Drabble Thirty-Six: Wash-up

A/N: Dayum, I made a mistake. Anyone who read the previous version of this chapter - I put Riko as the 'manager', but I've changed it to coach now. Sorry for the mix-up!

"Naaatsuki-chan!"

"Taaakao-kun!" The girl greeted cheerily in the same way, raising a hand to wave at the teen. "Good morning, everyone," she said shyly, peeking into the room where the basketball members slept. The room can be seen to be clearly divided, and the neatest corner with no stray clothes and a folded sleeping bag very clearly spelled 'Midorima Shintaro'.

But where is he?

Having arrived just that morning a few hours ago at the campsite, she had spent the early hours helping the old owner of the place clean up some rooms and help out, as she had slept enough on the way here anyway. It was quite interesting hearing about Coach Nakatani's childhood – which apparently centered in this area, and that the owner knew him personally –

"Earth to Natsuki-chan~" Takao waved a hand in front of her face, and she blinked, a sheepish smile immediately coming on.

"Sorry, er, where's Shintaro?" She asked. Some of the boys, such as the captain Otsubo and Kimura had already moved out, and she saw them going to the washroom on her way here. Miyaji Sr. was still trying to wake Miyaji Jr., and Takao had opened the door for her. Speaking of the latter, he had a splitting grin on his face, like he was laughing at some inner joke. Natsuki let a slightly exasperated, clueless smile on her face. Really, her friend is always so joyous (what is he laughing about anyway?).

"He went to get some fresh air down that corridor – apparently they have huge ass windows there – , but we're going to the washroom together. Coming?" He asked, his smile falling into a well-placed smirk.

"I don't think Natsuki should enter the men's washroom," a deeper, familiar voice interrupted, and the girl flushed red. Takao took note and tried to surreptitiously hide his grin. Midorima came up from behind, and offered a nod to the girl, a ghost of a smile touching his lips.

Natsuki let out a light laugh. "I don't think the washroom's available right now. I saw Otsubo-senpai and Kimura-senpai going there just now," not to mention the washroom is small, "but there are sinks near the kitchen." The girl recalled.

The black-haired teen clapped his hands zealously and rushed into the room to grab his essentials. "Then let's hurry! I'll get yours for you Shin-chan!" his voice trailed off as he concentrated on digging through his own mess of a bag.

Natsuki watched the other with a fond smile, before turning to Midorima, who was leaning against the wall, looking to be settled for quite a wait. Her heart fluttered when she realized his eyes were on her the entire time, and a slight blush coloured her cheeks. Aah, I'm acting like a…a… a what? She scrunched up her nose, before shaking the thought off.

"How was your trip here?" He asked, his voice low and quiet. The chirping of birds outside seemed to be louder than ever, and Natsuki twisted her hands behind her back.

(Why am I feeling nervous? Like there's butterflies…, she thinks, swallowing before resolving to not avert her eyes.)

"It was fine," her voice took a teasing tone as her blue eyes held a hint of playfulness. "You kept me entertained with chickens." She laughed.

(She laughs so easily, he thinks, not without a touch of fondness.)

"It was not my fault they appeared throughout the trip," he shot back with a slight smirk. "And I reinforce my argument – there are a few wild ones outside from the window."

"Where?" Her eyes sparkled in excitement as the girl immediately flew up to the nearest window, keen eyes searching for any moving object. He bit back a chuckle. She is so easily distracted.

"THERE ARE CHICKENS?" Takao flew out of the room, almost barreling into Midorima to get to the window. The traces of mirth he held drained out, and the greenhead's eyebrow twitched. How annoying.

(What-? Why did he feel- annoyed…)

((It must be Takao almost running into him. It can't be any other thing… Right?))

"Finally," Midorima snapped. "Let's go. Any more dallying and even Miyaji Jr. will be faster."

A sleepy grumble of 'I heard that!' came from the room, along with a spiel of scolding from Miyaji Sr. about how he should stop oversleeping.

Natsuki giggled, and the trio made their way to the sinks.

"Oh, I was helping the owner out. Apparently, there are other students here too, from another school…" Midorima's ears perked up, and he tuned into the conversation that Takao and Natsuki were having. Other students? Strange, they must have arrived at a different timing from them. They caught neither hide nor hair of anyone else.

Hair…blue... That atrocious bedhead…

"Kuroko?" He let slip, surprised that out of all the schools, it's Seirin. And joy, that Kagami bird is there. Must be the basketball club, he thought a little sourly.

His thoughts turned more salty and sour when Natsuki showed clear recognition of the two, claiming Kuroko to be the one to have helped her with water bottles in the stadium at Shuutoku's match. Takao subtly inched away from Midorima.

Just then, Seirin's coach (as he recognized from the match), came around the corner in an apron, with a knife drenched in blood. Takao choked on his spit at the sight, and Midorima almost flinched back. Who the hell holds knives – choppers – that way?! His eyes trailed to the blue-haired girl in front of him, itching to pull the girl behind him. (It's a natural response. Trust him.) But he stayed his hand.

"Oh, are you cooking? Allow me to help!" Natsuki offered with a bright smile. The coach came closer, and Takao inched a little behind Midorima.

"You will?" She waved the knife around dangerously, and Midorima's hand twitched forward, almost grabbing onto the blue-eyed girl's. She didn't notice however, and continued walking towards the other girl. "Ah, I saw you around the kitchens with the owner just now! Are you with Shuutoku?" The pair of girls walked off, engaged in conversation. Midorima relaxed a little, with Takao still huddled behind him.

"What the fuck?" Takao whispered.

Midorima decided to phrase it in a better way. "What kind of school do you go to?" He asked the stoic blue-haired teen in front of him.

"It's Seirin, Midorima-kun."

What the actual hell, he groaned in his mind, shakily adjusting his glasses.

A/N: And I just realized we are 1/3 through this fic! Yay, congrats haha \o/ takao has a potty mouth in this chapter :P

Anyway, thank you to all the supporters thus far! u.u I would have never made it this far without you guys. Let's aim for 100 followers! `(uAu) 100 people to follow the love story of Shintaro and Natsuki, how cool is that hehe.

Thank you to everyone once again!