Another day, another chapter.

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Sorry about the rather late update today. I'm actually at friends right now? Tipping the chapter while playing a video game with them, it's rather hideous. I'm so easily distracted. That's why it took so long, sorry! I'll maybe edit it later on – because I couldn't really check it yet. I wanted to update nonetheless!

Thanks for all the favorites, follows and reviews!

DAY FIFTY SIX

Mia smiled at the cover in her hands, the new video game her father had bought her on a whim was something, she had her eyes on for a while. The characters on the picture looked like they had jumped right out of a fantasy novel. Swords and shields in their hands, the faces narrowed at the enemy in the distance who would be the main antagonist of the whole game.

Nanami could, of course, not spent her whole time with her after she came back. Even though the two girls had met up the previous two days in a row, she had to find something to do on her own today. The black haired girl had to go out with her family to a dinner which had been planned with their neighbors for a while. This meant that the orange-head had enough free time to try and beat the game until the two friends could see each other once more. The street basketball competition was taking place in four days...

Eagerly pushing the disc into the game station in front of her TV, she was determined to pull an all-nighter. For what else would you have summer break if not for staying up the whole night to play brainless video games? Mia didn't have a better answer so it was easy to plan the coming hours with nothing but great music, killing enemies and a hopefully good story.

That is, until her mobile phone started ringing, forcing her to look away from the screen which lit up and showed the title of the video game in broad and colorful letters. Furrowing her brow, Mia slowly approached her bed where the little device lay upon, checking the display carefully in wonder because maybe, just maybe, Nanami had found a way to escape the little family activity.

The display, however, read the name of Momoi Satsuki.

Mia grabbed the black phone, flicking it open with ease before she pressed it against her ear. "Yeah?"

"Mi-chan..."

The girl couldn't help but frown, the voice of the bubbly student on the other line sounded so quiet and sad. Something, she thought she'd never hear from the bright basketball club manager. But there always seemed to be a first for everything. Mia hesitated before she answered, her eyes wandering around her room for a second.

"Is something wrong, Satsuki-san?"

"I don't know what to do." Satsuki confessed. "Aomine-kun won't answer my calls at all since yesterday."

Wait, what?

"What happened?" The orange-head asked which made her friend sigh deeply.

"The coach told him that he is not allowed to play anymore...at least not in the last matches. He got injured at the last one...it, it would be dangerous for his body if he continued anyway. So I told the coach to..." Satsuki took a deep breath, it was hard not to hear the grimace on her face through the phone. "...I'm just worried about him. He can be so...could you try to call him? For me? But please...don't tell him I told the coach to take him off the team."

Mia sat down on her bed, her empty gaze staring at her TV where the title screen was still awaiting her attention. She hadn't heard anything from the blue haired basketball player since the movie – and that could surprisingly explain it, she guessed. Even if he had a rather complicated relationship with the sport, it was obvious that he did love it somehow. And to be told not to play anymore in a real tournament which was coming to an end...the girl bit her bottom lip, feeling the sympathy for Satsuki crawl along her nerves. Aomine could be so scary when he was angry.

"Well, I, I can try." The orange-head replied slowly. "But I can't promise anything."

"That's more than enough!" Satsuki gushed in relief. "Thank you, Mi-chan. I'll call you later, okay?"

"Sure...?" Mia could barely mumble before the pink haired girl hung up. "...Mi-chan...?"

It wasn't like it bothered her that the other had shortened her name, but she always thought that her first name had always been already simple enough. Sighing, she shook her head, staring at her mobile phone which waited quietly for her to open her contacts and select the certain number of her tall classmate, who apparently, was not in his best mood. Great, her mind whispered, just great. Bored Aomine was easy to handle. Angry Aomine? Never, he was terrifying when he was in a bad mood.

Dreadfully, she pressed a few buttons, narrowing her eyes at his name. It wasn't like she wasn't worried about him – she could only imagine how he must feel like right now. But that Satsuki expected her to repair anything was the biggest overestimation someone ever had of her.

With the last bit of courage she had left in her bones, she called the certain blue haired teenager, pulling her legs towards her chest as she stared at the still glowing TV in front of her. At least the melody which was played was calm and soothing, the options of 'new game', 'loading' and 'options' were glaring at her in a bright white against the dark brown background.

She had only wanted to play her game in peace...

"Aah?"

Aomine lifted his head slightly, pushing the pillow with his other arm away as he blinked at the wall on the other side of his room. His body felt drained, the sleep he had tried to get to forget the boiling anger in his guts had been too short. But he had felt like destroying something – anything. And after he had kicked the trash can on the street, he had found nothing else to tear into pieces.

The coach pissed him off, a man he rarely talked to had no right to tell him what to do and what not. His team was nothing without him, they wouldn't make it against his previous teammates. And just because that one old man deemed his knees as not good enough concerning their function, he told him to go to the bench. Aomine did not sit on a god damn bench.

"Hey..." It was Mia's voice on the other line, quiet and hesitant. "...I heard from Satsuki-san what happened."

The blue haired basketball player closed his eyes at the sound of the girl, the calmness in her breathing outweighed his throbbing head. He took a deep breath himself to ignore the trail of messy thoughts in his mind, every single one filled with anger and wrath. He had been told the news yesterday, but it still cooked the blood in his veins whenever he remembered that today was the match against Yosen High which took place without him.

"How are you holding up?"

Aomine couldn't help but scoff, turning onto his back while he stuffed the pillow behind his head.

"I'm pissed off, of course. It's bullshit." The teenager opened his blue eyes, narrowing his gaze until he glared at the ceiling above his head. "He shouldn't have stopped me. I could've crushed the other team easily, with my stupid knees or not."

"That's harsh..."

"It's true." He argued annoyed. "There doesn't exist anyone who can beat me. So who cares about some stupid injury."

"Satsuki-san cares." Mia replied immediately. "Your coach and the team as well, whether you believe it or not...I was pretty worried, too...you shouldn't take something like that lightly."

Aomine furrowed his brow, the glare slowly but surely slipping away as his nerves calmed down to some extent. Strangely, it was easier to listen to her instead of Satsuki's argumentation. His childhood friend always tended to preach him, over and over again instead of listening to his rant. Although the girl had probably just given up at some point, because he was just too stubborn for his own good. In the end, it was refreshing, he guessed, to have someone who listened to him anyway. Calmly. Without judging.

"You worried." He deadpanned, stretching his legs while his knees stung uncomfortably.

"Of...of course."

Ah, he could hear it again. Her childish scowl on the other end of the line, her face slowly but surely turning into a light shade of red out of embarrassment.

"Who wouldn't?"

"It's just fucking annoying." He grumbles into the phone, even though his tense muscles finally relaxed. "I'm bored and can't do crap."

The teenager could hear the girl shifting on the other line, her calm breathing still soothing his senses as her attention got divided between him and something else. He listened attentively, but all he heard was the orange-head and some rustling as she seemed to move around.

"Do...do you have a game station?" She asked slowly. "I got a new game...if you're bored we could, like, play it together?"

Aomine sat up on his bed, his narrow eyes ghosting over his bed and room which was certainly not as tidy as it should be according to his mother. Absent-minded he pushed a handful of shirts and pants off the corner of his bed, letting the fabric cascade down onto the cool floor where it surely had left his sight, even if it was only for a second. Maybe he should at least try to keep the floor acceptable...

"Yeah, I got one."

Silence.

For a second, no one of them spoke. Mia was busy blinking doubtfully at her TV, she hadn't expected him to actually say 'yes' but now where he did she felt suddenly a bit uncertain about the whole situation. Aomine, on the other hand, waited. It was her turn to say something – anything - he sure as hell wasn't going to be the one who broke the silence. It was amusing for him how much he could imagine her face, scrunching up in concentration as she considered things. He hadn't seen her in quite some time, but her face was clear when he thought about it.

"Where do you live?" Mia finally asked.

The blue haired teenager scratched the back of his head as he slowly turned towards the side of his bed. His bare feet touched the cool floor, his eyes once more landing on the small pile of shirts he had pushed off his bed a few seconds ago.

"I'll meet you at the station...just get off the Takanara Station."

"Okay."

Alright.

It was weird.

Why had she said that?

Mia had no idea what she had been thinking but her classmate had sounded so upset in his own way. Cursing, insulting his teammates. Being angry that he couldn't play anymore while basketball was such a big part of his whole life. The girl had immediately felt the need to cheer him up somehow, although she had no idea how she could do that. She couldn't do anything for his knees. Nor could she change the mind of his coach – who he thought to be at fault all alone. Aomine didn't really suspected Satsuki and if the orange-head knew one thing then it was that she surely wouldn't tell him that.

She promised that the pink haired girl.

But right now she was on her way to his home. He had waited just like he had said at the station, the lines on his face still hard, his hands stuffed into his pockets. She had wanted to try and smile as she greeted him but her gaze fell to his knees, of course. His summer pants which reached his knees revealed the tape which was wrapped around the joints. Mia frowned slightly at that sight, since when did he have that...?

They more or less mumbled a greeting, leaving the station behind. The two teenagers walked further into the district where he lived. Setting a quiet pace, since there was no hurry for either of them. And luckily, he didn't live far from the train station. Their path led them into a street where a handful of houses were lined up. Very similar to the vicinity where Mia lived, too. And as her classmate suddenly came to a halt in front of one of the houses, the orange-head couldn't help but stare. It was tall and simple, the roof dark and the walls white. Mia didn't know what she expected, but it looked so normal, it was kinda strange.

"My room is upstairs." Aomine drawled, kicking off his shoes after he had opened the door.

The girl's eyes ghosted curiously over the floor and small corridor which led towards the stairs and living room. She could hear the sound of a television not far away, a family member obviously present in one of the rooms as she carefully took off her shoes as well.

"I'm back." The teen next to her called out. He threw the keys in his hands back into a bowl on a small counter, one foot already set on the first step.

"Welcome back, honey." A female voice greeted, definitely older than her or him. She sounded slightly absent-minded as the noise of the TV rose. If anything, Mia was nearly a hundred percent sure that his mother – she believed – was watching a soap opera. Judging by the gasps and clash of voices. Her own mother watched the same ones, so she should know.

"G...good afternoon." The orange haired girl called out. Should she introduce herself? She didn't want to disturb anyone though. It was already strange enough to know that she was right now in the very house of her classmate.

Aomine's mother didn't react at first and for a moment both teenagers were sure that this would be the last reaction they would receive for the day. But before the blue haired teen was able to climb another step of the staircase which led to his room, they could hear the hectic movements of a person who quickly stepped into the corridor.

Mia froze out of surprise as a woman stepped into the corridor. She was actually slightly taller than her. Definitely pretty, even for her age and the wrinkles she had, indicated a smiling face. But in contrast to the boy next to her, she was rather pale, her eyes glowing in a deep familiar blue.

"Oh my, I knew that didn't sound like Satsuki-chan."

Quickly the orange-head bowed her head. "No, well, my name is Nidori Mia. Nice to meet you, Aomine-san."

The older woman smiled warmly at her, her gaze moving towards her son who had started to scowl. Unfazed by his horrible attitude, she must have already gotten used to over the years, she lifted an eyebrow. Challenging her dear son to say anything she didn't want to hear.

"It's rare for you to bring a friend home, Daiki."

The teenager grumbled something quietly to himself, turning his attention to Mia who had stood awkwardly in font of the door. "Come on, Nidori."

"Y...yeah." The girl smiled at his mother once more, bowing her head slightly to thank for the warm greeting and open home before she followed, rather relieved, her tall classmate up the stairs. Too embarrassed to actually exchange a few words with the lady of the house.

Aomine's mother, on the other hand, leaned onto the railing of the staircase, following the teenagers with her gaze before she smiled impishly to herself. And here she had been worried about her son and his lack of friends. All the more female friends next to Satsuki who had been taking care of him like a responsible big sister since they were small.

"Looks like he's feeling better..." She mused to herself, slowly turning back to the television in the living room. The smile, however, got quickly wiped off her face as she noticed the change of events her show had taken. "No way, I knew he was cheating on her!"

"Hand me the game."

Without making a fuss, she handed him the cover, her eyes were too busy checking out the room of the tall basketball player. How had she been able to come this far? She was right at the center of his very self, his home and his room. It didn't look as messy as she believed it would be. The dark covers of the bed were wrinkly because they had been only quickly brushed aside.

A desk which was used more or less for anything which was useless to pile it on top. And next to the TV and the game station he had told her about she saw a shelf in a corner. Only a few books found place there, the most space was used for medals and trophies. Her eyes widened as she approached the many prices. She had known he was good...but that was certainly impressive.

"Have you won all those in middle school?"

Her classmate barely looked up from the game station, his body crouched down as he pushed the disk into the little machine. Instead, his eyes were fixated on the cover, studying the characters and title with a bored expression on his face.

"Yeah."

"Amazing." Mia breathed, bending down to read the engraved words. First place. Every single one was for the first place. No matter which competition or tournament, that blue haired basketball player had won them all. She suddenly regretted it, to not have come to one of his matches before. No matter how and why, to really see Aomine in action must be pretty cool. Even if that guy needed to lose, in her opinion. How he spoke of other teams and players was discouraging...

"How do you wanna name the character?"

Startled, she turned back around to the blue haired teen who had sat down in front of his bed, leaning against it while the controller was already in his hands. Eagerly, she sat down next to him, her legs bumping into his ones which were bent at the injured knees. He had already started it, creating a new file without even waiting.

"I don't know – I always use my name."

Aomine snorted at that. "That's childish."

"Well, how do you call yourself then?" Mia asked him with a half-hearted glare.

"...Daiki."

The orange-head couldn't help but laugh out loud. So much for being childish herself, she thought. But Aomine frowned at her, bumping against her with his shoulder which nearly sent her flying to the ground. The girl caught herself before that, supporting her upper body with her hands as she straightened herself next to him once more. Her lips were still drawn into a smile though, unlike the basketball player next to her who stared ahead with a calm expression on his face.

"How about a mix or something?" She offered. "Aoni? Or Nidao?"

A grin finally broke out on his face as he started to chuckle. "That sounds stupid."

"Then suggest something better." She scoffed, hitting his calf.

Aomine didn't even flinch as she slapped him, his grin only widening as he started to press a few buttons. Curiously, she followed the movement on the screen. Her eyes moving with the cursor which slowly but surely pressed onto one letter after another.

"Not your name!" Mia argued as she realized that he was selfishly trying to use his instead of hers.

Aomine started to snicker, holding the controller far away from her reach as her attempt to grab it failed. The blue haired teen had already forgotten his bad mood from before, the boiling heat in his veins cooling down as he found himself relaxing with every second they continued to talk. Or argue. Their little battle ended with a damn nickname he had already heard from her a handful of times.

The hero of their adventure was called 'Ahomine'.

Not that either of them minded that in the end.