Hello everyone! We're already in November...The new update comes very late! Tough at this point, I'm not behind schedule anymore but totally absent. I left you hanging for so long! My apologies!
This time, the chapter took me more time to write because I had strayed a lot from the original plan I kept on my computer for a year now. In fact I practically changed most of the events. Haha! I don't know how you will receive this new chapter for reasons I'll talk about at the end but I hope that by reading it, you'll be able to take a break from all the crazy things happening around the world and enjoy it a little.
On those words, stay healthy and take care of yourself!
Thank you ALL for following, favoriting and taking the trouble to write a review but also just for having an interest and reading this story. I'm repeating myself in each upadte but it is important to say it! I wouldn't have brought it this far and develop it in the way it is without your support. (I do hope that one day, I'd reach the end of this story just to talk about what kind of fanfic GaaFR was at the very beginning and all the changes I made, haha).
As she got off the bus, Ritsu tightened her scarf around her neck. The cold contact of the wind on her skin made her shiver and regret the warmth of the bus for a second. But soon after, the shiver left place to an invigorating feeling, erasing the fatigue inside her like she was fully woken up. Ritsu has always liked this feeling about Winter mornings. For a minute span, it felt as though your whole body activated and gave you all the energy to move. Just to move and feel alive. Down this world, wasn't the greatest feeling of all?
Though a lot of people may disagree with her , even among her friends and close acquaintances. As it crossed her mind, her thoughts went straight to Akashi. Despite his image, he didn't seem to like the cold and Winter very much but would more likely appreciate intermediate seasons as Spring or Autumn for their fair weather. Sometimes upon taking a glimpse on the outside, the redhead seemed to repress a sigh.
Seeing him longing for better, warm days was somehow cute of him – Almost like a child waiting for the rain to stop to go play outside. Again, it may sound overexaggerated since it was Akashi but still.
It remained a sight she could probably only appreciate in Winter.
Upon that thought, she caught sight of another Winter lover. She crossed the street to meet with her. The nose buried in the magazine in her hands Yagami didn't notice her until she was very close,.
"Hello, Yagami!" Ritsu greeted her when they made eye contact.
A faint smile shaped on her lips, "Hi."
"You're going to bump into someone by not paying attention on the road." She warned her lightly before her attention fell on what she was reading. "Is it Volleyball JAPAN?"
"The issue of this month. I bought it on the way."
From these pieces of information, Ritsu was piqued by curiosity. Most of the time, Yagami read this magazine for articles or interviews featuring a player or a team she was interested in. In other words, something in the issue of this month must have caught her interest.
And Ritsu might have an idea of what, taking into account the current period. The second major competition for high schoolers, the Spring Interhigh, would kick off in a few weeks, in early March more precisely. Yagami was certainly following the news and the interviews of the favorites, although it didn't have anything to do with them right now as middle school players.
"Do you read anything interesting?"
Yagami lowered her gaze back on the magazine, allowing Ritsu to take a closer look herself.
The page she was on featured the rising prodigy setter, Shirahane's Kurashina Maaya, a middle school freshman just like Yagami and she. Once noticed at the age of nine in a local game, her performances were only and truly acknowledged this year after playing on the national stage.
Kurashina was already an exception for playing the setter position of Shizuoka's strongest team as a first-year. However, her reputation was mainly built from her aggressive and unpredictable play. In every of her sets, she was working her magic ; and it made the difference every time.
People could sense and witness the raw talent within her.
Ritsu still remembered this sentiment of awe vividly since her team lost against Kurashina and Shirahane at the quarter final of the Nationals in Summer. Hibari had the guts to make very bold decisions as a setter, which was her strong point. Nevertheless, in comparaison, Kurashina didn't seem to allow herself to be bound by common sense and always bordered the line of what was possible and impossible.
Creativity and wildness were her signature, her talent. That being said, it also revealed to a double-edged sword for Kurashina as such a talent required the finest play from everyone and not just her. Yes, to have her in the team was a extremely demanding job which not everyone could keep up with.
Shirahane's defeat at the Final reflected this clash between a team's real capacity and its potential.
"Kurashina Maaya. She was a tough opponent."
"And one we'll have to look out." Yagami added while closing the magazine, "Thanks to Hibari-senpai, we managed to keep our head above the water against Shirahane and riposted with the little options we were left with. But this year is only an adjustment phase for Shirahane since they tried to even out the third years' experience and Kurashina's talent. They will take a new turn next year, with Kurashina as its center."
"In short, Shirahane is bound to grow stronger."
Yagami's smile remained timid, concealing some of her thoughts behind her lips.
"Does it worry you?" Ritsu asked, noting the gloom cast over face.
"Their progresses aren't what worry me the most but in fact, our team's...My own progress." Her lips pulled up. The movement felt forced but Yagami wasn't hiding anything anymore. "I told you before I've never played in competition."
"Yes. You used to play volleyball with the kids of your neighbourhood or at school." She recalled. Not having a club in her neighbourhood nor the means to actually go to one further away, Yagami never had the opportunity to experience the thrill of competitions and could only observe matches.
"Un, I could only play it as a hobby. So it struck me hard, like a slap on the face, when I was confronted to the reality of competition. I fully realized what talent meant. It's not something you can close in on even with simple efforts or explain the gap they create between players."
"That's awfully pessimistic of you."
"But this is the reality, Asaka." Yagami stated matter-of-factly. "Even you are conscious that all doors can't be opened after working hard." She lowered her gaze on the magazine cover, "I learnt it the hard way against Kurashina. The second I saw her playing, all my efforts were turned into naught, my confidence crumbled as if I was told that I'd be no match for her by just doing my best. No need to tell you my pride as an athlete took a blow."
Her pride.
Was that the meaning of her tears for their defeat at the quarter-final? Yagami was the only one who had cried on court that day. Contrary to what Ritsu originally assumed, so much bitterness had overflowed from these tears.
Hopeful, was what she thought of them upon witnessing her defeated. She saw a form of beauty in them, as if Yagami had crying everyone's share in that moment—
But they were not something as beautiful as that.
There were the tears of a girl who had her pride and hopes shattered.
Struck by that new view of event, Ritsu inevitably pondered.
Has she ever cried like that over a defeat?
"In a sense, I can only blame myself. I was too naive to think hard work could beat talent and I should have seen it coming because I had the same arrogance of people who think talent is everything. If I can regard someone's talent so lightly, it is the same as denying it in the first place."
Ritsu agreed silently. By valuing something over another, the scales were bound to tip on one side.
Admittedly it may have been naive of Yagami but she made it this far through hard work and determination. Of course, she would value hard work over talent.
So this naivety would naturally clash with the reality of a competitive world where talent had the power to make a difference while hard work made you only hope.
Which might turn into a form of despair if the scales tipped over.
"Did it change your view then?" Ritsu was concerned about her partner's realization.
Yagami drew her gaze away from the magazine and lifted her chin up.
"Strangely enough, the more this reality sinks in me, the clearer I can see the path laying before me." An hopeful smile tugged at her lips, "I don't have talent to rely on but it doesn't mean I can't do anything. Our game against Shirahane proved me that I was lacking of something, and this something isn't necessaritly talent but the power to make things happen with my own capacity. That's what I want to believe."
For her future as a setter.
This phrase echoed in Ritsu as she observed pride on her face.
Yagami found her resolve. No—that was wrong. She already had it in her, it just strengthened.
"You're strong, Yagami."
Much stronger than she was. This echo in the back of her mind took her several months back, when Hibari mentioned her why Yagami made a better choice as a setter. The decisive fact was the mental strength and spirit ‒ a quality needed for the setter who was the only player not to be allowed to fall apart in a team. Whatever happened, they had the duty to see everything through and lead the team.
Not everybody could shoulder such a heavy responsibility.
And yet, Yagami could carry it. She was ready to shoulder it.
"I must if I don't want to be left behind. This is what I meant when I said I became fully aware of what talent is – My reality. There will always be someone ahead of me, sometimes very far ahead as I can't keep up with them. So I can only try to chase after and keep them in my sight."
Ritsu would like to refute it but Yagami didn't need false hope. As she stated it, the world of competition is a cruel place. Even so, it was also a place where evolution can lead to miracles.
"You never hope to surpass them?"
"I won't ever in my life, this is a fact. You saw it for yourself against Kurashina. It takes my everything to just be on par with her, the gap between us won't become narrower but I won't let it widen either." Despite her resignation, Ritsu could not see a loser in Yagami. She was looking towards the future. "On the other hand, you have this chance, Asaka. My goal is to fight alongside you and make you become the best player of our team, of all even."
Yagami didn't give up on her dream to make Teikō win the championship one day.
She only has given shape to it.
Her hopes had morphed into a goal. Concrete and attainable. One she would make happen no matter what.
"Isn't that what a team is for?"
Yes, it is. Yet, deep down, Ritsu wished she was able to glimpse at the same team Yagami now started envisioning. But all she could see was an ideal.
A mere vision which would never take shape.
Was that the right attitude for the ace? More generally, for a proud and determined player of the Teikō volleyball team? When those questions emerged from her uncertainties, it solely told her that she would not make a great leader as she was currently.
Be it as the ace.
Or as a setter as she'd aspired.
«Your role is no longer to support but lead the team.»
"The coach and Hibari-senpai made the right choice in appointing you as our setter." Ritsu said coming to realization as Midorima's statement overlapped her thoughts.
They took their full meaning here and pointed out bluntly the difference between Yagami and her.
"I have pride in it. Even though it's a petty thing to say, it'll probably be my only victory against you, Asaka."
"A victory?" Ritsu raised her brows in astonishment.
Yagami met her gray-blue eyes and regarded her with attention and esteem.
"Since the first day in the club, I'm envious of your talent. Everyday, I'm trying to catch you up and stand as your equal. But at least by being chosen as a setter, I'm one step closer to you."
"You talk as if you compete with me."
"I am. I see you as a rival."
It shouldn't come as a surprise. She, too, felt a little jealousy towards Yagami for playing setter. Despite so, no matter how deep she looked into, her feelings hardly bordered rivalry. Ritsu always considered her as a partner who started from the same starting line and was walking side by side with her.
Without one of them getting ahead or dragging behind.
Someone that would support her and she would support.
That was how she envisioned the ideal team. What she always found beautiful in volleyball and what she learned from the match with the seniors when she started the sport.
But...
«You're too softhearted.»
Hibari, Kazehaya, Midorima...It sure made a lot of people who pointed out and criticised her for her compassion towards others.
She was too kind. But to be honest, Ritsu would remove the «too».
She was kind – it was a fact, her nature.
So obviously, it came to clash with the merciless reality of competition.
Nevertheless, their words still rang in her because she knew what they expected from her :
An evolution.
But how? For the past months, she felt no improvement at all despite her efforts.
"You start frowning. I knew you wouldn't like the sound of it." Yagami poked her forefront to get rid of the little wrinkles.
"Hey...!" Ritsu yelped and covered her forefront with both hands.
Yagami let out a laugh.
"Your feelings always show on your face. No wonder Hibari-senpai couldn't resist flicking your forehead, even though it looked painful."
"Please don't make an habit out of it too." Ritsu sighed in resignation but her expression naturally came to relax.
"Can't make any promises since it comes from a bad habit of yours. Introspection is good but overthinking isn't. The last piece of advice Hibari-senpai gave me when she retired is to stop you whenever you do."
"Now I'm getting worried." She replied while protecting her forehead. "How many times did you think she flicked my forehead over a year?"
"Hibari-senpai was sometimes messing with you because she'd always find your reaction funny."
"Sometimes?"
"Most of the time."
The two girls laughed knowingly.
As they approached the school gate, Yagami exclaimed while looking around them. All giddy, many girls were showing and chatting about the chocolates they'd give for their crush.
Today was Valentine's day.
"Ah, I forgot. Since you're here..." Her partner took a little packet from the paper bag hanging on her right arm the whole time. "That's for you, Asaka."
Ritsu examined them briefly, "Obligation chocolate?"
"I expect more delicacy from you." Yagami pretended to be offended, "I prefer you take them as a token of friendship than seeing it as a mere tradition. I made them for the whole club and also for the third-years! I thought it'd be a good idea to give you all chocolates today."
Her peculiar thought touched Ritsu. When it came to romantic and girly stuff, Yagami wasn't the most expressive about it. She often stayed out of the conversation when the other girls brought those topics up. Maybe not interested in those things, Ritsu had assumed. So she wouldn't have been very surprised if Yagami saw Valentine's day as nothing more but another ordinary day.
Yet, she was pleasantly surprised to know that she cared that much about the team and her to celebrate it a special occasion.
"Eeh...You made them all by yourself. It must have been a lot of work." Ritsu noted as she looked closely at the dozen of homemade chocolates in just one packet. So to think she made them for every club member including the retired third-years, she must have stayed up very late at night to finish in time.
"This isn't much of a problem as you think. I like cooking, so I had fun making them. Besides, I didn't want to miss that opportunity to give you all something. Today is the kind of day where it is possible to show your appreciation and express your feelings towards the people you like."
Yagami perfectly conveyed this feeling with her chocolates. Everything was lovely about it, causing her heart to flutter.
"As expected of Valentine chocolates, they're packed with love."
"Are they still obligation chocolates to you?"
"I take it back. Thank you, Yagami."
Gleeful, Ritsu examined the packet and noticed the little details Yagami put into her chocolates. Aside their volleyball shape, she had tied the packet with a jade green thin ribbon - the color of the Teikō volleyball team jersey - and wrote that on one end of the ribbon with Ritsu's jersey number.
In every way you looked at it, this was made only for a member of the volleyball club.
That attention on detail reminded Ritsu of her own attempt at making chocolate for Akashi yesterday.
"And you? Have you prepared anything for today?" Yagami asked, her curiosity pointing out that she must have plans for the day with a certain redhead obviously.
"Chocolates for Akashi-kun." She answered honestly and recalled the leftovers she brought with her to share with her friends. After pulling them a little packet from her school bag, Ritsu showed them to the other girl. "I've made too much yesterday. Here have a taste!"
She gave her three pieces of chocolates. On the palm of her hand, Yagami took a better look at it then quirked an eyebrow in a dumbfounded manner.
"Asaka, are they really your chocolates for Akashi-kun? Is he a superhero TV shows fan?"
Ritsu couldn't help but laugh at her astonishment. When her father tasted them, he was surprised too by the shape of her chocolates and asked her the same question.
"I couldn't bring myself to make heart-shaped chocolates. That'd be literally screaming at him «I like you!»...I prefer taking a more subtle approach concerning my feelings for him."
Yagami gave her weird but very expressive look, enough to read her thoughts : «Because they are a subtil approach for you?»
"Yeah, but why a superhero's mask?"
"That's an old mould my mother bought for Shōhei and I when we were younger. And I didn't have the time to go buy another mould." Since her volleyball practice finished very late, she only had the time to buy the necessary ingredients and go home. Though truthfully, even if she had had the time, she was pretty sure she'd have made the same choice when making the chocolates. "At least, they have some originality in them. Considering his popularity, Akashi-kun will definitely receive tons of chocolates for Valentine's day, so they should not be like anyone's else."
Yagami understood her intention and sighed in resignation, all familiar with the ashblonde's train of thoughts.
"I want to say that you should have been more daring but you're more than enough are with those." She said, eyes on the pieces of chocolate. "Still, I seriously think heart-shaped chocolates would have been a better choice because you like Akashi-kun, right? I'm not very sure a superhero's mask would convey the right feeling. When I look at it, all it screams is friendzoned."
Indeed, Akashi would take those chocolates as a gift from a friend and not as love message. But it was fine this way. As things presently were, this was enough to convey her affection for him. She wished him to understand nothing more than this friendly feelings from those chocolates.
Because she refused to leave any room for misunderstanding. If she had to confess her love for him, she'd declare it clearly and decisively face-to-face.
What she wanted to tell him was not a confusing «I like you» but a passionate «I love you».
"Aren't they too subtil for Akashi-kun to read more into it? I'd like to think all boys aren't slow at picking up romantic hints but they can't see what's right under their nose most of the time."
And here was the reason why Ritsu prefered to make things clear. Though she believed the redhead to be sensitive to a girl's charm and get a clue when there was.
"You put Akashi-kun in the same basket?" She asked, laughs in her voice, while putting the leftovers back in her bag.
"Being smart doesn't mean perceptive." Her partner declared with undertoned bitterness as she pushed the door of the hall entrance.
"You don't mince your words."
From the sound of it, Yagami talked from personal experience. Ritsu kind of wanted to hear this specific episode of her life. It sounded like she had struggled to make her crush of the time realizing her feelings for them.
"I'm just rooting for you. I've seen the progress of your relationship since the first term, and you two being an item would be the natural development and a happy end— Oh...! Hi, Akashi-kun."
Her brown eyes caught sight of the redhead at his locker, changing his outdoor to indoor shoes.
"Hi, Yagami-san. Asaka." He greeted them then eyed the big bag hanging on Yagami's arm and the little packet in Ritsu's hand. "Valentine's day will keep you busy, it seems."
"You mean this?" Yagami slightly lifted her arm up in reaction and giggled. "I made chocolates for the whole club. Asaka already received hers."
On cue, Ritsu showed him all happy and said, "Isn't it cute?"
"That is a nice attention." He smiled but from the glint in his red eyes, one detail retained his interest, "Your chocolates looks quite original. Superheroes seem to be the trend nowadays."
"Huh?"
Both girls followed his line of sight and landed on the superhero's mask chocolates on Yagami's hands.
"Ah!" Yagami exclaimed in little panic and swallowed them whole to put it out of sight. "I...I boughtch a bokch of chem...at che convenienche shtore. Chey look funny sho I had tcho try chem."
As if they'd sell superheroes chocolates for Valentine's day. Yagami looked like she wanted to die from not finding a better lie and losing her composure in front of Akashi. Adding the fact that the redhead was staring at her while her cheeks were puffed like a hamster's made the situation even more mortifying.
Ritsu should have helped her with the lie but Akashi was already suspicious of something. At this point, she'd only make it more obvious. So instead, she decided to seize this chance.
"Are they good?" Ritsu earned a mad and helpless look from her partner. Seeing her stuffed cheeks, she had to make an herculean effort not to burst into laughing.
«Sorry, Yagami!», she apologized inwardly for putting the poor girl into this embarrassing situation when she was helping her.
At the apologetic look, Yagami sulked then glanced at Akashi before giving in. She chewed them like a child forced to eat their vegetables.
"...More than what I expected from their looks. They melt in your mouth." She mumbled after finishing tasting them.
"Good to hear." Ritsu beamed.
Despite the odd behaviour of the two girls, Akashi left it at that and faced back his shoe locker. Still, great delight fleeted across his face. From a particular angle, his smile practically shaped into a smirk.
Catching that reaction, Yagami sighed. Akashi had brought the subject up on purpose. He knew from the start those chocolates weren't made by her but certainly Ritsu. Seeing the whole picture, she gave a sideways glance at her partner and mouthed something in a sulky way.
Although Ritsu couldn't hear what exactly, it was aimed at the both of them, Akashi and she. Definitely.
"I owe you on—" She began to whisper to Yagami when a group of three girls approached them. One of them was timidly clutching a small box and a letter against her chest while the two others stood behind cheering her on.
"A-Akashi-kun! Please...Um..." The girl sneaked a glance at the two volleyball players, their presences clearly making her uncomfortable.
"It's best we leave." Ritsu announced.
Nothing obliged them to but she sympathised with the girl. She surely mustered her courage to give her chocolates to Akashi. And well, when she would give her chocolates to him, she also wished, nobody to be around.
"See you in class, Akashi-kun."
The redhead nodded without a remark.
Climbing the stairs and far from prying ears, Yagami said in jest : "You have competition for his heart. Girls won't hide their intentions today, they'll go all out. You must be pretty confident to think you'll win him over with superheroes chocolates."
"My only objective is to give him my chocolates."
"That's the feeling I get from them. At this rate, you won't make him fall for you."
"But my chocolates are good, right? The stomach is a way to a man's heart."
"When you talk about roundabout approaches..."
Ritsu nodded, "One step at a time. I don't need to force things between us. I want Akashi-kun to realize my feelings for him little by little, without leaving any room for doubts."
"After hearing that, your approaches sounds craftier than subtil."
"Love must be nurtured."
"I can almost pity Akashi-kun for being the object of your love..." Then remembering something, Yagami added : "And all the other persons who might be caught between you two. Hey, can I make one thing clear, Asaka?"
"Hm?"
"I said I rooted for you but please let met stay out of it. I can't deal with the both of you when you are inside your little bubble."
The silly request made her laugh, somehow echoing familiar.
"Midorima-kun said something similar."
"Poor guy." Yagami sympathised wholeheartedly with her classmate. "You two don't spare anyone."
"Akashi-kun has never made things easy for me."
"That's not making you any less innocent. You share the blame with him."
At lunch time, Ritsu tried to invite Akashi to eat with her in the music room so that they'd have some peace and quiet from the Valentine's day frenzy. But victim to his popularity, the redhead barely had time for himself with all the girls coming to give him chocolate and only managed to escape them thanks to Momoi's intervention. Something came up concerning the basketball club and he was summoned to the head coach's office.
After agreeing to meet them at the music room later, Ritsu headed there first.
"Asa-chin. Are you going to eat?"
She turned her head on her left, only to face five cute packets of Valentine chocolates. She then lifted her head up and greeted the purple-haired giant.
"Wow, you've received a lot, Murasakibara-kun." Ritsu exclaimed, barely suspecting the giant's popularity with girls at all. She sometimes heard girls chatting about his good looks but his lack of delicacy and short temper repelled most of them.
"I don't know...A group of girls gave it to me this morning saying they always go and cheer me on on game."
"So even you have groupies." She chuckled at his clueless side. "I saw a lot of them coming to cheer Akashi-kun and Aomine-kun during home games, but it seems like the whole basketball team is quite popular."
"They're those noisy people." He noted, now able to identify and put a tag on their heads.
The giant really hated the crowd, or perhaps was it the ruckus they caused that he disliked the most? In either case, genders didn't seem to be taken into account when he labelled people. Once he did, he wouldn't show the same appreciation he had for people he liked. Which was a waste of his charm since Murasakibara accustomed her to more kindness and consideration.
He was such a cute, spoiled boy with Momoi or her.
"You should be nicer towards them or you won't get anything from them anymore. They muster their courage to make and give you chocolates."
He swayed his head side to side, barely understanding why he should fix his attitude just to get something.
"...Even though I'm nice to Asa-chin, you don't like you have chocolates for me." He dropped a condeming gaze on her hands carrying nothing else but her lunch box.
The ashblonde slightly gaped in surprise. "You wanted to receive chocolates from me?"
"Un." He nodded, "Sacchin gave me chocolate this morning. I thought that Asa-chin would too. I would have been happy to get some from you. Asa-chin has good taste in food and is not a bad cook."
The disappointment on his face revealed even more his childish traits with his lips slightly puckering up. Everytime he acted like this, Shōhei's image overlapped his. She couldn't help getting this «little brother» vibes from Murasakibara. Therefore, her big sister's instinct always kicked in, making the desire to pamper him surge in her. Especially with a little brother as cute as Murasakibara.
"You must be disappointed." She said, feeling bad for letting him down.
"I am." He sulked even more. "I'm sure Shō-chin gets to eat a whole bunch of them. Asa-chin is the kind of girls to make chocolates for friends and family on Valentine's day."
"You have a nice opinion of me." Ritsu remarked while chuckling softly, "And well, Shōhei did have some, as well as my dad, as both my tasters. Strictly speaking, I haven't got Valentine chocolate to give you but I have brought leftovers to share."
"Leftovers?" He raised an eyebrow.
She nodded happily.
"Most of them are failures but I can assure you of their taste. Hold on a second." She opened her school bag which she decided to bring with her since she intented to use the lunchtime in the music room with Akashi as a chance to give him her Valentine chocolate. "There."
Murasakibara studied the big piece of chocolate on his hand.
"Oh...Isn't it from All Star Rangers? It's the Green ranger."
"I'm impressed you can tell. I can recognize a fan here. Shohei and I love this character. The way he takes down his enemies with his bow from crazy distance and supports his comrades never fail to give us goosebumps. "
He tilted his head, disagreeing with her. "Hmm...Black is better. She beats way more enemies than anybody else and is more helpful than some of the main cast."
"She's a force of nature. She can send flying her ennemies with just her fists and needs no help to clear a path. No wonder your choice fell on her. She's a very cool character."
"She's the best."
"Shōhei would argue if he hears you. Green is his favorite character for years now. Perhaps that's why he was so easily impressed by Midorima-kun's shooting skills. He must get the same goosebumps as when Green fights."
"It's just three-pointers..." Murasakibara mumbled, dismissing his teammate's ability as nothing very impressive.
"Maybe but Midorima-kun makes it incredibly fascinating. Although I'm not well-versed in basketball, his technique strikes the eye in a single instant. Whenever and wherever he shoots, the ball never touches the rim. You just hear the swish of the ball sinking through the basket. Isn't it awesome? Akashi-kun told me that prowess in itself is the most impressive part aside from his hundred percent accuracy."
At the Sports festival, she had a glimpse of the basketball team in action. Each player displayed their talent but because of Shōhei who was beside her encouraging Midorima all game long, most of his actions were clearly imprinted in her mind.
And well, how could they not be? Due to the incident in the Three-legs Assault course, Midorima's glasses were broken as Aomine fell on it in the last obstacle dragging Momoi, Sudo and she along with him. The bad luck made his technique even more striking to eyes. Even without his glasses, his accuracy was practically at hundred percent, although Midorima still had needed a short period of adjustment and only found back his groove once he teamed up with Akashi.
The ball didn't touch the rim anymore. With bare eyes, Ritsu caught sight of this perfection and witnessed it as the result of a strict and intensive training. From his toes to his fingertips, the feeling of a shoot was thoroughly ingrained in him.
Nobody in the team reached such a flawless quality in shooting, not even Aomine. The latter can make a shoot simple as well but it was clear Aomine didn't care much about the technique. In fact, the closest to Midorima's perfect shoots was Akashi. She had discerned about the same delicacy and simplicity in his shoots, observing the time and the amount of training Akashi spent to master that basic.
"I guess so..." Murasakibara shrugged. Nonetheless, the fact that he didn't refute it and bite back in his typical blunt manner when he disagreed underlined his acknowledgement to his teammate's talent.
Losing interest in the conversation, Murasakibara ate the piece of chocolate. Surprisingly, instead of swallowing it down, he took the time to savour it.
"They're delicious. Can I have one more?"
"Help yourself. They're to be shared."
His big hand dipped into the small packet and took three pieces of chocolates. As he looked at them, a shadow darkened his expression and a question seemed to hang on his lips.
"Asa-chin said they're leftovers, right?"
"Yes."
"Then for who did you actually make chocolates?"
"I made them for Akashi-kun."
Instead of showing surprise, the mention of the redhead made him scowl. Judging from his reaction, Ritsu read his thoughts like a book. The giant was mad. She took the trouble to make chocolates for Akashi, so why not him as well? They were in the same team and both Ritsu's friends!
"Aka-chin? Why only him? It's unfai—"
"M-Midorima-kun! Wait!" A girl gripped on the boy's jacket out of despair, "Ah, sorry, sorry! I didn't mean to pull you! Please accept those chocolates and if...If you could read the letter inside, I'll be waiting for your answer!"
Her chocolate forced onto him, his classmate disappeared from his sight as fast as possible, leaving him subjected to indiscreet gazes from the students roaming in the hallway.
After witnessing the scene, Murasakibara approached him and Ritsu followed behind him, making sure her presence wasn't the first to be noticed. Murasakibara was certainly all he could handle at the moment.
"So even Mido-chin happens to get chocolates for Valentine's day."
"What's that supposed to mean, Murasakibara?" He hissed, readjusting his necktie. His green-eyed gaze then caught sight of her. She greeted him with a faint smile, staying low. Which he seemed grateful of since he looked no longer on the verge to snap at them.
"You don't look very popular with girls. Look, you're only at your first chocolate when I already received three."
"I simply refuse them. And do not talk like it's a competition."
The giant asked nonchalantly, "Why not accept them?"
"I would appreciate that you don't lump me together with you. Knowing you, they're merely free chocolates for you to eat."
Murasakibara marked a pause and scrunched up his brows, taking offense.
"What's wrong about it? Since they make those chocolates for me, there's nothing wrong about accepting them. Mido-chin doesn't understand anything as always."
"Hmph. Say whatever you want. I understand enough to have consideration for others' feelings." Midorima huffed and put emphasis on the word as a mean to rebuke him. "Your immaturity stands out, Murasakibara."
The two boys started staring each other down, inviting a cold wind between them. Those two genuinely didn't mesh well together, they flew off the handle over trivial matters so quikly.
Although conscious that they must be stopped, Ritsu chose to stay out of their quarrel as she followed a rule she learnt from Akashi's stories about them : Leaving them bicker until they found a middle ground.
That mental note in mind, she absolutely refused to be their victim because there was a detail Akashi left out from his anecdotes but she figured it out nonetheless. For this middle ground to be found, a poor guy was generally caught in the crossfire and became both their object of anger in spite of himself.
So she could totally predict them snapping back at her for not taking a side or because her words was misunderstood.
In either case, they were a handful to deal with.
"In what way am I being less mature than you? Mido-chin is the one, no matter how I look at it. Valentine's day is this kind of day. Accept it."
"You understand nothing. By giving you chocolates, they expect something in return."
"And why should I care? Nothing forces them to make chocolates for me, so I owe them nothing. Besides, if they have something to tell me, they should just say it straight in the first place."
Midorima shook in his head in utter disapproval. "You've got no consideration for others' feelings."
"I have consideration." The giant spat, hammering this truth to his teammate, "Mido-chin's just too stubborn to see it. At least, I eat them properly. I don't throw or give them away after accepting them."
"I hope so! Who would do such a—"
"You sure are popular, Aomine-kun." A flat voice followed by an exhausted sight stopped them in their bickering and called their attention on the two silhouettes coming out from the staircase.
"Man...Just the time to go buy a meal at the school shop and I come back loaded with chocolates. I've already received four this morning. That's fucking too much! What I'm supposed to do with all of them?"
Apparently, many girls had a crush on Aomine. The poor (lucky) boy was carrying about eight big packets and boxes of chocolates over his arms. The sight attracted the envious but admirative gazes of boys who had yet received one single chocolate from a girl and dreamt of the day they would be as popular just to say something along the line :
"Hey, Tetsu. Want some?"
"No, thanks. Aomine-kun ought to keep them for himself."
"Huh? Why's that? I can't eat all that chocolate by myself! Besides, I bet you haven't received any chocolate yet."
"I have."
Aomine gasped in astonishment. "For real? From who?"
"Momoi-san gave me chocolate this morning."
"From Satsuki?" He grimaced in disgust. "All the more reason to share some with me. Come on, just take it!"
Aomine picked a packet randomly and threw it to Kuroko.
"See, Mido-chin? I'm not the worst."
Midorima fell silent as Murasakibara forced him to admit his hasty judgement.
"You're as bad as each other." He concluded, dropping the conversation. "Why am I even trying to argue with you?"
As the situation solved on its own as predicted earlier, Ritsu couldn't help musing that Akashi's insight was truly something. Events occured and unfolded in the same, exact way he told her.
"Hello, everyone." Noticing them on their way, Kuroko greeted the group. A flash of curiosity fleeted across his expression as the three teenagers were dawdling in the hallway together.
"Good morning, Kuroko-kun, Aomine-kun" Ritsu replied, followed up by less formal greetings from Midorima and Murasakibara. Then she eyed the cute packets and heart-shaped boxes on his arms. "You've got your share of chocolates for a week. The ace of the basketball club is victim of his own success, it seems."
"Give me a break, Asaka. It doesn't stop. I don't even fucking want to return and eat in the classroom. They'll definitely know where I am."
"They really put you under stress."
She seldom observed Aomine in such a state of distress, and to think the cause behind it was actually girls. She couldn't help it but poke fun at him. With his solar personality, she sort of assumed to be the kind of boy to be happy for receiving chocolates for Valentine's day. Not the one to flee girls out of fear and awkwardness.
Nonetheless, it showed his general attitude towards girls. Aomine acted casual around them and practically adopted the same attitude he had with his male friends. His lack of delicacy stemmed from his bluntness but most people would say that this casual and straightforward side was a great part of his charm. Most of the time, the tanned boy didn't bother making a difference when talking with people. As long as he had fun with them, the rest didn't matter whether it was with a girl or boy.
Which made him such a friendly and very funny boy.
However, that buddy-buddy attitude would sometimes play a trick on him. By treating girls and boys the same way, Aomine tended to forget the fact that girls were of the opposite gender. So when the girls demonstrated or affirmed their feminine side, it always threw him off balance and caused him to be quite helpless in these moments.
Ritsu was no exception to the rule and had experienced it firsthand at the school festival play, when he was surprised to learn she held great interest for romance like any other girls. And that translated as «I forgot you're a girl». In extension it also meant he didn't see girls as a romantic interest for a second.
So no wonder that Valentine's day seemed like a living hell for him. That was the time of the year when girls came fiercely at him using their charm without hiding none of their intentions.
Moreover, judging his distress, Aomine must have never been aware of his popularity with them.
"No shit. Wish I could find a quiet place to have lunch." He heaved a long sigh then sneaked a glance inside the classroom, reluctant to go in. "Maybe the rooftop is better. But it's cold up there..."
As Aomine sought a solution to avoid girls, Ritsu sympathised with him. Girls could be determined in so many ways, especially on that sacred day. Of course, they'd not give up on giving him chocolates and hoped to be noticed by him. Even she would not leave the school ground before she gave hers to Akashi.
Which was why she hesitated in suggesting Aomine the idea of having lunch together at the music room. Since it was generally locked, people had no business to go over there. So it made the perfect place to be at peace but knowing that, she felt a bit bad for the girls who wanted to use lunchtime as an opportunity to approach Aomine. By bringing him to the music room, they wouldn't find him easily nay at all. Thus, it was almost like she hid him and ruined their single chances to convey their feelings to him.
Obviously, that would not be fair...But then, her worries drifted to Kuroko. In his attempt to avoid girls, Aomine would surely act reckless. The fact that he considered having lunch with him on the rooftop was worrisome because he'd definitely do it if cornered and drag his sole ally along with him.
But Kuroko just recovered from a bad cold a couple of weeks ago. As an athlete and aware of his situation in the basketball club, Ritsu wouldn't allow him to catch another cold.
Taking that into account, she made the decision.
"In that case, I can suggest you to have your lunch with me at the music room." Ritsu dangled gently the key of the music room. "Akashi-kun and Momoi-chan are supposed to meet me there after their meeting."
"Oh, right, you have the key." The tanned boy mumbled as he recalled that she had free access to the room. At the helping hand, he accepted without hesitation. "Let's go, Tetsu!"
"Will it be okay to eat there?" Kuroko asked, his expression showing a mix of surprise and concern. It'd be his first time eating in the music room.
"According to the school rules, probably not. But I've never had trouble so far. I occasionally go play piano during lunchtime, so I eat there by myself. Sometimes, Akashi-kun tags along. As long as we leave the place clean and tidy, it shouldn't be a problem. Besides, I don't use it for bad things."
"Djidjn't we play a rockch-paper-shcisshor tchournamyent?" Murasakibara remarked with cheeks stuffed, the superheroes chocolates gone from his hand.
"Hm, well..." She argued sheepishly, although the memory made her crack a smile. "The situation called for it at that time. We had to know if Akashi-kun was the King of games of the school festival."
"I heard about these rumours too. Was it Akashi-kun?" The title also clicked in Kuroko, getting suddenly intrigued on the topic.
"Considering our crushing defeat, he won this title fair and square..."
"None of us beat Akashi in the end." Midorima noted with regret since it was another defeat against his rival on his record.
"He is amazing."
"Come on! We just didn't have enough people to make him run out of luck." Aomine retorted, not ready to stay on this defeat forever. "If Tetsu had played with us, Akashi would have bitten the dust! I'm sure of it!"
"That's a possibility." Midorima reckoned seriously and pondered on it. "Kuroko is able to throw Akashi off. He can't read him accurately. I often hear him say that Kuroko does things he expects the least."
"Should we test it out? Aka-chin is coming to the music room. And Sacchin too." Murasakibara joined the conversation after gulping down the chocolates. "We can do another tournament. With Kuro-chin this time."
How did the conversation stray from having lunch in the music room to a second rock-paper-tournament? Ritsu wondered, having a bad feeling about this unexpected turn of events. That being said, it was so characteristic of them. When it came to games and challenges they got all fired up and forgot all about the rest.
As Momoi put it very well : boys were so easily distracted to the point of becoming hopeless cases.
This description fit them perfectly.
"Sounds like a nice place to chill." Kuroko smiled while observing the eagerness of the three boys.
Ritsu liked how sweet it sounded. "I suppose that explains their carefreeness."
As she said that, she pictured Akashi leisurely listening to her playing piano while reading a book.
"Akashi-kun is the same. He keeps me company every time he wants to read or needs a break. Though he's actually the only one to appreciate my piano playing and come to just listen to it."
Kuroko stared at her, a glint suddenly shining in his cerulean eyes.
"Speaking of which, will it be all right?"
"For my piano practice? It's not a problem at all. Even if they're here, they won't distract me. I'm not sure if I can say that as a totally good thing but I tend to lose myself in playing piano."
He continued to stare with his flat expression. It didn't seem they were talking about the same thing.
"You were planning to eat with Akashi-kun over there. Don't you want to be alone?"
He put his attention on the packet of leftovers she was till holding.
"You made chocolate for him after all."
Ritsu widened her eyes in astonishment, "How do you know?"
"I don't know. I just thought you would." He responded by cocking his head in a vague manner. "When Asaka-san likes people, it just shows."
She didn't know what to make of it. His words choice left room for interpretation. Whether this «like» referred to platonic or romantic love, it sure hinted that Kuroko had noticed something about her feelings for Akashi. And probably, he had from way before. Wasn't it thanks to his help that she could have Akashi for herself at his birthday.
If so, he must have been aware of her feelings even before she realized them herself. When— No, the question ought to be : what made him notice them? She wasn't trying hard to hide her feelings from anyone but it bothered her a little. Kuroko entered her group of friends the latest and yet, he was one of the few of her male friends to be perceptive. Though it clearly underlined Aomine, Murasakibara and Midorima's hopelessness on love matters ; they hardly took notice of her feelings despite knowing her the longest.
Surely not a surprise considering how of a gentleman Kuroko revealed to be, she then mused amusingly, remembering all Momoi's anecdotes about him. As a matter of fact, this sensitivity must explain why even without spending a lot of time with her he was able to sense it.
Or should she say observe it?
Akashi highly esteemed Kuroko's observation skills. With his low presence alone, he would not been able to develop misdirection. It required him to pick up his teammates' habits and study his opponents' moves in order to pass the ball accordingly on court. Which was a tremendous work when taking into account the high pace of a basketball game. Even Akashi, with his great skills, admitted that depending on their opponents, this observation work revealed to be quite difficult and overwhelming for him as a point guard.
Ritsu assumed that this was the reason why Akashi specifically needed a player that focused his play around the team only so as to lighten his workload and thus narrow the marge of errors. Akashi may be able to do great in that job so far thanks to his capacity of reading the flow of a game, nevertheless, the high pace of the sport forced him to make choices on court and some allowed errors to happen.
As she understood from Akashi's explanation, those errors were now Kuroko's job to compensate. Confirming her how much he trusted in his observation skills – As much as to rely on another pair of eyes.
At that thought, Ritsu sighed inwardly. In comparison to a basketball game, an open book like her was practically an easy task for Kuroko to predict.
Truthfully, Kuroko never ceased to amaze and intrigue her.
"I can feel Akashi-kun. I wonder what you see behind those eyes of yours."
"You're saying odd things."
"His influence must be rubbing off on me."
She saw her reflection in his clear blue eyes. Even though she felt pretty bare under his gaze, she found herself returning it, curiosity winning over embarrassment.
"On the contrary. Asaka-san looks like a person honest with herself."
A chuckle escaped her. "Is that honesty what made you aware of my feelings for Akashi-kun?"
"Hey, Asaka, Tetsu! What're you whispering about? Hurry up!"
Aomine, Murasakibara and Midorima were waiting on them, ready to leave for the music room.
"You're all coming in the end?" Ritsu noted, picking up signs of impatience in their behaviors. They couldn't contain their eagerness anymore. "Are you seriously intend to challenge Akashi-kun on rock-paper-scissors again, and on Valentine's day of all days?"
Aomine quirked an eyebrow. "What's the big deal?"
"Nothing. Just thinking that a lot of people are coming after Akashi-kun today."
"Don't put it like that. It's gross." The comparison caused him to grimace in disgust.
"But the competition gets fiercer suddenly. I guess I must sit it out this time."
"What?"
"Asa-chin won't participate? Why?"
"This is not acceptable." Midorima followed up, having none of it. "We need both Kuroko and you or our strategy might not work."
Judging from the boys' reactions, Kuroko was the only one to take the hint. Under this competitive mood, she wouldn't be able to give her chocolates to him. Those three dorks would monopolize Akashi with their idiocy, leaving no room for romance.
"You guys are hopeless. It's the opposite, count me in. We made a team since that time, I can't let you down."
"Yeah! I knew we could count on you!" Aomine beamed in joy.
Murasakibara and Midorima rejoiced silently about her answer.
"Both Akashi-kun and you don't have time for yourselves."
"Not with them as teammates."
Kuroko smiled back knowingly.
After Kuroko and Murasakibara went to fetch their lunch in their classroom, the group made their way to the music room. Once there, they caught sight of Momoi waiting in front of the door.
"Momoi-chan!" Ritsu called her out and ran up to her. "The meeting is already over? Did we make you wait?"
"I'm fine. Akashi-kun is still over there with Nijimura-senpai though. They told me I could take my leave." She chirped before a threatening frown was cast upon her face as soon as she spotted the little group behind Ritsu. "Ah! What are you all doing here?"
Reading the anger on her expression, Aomine quirked an eyebrow in a clueless manner.
"Why are you getting worked up all of sudden? We just tagged along since Akashi and you have already made plans with Asaka."
"I'm here to tell her I can't eat with her!"
"And you came all the way here for that. Just send her a text, you have her number."
"Asaka-chan doesn't use her cellphone much at school. I can only tell her directly!"
It was true. She hadn't much use of it when she was at school and actually liked to keep it that way. Aside from her parents, her contacts were mostly people from school. So when they had business with her, they generally came over her classroom and vice-versa.
"Sacchin can't eat with us...Is it not possible you stay with us?"
Momoi blinked at the innocent but untypically insistent request from the giant. For some reason, he wanted her to eat with everyone.
Having a look at her rosy cheeks, it made Momoi happy. Despite her extroverted personality, she didn't fit well in a group of boys and was left out most of the times. It often happened to her when the basketball club went to chill out after practice or a game against another school. They probably wouldn't let her in as they didn't know how to approach her without making things awkward since she was the only girl around. Or maybe the worst of all, they forgot she even was there.
No wonder she fell head over heels for the gentleman Kuroko, the only one who actually cared about her in those peculiar times.
"Well, um, it's not urgent matter in truth...I wanted to leave Asa—" As she almost spilled her true intention, Momoi gasped and came back to her senses : "Ah! What was I going to say?! No, no, no! I can't eat with Asaka-chan! And you all too!"
Murasakibara, Aomine and Midorima were puzzled but suspected nothing from her overly strange behavior.
"Why can't we?" The giant tilted his head, "It's impossible. We have business with Aka-chin."
"Eh?" Momoi exclaimed, looking them back with big round eyes. "What kind of business?"
"We're going to take our revenge on Aka-chin on rock-paper-scissors."
"However, that is a problem for us that you can't be present. It'll only be five of us like last time. We won't be able to see if our theory proved to be true."
The serious and dire tone of Midorima piqued Momoi's full interest, driving her to enquire more about their real intention.
"What theory?"
"Last time, we didn't have enough members to counter Akashi's luck, therefore we hypothesize that we can eventually beat him if we combine our luck together. I remember Akashi having troubles in the last rounds against Asaka and me, it took him a few more efforts to defeat us. Two reasons come to my mind. First, Akashi started to run out of luck. Second, Asaka and myself had our lucky items with us."
"Asaka-san also believes in horoscope?" Kuroko whispered to her. Given the he put his attention on such an insignificant detail, he didn't give a lot of credit to that theory.
"Not really. As we decided to challenge Akashi-kun on rock-paper-scissors, Midorima-kun gave me my lucky item, advising me that I must stack the odds in my favour to win."
Midorima went on, ignoring them, "It proved that Akashi would not have possibly gone on a winning streak if we had kept challenging him. Thus, we wish to have a rematch with the same team as before but we won't repeat the same mistake and add Kuroko as a new force. With this addition on our team force, we'll surely put him down."
Behind his glasses, his green eyes shone with unswerving confidence. This was no surprise considering it was Midorima. He must believe in this strategy and their chances of victory but also trusted in Kuroko more than he would ever admit.
Low was the probability of Midorima putting his choice randomly on Kuroko. Even if it was to prove his theory, knowing him full well, not anybody would have fit the bill. Since it was a rematch and he aimed for victory, Midorima sought for even greater perfection and excellence. He needed someone that lived up to his expectations.
That said, Ritsu wondered on what basis Midorima's trust in Kuroko was based on.
"Kuroko is the most suited to go against Akashi. He's the luckiest among us."
"How Kuro-chin is the luckiest? Is it one of your Ohayō's predictions?" Murasakibara cast a glance at the smallest boy and tried to figure out the answer on his own. "What does that have anything to do with what we're talking about?"
"Oha-Asa." Midorima glared at his giant teammate with contempt, unable to let this blasphemy pass. "And no, it has nothing to do with the daily horoscope. I speak of Luck in general. We all witnessed Akashi's luck last time. We were always so close to win but every time, victory slipped from us at the lastest moment as if his luck kicked in."
Although it might sound like the bitter words of a sore loser, none of them contested this hard truth : Akashi had Lady luck on his side. They couldn't possibly think of another concret reason, except that Akashi was revealed to be a cyborg or an alien in human disguise.
"However, in terms of Luck, Kuroko doesn't lose in that field either. Taking into account his achievements in the basketball club, everyone can agree to say that it was nothing less than a miracle. If he wasn't under a very good fortune, he would not have met Akashi and even less made into the team."
His point made, a short blank ensued. Stupefaction was read upon all the faces.
"That sounds plain rude to Kuroko-kun." Ritsu almost took back what she'd thought previously. The only thing keeping him from lowering in her esteem was the hard conviction that Midorima mustn't believe that Kuroko entered the team by just mere luck.
"Wow, do you hear yourself speaking?"
"Mido-chin is a weirdo after all. Can't change him."
Of course, Aomine and Murasakibara weren't convinced by such a far-fetched reason either. Even though it had no glory in it, they would just defeat Akashi by numbers and not because of whatever luck or some rules of the Universe as Midorima implied.
But Midorima didn't seek approval from his short-sighted teammates to begin with. Seriousness still settled on his expression, he put his full attention on Momoi.
"What are your thoughts on it, Momoi? Do we stand a chance?"
Her opinion on the subject asked out of the blue, the girl gasped in bewilderment but she was looking kind of familiar with the process and soon reverted in her manager mode. Girls who disliked Momoi's guts bitched her work at the basketball club by stating she was only the pretty girl with no brain trying to seduce all the boys around. However, this regard Midorima had for her opinion told otherwise. Her data gathering and analysis skills won the respect of the whole basketball club and thus, her input was as much valuable than a player.
"Hm..." She pondered, putting her chin in her hand, "Six against one. The odds are a bit unfair for Akashi-kun. Still, if we think back of our defeat, it seems barely enough."
"Hey, just how many people do we need to take him down?" Aomine rolled his eyes.
"An army?" She joked, although half of it was serious as her smile hardened. "That's how terrible of an opponent Akashi is. But we might stand a chance if we use Tetsu-kun wisely. In my opinion, the best strategy is to put Tetsu-kun when Akashi-kun is at his lowest, that is to say : last position. One by one will have to get the ground ready for the last round by wearing Akashi-kun down."
"We do share the same opinion, I see." The green of his eyes shone in acknowledgement.
But the idea didn't get the majority. "Eeeh...you mean, I have to play knowing I have to lose...? I don't want to...What's the point of even playing?"
"Oi, sorry to break it to you but we're going to play rock-paper-scissors, not a freaking basketball game. Is there a need of a strategy here?"
The protest of her childhood friend fell deaf to her ears but as she mouthed "Rock-paper-scissors" in the middle of her thoughts, something clicked in Momoi. She threw a glance at Ritsu who caught a change in her gaze.
"AAH! You idiots!" She snapped madly, a sense of reality struck her as instantaneously as her mood change. "It's not THE time to be playing rock-paper-scissors with Akashi-kun!"
The boys but Kuroko stumbled back at the girl's modd shift. A second earlier, Momoi was about to cooperate, the next, she made an enemy of them.
"You lost your marbles or what, Satsuki?"
"You guys are really hopeless!"
The words echoed to the same ones Ritsu gave them earlier and settled in an awkward silence. Clearly, the boys were confused and clueless like kids wrongly scolded for a mistake they didn't make or had yet to figure out. Even so, none of the three dared to talk back as if intimidated and helpless before the wrath of a woman.
The scene put a smile on Ritsu's lips. Momoi sure handled them perfectly.
"Do you remember what day we are?!"
"Yeah, Valentine's day...?" Aomine replied after hesitating, rubbing his neck.
"In that case, you know that it is an important day for Asaka-chan!"
Aomine shot her a look saying "What's being so important for her?" but the question would not get past his gaping mouth. But Momoi read his thoughts as if he had voiced them. This lack of sensitivity was exactly what she was reproaching him.
She sighed in exasperation, so deeply that Ritsu felt she'd heaved it on her behalf.
"Oh..." Murasakibara exclaimed in realization and garnered all the attention from the little group. "Now that you mention it...Asa-chin made chocolate for Aka-chin."
Puzzled, Midorima and Aomine fixed their eyes on him more intently than the rest.
"Only for Aka-chin..." Murasakibara added in a self-realization mutter rather than an answer.
As they slowly caught the meaning, their dumbfounded gazes slid in her direction.
"Then you..."
"Let's go inside first and eat." Ritsu smiled timidly then urged the rowdy group inside before anything.
The hallway was hardly the place to have such a talk. Who knows when Akashi might come down to the music room? If Akashi had to know about her feelings, she'd rather not have him heard it around a corner of a hallway but when she'd confess to him.
"But Asaka-chan...!" Momoi tried to oppose since her prior intention was to leave Akashi and her alone at lunchtime, certainly to give her a chance to spend an intimate moment with him.
But Ritsu inserted the key of the music room into the lock and opened it. She casually went in. Reluctantly, Momoi fell into her steps along with the group of boys.