This is just as a heads up for those who haven't realized, but I am following the MANGA timeline so if you are an anime knb fan there will be definitely some spoilers about things that happen later in this ff ^_^

*also another minor minor detail to note

before akashi #2 took over he actually referred to his friends by their last names and not their first, so please excuse that mistake on my behalf!

The warm sunlight reflected on Shirokawa's ivory hair as the sun began to set. Next to her, the quiet tapping of Akashi's shoes drummed loudly in her ear as she strained to calm her heartbeat. In the back of her mind, Shirokawa could register the questions Akashi was asking her. And even more miraculously, she was able to reply without stuttering at all.

"Mhm, it's called Runners High. I was hooked on the guitar riff and we all decided to learn it."

Akashi smirked, recalling their horrible attempt to redeem the song. "Ah no wonder why.." he murmured, letting the sentence disappear into the air.

"Yep! It's a new chart, thats why we all sound so bad." She joked, immediately understanding his vague comment.

The pair quietened down after their small laugh, both seemingly to return back to their own thoughts. Shirokawa's thoughts however, was set on the boy right beside to her left. The captain of Generation of Miracles, although one of the shortest, was still almost a head taller than herself. His body was muscular formed by years of basketball training compared to the round curves of hers - which she was able to remember with embarrassing clarity from the day he carried her to the nurses office. His stance was poised and elegant as he walked beside her, emitting with quiet confidence that she seemed to lose when she was around him. Shirokawa's eyes flickered towards him, watching his red hair frame his face as the wind battered against it. She almost fell into a daydream watching him, until he felt her gaze on him.

Akashi's head twisted ever so slightly, training his eyes onto hers. She held her breathe immediately, feeling the blood rise up to her cheeks. 'I was caught staring!' Quickly, she opened her mouth to stutter something random when Akashi turned to the opposite direction, coincidently to a basketball court. He thought she was staring at the basketball court. 'I'm saved!' The nervous girl sighed to herself happily, or so she thought.

"You wanted to play on the basketball courts?" The redhead asked curiously.

"Oh, I-"

"Don't worry. I've got a basketball in my bag. Let's go?"

Blurting out her reply without any thought, she agreed with fake cheer.

"Sure!"

ooo

Akashi promptly put on his game face as he watched Shirokawa leave her bags beside the court. She saw his change in demeanor and slightly flinched, thinking back to all the training she had as a child. It had been years, how could she possibly defeat the captain of a team dubbed by many as 'The Generation of Miracles'?!

Amused at her reaction, Akashi dropped the attitude and laughed.

"Don't worry, I won't go full out. After all, we don't want a repeat of last time do we?"

His intention to loosen Shirokawa up failed, instead causing her to unconsciously move away from him even further. He knew she would not be able to keep it up for too long however, as they were about to play a match of basketball whether it was light or not. The genius captain started dribbling the ball expertly between his hands before sprinting to one side of the court. All instincts kicked in and Shirokawa sprinted after him, moving at a speed almost faster than Akashi himself. Her eyes were drilled on the ball, slim arms reaching out to tap the ball out of his hands. While Akashi saw it coming and quickly switched directions, Shirokawa was able to knock out of his hands anyways. 'Ah, so my original judgement was correct.' Her skills were impressive indeed.

With light touches of exposed skin, the pair continued neck to neck like this for a while and with the air around them beginning to cool as sunset passed. Although Shirokawa was able to keep up with him at the beginning, her time away from basketball was apparent and the girl was struggling for breath. Deciding enough was enough, she plopped down straight on the basketball court and giggled. "Akashi-san, you're even scarier in a 1v1!"

"Oh? Since when did you think I was scary?"

"Ever since I first watched you on court!"

She let out a small giggle again, until she noticed the close proximity in which Akashi had laid down beside her. Unconsciously, she shifted to the other side. Ever since, well many events, Ayame had been noticing him more and more.. in an unwelcome way. Embarrassed by her thoughts, she had tried hard to keep a friendly distance with him in desperation to hide her feelings from him. But it was futile and Akashi was able to notice it anyways, seeing the fine details in both basketball and the people around him.

"Stop doing that."

Her reply was wordless, only giving him a confused gaze.

"You keep moving away from me.. why?"

"Ah.." Her eyebrow furrowed, measuring out her words carefully this time. Ayame racked her brain endlessly for a good excuse, but nothing came to her mind but the truth. The risky, nerve-racking and dangerous truth.

"I'm.. I'm not connected to basketball.." she began.

He waited instead of intervening, forcing her to continue explaining herself.

"I-I know you love basketball so much! So, I just.."

She hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to continue or not. Taking a quick look at Akashi's passive face, she continued. "I just don't understand why you would want to stay with someone as useless as me?"

"..."

"I'm sorry that must've been really rude to our friendship! I- I just mean that-"

Ayame babbled on, trying to hide the feelings she was holding. Akashi thought about her words as she continued. It was no use denying the truth. That was how he thought of her at the beginning, just a pawn - but it seemed she might be more than that. Exactly what where those feelings, he wasn't sure. But for once Akashi had no calculations or plans for these new turn of events anyways. And with that thought, he gave one of his rare smiles only for her.

The words which Shirokawa had been trying to force out stopped as she stared at the boy sitting in front of her. Somewhere in her heart during that moment, she could no longer deny all those nights sitting in her bed, trying to sort out her feelings.

Shirokawa liked him.

This was the boy she had a crush on. Akashi, merely a disciplining captain to others was a boy who listened to her babbles, who worried for her fragile health, who took interest in their varied hobbies.

Akashi.

A boy who had turned into something important along the way.

It took a while, thats for sure, but Shirokawa could no longer deny the small bloom of love towards the redhead. She didn't expect much obviously, having only met each other a few months ago. Yet the heated warmth she was feeling only blurred out the logical thoughts in her head. No matter how short of time it had been nor how unimportant their friendship was, she went with her gut instinct.

"Akashi-san, I think I like you." She whispered breathlessly, unable to let go of his gaze.

He smirked amusingly. "I think?"

"I think?" She blanked at his unexpected reply. "Uh, yes? I mean no! I know! I know I like you! Like you know, 'know' as in knowing and not the other 'no' as is the rejection no, and uh..I mean-" Her breath caught, forcing her to stop at her blabbering. "Do you get what I mean?" She blushed profusely, stuttering over her words.

Only unfair boys like Akashi would reply to her confession with a question. Quickly losing her confidence, Ayame pushed her body up to begin sprinting her way home so she could crawl into a hole forever, when she heard a husky laugh behind her.

Akashi, still sitting on the ground swiftly pulled her into an embrace after her words, savoring the soft body that was precious in his arms. They both stayed quiet, forgetting everything before and only taking in act of the embrace. Inside of Ayame, she could feel the blooming hope that she wanted to desperately grab onto. Holding tighter into the embrace, she had secretly hoped for something more. Slowly, Akashi let go first, staring at her smooth lips until he noticed her flushed cheeks.

"I'll save my ideas for another time." the boy thought, as he watched her internal breakdown.

Breaking their embrace, the redhead had instead pulled Ayame up from their sitting position, and began walking in the direction of the exit. Except this time, his fingers were wound tightly around hers, sharing their warmth in the chilly evening. Trying to keep her breathing even, Ayame waited for Akashi to say something. Hope dwindled as minutes passed, and he only replied with deafening silence despite the hand holding. Finally giving up on an explanation from him, the confused girl tried to make out a understandable sentence.

"Akashi-san.. whats your.. reply?" She murmured, gesturing to their hands

At the sound of her voice, Akashi turned around to face the defeated girl. His face held a devilish grin as he began to lean into her ear. Whispering tantalizingly, he murmured, "It's a secret."

happy new year everyone, i'm going on an upload spam lmao

thanks for the support ^_^

please continue to watch over me for another year~