What was this? Seijuro's chest was hurting so much that he had to lean forward to ease the pain. But it wasn't working. His mind was blank and he didn't know what to do, what to think. His feet were planted heavily on the ground and it took all of his strength to move.

Mika-san.

It was really her.

"Akashi." Shintaro was done picking up the pieces of broken glass on the floor. "Shouldn't you run after her?"

He wanted to. He wanted so much to run after her and call her name. Suddenly, the world burst into color at the mere sight of her. How could she make him feel this way?

But, he replied with a "No." He knew better than to put gasoline on the fire of emotions swirling inside Mika-san. He should give her time, then they could talk. Clear things up. And start again. How, he didn't know. He didn't have a clue.

Just then, one of Seirin's players, Seijuro remembered that Furihata was his name, entered the court saying loudly to Kuroko, "It's an emergency at Haven! We need Risa-san!"

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Mika pulled her knees closer to her chest. Sobbing like crazy, she hid just behind the door of her and Aida's room. Aida was out with the other Seirin basketball team members, probably eating breakfast according to what the young coach said before Kuroko and Mika went to the gym.

"Mi-chan." Momoi didn't knock but the pink-haired teen had been calling her name gently from the other side of the door, "Do you want to talk now?"

Honestly, Mika didn't want to. Because of the things that happened in her past-all of the broken friendships, bullying, and betrayals-it became hard for her to trust to and confide with someone else. The only people she could really be herself with were her parents, Madam Blanc, and the seamstress' daughter Juliette.

Though, now, it seemed like her insides were churning and tumbling so much she needed someone-anyone-who could help her be steady and get back to her feet again. So dragging her weight, she slowly opened the door. The scent of rose assailed her nostrils as Momoi Satsuki enclosed her in a tight hug.

"Mi-chan. I'm so sorry for what Tetsu-kun did." The beautiful girl was crying a bit.

Momoi had always been kind to her.

Maybe…

Mika hugged the girl back. However, though a bit sure before on opening up, "I-I can't, Momoi-san" was all she could say to her.

Can't what?

Can't forgive Kuroko for what he did? Can't face Akashi again? Can't trust anyone else? Even she didn't know the answers to her own questions.

Just the other day she was determined to start her life all over again. Because she was away from Akashi Seijuro's shadow, she wanted to re-establish Shelter and begin to dream once more. Alone, quietly, and at her own pace. But, now what?

Then she heard a boy shout. "Risa-san! There you are- Huh? Are you okay?" Kawahara was running toward the open door of the room, sweaty and panting. "We were looking all over the place for you. Are you crying?" Then he looked accusingly at Momoi. "Did you make her cry?"

"What? How rude of you! I was comforting her as a friend!" the Too manager replied.

Mika dried her tears and wiped her face using her handkerchief. Maybe the basketball club needed her. Even though Kuroko tricked her, she did promise to help the club. She steadied her breathing but failed. "W-what is it?" Gosh, she was still trembling.

"The Haven staff just called us. They were looking for the head of Shelter. Said one of the elderly felt sick and is suffering from stomachache and diarrhea. The staff were saying she is like that because of our visit."

What?

It felt like a splash of ice-cold water rained down on Mika. Could it be… because of the food that they brought? "Is the elderly okay?" What a stupid question. Of course, they weren't.

Kawahara didn't answer but just frowned. "We should head there now, Risa-san. The staff's really angry."

No way.

She was sure that they've tested every food they gave yesterday. What could have gotten wrong?

"I'm sorry, Momoi-san. I-I have to go." Mika was about to run with Kawahara when the beautiful girl touched her elbow gently to stop her.

"It wasn't so bad, Mi-chan." What was? She wanted to ask but couldn't voice out. Still, the girl seemed to hear her thoughts and said, "Everything. Everything wasn't all bad."

Mika's lips quivered and her tears started to threaten to fall again. "I'm sorry" was her reply before she followed her teammate. They dashed along the corridors and through the fields and courts of the huge training camp, until they reached outside, then they headed toward the old building of Haven. She wiped the tears still forming in her eyes.

A crowd was gathered in Haven's lobby. Aida and a couple of their club members were talking to a number of staff members and a furious volunteer, clad in a white uniform like she was a nurse. She looked like she was in her early twenties. An old woman, thin and sitting in her wheelchair, was at the center of the flock, holding her stomach and looking like she was in pain.

On the other end of the room was Kuroko and the Generation of Miracles. Of course, Akashi Seijuro was there, arms folded firmly on his chest. For a second, their eyes met and Mika's heart skipped a beat.

Stupid, stupid heart.

Why were he and his friends here anyway?

Never wanting to be involved with their group again, she looked away and walked toward the crowd. "I'm the head of Shelter, Risa Mikaela. I would like to know what happened."

The volunteer's mouth gaped like a fish's. "You? Wanna know what happened? You poisoned Dorothy! There. That's what happened. Food poisoning."

Mika didn't back down from the volunteer's steely gaze. She looked back straight into her dark eyes. "That couldn't be, ma'am. We taste-tested every packed meal and they're from a well-known fast food resto."

"Then why did this happen? Poor Dorothy. Did she just magically get sick out of nowhere? I knew it. Haven shouldn't have agreed to an outreach program headed by kids." She was pointing her finger at Mika. "This was all your fault!" She almost hit Mika's forehead with her finger.

From the corner of her eye, the girl could see Aida and a few Seirin members stiffen and clench their fists.

"Excuse me." Mika didn't notice when Akashi had gotten so close to her. He positioned himself beside her, but slightly forward, so that he was nearer to the volunteer and looked like he was shielding the girl. Mika could hear the venom in his voice. "You shouldn't so easily accuse someone."

One eyebrow of the volunteer shot upward. "And you are joining this conversation because you are?"

"I'm Aka-"

"He's no one!" Mika turned to glare at the boy. She didn't like where this was heading. "Shouldn't you be with your teammates practicing? Bring your bevy with you and go back to the camp."

The creases on Akashi's forehead showed as he tried to explain, "Mika-san, this area is under my father's domain. Surely I can-"

But Mika was having none of it. "You can't." Painful memories from Teiko plagued her mind once more. No more of that. "You just can't."

"I'm just trying to help."

"Then please don't."

"Why?"

Why, he asked. At that very moment, Mika saw it unfolding in front of her eyes-the boy helping her and cradling her in his arms, making her believe it was fine to rely on him and then casting her away. Hadn't he already done it before? She absolutely didn't want to suffer the same thing. "I'm sure everything will be fine." Without his help.

"How can things be fine?" The mad volunteer caught their attention. She was seething with rage. "You need to be responsible for what happened to Dorothy. Call her son and tell him it was your fault they need to pay extra bills."

Before Mika could retort, Akashi had placed himself between the two girls again and quickly asked, "Did you let her intake something else after Shelter was gone?"

"President!"

"Huh?" The volunteer's mouth gaped open again, her thick red lips parting. "Are you suggesting that it was my fault? That I gave her something that made Dorothy sick?"

In truth, Mika was meaning to ask the same but Akashi beat her to it. The boy continued to look into the volunteer's eyes. "Mika-san has been doing outreach for years and she never failed at her works before. It won't hurt to look at the other possibilities to this problem."

"I would never give something to endanger my client!"

Mika ignored the two and went straight to Dorothy, who was cowering in her wheelchair. She kneeled in front of the old lady. "Good morning, obaachan. I'm Mika and I was here yesterday with my team. I hope you remember me." The elderly seemed to tremble and look somewhere else, anywhere other than the eyes of the gentle teen. "Is your stomach still hurting?" A nod. Then those unsteady eyes again. Mika inched closer and placed one warm hand on the old lady's knee. "I'm so sorry. Was it our fault?"

"Oh my gosh," exclaimed the volunteer. "Why are you even asking the obvious?"

Mika continued asking Dorothy. "We won't get angry at you. Was it?" The old woman fiddled with her fingers.

"I can't believe you're trying to blame the victim here." The volunteer pushed Mika away and held onto the arms of the wheelchair, guiding Dorothy away from the crowd. "Dorothy, let's just get your son to complain to Seirin about their club and dissolve it."

But before the pissed woman could take a step forward with the wheelchair, the old woman finally spoke a loud "I'm sorry!"

Mika stood up and smiled at the elderly. It was brave of her to speak up.

"I just wanted to have milk in my coffee."

"W-what are you saying?" The volunteer didn't understand what was happening. "You did say you wanted milk in your coffee earlier. Didn't I give it to you?"

"Dorothy is lactose-intolerant," Mika explained. "Before coming here after you called I honestly thought it could be our fault why obaachan got sick, but of course, we shouldn't rule out that she could've drank or eaten something else rather than the food we brought. When we got here, I noticed that obaachan looked restless and guilty so I thought maybe she knew why she got sick."

"I-I didn't know-"

"You didn't read her file thoroughly. It was your fault why this happened yet you blamed someone else." Akashi looked down at the volunteer. He was about to say something but Mika called him.

"President." She prevented the boy from further criticizing the guilty woman. She approached the two and said, "Please call her son about what happened. We'll be heading back to the camp after everything is settled."

"N-no. I- T-this is- You may go." The volunteer didn't even look at her, ashamed, but not saying sorry. Another staff went beside her and started scolding her.

The crowd of students said their polite goodbyes to the rest of the staff gathered there and to Dorothy, and then walked back to the facility.

There.

Mika was able to solve the problem. She didn't need Akashi, right?

Yes.

Not anymore.

Not again.