The road to the park seem to take forever even though it was only five minutes away from Hitomi's neighborhood. She kept her eyes focused on the ground and wouldn't dare to look up at Aomine despite her wish to see what kind of face he was making.

The park itself was small, it was more of a playground for kids with a few swings here and there, a small make-believe house with a round roof, and a few benches. Once there, Aomine placed himself on the metal fence that surrounded the playground and barely reached the height of his hips. He lowered his body and looked at Hitomi but didn't say anything.

The girl looked scared, he thought. It was nothing unusual, all the girls he rejected so far would run away with the same expression of fear on their faces, but they could fear him for all he could care. But this time he cared. The only girl who dared to take the initiative with him looked as if she was about to cry. He was really bad with crying. Whenever Satsuki cried, he'd only stand there and pat her head, that's all he could think of but it always seemed enough for her but it wasn't enough this time. Aomine remembered vividly how Hitomi slapped his hand away when he tried to comfort her. For the first time he was angry at himself and clueless about what to do. He didn't know how to comfort people, nor he had ever bothered to do so. The last few days he spent playing with the ball alone, having abandoned club training. His mind was preoccupied with the situation, and he couldn't properly sleep. His stress was wearing him out, and realizing he wouldn't last long, Aomine gathered his pride and asked Satsuki for advice.

"Hey, let's say you've done something wrong and got someone else involved even though you didn't want to, what would you do?"

"Eh? How unusual, Aomine-kun asking wise questions like that. Could it be you have started to mature?"

"Shut up. It's just a "what if" question."

"Hmm... then I would apologize with all my heart to that person and let him know my feelings."

"I see..."

With that in mind, Aomine wandered to Hitomi's house. He didn't prepare what he wanted to say, so it felt awkward.

- Our deal. I don't want it to be over, - Aomine said bluntly and looked at Hitomi.

- Huh? - Hitomi wasn't sure she heard him right.

- I got so worked up about not being able to eat a tasty bento I ended up skipping a lot of classes this week, - Aomine scratched the back of his neck and sighed. Hitomi stared at him without blinking. Was that guy serious? Is this all why he came here? She wondered in shock. How any more oblivious could he get? Hitomi turned to leave but at that moment she heard a slight hit - Aomine hit the fence with his hand.

- Damn it! What I'm trying to say is... being with you is fun, - he kept on ruffling his hair as he looked away in embarrassment. Hitomi paused and looked at him. Aomine's gaze fell on the ground and then slowly went up to meet Hitomi's.

- I don't know how to do this... damn it, why do I have to explain everything... - Aomine mumbled, cursing to himself as he closed his eyes. He then looked at Hitomi again. She stood there, listening to him quietly. She was less than a meter away from him, he could almost feel her warmth but he couldn't reach it. She wouldn't let him. What does he have to do to get through this barrier? Aomine gazed at her in thought. Hitomi stood there without saying a word as well, but broke the silence a few moments later saying:

- Momoi-san told me to listen properly to whatever you had to say, - Hitomi looked away. - She said you're not good at expressing your own feelings.

- You know, why does Satsuki always come up whenever we're talking?

This guy... does he really never pay attention to other people?

- I thought that you and Momoi-san were going out - Hitomi said very quietly.

- Oh... huh? What?! How did that idea even cross your mind? That's impossible! - Aomine seemed to be genuinely surprised to hear that as he waved his hands in disbelief. - Jeez, just how is it even possible?...

- But what was I supposed to think? - Hitomi exclaimed. - You left me to go after her even though we were in the middle of-, - Hitomi paused and blushed. - Not to mention that you're generally so close with her, thoughts like this are to be expected! - Hitomi's voices started rise, so did her frustration. - You never say anything! You totally ignore me in class all the time!

- Huh? But I usually sleep in the classroom! Why would you need to talk during class?

- Because we, girls, are like that!

- I don't get you! - Aomine rose his voice as well. - And besides, what's up with me leaving back then? It was a serious issue!

- But the issue with me was not serious enough for you to stay, right?

- Why do you have to compare this and that? - Aomine roared.

- Because what am I left to think when you dump me for another girl? - Hitomi exclaimed rather loudly and tears started falling down her face.

- O-oi...

- Shut up, you stupid jerk! You've never cared since the beginning! You were never serious! That's why because of your attitude even your greatest love, basketball, gave up on you! -! - Hitomi bit her tongue. She didn't mean that, it was too much. She looked at Aomine but the latter only frowned as he met her gaze.

- It's true I wasn't serious in the beginning, but you couldn't know if my feelings could change, - Aomine said calmly. - Maybe it's the same with basketball. In fact, I haven't given it much thought, - he looked at the sky. - I have never really given anything much thought. I just took action, without thinking, - Aomine paused. - I know I hurt you. I'm sorry.

Hitomi continued crying as she looked at the ground again. She wanted to pinch herself for not being able to even present a single reasonable thought in their conversation, but the emotions took the best of her. She only managed to nod in reply to Aomine's words.

- I'm sorry, - he said again. - I won't leave you alone again. Please, don't cry, - Aomine said faintly.

Hitomi lifted her face and looked at him. Aomine looked as serious as ever. It obviously took a lot of effort for him to come here and think about all these things, let alone say them out loud.

- I couldn't sleep for the past few days because I kept thinking about you, - Hitomi looked at him surprise. - I didn't know what to say when I came here, but I wanted to see you again.

- T-that thing... about the change of heart you were talking about, what did you mean? - Hitomi asked timidly.

- I-I've said that already, haven't I? - Aomine exclaimed, flustered. - Err... ever since we started our "deal" I've been able to think only about you.

- Don't say such embarrassing things out loud!

- You made me say it!

Hitomi giggled.

- You smiled, - Aomine looked at Hitomi with a slight smile but then his face became serious again. Hitomi saw the new Aomine today. She saw him blush, she saw him being all mature and grown up. This guy, she liked him.

- Hey... Can I touch you? - Aomine's hand reached for Hitomi's face but stopped before it could touch her skin, as if waiting for permission. Hitomi only closed her eyes and slightly nodded in response.

Aomine's hand gently brushed her cheek and pulled her closer to him. He gently kissed her forehead, her eyes and pulled her in for an embrace. Hitomi froze. It was the first time anyone's ever been so gentle with her. She felt his warmth, his strength and it felt soothing. Hitomi shyly lifted her hands and wrapped her arms around Aomine's back. He pressed his face into her hair and she could feel his breathing as he smiled at the feeling of her arms on his back. She felt his arms tighten around her and did the same, wondering if it was alright to be at least a bit confident. Hitomi hid her face in Aomine's chest and could hear his heart beat very fast which was another proof that he was nervous as well.

After a while Aomine pulled away but only to kiss her. He gently cupped her cheek with one hand, while pulling her body closer to him with the other, and softly kissed her on the lips. His lips were hot and wet and so familiar that all the tension Hitomi felt seemed to disappear completely. Aomine then took her hand and led them inside that small house with the round roof. She sat down and leaned on the wall, Aomine following her actions. He kissed her again. And again. And again. He then brushed her hair away from her neck and covered it with slow warm kisses. Hitomi lifted her arms slightly, used to the process that his hands would go for her waist underneath her shirt next, but Aomine suddenly hugged her again instead.

- W-what is it? - Hitomi asked in a voice that was a bit shaky.

Aomine breathed in her scent as his nose touched her neck. He didn't reply and just sat there for a few seconds. He slowly pulled away and touched Hitomi's forehead with his while looking her right in the eyes.

- We don't have school tomorrow. Do you have any plans for tonight?

Hitomi blushed. She knew very well what Aomine was implying. Hitomi averted her gaze.

- I don't, - she bit her lip. - Do you want to come to my house? My mother must have already left for her night shift, and dad's on a business trip, s-so... - Hitomi's face became as red as a tomato. Aomine found it amusing and laughed quietly.

- I do.

He stood on his feet and stretched his hand to Hitomi, offering her help to get on her feet as well. Hitomi grabbed it and stood up. However, Aomine didn't let go of her hand all the way home, even though she could clearly see how embarrassed he was. His big hand was fully covering hers, Hitomi wondered if it was what happiness was like. She suddenly had that urge to kiss the palms of his hands but figured it would be a bit inappropriate, given the current mood, so she put the pervert in her to sleep.

At home, Hitomi showed him around and left Aomine in the kitchen while she went to take a shower. Either he was always hungry, or it was a stress reliever, Aomine was dead hungry and ate everything that was cooked by her mother.

While he was showering, Hitomi lay in her bed naked, under the blanket, wondering how she's supposed to behave from now on. She suddenly felt really shy. How could I get naked so easily in front of Aomine-kun before? She wondered. At that moment Aomine went out of the shower wearing his pants and drying his hair with a towel. He turned the light off, tossed the towel away and slipped under the blanket. Hitomi squeezed her eyes tightly, preparing herself for a sleepless night, but instead, Aomine pulled her as close as possible to him and hugged her tightly.

- A-aomine-kun? - Hitomi started hesitatingly.

- Today I just want to sleep like this, - Aomine pulled up the blanket to cover Hitomi's body and pulled her in for another hug. His skin was still moist after the shower. It felt really good.

- Jeez, this whole thing has stressed me out. I'm not used to handling such situations. I'm dead tired now, - Aomine let out a big sigh. Hitomi chuckled.

- Why, you... - Aomine frowned, teasing.

Hitomi lightly pinched his nose and gave him a long kiss on the lips.

- Then I'll see you tomorrow, - she smiled.

- Yeah, g'night, - Aomine mumbled and she could hear his steady breath just a few moments later. He must have been really tired, Hitomi thought as she caressed his hair. Positioning herself in his arms with her face buried in his chest, Hitomi peacefully drifted away into the dream world.

E/N: This is not the end, because I would like to elaborate on their relationship from now on. I'm probably more influenced by josei manga than shoujo. Thank you for the faves and follows! Please review!

P. S. Not sure if you agree with Aomine's behaviour being natural in this one, but it's my personal view of how he'd behave with a girl based on what I've read in manga, in the PSP game and from anime. Because no matter how much of a sports freak he is, he's still human and a healthy teenage boy. So I hope our views are not too different^^

P.P.S. I should stop spoiling stuff in my comments lol.