So this might be my last post in this fanfic for a little while (or at all depending on if I go through with the full length story). I hope you enjoyed what I've posted so far! Hopefully you'll get to see more of Ayane :D

Anyway, I should have mentioned this before but the timeline is REEEAAAALLY out of order. This takes place in the restaurant after Seirin's practice match against Kaijo.

The Meaning of Family

"Ne, Kagami-kun... Who was that girl anyway?"

Seirin's ace paused in his mad consumption of food, a piece of steak coming to a halt halfway to his mouth. He stared blankly at his teammates and coach, who at this point had all stopped what they were doing to hear his answer. Kagami seemed to deliberate before swallowing the portion of food already stuffed into his mouth.

"She's… ah… well… I guess you could say she's my sister."

Silence.

"WHA–?!"

Kagami, who had taken the relative silence of his teammates as his cue to resume eating, stopped for a second time. This time, without even putting in the effort to swallow, he opened his mouth to answer around his mouthful. He was halfway through struggling to force his words past his food when a hand clapped over his face and he was cut off.

"Taiga, you really shouldn't talk with your mouth full. It's unpleasant for the rest of us."

Kagami choked, struggling now to swallow even as her name fought to slip past his lips. Ayane just laughed, one hand rubbing his back to soothe his violent coughing. When he finally cleared his airway, he sat staring up at her as though she were an apparition.

"W-what are you doing here?!"

She smiled, pulling out a seat from an empty table nearby and dropping into it in a motion as fluid as water.

"Actually, I was looking for Kise-kun. The idiot ran off right after the game and I wanted to have a word with him. I saw you guys through the window and thought I'd stop in and congratulate you."

After her explanation, she reached out with delicate fingers, plucking a small piece of steak from Kagami's plate. She chewed thoughtfully then hummed approvingly.

"This stuff's really good. Almost better than your cooking Taiga-"

"Oi!"

She laughed a little, nudging him gently with her shoulder as she assured him that she was joking. The tall boy sat sulking for a while, before Ayane eventually convinced him to forgive her and resume his dinner. Once his mouth was full, and the racket he created had fully resumed the rest of him team seemed to shake of their stupor. Riko, now more curious than before, resumed the previous investigation.

"So, Kagami-kun says your siblings?"

Ayane blinked twice, seeming confused, before her mind caught up with the question. With a small shake of her head and a half-annoyed, half-gentle glance at Kagami she answered.

"We're not really blood related. We were friends back in America though, and we spent so much time together that he became like family."

There was another surprised pause. Silence settled over the table, broken only by the sounds of Kagami shovelling food into his face. Riko was about to ask another question when Kagami burped loudly and Ayane slapped him on the arm with a quiet reprimand about manners and a small laugh. She stood moments later and Kagami's eyes followed her even as he reached for another piece of steak.

"You leaving?"

"Yeah… I still need to track down Kise-kun. Do me a favour and send him my way if you see him."

Kagami nodded looking vaguely unhappy. She smiled at him gently, stooping to hug him lightly around the shoulders. Then she straightened, waved to the rest of the table and made her way back outside. Kagami's eyes trailed after her until she was out of sight, before he turned back to his food with a sigh. Not ten seconds later his found buzzed and with a frown he pulled it from his sports bag.

'NEW MESSAGE

FROM: AYANE

SEE YOU SOON, SO DON'T POUT :-P IT'S A BAD LOOK FOR YOU.'

Annoyed, Kagami shoved the phone back into his sports bag before resuming his dinner with more aggression than before.

So, any good? Feedback is always appreciated :D