It's earlier than scheduled since I'm also interested in writing more interactions! This is also partly due to the many reviews, thanks a whole lot about that! Yume is getting closer with the Generation of Miracles, and there's tiny revelation in this chapter and the next! As promised, next chapter is the last one before the Gakuensai. It will also be when Yume reunite with Kuroko! The gears are turning~!

To Guest 97: First, I'd like to thank you for the support! This story will be more friendship-oriented, so the crushes might not be so clear. As for Yume's past, it will unravel bit by bit as the story progresses. Highschool, eh? I'm not sure actually, it's either yes or no at this moment / hha, will it please you if I say yes?

Pairings : Undecided

Warnings : Teikō Middle School Days.

Disclaimer : I own only the OCs.


Chapter 20 - Too many cooks spoil the broth

About 5 minutes towards the end of her shift, the next part-timer, Ichikawa Toshio, comes in to the store. He's a 2nd year university student who lives nearby and takes the night-shift after Yume's working period.

"I'll replace you, Yume-chan. You can go with your friends." Ichikawa smiled like the mature adult he is, now having changed to his working attire.

In terms of professionalism though, Yume is not losing. "Thank you for your offer, Ichikawa-san, but I'm not off the clock until 5 more minutes. Please let me stay."

Ichikawa is used to this side of the brunette, who won't back down when it involves things she believes should be done properly. He admires for this, despite being younger, she knows her responsibilities and does them well.

Finally, after 5 minutes had passed, Yume and the rainbow group step out of the store, each holding a blue treat in hand. It's the Gori-Gori popsicles, cheap and thus within her budget, also perfect for a refreshment with the heat starting to set in.

"Thanks for this, Yuu-chan!" Momoi chirped as she took a nibble out of her blue popsicle, she loves it.

Yume smiles at this as she nibbles on her own popsicle. "You're welcome, Sat-chan. It's a small celebration for completing the exams."

"Man! This is perfect! Summer is coming soon, eh?" Aomine took a large bite of his popsicle, shivering slightly at the cold numbing feeling.

Murasakibara had finished his popsicle in one sitting, as in one mouthful and it's gone. He's now eating chips from his snacks provision he stocked on the day. He left the sweets he just ordered on the store for his brother to pick up later on, Ichikawa has agreed to watch it for him.

Midorima is eating his cold treat slowly, without making much noise like the tanned teen. He had thank the brunette for the treat, and while he doesn't make that joyful expression, he is happy with his popsicle.

Much like Midorima, Akashi is also eating without much noise. He even had that graceful air from eating a mere popsicle. Yume wouldn't say it, but the redhead actually looks kind of cute with a popsicle in hand, and less intimidating.

"Yuu-chan, I'd love to go to your apartment, but is it really okay if we barge into your home like this?" Momoi asked worriedly, not wanting to disturb her friend's privacy.

It's this side of Momoi that Yume likes, her kind, caring nature. It's probably why she can't leave her childhood friend on his own. "Really, it's fine, Sat-chan." she smiled assuringly.

'..I just didn't want to attract attention that we'd be sure to get if we go to a public place with this group of people..' Yume sweat dropped inwardly. She can picture the nightmare of the happening, people' stares from all sides.

Even the mere thought of it can make her shudder. Yume wouldn't want to be in the middle of it. With big eaters like Murasakibara and Aomine in tow, a charismatic yet frightening redhead, a firm Oha Asa's believer, and finally the dream girl of all men. Yes, she wouldn't want to be caught dead with them.

No matter how eventful it'd be with the colourful group in her apartment, at least she'll be able to spare herself from public's staring. It's also in her own comfort zone, which makes her apartment the better choice.

The supermarket's automatic doors slide open, and soon Yume regrets forgetting to consider the attention they'd still get when shopping for groceries. Some girls and boys alike are blushing, even some middle-aged housewives are staring. Truly, the rainbow gang is not to be underestimated.

"What are you planning to make, Manai-san?" Akashi asked as he followed after the brunette. He is not familiar with the place, and he figured following her would be best.

As for the others; Aomine went somewhere after saying something about meats, Murasakibara immediately headed to the sweets' section, Momoi was talking about picking out ingredients for her special dish, and Midorima is moving along with Akashi and Yume.

"I'm thinking about making a soup, a meat dish Daiki-kun likes, pasta for Murasakibara-kun, a vegetable dish, and probably few others." Yume answered while surveying the items around her.

At the word 'soup', Midorima's glasses glinted. "Manai, if you're thinking about soup, make it red beans soup."

"I don't think so, Midorima. Certainly, tofu soup would be a better choice." Akashi argued with a smile, making the greenhead jolt.

As the two boys argue, Yume holds the sigh she wants to release. Since they are her guests, it's normal to make dinner according to their wishes, but they are quite blatant about it.

"Um.. Akashi-kun? Midorima-kun? Can we settle this with rock-paper-scissor?" Yume decided to step in before they attracted more eyes.

Akashi and Midorima nods at the suggestion, and proceed for a round of rock-paper-scissor. The winner? When has Midorima won over Akashi?

"Okay, tofu soup it is." Yume concluded with a nod after seeing the result.

Akashi is smirking, satisfied, while Midorima paled. He lost yet again, and worse, he lost the right to choose the soup dish!

Ignoring the two teens behind her, Yume starts to pick what she needs for tofu soup. She first picks the indispensable tofu, and then she reaches for the seaweed.

"Manai-san."

The voice startled her that Yume almost dropped the bag of seaweed in her hand. "What is it, Akashi-kun?" she asked in confusion as the redhead is frowning.

"That. What are you planning to use that for?" Akashi pointed at the bag in her hand.

Yume blinks. "This? For the tofu soup?" she questioned instead, bewildered.

"Let's not use that." Akashi smiled this time, a smile that almost looks commercial.

This confused Yume even more, and against her better judgement, she pursues the subject. "Eh? But I always use seaweed in tofu soup.." she muttered.

"Leave it."the smile didn't leave his face, yet the air around him darkens and turns menacing. It's an order she can't disobey.

Wordlessly, Yume put back the seaweed, and returns to her other groceries. She doesn't want to stay with the redhead anymore, so she turns her back on him and quickly walks off to the meat section.

"Oh, Yume! Get this, this, and this!" Aomine grinned as he continued to put meat after meat into her basket.

She knows of the boy's obsession with meat dishes, but boy, he sure eats a lot. "Err.. What do you want to eat, Daiki-kun?"

"Meats!" was his short answer.

"Teriyaki burger is best, so that'd be awesome!" Aomine added before piling the basket with more meats.

It's too much, but Yume lost the chance to tell him it's more than enough. Thankfully, a familiar pinkette appeared then.

"Dai-chan! That's too much! Put them back!" Momoi chided her childhood friend, who clicked his tongue but sluggishly returned the items.

Satisfied, Momoi nods before facing Yume with a jovial grin, some goods on her arms. "Yuu-chan! I'm getting these to cook my special dish!" she chirped, while the brunette sweat dropped.

"Your what?!" Aomine squawked in horror, dropping the meat he's returning to the rack. "Satsuki, put them back. PUT THEM BACK RIGHT NOW!" he roared, scaring the girl as she back-stepped.

Momoi almost drops the things she's cradling at the boy's yell, but she's not about to back down. "What?! Why, Dai-chan?!" she shouted.

Before she or Yume could say anything more, Aomine pushed the pinkette back to where she came from. "NO REASON, JUST PUT THEM BACK!" he yelled as he pushed her from the scene and the basket Yume is holding.

The most quiet is probably Murasakibara, who only rejoins the group after he finished his haul for sweets. His wallet honestly knows no bound as far as sweets is concerned. Hopefully, his teeth fares better.

All in all, it was a disastrous grocery shopping. The worst and noisiest Yume ever went on. By the the end of the trip, she is physically and mentally exhausted. It's like she just climbed Mount Fuji in one walk.

Well, that's what she says, but perhaps it might not be so bad. Because it's been a long time since she goes on grocery shopping with someone else.


"Yume, will you help Mom carry half of these?" a woman smiled as she offered a small plastic bag of groceries.

The little girl nodded eagerly as she took the plastic bag. "Mm! Yume will help, Mom!"

"What are you cooking tonight, Mom?" the girl asked her mother, their hands connected.

The mother smiled at her daughter. "What do Yume wants? Mom will cook whatever Yume wants to eat."

The girl laughed in glee. "Really? Then Yume wants to eat curry rice!"


"Ne, Yuu-chan, where do you live?"

"Yuu-chan?" Momoi pursed her lips and leaned her face close to her friend.

When her limegreen clashed with peach, Yume finally returned from her reverie. "A-Ah. It's this way." she pointed to a road and lead them.

Momoi arches her brow at this, but she shakes it off. It isn't unusual for people to daze off at times, and if it's something bad, Yume will tell her about it.

After a short walk, the group stopped at a quite luxurious building, with approximately 15 floors located in a quiet and peaceful area with a small park by the side. It spells expensive.

"You really live here..?" Aomine murmured in disbelief as he stood before the building which is more than ten times his house.

He is not alone as Momoi, Midorima, Murasakibara and even Akashi give Yume the confused look. She could only smile sheepishly as she led them in.

The interiors of the building match its extravagant appearance, and the lobby alone is huge, complete with some lounges for guests and public discussions. When the other teenagers are taking in their surrounding, Yume quietly excused herself to check on her mailbox.

'Let's learn English!, Chinese Food Delivery, Grand Opening! New Cafe in Town!, To: Manai Yume | From: Manai Ryūsuke and Manai Kyōko.'

'There's a letter from Oba-chan and Ojii-chan. Is this about summer break?' Yume picked up the letter and the rest of the flyers and put them into her bag.

Yume closed her empty mailbox with a heavy heart, a wry smile formed on her lips. 'How much longer do I have to wait?' she felt her heart clenched.

It's been a year since she hasn't received any news. Why? What happened? Yume can't help but question. However, as if questioning the depth of the seas, there's no answer.

"Yume! Hurry up! I'm hungry!" Aomine called loudly from the lobby.

"I'm coming!" Yume quickly replied and returned to her friends, escorting them up the lift and stopped at 10th floor.

The floor is fully-carpeted, and as soon as they stepped out the lift, the road splits up into two, one to the right and one to the left. In each side, there's a glass door separating the elevator's area and the residential's area.

"This way." Yume turned left, and placed a card in the scanner on the glass door.

After the card is verified, the lock is open and the group finally arrived at a single door right after the glass door. In this floor, there're only two flats in total, one on each side.

This time, Yume inserted her key and turned it to unlock her apartment. "Please come in. I hope you all can fit in." she smiled shyly as she pushed the door for them to enter.

"W. O. A. H."

The apartment is clean and tidy, as soon as the door opened they can see the front area with shoes rack and straight to the spacious living room with three black-leathered sofas; two smaller sizes in each side, and a bigger one in the between; and a wooden table with a glass surface in the middle.

Behind the large sofa is the balcony, and separating the living room and the kitchen is a long table. The first floor has a guest bathroom and a storage room under the stairs. The stairs are between the kitchen and the living room.

Up in the second floor is four bedrooms; one master room and three children's rooms. There's also a medium-sized lounge with cushions and TV. Lastly, there's a study room.

"This is awesome!" Aomine cheered as he left his shoes scattered in the porch and went to the living room, glancing around eagerly.

Midorima glares at the boy. "Mind your manners, Aomine." he scolded.

Honestly, Aomine is just so irresponsible, and he's being impolite in someone else's home. Midorima just can't get along with that basketball-junkie. Though he has to say, he hadn't think that Yume lives in such a wealthy accomodation.

"This room is HUGE enough for elephant to roam around! It's more than enough!" Aomine noted with glee, he's hopping on his feet.

For a huge corporation heir, this size of apartment doesn't faze Akashi. However, it does surprise him considering the brunette lives here. If memory serves him right, the girl is on her own in Tokyo.

"Uwah. I didn't know Cashier-chin is rich." Murasakibara commented with his mouth open, some chips on his lips.

Momoi is also in awe, she didn't expect the brunette to live in this luxurious apartment. For one, Yume lives alone. She said so herself when she asked her about cooking. And there's also..

"Na, Yume. Why do you work part-times with this kind of apartment?" Aomine voiced his confusion, raising his brow at the girl who is still by the door.

Yume flinched at that. She avoids anyone's gaze and remains quiet. That's when everyone knows that the tanned teen was being careless with his mouth. Even the dense Murasakibara realised that Aomine is being stupid.

"A-Ah, I'll get started with dinner. You all can sit wherever you like." Yume averted the topic and headed to the kitchen.

As the perceptive one, Momoi slaps the tanned teen's back for his mistake. "I'll help, Yuu-chan!" she sauntered after her friend.

"Gah! That hurts, Satsuki!" Aomine complained gruffly. Then realisation sunk in. "..and what do you mean by help?! Goddamn, NO! GET OUT of the kitchen, Satsuki!" he yelled after her.

Thanks the Heaven, the boys manage to keep the hazardous cook off the kitchen and seated by the counter. The credit falls on Akashi, who with his peerless persuasive skill, successfully talked the girl to watch without harmful word said.

Even Murasakibara doesn't want to eat Momoi's horrendous cooking. He shuddered at the thought alone. And he's one of those people with strong stomach! Imagine what would happen if anyone is to consume that supposedly-food-which-can't-be-called-food.

The rainbow group watch entranced, as Yume expertly prepared dinner for all of them. There's no waste in her movements, and certainly no waste of ingredients. Other then that, the delicious smell is also tickling their senses.

What will the dinner's taste like?


So yeah, how is it?

Reviews are very much appreciated!

Next time, Will Yume finally befriend the rest of the Generation of Miracles?