Author's Note: THE LAST CHAPTER. Don't worry, there's an epilogue after this. But, let me tell you how amazing of an experience it was to write this. I know Kise isn't real, but words brought him closer. I could feel as though he's alive with every instance that I wrote. I loved that feeling. And I hope you could feel it too when you were reading it. I might publish my Atsushi and Midorima stories on here after this, but I'll focus on my Aomine story first. Thank you all for reading, my loves! I love you all.

Chapter Twenty; I Love You

[Close your eyes. Fall in love and...]

Even before the ten minute break had begun, Ayako walked out to get some air. "Kise will be looking for you-""Don't give me that much credit. He's worried about the game right now. I think it's better if he's focused on it too. I'm just going outside, by the way." The coach nodded and Ayako headed out.

It was nice out at the balcony, and Ayako checked her phone. Her eye twitched and she sighed as she read the texts her father had sent her – across the very same court they were in. She couldn't help but smile. She brushed a hand through her hair, and felt the breeze against her skin. She took off her glasses and wiped them with the edge of her shirt. Kise's playing was what caused this; she knew that much on her own.

The way he strove to achieve something, something of a greater height, something he hadn't done before, wanted her to try the same. Not with basketball, there was no way she could master the game. But, there had to be something right? She didn't know what it was, but she waited for it to come to her, in some form, any form, and when it would come to her unlike last time, Ayako would embrace it instead of letting it go.

For dreams were like that. They came and went as they pleased and they would stay and leave as and when it seemed fit. There was no specific dream for one person; a person could dream any number of dreams, any kind of dreams, and at any time. It was never too late, and never too early. All that mattered were the odds. If they were against you, or if they were at your favor. And if they were against you, you had all the more reason to stay and fight back until that dream that you wished to achieve came your way.

Sounds of footsteps could be heard and it wasn't in her natural instinct to hide, but she did. She wondered who it could be, but even before an answer came to her, Ayako hid behind a wall and held her breath. She didn't want to be seen, which was obvious, but she didn't know why. Maybe because she felt vulnerable right then, vulnerable that she had discovered that she too could have a dream and watching Kise try to live his was what made it happen.

It was Kise. She let out a breath, but she didn't approach him. He stood there, deep in his thoughts and she wondered what he was thinking about. It was almost as if she wanted to know every thought that ran across his mind, every gesture that he was going to make because she knew that she would love each and every one of them.

Every one of his quirks, every bit of his behavior all of it mattered to her more than it would to him, because he was what she loved and it would be just that. It wasn't just his looks, it wasn't just his personality, it was the mere fact that she could be so vulnerable with him and not have him break her or hurt her, the trust she had in him was what she loved most. Everyone couldn't trust everyone, especially Ayako who believed she didn't need such things, but she ended up finding one of the truest forms of love there an ever be.

The love where you can be just yourself and no one else.

Maybe it didn't occur to her that she hadn't been alone when she came up on the terrace of the stadium, but she wasn't. "Kuroko-cchi!?" Kise's shout startled her and she turned to see the blue haired male with his dog, Ayako's kryptonite, and her jaw almost dropped. How in the world had she not seen him? "What's with the dog?" Kise asked and Kuroko replied, "I kept him in my bag while I was watching, so I thought I would let him get some fresh air during the break."

While they had their small talk, Ayako felt her phone vibrate. She frowned when she noticed it was her dad. He just wouldn't leave her alone.

From: Dad
Subject: IMY

IMY stands for I miss you! Where are you my little ray of sunshine? My rainbow-

Ayako deleted the text and listened on. "By the way…between Aomine-cchi and me, who do you think will win?" If Ayako could do it she would slap him, but she didn't really want to mess up wanting to listen to this conversation. 'The things motivation can do to you.' She thought.

"I don't know." Kise was confused. "As long as you don't give up, anything could happen, and I don't think either of you will give up. So…I don't it'll be strange it either of you won." Kise smiled at what he said and said, "I'll do my best then…" It was Kuroko's turn to be surprised. "What?" Kise asked and Kuroko said, with large eyes, "I thought you'd say 'I'll definitely win!'" Kise sweat-dropped. "What are you talking about?"

"Honestly, that's what I'm trying to do, but I don't know either. In middle school it was natural for us to win, but…I feel better now not knowing if I'll win. And…Ayako-cchi'll kill me if I say I play just to win." Kuroko nodded and said, "Speaking of Morine-san, she's been here ever since you got here Kise-kun." Kise froze. "Huh?" Ayako slapped her palm on her forehead and walked toward the two.

She chuckled once and patted Kuroko's dog and said, "He's cute." Kise blinked with haste and said, "Ayako-cchi!? What are you-""I came to tell you something actually." Kuroko took the dog and walked away, giving the two some time off. Kise leaned to the pole of the balcony and blinked. Ayako took a deep breath and said, "I love you."

Kise's heart flew very far away from his chest, if he wasn't being literal, and he felt light-headed. Ayako felt her face heat up and she cleared her throat, letting out breaths here and then, because the heat was getting to her. "But I thought-""Yeah…you uh…" Ayako took another breath and found it difficult to talk. She pulled her collar to let some air in and her face was too warm. She was sure she had never blushed this furiously in her entire life.

"You did it." Was all she could manage, and it was all Kise wanted. With one scoop of his arms, he encased her in a tight hug, which Ayako returned with hesitation. Kise's head was in the crook of her neck and her face was squashed against his chest, her glasses which she was holding in her hands fell down to the ground. "Will you go out-""Yes." Ayako said without giving him enough time to even complete the sentence and a Kise let out a chuckle. "You look most attractive when you play for the team…that's the Kise I want to end up with. That's the Kise I need."

Kise was almost sure he was daydreaming but he knew he wasn't. He pushed the girl away slightly and stared at her red face and smiled widely. Ayako didn't know what to do next. She had said it, but he hadn't uttered a word. Was she too fast? Was this not the right time? She didn't understand-"Don't contemplate, Ayako-cchi, this is perfect…" Kise whispered and pressed his lips to hers. Her knees quivered, but his hands that were holding her waist pulled her closer to his chest, and didn't let her fall.

When they pulled apart they were still in each other's arms, nothing feeling more perfect than this. Everything was with them at the moment. Ayako chuckled and when he thought she would pull away, she pressed her hand at the back of his head and kissed him once more. Kise's eyes widened but before he could kiss back, she pulled away and muttered, "Surprise," Kise chuckled and kissed her back, and his mouth lingered on his and he muttered right back at her, "Right back at you, Ayako-cchi…"

Ayako let out a breath and smirked. "Sneaky little blondie…" Although, her breath this time was raspier than she would have liked. It was a moment later another voice said, "I think it's better we go back to the stadium. The game might start any minute."

The two of them froze. Ayako and Kise turned to the side to see Kuroko standing right beside them. Ayako buried her head on Kise's shirt groaning since she knew what this meant. He had seen everything. "Kuroko-cchi!? How long have you-""I've been here the whole time, Kise-kun. I'm sorry, but Nigou didn't want to leave yet." The dog barked happily. "Kise-kun, you still haven't told Morine-san that you-""I LOVE HER!" Kise exclaimed and Ayako fought the urge to push them both down the balcony.

During the third quarter, the coach didn't see Ayako's red face and Ayako's blush was slowly leaving her cheeks with how the game progressed. Aomine and Kise fought head on, Kise not underestimating the male and Aomine not underestimating Kise. But, she couldn't help but think Kise wasn't strong enough. It was a moment later she noticed how Kise tried to copy Aomine's technique, but something was off. It was not yet perfect.

Just when Kise had managed to perfect Aomine's style, and drove right past him, he was fouled. Ayako heard the coach cuss, but that was nothing to how much she was cussing inside her head. At his second attempt to copy Aomine, Kise was stopped by the original, and that ended the third quarter.

It was during the fourth quarter that Ayako checked her phone once again. It was her father, and she almost deleted it without reading it but the subject was what shocked her. Her eyes widened and she almost dropped the phone.

From: Dad
Subject: Past

You loved photography when you were little, you know. There was a picture you took of your mother and me… I still have it at home.

Ayako looked for her father in the stands, and she found him, waving at her. She smiled at the male and turned back to the game after she replied.

Tell the boss I'd like to work again.

There was no need for a reply to that one. During the fourth quarter, Ayako noticed something the coach still hadn't. "Hey, coach?" The older male turned to her and waited. "What's with Kise's leg?" The coach's eyes widened and he turned to look at the blonde and he cussed loudly. "It's giving way…" Ayako felt her stomach clench. Was it because he was copying Aomine a lot that his body isn't able to handle the speed?

She could call him a miracle with how hard he was working. She had tears in her eyes as she watched him play, nothing about it was sad in fact, the game he was playing was the most touching she had ever laid eyes on. It was almost as if she could feel his anxiety and drive, it was almost as if she were him, in a weird sense, and maybe that was why, instead of Kise, it was Ayako who was letting the tears show.

But, at the last second, Kise couldn't stop the dunk that Aomine had managed and that ended the fourth quarter, 98-110. To say this was a good game, would never be enough.

Kise sat there, shocked and let down, and Ayako pressed her palm to her mouth to prevent herself from crying. A hand then fell on her head and she noticed the coach ruffling her hair. "It was a good game, be happy." Ayako smiled as much as she could and turned to Kise, who couldn't even stand. For the lineup, Kise tried to stand but fell back down. She knew his legs had given in.

What happened next made the girl cry for the second time since knowing the blonde. Kasamatsu gave him a hand, but even before Kise could take it, Kasamatsu put his hands under the male's and raised him up just like he would for a baby. Ayako shut her eyes and let it out, but she knew she would stop crying soon. These weren't tears mixed with sadness, they were overwhelming with emotion she didn't know how else to show.

After the match, Ayako walked out and noticed her father there. He approached her and patted her head. "I saw you crying there…" he said and the girl didn't say a word. She hadn't seen Kise after the game yet, but she wanted to give him space. "Go to him…I'm sure he needs you right now." Ayako chuckled. "What about you?" Her father hummed, very similar to the way she would and said, "I can manage to find our house." Ayako smiled.

To her left she saw the blonde, with his team. She walked over there, but she didn't see Yukio. "Where's Kasamatsu?" Kise gulped, Ayako noticed how red his eyes were and she got the hint. "You were…great you know?" She said, as Kise just stood there staring at her. The rest of them team continued on, leaving the two of them alone. Nothing was said for a few minutes, there was just silence. Comfortable silence.

Ayako raised her right hand and brought down the male to her level and embraced him. Kise didn't take long in returning the gesture and he placed his head on her shoulder and let it all out. She didn't care if they were in front of the stadium, she didn't care if people saw her. "Ryota." She said and the male stiffened. "You were great." She repeated and Kise sobbed harder, but she didn't notice a smile form on his lips.

"Oi, are you smiling-""You used my first name for the first time…" he said, the girl brushing his hair behind his ear. She chuckled and nodded. "I did, didn't I?" Kise chuckled and said, "I'll get stronger, Ayako-cchi…" Ayako nodded. "I know." With that, the male entwined his fingers with hers and took a deep breath. "Do you want to get some ice cream?" Ayako hummed before tightening her grip in his hand and said, "Is that a date?" Kise nodded, a small smile growing on his lips.

"Sure, why not?"

[...stay there.]