It was a rather nice day for Akiyama Takara. Sun was shining, birds were chirping while flying around and everything seemed just perfect. Seemed. And then the doorbell rang.

After finishing middle school Takara wanted nothing more than to be left alone. Going to Yosen High was a good decision at the time so she did exactly that in order to forget about her middle school miserable life. But, even though she really wanted to forget about her days in Teiko middle, she couldn't. Living next door to Murasakibara Atsushi had already been a handful even without him being a constant reminder how things went from bad to worse while she was still a middle school student. It appeared as though moving next door to Murasakibara family turned her life upside down. She got an annoying little brat of a brother that liked everyone except for her, had been nearly crushed by the Murasakibara giant dozens of times, had both her arms broken and hair completely burned off of her head. Twice. Three years in high school and Takara still hasn't gotten over her Atsushi complex. But, strange as she was, despite all of that, she liked Atsushi, even more on days when he volunteered to take care of her younger brother, so it wasn't a surprise for her to see him, of all people, standing in front of the door she just opened.

„Morning Taka-chin." He said shoving a lollipop in her face with his giant hand.

Takara smiled at her best friend enjoying how he looked with his eyes still half closed even though he got up hours ago.

„Hello Atsu, come in. I have to get my stuff and I really want to avoid Kazuo's tantrums if he doesn't get to see you."

Murasakibara grumbled but went inside nonetheless.

„Takara, woman, who is it?"

„What do you think Misaki woman?!" the girl yelled back at her mother.

„Oh, Atsushi come in. Kazuo is in the kitchen." Akiyama Misaki said as she stepped inside the hallway, patting her daughter's head and smiling cheerfully at Takara and Atsushi.

„Yes mom-chan." The tall basketballer replied leaving the hallway to go to Kazuo before Takara started yelling at him to hurry.

It was always like this, ever since the Akiyama family moved to their neighbourhood. Atsushi would be sent on his way by his smiling mother, knock or press the doorbell, above which in cursive was written Akiyama, Takara would open the door, Akiyama mom-chan and dad-kun would tell their daughter to bring him in, Kazuo would start jumping and screaming like there's no tomorrow and then Takara would get all flustered trying to calm her brother down. It would all finish with Kazuo crying to his parents, Takara sighing in defeat and Atsushi getting more candy than usual for having to go through all that day after day. However, for some reason, and he could never guess why exactly, Atsushi actually liked those daily routines the two families shared. Ever since his mother's childhood friend and his family got here, his life has been coloured in more than just rainbow colours. Having Takara near was like having a stuffed toy for sister. He could always tickle her and watch her struggle to tickle him back when he was distancing himself with nothing but his palm pressed against her forehead. It was actually funny how much she tried to keep up with the role of the older sister, not only for Kazuo but for him as well. At the end of the day he didn't mind having Akiyama family near, especially not now when he started going to the same high school as Takara.

„Kazuo get down from there, mom said it's time for your nap."

„No." The small boy answered clinging to Atsushi who simply sighed lazyly.

„Atsu just kick him off, we have to go." She pointed out, glaring at the little brat that was her brother.

„Kazu-chin I have to go now." Murasakibara said as he put the kid back in his chair.

„Yes Tsutsu." Kazu replied so politely making Takara ask herself if it was really her brother.

„Take care of yourselves." Takara's mother shouted after them from upstairs.

„Muro-chin is coming with us." Atsushi said as they were walking down the street.

„Who?" Takara asked trying to adjust her bag so it would stop kicking her back.

„Himuro Tatsuya." Murasakibara replied amused by her struggle.

„Oh right, you told me about him and the rest of the Bakaball club guys."

Atsushi nodded and continued to walk trying to go as slowly as he could so that Takara wouldn't fall too much behind him. She suddenly jerked her head up remembering something.

„You have practice today, right? Anyway, you can wait for me to finish my shift and we'll go back together."

„Okay." Atsushi said keeping his yawning down.

„I just hope Murasakibara mom-chan is making something good."

„Sweet."

„You can't eat sweets all the time."

„Try me."

„Atsushi!" Takara sighed desperatly. Even though he looked like a giant, she knew her friend was more of a baby.

„Stop." Murasakibara said as he placed his hand on her shoulder.

She looked around to find the reason for stopping in the middle of the street. Her answer came in form of a handsome young man whom Takara immediatly recognized as Muro-chin she heard so much about. He greeted them with a gentle smile and perfect manners. Takara couldn't help herself and kept glancing at him in awe. She had never met anyone who was so perfectly polite. She had to smile remembering her classmate, that girl always said she would find a man who was Shakespear reincarnated and marry him. Himuro didn't look much like the famous writer, but his manners were shakespearean indeed.

The three of them walked in silence for the rest of the way to school. Morning breeze felt so good, and by the quiet rustling of leaves it was becoming more and more obvius that winter was approaching once again.

„Atsushi we should go to the captain, he sent me a message to meet him in front of the entrance." Himuro said gently making Takara nod in approval. It was possible that there was a person other than her who could get along with Atsushi and his way of life just fine, and she was happy for that.

„Himuro, Murasakibara! Coach wants to talk with us!" Takara nearly jumper, startled after hearing someone shout after them.

She turned around to see the rest of the Yosen High basketball team, it didn't take long for her to recognize them all. After all, they went to same school for a few years now.

The light brown haired one, Fukui, if she was correct, waved his head disapprovingly at his taller and fierce looking friend and captain. „Now, now Okamura. Nobody wants to listen to your annoying shouting. Just tell them what you have and spare us, you unpopular gorilla." Okamura yelled something about nobody showing him respect but Fukui paid him no mind, instead turned his head around only to come face to face with Takara. The girl took a step back and bowed at her schoolmates.

„Shit. I'm shocked. You really came with Murasakibara Akiyama-san?"

„Yes Fukui-kun." She answered awkwardly trying to ignore Okamura and Liu's staring. They looked so confused after hearing her answer, it was as if like they couldn't believe it.

„I'm off now, Atsu. Wait for me so we can go home together." She waved at them trying to get through the crowd and to her classroom.

„Really, Murasakibara, really? A girl?" Okamura asked. He could never imagine the lazy basketball prodigy giant with a girl.

„It's just Taka-chin." Atsushi said as he put another candy in his mouth.