Chapter Four ~ An Unexpected Meeting

(Part 1)

'Damn it! I screwed up again' thought Akira and slammed her head on the piano keys, the random notes she hit echoing through the room.
She had been playing Kreisler's Love's Joy all day but she kept on screwing up and even when she didn't, she wasn't satisfied with her performance.
Her hands hurt from over-practicing

but despite the ache she kept on going.
'One more time...you can do it Akira' she thought and took at deep breath.
This time she played the piece just fine or actually she probably would have, if her phone hadn't rank.

'Who the hell is it now?' She thought frustrated. She reached her hand and grabbed her phone.
'Oh its Kagami-kun! I wonder how the game went...did they win?' She thought forgetting about her previous frustration.

Since the piano competition was drawing closer Akira had missed all the Inter High preliminary games, and she was really glad that the team managed just fine without her helping around. But this time it was different...
Seirin's opponent, this time, was Shutoku High, one of Tokyo's Three Kings.

"Hello?" She answered the phone, her heartbeat raising.
"Hey, Akira...it's me" Kagami sounded.
"Kagami-kun! How did the game go? Did you win?" she asked excited.
"Of course we did" he said in a proud tone and Akira could imagine the smirk on his face.
'I can't believe they won! Everyone is so awesome' she thought.
"Yoo-hoo! Congratulations guys...I'm so proud" cheered Akira.
"I wish you were there to cheer for us when we won." said Kagami
"How are you doing with your practice?" Kagami asked after a short pause.
"I'm doing fine...actually i would be doing fine if you hadn't interrupted" answered Akira in a childish but flirtatious tone.
"Well...sorry about that" he said in an apologetic tone.
"I was just hoping that you would take a small break and ...umm... go out with me?" He said in between awkward pauses.

'Is he asking me on a date now? Is he crazy? There's no way I'm going...I have to practice!' She thought but the thought of more practice made her feel like she wanted to die.

"I could use a break" exclaimed Akira in a relaxed tone and she suddenly felt a wave of both excitement and guilt crashing upon her.

'Did i just accept? Am I even crazier?' She thought and mentally face palmed with her decision.
"Really? I thought you'd turn me down."
'I thought so too...' she thought but the idea of going on a date with the guy she liked was making her excited.
"So where are we going to meet?" asked Akira after a short pause.
"What about the street ball court next to school?" He suggested
"You're not going to show off your new jumping and dunking skills to me, are you?" Asked Akira playfully
"Haha no...it just is a nice meeting spot cuz you can't miss it" he answered laughing.
"Okay then... see you there." She said and hung up.

'Its fine Akira...its just a date...its okay' she thought trying to comfort herself.

'You're going on a date instead of practicing!That's not at all okay' a voice of guilt in her head screamed.
She stood there next to her piano for some minutes and she decided to call it a day with the practice. She was exhausted anyway...She'd try again tomorrow and the day after tomorrow and all the days until the fateful day of the competition.

(Part 2)

A hot summer breeze was blowing that night and Akira immediately regretted wearing jeans.

The street ball court wasn't far from her house but her excitement made the 15 minute distance seem like a few steps away. She was walking really fast without realizing it and after a few minutes she was at the street ball court. She could hear the distant bouncing of a ball and she imagined Kagami playing.

I bet he's going to show off again' she thought and a faint but stupid-looking smile appeared on her face.
Kagami always liked to show her his new moves and to be honest Akira always loved watching him play...

But when she walked closer to the court, she saw not only one, but two figures playing. When she got close enough she sat outside the court and watched the two boys playing.

The one was Kagami and the other one was a tanned blue haired boy that seemed to have Kagami at a disadvantage. Kagami was trying to steal the ball and dunk but the blue-haired guy's speed was too much for him.

'Who the hell is this guy...he's good' she thought.

She watched them play for a while but they were too focused in the game to notice her, or at least that's what she thought.
After a few minutes the tanned male turned and looked at her.

"Enjoying the view, baby?" He asked with a flirtatious smirk on his lips.

'What a douche' thought Akira.

"I sure am enjoying the view" she said looking at Kagami completely ignoring the other boy.
"Oh Akira! You're here" said Kagami and pulled Akira into a hug.

Even though she hated when he hugged her while he was sweaty, this time she endured it, just so that the blue-haired douche bag would get the idea.

When Akira pulled out of the hug, she turned at the other boy and looked him in the eyes.
"Who the hell are you?" she asked with a piercing glare.
The blue-haired boy smirked once again and reached his hand out for Akira to shake.

"I'm Aomine Daiki."