Another day, another chapter.

Big thanks to...

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Once more thanks for all the follows, favorites and reviews! Again, I'm a bit short on time. I need to leave for work soon [I'm so busy this week, it's crazy], so it's short. There will be more fluff in the next chapter, promise!

I want to especially thank CopraMeow, BDDB and SamTsui - I always see your names pop up in the reviews and it makes me smile like an idiot to read after every chapter what you loved! Thanks for the constant support!

I hope you guys enjoy the story. And Karen, you too, you fish. I'm happy you like your present up until now.

DAY SEVENTEEN

"The day after tomorrow the final exams are starting."

Mia's face turned white. It was starting, the time had come she had dreaded since she had started attending Tōō Academy. But now the dates were written across the blackboard and the students were forced to write them down, to see how many days exactly they had left till they had to be executed by the horrible questions and essays.

She wasn't that bad at school, she was average. She had believed that the freedom they had in the beginning to choose which course they'd take and bracket in the curriculum they wanted to attend the most would make things a lot easier and more interesting. Tōō Academy was known for this university like system.

But in the end they were put into different brackets which consisted of classes. The orange-head sighed. More or less it was just like the other high schools around here; merely a few things here and there differed. Final exams, however, those existed everywhere.

Quickly she wrote down the dates and subjects from the board. If they started Friday then they'd be finished by the end of next week...so only a handful of days were filled with fear and paranoia. Hopefully Nanami was finished with her Literature club soon; Mia could need any help she could get to learn for the exams.

Her gaze wandered through the class, all her classmates were just like her copying the dates or were whispering about their own misery and dread. No one was a fan of exams, obviously. But at least summer break was waiting right behind it. And just like every previous day before her eyes landed on her table neighbor in the end.

It was a first that he wasn't sleeping as often as he did in the past. And it would be an understatement if she wasn't surprised to see him actually write down the dates for the exams as well. There was no way he'd ever pass them, the girl mused, not with his attitude...although it surely was making her curious how he'd do it.

Aomine's frown darkened with every word he scribbled down, he mumbled something into his hand which was cupping his chin to support his head. Though she couldn't hear what he said. Mia blinked at his annoyed expression, lying down her pencil next to her notebook as her thoughts started to swirl around in her head. Wasn't some match coming up as well for the basketball club?

They never talked about InterHigh again but that didn't mean that her classmates didn't. The orange haired girl knew already that this tournament must be taking place in summer. Somewhere after the break had started, but there were matches before that. It was hard to imagine him play...it was harder to imagine Sakurai play.

Suddenly Aomine stopped writing, his blue eyes flickering towards her. His expression was plagued by the boredom and annoyance he felt, no wonder, the message of having to learn and pass the final exams wasn't really something you looked forward to. Even more for people who attended clubs, if their results were too bad they'd be banned from the activities until they passed the retry. Or worse.

"What?" He drawled. His face turning towards her completely.

"Nothing." Mia whispered back. "...just thinking."

The basketball player lifted an eyebrow, his pen tapping against his notebook as slowly a light grin spread on his lips.

"Can't be, you aren't blushing."

The girl could feel the annoying blush creep onto her cheeks as he pointed that out. Of course, he would tease her, even after yesterday, where he had to make a comment about her chest. He would never let her live it down for the rest of her life. Mia scowled at him before she turned away, staring back at the blackboard instead to save the last bit of dignity she had.

She worried too much.

It would be his own stupid fault if he failed the exams, better now - he would deserve it.

After a second she could hear him sigh deeply, his papers were rustling as he pushed them aside. Slightly curious she decided to risk a glimpse, but the second she looked at him, he stared right back. He had folded his arms on his table, lying his head down on them while still facing her with his head. Embarrassed that he caught her Mia quickly looked forward once more, her ears slowly burning with the rush of blood which settled in her cheeks.

"I still haven't seen your good shot." He grumbled lazily.

"Only because it rained." The girl found herself arguing. "I would've made one."

Carefully her eyes checked if their teacher heard them. But to her luck the woman in the front didn't as she merely continued to talk about the rules and order around the exam time. But in the end it were just a lot of words to explain that if anyone cheated they'd be forced to face the consequences.

She could hear the teenager at her side taking a deep breath, his body slumped further into his chair and table as he got more comfortable. It was a miracle that he hadn't fallen asleep earlier already. But since she had brought him the bread to the roof a few days ago, he hadn't skipped a single lesson - except his basketball practice. If he really was keeping his word then Mia would never wake him, not after she remembered what had happened the first time she had done that anyway.

"...did...did you return the umbrella?" The girl whispered, finally forcing herself to look at her table neighbor once more.

His face was blank until its lines became harder. He was snorting at her, in his opinion, silly question.

"Of course not. It lies around somewhere at home."

Mia pressed a hand against her right cheek in hope she would be able to press the blood back into her body and to get rid of the warmth she felt. Of course, he hadn't! It was her classmate she talked about. He wouldn't return something like that.

Gosh, they had really stolen an umbrella...!

"I still need to return the money." She chose to say instead which made Aomine frown.

"Hah? I told you already, save it."

He did say that. But the girl couldn't help but feel bad for it, they weren't exactly friends so...or...well...maybe they were now? They talked in the classes...they had eaten lunch together already...and they met up twice - kinda - and played basketball...maybe they were really friends now? Somehow at least...

"Or just return the damn favor."

His deep voice caught her attention as she blinked at him curiously.

Aomine lifted his head, staring at her with his narrow eyes as the blue color in them reflected his sudden idea.

"Got nothin' to do this Saturday. Show me your shot and buy me a drink."

Mia's eyes lit up at his suggestion. That would be certainly different to meet him on the weekend. It wasn't after school; they'd really take their free time and spent it with another. Maybe we are friends, the orange-head mused. That sounded like something friends would do although she never had such a strange friendship with anyone before.

Her figure fidgeted a bit on her chair, his gaze was staring her down as he awaited her answer impatiently before Mia finally nodded.

"Okay."