[SD Sendoh and Rukawa] Ace Showdown

Sendoh had always taken things as they came and never deliberately pursued anything. But now he was suddenly curious, fixated on finding an answer. He turned to look at Rukawa, who was resting with his eyes closed beside him, and said, "Rukawa."

"...Yeah." Rukawa, nearly dozing off, cracked his eyes open and answered a little sluggishly. His voice had a faint nasal quality, and the slight upward lilt made him sound a little impatient.

"Why were you hostile toward me the moment we met at the practice game?"

Rukawa froze at the question for a moment, then closed his eyes and went back to pretending to sleep. Just as Sendoh was about to give up on getting an answer, Rukawa spoke. "I watched one of your games in my third year of middle school."

The answer seemed completely unrelated, and Sendoh was a little confused. Then it suddenly clicked.

He glanced at Rukawa, who had his eyes closed and wore a lazy expression. For some reason, the corners of Sendoh's mouth rose, and he couldn't suppress his smile.

"So I'd already become your target back then."

"My opponent."

"Still, you're awfully cold toward an opponent."

"..."

"Hey, Rukawa..."

Sendoh had grown up hearing praise from elders and teachers, and always approached everything with a casual air of indifference. Yet for the first time, someone had called him their opponent, and it filled him with joy. The happiness welling up from the depths of his heart left him completely bewildered.