It's been raining for four days in a row now. Inter High is coming soon so I told all the members to focus on their training instead of caring about the current weather. We had ourselves quite an intensive training today. When it is finally time for dismissal, everyone quickly left with their umbrellas. I walked to the umbrella stand and realized that my umbrella is missing. I began searching for it at every possible place but I failed as a result. Wakamatsu saw me looking troubled and decided to lend me a hand.

"I thought you'd be the careful kind of person, who would've thought you'd lost your umbrella?" I sighed and pushed my braided hair to the side. "Someone must've accidentally taken it. I'll just run back home. It's not far, anyway." Wakamatsu did not allow me to do so and asked to walk me home.

We walked a few blocks away from school without saying a word. The whole journey was quiet, until Wakamatsu broke the silence. "Hey, what do you think about that Aomine?" Hmm, a pretty good question. Well, I find it pretty obvious that Wakamatsu-san dislikes him a lot. Even I think I'm starting to dislike him. "Ugh I just hate that guy. Just because he thinks he's real good at basketball, he just decides to show off. "Wakamatsu cringe thinking about Aomine-san for a moment. I just stared at his reactions and smiled a bit. "Yeah you're right. He's really annoying, isn't he?" I just end my word with a soft chuckle.

We continued talking about him until we reached my home. I was spotted by my older brother, who seemed to just return home as well after four months. "Chie, long time no see! I missed you!" so he said as he hugged me tight. I replied him by returning his warm hug. His name is Masakuni, born the fourth in the family and he is older than me by seven years. Masakuni turned to face Wakamatsu and gave him a confused look. "Excuse my rudeness, but who are you?" Wakamatsu groaned. I guess he dislikes introducing himself to people since he's only good at talking loudly. "Oh, he's our vice-captain in the basketball team, Wakamatsu-san. He walked me home today." I said to my brother, and my brother seems convinced by it.

"Thank you for sending my younger sister back home. I really appreciate it, since my sister is still very young. Also, thank you for lessening my worries." He ends his appreciation speech with a bow. The confused Wakamatsu bowed back to him and quickly take his leave. Masakuni then turned to me and looked me in the eye. "So, where's that boy? I mean the tanned-skin one from your basketball team that you joined in middle school. He always walks you home last time, right?" I kept quiet until we reached into the living room and sat together. "Well, he joins the same school as me this year along with Momoi-san- the one with pink hair." "Oh, you mean that bubbly looking girl? I remember her." I took off the band from my hair and messed with it a little bit. Masakuni reached for a snack and opened it.

"Aomine-san changed a lot. He was okay back then, but his skills got so better now that he always skips his training sessions. I already tried my best, but he still wouldn't come over. Guess it's useless- since he always said that the only person who can defeat him is only him." Masakuni just smiled. "The only one who can defeat him is just him, huh?" Masakuni's eyes turned to face mine. He has beautiful brown eyes, just like my mother. "Don't worry, Chie. Someday, there will be someone who will be able to defeat him. That's if there's a person who has a pile of courage in him to do so." I was stunned by his words. The words echoed in my head until he left the living room to seek for my parents. I feel that his words is right-but at the same time, I felt insecure.

"Will there be anyone who is able to defeat him anyway?"

The rain continued till the next day. There are no meetings today, so I feel more refreshed than usual with the help of the current weather. P.E class was cancelled too today. We were asked to return home immediately in case the weather gets worse. When school ends, I quickly grabbed my shoes at the shoe locker and spotted Aomine at the door.

"Hey, um… do you want to go home together?"

We walked home without a single word. I personally feel that both of us are trying to break the silence, but we don't know how. "Um, remember that we used to walk home together? You always forgot to bring your umbrella with you. Ha-ha!" "Weren't you the one who always forgot about your umbrella?" I replied in a sheepish voice. Back in Teiko, he always forgot to bring his umbrella during rainy days and always asked me to walk home with him, since we lived nearby. Aomine snickered and when he was about to speak, a sound of thunder blasted to our ears. I screamed in fear and ran to somewhere to hide.

I ran into a playground and entered a small igloo made by concrete. Aomine caught up with me and got in, though he got stuck halfway when he tried to enter a moment ago. "Why are you inside?! Get out!" I shouted. My hands are trembling and my body shivering. I also realized I accidentally threw my umbrella away just now. "Hey, are you… afraid of thunder?" Aomine asked. I frowned listening to his question. How should I answer him? He never knew I was afraid of thunder. No one knew. "I-I'm not scared! I'm just surprised, that's all!" That's when the sound of thunder struck again. I screamed, and quickly closed my ears.

Aomine slowly crept beside me and make me let go of my left ear and whispered to it. "If you're scared, don't hide it from me. Stop lying to me, will you?" My cheeks flushed in deep pink listening to his words. I don't even know why I'm blushing. Can he see the color of my cheeks now? I hope he can't, since its dark in here. My mind is playing his words all over again that it makes me dizzy. "Hey Chie, are you feeling cold?" I turned to his gaze and silently nodded. He responded by taking off his blazer and placed it on me. His blazer is wet because of the rain, yet it's still able to make me feel warm.

"Just tell me if you're still feeling cold, alright?" I let out a silent giggle. "What are you going to do to keep me warm next? You already have your blazer on me." He stared at me, while trying to give an answer. Then his eyes brightened, showing that he finally found an answer. "I'll just hug you to keep you warm then." I blushed even harder than before listening to his blunt response. I quickly turn away to keep my face away from being stared at.

"Shut up, y-you idiot."


A/N:: Sorry to make you guys wait for so long for this update! *kicked* I was so busy with my job that I can't find a proper time to write TTwTT This chapter is so cute! *dies* I can't believe I actually wrote something so adorable like this /shot So how do you like it, lovelies? (* w *)

I'll update the next chapter soon! Wait for it! XD