Author's note: Hey there! Here's another chapter - a little bit slowing down the action, cause I don't want to forget about my character's feelings. I leave you to Chiara and her friends, since Akashi seems to be in a bad mood today. Wonder why, hehe. Let them know what you think, and I'll see you soon, this time with finishing part of InterHigh. Just wanted to say thank you for reading this and sticking with me - there are so many of you I just... Love you! :)

The next morning I got up confused about what I had said to Sebastian. I was sure there was a creepy, but honest confession from me. My head hurt from too many tears and weird dreams that kept me awake from time to time. As soon as I showed up in the hotel restaurant he smiled at me and made some space for me to sit. My whole team has already been there, eating and preparing for the first day of InterHigh. Then the part for reporters would come. The conference and many interviews were waiting for me. I wondered if they would call me 'a mystery, but unbeatable captain' again. During my last interview I didn't want to speak about tactic or strategy, so the article was rather short, but detailed about my personal life. Not that it made me happy. I just found it useless to fight with them. Maybe this time I'll talk a bit more. We started InterHigh with a match against an interesting team from Tokyo. The match started in the late evening, so we still had time for a proper warm-up.

I was just reaching for an orange juice, when I heard noises from behind restaurant's door. It wasn't a second until Rakuzan basketball players entered the room, already in their uniforms. In the end were Akashi and Reo, talking over some sheets of paper. The brunet noticed me and waved his hand in a greeting. I reciprocated the gesture, but smile wiped away from my face, when I saw Akashi's face. The redhead bowed to me and looked at Sebastian. Everything happened so fast! Basketball captain changed his face expression in a second; it was a real death glare. Though it wasn't directed to me I turned my head away, terrified. There are more important things than those two ranting and raving at each other. They hadn't been best friends in Teikou, but there at least had been respect. I caught my vice-captain's sleeve, wanting him to calm down. He came to his meal with a pout, but I couldn't stop him from staring at basketballers' table.

"What a bunch of scemi!" he growled. Sebastian wiped his mouth and left the place, not bothering to look back. I almost dropped the fork, ashamed. What the heck?!

Putting on my shoes in the locker's room I wasn't in the mood for talking with anyone. Usually we exchanged small details about opponent players or simply cheered each other up. Today, though, the atmosphere between us was... ugly. The worst thing about it was that I didn't know why. I must have omitted something, but why is everyone trying not to let me know?

"It's time." I only sighed, getting all the attention. Boys went after me; we were welcomed by additional headlights. School tournaments couldn't be played on full-time pitches; at least not InterHigh. Only Spring Cup had this privilege. This solution had it pros and cons. We didn't have to run so much while coming back from offense to defense. But we also had to keep in minds our strength and temper our plays. If the grass is fine, we will have no problems.

To be honest, I had never doubted my boys' skills in the game. Although like every Italian they often let their emotions take control, they are totally different people in the match. They calculate coldly, knowing exactly when they can get carried away. If I had to leave them to a one on one challenge, the opponent would have no chance. What I have been working on from the beginning of our team were trust and cooperation. I've been repeating my father's words like mantra, holding on tightly. It explained everything unclear on the pitch. Beside those ten powers supporting me I could count on this special one - eleventh.

Today somehow, shaking opponent captain's hand I trembled with fear. I'm not gonna lose this match. Levels of our skills were varying too much. Unfortunately, I couldn't make contact with Sebastian, who stared at his shoes with absent glare. Before the whistle I approached him. I was too angry and determined to let his stupid argument with Akashi destroy my game.

"You explain me what is going on, or I sub you out. I don't need useless ballast." I said. Maybe it was a bit harsh, but I needed some kind of reaction from him. The blonde looked at me and breathed deeply, as if we has removing annoying weight. In a few seconds I felt it again; his faith next to mine. He smiled slightly.

"Just you try, Chiara, and you'll regret it. I think I'm better now. It's good to have you. And Akashi is an idiot that you don't have to care about. After leaving you yesterday I met him in the corridor, where we talked a bit... well, about you. But no worries, nothing you'd be not aware of. I told him to behave properly."

"Oh God, why are you punishing me with those idiots?" I murmured, loud enough for him to hear me. I smacked him in the arm and came to my position, satisfied with the effect. I didn't have to confront redhead about this, what was truly relieving.

The silence was broken by whistle's sound, and so we started.

Next few days were extremely exhausting for us. After breakfast we went for a match, warm-up or gym, depending on the schedule provided for every team. I also had to attend meetings with my physiatrist, in order to keep my knee in a good condition. We were doing relatively fine; we had promised to play at seventy percent of our strength. We couldn't always make it though, looking at laziness of opponents. Who wouldn't lose their will to fight? That is why we reached semifinals without a problem. We were allowed to have a free day, which we decided to use and take a glance at basketball tournament. I quietly believed I will have a chance to meet Midorima or Kuroko. Those two, excluding Akashi, were closest to me. They weren't as energetic as Kise or Aomine, so talking with them was way easier.

I barely managed to enter the stadium, when someone from behind ran into me, bumping on my shoulder. I hissed in pain, feeling someone's small foot trampling mine. With a death glare I turned around, ready to scold the stranger. I was too tired physically and mentaly to pretend being gentle. How surprised I was to notice long, pink hair in front of my eyes. I blinked, taken aback.

"Momoi?" I moaned, rubbing hurting arm. The girl, at the sound of her name, turned toward me, surprised not less than me.

"Chiara-san!" she squeaked, running to me. "I'm really sorry, but I had to find Aomine-kun. He had hidden somewhere again and doesn't want to show up for a match!"

I raised my eyebrows; what the hell was going on with this guy? I remember him coming to me one day, during my shift in the office. We had had a quite long conversation about the feeling of alienation in the team. I understood the reason why Aomine had been losing the urge to play. But still, we managed to find another goals he could concentrate on, so basketball would still entertain him. Could it be that it stopped working?

"Repeating of junior high?" I asked, folding my arms. We moved to the side, avoiding barring entrance. My boys had gone to check on schedule; we really wanted to see Rakuzan's match.

"If not worse, Chiara-san..." she murmured. I have always pitied her. She has been dealing with this basketball idiot for so long that she had no time for herself. How much had she sacrificed for him! "Anyway, what are you doing here? Are you perhaps having a free day?"

I nodded my head, smiling lightly. 'I don't even know why are you asking, because you are probably well informed.' I thought. Momoi's skills in gathering data and using it for further usage were very useful for me back in Teikou. When I had known I hadn't had time for that, I had asked her. In return I would go shopping with her sometime. We used to be on good terms. But today I have seen those eyebags, pale complexion and clenched, shaking fists. Oi, Aomine, you stupid brat, you're playing with her too much!

"Maybe you would like to watch match with me?" I asked. "My boys will surely have something interesting to say to you. You will be able to rest from your team."

"I'd really love to, Chiara-san, but I can't, I have to prepare notes for the possible quarter-final. If everything goes well, will be fighting with Ki-chan!"

"Then you have to excuse me, but I will be joining my team; I would like to watch at least one meeting. Tell Aomine I will get him, if he still behaves like that. Good luck!" I let her hug me one last time and even made few steps toward teammates waiting for me, when I heard her calling.

"Chiara-san! Tell me... Is Akashi-kun... Is everything alright with him?"

I frozed. I wasn't expecting that question. Momoi was observant, but I didn't think she'd be interested in this story.

"What do you mean, Momoi?"

"Is he, eh, is that Akashi-kun you had been working with in junior high? Are you feeling any difference?" she was throwing questions at me in desperation, and for the first time I saw fear in her eyes. Their third year had to be awful. I smiled subtly, snorting.

"We all change with every second, Momoi. Some people stronger, some other lightly. You and I - we're both different persons than two years ago. And when it comes to Akashi, well... let's say that I haven't sensed any warm from him for quite a long time. But maybe it is my fault?" I laughed bitterly. "It was me who broke her heart into pieces, so the only job left for him was step over them and turn them into dust. In the end I'll make him blow it away, so it will never feel again. No, I'm not going to be sorrowful here. Cheer up a bit, everything's gonna be fine! Even best friends can become enemies, right?"

"You still care for him, am I right?" she whispered. Oh God, it hurt so much! Did we really change the subject so easily?

"I can't leave him alone, Momoi. Just like you with Aomine, I play my role next to Akashi. I haven't fulfilled my promise; I let him stray, believing he's on his own. I will not do that ever again. Even if it is going to cost me more than this broken heart." I answered, barely holding back my tears.

"You know he never wanted to hurt you, Chiara-san. It was all written in his eyes. Oh, I gotta go, they're calling me. See you soon!"

The girl left me alone with my thoughts. Until now they were organized, but she made a mess again. I didn't want to wonder how long will it take me to calm down. But there was a match waiting for me! I shook it off and joined my boys.