Chapter Text
A truce did wonders for their relationship.
At least from Hanamichi’s side, Rukawa had become one of the few people he was no longer afraid to trust. He trusted Rukawa enough to let him see the messy parts of his life—enough to let the fox hang out at his shabby house since the winter holiday.
When Hanamichi said his house was shabby, he meant it with all his heart. The building was old, and anyone could see no one was really taking care of the place. The garden was filled with dead plants, the walls were chipped, the furniture cracked, and most of the time, there was only instant food—and occasionally, Yohei’s mother’s homemade meals—in the house.
In short, the way he lived was miserable.
A truth he preferred to keep hidden, shared only with a very few. And now, Rukawa was one of them.
“Did you guys practice this morning?” Yohei asked, munching his lunch and pointing at Rukawa, who was now sleeping with his head in Hanamichi’s lap.
Hanamichi looked down to see Rukawa’s peaceful face before staring back again to Yohei, “Hm, we’ve been practicing before school since the day I had finished my rehab.”
Yohei chuckled, “Obsessed with you, isn’t he?”
Sakuragi laughed, “I told him the same but of course, he dismissed the idea.”
Yohei smiled softly at him, “I’m glad.”
“Of what?”
“Of you two.”
Sakuragi rolled his eyes, “You’re being dramatic.”
His best friend shook his head, “No, I’m not. You used to want to kill him.”
“He was annoying.”
“And Haruko’s crush. Still is.”
Hanamichi stared at Yohei with a weird look before asking again, “What is it you’re trying to say to me?”
Yohei smiled then asked, “Do you still like Haruko-chan?”
Caught off guard by the question, Hanamichi fell silent. Not because he didn’t like Haruko-chan anymore, but because he realized he hadn’t even thought about his love life these past few months.
His days were filled with basketball—and not just practice. Because of Rukawa, he had been reading basketball magazines, watching NBA game tapes, and listening to Rukawa talk about his plans to go abroad after high school.
Day and night, basketball was the only thing on his mind. And that was a little scary—because it gave him a kind of hope he had never dared to imagine before: the dream of going pro.
He knew it was a foolish dream. He didn’t have the same kind of “support” as Rukawa. But standing beside Rukawa made him drunk on hope. Way more intoxicated than when all he ever dreamed about was having a girlfriend. Or finally being able to date Haruko-chan.
“I… don’t know.”
Yohei raised his eyebrows, “What do you mean you don’t know?”
“I really don’t know. I mean, of course, I still like Haruko-chan but I don’t really mind too if we’re just like this.”
“Friends, you mean?”
“Yeah… Is it weird?” asked Hanamichi, out of concern.
Yohei stared at Sakuragi for a while before looking down to see Rukawa and scoffed, “Rukawa-kun, eavesdropping is impolite, you know?”
“Hn,” snorted Rukawa before raising himself up and leaned his back to the wall. Full of concern, Hanamichi watched Rukawa who was now staring at him soundlessly.
Sure, Rukawa had earned his trust. Hanamichi could even say that he’s one of his best friends now. But unlike Yohei, who knows everything about him, Hanamichi had never really talked about anything else aside from basketball with Rukawa. As Rukawa had never asked anything personal to him. Not even when he knew the real life of Sakuragi Hanamichi:
Poor and abandoned.
“What is it, Kitsune?” asked Hanamichi, pretending to not feel intimidated by the silence.
“What do you like about Akagi?” Rukawa asked softly.
Hanamichi let out a small gasp before glancing at Yohei, who looked just as shocked. He couldn’t blame him—this was the first time Rukawa had shown any interest in Hanamichi’s life outside the court.
Clearing his throat with a fake cough, Hanamichi replied, “She’s pretty, sweet, and very kind.”
“Ayako-senpai is like that too. Why don’t you like her?”
“Do you want Ryo-chin to kill me?”
“Ah, so you like Akagi because no one else likes her?”
Part of Hanamichi was honestly happy—Rukawa was trying to get to know him better. But the other part was so frustrating because, goddammit, Rukawa was an idiot in literally every area except basketball.
“Of course not, stupid Kitsune. It was love at first sight. Love’s like that—you can’t choose who you fall for.”
Rukawa hummed and nodded thoughtfully, then said, “Then you’re not weird.”
“Huh?”
“You asked Mito if you were weird for not wanting to date Akagi anymore. Just like you liked her instantly… maybe you can just stop liking her instantly too. It’s that simple.”
Frowning, Hanamichi said, “But I never stop loving someone unless they break my heart.”
Yohei also nodded beside him.
“Then maybe,” Rukawa replied, “you never really liked Akagi at all. I mean, I like basketball—and I never second-guess whether I really like it or not.”
Then, with that same unreadable calmness, Rukawa asked, “Let me ask you something. Do you like basketball, Do’aho?”
Yes. “Yes.”
Rukawa smirked, “It’s that simple.”
His conclusion hit like a slap of cold, dirty wind.
“Oh fuck , but Haruko-chan is really my type!!!”
Yohei burst out laughing, shaking his head, “Congratulations, Hanamichi. You’ve officially gone basketball-crazy, just like Rukawa-kun. My hopelessly-in-love best friend is long gone.”
Sakuragi groaned hard as he said, “I fucking hate you, Kitsune.”
“Hn,” as he smirked even more.
***
“Stop sulking”, said Rukawa as he pushed his bike while they walked home together after practice towards Rukawa’s house.
Rolling his eyes, Hanamichi kicked a pebble on the road.
“I don’t understand why you are so upset.”
Sighed heavily, Hanamichi said, “My dream is to walk my girlfriend home.”
“And then?”
“Now I walk you home.”
“So?”
“The fact that I prefer to walk you home means my dream is no longer my dream because now…”
“Now?”
“Now, your dream is kinda my dream too.”
Rukawa stopped walking which made Hamamichi hold his steps too. He was staring at Hanamichi and asked, “Being an NBA player?”
“Not NBA per say, but more like playing basketball professionally…”
“And that’s bad because?”
Hanamichi bit his lips before saying, “It’s impossible. You’ve seen how I live, idiot. What I can do now is simply… be better to be your partner and maybe beat you in the future”, and walked again, as if his answer explained everything.
***
It had been weeks since Hanamichi accepted that maybe his romantic guy era had come to an end—replaced by a new chapter, one fueled by his love for basketball and his determination to become the best player he could be… and to finally beat Rukawa.
His rival—who was also, somehow, his best friend now.
Yet, unfortunately was also a fucking weirdo , because instead of paying attention to the graduating third years giving their emotional farewell speeches after practice… he kept looking at him .
Whispering, Hanamichi said, “Look upfront, idiot”.
Ignoring Hanamichi, he stayed unmoved.
“And lastly, Rukawa and Hanamichi,” said Gori, which finally made Rukawa look away from him, “I wish you two luck for becoming the best duo in the next Inter-High.”
Gori slowly looked at him, “And Hanamichi?”
“Yes!”
“Guard our ring, King of Rebound!” shouted Gori as he gave him a proud smile.
Right away, he laughed and said, “Bwahahaha, don’t worry, Gori, don’t you know I’m Tensai?!”
Surrounded by protest from everyone, Gori grinned at him before asking everyone to go back home and rest.
Softly, he whispered to Rukawa, “What the hell was that?”
“What?”
“You stared at me like you planned to kill me.”
“I am not.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Hanamichi frowned, “Kitsune, you’re weird.”
He shrugged before joining others to get out of the gym. Hanamichi followed him from behind, still feeling confused. As if Rukawa realized the uneasiness in his heart, he said, “When you said my dream is becoming yours, did you really mean it?”
Dumbfounded, Hanamichi stopped walking, “I am. Why do you ask?”
Rukawa turned around and said, “Then, we need to win the Inter-High together.”
“Hah?”
Sighed heavily, Rukawa said, “Scholarship. We have to play so well that universities take interest in you and give you scholarships. And then, you could go pro by playing great in university competition. And…”
To say he was surprised was understatement. Hanamichi was high on the clouds knowing Rukawa, the one he wanted to surpass since the beginning of his basketball journey, cared enough to give him a path, “And?”
“Follow me to America.”
“...”
Rukawa stretched out his fist and said, “Dream bigger, then follow me.”
Hanamichi was stunned before chuckling and bumping his fist to Rukawa’s, “You’re so demanding.”
“I can’t expect less from my partner.”
Blushing, Hanamichi stuttered, “I- Idiot Kitsune.”
Smirking, Rukawa murmured, “Total Do’aho.”