Keep calm. This is only a speculation of what could have happened if Kise found out that she woke up.

And the reason why he wasn't there when she did was also here. Well, the Winter Cup is important after all HAHAHA.

This chapter is just an extra chapter. A theory. I made it because I got inspired by A Solution For Jealousy by Gumi.

Lemme have my fun as the author :)))

I'm sorry if I wasn't there when you woke up.

Winter cup. Like, heck, when I said I was going to improve myself and let myself grow into my passion, I was dead-serious. I mean, people keep saying that I'm a dorky, annoying tree-hugger. Harsh, guys. I can be serious, too.

…

….

Do you guys really think I'm not a serious guy?

I just wanted to be a better person. It's the Winter cup, people. The legendary Winter Cup.

I mean, I did promise her I'll always be by her side. I'll always make her remember. I'll always wait for her to be okay again. Even if she can be an annoying woman sometimes who doesn't appreciate my efforts and just continues to 'pretend' that she can take care of herself, when in fact, she can't, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't in love with her. Pretty confusing, I know. I left her behind in that hospital because I needed to prepare myself for… this. Don't judge me for the decision. It was hard for me. I couldn't leave her there. I couldn't let her live forgetting who I am. But I, as a man, have responsibilities, too. My team is important, too. My team. My friends. My team. My life. My goals. My being. Myself. My… My…

Gale.

… Sheesh, woman, why are you making it so hard for me to focus!?

"Tell me again why you're slapping yourself, you idiot." Kasamatsu scolded me for who-knows-how-many-times time. I immediately looked at him then down to my hands. Even I don't know why I do this. It just automatically happens, aww, come on. Don't look at me as if I was crazy! Well… maybe I am but who knows. "Uh… HAHAHA! Senpai, I'm just trying to redden my face!" Wait, that came out wrong. He looked at me as if I just fell down from the sky riding a rainbow unicorn. He was about to give me a massive kick, but decided otherwise. That was close.

"… I don't get why you're resisting her." He said, turning his back on me. The statement was too quick for my mind to comprehend. "… Huh?" Was the only thing I was able to come up with.

Kasamatsu shrugged his shoulders, his back still turned towards me as he put on his basketball shoes. "Don't be dumb, you moron." Ouch, double strike. "Everyone knows you can't resist her. You can't live a day without seeing her. You can't do anything right without wondering if she's okay. Why don't you go to her?" For once, he actually said something about my situation. The past days, all he's thinking about is the team. The Winter Cup. The preparations. The betterment of each of us. It's exactly why I don't want to talk about Gale with anyone right now. I know they all have their own stress and confusion and I just can't randomly rant about my own messed-up feelings to them. "She's… She's not necessary right now." I coldly answered. Ugh, you guys have no idea how it killed me just to say that. NO, YOU DON'T. This is harsh, okay? HARSH. FORGIVE ME.

"Yeah, right. You're a good liar, to be honest. Face it, genius. She means the world to you and God knows how much you're trying to hold back right now. Now shut up and get back to practice." He answered back in a much harsher tone. Wha—Aww, come on! And here I am trying to be harsh only to be countered back by a much harsher remark! Why is he defending her, anyway? Was I wrong? Was I wrong in only trying to think of my duties and responsibilities and… and…

God, I miss her.

Okay, should I go kill myself now or…

"KISE!" A loud familiar voice shouted from across the gym. I looked up and waved enthusiastically. "Hey! Glad you made it to practice today!" I greeted Moriyama with a fist bump. He grinned widely, panting. "I… I rushed here to tell you something! Y-You see… Gale woke up! She's awake! Your princess is awake!"

FOR THE LOVE OF PEACE, WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP MENTIONING—Wait… what?

"She's… awake?"

"Yeah! You should go to the hospital!"

"… Does she still remember me?"

"…"

I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to be with her again.

But what are the odds?

They told me I should go to her and introduce myself once again. Are they serious? That woman is the type who would just stare at a man as he introduces himself and not even bother to give him a proper answer. That girl is extremely dense and insensitive and… why am I staring at her from across the food court again? Kasamatsu is taking long. Too long. Did he do this on purpose so I could just waltz in between Lia and Rena and go 'oh hey I just met you and this is crazy and now I love you'. What.

NO WAY! I'M NOT DOING THAT.

The girls, all from Seirin, were seated just a table away from me. They must have been here to cheer on the Seirin team. I know, I should be focusing on the Winter Cup, too… I did tell myself that. Thing is, it's not our game yet so we're just here… I'm just here… chilling… no, I was kidding. I'm not chilling; in fact, I am in a ridiculous state of mind right now as I'm sitting here, staring at the girl who I used to be with every second of my life. Thing is, I did want to stay with her and wait until she wakes up and is all better again. It's my fault, after all.

If I didn't leave her that night, she wouldn't have been alone. She wouldn't have tried to do things alone and got hit by that damned truck and… she wouldn't have gotten sick. It was my fault.

I took a sip from the soda I was drinking, contemplating about what could have happened if only I was able to take care of her well before all these happened. "I see, Gale here has someone she likes!" I heard a loud small voice from afar. "Yeah, you adjust well for a girl who just woke up! Seriously, who's the lucky bastard?" I heard another voice. I accidentally spurted out the soda all over the table and my clothes. W-w-what did I just hear? I could have sworn that was Lia and Rena… but… Gale has someone she likes? Holy… who? She's not dense anymore? No, wait… I DON'T WANNA HEAR IT IF IT'S NOT ME. No… wait… I'm selfish, darn it!

I tried to look subtle and continued drinking after wiping off the mess from my varsity jacket. "Come on, Gale, it's only been two weeks since you got discharged and you immediately started having a crush on a guy? Hahaha!" That annoying voice of Lia's never fails to make me shudder. Suddenly, my eavesdropping was interrupted by a cough from behind me. "What the hell did you do." I heard Kasamatsu talk. I turned around and looked up at him. "WHY IS THE TABLE WET WITH SODA!?"

I hate my life.

No, really! Just when I thought I'd never see her again today so I could finally focus, here she is again! Ta-da! Happily playing with Kurokocchi and the Seirin team members on the other half of the practice court! HELLO, LIFE. I HATE YOU. STOP MAKING MY FEELINGS CRAZY. YOU KNOW MY HEART IS ABOUT TO BURST. YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO HOLD BACK AND HUG HER AND JUST NEVER LET HER GO AGAIN BUT I CAN'T, OKAY? BECAUSE SHE'LL GET SCARED OF ME. WHY? BECAUSE, COME ON! THE GIRL JUST LOST HER MEMORIES ABOUT THIS SILLY BASTARD OF A GUY WHO LEFT HER IN THE HOSPITAL TO WAKE UP ALONE AND CONFUSED.

I hate my life.

She's just smiling over there. And laughing. How can she just stand there and laugh and look so beautiful? This is unfair. I'm like a formerly-drunk guy. She's the wine. And now I'm experiencing a hangover from that girl. Why did I choose this again? Why am I still alive again? Wait, no. I know the reason why I'm like this.

I can't help it. I know we're currently practicing passes right now, but did we really have to be on this court? Somewhere I can see her. For heaven's sake, I can see her perfectly. Her hair has gotten longer… and the ribbon at the back of her head was gone. Instead, it's been used to tie the lower part of her hair. That's not even her old ribbon. Her old ribbon is still with me. I kept it because I promised I'd give it back to her and remind her about everything when she wakes up. But now, I can't. I'm a coward.

Please forgive the fact that I have fallen and am still in love with you. Now that you have no idea who I am, I lack the courage to tell you. I just don't know how to introduce myself anymore. I'm changing and I don't know what's true about me and you and what's not… since the only thing that's true is my love for you.

And for that guy you like… PLEASE DON'T LIKE HIM ANYMORE! I'M STILL YOURS! YOUR RYOUTA, OKAY?

"Kise, heads up!" I heard one of my teammates shout. I looked up from the ground and before I knew it, a ball came in contact with my face.

Karma strikes.

I fell to the ground with a thud as I clutched my face in pain. What's more painful? The fact that she doesn't care about me anymore and I'm being such a jerk about it or my face getting hit by a basketball? I don't know. BUT LIKE I SAID, THE WORLD IS CRUEL. SENPAI, TELL ME WHY YOU THREW THE BALL EVEN THOUGH YOU KNEW I WAS UNFOCUSED?

No. I'm serious. Really, I am! I don't want her to like anyone. I don't want her find another guy who can make her happy because even though I ruined her life, I still want to be that guy. And if ever she finds someone else, no. Please. Just… no. Nope. Nope. Nope. Insert the Nope train here.

God, I'm so selfish. Forgive me. Even though I did leave her in the streets and said some harsh things and… and… she disappeared and got hit by a truck and all… and I still want her to myself. I AM SO MESSED-UP AND SELFISH. KILL ME. I'm wishing her the worst of luck for that guy she likes because, nope.

I'm sorry for wishing you the worst, sweetheart… I am a terrible person…

"K-Kise! Are you okay?" I heard Moriyama call out. "You idiot! Why the hell didn't you catch it!?" Kasamatsu scolded me again. I sighed and sat upright and tears started coming out of my eyes. My lacrimal glands are douchebags. "No… I'm just… I need to go to the bathroom."

I walked aimlessly along the hallways of the locker rooms. Honestly, I'm lost. I don't know where the restrooms are. Shooting stars, my face still hurts. What kind of strength did Kasamatsu-senpai put in that pass, anyway? This is the worst day of my entire—

"Ouch." A cute voice interrupted me from my negative thoughts. I looked down to see who I bumped into. I don't want to curse, but fuck my life.

WHY. DID. IT. HAVE. TO. BE. HER.

WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE.

NO.

THIS IS NONSENSE.

WAIT.

I CAN'T BREATHE.

As much as I wanted to scream and run away like the coward I am and ask rudely what the heck this woman is kdgfksgdkfgskdfusgi doing here, the only thing that came out of my mouth was: "Um, your hair is a mess."

… What.

She stared at me, blinking innocently. After all, someone she doesn't know cared too much to notice her hair. I want to die now. "Oh…" She ran a hand through her bangs and giggled. CAN YOU NOT. Why do you always make me feel this way!? I'm resisting the urge to shake her shoulders and cry for feeling this way. "… Well, let's just keep this a secret, okay? I'll fix it." She smiled at me. She smiled at me. She smiled at me.

… I watched her walk away, trying to find the restrooms, too, perhaps.

….

….

…

Aueryuisahfrsklhfusdhfshgdlfhlsugdfsgflsudyfhstgfulshflsv

"Pandas~ white bears~" Before I knew it, I was singing nursery rhymes while walking along the hallways, deciding that my face didn't need washing anymore and the restrooms in this place are invisible. "But there's something I have to tell you!"

I stopped in my tracks when I heard her voice. Seriously, why do my ears pick up the important happenings around me? Am I secretly a super-spy? I walked closer to the corner and took a peek. There she is. My heart just skipped a beat… again.

She was tugging at Kurokocchi's sleeves. Why is Kurokocchi here? He's with Momocchi, too. "Tetsu-kun! Let's go! I really need you to come!" Momocchi was pulling him away from Gale… wait… don't tell me…

GALE LIKES KUROKOCCHI!?

Nope. Nope. Nope.

NO, WAIT. KUROKOCCHI LIKES RENA! YES!

… I'm a terrible person.

I sighed, knowing that I'm being such a jerk again. Why can't she just notice me just like before? I stared at her, wondering why she's just standing there as Momocchi and Kurokocchi left. Look behind you. I'm here. "It's hopeless." I whispered to myself since she wasn't turning around. "I know, right?" I said again. "Yeah…" Talking to myself has gotten pretty normal now.

I looked at her again. She had a sad look on her face. Her eyes… her pretty eyes were on the verge of tears… what was she going to tell Kurokocchi?

I wanted to better myself, but I just became worse.

I know why I'm like this, like I said before.

I just don't want to admit it to myself.

And here I am again in the locker room, staring at the ceiling. There's a fly on the ceiling. How'd it get in here?

I'm jealous. Jealous as ugh. And I just can't freaking focus on anything because of these puberty struggles. I mean, I'm already a teenager for four years and all, but… just ugh.

I want to talk to her. I want to find her. I miss her. I just… WELL, WHERE ARE ALL THE RAINBOWS AND UNICORNS IN MY LIFE WITHOUT HER?

I want her to be mine. All to myself.

Crap, I won't be able to do anything if I just let myself feel like this!

All our memories together. Our flashbacks. They all appear in my dreams everyday and right now, they're appearing one-by-one in my mind as I ran through the hallways, trying to look for her. Just a shade of blue, green, and violet… where are you? Let me find you again please… Just a second chance for us please… I won't let you get hit by a truck again, I swear!

I still have to give you back your ribbon!

A shade of aurora captured my eye. There she was, walking to the Seirin locker room. Maybe to wish them good luck or something, but wait! No, I'm not here to observe her! I'm here to, umm, yeah!

"… H-Hanacchi!" I called her nickname after so long. It felt… good.

At the sound of my voice, she turned around quickly with a shocked expression. Wait… she remembers the nickname I gave her? She remembers… me?

"L-Listen! I… My name is… wait… it doesn't matter for now! I have something I want to tell you! No, not here… I…" I felt my hands shiver as I held on the black ribbon. I can't give this to her here! This moment is too emotional. I have to say it when we're alone… we need a chance. "Meet me in the Kaijo locker room after the game! I have… to tell you…" My heart can't stop pounding against my chest violently. I just looked down at my feet, clutching the ribbon in my right hand. I shyly looked at her, and she looked flustered. Her face was all red and she didn't say a word. She just nodded. YES!

Supposing that… well, I'd have enough courage to introduce myself and tell her how I feel…

… Would she remember me? Well, I may be expecting too much, but hey… I'm in love with her and there is nothing I can do about it. Kasamatsu's right. I can't resist her. I'm holding back. She means the world to me.

And call me 'selfish', but I can't imagine her being with another guy. Nope.

Just a second chance… a chance for us again… this time, I will make you smile every single day! This time, for real!

I whispered good luck to myself as I turned the knob.

"Would you have me again?"