I want to apologize for the late udapte. I'm really really sorry but I am facing major work difficulties. I choose to follow new studies and I work in the same time. Besides, write in English is sometimes very difficult. Please excuse me if I do mistakes in this chapter. Thanks to my readers, followers. I promise Iwill not abandon this story. This chapter is a little short but the next will be longer.
Hanamichi could not focus on what Haruko was telling him. His mind kept reminding him the last conversation he had with Rukawa and as silly as it might seem, he seemed to betray the ace of Shohoku by walking by the young girl's side to her house.
Haruko noticed the auto-proclaimed tensai's odd behaviour and she stopped her babbling.
"What's wrong Sakuragi-kun? You seem to be worried, is it your back which makes you suffer again?" Haruko's tone was really concerned and Hanamichi felt a hit of guilty to be not able to tell her the truth.
"Don't mind Haruko-chan! I'm perfecly fine, I am just a little worried about the next exams. If I don't obtain a sufficient mark, I will not participate to the next tournement."
Haruko smiled reassured.
"If it is that, you don't have to be so preoccupied, we could always do a revision session like the previous year.I would be glad to help you and I am sure you will be just great"
Hanamichi felt his cheeks reddened. Hakura was complimentated him, that was wonderful. What would have done the past year to hear these same words? But now, if his closeness with Haruko-chan was agreeable, he didn't look for an other kind of relationship.
"Sakuragi-kun, I want to ask you a personal question but I don't know how to formulate it."
She didn't watch him in the eyes and she had an embarrassed expression, almost the same that she wore the first time she revealed him she was in love with Rukawa.
Hanmichi felt unease, his heart started to beat too quickly, because he was scared that Haruko-chan felt in love with him finally, and that woud just be just atrocious to have to hurt her feelings.
"I just want to know if Mito-kun is single…" and she reddened, putting her hands on her hot cheeks.
Hanamichi laughed and Haruko pouted, believing he was mocking her.
"Of course Yohei is single Haruko-chan, a punk as him never have a girlfriend, just like me". And if you're interested in him, he will be certainly the man the most lucky of the world."
Haruko smiled and thanked him.
« When I choose to resign temporarily from my position as manageress after Rukawa's rejection, he comforted me a lot. He is one of those only men I can get along with and I wouldn't risk our friendship…..that's why I wantend your opinion before doing anything. »
Hanamichi nodded and reassured her that she can confess her feelings to his best friend.
They finally arrive next to the young woman's house and he waved his good bye when she pass the gate.
He couldn't believe how relieved he felt that she could romantically move on. The guilt that he could feel towards his relationship with Rukawa would be more bearable now.
Remembering the fox's behaviour when they trained together, the desire to see him submerged him. He decided to go to a combini to buy the ingrédients to prepare the dinner at Rukawa's house.
Humming the famous tensai song with his bags from the purchase, he rang the bell and was surprised when Rukawa in decontracted clothes and a fresh towel around his shoulders opened the door.
« Fox I will make you a dinner that you would never forget. You will have the luck to discover my genius skills in cooking. » declared the redhead with enthusiasm.
Rukawa let him enter without a word and closed the door behind them. He haven't planned that the readhead would come at all, not when Akagi's little sister seemed to decide to return his feelings. He had been tempted to send him home. Was he here to "break up"? Was he here by pity? Rukawa tried to convince himself that if he let him enter his house, it was because he needed answers.
Sakuragi didn't have perceived his partner's bad mood He reached the kitchen and opened the closets to take what he needed to make his risotto.
Rukawa was backed on the door's frame, the arms crossed on his chest, observing silenciously the redhead.
« You have no shame, haven't you » hissed the raven haired man to his guest.
The indignation in the tone astonished the redhead. He turned towards Rukawa and saw the rudeness of his position and the anger in his eyes.
« I don't understand what you want to say Rukawa »
The Ace of Shohoku basketball club took various steps to be just in front of the redhead, to push him agaisnt the sink. He didn't notice the readhead little hiss of hurt when his back entered in collision with the cold surface.
« You have flirted with this girl under my nose and you dare come back here like you didn't do anything.»
Hanamichi sighed loudly . He had believed he has been clear enough when he said to the raven-haired youth that he didn't have to be jealous.
« I already say you that Haruko-chan and I weren't involved in a romantic relationship. She is a dear friend of mine. She was maybe the reason why I join the basketball club but now she is in love with my best friend. »
Rukawa looked in the redhead's eyes and knew that he wasn't lying. His anger vanished itself and he couldn't believe that he felt this grief for so long.
« Excuse me. I don't even know why I react this way » he muttered in the redhead's ear, resting his head in the hollow of his shoulder.
Hanamichi unstuck his back from the cold surface and put his arms around his neck.
« If you stay like this, we will not eat before a long time » joked Hanamichi but he was comforted in the raven-haired youth.
Hanamichi kissed the Rukawa's hair and the raven-haired lifted his head to meet his lips. The kiss deepened and Rukawa's hands were travelling over the redhead's body.
They both stiffened when they heard the main door be opened and closed and a feminine voice called out Kaede.