Chapter 2: Unfolded Masks

Sitting quietly by myself as I wait for everyone else to walk into math class, I pull out my old, tattered sketchbook that I had carried by my side since the start of middle school. It was full of little, small doodles that ranged from your standard flower, to something more intricate, like a landscape portrait of a wedding venue. Although I had no intention to tie the knot, I always dreamt of a wedding just like any other girl. The overly exuberant dress, the judgmental, drunk guests and that one song. The one that would play unconsciously in the back of your mind for the rest of your life as you spend the unseen future with him. Every detail, colour, design. I had it planned out. Except, a bride and groom were lacking. And most importantly, love.

After the first practice today, I had managed to find weaknesses and strengths within each player. Like how Sakurai managed to do well, surprisingly enough, under pressure. He had the power within himself to match his opponent's shots if he really wanted it. His confidence needed a large boost in order to achieve those means.

Wakamatsu. Yes, the very large man who fitted well with an even grander personality. His rebounds and agility as a center was remarkable. Watching him play at some points, dare I say this, I had caught glimpses of potential captain material within him. A good candidate for the position seeing as how this was the last year for Imayoshi and Susa. It's that ill-mannered temper of his that needed controlling. If he could keep it on a leash, he was golden.

And then, there was Imayoshi, the captain and figurehead of the boys. He was to be well respected was what I noted from watching him play. Other than that, I could tell from his performance as to why he had gained the title. Albeit his personality seemed a little off at times, his plays, his defense, offense, he could turn both on like a switch. He had a lot more tricks up his sleeves that made me waiting for next practice, embarrassingly enough.

And then there was the problem child of this little family that was based on selfishness. Yes, selfishness. Watching them play and interact, I could immediately tell by their body language that it was each man for themselves on the court. Oddly enough, it somehow worked. But the idea of it all made me uneasy as to how they could play so…so blindly, so to speak.

Aomine had never returned back to the gymnasium after I had sent him out. I suppose it was understandable. An apology from a man was a massive blow to his ego from what I had noted. I wasn't angry or enraged. More happy than anything that he had decided to not come back. Seeing him as little as possible would do us both good in my opinion.

After practice Momoi had apologized on his behalf, and so did Imayoshi. All I could do was shrug my shoulders in response. I mean, what could I tell them?

Now here I was, sitting perfectly docile in the front of the class as I tapped the edge of my pencil against the cover of my book. Staring down at the blank, ghostly page, I think about what to draw.

Math was my best subject. Everything came to easy to me, like it was all a huge puzzle that needed to be fixed. And I was great at puzzles.

I had tried to get into the senior class of advanced mathematics, but they no longer offered the course because of how few were willing to take it. So I had opted for senior math instead, but the teacher was concerned that a first year secluded in a room with a class of seniors wouldn't exactly make for a welcoming environment for me. Trying to protest and persuade her, she declined. Instead, she told me that if I took a final exam for this year's math class from a previous year, that she could get me into a class to act as student tutor.

Hesitantly I had agreed and took the text. Scoring perfect on it, I was placed into a class to act as a tutor. Now this was good and bad. Good that I didn't have to sit through boring lessons of material that I already knew how to do. Bad because I now had to talk and help a bunch of student's my age that didn't know anything about what they were doing.

All I knew that this was the one class where I'd have to maintain some composure.

So, like all my classes, I chose the desk right up front because to others, it was the most unappealing. Meaning I'd sometimes find no one to be sitting around myself, meaning that I was left to my peace and quiet.

XxXxXxX

"Hiyori?" calls out a light, gentle voice. Looking up from my red, auburn bangs, I find the teacher to be staring down at me, a smile to her lips.

Trying to muster one back out of common courtesy, I ask if there was anything she needed.

"As a matter of fact, there is. It seems you haven't noticed but there is a student who-"

"Needs my help," I finish, as I push out of my chair, grabbing a pencil and piece of paper.

She nods her head politely, as she tells me that he is sitting in the last row, by the window in the back.

Looking around the class, I watch the struggling boy in the corner as he begins to tug at his hair irritably. Oh, Sakurai was in this class.

Thanking her for telling me, I walk across the classroom quietly, no one taking notice of my presence because they were all trying to work on, in their cases, hard problems. Since the desk besides Sakurai was vacant, I pushed it right up against his and plopped down before the stressed and frightened boy.

Taking a peak at his notebook, Sakurai was on the fourth out of the seven. Good. At least he had some clue as to what he was doing.

"C-Coach," he stammers out helplessly, as the brim of his eyes begin to water.

"Would you like some help?"

Nodding his head furiously, he begins to explain how he was doing all the work right, but yet when he punched it into the calculator he was getting something very different. Double checking his work, I found that he understood the material quite well, actually. Quickly doing the calculation on my calculator, the answer comes out correct. Grabbing his next, I do the exact same equation, but it comes out completely different.

"This is…" I trail off questioningly, as I begin to inspect both his and my calculator. They were the same brand. Newly new. But, what was-

Ah, that was it. Sighing in annoyance, I begin to point out that his calculator had been changed into the RAD mode out of mistake. Changing it back to the Degree mode for him, he begins to thank me graciously as he hugs the side of my body out of happiness.

The pounding in my heart from before begins to slow down, skipping a few beats as I feel Sakurai's comforting touch, his warm body against mine. The smell of his hair as it lightly grazes the bottom of my nose. It had been so long since I'd been hugged.

For a moment, my hands begin to twitch uncomfortably as my body does not want to comply with my mind. They begin to reach towards Sakurai's body, about to hold him tighter into me. To feel more of his comforting, happy aura around my dark, dim world. My salvation to my empty heart.

But then suddenly my red, wavy hair whips madly in front of my face as I watch my former self escape from my grasp, disappearing as if it had never been there before.

Whoever had roughly pulled my chair away from Sakurai had begun to inhumanly turn me around in it as I clutch the sides, trying not to topple over.

Breathing raggedly as I feel a sharp pain in my chest, I look up into his fury, dark gaze as he leans in dangerously close, eyeing me with nothing but annoyance.

"Yer' in my seat."

"I-I was helping Sakur-"

"Don't fuckin' care if ya' were helping the Pope. Get up," he says tiredly, as he breathes a sigh of annoyance.

"Class is almost over. How can you be so late?"

"Why do you care? Get up."

Lying motionless for a few seconds, I find myself getting up due to his heated gaze that was burning wholes into me. I ignored the fact that much of the class was staring at us while the teacher remained oblivious.

Complying with his demands, I "get up".

The class begins to snicker and laugh as a vein begins to protrude out from his forehead.

"A-Are you serious?" he mutters in disbelief, as he points towards me.

Ignoring him again, I turn back around to Sakurai where I begin to explain to him the next question as if nothing had happened. I didn't understand what all the talk was about. Aomine told me to get up, so I did. He said nothing about getting up from the seat.

Right now I awkwardly stood over Sakurai as I held the chair up to my rear, holding it tightly against my bottom.

"Now since you're looking for a side, you're going to have to switch the formula a little bit. The 'x' will go on the-"

"Stop acting like a brat."

Continuing to tune him out, it's not long before Aomine takes action due to his short temper. Kicking my chair from behind, I begin to fall forwards onto Sakurai as I have no choice but to let go of the excess weight that was propelling me forward.

But little did I know that Aomine wasn't as cruel as he was letting on to be. Grabbing the fallen chair from my grasp, he immediately takes his seat as he has enough time to grab my arm, pulling me back from crashing into Sakurai and the desk.

Breathing a deep sigh of relief, I begin to thank whoever was in charge of my rollercoaster life for saving me from such an embarrassing act. Looking around the class, I find everyone had reverted back to their work before having a chance to catch a glimpse as to what was happening in this cursed corner of the class.

Getting a feel for my surroundings, I find that I face seated towards Sakurai, who stares at me with a red face.

P-Please don't tell me my skirt lifted when I was stumbling forward.

"Much better," mutters a pleased, haughty voice from behind me. Or should I say under me. Looking down at my feet I noticed that they didn't touch the floor like how they should've been. And that's when I feel it. His warm body beneath me. His long, strong arms wrapping protectively around my thin frame as he holds me tightly against his chest. I feel his breath on my neck as his teeth lightly graze my cold flesh.

Jumping off of Aomine I clutch my body helplessly as I stare at him with a furious, embarrassed look. W-Who gave him the right to hold me like that?! Especially in a classroom!

Aomine sits on his throne with a pleased grin as he wraps his hands behind his head. Kicking his legs up on Sakurai's desk, giving me a wink.

"By the feel of it I'm guessing a C," he says breathlessly, as I watch him close his eyes in bliss. Sakurai looks away in shame as his cheeks flush red.

What was a C?

"W-What're you talking about?" I stammer out confused, as I furiously yank down my skirt. I-I feel too exposed now. His hand resting on my bare thigh like that, his other hand tightly wrapped around me, his forearm pushing up my- My…

The blood draining from my face, I realize what he meant by C.That was my cup size.

Aomine cracks an eye open, making sure to catch my reaction. He opens his arms out while patting his thigh.

"Yer' always welcomed here, coach," he says seriously, before he bursts out laughing with a hesitant Sakurai by his side.

Fuming out of embarrassment I stalk back to my seat where I rest my head down on my desk. Why? Out of everyone why him? I didn't remember him being this bad in middle school. Then again, everyone changes.

"Teacher, I need help!" calls out Aomine, as I hear the hidden meaning behinds his words.

Please no. Please let the teacher take this one.

"Hiyori-chan, can you please help Aomine-kun?" she asks kindly.

Wanting to decline and leave class, I know I couldn't out of the promise I had made to help the student's in return of sitting in class quietly. Pushing out of my chair, I drag myself back towards the boy who would be the end of me.

"What-"

"Hiyori? Why does that name sound familiar?" he asks to himself, as he scratches the back of his head in a daze.

"Doesn't matter. You still refer to me as coach. Only friends of mine have the right."

Who was I kidding? I didn't have any friends.

Since there was no longer a spare chair nearby, I awkwardly stand in between Sakurai and Aomine. It was apparent that Aomine didn't need any help, seeing as how he just wanted to taunt me. But Sakurai and a few students around us began asking for my guidance, which helped me forget about the tanned boy in the back who kept his gaze locked on me.

"Hiyori-chan, please help me," whines a boy in front of Aomine who was almost, by the looks of it, as tall as Aomine. He had messy blonde hair and a very handsome smile to go with his face. Finishing up with a girl who had asked me a question about number seven, I move on to him where I catch Aomine's eyes.

"How come he can call you Hiyori?" he asks jealously, as he crosses his arms over his chest in annoyance.

"Because it sounds better from his lips," I reply back smugly, as I flash him a smile. Aomine's face contorts as I watch him begin to shoot daggers into the boy in front of him.

After helping the blonde boy, he begins to ask if I was willing to tutor him.

"I-"

"No," interrupts Aomine.

"I mean, I'd be willing to help you after school if you'd-"

"Hiyoko."

"…like and- What was that?" I suddenly ask, I turn to give Aomine a heated gaze.

"Hiyori. Hiyoko. If I can't call you by your name I'll call you Hiyoko."

A chick. He was calling me a chick. Behind me I hear Sakurai begin to laugh in remark.

"D-Don't call me-"

"Hiyoko."

"I said enough!"

Silencing him, I sigh out as I turn back around and begin to finish up the question for the blonde boy. Until I hear Aomine's whispers in the background.

"Hiyoko. Hiyoko, Hiyoko, Hiyo-"

Searching for something to throw at him, I'm suddenly called to from across the class.

"Hiyoko-chan, can you please help me?"

The class begins to laugh as everyone immediately begins to refer to me as a "chick". Turning around gruesomely to stare at the starter of it all, he flashes me a smile as he relaxes into his chair, closing his eyes tiredly.

XxXxXxX

Slamming my locker shut, I walk towards the mirror by the door as I stare back pitifully at my reflection. Over the summer my hand grown even longer, reaching just above my hips. With the hot sun gone, my tan was slowly fading and my red hair was beginning to grow lighter. My eyes remained the same. A dark, ash gray. Full of sadness and defeat.

Tying on the white head band that lay in my palm, I place it snug on my head as I sigh out at my appearance.

My sister had promised me during middle school that she'd find me a job by high school. And she had. Except, it was the same place she was working at. A maid café.

Working beside my nagging sister hadn't seemed like such a bad idea, but as soon as I had changed into my outfit, she began to ridicule me that I wasn't wearing it properly.

Nearly pinning me down in front of the other girls in the changing room, she ripped off my black tights. By that, I meant literally. Meaning that she did not want me going near them again. It's not that I was insecure about my body or anything. It's just that I preferred the embarrassing look with tights.

Unlike my sister, she wore the outfit to its full potential. Her dress was much shorter and most likely a size smaller, but that was only because she was happy with her body. She always told me that if a girl loved her body, then she might as well show it to the rest of the world.

She told me that during my last year of middle school, a time when I wasn't so stable. After our conversation I had went up to our shared room where I began to cut up and rip her clothes. After yelling and crying and asking what I was doing, I told her that I had thought that she wouldn't need them seeing as how she should just walk around naked if she loved her body so much and wanted the world to take notice.

Now that my sister and I were nearly the same size, except her breasts were an F cup, we shared most of our clothing since it was easier than spending our pay checks just like that.

Now here I was, about to refer to strangers by "Master" and "Mistress".

Suddenly the door to the changing room is opened, welcoming in my already bustling sister who had started her shift an hour before I had come in from school.

Which reminded me of Aomine. After referring to me as Hiyoko, by the end of the day I had peers, and the upper classmen referring to me by the name. Thanks to Aomine, my wishes of keeping a low profile had been thrown out the window.

"Hey kid, are you- Ew, are you going out like that?" she asks slightly repulsed, as she points specifically towards my hair.

Nodding my head, I try to walk past her but she roughly grabs my arm, pulling me back.

What was up with people man handling me today?

Pushing me onto the nearby bench, my sister walks behind as she begins to bunch up my hair on the top of my head.

Trusting her completely, I wait for her to be finished.

The thing was, my sister was eighteen years old, attending Rakuzan high as a senior. But, the chances of her graduating was slim. I knew how my sister was. We shared the same room and lived in the same house. Although my parents continued to remain oblivious and not ask where she was going in the middle of the night or why she wouldn't be in her bed in the morning, it was only I who knew about her ways. My sister loved guys and with guys came sex. She was promiscuous and a crazy partier. When she went to school, she came back with good grades. But she skipped too much and things had been growing shaky over the past years. Trying to talk to her about it, she yelled at me to stay out of it. So I did. And in time she had confessed to me that she wanted to become a hairdresser. And I knew she could do it. Her dark, mahogany coloured hair was always styled and done, her hairstyle changing almost every month. But she managed to keep it so radiant and silk-like. My sister seemed like a lost cause, but I had faith in her, albeit I'd never admit it.

"There. You're welcome," she emphasizes, as she pushes me towards the mirror.

Staring blankly at my expression, I find that she bunched up my red hair into a messy bun, clipping up my bangs while leaving a few strands to run down my back.

"What do you think?" she gleams happily, as she pinches my cheeks together.

"Like the backside of a donkey's-"

Laughing at my response my sister pushes me out of the changing room, leading us towards the front entrance. My sister had figured me out by now that if I used sarcasm to express my opinion, it was most likely a good thing.

"Do you remember what to say?" she asks, as she begins to quiz me.

Nodding my head, she gives me a pat on the back as she walks to a table, striking up a carefree conversation with a random table of boys.

Eyeing her enviously, I wonder how she did it. It's not that I was shy or anything, it's just that I didn't know what to talk about most of the time. How could people strike up conversations with strangers like that? It made no sense. What would you talk about? You couldn't exactly be yourself, so to say.

Suddenly I hear the annoying buzz of the chime as the front entrance door had been open. Snapping my attention and turning back around, I bow gracefully and say the magic lines, "Welcome back, Master."

Holding the position for a few seconds, I straighten my back as I flash him a smile.

"Eh? Hiyoko?"

Cracking an eye open, my heart drops disturbingly as I find Aomine pointing and laughing at the sight of myself.

My sister walks behind me as she quickly asks me as to whom Aomine was, eyeing his body like a piece of meat. "Trust me, you don't want him. He's way past his expiration date," I mutter in response, as she walks away laughing with a tray of sodas in her hand.

Looking around towards the other girls and guys working, I search desperately for anyone that wasn't busy. But unfortunately the restaurant was in full swing meaning I had to take this customer. Not to mention the manager that stood off to the side was shooting daggers into me.

"Please, follow me master," I say sweetly through gritted teeth, as I lead Aomine into an empty seat off into the corner.

Slumping down, he stares at me fondly as I hand him the menu. Beginning to walk away from him in distraught, he grabs the back of my apron, pulling me back into him as I clumsily fall into his lap. Trying to get up in fear the manager would be making rounds, Aomine holds me securely as he stares up at me.

"Not bad."

"Let go of me!"

"Hmm? But you look so cute."

Trying to hide my blush, my body deceives me when I can tell that I was turning redder by the minute as Aomine's smirk grew wider and wider.

"I don't care if-"

Aomine finally let's go as I jump off of him, smoothing out my dress.

"What kind of boy even comes to a maid café by themselves?" I ask irritably, as I try to gain the upper hand. So far, I only had one point. This morning where I had successfully made myself as the alpha in front of the boys, but when Aomine and I were alone, I found myself crumbling and him taking over. I couldn't let that happen.

"Satsuki's on her way."

Sighing, I begin to turn and walk away once again until I find my manager staring right at me, again.

Turning back around I quickly begin to read out the specials in a delicate, kind voice until I watch him from the corner of my eye nod his head in approval before walking away.

"If I ordered the 'Maid parfait', would you be the one making it?"

Telling him yes, I watch a grin overcome his lips.

"I'll take one and order the rest until Satsuki shows up."

Handing me the menu, I take it graciously as I almost run away from him, colliding into my sister who begins to scold me.

"The hell's up with you?"

"N-nothing. Can you make me a parfait?"

"No way. My tables are packed and so is everyone's else's. You've only got one guy and by the looks of it he seems to be the sweetest thing we have being served today," she whispers alluringly, as she eyes Aomine in the corner who suddenly looks up, catching my sister's wide, blue gaze. He grows red as he looks down in embarrassment.

"Still got it," she murmurs confidently, before she nudges her hip into me, walking away.

Stumbling into the kitchen I make the parfait with little effort, dumping everything together rather than making food.

Grabbing a spoon and the parfait, I make my way back to Aomine's table as he looks up upon hearing footsteps.

Placing the parfait and handing him the spoon I tell him to enjoy.

Cracking an eye as I hear my manager behind me clear his voice I quickly remind Aomine of what I had done.

"I put a lot of love into that parfait for you, Master. I really hope you enjoy it!"

Aomine places a spoonful into his mouth, smiling up at me as he realizes that my sudden sweetness was only because of the intimidating authority behind me.

"You put a lot of what?" he asks questioningly, as I know for a fact that he had heard me clear.

"Please Master, don't make me repeat something so embarrassing," I laugh out nervously, as I clutch the side of my cheek and begin to wave my hand in the air.

"That's too bad."

"A-Aomine!"

The glass cup of the parfait clatters to the floor, breaking into tiny shards as the contents cover Aomine's shirt and pants. Staring at him with a bewildered look, I begin to yell at him as to what he'd done.

"What do you mean?!"

"Aomine, I just saw you purposely drop the-"

"Do I look like a fucking idiot? Excuse me, are you the manager? Do you see how I'm being treated?" asks a smug Aomine, as he keeps his character up by pulling in the manager.

Turning around, I begin to explain to the manager what I had just witnessed but instead, he pulls me off to the side where he begins to yell at me in a hushed tone.

"The customer is always-"

"But-"

"This is your first day. I'm giving you a warning, alright? If I see you not acting properly with a customer again, I'll have to apologize to your sister who had worked hard into getting you this position. Now, the customer is always what?"

Looking to the side, I answer his remark as I stare at the broken shards on the floor.

"Now, how about you take the young gentleman in the back room and I'll get one of the others to clean the mess on the floor."

Nodding my head quietly in response, I usher for "Master" to follow me into the staff room.

Closing the door behind us, I grab a clean towel where I throw it at his face.

"What was that-"

"I don't understand. Are you trying to make my life hell?" I ask in misery.

"What makes you say that?"

"Oh, I don't know. How you ignored my orders this morning? How you encouraged everyone by calling me that embarrassing, awful-"

"Not like I told everyone to start calling you that."

"I don't care! Now you show up at my work place. It hasn't even been the first day and you almost cost me my job!"

Breathing raggedly I take a seat on the bench where I try to calm myself down. I was getting too emotional over such trivial matters that concerned him. Why?

"Maybe yer' life wouldn't be so difficult if you played along."

"I don't play along, Aomine. I either rule the game or sit out."

Aomine remains quiet as he tosses the towel up on his head, eyeing me across the room as he clasps his hands together. Looking up at him, I ask him what was wrong.

"Yer' a bore. You hate everyone and everything around you. It's annoying to be around you."

Snorting, I thank Aomine for the obvious.

"Yet there's something about you where I want to pin you underneath me."

W-What was that?

"I thought about ripping every piece of clothing off of your-"

WHAT?!

"…body. Actually, with what I had in mind I think that costume yer' wearing would work. Care to try it out?"

"W-What is wrong with you?!" I stammer out flustered, as I stand up immediately and begin to make way for the door. But Aomine quickly grabs my flailing body, pinning me against the wall where he rests his forehead against mine.

"You hate me."

"I-I hate everyone. Get off of-"

"Something about a girl like you hating me really turns me on."

"That's not something you should say so-"

"Like I give a rat's ass," he sighs out tiredly, as he plops down on the bench, beginning to clean off his uniform.

Watching Aomine across from me, it was as if I was seeing him in a whole new light. Before I had regarded him as some sort of entity that had ruined my life, deconstructed me to my very core.

But watching him roughly wipe at the fabric of his shirt, I see no more than nothing of a lost child. A boy wanting more out of life, but couldn't find what he was searching for. Looking at Aomine. It's something of a reflection in me as I watch the scowl on his face deepen.

For a second, I find myself smiling at him. A sincere one. Until I feel a nagging tear in my chest, telling me, showing me all the hurt and grief he had given to me.

But now I wasn't sure if the way I was could be justified anymore. Did I need to be this hurt for this long? Couldn't I have just moved on to someone else that I could love? But staring at Aomine shows me why I couldn't move on. Why I could only hold onto him.

It was because I still loved him. The heartless, immature man before me still held my heart. But, I couldn't give it to him. Even if one day he begged and cried before my feet, I would make him suffer. He'd fall in love with me, confess his feelings in some absurd, embarrassing way and then it'd be my turn. I'd make him crumble and fall into pieces. I'd break him to the point where nothing would hold him.

I'd love Aomine and let him love me back. And then, I'd let go. The only way I could break him was by loving him in return.

But, the real question was, did I have the strength to let go of something that I had wanted for years? Something that I thought I had deserved?

"Oi, Hiyoko!"

Shaken out of my thoughts I find a yogurt smeared towel coming towards my face. Catching it, I hold it in the air.

"I can't get this off my pants," he points out, as he shows me the apparent stain on his crotch.

Almost letting a smile escape, I shake my head in response. "If you couldn't get it out, you think that I can?"

"Let's see those magic fingers work on my-"

Throwing the towel at his face, I yell out of embarrassment for him to do it himself.

The staff room door suddenly creaks open as my sister pokes her head in. Upon seeing Aomine, she fully steps in, confidence on her face as she quickly kneels by him.

"Oh no, did something happen, Master?" she asks innocently, as she places her hand on his leg.

W-Why did she just call him that? It was only us. More importantly, what did she think she was doing with that hand of hers? Aomine was two years younger than her!

"Hmm? Hiyoko dropped the parfait on me. Which honestly speaking tasted like shit," he mutters out, as he begins to pick his ear.

"Says the one who was eating it by the mouthfuls!"

"Hiyoko was watching me eat? Well I'd like to say there are a few things I'd like to see you eating," he whispers softly, as I watch his gaze begin to linger over my body.

Looking the other way, I clench my fists tightly by my side as I'm about to leave and head back out.

"H-Hiyoko? Why are you calling my sister that?" asks my confused sister, as she looks back and forth between Aomine and me.

I watch as his gaze suddenly perks up, an idea popping into what would have to be an empty, crude mind most of the time.

"Yer' sisters? In that case, I guess you wouldn't mind cleaning up yer' sisters mess?" hints Aomine, as he points towards the stain on his pants.

Looking down at it, my sister looks away, growing giddy all of a sudden. But I could tell from experience it was all just an act. "Please Master; you know I would do anything for you. No matter how embarrassing," she purrs out, as she grabs the nearby towel, folding it neatly in her hand as she goes in to dab at the stain.

Nearly pouncing on my sister at an inhuman speed, I push her out of the staff room as she begins to throw profanities at my face while asking me what I was doing.

Locking her out of the staff room, I press my back against the door as I shoot Aomine a look. Shrugging his shoulders, he can't help but grin as he sighs out happily.

What was that? It was like I had just turned into some type of territorial bear. W-Why should I care if anything happened between the two?

Slamming my head on the back of the door, I groan in annoyance as to how quickly I was changing. It had been only a day. Only a day and everything I had worked hard at like not smiling, laughing or showing emotion had gone down the drain. I loved Aomine, but this was as if I was falling in love again. Why, why, why?

"Jealous?"

"Shut up."

"Since you didn't want yer' sister to do it, I assume yer' going to clean this mess?" he asks, his voice sending my skin into a frenzy of hormonal rage.

Walking towards the nearby sink, I grab a cup off the shelf as I fill it with hot water.

"Water? Wouldn't it make more sense for the both of us to jump in the show- FUCK!"

Aomine shoots upright as he holds his manhood, jumping up and down in pain as he begins to dance around the room.

I may or may have not just poured the warmer than warm water onto his crouch. He'd be fine later. The water wasn't scorching or anything. But just seeing his misery for a seconds made my pain and dilemma a whole lot better.

"You-"

Silencing Aomine's loud, angry voice, I sit him down on the bench as I watch him fighting the urge to grab me and do God knows what next. I hope it wasn't his sick fantasy of apparently pinning me down and stripping me naked.

"You welcomed yourself in the lion's den ever since you laid hands on me. What's the matter, big boy? I thought my insanity turned you on. Whatever this game is that's going on between us…well, let's just say, whatever advances you make or whatever little stunt you do that'll make me look bad or an embarrassment, I will come back twice as hard and make you wish-"

"Fuck. I am so turned on right now," mutters Aomine in almost slight annoyance, as he slumps his head back as he tries to fight some sort of sick urge.

Backing up and hitting the wall, I begin to scream at him that he was beyond perverted and should seek help soon.

While exiting the staff room in a fit, I was glad that I wasn't in the same room as him when he said the next part.

"The hell? I thought we were just getting started with the dirty talk! Come back and tell me more about how you were going to get me har-"

Slamming the staff door back open, I couldn't control myself any longer. "You idiot! Don't put those sick words into my mouth! That is not what-"

"What if I put something else in your mouth?"

Mouth agape, I try to say something back, something to put him down. Anything to make myself look less bad in front of him. But I couldn't find anything in the back of my mind that was full of witty comebacks. Instead, I find myself laughing. Genuinely. The first time I had done so in months.

Aomine in return stares at me. He doesn't laugh, he doesn't say anything. Instead, all he does is smile and shake his head as he walks past me, out of the room.

"If you want to laugh, then do it. If you want to be happy, then make it happen. Just don't stand there and tell me you hate everyone if yer' willing to stand in front of me with that look."

"A look of what?" I whisper back, as I feel my eyes begin to burn uncomfortably.

"Hmm? A look that told me you were happy, despite being so… I don't know, broken or something."

Aomine exit's the room as I hear him greet a familiar voice back in the dining room. By the sound of the loud, bubbly voice, I had suspected that Momoi had finally arrived.

But, that was the least of what was on my mind now.

Taking a seat on the bench, I bury my face in my hands as I begin to panic.

I was crying. For the first time in a year. And now by the looks of it, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to stop.

The man who had rejected me, insulted me, laughed at me was ultimately the one who was able to figure me out within less than a day.

I hated and loved him even more for that.