4. Minami and Sengoku at the mall with pretty girls. Sort of.

"Maaaah, Sengoku-kun, what're we doing?"

"We're at the mall," Sengoku replied, loudly finishing the remains of his drink as he glanced around. "What do you think we're doing?"

Minami pouted, picking absently at what was left of his fries, which had long since turned cold. "Well, I thought we were going shopping, but we've just been sitting in the food court for the past two hours."

"Hey, hey, buck up!" Sengoku said cheerfully, slapping Minami on the back and then sprawling back in his chair. "You didn't actually want to go shopping, did you? That's so boring."

"But I need new tennis shoes…"

"We can get those anytime," Sengoku said, waving him off.

Minami arched his eyebrows at him. "And sitting around eating is something we can't do anytime?"

"We're not eating; we're scouting."

Minami glanced doubtfully from the crumbs on Sengoku's tray to his own empty cup. "We were definitely eating," he mumbled. "And what do you mean scouting? We're not trying to be like St. Rudolph's Mizuki, are we?"

"Who?" Sengoku replied distractedly, having apparently caught sight of something interesting across the food court.

"St. Rudolph's – Oh, never mind. What're you doing?" Minami asked as Sengoku stood up and began brushing himself off and straightening out his clothes.

"Come on, Minami-kun, make yourself presentable."

"That's a little bit difficult," Minami said, scowling. "Not everyone can have perfect hair like you."

"I like the porcupine look, myself." Sengoku grinned at him, and then reach over to pull him out of his chair. "Come on! Look happy, at least!"

"Why? What're we doing now? Can we at least get ice cream, as long as we're here?"

"Ice cream comes later," Sengoku said hurriedly. "Pretty girls approaching at three o'clock."

Minami glanced at his watch. "It's already three-thirty…"

Sengoku rolled his eyes. "No! Just – look!" He grabbed his shoulder, twisting him around to the right so he could get a clear shot of the two middle school girls walking towards them.

"Who're they?" Minami asked, and then his eyes widened. "Is this what you meant by scouting? Sengoku-kun!"

"Shhh!" Sengoku hushed him. "This'll be fun."

"It took you two hours to catch some girl's attention?" Minami frowned. "That's not like you at all."

"I know, I know, I don't know what's wrong with me today," Sengoku said. He gave his shirt one more halfhearted brush, flicked his hand through his hair, and then grinned as the two girls pulled up in front of them.

Minami sighed and merely wiped his hands on his pants.

One of the girls, the brunette, smiled at them. "Hello!" she said cheerfully, smiling a very pretty smile.

"Hi," Minami said flatly. Sengoku elbowed him roughly in the side.

"Hello, gorgeous!" he said, leaning in closer and offering the girl his hand.

The blonde girl tittered at him. "Hi," she said shyly. "Where do you two go to school?"

"Yamabuki," Sengoku answered, grinning. "We're very important members of one of the sports teams there."

"Oh yeah?" the brunette asked. "What do you play?"

Sengoku hesitated for the briefest of seconds, so Minami eagerly answered, "Tennis! I'm the captain," and gave them a wide grin.

The two girls exchanged looks.

"Oh, geez, look at the time!" the brunette said loudly, glancing at her bare wrist.

"Gosh, how did it get to be so late?" the blonde added. "Well, it was nice meeting you, but we really must be going!" They hurried off, giggling to themselves, before Sengoku or Minami could say another word.

"Whoops," Minami said sheepishly, folding his hands behind his head.

"You know, I'm really starting to hate that whole tennis player stereotype," Sengoku grumbled. "Not everyone plays Doubles. Some of us are straight singles players. And I mean straight."

"Whatever," Minami said, grinning. He grabbed hold of Sengoku's arm and pulled him in the direction of one of the vendors. "Come on. I need shoes and you owe me an ice cream."

FIN