Yesterday ended on a positive note. Even though she had still been a bit hungry after eating the chocolate bar, she had had enough strength to practice without much trouble. Thanks to Akashi.

By the way, she didn't even get to thank him.

Standing in front of a vending machine, she wondered if she should get him a drink to thank him for yesterday, though she didn't have a single clue of what he liked. She glanced over the selection of drinks, hesitating between a sports drink and a soda.

By the time she would decide on a drink, two colored haired boys drew her attention as she heard their footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. At their sight, she greeted them with a polite smile.

"Akashi-san, you've come along at just the right time!"

"Hello Asaka-san." The redhead greeted her back.

"What, you knew about her?" the boy with glasses asked surprised, holding a broom.

"We're in the same class."

Asaka nodded and introduced herself to the other boy. "I'm Asaka Ritsu. Nice to meet you."

"Midorima. Midorima Shintarō."

"So you're that Midorima?" She tilted her head in curiosity.

"You heard about me?"

"Who didn't? Akashi-san and you are two of those weirdos who immediately got to the first string of the basketball club after being tested. I heard from other students that it was nearly impossible to get into it for freshmen."

"«Weirdo?»" he repeated in a slightly annoyed tone.

"Sorry. I didn't mean anything bad but you guys must be truly amazing to achieve such a thing."

Midorima pushed his glasses up without replying. Despite his pretty face, he bore a very serious expression that would hardly let a smile through. His green eyes, covered by his glasses, were fixed on her, looking directly in her eyes the whole time. Usually one would avert their eyes at that point, but he was different. He kept looking straight at her. Ritsu was quite surprised by it, considering she was only talking to someone her age but she recognized those eyes: they were confident ones. She often saw that confidence in older people but it was actually the first time she felt it from a young one. At that thought, she took a peek at Akashi and asked herself if the two remaining first year members of the first string were, somewhat, of the same kind.

"So do you need anything from me?"

"Yes, but nothing important. I was thinking about buying you a drink as thanks for yesterday."

"You don't need to."

That was a fast reply.

"I insist."

"There is really no reason to thank me."

"But I have one."

"Which is?"

"You gave me a chocolate bar. Therefore it's only common curtesy that I should get something for you in return."

"A simple thanks is enough."

"It doesn't seem enough."

"It is for me."

"You don't need to hold back. It's just a drink, you know."

"You're really stubborn."

"I could say the same as you keep refusing."

"This is getting nowhere." Midorima grumbled, putting an end to their pointless conversation, "Asaka, just buy him whatever drink you want and he'll have no choice but to accept it anyway!"

Ritsu chuckled at Midorima's impatience. She just played along with Akashi.

"It won't have the same meaning if I force him to accept." She said, only to watch the green-haired boy lose his temper.

Midorima mumbled something she couldn't catch. However serious he looked, he had in fact a cute side. She couldn't pinpoint exactly what, until her eyes came upon the broom he was holding in his left hand.

"Say, Midorima-san."

"What?"

"What are you doing with a...broom?"

He briefly looked at her. "It's my lucky item."

She was speechless for a minute. It was so unexpected that she would laugh it off but his face was dead serious.

"Don't you get scold by the teachers for bringing such things to school?"

"...That's none of your concern." He cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment. "Say, what's your zodiac sign?"

"Aries."

She answered without really knowing what he was getting at. The green haired boy stayed silent, lost in his thought. As the silence became heavier, she gave Akashi an inquiring look but he vaguely shook his head.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"...No. But I have to tell you our signs are not compatible. Cancer and Aries are no good together."

So that's what he was getting at. He genuinely believed in these kinds of things, he wasn't even embarrassed about it.

"That means you don't want to deal with me any further in the future?"

"If fate decides otherwise, no. If not, yes."

"That's pretty harsh." she gave a faint smile, "Well, let's hope Lady Luck is on my side. It'd be a pity to stop only at self-introduction. Don't you agree, Akashi-san?"

"That may be right." he said in an amused tone.

Midorima looked away and remained silent afterwards.

It was probably time for her to take her leave. She took a coin from her purse, inserted it in the vending machine and pressed her selection. She grabbed the bottle that fell out at the bottom and handed it to Akashi.

"It's my treat. Pocari will do, right?"

As he took it, she smiled. Like their stupid conversation earlier had never been.

"You two have other things to do, I suppose. Then I'd better get going. See you later in class, Akashi-san and it was nice meeting you, Midorima-san."

Both of them watched her disappeared into the building.

"She's a funny girl."

The one who said it was Akashi which in a way surprised Midorima.

"Weren't you making fun of her a moment ago? When you kept refusing her treat."

"I wouldn't put it that way. You make me sound like a bad guy. But I won't deny her concern was unnecessary."

"Then you could have just said so right away."

He glanced at him from the corner of his eyes and answered in a calm tone.

"I did."

"You didn't."

"She didn't back down."

"Are you trying to find excuses?"

"Did it sound like I am?"

"So you are."

"I'm not."

"Just admit it."

Akashi smirked as his teammate retorted to each of his words.

"See?"

When Akashi dropped his act, Midorima came to realize his point. Their conversation made no sense at all and that was what he aimed for.

"...She didn't back down."

"I'm glad you understood my point." His lips revealed a faint smile. "In my defense, if I was making fun of her, she was doing the same."

"What makes you think that way?"

"From the beginning she intended to buy the drink whether I accept it or not. And she did."

"So your pointless conversation..."

"...were her and my chatting."

Chatting. Midorima thought to himself, it was nonsense. In what way was this called chatting? Sometimes Midorima just didn't get what the boy next to him was thinking, that fact always pissed him off.

Not wanting to talk about this any further, he changed the subject.

"So what happened with her yesterday anyway?"

"She planned to go to her volleyball practice with an empty stomach. So I gave her a chocolate bar."

It was so unexpected; he could hardly imagine Akashi being a gentleman in this instant.

"You... gave her something...?"

"What, was I not allowed to?"

"No, but I can't imagine you being nice to someone you hardly know."

Akashi smirked as he took a sip of the pocari water.

"I'm human, you know."

Midorima intended to say something but he held back. Currently, he knew little about his teammate, but he was sure of one thing: it probably wasn't purely out of kindness. Simply because Akashi was Akashi.