thief-uchia: Well, seeing that I only ever write stories for Cirque du Freak, I figured it'll be fun to team up with Nyukisan10. So yeah… I hope you enjoy. And… here goes nothing! BTW, this is based on the manga, not the anime.

Nyukisan10: as some of you know me as the person who jumps form one to another! So…reviews will be very nice!!!

Disclaimer: We own nothing.

Chapter 1: The Man with the Golden Legs

"Sena-kun! Sena-kun!" Mamori exclaimed, waving her arms towards the younger boy. "Today's the day, right? The exam results should be up! Let's go see!"

Sena gulped, regretting everything in that one instant. "Mamori-neechan, wait I…" He fiddled with his fingers, wondering how to phrase the next part of the sentence.

Mamori turned to look at him. "What is it, Sena-kun?" she asked, becoming worried in a single moment. "Do you feel unwell?"

"Well… the truth is…" Sena took a deep breath. Here I go. What I've practiced forever. These lines… "Mamori-neechan, I didn't take the exam for Deimon High School. I… want to show you that I can stand up on my own feet. That is… er… I mean, I'm pretty sure I can survive, and the bullies… ah, I'm going to die, aren't I?"

Mamori blinked, trying to make sense of what Sena was mumbling off to. He didn't apply to Deimon? Then…?

----

Sena took a deep breath, trying to calm that beating heart of his. How did I manage to get hereby myself? He wondered to himself as he looked around the high school ground. A Notre Damn-like-school stood proudly as if to beckon him on, and Sena found himself sighing dreamily. What a beautiful school… Oujou…

But such thought made the young boy depressed again. I don't belong here… Sena curled into a small ball by the school gate, refusing to even walk in. Maybe Mamori-neechanwas right. I should've applied for Deimon so I could be with her…

"No!" Sena exclaimed suddenly. He jumped up to his feet, turning towards the school gate. I applied for Oujou so I can show her that I can stand on my own two feet! I'm not going to be a coward again! Then he paused again. But what if I failed? What if Mamori-neechan was right and I was stupid to even dream about going to Oujou? What if I'll never be anything more than a bully's play thing? What if I'm going to be protected by Mamori-neechan forever? Sena completely deflated before curling up to a ball again.

Takami watched this with an amused smile on his face. Is he a rising freshman? How cute. Chuckling softly, he walked over to the small ball that Sena made. "Hey there," Takami began as gentle as he could. It wouldn't do to scare the poor kid. He looked scared already even without Takami's help!

Sena looked up shyly, his eyes wide and teary. Did he not make it to Oujou? Takami wondered briefly. Worried, he squatted next to the younger boy.

"Hey, calm down," Takami said, trying to be as comforting as possible. "I'm sure your parents would understand if you didn't make it." Although, wearing the Oujou uniform while saying this might have been slightly more insulting, but it didn't stop Takami from trying. Why am I even being nice to this freshman anyways?

"Th… thank you," Sena sniffed. He quickly dabbed at his eyes, making sure that he wasn't crying. He shook his head and stood up quickly, looking determined. "I... I haven't failed yet," he explained to Takami. "I was… just building my courage…"

His face flushed when he realized that Takami was giving him a rather amused look. Bashed, Sena quickly bowed streams of apology rushing out of his mouth. "I'm sorry! I must be so annoying! I mean, I'm just a random kid standing in front of the school gate and-"

Takami chuckled lightly. "It's alright," he said. Funny kid. At least I won't be bored if I help him around."Then why don't we check the board together?" Takami offered. "Come on, don't be shy. What's your name?"

"K… Kobayakawa Sena," Sena answered. "Ah, and my exam number is 21."

Takami nodded, taking Sena's hand. If Sena didn't know any better, he would've sworn that it was Mamori-neechan who was holding his hand. Ah… his hand is gentle. Just like Mamori-neechan… He smiled hopefully. Maybe I will be able to do well here in Oujou. I mean, I've already made a friend! Wait… does he count as a friend? Well, he's definitely being nice…

"There!" Takami said in his calm voice. He pointed towards a name on the board. "Number 21, Kobayakawa Sena."

Sena stared at the number and his name in disbelief. I… did it..? "I'm… I'm an Oujou student!" He exclaimed. He turned to Takami with sparkling eyes. "Thank you so much!"

Takami chuckled lightly. He seemed to be chuckling a lot today. "I really haven't done anything," he admitted openly. He outstretched his hand to the younger boy. "But let me be the first to tell you, Kobayakawa-kun. Congratulations. You are now an official member of Oujou."

Sena shook the older boy's hand, his chest swelling with pride. "I will work hard!" he promised. "Don't worry; I'll make you proud, Mamori-neechan!"

Takami raised a brow. Mamori-neechan? The last he checked, Takami was a guy. And he didn't remember anyone named Mamori… Did Sena confuse him with someone else? Come to think of it, Takami realized that he hadn't told his name to his underclassman. No wonder he confused me with someone else. But the fact that Sena confused him with a girl annoyed Takami to no end.

"I'm not Mamori-neechan, but I am Takami Ichiro," he said, more sharply than he had planned.

"Ah!" Sena exclaimed, his face turning red. "I'm so sorry Takami-san! It's just… you remind me of Mamori-neechan." Sena bowed deeply.

Now Takami was curious. Who was this mysterious 'Mamori-neechan?' But to just plainly ask the younger boy would've been rather creepy. So Takami bit back his tongue and nodded good naturally. After all, he still had the guilt-card up his sleeve "I understand," he said rather darkly. "I'm so feminine that you mistook me for your older sister…"

"I'm sorry!" Sena exclaimed, but had to bite back a smile, imagining Takami as Mamori. "But Mamori-neechan isn't my older sister per say. She's just… like a sister to me."

"Is that so?" Takami asked. Then his eyes glanced down at his watch and mentally cursed. "It's already this late? Sorry Kobayakawa-kun, but I must get going. The meeting was supposed to have started five minutes ago!"

Before Sena could question the older boy, Takami gave a wave and left. Takami wasn't that fast when he ran, Sena noticed. I probably could catch up to him… But he stopped himself. His speed was his secret weapon against bullies. He was going to use it like Riku did, not for petty things like chasing after an upperclassman because Sena was too scared to find his own homeroom. Sena nodded to himself. Yes. I'm going to use my speed to fight!

"How dare you speak that way to an Oujou girl!?" a voice rang out from the courtyard.

Sena flinched at the yell. I changed my mind! I don't want to fight! He backed away as a tall, white haired boy with very dark rings around his eyes was dragged away from the school. Sena heard a faint "Ikari, don't come back until you fix that attitude!" But by then, he was running at his top speed, away from the scene. Hiieeee!!! I don't want to die! I just came to this school!

----

Takami fixed his glasses as the coach continued his pep talk about the death of the Golden Age. Yeah, yeah. I've heard this lecture enough times already. I know that we're no longer the Golden Age. But… His eyes landed on Shin Seijuro. But with a guy like that…

Shin was sitting stoically in front of a window. His eyes completely focused on the coach, as if to drink every single word that came out of the coach's mouth. Figures. He's too serious, that Shin. Something behind Shin caught Takami's eyes. He frowned. That's funny… Am I seeing things?

Shōji Gunpei knew something was wrong the moment Takami suddenly stood up and marched towards Shin. That's odd. Takami's usually calm. He opened his mouth to stop him when Takami completely by passed Shin and stared out the window with wide eyes. By now, Takami had everyone's attention. And by then, even Shin saw the blur that Takami was focused on. Shin's eyes, too, was now wide open. Has the speed that could surpass the perfect player appeared right before their eyes?

Shin pulled the window open and jumped outside, landing with ease. The other players watched this with shock. "That Shin… once he finds someone, not even two story building can stop him!"

----

Shin turned a corner, racing towards where he assumed the speed demon had disappeared to. But by then, there was nothing but dust and trees. Shin frowned. Who was that? And exactly how fast is he? To outrun me so easily…

Completely ignoring the strange looks he was getting, Shin pulled on a glove. Whoever you are, this arm will catch you. "I should go train," he mumbled softly. So that I might catch that speed.

He gave the empty place one last look. One day, perhaps.Shin turned and left, jogging towards the gym.

Meanwhile, behind a tree, a certain small brunette sighed in relief. Good, it looks like that scary guy will leave me alone for now. Thank god…

Little did he know, that was just the beginning of their meeting.