AN: Chapter 11.. I know I've created a really good atmosphere from the previous chapter, so I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimers: All characters of SD are not mine and I do not owe them! I only owe the OC here for I alone created her.

Chapter 11: Autumn in Summer

The Shohoku Volleyball team remained undefeated, just today they defeated the volleyball team of Ryonan, all thanks to Yuki of course. Now Yuki and the rest of the girls decided to skip one-day practice for the decisive battle between Shohoku and Ryonan. "The one who will win here. will be playing in the Nationals." Yuki thought as she remembered what Mitsui said to her.

FLASHBACK

"You guys are undefeated, it is an assurance that the volleyball team will be playing for the Nationals. If we lose this game. it's all over for us. all over of my dreams to be in the Nationals!" Mitsui replied his eyes filled with determination

END OF FLASHBACK

"You're shaking Yuki-chan!" Seyou commented. Yuki nod her head and said, "I'm so dammed worried." Emi smiled slyly and said, "Worried about Mitsui-san right?"

Yuki nod her head, there is no point denying. Her friends can see through her now. She is no longer thick as snow. She's already transparent, and they can see that she's in-love with Mitsui. No doubt about that. But, Mitsui will never be hers, Mitsui's life evolves in basketball and his dream, and as for her, her dream of being the best Volleyball player comes first.

"The game is starting! Cheer for the Shohoku girls!" Ms. Mizuno exclaimed filled with energy. Seyou and Miki took out their pom poms and started to cheer. "GAN-BATTE RUKAWA-KUN!" Miki cried. "YOU GO TENSAI NUMBER 10!" Seyou cried. Emi could only sigh in disbelief.

Yuki saw Mitsui seating on the bench, he was drinking some water, she then remembered that fateful day when they nearly kissed. "God, I was longing for that, no point denying! Why in the world Emi's crush have to come up anyway?" Yuki's mind exclaimed angrily.

Meanwhile, Mitsui was also pondering. "That day... because of Miyagi. Darn you Miyagi! That day was made to be and you ruined it all!" Mitsui thought angrily. Miyagi crept up to him and whispered, "Oi Mitsui, you're girlfriend is watching!" Mitsui made a fist and punched Ryota in the face and exclaimed, "TEME YAROU!"

He then composed himself and stared at Yuki staring at him from the audiences. He smiled and made a victory sign at her. Yuki's smile widened and mouthed, "BAKA!" Mitsui laughed and thinks, "Some things never change!"

The game started, it started good. Shohoku has the aces and that was really good. Yuki can't help screaming and cheering for Mitsui whenever he made a shot. They were too perfect that she was falling in love in every shot he made. But of course misfortune befall on Shohoku, Sakuragi got injured really badly. So badly that his head was bleeding mind. Upon seeing the sight of this, Seyou fainted on the spot. She had to be carried to the clinic because of that. "I can't help feeling bad for Sakuragi!" Miki replied in a sad tone.

But everything went fine, after that Sakuragi was able to get back into the game, better than ever! Seyou went back also now; she was cursing and giving Fukuda, the guy who she thinks the reason why Sakuragi got his serious injury. "MAY YOU BURN IN FSCKING HELL FUKUDA!" Seyou cried on top of her lungs. Miki can't help it but she also hates that guy and cried, "YEAH, MAY FSCKING LUCIFER TORTURE YOU BAKA!"

Emi sighed even more in disbelief. As the game went on, Yuki then noticed that he didn't looked too good, she then remembered something Kogure told her.

FLASHBACK

"Mitsui is not really that healthy, he's anemic. That is the cause of his injury, if he gets too much dehydrated on court or tired. he'll fall"

END OF FLASHBACK

"Heaven forbid!" Yuki thought remembering what Kogure told her about Mitsui's health. "Please God, please, make Mitsui all right! Please! Please!" Yuki prayed. However, her prayers aren't heard. Her cold blue eyes, painfully and shockingly watched Mitsui fainted to the ground, with no one noticing it. "MITSUI!" Yuki cried standing up.

Then the referee cried, "TIME-OUT! SHOHOKU!" Sakuragi, Akagi, Miyagi, Rukawa and the rest of the players scrambled towards the fallen and worn out Mitsui. Yuki turned her heel and started to go down, Emi grabbed her arm and exclaimed, "Yamete Yuki-chan! You're not allowed to go there! It's the rule!"

Yuki gave her an icy glare and replied, "Let go Emi!" Emi did, those eyes sure did scared her. Mitsui was taken out of the game; they all helped him to the locker room to rest. Kogure gave him a can of coke for glucose intake. "Rest Mitsui-san!" Kogure replied. With that he left.

Mitsui looked at the can, his hands were shaking. Then he dropped it and rolled towards the door. Someone picked it up and gave it to him. "A-Arigato!" he muttered and noticed that someone wasn't wearing rubber shoes but sandals. He looked up and saw Yuki Guerra staring at him worriedly.

He forced a smile and said, "Oi Yuki-san!" he then tried to open the can, but he was shaking badly, he wasn't able too. Yuki sighed and replied, "Let me do it!" as she touched the can, Mitsui jerked it off her and said, "I can do this! I'm not a baby!" he then forced himself to open it, he did but it is like opening a very huge can that he was panting very hard.

He then drank from it, his arms shaking, the content from the can dripped as he drank it. Yuki took the towel from his shoulders and wiped this sweating face plus the coke dripping from the sides of his mouth. Mitsui drank all of the content. As he finished he then hurled the can at the locker. Tears sprang from his eyes, Yuki was taken a back, this is the very first time, he saw a guy cry and for all guys in the world, why it to be Mitsui?

"I'm a failure! I've wasted those two years of life for nothing! I'm a failure! I don't have the rights to be an MVP! I don't have the rights, to play for this team! I'm a failure! A failure!" Mitsui sobbed, his hands shaking. If he could punch the wall, he could but he's too weak to that, he could barely stand.

Yuki replied, "Mitsui-san, daijoubu!" Mitsui then glared at her and exclaimed, "No it's not all right! Everyone now thinks I'm a failure! It's no use playing! I don't have that stamina any more! I'm useless! You were right Yuki, I'm one big idiot and I'm hopeless!"

SLAP!

A very hard slap was planted on Mitsui's cheek, Yuki cried, "No! I was wrong! You're not hopeless and you're not an idiot!" Mitsui stared at her; Yuki's eyes are now filled with tears.

"What's with you Mitsui? Are you really that Hisashi Mitsui who awakened my dying spirit in volleyball? The one who awakened the Winter Snow? The one who said to me that it's not too late? Are you really that person who is full of hope and determination that I saw practicing in the Shohoku gym last week?" Yuki demanded. Tears falling she exclaimed, "Who are you? Right now I don't know you! I don't know you! You're not Mitsui! Bring him back! Bring him back to idiot! Bring Mitsui back!" her fists pounded on Mitsui's chest.

Mitsui now didn't felt sorry himself but for the crying girl in front of him, the girl that risked of getting scolded for being there right now. He stopped Yuki's fist and embraced her whispering at her ear, "Daijoubu. Yuki- san." However, Yuki continued to sob. Mitsui hugged her even more and kissed her on the head saying, "Gomenasai Yuki-san. Gomenasai Yuki-san, I promise, I won't feel sorry for myself anymore! Gomenasai!"

Yuki stopped crying and dried her tears, she then broke away from Mitsui's embrace as she realized to what she have done. She then exclaimed, "Oh my God! I'm not even allowed in here! I'll be scolded really bad!" Mitsui sighed and said, "You can get out here at the back door of the locker room." Yuki nod her head and headed towards that room. But before she opened the door Mitsui exclaimed, "Arigato Yuki-san."

Yuki turned around and replied, "For what?"

"For awakening me! Thanks for the ice!" Mitsui replied smiling at her. Yuki sighed and said, "Idiot!" with that she left.

Shohoku won the game, even Mitsui wasn't able to play anymore, he cheered for them and acted as a coach. After the game, there was a huge party at Shohoku, everyone was rejoicing because now the basketball team of Shohoku is going to play to the nationals.

"Now, minna-san! Let's pray that the volleyball team will also make it!" Ayako exclaimed winking at Ms. Mizuno. Ms. Mizuno smiled and said, "Of course we will, now that we have the Winter Snow, we'll make it!" Yuki shook her head and said, "Don't say that! Everyone in the team contributed greatly for the success of the team! To Seyou, Emi and Miki! You girls are one of the best!"

"YOU GO WINTER SNOW!" Seyou, Emi and Miki cried. Everyone laughed. Yuki scanned the area and noticed that Mitsui is not around. Ryota made a pass to her and whispered, "Mitsui is at home, resting!" Immediately, Yuki bade goodbye and said that she have some things to do at home and hurriedly went to the Hisashi household.

Mrs. Hisashi greeted her. "Hello dear, anything I can help you?"

"Good evening Mam, I'm looking for Mitsui-san. I'm Yuki Guerra his classmate." Yuki replied bowing. "Oh so you're the famous Winter Snow! Come in, I'll call Mitsui!" Mrs. Hisashi exclaimed. Yuki entered the house and sat on the sofa. A few minutes later, Mitsui appeared dressed in shorts and blue shirt. He looked like he just had taken a shower. Yuki smiled at him. Mitsui sat down beside her and asked, "Doushite Yuki-san?"

"Nothing really, just checking you out. The basketball team is having a victory party at the gym. Ryota-san told me that you're home resting." Yuki replied. Mitsui sighed and nod his head. "I'm fine really, I had my doctor check me up and told me to drink some iron tablets for my anemia." he replied showing her a bottle of iron tablets.

"I'm glad you're fine now Mitsui-san." Yuki replied looking relieved. Mitsui grinned and said, "Since you're here and it's dinner, you're joining me!" Yuki smiled and exclaimed, "Sure! What's for dinner?" Mitsui went towards the dining table and said, "Onagiri, tempura, fresh salad and a chocolate cake!" Yuki stood up and said, "Oishii! They all looked good!"

"Okay then, let's eat afterwards we'll watch some movies my dad rented at the video store!" Mitsui replied setting the table. Yuki helped Mitsui and asked, "What movies?" Mitsui winked at her and exclaimed, "I hope you're into horror Yuki-san. My dad and me are horror movie freaks. He rented The Ring and 13 Ghosts."

"Sure! I always wanted to see what Sadako really looked like!" Yuki replied winking back. Then they both laughed. Mitsui then held her hand and said, "Thanks for the 2nd time Yuki-san." Yuki smiled and said, "You did the same thing for me Mitsui. I'm just paying it back." He couldn't help it, he then embraced Yuki once again and whispered into her hear, "Ie. Arigato Yuki-san!"

Tsuzuku

AN: Ahhh the drama and the romance.. See you at Chapter 12 folks! Ja ne! Ain't Mitsui sweet?