Chapter Nine ~ Guilty As Charged~
(Part 1)
Kagami's POV
Kagami Taiga was sitting on a bench at the park where he was supposed to meet Akira.
His leg was tired from the practice, but at least it wasn't injured any more. He managed to heal just before the first Inter High match tomorrow, with Too Academy.
Akira's competition was tomorrow as well. He really wanted to go and see her perform, but it was impossible with the match being at the same time. He hadn't seen Akira at all this week, since she skipped school to practice at home.
Even without having to spend much time with her he had managed to notice the change in her behavior, probably due to anxienty.
She ate very little or nothing at all and she kept being on her phone, typing things she wouldn't show to him.
She told him it relieved her from stress, so he didn't bother to ask anything more.
But it made him worried seeing her like this, it made him want to be with her and try his best to help her.
That was the main reason he invited her out tonight. He had thought of an excellent place to take her, a place he knew she'd love.
After a few moments of waiting, he noticed Akira walking towards him from the other side of the park. She smiled at him and removed her earphones from her ears.
She was wearing a jean short and a plain purple t-shirt, that made her look really sweat and beautiful.
When she was close enough for Kagami to hear her, she waved at him.
"Yo" she shouted and started walking closer towards him.
"You're here..." said Kagami, placing a soft kiss on Akira's lips.
"Are you ready for tomorrow?" she asked, with a competitive smile.
"Yeah! I can't wait!" he answered excited, put his arm around Akira's neck and started walking.
Akira told him she felt better too. After the extra practice she did this week, she felt extra confident today and she was sure she'd pass to the next stage of the competition.
They started walking towards the place he had selected for their date but he couldn't help but think that Akira was lying to him about feeling better.
She looked much thinner that she was and she had dark circles under her eyes. Her movements were somewhat weak and she looked like she was trembling.
He decided not to talk about it, not before they reached the restaurant at least, so they continued talking on their way there.
(Part 2)
Akira's POV
Akira was looking at herself in the mirror for a few minutes now. She now understood why Kagami was worried about her yesterday.
She looked so tired and stressed. Her eyes were heavy and tired and the dark circles under them were clearly noticeable. The long red dress she wore didn't fit her anymore, since she had lost weight over the last week. It was still suffocating though, or maybe it was her heart that was beating fast, that gave her the feeling of suffocation.
She stopped looking at herself and opened her phone for the millionth time in the last hour.
She read the good luck messages everyone had sent her for a millionth time and took a deep breath.
She had to calm down and so she opened a certain message… Aomine's.
They had been texting each other ever since his first message to her. It felt good talking to him. It made her feel more careless and free. It definitely relieved her from the stress of the competition, but it deprived her from sleep.
She felt guilty for talking with another guy and that was why she hadn't told anyone about it, even though she really wanted to get it off her chest.
It was amazing how he made her feel. She felt like she knew him since forever and his message made her feel much better.
The applause for the candidate that had just performed, got her out of her thoughts and she stood up, getting ready for her performance. It was her turn. All these days' worth of practice led up to this very moment. Her moment. It was her time to shine, or at least that's what she had been telling herself, but it just didn't feel like it.
All the previous candidates had played beautiful pieces, smart choices for a competition like this one. Her choice was a good one too and she knew it, but she couldn't help but worry.
She made her first step on stage, the light fell on her and followed her as she walked towards the grand piano, her steps echoing on the empty stage. Her name and the name of her piece was announced and she gave a small, shy bow to the crowd.
She then turned and took a seat in front of the piano. She adjusted the seat to be comfortable and put her hands on the keys.
'It's now or never' she thought, took a deep breath and started playing.
The melody of the waltz started pouring out of her soul, the anxienty immediately leaving her.
Her tempo was correct as her hands started moving without her thinking much.
She had it, she knew her performance was going to be perfect. It was her moment.
She started thinking of the reason why she chose the particular piece.
Kagami was her reason, the boy that she loved, her love's joy.
She thought of all these moments they had spent together up until now, all these kisses and the butterflies in her stomach when she was next to him.
His love for her, made her feel strong, made her feel herself, it kept her going through hard times and she truly lived for all their future moments together.
But then Aomine came to her mind. She felt excitement rash through her, as she thought of all they had talked about. The way he talked to her made her heart beat fast.
She remembered the weird anxienty that she felt every time she was about to answer a text of his. All these past nights she spent sleepless, trying to figure out why she was still continuing the conversation, trying to figure out why and how he excited her.
Guilt filled her heart and her piece became more rushed.
It was no longer about her love's joy, but her guilt.
She continued playing, now focused on that feeling. She knew it all along that she had feelings for Aomine.
It was a weird feeling, that paralyzed her brain, kept her unable to think clearly and she kept making stupid and rushed decisions.
All these days, she kept wanting to see him, spent time with him.
She didn't know if it was love, but it definitely was something strong. Maybe stronger than her feelings for Kagami.
That thought felt like a stab to her heart. He didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve her.
Her piece was now sounding completely different. It wasn't even about love anymore. She hadn't made any mistakes, but the feeling she gave to it, wasn't what it was supposed to represent.
She didn't represent her love but her guilt, as she was filled with pure excitement.
'I'm in love with him' she thought and deep inside she knew that she had failed her ultimate goal.
It wasn't anxienty, or her fingers trembling that made her fail. It was her own will.
(Part 3)
Akira was waiting for the bus, that would take her to the Inter High match.
The streets were busy and noisy and the bus stop was filled with people.
When she arrived, everyone turned and looked at her. She still wore that red dress and with every passing moment, she felt more and more out of place.
As expected, she didn't make it to the final competition. Her mother, who also happened to be her teacher, scolded her really bad. She had every right to be angry at her for failing. Her mother had done everything she could to help Akira win, but Akira just wasted her efforts.
She didn't feel bad though...She felt so empty...She let her emotions change her performance. She hadn't regret a thing, but it was all in vain. All this practice and time...just to ruin it in the last moment for Aomine.
She hated herself for feeling the way she did, for betraying Kagami and for failing the completion.
But she couldn't control her feelings. It wasn't her fault for feeling like this for Aomine.
'Or is it?'
The bus stopped right in front of her and she entered in hurry, without looking around her.
She bumped on an old lady and another man just after she entered. She apologized and stood at the corner.
'What's wrong with me?' she thought and tears started filling her eyes.
She had never felt like this before... Excitement, anxiety, fear, guilt... All at once.
She didn't want to go to the game... She wanted to be alone and think about what she would do.
She pressed the stop button. She'd leave the bus and walk home. She didn't know where she was, but she didn't care. She started walking towards the bus door, when she felt a vibration from her took her phone out, only to see that she had a message from Aomine.
'He's the last person I want to talk right now' she thought, but opened the message anyway.
"The stadium is five stops later, you stupid"
'What? He's in this bus?'
She looked around her, but he was nowhere to be found. The old lady she had bumped on minutes ago, gave her a scary glare and so she turned to look at the door once more.
Another message followed.
"Look at your right you idiot!" it said.
And she did look at her right…
He was there, sitting at one of the back seats. He was wearing a hood, covering his trademark blue hair. No wonder she hadn't noticed him. He wore short jeans and black basketball shoes and he gave her a smirk when she looked at him.
'Why is this happening to me' she thought and started walking towards him, her heart raising it's pulse.
"Aren't you going to the game?" he asked curiously, when she was close enough to hear him.
"I don't want to go..." she answered, giving him a tired look. She was now standing right in front of Aomine's seat.
She looked him in the eyes and gave him a smirk, the excitement inside her chest, rising. He was taller than her, even when he was sitting. That realization made her cheeks burn a little but she tried to maintain her calm.
"What happened?" he asked, scanning her body. He seemed like he knew what had happened already, he eyes looking at her dress, full of concern and curiosity.
"I didn't make it" she mumbled, her face turning sad.
Suddenly the bus stopped and Akira found herself falling. She hadn't been holding from anywhere, which resulted in her losing her balance and falling on Aomine's lap.
"Shit! I'm sorry" she said and tried to get up as soon as she found her footing.
Her eyes blinked in surprise when she realized that Aomine's hands were wrapped around her waist, holding her, not letting her leave his lap.
"Sit here you stupid! You're gonna fall when the bus starts again!" he whispered to her ear with a deep voice.
'But I was supposed to leave! To go home' she thought, but with the turn the things had taken she wasn't sure if she really wanted to leave.
"So...what happened?" he asked once the bus started moving again.
"I told you I didn't make it!" she answered, giving him an annoyed glare.
"You were going to win, weren't ya?" he asked again with an understanding smile on his face.
'I would if it wasn't for you!' she wanted to say.
"It's a long story..."she admitted with a sigh, wanting to avoid the topic.
"You'll tell me later" he said with a suspicious, mischievous smile.
That's when Akira's cheeks turned completely red. She wasn't sure if she wanted to talk about it with the person who had caused it all. She'd have to admit her feelings and who knows what Aomine would do if he knew.
'If he doesn't know already' she thought, realizing how fast her heart was beating.
"At least Seirin is going to win the match" he said after a short pause.
Only when Aomine reminded her of the match, she realized that he was supposed to be playing right now. A curious smile formed on her face, demanding an answer.
"I overslept" he said bored, when he realized Akira was going to ask why he wasn't there.
"Momoi is so going to kill you.." she said laughing and he nodded guiltily.
(Part 4)
Kagami's POV
The second quarter of the game had just started when the coach realized Kagami was injured again. His knee had been hurting like hell since the first quarter but he carried on and now the coach put freezing spray on him.
"I don't really want to send out an injured player...but we really can't win without you!" said the Coach after she finished with the spray. She really looked worried, but not only for the match that they were losing.
She was really worried about him and about Akira.
She was supposed to be here already! He couldn't help but wonder if she passed to the next stage of the competition, even though he believed in her and he knew that she was able to win.
"Don't worry coach! I'm going to be fine!" he shouted and stood up.
That's when he saw her. Akira was descending the stairs towards the court. She wore a beautiful, long, red dress which made her look even more stunning than she was. His heart fluttered when he saw her and he gained more strength immediately.
She didn't look happy though, she had an empty look on her face and closely behind her was Aomine Daiki.
'What is this bastard doing with Akira!' he thought and felt the blood in his veins boiling.
(Part 5)
Akira's POV
Akira knew from Kagami's look that he was really angry. They didn't talk, but her thoughts got confirmed when Aomine went over to Kagami to tease him.
She knew he was upset that their opponents, even without their Ace, had taken the lead.
But what had upset him even more, was seeing Aomine with her.
Her sister and all the other players that sat on the bench, kept asking her about the competition.
She told them she got nervous and messed up, like any other time…
Riko though, saw through her lies and gave her a "we-will-talk-at-home" look.
The game started soon after Aomine entered the court and she could see Kagami's blood boiling.
She was going to enjoy watching this match.
