a/n= Thank you for the reviews everyone! I feel very appreciated!

Just in case if you wonder where this story will go, this chapter will be a little bit 'cliche' , especially the final part. Before we proceed, I am SORRY if Akashi is OOC; because in this story, she is actually sort of interested in -ehrm! And I think readers are aware that if you fall in love, no matter what personality you have, you may jitter out or lose your shit around your crush .

Reviews are well appreciated! Please R&R!

"Midorima-san! Wait for me!"

Midorima's lips parted in surprise and sped up her pacing. Her footsteps clicked hurriedly against the concrete road, yet Kuroko's hasty footprints caught up with her, and to her disbelief, the shadow was already walking beside her.

Midorima felt her nerve itching. She finally said bitterly. "What do you want to do with me?"

Kuroko replied rather calmly despite the four-eyed's hostile attitude. "I just want to say sorry for making you jealous."

"I'm not jealous!" Midorima countered offensively, her face warmed. "I don't mind if you take Takao as your boyfriend! But, I'm not really sure if Aquarius and Scorpio are compatible, because according to Oha-Asa, they don't say anything about the compatibility of these two signs because they are so rare…"

"I'm not talking about Takao." Kuroko deadpanned, cutting her.

Midorima stifled in embarrassment, now flicking her eyes left and right. "Ah…I see," she said lamely. "You should speak clearer next time, Kuroko."

"It's not my fault, you're thinking about Takao." Kuroko stated, sounding obvious.

Midorima shrugged Kuroko's statement and straightened her glasses, adjusting it closer to the bridge of her nose. Clearing her throat, she crossed her arms above her chest, falling into her usual, cool demeanor. "Then please elaborate your statement clearly this time."

Kuroko let out a low sigh and shook her head disapprovingly. "You're avoiding my statement. But anyways, there is something I want to make it clear."

Midorima nodded her head, ready to listen.

At the moment, Kuroko glared at her shoes, as if she was trying to put in the right words to her tongue. Once in awhile, she twitched uncomfortably, stiffening her shoulders. After taking one final gulp, Kuroko tightened her fist with resolve, mustering out her words.

"Midorima-san, how is your social life in Shuutoku?"

Midorima furrowed her brows. A gray scaled, mental image of her broken Kerosuke and jeering female students instantly played in her mind like an old movie. Despite the sudden sinking feeling in her stomach, Midorima's cool voice never faltered. "Everything is good."

"Do you have any friends beside Takao?"

Midorima cursed inwardly. Well, maybe she could consider her pineapple-complex senpai as her friend, or even Ootsubo and Kimura. Maybe even the airhead and noisy Sachika, who acclaimed as Midorima's best friend—one sided though.

"Well my teammates, Ootsubo, Kimura, Miyaji…" Midorima started listing all the names of the club members even though she didn't know them personally and facially. "And the class prez Sachika, who is one of Takao's friends."

Kuroko looked at her with a skeptical frown. "Do you know them as friends or people that just talk to you?"

"Both."

"They are different Midorima-san."

"Look, I don't want to hear any social lecturing, especially from you." Midorima said defensively.

"I don't want to give you any social lecture," Kuroko said with failing patience. "I just want to make a point."

"Then speak!"

Kuroko instinctively took a step back, astounded by Midorima's outburst. Midorima realized it and pulled up her lips to a tight line—guilt, shame, and pain weighed up on her chest. Midorima wanted to apologize, but she believed putting a trivial feeling across—such as an apology— would be pointless.

Despite the fading color from her face, Kuroko's voice trailed firmly. "Ever since the incident in Teiko…" she was silent for a moment, and the name 'Teiko' brought a pang of guilt to Midorima's chest. Kuroko recoiled before she spoke further. "I feel very lonely. That is why; I want to become friends with my current teammates. It's the only thing I have ever wanted."

Midorima's eyes flew wide as pain shot up to her body like a serum.

The MiraGen knew it was their fault that Kuroko was broken mentally and spiritually; none of them ever apologized. Even Midorima, who was never fond of the latter, felt ashamed of her decision to follow the footsteps of her fellow team members instead of siding with this little girl.

Instinctively, Midorima pressed the back of her hand against Kuroko's pale cheek. Kuroko's eyes narrowed, slightly cautious and jittery by the sudden gesture.

"Stay still." Midorima said. Kuroko obeyed with a frown.

Inwardly, Midorima clawed her hair in frustration—she had no idea what the hell was she doing right now, but deep inside her, she knew she just had to. Kuroko had been through a lot in Teiko, but up until now, nobody wanted to listen to her.

The green-haired male knew she wasn't a vocal person, so she couldn't just press Kuroko to spill her heart out about the latter subject. If stroking her cheeks like this could make her to read Kuroko's pain, then Midorima was more willing to do it, even if it would affect her daily luck.

As the back of her hand slowly traced over Kuroko's cheekbones, it really reminded her when she talk to Kuroko for the first time:

"Midorima-san, I bought your favorite red bean drink."

Midorima looked up and saw the teal-haired female smiling at her. Her arms stretched out, and a can of red bean juice was gripped firmly between her petite fingers.

Despite the voluntary kindness, Midorima furrowed her eyebrows, familiar with the un-compatibility between Cancer and Aquarius—which happened to be Kuroko's sign.

"I refuse." Midorima said flatly. "I don't want to be too familiar with you, Kuroko-san."

"Is it because of my sign?" Kuroko tilted her head cutely. She didn't look offended, not at all.

"Please leave." Midorima commanded, avoiding her gaze.

After a few moments of silent, Kuroko nodded as she placed the red bean can beside Midorima before she left. As Kuroko retreated, Midorima glued her gaze towards the juice can, somehow feeling grateful because her throat was getting sore.

That was when Midorima stood up and cried for her name.

Kuroko halted. She obeyed and approached Midorima with expectant eyes. Tilting her head thoughtfully, Midorima pressed the back of her hand against Kuroko's cheeks.

Kuroko pouted, glaring at the taller girl. "What is that for?"

"You need to eat more," Midorima replied. "You're so skinny."

"I thought you hate Aquarius."

"Some of them might be an exception."

After reminiscing the memory in her mind, Midorima brushed her hand away from Kuroko. She noticed a few things—Kuroko was getting skinnier since Teiko. The black moons under her eyes were slowly fading, but they were still there, lingering like a shadow.

Midorima gulped, her throat bounced. After a moment of hesitation, Midorima finally spoke. "Kuroko, from the thing in Teiko," she flushed, slightly embarrassed of herself for picking the exact, cheesy line from Kise. "I'm sorry."

Kuroko flashed her a grateful smile and nodded. "I accept your apology."

Midorima felt something warm stung on her eyes. She cursed—she wasn't going to cry, was she? Before the tears spilled from her eyes, a loud, high-pitched, female shriek blared out of the blue.

"Shin-chi! Tet-chi!"

It was pretty obvious who called them—Kise stood there in her Kaijo uniform, her golden pigtail bounced behind her head. She skipped towards their direction, humming another happy tune with a wide grin on her face. Behind her, Yukio tailed her with a sigh.

"Yo, it's nice to meet you guys again." Yukio gave them an airy wave.

"Nice to meet you again, Kasamatsu-san," Kuroko bowed with a polite gesture. "I am looking forward for our next match."

Yukio cocked his brows and grinned. "Trying to sound modest huh, Seirin? Where is your big boyfriend?"

"Did I hear somebody call me boyfriend?"

Everyone snapped their head towards Takao and Kagami, who had just left Maji Burger and joined in the circle.

Takao's eyes flickered with excitement. "Woah! Everybody is here!"

"So what? There is nothing to be excited about." Midorima flashed him a petulant look.

"Shin-chan! Admit it, you love your friends!" Takao jutted his lips outward, pouting.

Midorima shied her gaze from Takao, giving him an indignant 'hmph' and left Takao chattering away with Yukio and Kagami, and the girls of course.

Suddenly, the night air breezed across the road as a piece of ragged leaf waltzed passed them. The party broke into a shivering fit, especially Kuroko, who started sneezing.

Kagami quickly undo his top jersey and laid it upon Kuroko's tiny shoulders. Kuroko blinked, her eyes flicking back and forth between Kagami and his jersey. Kagami gave her a toothy grin. Kuroko blushed, murmuring a low 'thank you'.

Kise let out a dramatic gasp and clung to Yukio's arms like an anchor, stupefying her captain, who was staring at her with a conflicted expression.

"Kise, you little brat... let me go!"

"It's cold, senpai!" she moaned, taking Yukio's warm hands and rubbing it against her cheeks.

Feeling the smooth, milky skin against the back of his palm, Yukio zipped his mouth shut, preventing his face from flushing red.

Midorima hugged her arms and brushed her nails against her chilling skin. Before she knew it, huge pairs of warm arms engulfed her waist, melting her body with warmth. Takao hummed, brushing his face against her neck.

Midorima flinched, scowled. "Let me go, freak!"

"I'm cold Shin-chan," Takao said, his hot breath fanned against Midorima's neck.

Midorima shivered, but she stayed still.

From the distance, a red-haired female was looking over the crowd in disgust. Scowling, she snaked a leather scarf around her neck, exhaling out puffs of cold air.

"How unsightly." She mumbled under her breath. "They are supposed to be sharping their blades, not fooling around like a bunch of mundanes."

After giving them one final disgusted glance, the short female retreated, her footsteps clicked and echoed against the concrete pavement.

"Eh, Akashi-chan? Is that you?"

Akashi blinked, and before her, a tall man with dark-hair and a pair of golden eyes stood before her. A stupid grin crooked up on his lips.

Akashi gaped, her lips trembling. She felt her face warmed. "N-Nijimura-senpai."

Nijimura Shuuzo—MiraGen's ex captain in Teiko—softened his smile and raked Akashi's hair messily. "It's been a long time I haven't seen you! Wow, you are in Rakuzan now?"

Akashi looked at her uniform and nodded. "Y-Yes, senpai. I thought you're supposed to be in America."

Nijimura scratched the back of his head and chuckled. "Well, my dad's health is improving, so I come back to Japan for fresh air."

Akashi's placid face bloomed, now she was smiling widely. "That's really good to hear senpai!"

Nijimura nodded. "Hm!" he nodded. "After all, I am coming here to complete my final mission!'

"Final mission?" Akashi tilted her head to the side, curious.

"I am going to confess to Kuroko Tetsuya." Nijimura rubbed his chin bashfully. "Well, I think you already know it, Akashi-chan!"

Akashi's jovial expression withered. Her stern expression quickly returned. "I see."

Nijimura's eyes widened, realizing something was off from his kouhai. "Akashi-chan, are you okay?"

Without a word, Akashi stalked passed him and proceeded walking towards home.

She bit her thumb and flickered her heterochromatic eyes with pride. "I am not like them. I can't let this weak feeling control me."