Sendoh crossed his arms in front of his chest, the sleeves of his kimono flapping against the gentle breeze of the wind. He leaned back on the trunk of tree and closed his eyes, hearing the sound of the waves hitting the shore not far away from him. He stayed that way for a few minutes before he felt the presence of another person approaching him. He didn't budge nor straighten up his posture until the person is beside him.

Unlike him, the person is standing straight, borh arms on the side with his right hand holding his sword, the hilt carved with a symbol known to many.

"You're here again." They say, without turning to look at him.

Sendoh turned his gaze towards the sea, water glistening from the sun above them. The sky is blue, just like his eyes, and no clouds can be seen. He can see a few seagulls flying towards the horizon.

"It's peaceful out here."

"You're just running away from your responsibilities."

Sendoh chuckled and finally uncrossed his arms as he take his place beside the other person. From his peripheral vision, he can see the other person's hair being swayed by the wind. "Well you know me, Kaede." He then turn his body towards the person. "How about you? What are you doing here?"

The person-Kaede- was silent for a few seconds. He did not move his gaze away from the sea in front of them as his kimono dance with the wind. A few seconds after, he turned to face him, and Sendoh was met with his eyes that reminisce the color of the sky today.

"It's peaceful out here." He echoed Sendoh's words earlier and neither of them said a word after that.

Sendoh smiled when he understood the meaning behind those words. He bumped his shoulder into the other. "Hey, wanna hear something funny?" The other was silent but Sendoh took that as a sign to continue because that's how he was always been.

"The elders thought I have a paramour that's why I always run away from them." He laughed and saw Kaede's grip on his sword tighten.

"What absurdity." He finally says in his usual monotone voice. Sendoh just shook his head and turned his gaze on front of them once again. It was silent between them for a few minutes before Kaede said something that made him turn his head to look at him, eyes filled with amusement, and one side of his lips curled upward.

"The're a rumor that I'm keeping a mistress here in my mother's place." He then turned his eyes on the left where a traditional two storey-house is standing.

Sendoh smiled but did not comment and stayed silent as he let the wind carry his thoughts away in favor of enjoying this rare times of peace bestowed upon them. And then, after finding confidence, he slowly stretched his arm out and reached for Kaede's hand that is holding his sword. He let his thumb carass his knuckles and felt how the other stiffen but did not withdraw his hand from his touch. A few seconds after, he relaxed and leaned his head on his shoulder as they watch the view on front of them.

They stayed that way until the sky turned red and pink, the sun setting on the west, their hearts beating as one.

_

Sendoh jolt awake when he heard the ringing of his phone. He was disoriented for a few seconds, mind still hazy and clouded from sleep. A few seconds after, his phone ringed again so he stretched his arm and reached for his phone on his nightstand. He groaned when he saw the caller.

"Hello Kosh-" before he could even finish his sentence, he heard his coach's voice from the other line. "SENDOH AKIRA! Where are you again?!" He pulled his phone away from his ear and looked at the time.

10am

"Shit!" He cursed and immediately went to the bathroom while his coach continued to berate him. "Hello?! Sendoh! Did you forgot that we had a practice match today?!"

"Coach I'll be there promise!" He said and ended the call before the old man can say something more. Sendoh cringed because he knows he'll get an earful from his hot-headed coach again.

While taking a shower, Sendoh can't help but think back about his dream. For as long as he can remember, he's been having those kinds of dreams for years now. But the previous dreams he had were not as concrete as the one he had last night.

Sometimes, he'll dream of himself, donned in a kimono that the people used in the past wielding a sword while having a duel with another person. Sometimes, he'll dream of himself walking along the forest with another person. One time, he dreamed of himself in the past having a wedding with a girl he have never seen before. And another one of his dreams that is that his blue kimono is drenched in blood while on his right hand is a sword with the blade covered with blood. He can see his name carved on the blade of the sword, and when he look in front of him, he sees another man who's also on the same condition as him.

But in all those dreams, Sendoh have never seen the face of the man before. Even before he could take a look, his dreams changed until he woke up. This was the first time he was granted with a clear image of the man who was always on his dreams.

"Kaede." He remembered himself saying this name on his dream last night. Sendoh can't help but feel a melancholic ache on his heart as he remembered that man on his dream. It felt like he lost something valuable to him as the feeling grows deep. A hollow part of his heart that is yearning for something, for someone.

He shook those thoughts aside when he remembered that he have a game today. He went out of the bathroom and walked towards his closet to find his jersey uniform. After donning his uniform, he momentarily looked out of the window of his apartment and saw the Shonan Sea not too far away from his apartment building.

Sendoh watched the glistening sea and the clear blue sky above it with a daze. For a while, he thought he saw two person wearing kimonos, two different emblem patched on the sleeves of their clothes as they walk along the shore in silence.

He blinked and when he looked out again, he saw the shore empty. He shook his head and reminded himself of the game.

The game is held on Saturday so there's not much people on the school. He made his way towards the gym and heard sounds from inside already. He paused to take a breath before opening the door.

Everyone's eyes were instantly on him the moment the door was opened. He can see his team obviously relieved that he finally decided to show up, except for his Caoch who is glaring at him. He roamed his eyes around the gym and noticed that a few students were present to watch the game. His gaze then landed on their opponent team, Shohoku High, also looking at him. He saw Coach Anzai sitting beside the curly haired girl which seemed to be their manager. Akagi was also looking at him, he blinked and chuckled when he saw a red-haired boy he hasn't seen before beside Shohoku's captain which is also looking at him.

"Unusual color." He says on his mind, and then. His eyes landed on a pair of blue eyes that made him froze on his spot. He can feel his heartbeat picked up on his chest as he stared at those pair of eyes which are staring back at him.

Suddenly, he felt like he was thrown back into one of his dreams where he was walking along the shore with the person who has those same pair of eyes beside him. He can suddenly hear the sound of the wind, the wave touching the shore, and the seagulls flying above them.

"Maybe in another time, another life."

Sendoh stopped walking as he heard those words from his companion. He looked to his side and saw the other staring straight ahead. His blue eyes just like him were filled with exhaustion, the first time he saw him like this. Usually they would be blank or cold. He was silent for a few seconds before he spoke. "Maybe, if the heavens would be generous enough." And then he smiled. His companion turned towards him and, he smiled a little but Sendoh can see sadness in his eyes.

"Senpai!!"

Sendoh was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Hikoichi shout at him. He blinked his eyes and saw the freshman running towards his direction. He looked behind and saw his teammates staring at him with various expressions on their faces. He smiled at them and looked down. "Senpai where were you?"

"Ah sorry. I overslept." He scratched his head and started walking towards their bench. Before he could even say something, his coach's sharp gaze landed on him that made him gulped.

"So you decided to come after all." He said in a cold voice that frankly doesn't suit him because the man is always shouting at them. "Sorry coach." Sendoh seepishly said snd rubbed the back of his neck.

"Sendoh, no time for stretching. You'll play immediately." Ouzumi stepped in before their coach can say anything more. Sendoh cast him a grateful look. "No worries cap, I run all the way here anyway." And he shrugged that earned a snort from the old man.

They heard the whistle so Sendoh started walking inside the court with his teammates. It was their turn and soon, the ball was passed into him. He was surprised when he suddenly appeared in front of him. He stepped back a little and can't help but look into his eyes. Not that he is near him, he had the chance to look at him properly. He roam his gaze on his face, his fringes covering his eyebrows and eyes, his pointed nose, his high cheeks, his defined jaw, and his lips.

It's the exact same face as him. There's no doubt about it.

He was snapped out of his musings when a hand was about to snatch the ball away from him. He dodged, made a turned around him and run towards the basket. They tried to stop him but was unsuccessful when he made a dunk. His teams and supporters cheered and Sendoh can't help but look back.

He can't help but smile when he saw him, Shohoku's #11 looking at him with both his brows furrowed and eyes burning. He can feel his heartbeat accelerate and can't help but gave him a challenging smile.

"Competitive."

That was his first impression of him, and he was proven right as the game progressed. He can't help but feel pumped up as they exchange shot and technique. Sendoh suddenly had this want to bully him, so he played him a little and can't help but smirk everytime those pair of blues landed on him.

The game ended with them winning by two points. They were all panting as they rest on the court. He can't help but steal a look at the other team and saw how some of them are comforting the read hed, Sakuragi. Sendoh can't help but smile because he found this freshman amusing. Then, not far from them is him, drinking. Their gazes met and Sendoh tried to smile at him but met with a cold look before the other looked away. Sendoh shook his head and finally approached his team.

The two teams and coaches had a brief conversation before Shohoku bid their farewell. He gave a handshake to everyone, chuckling at Sakuragi's words.

"I'll beat you next time Sendoh! I promise."

"Sure thing Sakuragi, I'll be waiting." The red-head grinned and that's when his gaze landed on the lone figure not far away from them. So Sendoh approached him.

"Hey, nice game a while ago." He says and extended his hand. The person looked up at him before landing on his hand. He stared at it for a while before tapping his hand, face a little sulky. Sendoh blinked because he didn't expect that, but can't help but chuckle. This caused the other to looked back at him, a frown visible on his face.

"I'm Sendoh by the way. Akira Sendoh." And he brushed back some of his fringes that fell on his forehead. He saw something flickered on his eyes at the mention of his name. They were staring at each other for a few seconds before the other opened his mouth.

"Rukawa. Kaede Rukawa." He muttered lowly. A gust of wind blew by that made Kaede's fringes sway slightly. They heard a sound above and they both looked up, only to see a flock of sea gulls flew by heading to the direction of the sea.

"Rukawa come on!" They heard someone, and saw the curly haired girl from Shohoku waving at them. Rukawa looked at him once more before turning around and started walking away.

"See you around, Kaede."

He saw how he stopped on his track when he heard him say his first name. But he did not turned around nor give him a glance and instead continued walking.