Another day, another chapter. If I can continue like that, then I'll actually really finish this before your birthday Karen! Muhaha. Again, I'm really glad for all the follows and favorites, I received. I'm glad you guys can enjoy this story; the development in the romance department is really slow. I'm not a fan of the 'instant-fall-in-love' types of stories. So I hope you can bear with me and fluff till then.

- Review section removed for a better view after the story ended -

Thanks for reading!

DAY THREE

Mia didn't know why the heaven seemed to hate her so much.

The next morning started out so well. She was able to wake up on time, listening to her father as he told her of his previous day at work while they ate breakfast. She didn't miss the train she had to use - for only four stations but it was always a pain to wait for the next one because that one was always stuffed.

And on her way to school, she met Nanami which was rare. Her dear friend always rode the bike and they missed each other nearly every time. So why in the world, no, who in the world decided to let her enter their classroom while the rude table neighbor of hers already sat on his spot next to the window? He never had been punctual if she recalled correctly. And as she slowly approached her seat his eyes wandered from the sky outside to her, widening in the process. The lips which were slightly hidden behind the hand he used to support his chin with formed a lopsided grin. Or smirk. Or whatever you wanted to call it.

Mia couldn't stand it.

"Morning, Nidori."

And how smug he sounded just because he knew her name! It was ridiculous! With a frown she sat down, her thoughts circling around the 'why' it had to be her of all people. Wasn't it silly of that tall teenager to annoy her because of a single incident? And didn't he owe her money for the bread he dared to take as well yesterday?

"Oi, I said morning."

This whole situation was ridiculous.

"...you owe me money."

She merely mumbled those words, her weak attempt at a comeback. Mia felt like she could be a lot wittier than this but the moment that guy towered over her - even when they were sitting - knocked all the determination out of her body. She had seen his expression change a lot in the past and it always ended in either an 'I'll kill you and your whole family' frown or a 'Man, I'm going to laugh while I kill your whole family' grin.

Not to forget his stature. She wasn't really small but even she felt like a dwarf next to him.

"What was that?" His deep voice startled her and she held onto her schoolbag out of reflex.

It was clearly not the brightest idea to hide behind a bag filled with books but she really had nothing else to protect herself with from his upcoming wrath. Her dark eyes narrowed at him as she dared to peek over her made-shift shield. His tanned face greeted her good morning like a glinting knife in the hand of a murderer.

"...you owe me money." Mia repeated. This time a little bit louder than before.

Aomine blinked at her at first a bit puzzled before finally realization hit him and he laughed. It was only for a few seconds and from him it sounded mocking and mean instead of genuine and friendly. Though her opinion was obviously already formed in a negative way, she guessed. But his blue eyes fixated her, the grin broader than before.

"Ah, the bread, right? It was good."

That was not what she wanted to know, her mind gushed. She didn't care - jeez, of course it was good! That's why she bought it in the first place! And she had wanted to eat it as well. But then he came along, nearly crushing her skull with nothing but his hand while having the nerve to steal her meal. She wanted compensation. It was her money and her right to expect that.

It was merely the question whether she was able to voice that statement or not.

"Fetch me more of it in the break would ya?"

What?

"Excuse me?"

For the first time she could use her voice loud and clear. The tune fell as her mind registered the meaning of his words. Did he actually dare to order her around? After what he did yesterday? Her neck still felt stiff from the weight he had forced upon her with nothing but his hand and they had never really talked before the incident anyway. He must've been joking.

"I got enough of bentos for awhile. I wanna eat bread, but it's a pain to go and buy it."

He slurred his explanation, his body leaning back against his chair as he relaxed in his seat. If Mia wasn't wrong he actually made it sound like it was settled. As if it was the most obvious thing in the world that she'd go and buy his lunch for him even though they were strangers.

"Are you kidding me?"

Aomine's expression fell at her sentence. It became emotionless as he stared her down, his sharp eyes glaring through her very skin and bone, she believed. From one second to another the blood rushed back into her face. She could feel her cheeks and ears heat up as her skin turned into a shade of a nasty red. He looked like he was about to kill her, her inner voice shrieked. The mocking and light mood slipping into a grim and dry one so fast...

But instead of finally taking out a gun out of his pocket he chose to grin at her again.

"Ya really like me, eh?"

Oh, he and his damn assumptions!

Mia could feel her heart hammer against her chest. Ready to burst out of her ribcage and strangle the teen next to her - something the girl would've actually liked to see. Because here she was, again, thinking this rude guy was about to kill her off. Instead he only mocked her and her damn flushed face.

"Maybe if you were six feet under..." She scoffed quietly, turning her face away from him completely.

"What?"

"You owe me money." Mia repeated instead, finally pushing her bag down to her feet.

"Tch, you're no fun." The blue haired boy grumbled. His gaze finally left her form to stare out of the window once more, something the girl welcomed with all her heart.

It was good when he was bored with her. It meant he would lose interest in teasing her. Which would lead him to ignore her once more just like it used to be...that thought alone caused Mia to sigh deeply in relief. The color slowly faded from her face as she calmed down. She only needed to endure it a little longer and then she and Nanami could laugh about this whole thing.

With the shrill ringing of the bell their short conversation came to a sudden halt. The teacher appeared in their classroom, his voice monotone and quiet in the early morning. The girl quickly rummaged through her schoolbag to get the needed items for the lesson. To her own surprise the monster of table neighbor she had didn't engage any further conversation anymore.

That meant that Mathematics had her whole attention. Whether she liked that or not...

She'd call it an understatement if his familiar - which it shouldn't be - tanned hand in her view didn't make her flinch. In break she had chosen to stay inside, after her last exchanged words with Aomine it actually felt like the whole unfortunate event was over. And the memory which lingered was soon to be forgotten.

Mia sat with Nanami at the table of the black haired girl. The two of them, like always, talked about shows they had seen yesterday and the weird, stiff conversation she had with the ridiculous tall teen. None of them knew what to make of it, but as the break passed without an incident they just chose to just enjoy their meal.

That was until the said hand appeared in front of her eyes.

Mia was ready to jump out of her chair, her legs tensed, ready, if they were needed to make a risky jump towards her left. She would maybe collide with a few desks and chairs but it was worth it if it meant she had enough time and distraction to run for her life. What she didn't expect, however, was a brown bread, wrapped in a thin plastic bag, to fall onto the desk she sat at.

Her eyes widened as she stared at it. At first as if it was a bomb, then her orbs softened. It could be an illusion. But then, she realized that it really was there. Bread from the cafeteria and to be precise a 'spicy bread'. Carefully Mia raised her gaze towards the very human being which towered over her, craning her neck until she was able to make eye contact with none other than Aomine.

His face was like a mirror, reflecting her expressionless lips which were drawn into a thin line. A single eyebrow lifted into the air.

"...thank you." She mumbled.

Her ears were burning again, she could feel it. But she couldn't get rid of the heat in her face. Her heart had started hammering the very second she had seen his hand. The weird mix of fear and adrenaline in her veins was ridiculous. But her body reacted instinctively to the heavy vibe he gave off without even trying.

Mia was sure he would once more make a stupid comment about her blush. He seemed to have a knack for it but this time, to her surprise, he didn't. He shrugged with his broad shoulders before one gigantic hand reached for her head. Only fleetingly he ruffled her hair. His body already moved past them as he was aiming for his own seat where a nervous Sakurai sat at, his bento already open as if he had awaited his classmate. His hand slipped from her head which was now a little messy, the strands escaping the hair clip thanks to the disturbance.

Nanami stared at her quietly. Both of their gazes falling towards the bread in front of her.

"What just happened...?" The orange-head whispered terrified. Her shoulders stiff.

"...I don't know." Her friend murmured calmly. "I have no idea."

"...was that a truce? Are we...are we even?"

"Maybe?"

Mia hesitated before she grabbed the bread, tearing the plastic bag open, only to inspect the tasty treat with distrust. It did look normal. Like bread was supposed to look like, she guessed. And as she finally mustered enough courage to bite into it she cherished the taste of different spices like curry and paprika. She always had a thing for deviled food. And after she overcame the fear of poison, it tasted even better. Like a little victory.

Aomine may be scary-looking. But at least by now she was certain that he wouldn't attempt to kill her.