Another day, another chapter.

Big thanks to...

EDIT - removed Review corner after the end of the story for better look - EDIT

And here I am, late again because reality is such a busy-body. Haha. Sorry for that guys, but oh well. I had to get a little canon event into this chapter because I do follow the plot line and it would be just wrong to leave it out. Although I do hope to have a little more freedom afterwards - at least to some extent because I took my power as fanfic author and squished a few more days into the Winter Cup matches when there actually were, cough .

Anyway, thank you for all your patience and lovely encouragements! The follows, favorites and reviews are really, really appreciated!


DAY ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY TWO

"You're still not tired after practice?"

"Not really."

Mia dribbled the ball slowly, watching her tall classmate as he stood in front of her. For the girl it was certainly a bit too cold, the winter had fully greeted them. The air crisp, the sky above them grey. But it was easy to understand how hard it must be for the basketball player to watch his old friends participate in the tournament; playing against another while he was forced to settle with practice only.

The orange-head caught the ball with both hands, remembering how Kuroko had thrown it. Seirin had won and was now facing Kaijō High. Kise was truly just as talented as the others, running and dodging his opponents so smoothly just like Aomine had done. All his friends seemed to be basketball junkies - one more talented than the other.

And that only made her remember faintly how the audience had called him one of the 'generation of miracles'. Ridiculous...or was it?

Mia bit her bottom lip as she tried to copy what Kuroko had done with his hands, pushing the ball with her palm and not her fingertips. But the shorter boy had made it look so easy, the strength which was needed was much more than she expected and the orange orb made a rather louse jump into the air.

The tall teenager in front of her caught it easily with one hand, blinking at her move.

"That's something only Tetsu can really pull off, his balance and aim doesn't lie in his fingertips."

"Oh man, it looked pretty fun." Mia grumbled half-hearted.

The park was empty in the afternoon. Not many people chose to visit it in the chilly air; cafés and restaurants were a lot more popular around this time of the year - although it only made it better to play basketball a bit in peace. At least until one of them chickened out because of the cold. Mia already knew it would be her, but it had been quite some time since they had hung out like this.

The Winter Cup was important. Even more as it now slowly moved towards the end. Today would be decided which high schools were the finalist. Only two would make it and then they'd fight against another for the title.

The girl took a deep breath as she watched Aomine spin the ball on his index finger. His sharp eyes were glued to the orange orb before he suddenly turned around to the hoop, giving the spinning basketball only a little nudge it seemed which was enough to let it bounce against the wooden board, the round object falling smoothly into the hoop.

"You're unbelievable."

Her tall classmate grinned at her, picking up the ball which had slowly rolled back to his feet.

"Wanna play one-on-one?"

"As if." Mia replied immediately, her lips forming a smile against her own will while she rubbed her arms. "I could use a warm drink, though."

"Cold already?"

The orange-head nodded, musing quietly how he always seemed unfazed by the temperature difference. Maybe it was a guy thing, just like how woman always had cold feet. At least according to her mother who often annoyed her father by pressing her cold feet against his back in winter to get him out of bed in the morning sometimes.

Aomine picked up a satchel which lay beneath the hoop, stuffing the ball into it before he approached her form. She actually felt a bit bad to pull him away from the court only because she couldn't withstand the weather like he could but the tall teenager didn't seem to be annoyed as he shouldered the satchel, his gaze lingering on her rosy face and fingertips she had tried to hid in her sleeves.

"The gloves?" He mumbled gruffly which made Mia shrug with her shoulders.

"They sucked."

"Figured."

The orange-head wanted to glare at him and his knowing tune. As if he was the lord of who knew what who had the great knowledge about the function of the gloves all over the world. But all he did in return was stare back, the corners of his lips twitching into that sly grin which had been her death in the beginning. Always so confident. Always so arrogant, no matter the reason which caused it...in times like these it was really frustrating because she couldn't really hate it anymore.

"Give me." He drawled quietly, offering his hands just like he had done before already.

And the girl found herself easily giving in; releasing a soft sigh in relief as his ever so warm hands easily melted the cold. The skin was rough and calloused from all his playing but nevertheless it felt just right to have him this close.

"You're like a heater." Mia mumbled quietly into her muffler.

Aomine brushed with his thumb over the back of her hand, a breathless laugh rumbling in his chest. It felt all so familiar, the light buzzing in her chest which always came with the close proximity. The nervousness was not as bad as it had been in the beginning, the pulsating emotion was calming down to a delightful fluttering in her stomach area though.

And that was a lot better than the panicked small heart attacks she had felt because of every single thing in the past.

"A heater?" He repeated, furrowing his brow.

"Yeah." She nodded. "A pretty good one, actually."

The blue haired teen didn't reply right away, his navy eyes ghosting over her face and their joined hands. The idea of moving and finally going somewhere to warm up did cross his mind but the thought vanished with the light shifting of her feet, her red ears indicating how much the weather was really bothering her.

His body swayed lightly forward, his long arms itching to move. But the second his hands let go of hers, sliding slightly up her wrists and forearms they both jumped at the sound of his mobile phone going off. Aomine's face darkened as he sighed, his annoyance clearly written across his face as he rummaged through his parka to see who was calling him.

"Satsuki."

Aomine made it possible to make her name sound like an insult.

Mia blinked up at him owlishly, flustered by the sudden noise which had broken the calm atmosphere so fast. She couldn't hear what the girl was exactly telling him but by the way his face grimaced, it couldn't be something great. Or at least it appeared to be troublesome...which could include nearly everything.

"Hah?" The basketball player frowned, staring off into the distance as the voice of the bubbly girl resounded quietly from the speaker of the device.

The orange-head merely watched him until her eyes flew towards his other hand which still rested upon her arm. His grip was light, the warmth creeping through her jacket until his hand slowly traveled back down towards her wrist with every second his attention drifted away. More and more focused on the conversation he had with his childhood friend.

"Why should I?" Aomine drawled.

Mia lightly wriggled her wrist out his grip until she was able to hold onto his hand once more, abusing the warmth he offered childishly. This action drew his gaze back to her, first to her face until it darted down to their hands.

"I ain't helping that guy."

After the tall teen stated that the voice of Satsuki grew louder, definitely upset with his cold attitude. Aomine squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, clearly annoyed by the stubbornness of the basketball club manager as the orange haired girl finally spoke up.

"What's going on?"

Her classmate cracked his eyes open, locking their gazes as he sighed.

"Tetsu asked for help because that idiot Kagami wrecked his shoes."

Mia blinked at him at first a bit puzzled before she furrowed her brow. A clear sign that she didn't exactly understand where the problem lied, it couldn't be that hard to just buy a new pair.

"He can't find his size."

Oh.

"But don't they have a match today?" The girl asked, suddenly concerned.

"Mi-chan?"

It was faint, but it was possible to hear the bubbly girl on the other line. Her voice was rising in volume as she realized on the other side of the line that the basketball player wasn't alone. Aomine's frown deepened as Satsuki's voice became louder. He held the small device away from his ear, glaring at it with gritted teeth.

"Jeez, fine. Fine. Just shut up, Satsuki."

The little patience he had left finally snapped in half as Aomine grumbled into the phone that he gave up. He had to know best when a battle against Satsuki was impossible to win and it apparently always was when the shorter boy was involved. Next to the knowledge that Mia was close by, the orange-head couldn't help but giggle at that. That action though, earned her a half-hearted glare from the blue haired basketball player.

"It can't be helped." He grumbled, shutting the phone before stuffing it back into his pocket. "...you're in?"

"Sure."


"Tetsu-kun!"

Mia could only watch how the pink haired girl suddenly left her side, rushing towards the pale boy who waited not far away from them with Kagami. They had met Satsuki on their way here, picking her up from the train station where she had waited. It was only a little bit disappointing that their plans had changed, the girl mused.

It suddenly felt like that somewhere, somebody was always around. She had never realized that now, in the past her greatest fear was to be alone with her lazy classmate. Although now it was other way around, funny enough...Mia liked it when they were alone, just hanging around. Talking, playing a game or...

Sheesh, she could already feel her cheeks warm up.

Helplessly Mia pushed her scarf further into her face, joining the little group meeting in hope no one would notice her awkward and embarrassing thoughts. It was nice to see the two Seirin students again so soon anyway. They both greeted her so warmly as if they had known each other longer than they did. Only one of them received a rather cold welcome.

"Why are you here too, Aomine?" Kagami asked, obviously unsettled by the presence of the blue haired teen.

"That's my line, you bastard. Why should I know?"

Satsuki easily turned around to them, a big smile gracing her lips. "Dai-chan got a ton of basketball shoes so he said he'll give you one!"

"Hah?" Aomine's sharp face turned darker as he glowered at her. "The hell. I've never said that!"

"I've actually brought a pair, too."

"Wait, what?"

Mia watched the bubbly girl, shuffling through her bag until she pulled out a box. From what she had heard from the call, it definitely had sounded different. More like a shopping advice or help which was needed, instead of just a present which apparently had been abducted from Aomine's without his knowledge. It was amazing how demanding and confident Satsuki could act. Although she was right, the tall teen had bought a new pair last time - he had no use for the other. Right?

As the orange haired girl laughed quietly, a bit amused by the situation she found her classmate glancing at her. His expression fighting between anger and sheer annoyance - but as he saw her genuine smile he looked away. The grimace softening to some extent, shrinking to nothing but a half-hearted frown.

"Tch. Fine. I'll give it to you if you beat me one-on-one."

"How did it turn out like this!?" Kagami replied startled. "I have to be in a match pretty soon, ya know?"

Aomine shrugged with his shoulders. "Just a three basket match. It won't take long."

The blue haired basketball player took off his parka, handing it to Mia who willingly held onto it. The clothing article was still warm, easily resembling a nice blanket which warmed her hands and engulfed her senses with his scent. Aomine set the satchel down beside her, getting the ball out of the bag.

"Just a minute." He muttered beneath his breath before his navy colored eyes rose to meet hers.

The orange-head blinked a bit surprised. Her lips parting in a breathless question - but instead of voicing the 'what' which rolled upon her tongue she started smiling. Mia nodded, cradling his parka closer to her chest to keep the rest of his warmth close.

"Okay."

Aomine's narrow gaze softened slightly. It took him a second before he returned the nod, turning back towards the red haired teenager who was getting a bit agitated over the decision which had been made for him. Without taking his own opinion into account at all.

"Wait, I told you-"

"Shut it and just do it, idiot."

Maybe she could finally get herself something warm to drink, Mia thought quietly. Hot chocolate sounded just right...


The girl didn't know what Kuroko and Satsuki had been talking about as she was gone to the vending machine around the corner. But as she returned, handing them two cans of tea as well, she couldn't shake off the feeling that it had been something serious to some extent. The bubbly girl had looked rather sober and not as cheerful as she always did.

It reminded her a bit of the days where Satsuki had approached her to ask her for help concerning Aomine. Where she had actually hoped that she'd be able to pursue the teen to go back to practice...funny how now he finally found the motivation to go himself. Some things really did work out it on their own, well, kinda at least.

Mia drunk her warm cocoa, enjoying the feeling of warmth it spread in her guts after she had returned from her little adventure. The vending machine had been truly far away, she mused. In the cold winter air it had felt like a mile, every stop accompanied by the feeling of the cold wind crawling up her sleeves. She suddenly shivered as she looked up to see how the basketball players were doing on the court, her body reminding her of the biting cold.

Although Kagami and Aomine were already returning from their match it seemed.

"I'm done, so let's go, Mia."

"Eh? Already?"

The lazy teenager shrugged with his shoulders, taking his parka back. "I told ya, it won't take long."

"How was it?" Kuroko wondered quietly beside them.

Aomine barely spared him any glance as he put on his jacket, his expression once more showing the well-known boredom he always seemed to feel. He took his time to adjust the collar, one hand already guiding Mia away from the court as he pushed her small back into a direction. The girl was certain he was trying to get rid of basketball club manager before she could decide to tag along as well - mean, really. But Mia didn't mind it in the slightest this time. At least not today.

"I destroyed him." He deadpanned.

"Hey, hey wait a second!" Kagami called out. "One more! Give me one more try!"

"Just take the damn shoes, dumbass." Aomine barked over his shoulders. "You're playing against Kise, right? I'm gonna murder you if you put on a sloppy match."

"Fine...but, but this match here. It's just on hold! Okay?"

The orange-head could hear her lazy classmate groan, his hand only urging her to move faster so that they could escape this whole situation sooner.

"Just go damn it! Your match is starting soon, you moron!"

If Kagami had said something else, she didn't hear it anymore. They were already back on the sidewalk, leaving the scene behind them. Mia tried to look past the broad shoulder of the basketball player but it was a hard task while he still steered her away. Further and further down the road.

"You had fun." The orange-head stated.

"He still sucks."

The girl laughed brightly, easily ignoring his sour tune. He didn't deny it, muttering beneath his breath a few empty insults and curses instead. But that was already something she had come to known, the typical side of him which avoided showing anything else but his rough edges.

After they had reached the end of the block he finally let go of her back, his arm falling back to his side. The hand open, directed towards her.

Mia glanced at his offering; her fingers shifting to put her still warm can into her other one. Allowing her to intertwine their fingers as if it was already something normal, something they had always done. And it was warm. So nice and fitting and warm, her hot chocolate was nothing in comparison to the feeling which spread in her chest.

"I'm tired." Aomine breathed. His body leaning against her as they came to a halt at pedestrian lights.

She could feel the blood crawling into her face, her gaze glued to the passing cars in front of them. He was always so careless; she wondered if he knew what he was doing. If he knew how unfair she thought he was when he always balanced on the line of her comfort and pulsating nervousness.

It was public. There were people around them, but her voice didn't get past the lump in her throat.

"Mia."

She could only hum in answer, her eyes dropping as she felt him shift beside her. But he hesitated. His mind stopping him from voicing something he apparently wanted to say first. Instead he sighed gruffly. Defeated by something she didn't know.

"...let's get some food."