Another day, another chapter.
Big thanks to...
Lavynya, ksbKipper1998 - Glad you liked it!, princess thieves of heart - Aomine the trouble-maker, Crys - Thank you! I'm glad you enjoy it!, Nuttydaisies - Who knows, who knows! I can't wait for Winter Cup as well., CopraMeow - muhahaha! Evil laughter!, HiddenCamelia - But I love teasing you guys! And it's such a relief that he isn't OOC, always happy to hear that! He can be a pain. And that you like Mia, haha., SamTsui - I'm glad you enjoy it. And who knows, haha. It's up to your interpretation., BDDB - Yay, the culture festival! Glad you liked the ideas and the anime Hyouka had been a great help, it's awesome. Let the teasing continue, muhaha. And Saiko - I'm happy to hear that, haha. I hope you'll like my take on the events.
And here it is, the second part of the culture festival! I hope you'll enjoy it and forgive my late update. My dad's birthday may be over but my own one is tomorrow and I kinda have to plan the damn party on Sunday and stuff. I hope I can update on that day.
Thank you all for the lovely follows, favorites and review! I hope the pace is not too rushed!
DAY ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN
It wasn't easy to walk against the flow of visitors in the hallway, but the blue haired teen made his way through the people anyway. Dragging her along as if she weighted nothing, she realized it was a true struggle to double her small steps so she could keep up with his. But she made it and glimpsed a few times over her shoulder to see if the class rep was still in sight.
At first she didn't see her anymore. A relief because it meant they escaped any possible punishment - but then after a few girls disappeared in a room to their left she could see the familiar serious girl in the distance. Her gaze slowly wandering into their direction-
Mia panicked and hauled her tall classmate into a classroom to their right.
"Shit, Nidori." Aomine hissed out of surprise. "What are you-?"
"And we have our final pair!" A loud voice interrupted them. It was a boy around their age who gestured towards the puzzled teenagers with a grin. A microphone in his hand let his voice boom through the room, his laughter echoing back from every corner. "What are your names?"
"Uh..." The orange-head stared baffled at the student in front of them, her gaze slowly traveling into the room which had filled with an audience and three other pairs of students. They stood behind a little lectern which was decorated just like everything else. One other desk next to them was empty though.
"Your names?" The boy urged them again which finally melted Mia's frozen body. Hectically she pulled her hand away from the blue haired teen beside her, her embarrassment crawling through her veins as she tried to reply without stumbling over her own words.
"We, we weren't really, I mean, we were only..."
"The first prize is a coupon for over fifthteen Teriyaki Burger." The student suddenly whispered over the tip of the microphone, obviously stubborn enough to find the last participants he needed for the quiz to start.
"We're in." Aomine suddenly deadpanned and Mia turned around to him flabbergasted.
"Wait, what?"
"I'm hungry." He replied nonchalant, shrugging with his shoulders.
But what about the class rep outside!
Uncaringly the basketball player gave him their names which made the boy grin brightly. With a dramatic turn he looked towards the audience which had gathered, some people stopped outside to look through the open door as the quiz master introduced the pairs which were competing against another. There were students from Tōō Academy next to the two pairs of visitors who were laughing about the young quiz master who goofily jumped from one place to another. And the orange haired girl felt so out of place behind the lectern and beside the basketball player who seriously considered getting caught over food.
"We had fried noodles about twenty minutes ago." She reminded him.
But all Aomine did was snort. "I'm hungry again. And Teriyaki Burgers are the best."
Mia sighed heavily, nervously glancing at the audience in front of them who all talked to each other about who knew what. Some were students of their school, others already older - parents or siblings - who came to check out what their family members had done for the festival. In the end she could do nothing but give in because there was no way in hell she'd escape the room without having witnesses.
"Alright! Let's get started!" The quiz master announced, accepting gratefully a card a girl handed him.
"The word 'diamond' comes from the Greek 'adámas' and the word 'emerald' comes from the Greek 'smaragdos'...is that true? Or false?"
A little silence filled the room, anticipated whispers and murmurs filling the air. The teen at her side frowned at the question, his sudden idea to just win the first price appeared to be suddenly far away and he had to remember the school festival in his middle school. The year where he had participated in a similar quiz with Kise - where both, he and the blonde had been stuck at that part of the race for an eternity...
Mia, however, pushed the buzzer on their lectern. A noisy sound rung through the air and the quiz master turned towards them giddily.
"Your answer, team four?"
"It's true."
The boy threw his fist into the air, his grin exposing the white teeth as he turned towards the audience in front of them.
"Correct!"
The orange-head flushed as the many glances of the guests landed on her. The audience clapping their hands as the girl appeared, setting a bright pink colored ball onto their desk to signal they had passed the first question. Mia thanked her quietly, holding onto the object to keep her fingers busy while Aomine actually leaned down to her ear.
"You knew that?"
She quickly turned towards him, trying to fight off the blush which wasn't helping her and the close proximity they had now.
"Karane-Sensei had told us about it in chemistry class...last week, you don't remember?"
The teenager laughed, shaking his head. "Psh, like I'm listening."
The quiz continued. Question about all sorts of things were asked, sadly mathematic equations as well. Something both of them sucked at. But certain things about sports or idols were actually answered by the blue haired basketball player; the orange-head wouldn't have expected that at all. Although she shouldn't have been surprised how much he knew about the popular 'Ikari-chan' who had apparently a big interview in the latest gravure Idol magazine he read.
Of course he would know such stuff...
"And now the final questions for the finalists! Team one and team four!" The quiz master called out energetically. He received a little applause and cheers, the friends of the other team were calling out to them to give their best.
"However, it'll be a lot different than before! Mayaka-chan?"
The girl who played his assistant handed the participants a black marker and pad, causing a bit of confusion as the students stared at the objects in bewilderment. The boy, however, who swung the microphone grinned brightly at the finalists, lifting his forefinger into the air to gain their attention.
"It is a team game! So now the final questions will tell how good you know your partner!"
What?
"We're screwed." Mia breathed. She knew close to nothing about him, didn't she?
The quiz master ignored the curious mumbles and questioning glances, laughing excitedly at the many faces of the audience and participants before he pumped his fist once more into the air.
"Alright! Let's try something easy - when is the birthday of your partner? Two points can be earned! However, the moment you both give different answers it's over! Ladies first - your guess?"
His eyes landed on Mia and the other girl who both slowly got hold of the marker and pad. Aomine beside her was forced to do the same, writing down his own birthday date while she had to do the same. The orange-head sighed, she was lucky that Satsuki had pulled her along in her plans because thanks to her, she knew when her classmate had turned sixteen.
"And~ you answer is?"
The participants all held the pad into the air. It was definitely an easy question for friends, family or people who were in a relationship. But Mia had never told Aomine her birthday before, it never came up even though they were friends now but they just didn't talk about such stuff.
"Correct on both sides! One point for each team, now, the other way round~ gentlemen it is your turn."
Well, they did come far, she mused.
Carefully Mia scribbled down the 20th November. The late month which slowly leaded the fall into the winter was the time where she had been born sixteen years ago. Soon she'd turn sixteen as well, just like the giant beside her who stared at the pad in front of him with the same blank expression he always carried. He surely wouldn't know that.
"Time's over - your answers, please!"
The teenagers turned the pad around, showing off their reply to the boy who checked the answers just as happily as he did before. And after a short look he made a little jump, turning back to the audience who all watched his antics with amusement.
"Correct, of course!"
Wait, what?
Bewildered by his words Mia turned towards the basketball player, he didn't look at her though. Aomine rubbed his neck, definitely feeling her heavy stare as she gaped at him. It was true, she noted. Right on the paper in front of him, written in his messy handwriting was the very date of her birthday.
"How do you know when my birthday is...?"
The teen muttered something. So quiet it was barely audible but she caught something about Satsuki and her noisy bubbling. That was an excuse, she thought, an excuse which didn't change the fact that he had actually listened to his childhood friend as she told him something about the orange-head. The lazy Aomine knew when her birthday was. He remembered it.
And that fact alone made her smile.
"The next question will be tougher!" The quiz master announced. "What is the biggest fear of your partner?!"
"Who in the world writes 'nothing'?" Mia asked out loud as they walked down the hallway.
"Tch, why should I be afraid of something? There is no one out there who can challenge me."
The girl sighed, glancing at the coupon in her hands. It was obvious that they wouldn't win the first prize anymore but the second place didn't leave without empty hands either. They would receive cake and tea for free at one of the Cafés of their classmates. A treat Mia could live with just fine.
She stuffed the little piece of paper into the pocket of her cardigan, taking a deep breath to get rid of the last bit of tension in her body. At least they seemed to have escaped their class rep; the trouble she was in was all caused by the basketball player beside her. Who didn't appear to be guilty at all, she must add.
"No one can beat you, huh?" Mia breathed which actually earned her a dry side-glance.
"Wanna challenge me?"
"Just wait until we play World Fighters. No one beats me there." She laughed.
Aomine's face was lit up by a lopsided grin, cheeky and mean-looking but it fit him just fine. He had finally slowed down his pace, his long strikes steady enough for her and her short legs to keep up with him while they moved around aimlessly.
"Sounds like a deal." The basketball player replied.
"Oh, yeah. Which Café should we go to? I heard the second years made a Ninja themed one."
Mia turned towards the hallway which leaded to the other building complex, expecting that the giant would trail after her without putting up a fight. But to her surprise she didn't come far. A single step was needed until the girl felt his broad hand reach for hers. The movement was smooth, the warmth and rough skin already familiar just like the pulsating jump her heart made as she felt his fingers slip through hers.
Her body came to a halt as she felt him intertwine their fingers, something she had done days ago, too. Quietly. Without a word or explanation. And now he did the same, not looking at her but tugging at their joined hands to make her follow him instead.
"I saw a better one."
Mia wanted to say something else, her eyes flying to their hands where her fingers still twitched helplessly until she forced them to hold onto him as well. It looked so strange. Her feet felt heavy with her nervousness. Like iron. Or rocks. While her heart was ready to run a mile it seemed. But she forced herself to move anyway, watching the back of his head as her face darkened with every step they took.
That sly idiot.
Did he know what he was doing?
The orange-head bit her bottom lip. Trudging after him obediently up the staircase he aimed for. Jeez. She really did like holding his hand...and maybe if he wouldn't be so...well, what was she supposed to do now anyway? Did she want something else to happen? Mia never actually had reached the point she had now, all what she knew about such stuff was out of light novels and mangas.
And everybody knew that they surely weren't as realistic as they hoped they'd be...Mia still hadn't seen all those weird sparkles and roses yet.
"Aomine..."
"Mh?"
"What are you afraid of for real?"
The basketball player threw a glare over his shoulder, half-hearted and weak, before he looked forward again.
"Nothing."
"Not helpful."
"Tch. I don't know, ghosts are pretty creepy."
Mia bit her tongue to keep from laughing.
"You believe in ghosts?"
"Shut up."
This time he did look a lot angrier than before. But the girl didn't feel threatened, only encouraged to laugh harder. She would have never thought that he believed in such things, but here he was. Afraid of ghosts. Aomine tugged at their hands forcefully, making her stumble into his side but it was a weak try to make her stop. The laughter only shrunk slowly into a handful of giggles.
"Shit." The giant suddenly hissed, pulling the girl quickly towards him as he pressed himself against the wall.
"W-what?" Mia asked hectically, the fun vanishing in an instant.
"Class rep."
"Damn it...what now?"
Aomine furrowed his brow, glancing around the corner carefully before he looked back to her. It was obvious they wouldn't get around her. And now after they had probably already fooled around for an hour or more they were bound to get into trouble. What now, she wanted to ask once more. She couldn't think of any more places to hide. Let's not forget the times she tried to and only brought them more chaos.
"I know." The tall teen muttered suddenly, turning back towards the staircase.
Their linked hands gave her no choice but to follow his lead. Up the steps towards the higher floor where less visitors were around. Mia watched his broad back, the torn up suit still revealing the bloodied shirt he wore beneath it. All she could do was walk after him, down the rather empty corridor until she came to a halt.
"Look."
Aomine stopped and turned back around as the girl pointed out of the window. A class had started a cooking event in the backyard, one group competing against another. But what really caught her eye was the certain black haired girl in one of the teams.
"It's Nanami."
The blue haired basketball player beside her pushed the broad window open, letting all the noise inside with the warmth of the fresh autumn. Many voices of teenagers clashed against another as they cheered the teams on, Literature Club against the Astronomy Club. Excitedly Mia let go of his hand to lean onto the windowsill, trying to make out who her friend's team partners were.
But the distance was too great.
"You think she'll win?" She asked before she glanced at Aomine who chose to lean against the windowsill beside her. The basketball player crossed his arms on top of it, staring bored at the masses of people which had gathered beneath them.
"Who knows..." A pause. "...what are you afraid of?"
Surprised she blinked at her classmate, her mind recalling their previous light conversation. "Mh...I'm not sure...I don't like spiders, I guess? I mean if I can see them it's all cool but the second they disappear I get the creeps."
Aomine started to laugh quietly which made her scowl at him.
"Shut up. It's reasonable."
Trying to hide her embarrassment she buried her red face into her folded arms, glancing over the brim of the fabric of her cardigan at the contest outside. The voice of the announcer was a bit quiet, but thanks to the microphone still loud enough to hear that the time was slowly running out for the students.
"I'm tired." He grumbled, bumping his head suddenly against hers. "I wanna sleep."
Mia slowly turned towards him, but from her angle she had with her head still laying on her folded arms she could only see his short blue haired. It tickled her cheeks as she moved, making her scrunch her nose slightly before the basketball player twisted his face towards hers.
They both stared at each other quietly, both too lazy to move because after all the running and hiding it was nice to have a made-shift pillow beneath their heads. And a little break. Mia didn't think their class rep was appearing here any time soon.
"I want to eat chocolate cake..." The orange-head mumbled, something which made the teen next to her laugh quietly into his sleeve.
The sound was so loud thanks to their proximity, she could feel the vibration through his arm which touched hers. It made her nerves flutter. Her cheeks tingled as his breath ghosted over her skin. It was so stupid how easily she reacted to things like this. She felt so awkward because she didn't know what to do or to think except that it all was so damn annoying.
"Let's get chocolate cake then."
The basketball player stated as he suddenly stood up again. Mia followed his movement curiously, slowly lifting her head while Aomine was busy looking down the empty hallway as if he tried to conclude how far the class rep could have now gone.
"For real?"
"We got the damn free ticket, so why not."
Smiling at that idea she nodded, pushing her body away from the windowsill and the loud cheers from outside. If they hadn't been caught after eating some cake and drinking tea then she surely had to go and find Nanami to ask about the results and the very reason why she had competed in a cooking event anyway.
"Let's go."
Aomine already started walking down the hallway, giving Mia an invisible pull to finally follow him as well. And the moment was there. The second where she thought about reaching for his hand again. But he had made it look so natural before, the movement so swift and easy while she suddenly struggled with that.
Just what in the world was she going to do with these stupid thoughts?
Uncertain she held onto her dark cardigan, clinging onto the fabric where she could feel her heart beat. Did it have to be him anyway? Couldn't it be someone easier? The typical prince charming or something like that, a friendly guy who made it all simple and sweet...
"Nidori."
Jumping slightly she quickly looked up. She glanced at his familiar hard edged expression, the lines on his forehead slightly softening as he stared at her. He was, without a doubt, able to see the blush which had crawled onto her cheeks once more. For a second she had feared he had heard her thoughts which would have meant her death. Definitely. If not she would have probably jumped out of the window or something because nothing could be worse than him knowing what her heart went through recently.
But instead of mocking her or commenting her grimace, he offered his hand. For first time really inviting her to take action instead of just doing it like before. Mia stared at it, his tanned skin and long fingers. His hand which was already bigger than her own and the terrible warmth and heart seizure which came with it.
However, all of it didn't matter as she willingly laid her own one onto his palm. She gave him the chance to easily engulf her pale hand in his, his fingers curling around hers to secure the hold on them while his teasing grin grew by the sight of her growing blush.
Finally finding her courage somewhere along the way she scowled up at him.
"Shut up."