Author's Note: Thank you all for the lovely reviews! With Uni, I'm afraid updating is going to be slowed a bit. ;A; Especially as of next week. But I will still try to update at least weekly.

Infinite Sky - "Titanium" is the song that inspired the story. It also reflects Suzune's inner strength and ability to overcome. ;3

Three

"Hm?" he stares at her questioningly.

It is lunch period but rather than eating together with Kana and the big oaf that is Aomine, Suzune finds herself alone as she lingers just a few feet shy of where the blue-haired giant is seated. She resigns herself and settles into the desk in front of him – sitting backward in a fashion that is most unladylike, though she hardly seems concerned about appearances.

"Kana-chan was too shy to come. This is your fault for not replying to her letter sooner," she informs matter-of-factly. Once those words have been spoken, she sets the promised sandwich in front of him and then carefully unwraps her own before she starts eating.

Aomine accepts the sandwich, although there is a slightly disgruntled expression on his face as he takes a bite. She is sure that begrudging glare comes not from the taste of the sandwich but in return for the chiding words she has spoken.

Since they are eating alone together, it seems the perfect time to make an inquiry in regards to his presence the previous day at the gym. She finds herself only nibbling at her sandwich as she contemplates whether or not to put forth the question. Eventually she slaps a hand down on his desk, earning the probing glances of her classmates and another quirked brow from Aomine. "That was you at the gym yesterday, wasn't it? You came by during practice."

"Mm... I peeked in," he acknowledges with a shrug. "Not very impressive, getting bludgeoned in the side of the head by an incoming ball." He lifts a hand and taps himself on the forehead – right where she was hit yesterday.

Her face flushes in response. "H-hey, don't pretend like that normally happens because it doesn't! You are the one who distracted me. If I hadn't been distracted, I would have blocked like I usually do. I am one of the best players on the team, you know!"

He takes another bite before muttering, "Yeah, yeah."

Suzune grumbles under her breath and angrily tears another bite out of her sandwich. "Anyways, there's only a few more days left until I have fulfilled my end. I hope you're prepared to accept that love letter."

As though in protest of that declaration, he suddenly stands up. The screeching of his chair earns him a mild look of surprise from her. He seems to pause, cocking his head. Finally he mumbles, "Going to get juice," before stalking out of the classroom.

She watches silently as he leaves, taking another bite out of her already half-finished sandwich. Did she make him angry? That seems unlikely. Although even Suzune has to admit that she feels almost a little guilty forcing him into accepting the love letter. But for what reason does she have to feel bad about that in the first place?

Eventually she finishes the rest of her sandwich while contemplating this very question. It seems to take forever before Aomine returns, juice in hand. And although she has little expectation of him buying her one too, he surprises her by holding out a juice in either hand.

"Take one."

Did he purposefully get two different flavors to accommodate the possibility of her having particular taste? Her head tilts as she tentatively reaches over and takes the orange juice. "Thanks, Aomine."

He grunts in turn before settling back into his chair and draining his carton dry in one gulp.

Since she is about finished herself, Suzune extends a hand expectantly. "Here, I'll throw the trash away."

"No point," he quips as he lifts it in his hand and tosses it toward the trash can on the far end of the classroom. It is ridiculous to think that he can make it from such a distance and she wants to tell him as much, but Suzune figures it's just as well if she can laugh at him when he misses. Yet to her shock, as her eyes follow the blur of the object, she barely catches a glimpse of it as it lands neatly in the garbage.

Her jaw drops agape as she turns back to look at him.

"Hm?"

Feeling a little bitter about her own false impression, she gives a sharp shake of the head, "Nothing."

"I'll throw yours," he offers, holding his hand out with a smirk.

"No way," she quips as she drains the last of it dry. "I can do it myself. You aren't the only one who can shoot it in from here, you know." Again, her own ego is getting the best of her – but her pride swells at the thought of being beaten by someone like Aomine. Even though the likelihood of her actually making it from such a distance is ridiculously low. She is accustomed to smacking a ball in the opposing court, which takes some directional control and eye-hand coordination but it is not the same as basketball.

Aomine seems to know as much but he seems amused by the challenging way she glares at him. He settles back in his seat. "Alright, let's see it."

Now that she has said as much, she can hardly back down. Suzune gulps as she turns in her seat and readies herself to throw it. Her arms are almost trembling, as she can feel the pressure from his gaze, which sets her ill at ease.

"You won't make it."

"H-how can you be so sure?" she snaps back.

He seems to sigh beneath his breath as she leans forward. One of his hands comes to rest at her elbow, the other cupping her forearm. Although she tenses beneath the warmth of his touch, he tells her, "Don't stiffen up so much. Like this... now shoot."

Although she feels a little uneasy with him so close, she takes a deep breath before tossing as instructed. And much to her own surprise, she actually is able to make it after all. The grin that surfaces on her face is automatic before she can even rethink it. "I-I made it."

"Yeah."

Suddenly she sobers as she looks over at him. He has leaned back in his chair and is exuding his usual disinterest and boredom. "Don't get the wrong idea," Suzune tells him suddenly. "Just because you happen to do some nice things doesn't mean that I accept you as a candidate for Kana-chan."

"Not interested anyways."

Her mood sours at his quick dismissal, although a part of her – and she is not sure why – feels a little relieved to hear that. Regardless of her feelings, however, the lunch period has ended and it is time for everyone to return to their respective seats. It is only when she settles in and prepares herself for class that she pauses to consider that – for the first time since she has started high school, she has not spent lunch with Kana. And despite what she might have expected, she does not feel the least bit glum about being left alone with Aomine. Why? She is actually having... fun.

"The heck is wrong with me?" she mumbles to herself, slapping at her cheeks. This nonsense needs to end.

Worse yet is when the end of the day arrives along with the revelation that they have cleaning duty together, despite her preoccupation trying to completely forget the odd heart palpitations she has been experiencing around Aomine.

When she finds herself in the deserted classroom, alone with him amidst the cluster of empty desks, she is not entirely sure how to handle this. "Uh, I'll take care of the sweeping if you want to do the chalkboard?" she offers nervously, trying purposefully not to meet his gaze.

"Mm," he answers back obligingly, heading toward the chalkboard without contest.

The increasing amount of time they have been spending together has elicited some strange reactions from her, and she finds herself unprepared for how to deal with them. Maybe it is just her unease and discomfort at the thought of him being with her best friend. Only because she thinks they will not make a good couple, of course! But wait, maybe that's...

"Agh!" she screams out in frustration. Despite the questioning glance she receives from Aomine, she hurries in her productivity. Faster – she has to sweep faster. Kana even promised to wait for her after to class. She cannot dilly dally on account of these odd thoughts that seem to be floating about in her head.

Yet in the midst of her fervent cleaning, she suddenly freezes up. A cold sweat comes over her entire body as she realizes that – just a few inches from her face – there is a spider, dangling from a spider web. She swallows hard. There is nothing she holds in contempt more than bugs. Then as though her luck is not bad enough, the spider suddenly drops from the web and lands right on her wrist.

The shrill, blood curdling scream the follows as she flails to get the creature off brings the echo of footsteps as she hears Aomine start to say, "What's–"

His voice is cut off as she stumbles into him, almost in tears from the experience. The force with which they collide sends the both of them tumbling to the ground. They are a tangled heap of limbs and it takes a moment for Suzune to realize that Aomine has somehow landed on top of her. His weight is almost crushing until he manages to at least lift his upper body away, although he is still draped over her.

The distance between them remains minimal and he seems to linger there, staring down at her. It is an awkward position to be in to begin with, but with her heart still racing erratically from an already frightening encounter, her head is too foggy to digest what is going on.

Finally she finds her voice and says, "A-Aomine?"

"You okay?"

It surprises her a little to actually experience genuine concern from him. Despite being momentarily stunned, she does manage a small nod. "I-it... there was a spider. That's all." Her face flushes in embarrassment as she realizes how ridiculous that sounds.

"Hm. So you really are a girl."

Her brows furrow. "What's that supposed to mean?!"

Those lips crack into an uncharacteristic grin and she swears she almost hears a chuckle come from him. She can see the mirth in his eyes. It completely contradicts her initial impressions of him. And she can feel her chest tighten.

Then, with the worst possible timing, the door to the classroom suddenly slides open. "Are you almost done, Suzu-chan? I thought I would come and–" It is Kana who has ventured in, pausing in the doorway just as her eyes land on the two, who are still in a compromising position. The dark-haired girl's face immediately flushes as she backpedals with a hasty apology, "I-I'm sorry!" Before an explanation can be offered by either party, she speeds away.

"W-wait! Kana-chan, this is a misunderstanding!" Suzune calls after her, pressing a hand firmly against Aomine to coax him off of her. He obliges and rolls to the side, leaving her to struggle up to her feet. "Sorry, Aomine," she mutters in apology before taking off after her best friend.

It is difficult to locate her, but Suzune manages to find Kana in the girl's bathroom. She is crouched on the ground near the sinks, sobbing with her hand plastered across her face to try to muffle the sniffling and hiccuping.

"It's a misunderstanding," Suzune says immediately, setting a hand cautiously on her best friend's shoulder. "There was just a spider and then Aomine–"

"Can you prove it?" she challenges back, peeking up at Suzune with a look of anguish. "You don't suddenly like Daiki-kun now... do you? Prove it to me. You're my best friend! You're supposed to help me get with him!"

"I... I'll arrange a date for you." Without thinking, she rattles those words off, but her mouth feels exceptionally dry as she says them.