"Ten seconds to go, she dribbles over half-court, head fake, 6 seconds, crossover, drives the lane, 3, pulls up for the fadeaway, 2, 1...." [clank] Makoto cursed silently under her breath and jogged over to retrieve the basketball. Suddenly, she became aware that she had an audience. "Nice shot, Kino, you just lost the World Championship for Japan." Leaning against the bleachers on the other side of the gymnasium, clapping slowly and mockingly, was someone she had not seen in a long time. Though she was surprised and excited to see him, Makoto couldn't let such impudence go unpunished. "Gee, 'Shinoko', I thought after the whipping I put on you last time, you'd never dare set foot on a basketball court again. Did you pick up some new moves in Kyoto that you'd like to see dissected?" She tossed the basketball to Shinozaki Kenjo with enough force to make him scramble to catch it. Shinozaki laughed and dribbled over toward his oldest, dearest friend. "Not right now, I'm still recovering, thank you. It's good to see you, Mako-chan. It's been way too long." Closing the distance between them, he shot randomly toward the basket and opened his arms to her. He didn't notice that it actually went in with a 'swish', but Makoto certainly did. "Good shot, Kenjo-chan!" she said with a smile, embracing him. After a solid squeeze, she stepped back, holding his hands in her own. "I didn't think you'd be back till the winter holidays! When did you get into town?" Kenjo smiled, released one of her hands, and led her over toward the bleachers to sit. "We have mid-term break, so I figured I'd hop the train and come home for the week. Got in yesterday morning. I tried to track you down at the ice cream parlor, but your friend Mizuno told me you were probably here, working out." "Yeah, after my routine, I like to shoot around a little. None of my friends, well other than you, really likes basketball much. Haruka likes auto racing and Minako is obsessed with volleyball, but other than that they're not too interested in any sports," Makoto lamented. "I thought you were toning your interest in sports down after whathisname dumped you with that bullshit about not being 'feminine' enough," Kenjo asked. Though his tone was light, he turned to watch her reaction closely. Last time they'd had the chance for a real heart-to-heart, he'd been able to tell that she was still upset over what that guy had said to her, even though it was now a number of years past. As he'd hoped, though, time apparently had healed that wound. She simply laughed and shook her head. "I never lost interest, but its not much fun when you try to explain the intricacies of a zone defense to girls who have no interest whatsoever. Nah, my friends have no clue, so I don't bother them with it." Makoto sighed and a small smile tweaked her lips. "Ami, though, she'll listen politely. I think she even looked up some stuff once, just so I'd have someone to enjoy the last World Cup with. You still owe me 500 yen, by the way," she added, nudging Kenjo in the ribs. "Ami? That's Mizuno-san, right? She's the one who told me I could probably find you here. Seems like a sweet girl," Kenjo noted. "Does she have a boyfriend?" Kenjo was quite surprised to see Makoto's eyes flare briefly. No one else might have noticed, but there weren't many people who knew Kino Makoto the way he did. For the first time in a very long time, he began to wonder if perhaps she was jealous. After some fits and starts when they had both hit puberty years ago, they had both finally realized that they just worked better as friends and since then, it had never been an issue. When "the jerk", as she called him (what Kenjo called him can't be printed), dumped her, Kenjo was there to offer an umbrella and a shoulder to cry on. When the first great love of his life had told him that she loved him, but was not in love with him and that they should just be friends, Makoto had been there to listen, to sympathize, to help him get past it. For years, it had never even occurred to him that either of them could think of the other as anything other than what they were, best friends, but... there had been something there. "Only you could get jet lag from riding a train, Shinozaki!," Makoto teased, waving her hand in front of his eyes. "I hope you weren't sitting there fantasizing about my Ami. Don't waste your time," she added, "she's got 'Urawa-san'." Again, no one else might have noticed, but Kenjo heard it. She didn't like this Urawa fellow at all. "Besides," she continued, "you're only here for a week. I hope you aren't so hard up at school that you've got to come back to Tokyo lookin' for love!" Makoto smiled lightly, but laid a hand over his to let her friend know that, if it was something like that, he could certainly talk to her about it. For a moment, they just sat together. Makoto couldn't quite tell what Kenjo was thinking, but still she marveled at how, no matter how long they were apart, the minute they got together it was as if no time at all had passed. "I'm not looking for love, Kino," Kenjo laughed, patting her hand. "I am between romances at the moment, as they say, but have some prospects back at school. How about you? Still got a heart aflutter for that guy that works down at the arcade?" Makoto giggled nervously, which made Kenjo even more suspicious (Makoto, giggling?) and shook her head. "Nah, he's got a girlfriend. Besides, I really don't have time for that kind of thing, what with school and, you know, the other stuff." Even though they were clearly alone, she still darted her eyes around the gym. She could still recall the day when she had told him about her 'secret identity' as Sailor Jupiter and what it meant. There hadn't been much chance for her to hide it, after he had been injured in an attack. She had sworn him to secrecy, even though they both trusted each other with their lives, and, even then, it had still been hard for her to tell him. Afterwards, though, Makoto found it was nice to able to share that part of her life with him as well. Kenjo had an outsider's perspective on things that often gave her great insights into the larger issues associated with her dual roles. Though she loved and cherished all of the senshi, sometimes there were still things she needed to work through that they couldn't understand. Kenjo nodded. "Sounds kind of lonely." "Oh, but its not like that really!" Makoto declared, sitting up straight with an excited glint in her eye. "The other sen.. the others are all so wonderful. Aside from you, they're the best friends I've ever had. We spend all sorts of time together. Ami and I get together just about every night to study and have dinner, especially when her mom has to work late. Her mom is a doctor, so Ami's all alone at home and you know I am, so we decided we might as well be alone together. She'll bring her books over, I'll make us dinner. Sometimes, the other girls will come by as well, when they're not too busy. And, of course, we have our meetings in the afternoons when we can. Ami, she's studying to be a doctor too, so she's got a lot of classes, but she tries to avoid scheduling afternoon classes when she can. My classes are usually in the mornings or the evenings, and the others make time as well. Ami and I were joking just the other day that we didn't see how Minako had as much time to date as she does, and of course Usagi only has free time since her boyfriend went abroad to study." Kenjo just sat back and listened as Makoto told him about her life. One of the things he really loved about her was her enthusiasm, especially for the things that mattered most in her life: sports, exercise, cooking, her friends. Though they'd gone to different schools, he knew that she had a reputation as someone to be avoided. Dealing with all of that, not to mention her parents' deaths, had created walls around her. Thus, Kenjo particularly enjoyed those times when his presence allowed her to let some of that passion and energy out. As she spoke, however, he began to sense something. She might not be willing to admit it, but she did sound lonely. Every happy expression accompanied a story about time spent with her friends. As he considered that, an odd thought came to mind. 'Damn, if this were a drinking game and I was taking a shot every time she said the word 'Ami', I'd be on my way to detox.' Slowly, notions began to form in his head. "Why are you smiling at me like that?" Makoto asked suspiciously. "I know I've been rambling on a bit, but you know me well enough to know how I am." Kenjo startled, realizing that she'd stopped speaking about four stations back on his train of thought. "Sorry! Just had a funny idea, that's all." "Well, you gonna share? You weren't gonna ask me to set you up with Usagi again, were you? I told you she's destined for another and besides, she'd drive you nuts after a week. I swear, I don't know what it is with you and blondes. I've always preferred dark hair myself, and the more studious type. Maybe I _should_ set you up with Minako, it might serve you both right!" Kenjo raised an eyebrow with amusement at her descriptions. "No, no, nothing like that. Let me ponder it a bit more. Maybe I'll share later, say over dinner tonight?" Makoto frowned suddenly, "Ami and I were going to have dinner with the rest of the senshi... why are you laughing?" Kenjo coughed to regain some control. 'Ami and I' not 'All of us together'. He wondered if she even suspected, and whether or not the rest of their friends knew. Then, he remembered something, something about 'Urawa'. 'Oh, my Mako-chan, I hope you haven't done it again. Why can't you fall in love with someone unattached for once,' he thought wistfully. "No reason. Well, what works for you, then?" he asked. Makoto thought a moment. "I want to be able to talk without feeling rushed, but I've got classes all week." "How about we meet here on Saturday morning then? We can exercise and then maybe shoot some hoops. I think my confidence is returning." "You're on, hot shot," Makoto agreed. "Now, I really need to hit the showers and no, I can't get you a visitor's pass to the girls' locker room, so you'd better hit the road.. See ya Saturday!" As she walked off, Kenjo sat on the bench and thought about how he might be able to help his friend. First things first. He needed to do some research. Jumping up quickly, he yelled, "Hey Kino, hold up a second!" "What's the matter, did you forget the way home?" she responded with a smirk. "No, I wanted to ask you a favor, seriously," Kenjo said, dashing over to her. "Could you set me up on a date with your friend Minako?" "Are you really serious?" Makoto asked, with a startled look. "I thought you had 'prospects' and besides, you're heading back to Kyoto soon. You mean you can't go a week without a date?" Though her tone was teasing, Kenjo could see shades of concern growing in her eyes. "Could you just ask her, as a favor? I promise, I'm fine and it's nothing weird. I'd just like to meet this girl you keep mentioning to me," Kenjo said in a soothing voice. "Ok," Makoto agreed, somewhat reluctantly. "I'm not sure what you're up to, but I'll do it as a favor, to both of you." Suddenly, her smile returned. "I really do think the two of you would get along. After all you have so much in common!" Kenjo could guess where this was going, but he asked anyway. "And that would be?" "You both love me!" Makoto answered with an even bigger smile. "I'll ask her tonight and give you a call later. See ya!" Kenjo smiled, at her joke but also at Makoto in general. She was such a sweet girl and he really wanted to see her happy. He suspected he finally had a lead on a way he could help in that department, but before he did anything or said anything to her about it, he needed some confirmation. Hopefully, this would be a step in that direction. 'And hey,' he thought, 'if nothing else, I get to have dinner with a hot blonde!' With that happy thought, he headed out.
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