A/N: hey guys! sorry I haven't updated in so long... been going through some rough times but I'm here again! And I got into University! *dances* Haha.

On another note, I got tumblr again... so if you ever wanted to talk to me anon or whatever... /nudges it's .com

ENJOY THE CHAPTER!

Disclaimer: I don't own KnB

"Midorima-kun… I like you."

This was the first time he had ever agreed to even talk one-on-one with someone who wished to confess to him. Confessing was such an embarrassing act for both the confessor and the receiving end. Since entering this high school, there were several girls that openly expressed their admiration but they usually dwindled down once they discovered his personality. He didn't know why this girl was confessing to him so far into the school year, but since Ootsubo told him to agree to talk to her…

She was facing him with a slightly red face and pursed lips. This was definitely a difficult moment for her, but Midorima had the strongest urge to just turn around and walk away from this matter. That would be far too rude though. He tilted his head back to look at the darkening purple sky and scanned it for glimmering dots that were stars. He found several and tried to form illusory shapes in his mind. The girl waited patiently as Midorima immersed himself in something else in order to calm his mind.

Come to think of it, Midorima could not imagine how much courage it must have taken for Takao to approach him that day in his bedroom… Midorima wasn't too much of a coward, but maybe he really was in terms of feelings.

The courtyard was silent but the leaves rustled harmoniously as a tired gust of wind swirled through the branches and danced among the twigs. Midorima felt his hair being blown about and he suddenly remembered what he was here for. What was the natural course of action here? He would definitely reject her, of course… and then what?

"I'm sorry," he said, and that was all she needed.

She gave him a rueful smile and scratched her head.

"Why?" Midorima felt his eyebrows drop into a near-glare as he scanned the girl's expression. She seemed to want to drag some sort of answer out of him. The I'm Sorry did not satisfy her.

The situation suddenly brought a question to his mind. What happened to that couple? He didn't even remember their names but they were Takao's friends… and Kise's. Midorima wondered if the girl had confessed or not.

"Well, because…" Midorima started but halted in realization. This was it. This was what Ootsubo wanted him to do.

"…" The girl continued to stare at him. He had to let her down gently. Midorima wasn't good at dealing with emotional females.

"Well, I… uh…" He pushed up his glasses and discovered that his mouth was not forming the proper words even though his mind had already formulated them.

"You're so bad at this, Midorima-kun! You reject a girl and don't tell her why…" she chided him in a mock-angry manner but he could see traces of tears beginning to form at the corners of her eyes. He couldn't help but panic a bit at the telltale signs of tears. No, he couldn't handle them. He had to get out, fast.

"I'm with someone else," he blurted out and felt his own eyes widening. He did it; he said it. He admitted it to someone other than himself. Midorima felt his blood pulsing wildly through his veins and he took a shaky breath.

"Is… she from our school…?" She said as if she were afraid of the answer.

Midorima stuck his hands in his pockets and looked at the floor.

"Yeah. He is…." Midorima snapped his mouth shut and his eyes flashed back to the girl's. She was looking at him with incredulous eyes.

"H-h-he-" she began to stutter but Midorima quickly grabbed her wrist and placed her own hand on her mouth. He couldn't use his own, that was too much for him.

"Shhh!" He hissed. After the initial nerve-wracking moments, he found that he could now think about his relationship both objectively and subjectively.

She blushed and nodded.

A gym door creaked open and the two turned towards the source of the noise. Takao stood frozen, about a few feet away, with wide eyes. Midorima cursed to himself and quickly let go of the girl's wrist. He flashed a look at her and saw that she was looking back and forth from Midorima to Takao. Her mouth slowly opened and Midorima turned away to avoid her eyes.

"Hey. Ootsubo want's you back now," Takao's eyes were flashing perceptively and Midorima wanted to stalk over and shake his shoulders. He wanted to whisper into his ear, "its not what you think it is!"

But there was a big difference between wanting and being able to.

Why did Scorpios have to be such over thinkers?

After Takao had made his exit, the girl had vowed to keep his secret. She actually looked elated after discovering Midorima's relationship with Takao and didn't look as if she got rejected at all. In fact, she looked as if she had her feelings returned.

Is this what happens when you give a girl a piece of juicy gossip?

He silently berated himself. That was rude of him to think like that.

Midorima stepped back into the gym, feeling slightly chilly from the wind. He scanned the gym for Takao but he was nowhere in sight.

"Midorima-kun," Ootsubo approached him from behind, "did it work?"

Midorima turned slowly to face Ootsubo. His captain blinked several times at the sight of his expression.

"What's with that face?"

He took a deep breath through his nostrils and closed his eyes.

"Just as you planned. It'll probably be around the whole school population by 9:00 p.m."

His tone must have been sarcastic or unhappy, because Ootsubo's expression changed even further. It became gentler than Midorima had even seen it. Ootsubo grabbed him by the elbow and pulled him towards the change room. Midorima followed him bleakly and plopped down exhaustedly onto the bench as Ootsubo shut the door firmly behind them.

"What's wrong?" Ootsubo sat down on the bench opposite of his and crossed his arms in a non-threatening manner. Midorima's eye twitched as he took in the situation. Here he was, about to have a heart-to-heart chat with his captain. It was a situation that was completely uncalled for. He wrinkled his nose awkwardly.

"After what you'll soon find out eventually, you might not even stand to be in the same room as me," Midorima said.

Ootsubo stared at him with no expression.

"That is too cryptic. Stop speaking in riddles, Midorima-kun," his upperclassman said sternly.

Midorima slapped a palm over his face and nearly groaned out loud. He couldn't bear this anymore.

"I wasn't sure if coming out with that relationship was a good idea or not… but I had to do it at one point or another… and I can only hope that my partner stands strong with me… hand in hand as we face… challenges… but I messed it up a bit and I don't know what they're thinking right now," Midorima blurted out. The words bubbled up from his throat and he was unable to control them.

There was a pensive silence. Midorima guessed that Ootsubo was probably immersed in his own thoughts. He was shocked when Ootsubo stood up abruptly and walked towards Midorima.

"Midorima. Let me tell you this now. No matter what happens, we're a team. We'll stand by you, even if you are selfish," Ootsubo said bluntly.

Midorima hung his head. The words pierced through his chest, smarted, and burned. Would they really all support him? Really? His thoughts turned sarcastic and pessimistic.

"I can see your thoughts running in a downhill direction. But that is all I can say to you right now. I'm on your side, Midorima Shintarou," his captain slapped a hand on his shoulder and strode out of the room.

Midorima felt his palm still on his skin and felt comforted at the human contact. If he were to take anything Ootsubo said to heart, he would feel greatly comforted. But Midorima was hesitant, and the words didn't sink in entirely. He could still feel the fear.

But he did feel an ounce of comfort from his captain's truthful way of speaking. Midorima gritted his teeth, stood up, and pulled out his phone from his locker. He flipped through the messages to see if there was anything from Takao. He stopped at the sole message he had received from him.

All it said was that he had left practice early and wouldn't be home for dinner.

Midorima threw his phone back into his back and fell back onto the bench. He covered his face with his hands. He was so tired.

What now?

Exhaustion overcame him, from physical and mental burdens.