And we go a-sleuthing
It is the case with most humans that they start out with the best intentions, but sometimes the actual outcomes that play out are not quite always what the individuals intended. In some cases, this is because a lack of thoughtfulness preceded their actions and despite their well-meaning good will, they bumble into action and like a bull in a china shop cause great disruption. In other occasions, the unintended result occurs because the individuals started out with incomplete information and having little to go on, can only devise a course of action with what they perceive to be best although in reality, their planned actions may be far from ideal.
Koshino's current schemes could be classified in this latter category. The young man had the best of intentions. He was genuinely worried for his best friend who seemed to be in a very unusual relationship and since Koshino could make no head or tail out of his friend's current relationship status - a newly defined and previously unknown relationship status termed as "train buddy" - he could only rely on his experience and instincts to guide him. Unfortunately, his dealings with members of the fairer sex left him to only conclude that Ayako must be stringing his best friend along, because there really was no such thing as a train buddy.
And so Koshino determined to get to the truth. Since one party, namely Sendoh, was completely oblivious and clearly the victim in all of this, Koshino decided that the best course of action was to get information on the perpertrator, Ayako. And so for the second day in a row, Koshino undertook the role of super sleuth, detective extraordinaire and staked out the gates of Shohoku. Despite his near-perfect disguise which consisted only of a cap and sunglasses, his cover was easily blown when he unceremoniously bumped into a very tall and loud redhead while sneaking around the gym
"Koshino?" Sakuragi said, "What the hell are you doing here? Are you spying on this tensai?"
"Shhhh" Koshino said, holding a hand up to silence Sakuragi. "I'm not supposed to be here"
"Well clearly. Why are you spying on me?" Sakuragi demanded.
"I'm not spying on you idiot!" Koshino said in exasperation. Then remembering to lower his voice. "I'm on a special mission for a friend"
"Uh huh, and does this friend want information on my mad basketball skills?" Sakuragi asked.
"No! This is not about you! Look I have a friend who likes a girl, see" Koshino began halfway but then paused as he tried to weigh how much information he should reveal to the redhead.
"Ooooh... girl problems." Sakuragi said as he nodded his head vigorously. He leaned forward towards Koshino in great interest. "You have a crush on one of the girls from here? You can ask me anything, I'm the absolute love expert in Shohoku. Haruko is off-limits though. " And for added measure, Sakuragi helpfully inserted "She only likes guys who are at least 6 feet tall."
"No, I don't, look its not for me ok!" Koshino said. He was starting to regret telling Sakuragi anything. But Koshino reasoned to himself that since the ship had already set sail, he might as well just go through with the rest of it.
"Look, it's not for me, but what can you tell me about Ayako?" Koshino said as he decided to just get straight to the matter at hand.
"Ayako?" Sakuragi echoed in surprise. "I didn't figure her to be your type."
"It's not for me!" Koshino thundered and then as if remembering where he was, he snuck a quick look around and in a lower voice repeated his earlier question.
"Well, Ayako... is like a lady gori" Sakuragi said thoughtfully as he tried to find the words to best describe his female teammate.
"A lady gori?" Koshino was more bewildered. It was useless to ask Sakuragi these things. His information made even less sense.
"You know, like a gorilla. Violent. Also like a boss, yes ,yes very bossy." Sakuragi said, nodding his head as he recalled all the severe beatings he received from that terrible fan of hers. "You don't want to cross her. You wouldn't think it but she has this powerful left hook" Sakuragi grimaced as he remembered an occasion where he wanted to defy Coach Anzai's orders and not pass the ball to Rukawa throughout the game. Ayako had promptly given him a lesson with her fan and a sharp lashing with her tongue. "She's a real female gori"
Koshino, in the mean time, was trying to reconcile the mental image Sakuragi was painting with what he knew to be the standard type of girl that Sendoh had dated. The two pieces of information were jarringly disconnect. Sakuragi had somehow given him the mental image of a thug boss. He envisioned Ayako with a bat in her hand, one leg poised on the seat of the chair, and a toothpick hanging from her lips as her face took on a menacing stare. This was the girl Sendoh liked? Koshino shook his head. He clearly needed more information.
"But is she... duplicitous?" Koshino asked.
"Heh? No, Lady Gori is just Lady Gori." Sakuragi said with firm conviction. Koshino wasn't sure if Sakuragi completely understood his question.
"Yes, but would she ever lead someone on?" Koshino asked as he tried to figure out Ayako's intentions.
"Oh no. She rejected Ryo-chin ten times" Koshino nearly stumbled backwards at this information.
"Ten times! Who has such tenacity to survive ten rejections? An individual has to be superhuman to put up with more than that!" Koshino exclaimed. In his excitement, he missed the dark look that crossed Sakuragi's face with his latter statement. The younger man was now considerably less keen on entertaining Koshino's questions and Sakuragi felt it was time to end this conversation. With a heavy hand on Koshino's shoulder, Sakuragi not so subtly pushed him towards the direction of the school gates.
"In any case, Ayako will let you know if she's not interested. So don't worry. You will know if she likes you." Sakuragi said as he ushered Koshino towards the gates at top speed.
"I keep telling you its not for me!" Koshino's protests were however only met with a sympathetic look from the redhead and a conciliatory pat before he was shoved out of the school gates.
Author's note: this was a fun chapter for me to write. i've had a harder time penning down the next two. i'll try to be timely with the updates but i will be going on a two week hiatus starting this weekend. travel during the next 2 weeks will probably put a crimp in my writing.