A/N: Enjoy and leave a review!
This may be my last update for a while since school has started, so I made this chapter a bit longer than usual. I did already write the next two chapters, so I'll probably put those up spaced out in a week or so. Loves you all and stay tuned please!
Usui Takumi was getting on her nerves, Misaki decided. He had bested her in the bread-eating contest, beat her in the frisbee golf, and he had managed to win in both the ping pong and the hacky sack throwing competitions. Now the Hyoudo and Walker companies were tied 4-4. There was only the basketball game left.
"Listen up," Misaki said, gathering her teammates. "We're going to try and do our best no matter what. Remember to choose someone to guard at all times, and always be alert. This is our pride at stake here. We, of the Hyoudo company, do not give up!"
The Hyoudo competitors cheered though Kanou and a few others looked uneasy at the near fire in her eyes. They were all good at their jobs, organized and hard-working, but none of those desk job skills really transferred over to sports. A silent agreement passed through the Hyoudo basketball team, though Misaki was unaware. Any time they touched the ball, they were just going to throw it to Misaki and hope for the best. She was the only hope for them.
Misaki threw on her red jersey, turning a determined eye onto the gym floor, which had been set up into four big basketball courts. "Let's do this!"
She cast a mere glance on the Hyoudo's assigned court where their opponents in blue jerseys had gathered. The opponents seemed to shiver when they felt a chilling presence upon them. The only player who didn't seem bothered was Usui Takumi. Misaki scowled at him, taking in his comfortable lounging position on the bleachers. She had participated in eight rounds of events and was quite sweaty with her energy no longer at the high point it was when she started. Usui barely sweated, and what little perspiration he had seemed to give his skin a golden glow.
Perhaps sensing her scowl, Usui lifted his head and smiled at Misaki. Her face flushed before she could send another disapproving look and turn her head away. Misaki nearly crushed the metal water bottle in her hands from the embarrassment and fury she was experiencing.
That Usui Takumi was just making a fool of her. Just because he was wealthy did not mean he got to lord it over everyone else. He was probably born in a silver spoon while she had to work hard all her life.
Wait. No. She couldn't think like that. Misaki took a deep breath to calm herself. She had thought that Usui wasn't too bad for a rich person, considering he had stayed overtime to work with her and even gave her a ride home. Her competitiveness was just getting to her, and she was taking any signals from the opponent as hostile.
She glanced back at Usui, only to be surprised that he was already looking straight at her. He lifted his water bottle to her as if in a salute and winked.
Now he was really being obnoxious, Misaki decided. Well, she was going to wipe that damn smirk off of his face when she crushed them on the court. Take that, Usui Takumi. Unfortunately, the Walker and Hyoudo teams were not playing each other for the first rounds so she couldn't obliterate Usui Takumi straight away.
"Good luck, Ayuzawa," Usui called as she passed the Walker team to head to the Hyoudo's assigned court.
"Thanks," she replied with gritted teeth. "Good luck to you as well, Usui." Don't lose before I can beat you to a pulp, she thought. With that, she stalked off, missing the admiration in Usui's eyes as his gaze followed her receding back.
The first two rounds and semifinal rounds were easy victories for the Hyoudo company as Misaki dodged, stole, and dunked the basketball past the opposing team. The morale of the Hyoudo team seemed to grow and feed off the losses of the other teams. But they weren't the only team scoring high on the courts.
Way on the other side of the gym rose a loud cheer that reverberated around the walls. Misaki turned around just in time to see Usui leap up above the heads of the players and dunk into the basket milliseconds before the whistle blew, signaling time was up for the game.
As expected, Usui Takumi would not be an easy opponent. Well, it wouldn't be as fun or a challenge if he had lost too early and she didn't have the chance to face him. It was in her blood to thrive for a victory that was well-earned from blood, sweat, and tears.
After a short ten minute break, it was finally time for the Hyoudo and Walker companies to compete against each other in the finale of the basketball competition. The Hyoudo team wore jerseys of red while the Walker company sported blue. The whistle blew and immediately the court was flooded with clashing hues of red and blue chasing after the basketball.
"Ayuzawa!" Kanou shouted.
He threw the ball towards her as soon as there was an opening. The ball spun into the air and Misaki leaped up to grab the ball. But the ball hadn't even grazed her fingers when a tall and dark shadow crossed her path.
"Careful there." With those two words, Usui snatched the ball and dribbled away. Before anyone could react, the ball left his hands and soared into a perfect arch that landed straight into the basket.
"Three points for the Walker team!" The referee shouted. The Walker company and fans cheered as Usui waved towards them. He brushed his golden hair off of his forehead, and the female screams escalated.
"I'm sorry, Ayuzawa," Kanou said, afraid that his boss was mad.
Misaki was, but not at him. "Kanou." She placed one hand on his shoulder. "Prepare to put in full effort or die." She turned away to her starting position, missing how Kanou's legs were trembling.
The whistle pierced through the air, and the game restarted. Misaki rushed for the ball.
69-71 blared in red light on the scoreboard. There were only five seconds left in the game.
Misaki felt the ball land in her fingers as it was tossed into her hand and she moved towards the basket. The Hyoudo team was just two points behind. If she could just throw it past the two tall Walker players who were guarding her and make a two-pointer shot. But the guards were too tall with their waving limbs, blocking any hopes of her taking a shot.
There! An opening to her left that left Kanou unguarded in plain sight. Misaki feinted a pass to her right, faking the two players to jump up. Quick as lightning, she twisted her body to throw the ball in the mere second opening that she had. The ball sailed through the air, perfectly landing. But before Misaki could celebrate her success, she felt her body buckle as she landed down from her jump in the wrong position.
"Ah!" Misaki stepped back in reaction, feeling sharp pain in her right ankle that caused her to stumble, just as the whistle pierced the air to signal the end of the game. The basketball sailed into the basket a millisecond after.
Misaki expected to feel her back meet the cold gym floor. Instead, warm hands caught her just before she could collapse. "Ow," she whimpered as the dull pain throbbed in her ankle.
"Are you all right, Ayuzawa?" Usui's voice was right behind her.
"Um, yes, I'm fine." Her heart was thundering in her chest, perhaps from her unexpected fall, perhaps from his chest being pressed to her back. Suddenly, she was very aware of how sweaty she was and how her jersey was clinging to her skin. "T-thank you, Usui. You can let go of me now."
Usui's grip on her tightened as she struggled to stand up and move away from him. "Don't place your weight on your right foot. You twisted it pretty badly."
Misaki leaned most of her weight on her left foot, gingerly testing her weight on her left foot. The pain flared again whenever she tried to step on her right foot.
The rest of the Hyoudo company gathered around her. "Are you all right?" Satsuki asked worriedly.
"I'll be fine. My ankle's not broken, I think."
"Still, you should go to the hospital!" Satsuki insisted.
Misaki cringed. With her mother's health in such frailness, the hospital was the last place Misaki wanted to be. Not to mention she had to save money, and a hospital bill would no doubt be damaging to her bank account.
"Can you walk?" Usui asked.
Damn, but he was too close, causing her face to redden for what must have been the millionth time. "Um, I think I can get to the bleachers. Really, I'm fine."
His forehead furrowed as he thought. "I guess there's no helping it. I'll have to carry you then."
"Wait, what?"
Before Misaki could protest, he had already swept her into his arms bridal-style as if she was no heavier than a feather. Misaki wrapped her arms around his neck and shoulders instinctively in case she fell.
"Kyaa!" A few women squealed.
"So gentlemanly of him! As expected of Usui Takumi."
"She's so lucky. Do you think if I broke my leg he would carry me like that?"
"Usui," Misaki said, hiding her red face behind some strands of dark hair that had escaped her ponytail. "Really, it's fine. You can just set me down over there. It's my fault for being so clumsy. I'm not defenseless you know." Now she was hyper-aware of his hands on her back and on the backside of her thighs. Did Usui not think it was embarrassing for her to be carried like this in front of so many people? Hopefully no one was going to take pictures of her. She would never live it down.
But Usui paid her no mind, swiftly carrying her out of the gym and into the large company foyer. "It's no trouble. I'm not going to let the star Hyoudo employee who's doing such great work for my company suffer mediocre medical treatment." He smiled down at her.
She tore her gaze away from his mesmerizing eyes to stare at some nondescript area of his shoulder. His shoulders were quite broad, she had to admit. "W-where are we going? If it's the hospital, then there's really no need." They had entered a hallway off the main foyer.
"We're here," he said simply. "Do you mind reaching over to open the door? My hands are a little tied up," he joked.
Misaki opened the door with her free hands. The nameplate on the door they had stopped in front of told her they were at the clinic.
"You have a clinic inside your company?"
The clinic was small but clean with the light scent of lemon disinfectant. Three empty beds with fresh linens were aligned alongside one wall with curtains to separate each for privacy. Usui gently set her on one of the beds and dragged over a chair to sit in.
"Yes. Our employee insurance offers preventative and quick medical services right at our own building. It'll help keep up employee morale and make sure no Walker employer falls sick from overworking. Although, right now we're in the midst of hiring a new doctor who's supposed to start next week. For right now, I'll take a look at your ankle. May I?"
"Oh, um, sure."
Usui untied and took off her shoe and socks. Misaki gently rolled her ankle, grimacing at the slight pain, but it was fading as time went on. There was a small bleeding wound on each of ankle, right where the heel of her shoe rubbed into the skin of her feet.
He ran his fingers along her ankle, feeling for any swollen or bruised areas. "Well, it's not broken or sprained for sure. You probably overworked yourself on all the competition rounds. I'll put a bandage on your heels for those small wounds. That was a lot of running and jumping you did today that I'm surprised you didn't feel any pain earlier."
"I guess I was too absorbed into playing to notice."
"Did you have fun, then?"
Usui was smiling so warmly at her. "Y-yes."
He had a light touch and was now beginning to massage her foot. His fingers seemed to have minds of their own, knowing which exact pressure areas to focus on to relieve her foot of tension. Who exactly was this Usui Takumi? How was he so good at everything, from sports to business to having knowledge of foot massages?
"What?" Usui blinked. "Who am I?"
Oh, no, she had accidentally said her question out loud. "Er, um, well, there's no way a normal human could just be so perfect at everything...that is."
"A normal human, huh? What do you think I am, if not human?"
"An...an alien?" Misaki offered, her face warm.
Damn, that was the only thing she could think of at the top of her head. Their business partner was going to think she was crazy and break off all the partnership and the Hyoudo company would be in financial ruins. Why did she let down her defenses right then?
Usui looked startled but just laughed. "An alien, that's a new one."
"I was only joking! Th-that's not true, right?"
He merely smiled mysteriously, neither confirming nor denying her answer.
"If you don't say something, I'll really start to believe it, you know." Misaki huffed. The idiot was teasing her.
"You can think of me in whatever way you want, Ayuzawa. By the way, great job on the advertising for the Annual Walker Company Sports Day as well as during the competitions themselves. You've worked hard."
"Thank you. Although, not hard enough. We still lost 4-5 to your company."
"You've done well regardless."
There was a small pause, and Misaki only just realized how close she was to Usui. When had he leaned closer to her? This close, she could see his unmarred skin, the hint of brown-hazel in his green eyes, and the chiseled features of his nose and jawline.
Her breath caught in her throat as his face inched closer. Another inch. Then another. He smelled pleasant despite the exercise from earlier, a welcome change to the sterile citrus fragrance of the clinic. His lips were now clear in view. Was he going to kiss her?
Usui brushed some white fluff or thread out of her hair before leaning back. Then he noticed her expression. "Are you all right, Ayuzawa? Maybe you should rest for now. You exerted a lot of energy today. Staying off your feet as much as possible would be best."
"Oh, um, yes I'm fine."
Stupid. He was just getting some lint off of her hair. Why was she getting so tense and overworked over nothing? And a man, no less.
Takumi watched as the Hyoudo company helped Ayuzawa into the car. As much as he wanted to drive her home instead, that would cause too much rumors to spread across his company.
"Yukimura."
"Yes, sir!" The VP scurried to his side. "Is there something you need?"
"Let the Hyoudo company know that the Walker corporation would be honored to have them for dinner."
"Eh?" Yukimura's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "I thought that our company won the Sports Day grand prize by winning five of the nine events."
"Indeed, but it is common for our employees to join the Executives for dinner, is it not? With all the hard work the Hyoudo company has put into our business relationship, I think it only fair to reward them. We can have dinner both within our company and with the Hyoudos as well."
Yukimura bowed slightly. "Then I will schedule a dinner with the Hyoudo company. I believe it'll have to be after the charity banquet this weekend. You can count on me!"
"Sounds good. Send the final seating arrangement document to me when you're ready."
Takumi hid a small smile. She had had such intriguing and adorable expressions on her face earlier, from him wiping bread crumbs from her lips to almost kissing her at the clinic. Her amber eyes had widened, that light sprinkling of pink across her cheeks. A face that was refreshing from not wearing makeup to a sports related event unlike some of the other women wore.
Perhaps his preferred type of women was changing from the sexy and demure type to the cute and slightly violent type. Definitely a turn of events from the submissive type he usually took as a lover.
What other interesting expressions could the Ayuzawa woman display when she found out that he would be placing her in the high seat of honor next to him? This seduction of Ayuzawa Misaki was going to be a quite fascinating addition to his life.