Another day, another chapter.

And here is the final of the Winter Cup match! I hope I don't disappoint? 'Cuz yeah, action and sport and basketball. I just. I just can't, haha. My vocabulary is still not the best and the online dictionary my best friend, haha. I hope you enjoy it either way! I still don't know when to end it properly? So I guess we'll have to find out when I'll end this, jeez. I'm so unreliable, haha.

Thank you for all the lovely follows, favorites and reviews! You're all so amazing and sweet!

DAY ONE HUNDRED SIXTY ONE III

It felt unreal.

The way Kagami and Aomine rushed over the court. No one dared to step in between them, the cheers and jubilance vanished as the sound of your own breathing became louder and louder in your own head. Mia could barely follow them chase after another, her gaze flying from left to right as she sat on the edge of her seat.

The squeaking noise of their sneakers felt like a drumming beat. The dribbling ball was the rhythmic which offered the pace for the chaotic atmosphere in the gym. Tension. Excitement. Focus. All those words became like a chant, the audience captivated by the sparks in the air.

And as the seconds crawled past them, the dance of the aces continuing - they all were left with the last forty seconds.

Mia jumped up from her seat, her hands hurting from all the pressure she forced into her fingers. It was so painful to watch but Seirin made it. One point after another they caught up. And she could finally see it, even from her seat in the audience. The sinister air around Aomine was replaced, the grin on his face nothing but honest, brutal elation.

"Go Seirin!"

The orange-head's throat would probably hurt tomorrow. Her voice breaking due to the strength she used. But they couldn't lose now, not after Aomine had made such an amazing hit even while being pressured by Kagami and the others.

Six seconds.

Don't give up yet!

Five seconds.

And then a foul. A free throw offered for the team in the white uniform. It was all so close. The girl could hardly believe how easily she fell for the charm of the sport. Cheering, hoping and wishing with all the other people in the hall - the thrill was amazing. Her pulse quickening.

Mia had to force herself to sit down again, her hands resting onto the railing. They had to do it, she didn't know how but they had to. Two points. Seirin had to make two points and they'd win. But there was hardly time for anything.

The whistle was loud in her ears, the squeaking of the sneakers unbearable. And then it happened so fast. The basketball hit the wooden board, bouncing away from hoop before Aomine himself pushed the orange orb far away. Many voices around her whispered. They gasped at the turn of the events which all her tense nerves drowned out.

She released a breath she didn't know she was holding.

Four Seconds.

Aomine wouldn't lose.

Three seconds.

That guy just refused to lose.

But then her eyes caught the light blue hair of no one else but Kuroko. The slender boy who caught the ball even though it was thrown across the court, a sight she hadn't thought to be possible. With all his strength he shot it back, aiming it at no one else but Kagami who still stood at the hoop.

Two seconds.

"Go, Kagami!"

One second.

Mia didn't know if she had yelled the name of the redhead or if it had been the whole team of Seirin High. But the certain basketball player jumped into the air with all his might. Meeting Aomine who had already come to defend the hoop, however, he was too late. Kagami had reached a height he couldn't reach, his timing too good and with a last swing of his arm he dunked the ball.

The buzzer was loud.

The loud cheering of the crowd was deafening just like her own heartbeat which was trying to crush her head from the inside. It was over. Mia couldn't believe it but it was over and the numbers were clear on the broad display.

101 to 100.

So close.

And yet it was enough. It had been enough and Seirin made it. The orange-head jumped up from her seat once more, hiding her trembling bottom lip behind her hands as she bounced up and down on her feet. The lazy teenager who said there was no challenge out there for him had lost...

Kuroko and Kagami had made it possible after all.

Mia fidgeted on her spot.

It felt slightly awkward to stand right outside. People passed her on their way home, the great building behind her slowly deserting after the match had come to an end. Satsuki had told her in a text that they would take a bit, the captain and coach had to speak with the team first. The members had to change and cool off a bit, too.

And the girl couldn't help but wonder how Imayoshi and Yoshinori were taking the loss...the two third years had been working so hard...it was difficult not to feel guilty at all. She had been supporting Seirin not even thinking about how the other members of her school's team would feel like if they'd lose.

"Haah...makes me that a bad person...?"

Mia sighed heavily, playing with the strap of her bag. The coldness of the night bit her skin but she didn't want to stay in the building when everybody else already left it except the basketball players. It felt a bit odd to do so, probably silly, yeah. But she felt better if she stayed outside...entertaining the idea of calling Aomine because who knew if he was still inside? Maybe he already left...?

The girl was about to rummage through her bag for her mobile phone as the electronic doors of the building behind her opened. Startled she looked up, prepared to make space for a staff member or maybe someone else. Satsuki had told her after all, it would take up to ten or twenty minutes, something the orange-head didn't mind in the slightest.

But her gaze widened as she realized it was Aomine.

He already looked ready to leave, clad in his jogging suit and shouldering his bag. It shouldn't surprise her that he wouldn't stay with his team; he never really hung out with them for long after a match anyway. But she was a bit afraid to see him after she had cheered so loudly for their opponent...he hadn't heard her...now had he...?

Mia gulped.

His face was free of any emotion, the muscles lax and his sharp face suddenly less angular when she remembered. Or at least it looked like it in the pale light of the moon. She blinked at him with wide eyes, uncertain what she should say or do. The orange-head was glued to the ground, merely watching her tall classmate as he approached her with his lazy long strides.

But as he reached her, he came to a sudden halt.

Mia could feel the heat he was radiating. The smell of sweat still clinging to his skin, the strands of his short hair drenched and yet not dry. He looked so strangely calm, hiding the many thoughts in his head behind a stoic expression like always. It made it so hard for her to say something, anything - because she didn't know what she could say to break the uncomfortable silence.

In the end she didn't have to. Aomine leaned suddenly forward, his arms darting out before they encircled her. Half of his weight fell on top of the girl in a swift movement, her knees buckled before she found the strength to keep him up, her fingers burying in his jacket to find hold on him as well.

"I lost."

Mia's face easily turned red due to their close proximity. The unexpected hug made her nerves tingle, her bones rattling with the sudden knowledge that she was indeed standing right there in the arms of the teen who pressed the side of his head against her head. The scent of sweat and something spicy which must definitely be his odor filled her nose as she took a shaky breath.

"Yeah..."

Aomine didn't react right away. The loose hug they shared was all he did, abusing her body as a pillar to share the burden of his weight. It sounded foreign to hear those words by him. The realization hadn't hit home yet completely although the coldness of the season would definitely soon help him to accept reality. Nevertheless, Mia stood her ground. Her body welcoming the warmth he offered as she started to smile. "You smell sweaty."

"Shut up."

The blue haired teen shifted, his head sliding off hers as he buried his face in the crook of her neck and shoulder. If it was because he was tired and exhausted or because he didn't know how to handle the fact that he lost - she didn't know. Helplessly she tightened her hold on her classmate, forcing her heart down from its turmoil. She wanted to comfort and not die from a heart attack.

It wasn't much that she could do, so maybe standing here with him was enough for now?

"Mia..."

The girl shivered at the sound of his voice. It was raspy and hoarse, still muffled by the fabric of her sweater while her whole body could feel his throat vibrate thanks to the usage of his vocal cords. He was so close she could literally feel him speak against her skin. Mia stared at the starry sky above them, her mind willing her face to stop burning just because of something silly as that.

Of course, it didn't listen.

"Mhm?" She hummed weakly.

He didn't answer though. Instead he grumbled something inaudible into her sweater, his weight on her increasing which nearly pushed her down towards the floor. Mia called his name in surprise, warning him that he was throwing them both onto the ground like this but his legs were tired. His muscles ached after all the running and jumping he had done.

So in the end she gave in. Bracing her body to carry his burden the best she could.

It probably looked ridiculous from afar. His broad stature using her small frame as support but nothing mattered as she selfishly cherished the chance of having him this close. Losing was hard, a painful experience he had never gone through before.

But there was always a first for everything. No matter if it was good or bad.

"Mia."

Aomine repeated gruffly and once more she replied with a hum, wondering if he decided to say nothing else afterwards again. This time though he did, his arms tightened their grip on her until she was snuggly pressed against his front. Save from the cold while he was cooled off from his heat.

"Are you free tomorrow?"

The orange-head blinked at the entrance this time, she could see over his hunched shoulder thanks to their position. He sounded as calm as ever, dragging the words out of his mouth as if they were nothing but a chore. It was a small detail, she noted. The way he spoke, lazy and tired no matter what it was about...but it sounded so familiar. Awfully making her feel secure even though this situation was so alien.

"I...am, yeah."

"I want new basketball shoes." The blue haired teen shifted on his feet, his nose and lips grazing her exposed neck while he spoke.

Mia wanted to scowl at him. His sly movement was unfair, her skin burning where he touched it without meaning to. He was able to hear her heartbeat, wasn't he? He could probably feel it as well. The only thing which was left was that horrible grin he always wore. Teasing her, over and over again. He didn't smirk though. No laugh. Or mocking comment.

All she felt was his breathing.

The girl nodded into his shoulder, returning his hug with all the strength she could muster. This was what she had hoped for. The return of his curiosity about the thing he had obviously loved so much in the past. No matter how small it was, it was enough. A little puzzle piece of Aomine which had been lost somewhere around the time where they hadn't known each other yet.

The orange-head smiled warmly into his jacket, suffocated by the warmth and the air around him.

"Let's buy them." She mumbled.

Aomine became silent once more. Another pair of feet in the distance echoed towards their location. Neither of them could see yet who it belonged to, but shortly after the sound had appeared a voice joined it. Distinctively female and Mia was certain that it must be Satsuki who had been sent to search for the missing team member like always.

The blue haired teen groaned, knowing that another preaching awaited him. For the last time he tensed his muscles, nearly crushing the girl in his arms as he seemed to try to get rid of any space which existed between them.

Mia made a small noise of complain. Her back threatened to crack, she feared, due to his strength. Her rips were surely not built to withstand the unbelievable strength of her tall classmate. But he didn't even think about letting go anytime soon, his hug locking her in place while his thoughts trailed after so many things at the same time.

"I want to practice."

The orange-head laughed breathlessly into his shoulder.

"The great Aomine wants to practice?"

Finally she could feel it, his lips which formed a wide grin against her skin. Not teasing, or mocking. Not amused by sheer mischief or malicious glee. It was honest. Just like the expression he had worn as he had played against Kagami. And the girl felt silently thrilled that she was able to cause it again. Somehow.

If only Satsuki would take a little bit longer to find them.

Mia started to slowly like the bone crushing hug because every time she tried to tighten her grip he'd return it. Always squeezing back with more strength than she used. Keeping her far away from their surroundings in the unimaginable warmth he created. The girl took a deep breath, wrinkling up her nose due to his sweaty smell. Something which nearly made her laugh once more.

How was she supposed to voice all those feelings in any way?