head. He comprehended the words and compared them to how he felt, and acted around Tezuka. Concluding his thoughts, Kaidoh finally realized . . .

Kaidoh rapidly rose from his chair and dashed out of the restaurant. He heard Momoshiro call to him, "Where you going?"

Kaidoh ran as fast as he could, this new revelation in mind. At last, he arrived at his destination. He stopped running and walked up a concrete path to an ordinary white house with brown trim.

Arriving at the door, Kaidoh reached up and pushed the doorbell. He waited for a few seconds, hearing footsteps.

The door opened.

"Inui-sempai . . ." Kaidoh said before declaring, "It's just admiration."

Inui adjusted his glasses and studied Kaidoh before commenting, "So it seems."

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Right after Kaidoh left his house with the declaration, Inui pulled out his phone and dialed a regular number.

"Tezuka . . . it's time."

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That night Kaidoh lay in his bed, still unable to achieve any sleep.

Kaidoh peered at his clock and saw it read 2: 51.

He closed his eyes in an attempt, but visions of his dream ravaged his thoughts. Why was he still thinking of that when he finally discovered that it was only admiration for the Captain he felt? Why did he still feel unresolved?

TBC . . .

Kaidoh . . . come on! Realize already! Well, he has to realize soon since there's only a few more chapters left!

Well, don't forget to review!