Later that day, the last bell had gone, signaling the end of the school day and as usual, the Seirin basketball team members were all gathered in the changing room, changing out of their school uniforms into their more appropriate basketball attires. Kamiko and Kagami are already outside on the courts, shooting rounds as they both waited for the rest of their teammates to finish.

In the changing room, as they were at the finishing of their wardrobe change, Koganei spotted a magazine lying on the bench, a recent issue of Monthly Basketball Magazine.

"Eh?" Koganei picked up the magazine even as the other guys finished changing. "Didn't this issue come out when Kamiko-chan was in Hanzo?"

Hyuuga stepped up next to Koganei and flipped through the pages of the magazine. "All the players were featured, the rest of the Uncrowned Kings, even the Generation of Miracles." He noted. "Kamiko…" He frowned as he leafed through the pages and eventually frowned. "E-Eh? There's one empty column beside the Generation of Miracles' captain, but no picture. Just a brief description of…" He trailed the words. " 'The Demon Sixth Man' ."

The rest of the first years gathered around Hyuuga and Koganei as they took a peek at the magazine.

" '… This player's role in his team stays relatively unknown,' " Hyuuga read out loud. " 'But despite that, witnesses stated he's greatly revered by every basketball team in the middle school circuit, especially the Generation of Miracles; said to be one of the most fearsome basketball players in the modern era of the basketball.' "

" 'Relatively unknown?' How is that even possible?" Koganei blinked in confusion as he was still staring at Kamiko's column.

Hyuuga patted Koganei on the shoulder, pushing his eyeglasses up his nose bridge, as he took the magazine away from Koganei and placed it on the top of the locker. "We'll have to find it out for ourselves. Quote en quote, as that guy told us that seeing is better than just word of mouth."

As the cat-faced male was about to say something, Fukuda Hiroshi, one of the three other freshmen that had joined the basketball team alongside Kamiko and Kagami burst into the changing room just then." She's back! The coach is back!" he quipped. "We're going to play a practice match."

"I wonder who we are up against?" Hyuuga wondered as he looked at Fukuda.

"No idea at all, senpai," Fukuda mused. "But she was skipping for some reason though."

Hyuuga paled instantly like a ghost of Christmas. "She was skipping?" he nearly screeched in horror, his voice going three octaves higher than usual. "Be careful, everyone," He cautioned, looking at each of the faces present in the changing room, and Kamiko looked up at him in curiosity. "If she's skipping, our opponent's going to be real tough."


"I know, Akashicchi," A cheery blonde said, his cell-phone pressed to one ear even as he paused in front of Seirin High's big school gates. "Eh? Is this it?" He murmured, taking a quick glance at the sign of the school. "Yeah, looks like it," He then turned his attention to the caller on the other end of the line. "Pssh, don't worry too much. I'll check up on Mikocchi for you."

He then ended the call, slipping the cell-phone into his pocket. The blonde had on a gray blazer over his white school polo, with a dark brown tie tied loosely around his collar—a contrast as compared to Seirin High's black vest and trousers for the boys, with a white collared shirt underneath the vest.

"So this Seirin, eh?" He mused, looking at the new clean high school. "They are going to be so jealous of me being the first one to see Mikocchi after so long!" He widely grinned, walking into the school as he was caught unaware of the adoring looks and love-struck eyes that many of the Seirin girls were giving him.


Kamiko gave a small sigh as she listened to her teammates 'aww'ing' over Kagami's new move that he'd performed on Izuki who had attempted to block the brute-looking redhead from scoring earlier. She lightly brushed her bangs away from her eyes, thinking back of the conversation that she had with Kagami that night.

"Based from your play earlier today, you wouldn't have reached their feet. Like I said, you'll be crushed in an instant at your current level." She told him.

"I know that's what I said, but well…" Kamiko sighed, her eyes half-closed as she took a glance at her companion who looked irritated.

"Okay, everyone! Gather around!" Their lady-coach, Aida Riko, ran into the court just then, a look of excitement on her face as the team assembled themselves around their team's coach. "I've managed to get us a practice match against Kaijo High School tomorrow!" She beamed, unaware of the horrified faces of her team were giving her, all except the sky-blue crown, who was just quietly half-listening.

Hyuuga's face was one of a ghost, exactly like earlier in the changing room, Kamiko noted. "A practice game against the Kaijo High School?" He almost croaked.

"Yep! They won't disappoint us," Riko ignored his pale face and was looking cheerful as ever. "We'll put plenty of first years on the court."

"Disappoint us?" Koganei slowly and carefully spoke, unsure of Riko's statement being a total sarcasm or not. "They're way better than us."

"Eh? Are they really that good?" A freshie, Kawahara Koichi asked.

"They're a school of National level," Hyuuga spoke, back to his normal self. "They participate in the Inter High every year."

"And this year, Kaijo got their hands on one of the Generation of Miracles, Kise Ryota," Riko announced, sending a wave of shock throughout the team. Kamiko, however, already knowing which is which beforehand, crossed her arms rather casually with her face rather expressionless and eyes closed and Kagami noticed this.

"Riko, he's already here," Kamiko pushed her bangs away from her face as she spoke abruptly, surprising each of her teammates. Without having the need to look at their faces, she opened her eyes, looking at the direction where a long line of blushing and giggling girls which must make up more than half of Seirin High's female student population, every team member then followed her line of sight.

"E-Eh? What's with all these people here?" Riko spluttered her words as she quickly spotted a blonde male who was clearly not a student of their school being surrounded by all the girls, looking rather embarrassed and sheepish.

"Gee, I didn't mean for this to happen," the blonde muttered as he signed autograph after autograph.

'How the hell did she knew that it was him with her eyes closed the whole time?' Kagami thought as he glanced at the skyblue crown again then back at the sheepish-looking blonde who was signing autographs. 'That's something.'

The Seirin basketball team was silenced immediately as they recognized the blonde stranger; a member of the team that they're about to play against in a practice match in a day's time, and also a former member of the famed Generation of Miracles—Kise Ryota.

Kise looked up in the midst of the signing another autograph and made eye contact with Kamiko. The skyblue crown gave a small smile at him. "Ryota."

The blonde smiled. "Mikocchi! Been a while," he said cheerfully, even as the rest of the Seirin team turned their attention towards Kamiko, whose short-lived smile was already gone, replaced with an expressionless face, causing them all to blink. The skyblue crown is close with this blonde stranger? But this is the Generation of Miracles they were talking about! Rumours stated the Uncrowned Kings and Generation of Miracles detest each other even before they played each other at the Nationals during their third year. How can they be as civilized like this?

Kise looked sheepish even as another autograph book was pushed into his hands. "I'm really sorry about this… Um…" He trailed off, scratching back of his head. "Do you think that you could wait for five more minutes?" He asked, glancing briefly at the gaping team as he went back to signing autographs.

The entire team could only sweat drop in response as they looked back at the long line of girls all waiting for Kise to sign their autograph books. It looks as if it might take more than five minutes for him to finish with the fans.

Kamiko, on the other hand, sighed, shaking her head lightly.

Unfortunately, this is a rather common occurrence back at Hanzo Junior High even before Kise Ryota had debuted as a model back in the third year. Much to his annoyance with all the disturbances before and during their training from Kise's countless fan girls, Reo had to get the Student Council to station two student councilors at the entrance of the gym just so that she and Kise can also practice one-on-one for fun whenever he comes by after Teiko's practice. Her former teammates at first were against the thought of it, but when she explained about his situation, they understood, and there began a civilized union with him and her team.

So, this happening, isn't something new to her.

Ten minutes later, when Kise was finally done signing autographs, and the gym was empty of all but the basketball team and Kise himself, the cheery blonde leaps down from the bleachers, landing lightly on his feet, his hands shoved into his pockets.

"Wh-What the hell are you doing here?" Hyuuga spluttered.

He was not expecting for a member of the Generation of Miracles to show up just like that here in their school. The four-eyed Seirin captain had only seen the rising star of a group only once but only from a distance—during his freshman year of high school when the high school section and the middle school section Inter High Basketball tournaments were held in neighboring halls. The fact that he's seen the Uncrowned Kings, except the rumored captain of that team, sent him into the deep pits. Hell! He can't help it despite being a year their senior!

The blonde ignored the four-eyed Seirin captain, who just twitched at his gesture, grinning as he made his way over to the basketball team. "Well, when I heard our next practice opponent was Seirin, I remembered Mikocchi enrolled here, so I thought that I'd come and say hi," He grinned even more. "Momoicchi and the others are going to be so jealous that I saw you first! I miss you so much!" He gave a sweet lingering kiss on Kamiko's cheek, seemingly unfazed at his touchy motion.

"Ryota, you should stop with your touchy gestures. It's getting old," She mused, giving a light punch on his shoulder, which earned her a light playful grunt from the blonde.

"Stop acting all tough, Mikocchi! You never had complaints before," Kise grinned cheekily at the skyblue crown, who only giggled a bit in response.

Riko paled at the scenario before her, but, only a split second, she wordlessly beamed, sending Hyuuga, Koganei, and Izuki a couple of steps back away from their coach, horrified at her sudden change of aura and expression.

'Eeeeh~?! They look so cuuuute together! This is the first time I've seen Miko-chan be so girly before a guy!' Riko amusingly thought, going all lovey-dovey while the three other senpais just sweat dropped at the sight, causing Kamiko and Kise to look at their direction in confusion.

Meanwhile, behind the regulars of Seirin High's basketball team, the three freshmen were poring over the same magazine that the juniors were poring over earlier in the changing room.

" 'Kise Ryota' ." Furihata Koki read from the magazine aloud. " 'Though he started basketball during his second year of middle school, his exceptional physical ability and sense got him on the Teiko team as a regular in a heartbeat. While he has less experience than the other four, he's rapidly improving all-rounder.' "

"Since your second year?" Hyuuga's jaw dropped in disbelief. 'He's only been playing for TWO YEARS?'

Kise grinned rather sheepishly. "Eh, the article overstated a bit." He chuckled, grinned. "I'm glad to be called part of the Generation of Miracles, but I'm the worst of the bunch. Like always, I was constantly bullied, but they'd stop whenever Mikocchi was around. They couldn't do anything about it because they all respect her so much, like I respect her," He explained while scratching the back of his head, his face a bit flushed as he smiled at Kamiko who only giggled a little while rolling her eyes at him. "I joined the basketball team because of her despite attending different middle schools."

The entire Seirin team stared at Kamiko, who was still catching up with Kise with a sudden frown, like their conversation turned serious between both of them. 'She knew every single member of the Generation of Miracles?! Just what kind of spell did she put them under? Poor Kise too!' they wondered.

Kise's eyes shot open in alert just then as a basketball came flying towards his and Kamiko's direction, interrupting their quiet conversation. The blonde quickly blocked the ball with his bare hand, catching it in the process. "Eh? What was that for?" Kise turned with a frown as his golden eyes found their way towards the redhead who had thrown the ball at him. "You had the decency to almost hurt Mikocchi!"

"Sorry for interrupting your little reunion." Kagami grinned viciously, oblivious to the fact that he had already pissed off the Copycat of the Generation of Miracles. "But don't tell me that you came all the way here just to greet us? Why don't you play with me for a bit, pretty boy?"

"Eh?" Kise stared at Kagami as if he has two heads. "I don't know if I'm ready. But I'm just…" He mused, glancing at Kamiko, whose eyes were wide, leaving the rest of her facial aspects neutral, then glanced at Kagami before he shrugged and grinned. "Fine, let's do it. And I have to thank you for that display." He threw the basketball that Kagami had thrown at him earlier towards the redhead who caught it easily. The blonde then removed his blazer and tie, also rolling up his polo sleeves.

"Oh boy…" Riko sighed to herself in dismay.

"It is worse," Kamiko stated as she walked up beside Riko, confusing the rest of her team with her statement.

Back on the court, Kise and Kagami were having a one-on-one duel between themselves, a hint of smirk on Kise's lips. Kamiko face palmed, knowing full well what he was going to do. Without warning, the blonde then took off past Kagami, with the redhead struggling to keep up. Kagami's eyes widened in shock when Kise performed a move that the redhead himself performed on Izuki just moments ago.

"He learns plays as soon as he sees them firsthand and makes them his own," Kamiko explained with her arms loosely crossed even as Kise dodged Kagami's blocking, and dunked the ball into the net, sending Kagami to fall butt first to the floor.

Riko, listening to the skyblue crown's explanation, watched the duel. 'You can't call something of that level an imitation! Such perfect copy, as if it was his!' The brunette thought, staring at Kise as if seeing him for the first time.

Kawahara, a first year, stared on in awe. "This… is the Generation of Miracles?" he muttered. "Kamiko-san, your friend's way too good."

Kamiko looked at the shorter teen that spoke about Kise and looked back at the redhead and the blonde, staying silent. 'It was I who taught him the basics of his Perfect Copy ability when I was still his instructor. Seemed like he's taken it to the next level quicker than I imagined,' Kamiko sighed at the thought. 'I can only think the same thing about the others though.'

Kise broke the tension as he sighed in disappointment, rubbing the back of his head. "I don't know about this," he mused lightly, and Kagami can only stare at the blonde in confusion. "After something so… disappointing, I can't just leave now." He turned his attention towards the remaining players, leaving Kagami twitching in anger.

The once-cheery face on the blonde was replaced with one that was serious as he walked towards the rest of the Seirin team. "Give us Mikocchi." He received a chorus of 'huh?' from Seirin. "Come join us, join me in Kaijo!" He was again cheerful as his yellow eyes searched Kamiko's honey-glazed eyes, which he noted, was an unusually good contrast against her pale skin. "Let's play basketball together again."

Kamiko can only sigh inwardly as he said that. She just knew that someone had put the blonde up to this. This had the rest of their names written all over it.

The response from the rest of Seirin was expected.

"EEEEEHHH?!"

Riko's screech was easily the loudest, nearly deafening Hyuuga who was standing right next to her.

"Mikocchi! I am serious here!" Kise insisted, sounding like a whiner as he ignored the rest of Seirin. "I respect you, we all respect you. Seirin High can't utilize your talents to their full potential! I don't see why you chose to stay here than coming with either one of us, Mikocchi!"

The sky-blue crown stared at the blonde in silence for several moments and the rest of Seirin stared at her with bated breaths. Kamiko sighed. "It's not only him, is it? The rest of them put you up to this." She pointed out tiredly.

Everyone stared blankly at their skyblue crown member then to the blonde then vice versa. Who were they talking about?

"Well, we are all worried about you, especially after what happened. Mibucchi was worried too and the rest of them except that sad-excuse of a human being," Kise admitted. If it's even possible, Seirin got even more confused. "But even if they didn't, I would have asked you the same thing too." He insisted. "I really miss you! What I witnessed just now, I don't think Seirin is a good fit for you! I know there's something more than just your speed! I saw how you changed in those last 5 minutes of the match and I know he's been training you after that! Come to Kaijo with me." He pleaded with her, both his hands clasped on her free hand tight. "What do you say?"

Silence.

Finally, Kamiko sighed, gripping on his hand gently but firmly. "I am honored to hear you say that, Ryota," she started. "But I must politely decline your offer." Just then, she took her hand off of the blonde's grip, leaving Kise to blink in confusion.

"That doesn't make any sense at all!" He protested. "Besides, this isn't like you! Winning was everything and the only people who can survive are the strongest and the fittest! Why didn't you go somewhere better? Why stay here?!"

Kamiko said nothing for several moments. The only people who can survive are the strongest and the fittest. That has been the mantra of Hanzo. Not just in basketball, but in everything. And truth be told, she's grown tired of hearing it.

"I've changed ever since second year," she said. "More importantly, I made a promise to Kagami; a promise to defeat the Generation of Miracles and the Uncrowned Kings."

"This isn't like you to joke around like that," Kise frowned, not believing what he is actually hearing from Kamiko. The Kamiko he knew would never say something like that.

There was a low chuckle from behind the blonde just then, and the blonde turned around only to see the redhead laughing like an escapee from the mental hospital, apparently having gotten over the shock at seeing Kise use a move that he had just used moments ago.

'So this is the Generation of Miracles.' Kagami thought, grinning to himself. 'They really are amazing! And there are four more guys stronger than him.' He thought, recalling Kise's words that he is the weakest of the group. 'I just can't help but smile.'

"What are you doing?" Kagami grinned at Kamiko, who only stared at him, expressionless as usual. "I was going to say that, Karadai."

Kise looked between Kagami and Kamiko in confusion.

The skyblue crown rubbed her right arm spandex support, sporting a small frown on her face. "Matters like this aren't meant to be joked around, Ryota." Kamiko turned her attention from Kagami to Kise and gave the blonde a tired look. "Accept it or leave it."

Kise smirked, finally understanding the reasoning behind Kamiko's actions.

"…I see."


Around six o'clock in the evening, the training was done, leaving each of the members exhausted and their coach seemingly satisfied with their work today. All of them have already changed into their fresh clothes, preparing to go home. Kamiko, on the other hand, had to stay behind to do some training of her own, but she promised the lock the gym firsthand before going home. Seeing how dead set Kamiko is, Riko finally agreed, having a feeling that the skyblue crown would need some space to think after what had happened earlier that day when a former member of the Generation of Miracles and her close friend showed up rather unexpectedly. Kagami, however, wanted to practice with Kamiko, but the sky-blue crown wouldn't let him.

"No, I want to train on my own," The sky-blue crown simply stated, making the redhead twitch an irk.

"I don't remember asking for your permission," the redhead crossed his arms as the ball flew square to his abdomen, barely made any defense at all, leaving him to groan in pain at the sudden rough impact made by Kamiko. "O-Ow! What was that for?! " 'T-That was… fast! And her throw was strong! I t-thought she was weak?!'

"For being a stubborn brat," she replied, placing her hand on her hip, brushing her bangs away from her eyes lightly with her free hand. "Go, before I make another rough throw at you, but this time, to your face." The girl added in a calm tone, giving him a look.

Kagami can only shiver at the sight of her eyes looking straight at him, forgetting his pain completely. He noticed her gaze felt cold and her calm tone as she said that last statement was rather dark. Not the usual emotionless blunt retorts, comebacks, or responses that he was growing used to. It was like it's her but it's not her. He wouldn't really know since he's only known the girl for about a week or so now.

Ugh, women are such a mystery. He could never really understand them even if he wanted to.

"Fine then," the redhead frowned, picking up his bag, walking towards the door of the gym. "Good night." He gave a small wave without looking back and went on his way.

The sky-blue crown watched him go quietly and sighed tiredly as he was out of sight. "That felt like so much only to convince Kagami to leave me on my own for now," she shook her head lightly as she faces the basket then. "You should stop standing behind the door since he's already gone," she said, just enough to be heard from half the court. "Ryota."

"Heeeeh…?! You know, by the way you spoke just now was kinda creepy," The blonde, as she suspected, pushed away from leaning the wall, showing himself, dusting his blazer and his bag. "And your throw— that was impressive, as always. That's got to hurt, judging from his expression."

The sky-blue crown only gave a light shrug as she faced him sideways. Kise chuckled and grinned at the sight as he scratched his nape, placing his bag and blazer at the stage beside Kamiko's bag. He unbuttons his polo, leaving him in his white undershirt. The sound of the ball being dribbled was heard, catching the blonde's attention as he looked at Kamiko, who was slowly dribbling the ball as if she was inviting him to duel with her.

The sky-blue crown only smiled as she turned away from the basket, bending her knees to 180 degrees for a short leap as a boost, throwing the ball—a one-hand shot— into the basket with so much grace, so much fluidity that Kise could only watch at the play in awe.

The blonde then walked towards her as he caught the aimless ball in time. "Are you asking me what I think you're asking me?"

"Should I say it out loud then?"

Kise stupidly grinned and nodded as he spins the ball on the peak of his forefinger, waiting. Kamiko rolled her eyes in amusement at his stupidity. "You know exactly what I was asking for, Ryota. Now pass the ball." Stubbornly, the sky-blue crown pointed at the ball that he was spinning and the blonde pouted-frowned, changing to dribbling defense position.

"You are no fun, like always, Mikocchi!"

"I'm the same as ever, Ryota."

To that, the blonde smirked a little, causing the skyblue crown to smirk in return.

"One shot, blonde."

The blonde gave her a confused look as he continues dribbling the ball while Kamiko made a one-finger sign.

"If I win, popsicle on you before going home tonight."

"Eh?! Not that I'm complaining or have no extra money because I do have extra money…"

As the girl caught him just a bit distracted, that was her opening. She tapped the ball before he knew it and began backing away just a good amount of distance from him, dribbling, causing the boy to whine.

"Y-you distracted me! Unfair!"

Taking note of his cute pout, she grinned. " 'Never ever get distracted in a game!' That's one of the rules remember? Haven't you learned anything from me?"

"There are too many rules to remember, Mikocchi," Kise muttered something in his breath as he goes back to his defense position, his yellow eyes trained on her honey-glazed ones. He knew just by looking at her, it was time to get serious. He watched her bend her knees, her dribbling pace slowing down.

'Knees bent… slower dribbling pace… concentrated face… Ah, yes, the Eye of Deduction.' He thought as prepares himself.

He has seen her in that state in middle school a couple of times. She's used it against Akashi, and unexpectedly, she won against him. Her unpredictable Eye of Deduction works similarly with their Captain's Emperor's Eye, but as he later concluded, hers somehow is in larger range than his, making her see things one step (two if it's possible) ahead of him.

Sigh.

He has to be unpredictable; consider her as an opponent; considering this one-on-one an actual match. But could he do all that?

The blonde readies himself as her now-blank eyes were intensely concentrated on his own, moving one step on the left as she bent down a bit more, her dribbles still on the slow pace, poising an attack much like a snake poising an attack on its innocent victim.

He's been to some of her street mock matches against adults ever since 5th grade before graduating and making a formal basketball team in middle school and he was in awe, even until today. He only knew that she had something special in her, but he wouldn't expect it to be used in a sport or game like basketball. It was something most basketball players have tried to achieve for years in the history of basketball, but like the Generation of Miracles' former Captain, her style of play was derived from street basketball. It only needed some time to nurture it to it is today. Like the tanned male's style, her play is boundless, formless—no logic. It's not something he can easily copy, Kamiko once told him.

The fact that he could never… ever copy her style of play was because he looks up to her too much.

To her, whether it be a duel, a mock match, or even the actual play, it's always important to give it your all. Everything that you would do would gradually be meaningless if you don't put any effort into it. That was one of the things he learned from her. And it was also one of the namely few reasons that drove him to evolve during his third year, along with the other prodigies.

Evolved for the worst, without him realizing at all.

Less than a split second, the girl moved right to left in a phantom-like shift like a zigzag pattern towards him, the blonde struggling to keep up in blocking her way to the basket as she abruptly halts just a foot away from him, both her hands holding the ball as she leaps backward, positioned to throw. He smirked a little as he blocks her throw, catching it in the process. His feet touching the ground after the leap, he quickly turned his attention to the basket to score. As just about the ball shoots, he felt a faint swift of wind on his right, widening his eyes in surprise as he realized that she was already in front of him, leaping in the air, tapping the ball down causing it to hit the hoop instead, backfiring, but as it backfired towards him and he was about to catch it again, she caught it with her able left arm before he did but shoots it with her right arm, the ball flowing through the basket.

Score 1. Kamiko won. So popsicles on him as promised.

The ball bounced aimlessly wherever as both players touched ground, panting at the short match. Both players on their knees as exhaustion were written all over their body. Kise, panting with only one eye open, glanced at the girl who straightened up to even her breathing with eyes closed. He was taken aback when he saw her used her injured arm to shoot, him thinking that it wasn't going to push through but it did anyway. He clearly wasn't expecting her to use her right arm even though it wasn't much strength to use to shoot at a short distance, like just now, but still. That moment, he noticed her spandex-clad-support arm shaking ever so slightly and he sighed tiredly.

"Mikocchi, you shouldn't have pushed yourself to use your right arm just now," The blonde spoke, still panting but softly now, causing her to take a deep breath then out, sighing as her exhale.

"I know I shouldn't stress it too much, but I wanted to prove my doctor wrong. Stupid doctor," she grumbled, making her look so adorable. "I'm sorry for that," The girl looked at him sheepishly with a smile, causing him to shake his head in amusement.

The blonde straightened his posture, his hand on his hip as he ran his fingers through his hair, now reeking with sweat. He shuddered in disgust as he sniffed himself.

"Ah geez, I stink now and it's entirely your fault for inviting me to duel with you while we both know that you would win every time," Kise pouted cutely as he crossed his arms like a 5-year-old, causing Kamiko to laugh lightly at the sight.

"It's not my fault that you accept challenges like that so easily."

Kise glared at her, but he only ended up laughing, knowing that she was right. Oh how he missed this feeling—this carefree kind of basketball play, especially when he's one-on-one with Kamiko even during the middle school days just for pure fun. He always ends up losing every time, but he didn't mind. He always had the chance to see her play up close, and corny as it is, it has always motivated him to want to be on the same level as she was.

Even until now; even if it was impossible.

"Say, Ryota, that popsicles you promised?" The girl teased, earning a light jab on her stomach from him, who was laughing.

"Yeah, yeah, a deal's a deal. Come on. Go change. I'll wait outside."


It was a short while as Kamiko quickly changed into her uniform, locking the gym as she stepped out. Kise was waiting her just in front of the gym door, sitting on the rail with a sling bag hanging on his shoulder and a spinning basketball in hand.

"I never pegged you to be a Double Dutch popsicle fan," the blonde snorted as he eat his share of popsicle. They only bought a pair since there was only one left at the nearest convenience store before him taking her home.

He remembered doing exactly like this with her in middle school. He would treat her some popsicles every after school even if there wasn't any deal made. Somehow, stuff like this became part of their routine despite attending different schools. It was fun. It's not something that never gets boring even if they're in high school now.

"Eh, it's the only flavor available," the girl sniffed, pouting as she eats her share. "I hope that store closes because they don't have my favourite popsicle flavor." To that, she puffed her cheeks round and Kise can only stifle a laugh at the sight of it. "And besides, the duel would be meaningless if one doesn't stick with the deal either way."

He couldn't hold it in anymore, so he burst in laughter, causing both of them to stop in their tracks. The girl looked at him, confused as to why he was laughing. She wondered if there was something she said that was funny, but as far as she knows, this is just being him laughing about everything.

"S-Sorry! I-I just—Ha ha! That look—ha ha! You are just adorable!" The blonde tries to explain properly, but failed miserably as he keeps laughing, clutching his stomach. "D-Damn! My stomach hurts!"

Her face heated red in embarrassment, pouting more as she jabbed his side rather hard, causing him to change the sound of his laughter to the sound of his yelping in pain.

"I-It's not funny, Ryota."

"B-But it is—"

She shot him a look, causing him to gulp and pouted, mumbling something like, "Fine, fine. You are no fun, Mikocchi."

The girl ignored him as she walked ahead of him. Recovering quickly, he skipped, walking beside her then in no time, with silence enveloping both high schoolers.

'Well…' Kise thought to himself as he walked along the familiar stretch of road that Kamiko always took after school to go home. Ever since the first year in middle school, he had always volunteered to walk her home, despite her efforts of stopping him from going home with her.

"You mentioned something about Aominecchi before that redhead of your teammate interrupted our ever-so-intimate conversation," the blonde dramatized, earning a roll of eyes and a light chuckle from the sky-bluenette.

"Ah, yes," Kamiko answered, staying silent after several moments. "We bumped into each other in the run earlier this morning."

'Is it just me or did I detect a hint of smile?' The blonde glanced at her then back at the road. "And you didn't expect him to see him again after… that?"

To that, the girl only nodded in response, causing him to look at her in confusion. It's not that it was any of his business at all, but still, this is Karadai Kamiko they were talking about. It's been a long time but he doesn't think the girl would hold a grudge against anyone, especially with someone she knows. It's never part of her nature.

She just forgives and forgets. That's how she is.

But unless she has any sort of feelings for the said guy, then it's a different story, he supposed.

Then again, he grew curious. He could've sworn to have detected a faint smile that was playing across her lips and he wondered what really happened during their unexpected encounter.

"Eeeeeh? A nod is all I get for spouting 10 or so words to form a question?" The blonde whined and poked her cheek. "Tell me more!"

The sky-blue crown blushed, twitching at the poke. "T-There's nothing more than that!" She said rather quickly, blinking in surprise as the blonde grinned teasingly.

"Something really happened," he mocked the girl playfully and chuckled, earning a flushed face from the sky-bluenette.

"Nothing worth talking about!" Kamiko blushed more, hanging her head just enough to hide her eyes behind her bangs and that's when Kise decided to push it even more.

He then poked her cheek, grinning. Then poked again when he received no response. Then again. Then…

"U-Ugh! You know I hate poking on the cheek!"

"But you do it all the time to most of us!"

The girl gave a smug smile, tilting her head on the side as she looked at him. "I'm an exception."

Kise scratched his temple with his forefinger, his eyebrow twitching. He felt somehow annoyed but he keeps his cool. "You are not definitely an exception this time. Now tell me."

The sky-bluenette looked ahead of her then back at the blonde then ahead then vice versa. She then sighed lightly as she stretched her arms, hanging her bag behind her back as she wrapped her arms behind her head.

"We just… talked."

The blonde then abruptly stopped on his tracks, his jaw hanging open as his bag fell on the ground. It took a while for the girl to realize that he stopped so she stopped to look at him, confused at his state.

"You just… TALKED?"

"Yeah… we just talked." She repeated as she completely faced the blonde who was still delirious about her response.

"I'm not buying that," Kise pouted, crossing his arms as the girl shrugged at his childishness, already used to it by now.

"We just talked, catching up and stuff. Ah well…" The girl sighed as she stretched her arms out, tucking her hands behind her head. "He's more arrogant than before. He is studying in Touou with Satsuki then?"

Kise looked at the sky-bluenette, who looked rather bored, with a popsicle stick between her teeth. "That's what I heard. He is in fact their basketball team's Ace and Momoicchi is their manager."

She nodded in acknowledgement, but was half-listening. And again, a rather uncomfortable silence hovered the two and the blonde was itching to make another conversation, a topic that would stir her attention away from that tanned male.

"Is… your arm doing any better?" Kise then skips in front of her, walking backwards playfully, earning a giggle from the girl. 'If the Aominecchi subject was not any better, then I should just do things that would definitely make her smile instead. I hate seeing a frown across her lovely face,' he mused to himself.

Kamiko smiled up to him, noting that he was only 3 or so inches taller than her. "Not that I can use it like how I used to, but I'll manage," she replied. "Like the doctor said, it's never going to be the same, but I always find a way to make this work for me, even for the littlest of things," she added as an afterthought.

By now, they have reached Kamiko's house—a studio-type apartment that Akashi had helped her look for around the second year of middle school.

Kamiko looked at Kise. "Do you want to come in for a while?" she asked, pulling out her keys from her bag side pocket, earning a solemn shaking of head from the blonde.

"I have to go meet Kasamatsu-senpai and the gang for a late practice back in Kaijo," the blonde gave a small sad and apologetic smile and the sky-bluenette looked at him and nodded understandingly and reached out to hug the male.

"Thanks for taking me home, Ryota," Kamiko's voice was muffled as she nuzzled through his shirt and the male took a while before he slid his arms around her waist and rested his chin gently on the top of her head, pulling her closer.

When was the last time they shared a hug like this; when it's just them? He couldn't remember.

Too soon, she pulled back, her arms still retained around his neck and gave a soft smile. "It was actually good to see you again, Ryota." To that, she finally withdrew her arms from his neck, to which he internally groaned at the loss of her warmth. Kamiko stepped in front of her door and bowed. "Tomorrow, we'll be actual opponents. Please don't hold back, ne?"

He was taken aback in surprise at her request, but he tucked his hands on his pockets after adjusting his sling bag back to its comfortable position on his right shoulder and grinned childishly to his first love. "Same goes to you, Mikocchi! Good night!" He waved which she returned and walked out, leaving Kamiko in her thoughts.

As soon as Kamiko entered her humble abode, a constant ringing interrupted her jumbled thoughts and took out her phone and flipped the lid open to check who was calling and she raised a surprised brow at the sight of the name displayed on the screen.

Locking the door with one hand, she clicked the answer button and brought her phone to her ear.

"You don't usually call me up out of the blue unless it's something urgent," she rolled her eyes at whatever the person she was speaking to said and Kamiko moved to drop her bag on side table, took of her shoes and tucked the pair back on the shoe shelf and walked towards the kitchen, halting abruptly by the counter.

"I thought you would still be communicating with him, after all, you were his senpai back in the middle school days before you stopped your studies to stay in America to take care—I know, that," the sky-bluenette sighed lightly as she pressed the loudspeaker button and placed the phone on the counter to take off her shirt.

"I haven't been communicating with him since second year, Miko. I thought you'd know."

A strong velvety semi-baritone resounded through the cell phone speakers and Kamiko softly scoffed after taking off her shirt, leaving her in her black tight sports bra and threw the dirty shirt in the hamper.

"I'm not psychic. Anyway, please pray tell, dear sir, don't keep me in suspense," her perfect posh tone caused the one on the other line to roll his eyes.

"Posh doesn't suit you, madam, but good job at mimicking the tone perfectly. Ah such natural," the man chuckled as he spoke in English, to which the sky-bluenette shook her head in amusement.

"You should be more relaxed when you speak in English. I can still sense the heaviness of your native accent," The sky-bluenette bit back in English, which earned a hearty laugh from the other end.

"Smart ass." She heard the man clear his throat, sensing that this is back to their topic. "I'm going back home for the Inter High and the Winter Cup, Miko, but as your personal trainer. I've heard of your accident through some… not-to-be-named sources and I've decided to teach you a technique of mine; one that I've used back in the middle school days."

Suddenly gone blank, the glass that she was holding nearly slipped from her fingertips if she wasn't too absorbed at what he just said. Hastily, she pressed the loudspeaker off and took the phone against her ear with a frown.

"That technique should never be used! It nearly caused you your career—But—" her face turned neutral and looked forward as she was still listening to the phone.

"Why now?"

When he answered her question, her eyes widened in somewhat realization about something, recalling a memory that happened not too long and hung her head low, debating whether or not to accept his proposal or not.

"Cheeky bastard," she muttered through the phone and sighed. "I'll be looking forward to you training me…"

"…Shuzo-kun."


OOOOOOOOOOHHHH!

I wonder who 'Shuzo-kun' really is. If you already have the idea who he/she really is, please send me a message!

Lovelots, D.J.~

[Edited: 14th of March, 2015 at 14:02]