Here is today's update, as promised, the Chapter 8 of Dreams of Life~ I sincerely wish the next update won't be so far away.. Tomorrow will be a Rainbow Drops update~!

Pairings : Undecided

Warnings : Teikō Middle School Days.

Disclaimer : I own only the OCs.


Chapter 8 - To go in the right ear and out the left

One should have face their fears head on to conquer them, but it should be done when one is truly ready.

Yume can feel Momoi's strength pulling her away from her comfort zone and towards the war zone where noisy crowds and 'Dai-chan' are.

She tried to resist, but Momoi is unstoppable when she's excited. It seems that the muscles Yume built from various part-time works can't rival those of Momoi's from being the Basketball Club's manager.

What works did Momoi does exactly? Is being a manager in the Boy's Basketball Club requires that much muscle strengths?

Yume can feel her heart thumping irregularly from the anxieties. She is feeling even more anxious than when she's readying for her presentation before.

It seems fate is really against Yume these days.

The tanned teen in question is in sight, a couple feets away, leaning against the chair as he yawned lazily. He never likes this kind of boring, yawn-inducing, kind of gathering.

If only his homeroom teacher, Takeda-sensei, didn't drag him forcefully. He could still feel his ear throbbing with pains. He couldn't understand why he's required to attend this gathering when he have absolutely nothing to do with it.

Except the voting that is.

Momoi is joyful as she crept to her childhood friend. She would have yelled, but there're too many people, so she obviously can't. Momoi had save a seat next to her for Yume.

When Momoi is near the boy's hearing range, she whispered. "Dai-chan..!"

Said boy perked up and whirled to her direction with an inquisitive look.

Yume gulped, fearing for interactions to come. Why can't just Heaven left her be? Hasn't she done enough by submitting to the Student Council?

Momoi opened her mouth to speak. "Th—"

*BZING...!*

The microphones made a loud buzzing sound, making the attendants cringe.

"Uh. Eh–em. We apologise for the earlier mishap. The presentation will now continue. Please welcome, Honoka Mayuko."

Welcoming claps followed soon after as a tall girl walked to the stage. This put a halt to Momoi's much awaited introduction, to her dismay.

On the contrary, Yume could thankfully sighed in relief. For now, she won't have to worry about confronting this 'Dai-chan'.

Momoi and Yume sat down on their respective seats, with Yume next to Momoi, who sat next to 'Dai-chan'. They are now watching the presentation from the rest of the candidates.

Some did well, some adequate, while some isn't very good. Despite that, the least they could do is at Teikō's standard, which is more than acceptable in most schools.

"It's Akashi-kun's turn soon!" Momoi whispered cheerily as her face lit up with excitements. "Akashi-kun's presentation ought to be flawless..!"

Yume inwardly agreed. She can tell, when she met him backstage. Akashi is confident and unwavering. Like it's something normal to him and that he's done hundreds of simulation.

Carrying the name of 'Akashi' might weigh way more than Yume can ever imagine, not that she have to know. It's unlikely Yume's and Akashi's world would coincide.

"Heh?" The tanned boy muttered as his brows furrowed. "I didn't know Akashi applied for the Student Council."

Momoi was stunned speechless for a moment, before she turned to him sharply. She's feeling utterly frustrated.

"..What exactly did you know, Dai-chan?" Momoi questioned in exasperation.

"Hm?" The boy raised his brow, then he grinned. "Of course, it's bas—"

"and don't say it's basketball." Momoi cut off with a glare. "You're coming to school to learn and not just play basketball, for God's sake, Dai-chan!"

What exactly goes through this basketball junkie's mind? It can't be 'basketball' and only 'basketball', can it?

"Basketball is after school club activities, and not the school." Momoi continued as she sighed tiredly. "It's like you are putting the cart before the horse!"

Yume inwardly agreed with Momoi, like seriously? Being in the same school but didn't even notice the wide-scaled Student Council's election promotion? What exactly is the boy doing at school?

"Now please welcome, Akashi Seijūrō."

At that, Momoi and Yume, even the disinterested Aomine turned heads to the stage. After all, it is Akashi.

On cue, Akashi takes the stage. He walks to the podium and lowers the microphone closer. Yume can't detect any signs of nervousness in Akashi's every gestures, on the contrary, he looks as ready as one could ever be.

"Good morning, Principal Kobayashi, respected teachers and fellow learning students." Akashi smiled charmingly.

Yume finds herself attracted to those pair of ruby orbs, and she zoned off then. Only to awoke with a loud thunderous claps.

"Uwahh! As expected of Akashi-kun! He is just so perfect..!" Momoi clapped, before turning to the startled Yume. "Isn't he, Yuu-chan?"

"Eh?" Yume muttered in surprise, before realising Momoi's earlier question. "..Ah...yes.."

Frankly speaking, Yume feels overwhelmed by Akashi's existence alone. She can't forget those dark airs just moments ago, and how he lives in a world she can't relates to.

Can Yume really work with him (peacefully) in the Student Council later on?

"Yuu-chan?" Momoi questioned, she can tell Yume is uneasy, and it's easy to tell why. "It will be okay, Yuu-chan!"

Yume blinked. "What is?"

Momoi grinned. "Akashi-kun will only assign works he know others are capable of. So you will be fine!"

"Yeah. Like givin' advices to quadruple trainings until we can't walk but crawl." Aomine snorted. "To hell with 'others capabilities'."

Momoi paused at that. That did happen.

While Yume shuddered at the thoughts. She could picture it now. How Akashi slams piles of papers on her desk, telling her to do it on one day, and Yume working desperately to finish it.

Yume turns pale. Can she really survive working in the Student Council, for a year at least?

'Tsk. That baka!' Momoi kicked Aomine wordlessly without even turning. "Ow! What's that for, Satsuki?! I say nothin' wrong!"

"Anyway, I doubt that Akashi-kun will be that cruel to girls, Yuu-chan." Momoi reassured Yume, smiling.

Yume is skeptical though and her expression shows it clearly.

"Next is Midorima Shintarō, please welcome."

That's another person whose name immediately earns Momoi's, Yume's and Aomine's attention.

Midorima walked into the stage, looking stiff. It seems he's nervous, but he manages it well. Also, Cancer's today lucky item - a green bowtie - is neatly worn around his neck, which only served to comical effects.

Even Yume is amused that she had to stifle her incoming laughters.

"Gahahaha! What's with that!" Aomine laughed, until. "Ga–ck! S-Satsuki..!"

To keep him in line, Momoi harshly nudged Aomine so that he winced in pain instead. Yume sweat dropped. It must not be easy being Momoi.

Back on stage, Midorima stiffly ignored all hilarious remarks and continued with his presentation. He did fairly well, minus the horoscope related speech.

Yume did recall that the greenette did ask her horoscope the day they met at the library. It seems Midorima is obsessed with it - hard.

"..Haha... Midorin is...a bit weird..." Momoi awkwardly remarked, twiddling her fingers. "..but he's not bad kid deep down..! Just a little...dishonest.."

"You meant Tsundere."

Momoi tried to kick Aomine again at that, but this time Aomine avoided in time.

Aomine snickered as Momoi tsked. Yume sweat dropped at their childish exchange.

Are they really just childhood friend? When one day the news of them dating comes, Yume won't be surprised.

Aomine and Momoi suits each other just fine. They even compliments each other well.

Anyway, the following candidates aren't as appealing or interesting, but out of politeness, Yume attentively listened to them all.

When it finally ends, Yume, Momoi and Aomine exited the hall, Aomine trailing by the back as Yume and Momoi chatted.

"It's quite high-level considering we're still in middle school." Momoi noted, earning a nod from Yume. "Then again this is Teikō."

After all, Teikō has their own sets of standard which is known to be strict.

"Ah, right!" Momoi halted as she turned. "Dai-chan! Come here, hurry!"

Uh. Oh.

"What?" Aomine asked gruffly, but still obediently walking to the two girls.

"I'll introduce you!" Momoi smiled, pointing to Yume. "Dai-chan, this is Yuu-chan," Then she pointed at Aomine. "Yuu-chan this is Dai-chan!"

"Dai-chan is my childhood friend, Yuu-chan is my best friend!"

Aomine took a while to process that, and raised his brow. "Haa? Since when?"

He obviously don't remember as almost everything Momoi said went through one ear then the other.

"..I've been telling you everyday!" Momoi deadpanned.

"Ah, really? Don't heard it."

Momoi huffed in frustration. Why is Aomine her only childhood friend? If only a girl like Yume lives in her neighbourhood.

"A-Ah.. My name is Manai Yume.. I-It's nice to meet you.." Yume bowed awkwardly.

Aomine blinked in surprise. Never before he had seen someone bowing as they introduce themselves.

"O-O.. Nice to meet you too.." Aomine scratched his head. "Oh, right.. My name is Aomine Daiki."

With the (awkward) introduction done, Momoi took it to the next stage.

"Now that we know each other, we can have lunch together from now on!" Momoi chirped.

"..Whatever." Aomine isn't against the idea.

But Yume is reluctant.

"I'm looking forward to tomorrow!" Momoi squealed. "Maybe I should cook a bento, too!"

"NO!"

Yume and Aomine chorused. Both understanding the horrors behind the word 'bento' when associated with Momoi.

"Eh? Why?" Momoi pouted.

Yume panicked, trying to find plausible reasons. "A-Ah! I-I want to cook for you, Sat-chan! T-There's a new recipe I want you to try!"

Aomine gulped.

"..Mm... Okay, Yuu-chan!" Momoi nodded delightfully. Yume's bento tastes good.

Aomine gaped slightly. He is admittedly impressed with Yume's reasonings and how it got an immediate 'okay' from Momoi, delighted even.

"Well, let's go now, Yuu-chan! It's class time!" Momoi hooked her arm around Yume and skipped to class, leaving Aomine by himself.

"Ah, wait a minute, Sat-chan..!" Yume squeaked, trying to follow Momoi's pace.

Aomine scratched his head awkwardly. "...At least that girl doesn't seem like a bad kid.." He muttered, before chasing after the girls. "Oi! Wait a bit!"


Author's note:

So yeah, how is it?

Read and Reviews~