Let me know if you want a visual calendar for these dates; I'll see what I can do...

You can also look back at chapters 2.14 Growing Fast part one and part two of the story!

(Thursday, August 23)

Ai called her best friend on the 23rd of August, two days after Strky's match. She was relaying advice and suggestions to Momoi for the team in Tokyo, since she wasn't there now to help them practice.

Momoi filled her in on the initial details of their plans and how the guys were doing. After talking about data and training — including Momoi's, Akashi's, and the coaches' opinions on topics —, they moved on to the next subject: when Ai would be going to Tokyo.

"Coach Nekomata's expecting us from the twenty-fifth, and the training camp with the others schools ends on the twenty-seventh. I'll meet up with you Monday evening if I can, probably after my schoolmates head back to Miyagi."

She didn't have to explain who Coach Nekomata was; Tōō's manager had already met him, briefly, twice. Once when she went to Nekoma High School by herself, after Ai had told her the school name, and once at the barbecue.

Plus, this was Momoi, the data analyst of the Regal Generation.

"Okay. I'll let Akashi-kun know! He shared your schedule with me yesterday, so I'll fill in the blanks, and you won't have to repeat yourself."

However, this meant that she wouldn't have time to actually watch the new team practice. Ai would have to go straight to the game the next day on the 28th, with little to no time to help the guys prepare.

Life was so busy sometimes.

"Do you want me to tell the others, too?"

"I think I'd rather not get their hopes up. Or put distracting thoughts in their heads."

She heard the female giggle.

"Right. That's a factor I don't want to include in my calculations." Momoi hummed and wondered, "I wonder if Akashi-kun will be distracted since he knows you're coming."

"I'd hope not. If anything, I hope it'll ease his worries." Ai smirked, and she thought about his call yesterday. "I think Seijuro's more excited about us gathering for this team than he lets on."

"I bet he is," her friend giggled again; it made Ai wonder if he said something that made her have that reaction.

"Satsuki? There's another thing I wanted to talk to you about. Daiki-kun's birthday." The raven-haired manager adjusted her phone to her other ear. "What are you getting him?" She didn't want to accidentally give him the same present.

"Hmm... I was thinking of buying new basketball socks. And those little deodorant balls for his shoes. He's starting to wear holes in the soles and, between you and me, his basketball shoes smell so bad."

Ai had to laugh at that. "I'm glad I asked. I was thinking the same thing."

"Really? I guess we do think alike!"

"Seems so," she finished giggling. "How about a new basketball?"

"Oh! That'd be great! The leather of the one he's using now is all worn out and smooth."

"I'll go shopping, then. Maybe tomorrow. Do you need or want anything? I'm going to buy a box of Miyagi sweets, too, to share with the new team as a souvenir."

"If Mukkun doesn't eat them all on sight."

"He wouldn't dare."

They giggled.

"But, no, I think I'm all set. Thanks, Ai-chan. Can't wait to see you!"

"Me either. See you soon, Satsuki." Ai smiled and ended the call.

———

(August 29)

On the ride back

to Akashi's mansion

Ai and Akashi rode together in the back seat of his car, the day after the game as Team Vorpal Swords. They were on the way back from the cemetery after paying respects to his mother's grave.

Akashi made small talk with her, which was relieving after yesterday and today's events. "Are you getting something for Aomine before you leave? Would you like to go shopping?"

"Satsuki gave me a little suggestion when I called her before. I already got a new basketball for his present." She clicked her phone off and put it face-down in her lap. She had been looking at recipes while her boyfriend had been quiet. "But, I thought I'd bake him and Atsu-kun something, too. If that's okay."

"Of course it is. What are you making?"

"What would you like me to make?"

Akashi tilted his head a centimeter, posing a question to which he had a feeling he already knew the answer. "You're asking me?"

Ai lifted the corners of her lips. "I'd appreciate your opinion. I can make some for us, too."

Her boyfriend hummed, facing forward in thought. His maroon irises sparkled when they caught the light from the window beside him. The scenery blurred past, mostly the tops of buildings and streets below, obscured by intervals of concrete walls lining the highway. "I'd be happy with anything you make."

She made a face at him. "Seijuro. That's not an answer."

"It's my honest response." He reached for her hand and kissed the back of her fingers.

She huffed out a breath, holding his hand now. "Well, then... How about cookies? Shortbread or snickerdoodles?"

"Snickerdoodles?"

"You've never had them before?"

He shook his head. "I don't think I have."

"They have cinnamon in them, and they're chewy. I thought you would have, at least once. Maybe around the winter holidays?"

"Hmm..." He didn't seem to recall this particular type of cookie. "Perhaps I'll remember when I see them."

She smiled. "I guess they're not common in Japan." She looked down and stared at their joined hands, perched on the tan leather middle seat. She rubbed her thumb over his knuckles, inquiring quietly, "Would it be okay if I borrowed your kitchen and used your ingredients?"

He made the lightest tug on her hand so she'd meet his gaze. "You can bake as much as your heart desires and use whatever you need."

Hopefully, the shadows in the car made her blush imperceptible. She fixed her gaze on the uninteresting middle console of the luxury vehicle. All she managed in her bashfulness was a squeeze of his hand in reply.

"... One for Daiki-kun, and maybe two... No, three batches for Atsu-kun. That way, he can share it with Yōsen's team when he goes back to Akita," she thought aloud. "And, some for us, too."

"Let me know how I can help."

Her eyes flickered to his. How could he make such a tender expression? It wasn't fair. "You could help me navigate around your kitchen. Teach me where you keep your bowls and mixers."

"You seemed to know your way around the kitchen when you were making lunch for us the other night." He simpered. "Do you not want me to help?"

"I had fun exploring and opening all of your cabinets," she smirked back. "And ...I don't want to make you help. You're already paying for everything."

They were only two houses away from his when she finally recognized his familiar neighborhood. The black car rolled up to the tall pointy gates, which eased open with the push of an invisible button. The red-brown brick walls of the European-style mansion stood tall, just as they'd left it.

"You're not making me do anything. Think of it as a date," he said.

The car pulled up to the porch, and the driver got out to open her door once parked. She stood next to the sleek black body of the automobile, in her equally black dress, waiting for her boyfriend to duck out of the car after her. The sun was slowly lowering to the west, bringing the evening with it.

Her smile became one of pursed lips. This topic was always one she couldn't say in a normal voice. "When are you going back to Kyoto, Seijuro?"

"After I see you off safely." Akashi paused in front of her to kiss her right temple, holding her softly by the elbows as the driver shut the door and went to park in the garage. "We're going to prepare for the Winter Cup when I get back."

She nodded. "I understand..."

It shouldn't have come as a surprise. She also had the Spring High Preliminaries to think of.

"Will you watch us play?"

Ai nodded again, but she couldn't find her voice to answer him this time.

Akashi took her hand in his hand and clasped her fingers between his. His warm palm and enthusiastic pull on her arm felt so dear. He led her up the few grey slab steps and to the double doors of his house. "The Rakuzan team is yours if you want it. My team is your team."

"Did you have them sign a contract when you became their captain?" she joked softly.

"No," he smirked, "but they acknowledge you all the same. I think Mibuchi's words after seeing you at the barbecue were, 'It'd be incredible if she came to manage us, too.'"

He stopped in front of the door, not opening it just yet. He took the time to slow down and prove to her that he was serious. Akashi met her eyes with his maroon ones and held her other hand, squeezing affectionately.

I mean it, it meant. You're welcome at Rakuzan anytime you want to visit.

He smiled as gently as the first rays of sunlight in the morning. "Will you bake cinnamon cookies with me?"

The curve of her lips matched his. "Yes."

Akashi released one of her hands and opened the door, drawing her inside to bake snickerdoodles together and later, pack their things for tomorrow.

———

August 31

At Tōō Academy

"Happy birthday! I thought you'd be here."

Aomine all but groaned at the interruption. Somewhere in his mind, he must've known the peppy manager would hunt him down.

"Are those from Ai-chan?" she asked when she walked toward him, across the glossy floor from the side entrance of the gym.

"Yeah. Akashi dropped them off yesterday."

Momoi looked at him. "At your house? ... Hm." She shrugged after having thought for a moment.

He flicked his gaze to the open pouch of homemade cookies; he couldn't be bothered to point with his hand. "Help yourself."

"Thanks!" Momoi chirped before taking a sugary delicacy and biting into it. "Mmm! Delicious as always."

The power forward sat on the stage of Tōō's gymnasium, legs splayed and leaning back on one hand. He stayed silent. A birthday card from an opened envelope lay next to him as well.

"Hey, Satsuki."

"Hmm?"

Aomine spun the brand new basketball on the knuckles of his free hand. "Why volleyball?"

He didn't have to say her name. They both knew who the question was about.

"I knew you were deep in thought about something. That's what you were mulling over?" the pink-haired manager smiled with a glint in her bubblegum eyes.

"Shut up," he said and rolled his eyes to hide the shyness. After all this time, he still cared about his teammates from Teikō, including the managers, of course. The club wouldn't have functioned without the two.

"Hmm..." the analyst considered. She stood nearby, using the edge of the stage as a desk for her clipboard that she'd brought with her.

Momoi had taught Ai everything she knew — from how to take the most efficient notes to how to interpret them — during their days working shoulder to shoulder at Teikō. But even then, without a copying skill like Kise, Ai had trouble predicting people's abilities as Momoi did. Just like how Momoi couldn't cook as well as Ai.

"I don't know the specifics, but Karasuno was a powerhouse school for volleyball before. They're just being recognized for it again."

"With her help," he grunted.

Momoi giggled. "Is that such a bad thing?"

Yeah, it is. He thought it, but he didn't say it aloud.

Maybe Midorima was right. She should have continued basketball, and she should have gone to a powerhouse school like them. Instead, she chose a weak school and a completely different sport.

That's like, the same as him refusing to shoot a free throw. The goal would be right there in front of him, and there'd be nobody around to stop him. Well, in that fictional comparison, even if people did try to block him, he'd just dribble past anyway.

Tetsu's team beat us all and won the Winter Cup last year, but who knows if her new club can pull off something like that. They didn't look that strong at the barbecue. Didn't they say the team lost seventy practice matches? He scoffed.

A waste of opportunity. Talent just rotting away. That's what it was. As disrespectful as it was to be thinking like this, she could have done so much more if she had just stuck with managing a basketball club. If she'd come to Tōō with Momoi, there's no doubt the two females would've accomplished great things.

Something tugged at Aomine's heart.

...Maybe if she did well with her volleyball team, it'd seem like it was proof that she didn't need the Generation of Miracles as much as the guys needed her.

And if she didn't need them, she'd leave. Perhaps for good this time.

It felt like they were losing even when they hadn't played a single sports game.

The ace huffed. "Why aren't you more mad or sad about it?" he deflected.

"I'm not mad. Sure, it's lonely without Ai-chan, but it's not like we can never be managers together again. Besides, it's her way of keeping our promise."

"What promise?"

A smile started on Momoi's face. "It's a need-to-know."

"Huh?"

"It just means that you don't need to know, Dai-chan!" The female even giggled this time. "Ai-chan said it doesn't mean she quit basketball, multiple times. We just have to trust her. I believe her."

Grunting, he refocused on the ball still spinning on his knuckles.

"And, I doubt that Vorpal Swords was the last time that she manages you guys," she added.

Aomine heard shouts and collective counting of athletes of other clubs filtering in from the open gym doors. Students were running laps around campus and did other exercises, according to their sport. Tōō's basketball club had this gymnasium to themselves, so they usually didn't cross paths with the other clubs. But, he knew the other students used the various amenities the school offered.

"...Does she hate it?"

"Hm?"

"Basketball. Does she hate it?" he asked again, but his voice stayed at the same low volume. That was the only reason he could think of.

"She doesn't. I would've noticed if she had begun to hate basketball."

If her best friend can say that so confidently, it must be true. Right?

"If you're so worried, you can ask her yourself when she calls today to wish you happy birthday," Momoi stated, grinning. "And, ask her how she's holding up."

He sighed through his nose and got up, holding the ball in his hand now. Jumping off of the stage like it wasn't three and a half feet tall, he casually strolled toward one of the goals. "I'm gonna shoot some hoops."

A small giggle echoed quietly from where Momoi stood. She let the sound fade in the following seconds, as she wondered how the raven-haired manager was doing.

'I know we're all going to different schools, and we'll be playing against each other someday...' Momoi had said to her before graduating from Teikō. 'Can we make a promise? That we'll never have to compete with each other? I don't want us to grow apart like everyone.'

'You don't have to cry or worry,' Ai had said. 'I promise, we'll never compete against each other or grow apart. … We're the Witches. You can't have one without the other.'

Was she doing alright? Does she feel better now?

I hope so... Momoi thought as she ate another snickerdoodle. Sweet, but with cinnamon spice.

She smiled melancholically. "It's so like her."

.

Happy birthday, Daiki-kun.

I'm so happy I got to manage your team again with Team Vorpal Swords, even if it was for a short while. It felt wonderful to be with you all again with old and new teammates.

You asked me if I was happy after you played that short half-match at Shinzen for me. You're right. I miss you all and basketball, and I wish I can manage a team with Satsuki again, just like you said. It's why that small game felt so special to me. I wouldn't give it up for the world.

I still watch your games and the materials Satsuki sends me for a second opinion. Just because I'm not on your team for now, it doesn't mean I stop being your manager.

I'm always here for you, Daiki-kun. You know that.

I hope this next Winter Cup is as special as the last. I'll be cheering for you.

Happy birthday.

—Ai

Who would be captains after the third-years retire??? What about after that???

Current/established captains: Wakamatsu, Hyūga, Akashi, Himuro, Hayakawa, Miyaji (Yūya), Futakuchi, Terushima, Towada, Komaki, (Ennoshita, kind of).

What about the future of Tōō? Shūtoku? Seirin? Yōsen? Kaijō? Nekoma? Seijoh? Shiratorizawa? Date Tech, after Futakuchi? Inarizaki? Itachiyama? Kamomedai?

Any ideas are much appreciated!

Please help me :((

Total Word Count: 2913