Chapter Text
It's the last day for Maki Shinichi to be in Kainan's high school. Maybe he'll come back to check on his former basketball team that he used to lead. He doesn't have to think much because he knows he's leaving his team in good hands. Maki believes in Jin; he knows Jin will be a good leader. He definitely will, considering that he's one of the people who can stand Kiyota's shenanigans.
It's not like Maki will never miss his school; he'll miss it, but he'll probably be too busy to even think about it. Maki is pursuing his dream to become a lawyer, just like his father. Many people said it was a really hard and busy subject, but he'll take it otherwise. He knows what he wants, and he'll get what he wants.
After a good 35 minutes of saying good-bye to everyone, including his teammate, classmates, his teachers, his juniors that he's nice too, his exes (not that he wants it; they just so happen to be there when he's saying his goodbyes), and most importantly, Kiyota, who couldn't stop crying for the last 20 minutes.
It felt great knowing he'd be missed soon. Though Maki didn't know that he'd be missed by someone who wasn't from his school,.
After really saying his last goodbye to everyone, a tall figure standing near the school's entrance catches his eye. Maki knew the person the moment he laid eyes on him. It's Ryonan's ace, Sendoh Akira.
"Didn't expect to see you here. Waiting for your girlfriend, perhaps?" Maki asked, his eyebrow arched in curiosity.
"Dang it, Maki-san. We broke up 2 months ago," Sendoh replied. Though Maki didn't know if Sendoh was joking or if he was being serious, Sendoh looks visibly upset right now.
"Then? Why are you here?" He asked again, making sure to make it sound as playful as he could. Its his first time seeing Sendoh this upset. Hell, Sendoh wasn't even upset when Ryonan lost against Kainan.
"I came to see you."
Sendoh's replies left him with so many questions. Again, is Sendoh being serious, or is it one of his tricks? Did he do this to everyone who had played against him and defeated him? Did Sendoh do this to Kogure, Akagi, and Mitsui too?
'Cus the last thing Maki wanted right now was for the guy he had the biggest crush on to play around with his feelings. It'll be understandable if Kainan's and Ryonan's high school buildings are nearby, but Sendoh literally needs to take a train to get here, or ride a bike to get here because Maki just spotted a bike being parked nearby.
To not mess up with his own mind more, Maki decided to do what his therapist told him to do when he's stuck in a questionable situation: take a nice walk.
"Why don't we take a walk around this neighborhood while you explain to me why you're here? What do you say?" Asked Maki in his usual calm voice.
Sendoh only replied with a nod before stepping aside, letting Maki lead him. Probably because he had no idea how the neighborhood was. After the school building was a bit smaller in their view, Sendoh spoke, "Congrats on graduating high school. Have you chosen which university you're going to yet?"
To be honest, that isn't what Maki wanted to hear. He wanted an answer. The answer to why Sendoh is here, but he decided to play along. "One of the reasons I chose Kainan's high school is because I wanted to enter Kainan's university. So, Kainan's university it is." Maki's replies were the last conversation they had before another awkward silence took over again. It's only 6 minutes later when Sendoh starts to talk again.
"Can I tell you something, Maki-san?" He asked, and his voice cracked when he said Maki's name. Maybe because he's on the verge of crying? Or maybe because he's just trying to hold his laugh. Maki should stop overthinking and hope.
"Yeah sure. What is it, Sendoh?"
"Remember my ex-girlfriend? I..I actually used her." Again, Sendoh's replies were not something Maki wanted to hear, but they did shock him a little. The rumors about Sendoh being a playboy might be true.
"And why are you telling me this?" Maki asked, purely out of curiosity.
"Because I lied to her so I could see you."
Sendoh didn't even look at Maki when he said those words. He didn't even stop walking when Maki stopped walking because so many questions were starting to pop into his mind like messenger notifications from a loud group.
Though, from where he's standing, Maki can see how red Sendoh's ears are.
"Sendoh, can you please explain what is going on here?"
Maki had caught up with him as he asked those questions. Out of reflex, he placed his hand on Sendoh's shoulder. To stop him from walking and to make Sendoh turn around and look at him. Sendoh did turn around, but he avoided looking back at Maki's eyes.
"Slowly, explain to me. Please"
Sendoh took a deep breath, and just like Maki told him to, he slowly explained everything to Maki.
"I used her so I could come to Kainan after school without being a creep. I do this so I can see you every day. Maybe not every day, but I'll cherish every damn time I get to see you."
Sendoh's expression is unreadable. Is he upset or sad? Or what the actual hell is going on here?
"I like you, Maki-san"
Oh
Ohh
Ohhh
Now, Maki just went quiet as he thought about it. It was unexpected, to say the least. So it is true that Sendoh was checking him out when Maki saw him eyeing his sweaty body after that certain match.
"You used her so you could see me? Because you like me? Isn't that bad, Sendoh? You might hurt your ex-girlfriend's feelings." Maki said, trying his best not to blush at the moment. Mostly because he felt bad for Sendoh's ex-girlfriend.
Sendoh shrugs after Maki says those words. "She cheated, so I don't really care."
Ok, now Maki doesn't feel bad anymore, though he has no idea how to deal with this sudden confession. But then he remembered something.
Maki reached for the upper button of his blazer and took it off.
"Gimme your hand," he told Sendoh.
The next thing he knew, Maki had dropped the button into the palm of his hand.
"It's weird to say it, but I'll wait for you. Say those words again after you graduate, after you get into the university you've been chasing. Also, be a good team leader for me, okay?"
Sendoh nodded slowly. It gave Maki a sigh of relief to see that the upset face of Sendoh had been lifted. On the other hand, Sendoh is glad that he confessed before it was too late.
For the first time since their initial meeting today, Sendoh smiled at Maki. It's not his signature smug or mocking smile. It's a smile filled with passion and, perhaps, love.
"I'll try my best to change. For you, and for myself."