Chapter 07- Orange and Lemons
Midorima quickly rushed down, nearly tripping on his coat just to get to the cerise head. The lights bustled off covering the accident before anyone sense anything suspicious about the sudden fall. Whispers flooded the auditorium but he can barely hear them, he was focused on hearing something from the girl.
"Oi, Himeyama. Are you alright?" he walked to her and lend his hand, his worrisome face expressed well in the darkness.
"L-Leave me alone." She mumbled. She was using the sword's hilt for support but it barely helped her stand straight.
"At least answer properly when you're asked of your condition."
Rather than worry, his feelings was quickly changed by annoyance. He wanted to help her and yet she was pushing him away again.
Can she not think properly even after hitting her head?
"I'm fine so move out of the w-way." She took a step and without warning, lost her balance. With his quick reflexes he caught her in one arm, the girl groaned limply hanging on his arm.
"I'm taking you to the clinic and this time, I would not listen to any objections."
[~]
Akane's eyes jolted open as pain quickly took its hold on her head. She closed her eyes and felt like she carried the world's weight on it and it will snap sooner or later. Struggling, she opened her eyes again, seeing a lean back and green hair.
Someone's carrying me?
She hung her head low, fixing puzzle pieces on her head about her current condition.
"How do you feel now?" the green head turned to her, his worried look masked by his framed eyes.
"A-Ah!" she gasped, pulling herself away from his back. "WHYAREYOUCARRYINGMEONAPIGGYBACK,YOUPERVERT!"
He turned away with a scoff. "Still as brash as ever even though you're just dizzy last time."
She paste her head on his back again and groaned, "I-It still hurts." She shut her eyes tightly, hoping that it will alleviate the pain that she was feeling.
"Nobody told you to complain just after you woke up so if you're going to ask me, it is your fault why that happened to you."
She replied with a grunt, her head dragging her consciousness slowly. "I-I need to head back… I—they—" her lids drooped not letting her form her message properly.
[~]
When her celadon irises reopened once again, the sun was already staining the room with its silky orange tendrils. Her eyes whirred around searching for clues to where she was. She grunted, feeling lightheaded and dizzy.
Where am I? she sat down touching her head and feeling the bump from earlier. The clinic?
The curtains that covered her was drawn revealing the greenhead that carried her there. He had two cans of shiroko both held in his hands, he was carrying some sense of doom that didn't help her aching head.
"What are you doing here?" she asked in a low voice, puzzlement embracing her features.
"Because of what happened back in the play, I am here to offer you my condolences and aid you with—"
"What condolences? I'm not dead."
"My apologies."
He sounded hesitant and it made her smile unknowingly as he settled down, looking at her covered feet. Taking a small glance, he extended his bandaged hand to her offering the red bean can.
"Hmm… no poison?"
He scoffed, raising his black rimmed glasses with his left hand. "If I did that then I should have killed you earlier on the stage properly."
"That's a nice plan well if you can carry on faultless after that then it would be funny," she shot back sarcastically. Her hand moved to the opener and swiftly, she opened the can and drank its contents.
"Stop saying laughable things, Himeyama."
She shrugged and leaned back, taking the last of her drink. "You can leave now, Midorima. I don't need you anymore, you've done your part."
"I certainly don't remember the time that I let you order me around, Himeyama."
"Ah, why is this drink sweet? I would prefer tea if possible."
"Don't change the subject!"
She gave him an incredulous look accompanied by a lopsided grin, "What are you getting so worked up for?"
He replied with a withering glance though she didn't waver to it, "You are annoying."
"This is refreshing~!"
"Stop changing the subject!"
"Catch~!"
"Hah?!"
She threw the red bean soup can to him, which he caught in surprise. She clapped her hands sarcastically causing veins to pop on his forehead.
"May I inquire what is going through your head for you to do such idiotic things?"
"Blame my head, it's not working properly yet."
He leaned back on his chair and grunted. She watched him underneath her lashes, he looked worried… genuinely worried for her. It was surprising and it was unacceptable. Ever since she met him, all he did was obsess over punishing her for what happened back at the festival. He had been rude, too uptight, and too intimidating. The guy in front of her is way different from what she knew.
"You've brought this to yourself, if you only listened to me you should have been there performing with the others." He spoke, masking the concern by raising his glasses and changing his expression to a stoic one.
"Ha-Ha-ha," she sarcastically laughed, "Yes, my bad."
He flinched in further annoyance, eyes narrowing to slits. "Did you hit your head the wrong way?"
"Is there a right way?"
"Ridiculous."
She pushed the blankets and turned to him. "I think I should head home now. I'm okay."
He was on his heels already before she can even stand up and it made her heart race all of a sudden and for her head to pound.
"The doctor informed me that you'll be a bit wobbly, you—"
"Help me? Nah~ no need, I told you, you've done enough."
She stood up and as he stated, she quickly lost her balance and fall to his chest. He raised his glasses with his left hand while his right hand supported her arm. "When will you listen to others properly?"
"When will you pass the burden to me?"
She shook her head, remembering an unpleasant memory. "I told you, it's alright." She removed his hand from her waist and though wobbly she took a step bravely.
"Himeyama, don't be stubborn." He tried to hold her again but she simply backed away quickly locking herself up on the comfort room. She sighed, pressing her back on the door.
"Thanks a lot!" she said over the door knowing that he might hear it. Too much for ignoring help.
She heard a thump on the door, feeling as if someone was leaning on her back despite of the door that separates them.
"I already called Nanami. I'll leave once she gets here." Midorima's stern yet calm voice reached her ears. "I'm going to be honest with you. I am not the type who would actually help his nemesis but now that I did it, you should have been thankful. You need help, Himeyama, I gave it to you."
"I don't need it," she said but with losing conviction. She felt like she was betraying her own words. Her vision was flailing and she can't keep it straight.
"I know that you do."
The clinic door opened signing Kayo Nanami's arrival. The weight on the door shifted and left her that she felt alone all of a sudden. Having him was comforting but she quickly lost him for her stubbornness.
She clutched her chest, feeling the fast beats of her heart.
"I feel worse."
[~]
"Are you alright, Hime-ya?" Kayo asked looking at her best friend worriedly.
The cerise head can't barely keep her eyes from dropping when he turned to Kayo.
"I-I'm fine." She mumbled weakly.
"You're not."
"Then why are you asking if it's obvious."
No good, Akane. Why are you treating everyone rudely just because you don't feel good?
The cerise head sighed, "I'm sorry, Nanami-chan. But can I go ahead?"
Kayo looked at her worriedly. "Then please let me accompany you to the bus. I want to make sure that you get a ride okay, Hime-ya?"
"Y-Yeah."
[~]
I should have rested more… Akane thought while she pressed her back against her cold seat. If not for the gentleman seating beside her she might have lost her consciousness unknowingly.
"Miss…"
She turned to the gentleman who helped her. It was a doctor with a bright smile and light green irises. "You actually look ashen. May I ask what's wrong?"
"Um… I hit my head earlier after falling downstairs," she mumbled weaker than before.
Worry, panic and everything that is necessary on a doctor's face is widely expressed on his face. "You should stop by the house, I can examine you there. I'm a doctor you see…"
"Thanks but no thanks, Doctor-san. I'm sure my Mom will be dead sick if she won't be able to find me soon."
"Yes, but you really don't look 'normal'. Did your school doctor checked you thoroughly?"
She shrugged, "Maybe."
"I'll come with you then that would be helpful."
She only sunk further on her seat and sighed, getting weaker that she can't argue anymore. The doctor kept explaining something but no words reached her.
She was busy regretting the fact that she rudely pushed Midorima and Kayo away. She just hated it whenever she looks helpless. It had been a part of her ever since she decided to quit Track and Field before. It was a conclusion.
"Uh… this is my stop." She informed the doctor who nodded and quickly he helped her to her feet.
The two walked to the small house by the corner, it looks like the typical house its faded walls and chipping paint. She could feel comfort with it as soon as she was on their doorstep knocking at the door.
"Mom?"
The door opened revealing the worried form of her Mother, the creases on her face oddly defined.
"Akane, are you okay? Kayo called me earlier, what—"
"It's better if you let her rest first," the Doctor beside her interrupted with a kind smile while her Mother backed away obviously oblivious of the interrupter at first.
"A d-doctor? Oh, yeah, sure, sure. Please help her in."
The cerise head wordlessly went inside with the guidance of the doctor. Their home was silent that she can only hear depleted voices exchanged by the adults and the tapping of their shoes on the floor. She sat down the couch, her weight giving in and so does her eyelids.
[~]
"Shin-kun, the door please," Midorima's mother called out. The greenhead stood up from his seat leaving his notebook and heading to the door. He twisted the door knob open revealing a man- a foot taller than him with faded green hair and light green eyes-his father.
"I'm sorry for coming home late, I just treated a patient," his father entered, greeting with a nod.
"A patient?" Shintaro lifted his eyebrow quizzically. "But today's your day off, Otou-san, what happened?"
"You see… I encountered a sickly looking girl in the bus. I think she attends Teiko as well."
Shintaro's eyes flinched in recognition, the very need to know who that person was, swarmed his gut. "How is she?"
"Oh, you know her?" his father asked curiously. His intelligent eyes focused on his son.
"If her hair is tied in braids and it's cherry red then that would be the person that I knew," Shintaro revealed, clearing his throat so he won't appear that worried for that person.
"Yeah, that is her!" his father smiled upon recognizing her. The old doctor even placed a hand on Shintaro's shoulder. "Don't worry, she is fine. She just needs some rest and cold packs."
That's good to hear, Shintaro thought but he didn't voice it, he simply raised his glasses and retorted, "That person is so stubborn, she should have taken my advice and rested on the clinic."
His father's eyes expressed sudden amusement. "Why, Shintaro? Is there something that I should know?"
"Huh?" the stoic son raised a brow again, he felt his stomach recoil not wanting the flow of the conversation. "Is there something?"
His father laughed heartily. "My wife, your son is growing up," he announced for Shintaro's mother to hear.
"Of course he is, dear husband," came his mother's reply.
"Since when did this start?"
"Two months ago."
Shintaro scoffed, raising his eyeglasses once again to hide something on his face. "I don't certainly get the point that you two are pointing at but I'd appreciate it if you'd stop."
He walked back to his room ignoring his parents' chatter.
[~]
The next day, Akane was revived so well that she even hummed while skip-walking to school and on this unexpected times, a person always appears from behind.
"What are you doing?"
She turned, celadon irises meeting light green ones. She faced front again and skipped, walking a step ahead of him.
"I feel good today don't ruin the mood," she said in a fake complaining voice.
Midorima raised his glasses as part of the routine and glared at her back. "Today is my lucky day also and I certainly would not let you ruin it. Meeting you here is purely coincidence."
"Hmm… then I'll go dash so goodbye~!" she sang with a bright lopsided grin. However, before she can even make a run for it, his hand already gripped her shoulder stilling her.
"What sign are you?"
"Hnn?"
"Your zodiac sign."
She tilted her head to the side, "I'm not really sure so look it up, my birthday's on March 30."
He flipped his phone open, "That would make you—"
"Need to go," she interrupted his sentence, removed his hand on her shoulder before skillfully taking a stance and turning again. The greenhead raised a brow quizzically not really pleased by the girl's antics.
"Thank you so much for your help yes-ter-day," she said with another lopsided grin before finally running away from him.
Midorima stood there frozen. The girl who always treat him rudely just thank him for what he did without even holding back or expressing anything besides gratitude. He hummed in amusement.
"Midorimacchi, what are you standing there for?" Kise asked approaching the taller guy who is still standing there.
"I am looking at the new prediction on my phone and for Gemini that would be—"
"Time out," Kise crossed both arms, "I know. I know. You don't have to stress it out-ssu."
"Hmph," the greenhead started walking again clearly wishing to ignore the blonde model's presence.
"Wait for me, Midorimacchi!"
[~]
Akane finally reached the gates of Teiko Middle School. Her breathing was hitched after running that far while her heart was resonating loudly in her chest. She sighed, relieved that she was able to thank the green head properly and naturally. She had been practicing in front of the mirror yesterday just so she would actually sound right in her apology.
She doesn't want to thank him actually since she knew that it probably wouldn't matter to the greenhead nonetheless, she felt okay after.
"What are you looking like idiot there for?" a stern voice that she quickly noticed called out to her. She raised her head seeing Kanda who had his bag strap around his forehead.
"Hmph, just when I was suppose to have a good day," she scoffed standing up properly. "Come on, make my day."
He scowled. "That's not what I wanted to do or say," he fixed his bag settling it on his shoulders. "I want to apologize for yesterday. We already had someone to stand in your place but it wasn't really as impressing as your performance."
Seriously? Is this the Kanda that I know?
"Whoa, did you hit your head or something?"
His face quickly crumpled as a reaction to the girl's feigned arrogance. "Look at this person, I really can't believe that Kayo's with you. Really…" he shook his head and stomped off annoyed.
She only cocked an eyebrow as a response. That. Was. Weird. Though.
"Himeyama-san."
"GYAH! WHAT!"
She stepped back surprised to see Kuroko behind her. Before she can even reprimand him, he already bowed low in apology. "I'm sorry for what happened yesterday, Himeyama-san. I didn't know that having Midorima-kun as a stand in would endanger you."
"Ah~ Not really. It was—"
"Why are you blaming me, Kuroko? It's not my fault!"
"Seriously, Midorimacchi why are you bullying her?"
"Let me repeat what I just said earlier, it's NOT my fault."
Akane narrowed her eyes and sweat dropped while the three guys in front of her argued about the accident yesterday. They seem to forget that she was there and the fact that anytime soon the school bell would ring.
With a sigh, she grabbed the bluenette's hand and dashed off with him.
"Eh… that was fast, Midorimacchi."
Midorima simply raised his glasses as response to Kise's remark. "It would be better if we won't linger here, Kise. Let's go."
"Huh, but—"
"Check your time."
The blonde flipped his phone open and face palmed. "We're late, Midorimacchi."
[~]
"H-Himeyama-san, that was fast," Kuroko reacted as the two of them settled down to their seats before the teacher can even make his appearance.
"I-I barely managed to breathe."
"I'm really really, really sorry, Kuroko-kun."
"It's fine," the bluenette smiled a bit to reassure the cerise head. "I was just complimenting you, Himeyama-san."
"Eh?" the cerise head blushed that she looked away. "That was supposed to be a compliment?"
"Yes…"
"Uh…" she turned to the bluenette. "It is just a protective mechanism. It's not natural, trust me… hahaha."
"It's still a compliment, Himeyama-san. You can run faster than me even if we always do that during practice."
"But…" she turned away again scratching her cheek nervously. "It's nothing. Besides, you can trick them by standing on the finish line and once they see you they will think that you just ran ahead of them."
"I cannot do that."
"Lack of presence, I compliment it," she said flailing her arms to him and he simply nodded with his poker face on. The girl is actually making a fool of herself in front of him and he didn't know if he should laugh or cry.
"Okay."
Kuroko's blank face had always been an everyday occurrence but it doesn't bother her actually since sometimes he just ceased to exist. Though, his sudden compliment simply disarmed her that she panicked not knowing what to say.
"…Ah, Himeyama-san, are you free this dismissal?"
"Y-yeah, why?"
"Please watch the basketball practice."
"Eh?" What now?
"I think it might get you interested."
"Why?"
The bluenette didn't answer, he just stared at her in a seemingly long time to get her to agree.
She hung her head low, "Thirty minutes, I'll be there."
[~]
The squeak of basketball shoes swiftly moving on the polished floor, the swishes of the net whenever a ball gets in and the calls of the senpais to their kouhais was the scenario that Akane got herself into. The basketball 1st string gym is oozing with incredible energy that she narrowed her eyes.
She pulled the messenger bag up to her shoulder properly as she leaned on the wall of the gym's entrance. Many teenage boys were practicing that the whole court is divided into two.
She tilted her head to the side not knowing where to go. Kuroko didn't actually tell her where they are suppose to meet up. Shrugging she started to walk and look around only to bump something hard.
She quickly backed away clutching her nose.
"Kuroko-kun?"
"Hnn… Kurochin?"
She looked up only to step back further. "M-Murasakibara-k-kun…"
"Hmm… Kurochin?"
The purple haired giant stared down at the cerise head who was as small as Kuroko.
"D-Don't worry. I-I'm s-still in M-Middle S-School. I-I will g-grow s-soon." She exclaimed nervously.
"Who are you?" he asked innocently, his voice still on its young age not the usual deep voice for someone reaching puberty.
"U-Uh… M-Mizuki f-from C-Class 2-2 C-C."
"Class 2-C."
"K-Kuroko-kun's c-class."
"Hnn… Kurochin?"
"Y-yes."
"Cherry Red."
"H-huh?"
"Are you an Akachi also?"
"N-No… it-it's H-Himeyama A-Akane."
"From Kurochin's class?"
"Y-Yes."
"Do you like sweets?"
"U-Uh, I-I t-think s-so?"
Murasakibara grabbed her small hand and placed a small candy on top of it.
"U-Um, t-thanks?"
"Himechin."
"U-Uh?"
The purple head merely smiled and walked ahead. Akane clutched the candy nervously. "U-Uh, I've to go look for Kuroko-kun."
"Himeyama-san." The person that she was searching for called out that she shrieked in surprise to see the bluenette.
"One of these days, I think I'm going to die out of heart attack, Kuroko-kun." Akane said with an audible sigh.
"I'm sorry," Kuroko replied, eyes softening briefly before resuming its blank look.
"I'll go sit there then, good luck."
"Thank you for coming, Himeyama-san."
She simply gave him a backward wave before settling on the bleachers.
[~]
"Are you staying up late here, Shintaro?" Akashi asked, putting his sports bag to his shoulders. The greenhead raised his glasses with his forefinger and his middle finger, "I need to do some maintenance, Akashi."
Akashi managed a small smile, his eyes turning to the open door of the gym. The sports facility is empty saved for the two of them since the sudden downpour led everyone to get to their homes.
"It would be raining hard so I suggest that you go home soon."
"Of course, I will."
The redhead said nothing more, he just strode away til he reached the gym's door. Turning once again, he noticed someone on the bleachers. His eyes quickly scanned the place for his vice captain seeing the taller teen on the storage room.
A small smile of interest painted his face before he finally exited and entered the open door of the limousine.
[~]
It was still raining hard outside when Midorima finally exited the storage room. He didn't realize that the amount of balls that he used for practice was that many that he had to return them all.
Practice was brutal and he was more determined to perfect his style before the championship. He sighed, taking his bag to his shoulders when he suddenly heard a shrill scream. It was too loud enough to surpass the sound of the thunders outside.
Someone's left here?
He whipped his head around searching for the owner of the scream only for his eyes to widen at the sight of her.
Himeyama Akane was on the bleachers, clutching her head in horror. His feet suddenly speed walked to where she was, the thunder clapping loudly outside once again. She released another scream.
"Himeyama, what are you doing here?"
She rose to her feet and quickly, she held onto his arm and the thunder went down again that it made her tighten her grip more.
"O-Oi!"
She looked at her with her eyes glassy. "M-Midorima-kun, I-I…"
He pulled out a sigh and placed her down on the seats. She quickly grasped his bandaged hand while he removed his phone from his pocket and placed its earphones on her ears.
He opened his music player and started a piano song before passing her phone to her wordlessly. She looked at the phone but she didn't let go of his hand and having no choice, he sat down beside her.
The thunder was still clapping and each strike; her hand would tighten its grip despite the music that was supposed to alleviate her condition for a while.
They spent the passing time in silence, waiting until the thunder was gone and only the raindrops remains. It happened after what seemed like eternity that with a hint of blush, she quickly let his hand go and pushed the phone and earphones back to him.
"I-I'm sorry!"
"Tonitrophobia, isn't it?"
She turned away not willing to confirm his question. It sounded like an accusation and to her she was innocent.
"Well it does not concern me anymore," he placed his phone back on his pocket. "You're an Arian after all and my sign had its worst compatibility with yours."
She turned back to face him awestruck by such a stupid declaration.
"Let me say this properly. We are not compatible therefore please keep your distance from now on because it won't benefit us both."
"Ehh? You believe in that horoscope thingy that much? I mean, what gives?"
"What gives?" he narrowed his eyes and shot her a glare. "I nearly died when Cancer took its last place do you think that is not enough to prove that I should believe?"
"You're that tall but I never realized that you are stupid."
The last thing that he would want to do was to push her outside but he still have this considerate side of him that he just scowled. He thought of resolving the issue to words.
"Following fate is never stupid. I always do the likely to please God. Because man proposes, God himself disposes."
She laughed, "Following fate is never stupid? So what?"
His lids pulled down to slits.
"Ah, sorry, sorry actually I was expected to thank you for doing something for me."
"I didn't—"
"Though you'll deny it later, hypocrite."
He shot her a glare taking all the anger that he can muster on it. She's openly criticizing his way of life and it looks like she wouldn't listen to his reasoning anymore.
"Hmph."
She simply shrugged, "The piano was amazing, Beetven or Mosart?"
"Beethoven and Mozart are famous pianists. Don't you ever dare mock them."
She shrugged again. "But recorded?"
"I was the one playing the piano."
"Eh?"
"I told you that's—"
"I heard you… so you played it?"
"I just told you that stop repeating it."
"You were about it also, geez."
"You're small and yet—"
She slapped his arm. "Stop arguing with me. Don't you have anything productive to do other than—OH MY GOSH! YOU FREAK!"
He turned to her completely giving her a quizzical look.
"What are you shouting for?"
"It's 8:00 pm already!"
"Hah!?"
[~]
He ended up bringing her home once again since it was late already and though he denied it, he was worried for the loudmouth girl.
"Actually, you don't need to tag along. I can manage." She said as soon as they were on the small gate of her house.
Midorima tightened his grip on the strap of his bag. It took all the dragging just to get her out of the gym without her protesting about him walking her home.
She was an Arian also after all, those born to that sign is more stubborn than stubborn.
He raised his glasses, wondering why he always complies to her despite that. He shrugged noticing the spotted cat in front of him.
"Meow."
I should start avoiding her now…
The cat jumped to his head purring. Aghast, he started tugging at it and flailing it around. He hadn't been good with cats ever since he was a kid. Aside from the foul smell of their feces, they also scratch him for no good reason.
He heard a laughter that made his blood boil quickly.
"Don't you dare laugh at me—you! Damn, cat!" Midorima grumbled turning to her and to the cat, which is still meowing even though he desperately swung it around.
"Marshmallow-kun will never obey strangers especially green head giants with black rimmed glasses."
"You own this stupid cat?"
"No, no, isn't it obvious?"
"At least, answer me properly, you!"
"You?"
"Small woman-nanodayo!"
"Go head home already, you're disturbing the house by your girly squeals."
"I'm not girly and I'm not squealing either! What do you think am I, a pig?!"
"Well, if you want to be a pig then sure…"
The cat finally jumped out of Midorima's taped hand. Relieved, he cleared his throat for composure and pointed a finger at the cerise head.
"You, from now on, stop crashing into my path!"
"Sure, sure, I don't want to do it anyway!"
"Hmph…"
He walked out leaving her laughing.
[~]
For some reason, she felt comfortable with him around already. For her, she wouldn't run away from him already.
She turned the doorknob and a ghost of a smile painted her face.
Thank you for everything, Midorima-kun.
