I like this chapter, it's probably one of the best in this fic. ^^

Chapter 14: A Date Full of Surprises

Kirino wondered, it wasn't the first time the two boys would go to a movie together, but this time felt awfully different. In fact in the past sometimes people had mistook them for a couple and stated who cute the two were looking together. Shindou would always laugh about these incidents, while he, Kirino, would blush and try to change the subject as soon as possible.

He would probably do the same if this were to happen today, but how would Shindou react? Where the two of them already something like a couple?

However Kirino still wasn't sure of Shindou's feelings for him. After all, it wasn't normal for a boy to fall for another male. He definitely couldn't expect his friend to be as strange as he himself was.

Being gay still was a problem for the pink haired boy, but now it was already to late to turn back - It wasn't that he hadn't tried to resist, but these damn feelings were just too strong. Not that he would ever be able to tell his parents … or his friends … or anybody else …

"It can't be helped", Kirino muttered then more to himself as he spotted Shindou not far away. His friend was waiting in front of the cinema, looking on his watch – maybe he was nervous?

At least the former Raimon captain didn't seem to be angry that he was late. "I'm sorry … err my mom held me up", Kirino said a bit embarrassed. He couldn't possibly tell Shindou that he just couldn't decide what to wear – it would just make him even more girly.

"No it's alright", the other boy answered with a strange shyness.

Some time passed and none of the boys knew what to say next. Kirino wondered why he suddenly felt so tensed around his best friend – was it just because they called it a "date"? Wasn't that a bit ridiculous?

He sighed. "Let's go in, ok?", the pink haired boy asked then more calmly. After all Shindou was his best friend for many years, there really was no need to be nervous.

"Oh yeah, you're right. We'll miss the movie", Shindou replied hastily. "By the way … you really look cu- nice today", he finally managed to say, but not without a blush.

"Th … Thanks." Kirino looked at the posters nearby to hide a blush. Damn, if this was just his best friend, why did he feel so awkward?

Just as the two were about to enter the cinema, some familiar faces came around the corner. Their chitchat automatically stopped as they recognized the two boys in front of them. Both sides couldn't be more surprised.

"Kirino! We were so worried about you!" Hamano shouted and hugged his former teammate without leaving him the time to reply. "It's good to see you're alright!"

"Hi … guys", Kirino greeted the Raimon eleven with a face as red as a tomato. He had certainly missed his friends, but the timing couldn't be more worse. He felt like he would die out of embarrassment any minute now.

"We tried to visit you senpai, but you weren't home", Tenma explained. "So we thought we should better return to practice – it's a bit boring without you and capt- Shindou-senpai, but now we can all go together!"

Shinsuke interrupted with a voice as energetic as the of his friend. "Tenma, let's show him our new hissatsu! They will be the first to see! Now that the two are friends again, our team will be complete and we can make an even stronger one!"

In contrast of the first years and Hamano the other team members remained rather calm, their faces as stern as they were when they had dismissed Shindou.

"It's good that you have made up with Kirino", Sangoku finally spoke, his tone still serious. "But how can you be so lovey-dovey with him when you're dating another boy too?"

"That's right, Shindou", Kurama agreed. "Kirino has deserved someone better than you. You're nothing than pathetic."

These words hit Shindou like a punch into his face. And they seem to have even more effect on Kirino, judging from his widened eyes. It really was the worst timing ever.

"What … What to you mean? I have never … ."

"There is no need to hide it, we have seen that other boy visiting you and not to mention how much time you always spent with him on the soccer field."

Finally Shindou realized that the boy they meant was actually Kirino in disguise, but he couldn't possibly explain that without revealing his friends secret. Not knowing what to answer, the brown haired boy remained silent, hoping that Kirino would be able to understand the situation, that he would trust him enough. However looking at his friends face, Shindou couldn't tell what he was thinking, his face didn't show any emotion. There were just his beautiful azure eyes he adored looking at him.

Careful about his words, the former Raimon captain then answered the accusation. "All I ever did was helping Ranmaru … ."

They others were surprised to hear him say Kirino's first name, but not as much as the pink haired boy himself. "Shindou", he whispered questioning, but the addressed person already continued with a voice that sounded determined and clear. Now the former Raimon captain was only looking at Kirino although the words were also directed to everybody else.

"... Because he is the person I love."

Silence. With his cheeks dark red Shindou waited for someone to say anything, but the impact of his words was just too great. Even Tenma and Shinsuke had understood that these words were something special and only one person should answer them.

But Kirino didn't answer. There weren't any words for expressing his feelings. First the pink haired boy was just surprised, then shocked and now … Now he didn't know, there just weren't any right words.

For a moment no one spoke. Kirino saw Hamano, who still stood near him, making weird hand signs, probably suggesting him to answer with "I love you too" or something like this , but even this easy words were too hard to say now.

Not that Kirino hadn't imagine to confess one day, but his imaginations never had included the whole team as spectators. He had to admit, Shindou really was courageous to say such words in the open and Kirino possibly couldn't let him suffer by don't reacting to it.

As if it was in slow motion, the pink haired boy finally moved. His eyes were meeting Shindou's and shortly after followed their lips.

It had never felt so good to kiss him. Shindou's lips were soft like always and this time for the first he could feel his friends passion – a passion that only equaled his own.

However now wasn't the time for getting lost in their own world, as much as Shindou wished that, there was something he had to do first. So he gently broke the kiss - not without taking a moment to admire Kirino's smile, which was now as pure as it hadn't been in months – and looked into the faces of his former team mates.

"The day after tomorrow", he said to the surprised group in front of him. "We, the Silent Strikers are going to play against you."

Please review ah and by the way, I think next chapter will be the last ... I'm kinda happy because this fic was really hard to write. Maybe I'll write one when they are already together ... I have a good idea for this ^^