All three parts will be rewritten.

From the other side of the music room windows, rain was pouring down outside, blurring the cloudy landscape with a curtain of water droplets that splattered continuously over the windows planes without showing the slightest sign of abating. While the wind softly whistled throughout the school that went quieter than usual because of the heavy rain.

Overlapping the nature sound that raged outside with an harmonious melody, Ritsu was currently playing piano in the music room as her long fingers slid over the keyboard, depressing the white and black keys in coordination with her eyes that skimmed through the score; and the room was enlivened by the sprightly tune she was practicing on.

Also stuck in school due to the bad weather, she was part of the majority who was lounging around the school facilities out of boredom. Rainy days were pretty boring in itself for most people, but she kind of liked this punctual change of scenery as it gave the opportunity for her to do things she wouldn't think of or do ordinarily. Like keeping compagny to a certain purplehead whom she came across in front of a vending machine.

Upon noticing his boredom, she couldn't help but asked him if he wanted to join her in her piano practice since he seemed very bored to have nothing to do, which was quite ironical in a sence considering Murasakibara's character. He often complained of any demanding task given to him, a bit lazy to put the least effort if he didn't felt urge. And yet, here was the perfect day for him to laze around and do nothing, but he didn't seem satisfied with the current situation either. He was just like a little child who was whining about everything that required effort and getting depressed when having nothing to do. With hindsight, it was certainly a good sign if Murasakibara was being childish; otherwise boredom would waste him.

Halting in her playing, Ritsu took the pen over the music rack and wrote some notes to herself on the music sheet. She tilted her head in ponder, tapping her chin with the pen while her eyes studied the part she had currently difficulty to play with the right feel. Lost in reflection, some notes escaped as her left hand ran over the keys, playing in loop the small part she was stuck on. As she reached any conclusion over her pondering, she isolated the part and decided to ask advice from her mother at home.

When she was about to playing again, she curiously rested her gray-blue eyes on Murasakibara and lowered her hands, that was previously above the keyboard, on her tights. The latter was sat down on a desk in the front row near the windows and had been listening to her for almost an hour now. The giant boy didn't seem to take notice of her gaze, dozing while watching the rainy weather, his head rested on his hand.

"You must be bored, aren't you, Murasakibara-kun?" At the question, the purplehead snapped out of his daze and faced a smiling Ritsu.

Acutally for the whole hour, they had barely exchanged words together, or rather they had stayed silent the entire time as they gave way to music to only fill the room with sweet notes. Although neither of them felt the need to initiate a conversation, Ritsu was still thoughtful of the boy who was only there for the lack of better options. Afterall, it had been one hour of silence for him.

"No, I don't mind." He replied with his typical nonchalant voice. "It's a good way to spend time. I don't have to do anything except listening."

"Even to classical music?"

Murasakibara hummed his positive answer. "Asa-chin's piano playing is pleasant to listen to. Just like Mido-chin or maybe better."

"Midorima-kun knows how to play piano?"

"He sometimes plays it during his free time."

"But I've never heard him play nor do I have ever seen him spending time around here." When she learned the fact, a slight hint of disappointment slipped through her voice.

"It's because Mido-chin doesn't use this piano. He uses the old one in the annex building."

So he was using the upright piano in that remoted part of the school. She came upon it by accident in the beginning of the term, and the least she could say about it was that it was quite worn by time after trying playing a tune. The piano in itself was relatively good, it had been well-maintained over time although it was now unused for school activities. But, when she meant worn by time, she was referring to its tone as it was very slightly varying from note to note. Nevertheless, it still remained a good piano. She was sure that by voicing it a little, this piano could get back its original tone.

"Since nobody's using it, he can play whenever he wants without being bother, and he likes the sound of it, that's what he said to Aka-chin and me."

Midorima was a bit of a loner as ever. However this image of him being alone while indulging himself to the tranquility of the place as he played on this old piano, suited him so well. To beginning with, he was a character that didn't seem to like to stand out or give great importance to renown or glory despite the praises. It wasn't indifference nor humility... She got the feel there was something more behind his quiet behaviour, but she couldn't pinpoint what exactly. Not that it held much importance to her, it was idle curiosity regarding the greenhead with whom she had the least affinity so far. Their friendship was not to be questionned, this was a fact, except that there were simply a greater distance between the two of them than with the others. So when she had the occasion to learn a couple of things about him, she was very delighted by it.

"So, Akashi-kun and you have already listened to him."

"When we have nothing to do, Aka-chin and I sometimes go listening to him whenever he plays."

"I would love to hear him one day. I know that Akashi-kun can play, but it picks my curiosity when it comes to Midorima-kun. He's so secretive!" Maybe, it was why she was so interested in his case. Curiosity was never aroused without a small part of mystery. "He must be playing well since he has Akashi-kun and you as his public."

"I don't know, but it's good to listen to it." Murasakibara replied monotously as the shape of a smile began to twist his detached expression. "Hm, Aka-chin said he had skills, his music is...er...don't remember...he used too much complicated words. He likes it though."

Ritsu chuckled at his innocent answer. "If he manages to get you appreciate his music, I can tell you he is a good pianist. You don't understand anything to classical music, still you enjoy it."

She was being stared blankly by the giant boy to whom she only smiled in silence; nicely surprised by his good attitude toward classical music for someone who barely nay never listened to classical pieces. She was conscious that Murasakibara hadn't real interest in it nor would he develop any, but he wasn't bored by it contrary to most people in the same case as him. Although it was a «good way to spend time», he was genuinely listening.

"Maybe. But compared to Mido-chin, Asa-chin's playing difficult songs. The melody you were playing was strange."

Even so, he was still new to this secluded world, thought Ritsu, watching the purplehead as he slowly began to wake from his usual lethargy with their idle conversation.

"Aha, because I'm practicing for an assignment. Like you said, it is quite difficult, even for me. So, I can only imagine how hard it is for you to listen to it." She sympathized, taking a peek outside where the rain was still beating on the city.

And to say, classes were dismissed earlier today. Murasakibara and her were waiting for the start of their club activities that certainly wouldn't be called off due to the bad weather, contrary to open air sport clubs. So they had to kill time the best way they could, and peharps it was high time to change the pace of this morose atmosphere.

"Since you bear my playing so quietly, why not do something thing funnier now? The purple head perked his head up as she struck up a tune. Her fingers were dynamically pressing down the keys playing a lively melody that could make them forget about the restless splatters of rain. "You might know this song. It's very popular."

As the music filled his ear, his face seemed to have brigthened by the familiar tune. "Ooh...This song...! I know it!"

"You recognize it?"

With one firm nod, he answered just as immediately, sounding a little happy to listen to something he was more accostumed to.

"It's the theme of a live action hero show I often watch at home. Asa-chin likes this kind of shows too?"

"In fact, it's my little brother who's very fond of it. He loves it because it's «soooo cool!»." She replied, finishing with a little imitation of her brother's enthusiasm. "So I often play with him the theme of shows he likes."

Murasakibara was staring at her with a spark of curiosity which gave rise to smiles. She could count on her fingers the times she could perceive such strong glow in his purple eyes. Not that it changed anything in his outward appearance, she meant it in inwardly. Even though this glow was merely idle curiosity and was so natural in people's eyes that it didn't need to be even mentioned, this had to be taken and felt on another level in Murasakibara's case. He seemed so detached and disinterested in everything he did that the slightest interest he had in something, whatever it was, could be associated to intense emotions from him. As she gradually got acquintainced with him, she came to understand that nonchalance was an immutable part of him, nobody and nothing could change his character. In his reactions or thoughts, she would ever be confronted to it. But did that mean everything was some sort of an obligation to him?

"You know, when I look at you, I'm always wondering why you chose basketball as club activity, Murasakibara-kun."

"Huh, why?...I don't have a particular reason." He said before he began to tilt his head side to side. "I play basketball because it's easy and I don't need to put lots of effort. Practices are a pain though..."

"...It's very like you." Ritsu concluded the least surprised by his answer.

"It'd be great if they were less practice..."

"That would spoil you, Murasakibara-kun." After yawning, he locked eyes with her, blinking in tiredness for doing nothing. "You'd be bored to death if there were no practice. You're already lazy, so you better keep up with the only thing that entertains you, sweets aside."

"It's no fun sometimes."

"Sometimes doesn't mean always. Whatever you say, you do have fun in playing basketball, don't you?"

Murasakibara only shrugged her off. "Hum...If I have fun too, it's good then."

Ritsu gave him a knowing smile. He wasn't either giving importance or ignoring her comment, he was just listening to her – It was exactly like child's insouciance.

"Okay, now! Let's see if you can recognize some other themes!" She chirped, facing again the piano.

She didn't need to continue discussing the subject, she just knew it. At some point, Murasakibara's attitude was sort of the same as her little brother. If being too much nagged, they would eventually withdraw into themselves and ignore everything around them. Maybe, that was why she had the same sibling approach with Murasakibara, his childish side sometimes recalled her of her younger brother.

"Asa-chin knows other themes?"

"When I told you my little brother was a superheroe fan, I wasn't lying."

Another tune began to fill the room, Ritsu peeked at him discreetly while playing and smiled softly at the sight of her friend concentrated on her playing. The purplehead seemed all ears, and it only meant one thing – He was having fun.

Because the moment he stopped listening would mark the beginning of a very boring life for him.

"Ah...! That song is..."

Their meeting with the coaches over, Akashi closed the door behind him and walked along Nijimura. The latter looked off at the windows and soon became jaded by the scenery. Noting his change of mood, the red-haired boy casted a sidelong glance in the same direction.

"Talk about a bad weather."

"It doesn't seem to abate soon."

"What a crappy day. Things are already heavy on our backs but I get the feeling it's weighting a lot more everytime it's raining." Nijimura grunted, getting tired of this rain. Since morning, it was pouring down.

"It's no surprise. The air becomes quite oppressive as the Nationals draw closer each days. Everyone is putting their maximal concentration on practice, yet by training too hard without rest, some sometimes tend to slack off for one reason or another if results don't show up. And this motivation is lacking most in rainy days since practice does seem even more fruitless and meaningless than usual. That sure doesn't sound very fun."

Nijimura heaved an long exasperated sigh as he listened to him.

"No need to tell me all that, I've never thought of this load on my back as light to begin with. That's why it kind of annoys me. Watching over a team is the busiest job ever."

The redhead acknowledged the fact and remained quiet after. His senior actually didn't need words from him. Nijimura was a level-headed boy in most of his decisions and responsibilities, although his quick-tempered nature often let believe otherwise. He didn't say it against him or found it utterly troublesome. Nijimura spoke his mind, that was all there was to it. Sometimes it was expressed by complains, others by doubts, but whatever his first impressions on the matter were, his opinion would always speak and act for the best interests of the club.

"Anyway, after you telling me that...Seems like you're made to fit well in that role, vice-captain Akashi." declared Nijimura with a hint of sarcasm.

Akashi ignored it but he casted a sidelong glance at his senior, somewhat pricked by the sudden topic. Not long ago, the coaches had appointed him to fulfill the role of vice-captain of the team. He was still unsure of how and why such a decision fell upon him so soon. Not that it held actual importance for him or feel anxious, if it was asked of him, his competences must have been appraised valuable enough to carry out that duty, and he believed himself able to live up to those expectations. But, as a matter of fact, he had never imagined to hold such a position in his first year.

"It's been more than three weeks already, huh. Did you get accustomed to it?"

In truth, nothing has really changed for him along those new responsabilities. He acted as he always did with other members and continued with his practice like usual while the coaches and Nijimura kept the same strict attitude toward him. But his commitment for the club did become more important through his daily interactions with the coaches and Nijimura. So, he found it more fitting to say that things went quite naturally for him instead of adjusting himself to new changes.

"You needn't to worry, Nijimura-san."

"I'm not worried, you're doing a fine job at the club. I have no complains so far, but no matter how I look at it, you're just a first year for me."

"I see." An amused smile crept on his face. "You're asking out of consideration for me, your underclassman."

Nijimura pulled a disguted face. "Do I look that nice to make you think that? You underclassmen are my responsability as long as I'm your senior in the club. There's nothing deep."

Akashi agreed amusingly. Naturally his care for his teammate's welfare wasn't something he could consider as deep, but the way he made it sound, it seemed like Nijimura considered upperclassman - underclassman relationship just as important as his captain's role.

"Aah, curse them!"

In the distance, a mid-long brown-haired girl stormed out of the student council room, followed by a calm girl with a long pony tail. Akashi looked at those familiar faces. If he recalled well, they were respectively the volleyball club's captain and vice-captain, Hibari Masame and Kazehaya Rin.

"It's the second time in a row we've made it to the Nationals and that's how we're treated!" gritted out Hibari.

"It can't be helped. We can't expect them to give us the same treatment as the basketball club or the soccer club, with only two mere selections on national level." Kazehaya shrugged it off. "Besides last year, we lost our very first game at the Nationals. Talk about achievements, if you ask me."

"Spare me your comments, Kazehaya!" The volleyball captain heaved a deep sigh of exasperation in a vain attempt of regaining her composure. "Ah, those student council nerds are giving me a headache!...As if they could really understand our need. It's not like I'm asking for a raise of our club budget, dammit! «It's only occasional, deal with it.», they say...!"

Those annoying thoughts spining in infinite loop in her head, Hibari whirled around to the door and yelled as loud as she could to let the students inside know of her wrath.

"Hey, you nerds! I'll remember that! I won't let it end like this!"

"You're not going to resolve anything by threatening the student council, Hibari-san. Moreover it might be a bad idea to have them against us." The auburn-haired girl tempered things.

"Obviously, but it makes me feel much better."

"I thought you got along well with the president since you had participated together at the Stamp Rally competition."

"Ah, don't remind me that bad idea of mine. That was just an union of mutual benefits. It ended as soon as we lost."

Both girls moved away from the door.

"So, what should we—Oh." Kazehaya stopped mid-sentence as she spotted the two boys walking from the opposite direction. "Hi there, Nijimura-kun, Akashi-kun."

"What brings you two here? Have some business with the bunch of nerds inside?" asked Hibari after greeting them, her thumb pointing the door of the student council room.

"No, contrary to you apparently. I could hear you from the end of the hallway." Nijimura replied.

"Hmmm, is that so. Hey Nijimura, since you're here..."

As the volleyball captain called him out, the ravenhead knitted his brow, having the feeling that this rainy day wouldn't let him have peace at school.

"What?"

"Lend me a hand. I need some of your authority as the basketball club captain."

"Why should I? I have other things to do." He refused outright.

"Busy as always, I see. Well, it's nothing new, that's why I leave out all the explanation things and go straight to business."

"Oi, when you're asking for help, do it correctly!" snapped the basketball captain, which made the girl grin.

"If you insist that much."

"I'm not." Nijimura retorted as he wanted to stay out of this.

But it fell on deaf ears. Hibari was already counting on his cooperation. She exchanged a conniving look with Kazehaya and the latter took a step toward them and began to explain the situation.

"It'd be very appreciated if you're willing to lend us your support on this matter since the basketball club is also concerned. To a lesser degree but still. We were just being informed that yesterday, the soccer club had submitted a request to use a gymnasium for their practice on rainy days and it has been decided that it'll be the one our club is using."

Nijimura casted a sidelong glance at Akashi and he returned him the same curious look. Both were uninformed of this peculiar situation and the coaches hadn't said a word about it earlier.

"And, what's that got to do with our club? Sharing a gym with another one is a rather common thing." enquired the raven-haired boy, giving a perplexed look at Hibari.

"We don't mind sharing, we're already doing so with the third string of your club on a regular basis. But the problem is that the soccer club requested the exclusive use of the facility without our consentment. The student council disregarded our case in favour of the biggest and approved of it."

"The exclusive use?" repeated Nijimura, almost shocked.

Kazehaya nodded to confirm.

"Just like your club has the exclusive use of a gymnasium for practice. They want the whole gymnasium for themselves on rainy days. I can more or less accept that the basketball club has been given such a privilege in light of your capacity and renown. It's only legitimate to give priority and importance to powerful clubs. But our club should also have been on that priority list at this period of time..."

At this period of time, Akashi meditated. He heard from Ritsu that her team had made it to the Nationals. Evidently, they should have been given priority over other clubs in preparation for the upcoming tournament. But seeing the volleyball club make such a fuss over that matter, it seemed like they weren't being taken seriously yet.

It was a shame to turn a blind eye to a promising club in favor of the strongest, but those who doesn't bring achievements weren't worth to be looked at. The volleyball club didn't need his compassion or whatsover to stand on their feet.

That said, he wasn't completely indifferent to the problem. For him, the soccer club's request actually made no sense, and sadly the volleyball club as well as the basketball club must bear the consequence of their silliness.

"But it's not the case," Akashi caught on the situation, "and the soccer club was granted the permission to use gymnasium when they doesn't have urgent necessity to hold their daily practice at the moment, since the Volleyball Nationals begin in August while the preliminaries for the soccer annual championship only come in Fall."

"You're quick on the uptake, I see. And pretty well-informed for a first-year." The volleyball vice-captain praised him with a pleased smile. "It's just as you say. Even so, we were told by our coach that our practice is to be called off today. It'll probably be the same for your club's third-string since they were supposed to practice in the same gymnasium as us today."

Akashi and Nijimura exchanged a brief look. Although they were at the head of the club, the third-string was mainly supervised by its respective coach and their authority mostly concerned the first-string. So, as long as the first-string had their daily practice, what happened to other strings wasn't their direct affairs.

Seeing that no immediate response coming, Kazehaya took the conversation up again.

"Actually, we care less about what'll happen to your third-string." She declared out of the blue.

"Hey, Kazehaya, what are you doing throwing our mean of bargain away like that?" Hibari remarked yet she barely stopped her underclassman from continuing.

"Don't things work for us if the third-string doesn't join up practice with other strings, Hibari-san?"

The volleyball captain put her hand under her chin while taking into consideration the idea. Then a smile crooped up as a satisfying answer came to her mind.

"Say, Nijimura, mind if we share your gym? If I remember well, the third-string has far more members than the whole volleyball club, so why not welcome a smaller club instead?"

Certainly tired by all this mess, the ravenhead heaved a long exasperated sigh while trying to compose his thoughts.

"Listen, we don't give a damn either if the volleyball club can't practice on rainy days or not. The basketball club will practice like usual. All three strings, you hear."

Akashi glimpsed at his captain, surprised at first by his initiative. It was no statement made on the spur of the moment. The third-string may not have the same importance as the first-string but all its members were in the same club as them. Having them to practice remained a priority and a necessity for the club's prosperity, who knows what kind of players might grow from the last string in the next months?

"Which means the whole basketball club will be practicing together?"

"Ah, nothing unusual." nodded Nijimura as Kazehaya raised an eyebrow noticing his lack of concern on the gym problem. "Once in a week the basketball club gathers all strings for common practice games. Though it's supposed to be held the day after tomorrow, bringing it forward to today won't be a trouble for us. We can't let the third-string call off their practice whenever it's raining because of a dumb request from another club."

Ignoring that, the volleyball vice-captain's gaze circled around the group for confirmation. Akashi gave her a simple nod of the head while Hibari showed no sign of surprise and motioned her to cut the discussion there.

"...We've come back to square one, Hibari-san."

Hibari shrugged her shoulders in an indifferent way. "Seems like so. Too bad, huh? I thought we stood our chance against the basketball club's good-for-nothings in term of importance..."

"Hey!" interjected Nijimura.

"But man, you've really grown, Nijimura! Who knew you'd come to care about the basketball club that much, huh, ex-member of the go-home-after-school club?"

After throwing to his face a past fragment, she elbowed him in a friendly way.

"Quit spouting nonsense!"

"Anyways, I knew it would come down to this, so let's leave it at it." gave up Hibari, casting a knowing look at the other girl. "We've wasted long enough time here. Time to go pay a visit to the soccer club's captain!"

The raven-haired boy watched them leave and sighed. "Hold on a second, Hibari."

"Starting to take us on pity?"

"Like hell. You said that the soccer club will have the exclusive use of your gym specifically on rainy days. What will you gonna do if it keeps raining tomorrow or another day?

"You have the whole picture now, I'll be counting on you, captain Nijimura!" Hibari grinned, her thumb up. "Better watch the weather forecasts from now on!"

Nijimura rolled his eyes, already understanding that nothing was settled at all. Although he wished for the third-string to practice the same as the other strings, his solution was temporary for a day only. If it were to continue raining, tomorrow the third-string would have to call off some of their practice sessions for sure. He was conscious that the coaches would prioritize the first-string's good condition of practice first and well, even him wouldn't be so stupid to allow that kind of episode happening so occasionaly, particularily at this period of time. He had his own training to think about before anything else.

"Aaah, what a crappy day!" Nijimura jerked his head back and exhaled heavily. "I'm coming with you, Hibari. I don't really want to say it, but we can't always welcome the third-string every rainy days, we'd be damn packed in the gym if we're to train like usual. Let's settle this with the soccer club!"

"Nice to have you on my side! Here we go!" Hibari fired up, leading the march.

"Hibari-san, do I need to come?" asked Kazehaya in a plain tone as she saw them take off.

"Leave it to us. Oh, but can you inform the others not to head for the gym until I notice it to you. I'd like to avoid further commotion between the soccer club and the volleyball club...and that bloody student council."

When they left, Akashi heard Kazehaya mumble something. The older girl then took a glimpse at him before she started walking ahead.

"You're in the same class as Asaka, right? Mind to pass on the information to her? I might not be able to come by the first-year floor, a moron in our club might try to stick her nose where it doesn't belong."

"It'll be done."

"Thanks."

Thank you for reading.

Whitedevil21 : To answer your questions :

- If this fic will turn out a bit AU? It might be a little.

-Concerning Asaka's case, her presence won't affect any of the canon events in the Teikō Arc. This is why her character's development will be mainly centered around the volleyball team. The GoM won't change because of her nor will she do anything to stop the course of events. Asaka will always have a global view and observe the GoM evolution with an external point of view.

What I mean by that is that she'll never witness with her own eyes any of the events that figures in the original story. Everything will be mentioned to her through her interactions with a member of the GoM.

So to make it short, Asaka is close enough to share some bonds but still a bit distant to keep them from falling apart as it's supposed to go in the Teiko Arc.

A little spoiler, I guess but well this fic is not great surprise either since it's following the original plot we all know by heart.

-Lastly, the 'Asakashi' relationship. Even though, I started the story with innocent days, all I can say is that the title and the summary of this fic hints you the direction it will take. Hehe.

Fanficuserhihi : Aha, thanks you for the review! You know, I'm so relieved to hear that. Because I don't want Asaka to turn into girl blindly in love. Just to imagine her that way sends me shivers! So just like you, I hope she won't fall to the point of no return!

Xhre : Glad to know it! If the occasion arises, I'll make it happen! Though I'm not an expert on this sort of relationship...so it might turn in a odd way. And to answer your question, yes they will be a summer camp for Asaka and her team! This future chapter is one of the fews I apprehend the most because it's still a bit vague for now. Hehe, but thank you for your review!