Why the heck were they walking in the same direction?

After what happened in Haven, the rest of the Generation of Miracles headed to their own team's places but Seirin and Akashi headed to the same gymnasium.

True to what Mika feared, their schools' basketball teams were assigned to the same court. It meant that Akashi and she would be near each other for the rest of the program.

"Are you alright?" Her senpai, Hyuga, asked the moment they set foot inside the gym. "Your eyes are puffy. Did you cry?"

Mika just shrugged. "I'm alright, captain."

"If you say so."

When they settled on their bench, the other Seirin basketball club members displayed the same worry as their captain. They were in the middle of asking the girl what happened to her when they suddenly stopped and be silent.

Mika lifted her head and saw that the Rakuzan captain was threading his way toward them-towards her.

"Excuse me, Mika-san?" The boy was smiling but was looking lost as he looked into Mika's eyes.

She heard the Seirin students gasp slightly after hearing Akashi speak her first name with respect. But the girl was not in the mood for entertaining the teen. She faced her back at the boy and pretended that he didn't exist.

Eager to talk to her, Akashi maneuvered his way toward Mika's front. "Would you like to have a practice match with Rakuzan?" he asked as softly as he could. It reminded Mika of their tender conversations back at Teiko, but she instantly willed herself to stop thinking about it.

She could feel that the others were watching them from the corner of their eyes. Aware that she couldn't just ignore the boy, she finally answered, "Y-you-" Her voice broke so she coughed. "You don't need to ask me." She didn't look at him, trying to focus on some of the boys doing exercises in the middle of the court.

The Rakuzan captain answered, "But you are Seirin's manager. And I wanted to talk to you anyway. What happened before at Teiko-"

Well, she didn't want to talk to him, so she walked hurriedly to Aida to tell her about Akashi's suggestion, hoping that the boy would finally leave her alone.

"T-that's great." the Seirin coach blew on her whistle. Immediately, their regular players gathered near them. Everyone was still stealing glances at her and Akashi. At last, Aida asked the question the rest of the group wanted to ask, "You two know each other?" Pertaining to her and the Rakuzan captain.

"He was my classmate," she said.

"She's my girlfriend," Akashi said.

It was as if the whole court heard their words. Maybe every single soul in the gym really did hear, because this time all the noises stopped and everyone froze, watching her and the red-haired boy.

What did he say?

He said… that she was his… girlfriend?

WHAT THE HELL?

"What are you saying, President?" Her heart was pounding loudly inside her chest but it wasn't from deep admiration but something different. It was beating fast from rage. Why was he doing the same thing he did before? Like he was owning her only to throw her away? "We are not going out." Now she fully faced him. She was sick and tired of Akashi Seijuro's games. If he thought that he could have and do whatever he wanted, then he was wrong. But when she stared at him, she didn't see his proud self. He was blushing so hard and looking unsure. It seemed that he couldn't say a word after what she said. But. No. Mika shouldn't be swayed by the boy's antics. She knew better than to trust him. "You have a fiance," she continued to say. "You have since I don't know when but I'm pretty sure you've been engaged to her during middle school."

He stepped closer to Mika but the girl stepped back as he did. He said, "I know you've been confused since the news during the exchange program, but I can explain everything."

"Confused?" Mika repeated. "Why should I be confused?" Actually, she wasn't. She was hurt and furious about what happened. However, deep inside she knew she didn't have the right to. Akashi and her relationship was complicated but, at the same time, there was nothing that bound them. She inhaled deeply and then sighed. "Can we just put the past behind us and continue with our lives? Separately?"

"Are you breaking up with me?" He honestly looked pained.

"We are NOT going out! I'm not your damn girlfriend!" Mika couldn't believe they were having this conversation.

Silence stretched between them as they looked into each other's eyes. Akashi was about to say something when they heard Rakuzan's coach call him.

"We're not yet done talking. Wait for me," the boy said as he went back to his team.

Mika could feel the heat emanating from her red cheeks and it wasn't just her heart, but her lungs too that was being funny. Though she didn't run a mile, she was gasping for dear air.

Only Akashi Seijuro could make her feel this way.

She watched the boy approach his coach. It was the first time in a long while that she had really looked at him. He hadn't changed. He still had his powerful aura and charisma surrounding him. But, he was indeed older now, puberty made him a step closer to being a man. He was more solid and looked stronger.

The match began.

Playing on Seirin's team were Kagami, Hyuga, Izuki, Mitobe, and Kuroko-their usual starters. On Rakuzan were four first years and their captain, Akashi. The game was brutal with two teams refusing to face defeat. It was like watching an official match. No doubt she was witnessing a clash of national-level players.

Kagami was on the roll, dunking the ball Kuroko expertly passed him. The two fist-bumped and she watched how Rakuzan countered. Akashi used his eye to predict how his enemies would strike and successfully got a hold of the ball, shooting a three-pointer. The Rakuzan team shouted in joy and, in the heat of the moment, Mika almost joined them. She shook her head. She wanted to distance herself from Akashi and they weren't even on the same team now. They sat on different benches. They were opponents.

Akashi said they should talk after the match, but Mika didn't want to. She couldn't face him. At least, not yet. So she made an excuse and exited the gymnasium. She'd just help in the kitchen and prepare her teammates' lunch.

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If she could, she'd take her lunch and eat someplace alone, Tetsuya thought as he observed Risa Mikaela try to finish her food at the other side of the table. They were in one of the facility's cafeterias and he was sure the girl was relieved that Rakuzan was eating in another room.

Earlier, Akashi-kun was hoping to talk to Risa-san but she disappeared during the middle of the practice game, only showing up in the cafeteria. Fortunately for her, the Seirin team made sure not to make lunch more awkward by not asking her questions about her relationship with the Rakuzan captain.

Tetsuya finished his meal. Kagami had more than five bowls of rice on his plate but was now finished too. Smiling, the tall teen placed the empty plate and bowls on the dish drainer Risa-san was holding. Tetsuya stood up and held onto the ends of the drainer. "Let me help you."

"No, it's okay," she was saying but Tetsuya was already carrying the drainer.

Carefully, Risa-san put more empty dishes in the drainer and arranged them. Then, she walked out of the cafeteria with the pale boy.

"I'm sorry." At last, Tetsuya already found the right time to apologize. The girl did not reply. Not that he was expecting her to immediately forgive her. He tried to explain, "After you were gone, things changed with Teiko's basketball club. Akashi-kun, in particular, became a different person entirely. He became too cold and heartless and he was unstoppable. He just became his usual self after Rakuzan's defeat last Winter Cup. But, lately, he reverted back to his cold self according to his teammates." Risa-san was walking in front of him so Tetsuya had no idea about the girl's reaction. He continued. "His teammates, well, former teammates asked us a favor. They are third-year students but Akashi-kun dismissed them from the club because he thought that will make Rakuzan stronger. They already talked to Akashi-kun but he wouldn't change his mind so-"

Risa-san stopped in her tracks, making Tetsuya almost bump her back. "That has nothing to do with me," was what she said.

It pierced Tetsuya's heart. "I'm sorry," he apologized again. Maybe his plan wasn't right after all. Only now did he realize that he had re-opened wounds that hadn't been healed before. He did a bad thing. No, a cruel thing. "Risa-san. It's alright. You can quit and go back home. I'll talk to coach and the rest of the team."

"Isn't it too late for that?" The girl took the dish drainer from his hands. "I cannot cancel Shelter's works and I already promised that I will help Seirin. Just. Please. Don't use me in any ploy about President, because it will only result in nothing. I'm sure of that." She threaded the path toward the dirty kitchen.

Tetsuya froze as he stand and watch the girl leave. He'd always admired Risa Mikaela-strong but kind and charitable. She was a born leader and born to shine yet hide in the shadows. He'd often wondered what it would feel like to be close to her. To understand her. To be her friend… and maybe something… more?

His eyes widened.

Maybe the main reason why Tetsuya wanted Risa-san on his team was not because of Akashi-kun, but because he, too, wanted a chance to be with her.

The realization of it all hit Tetsuya in his very core.

It was now clear to him.

He liked her.

He liked Risa Mikaela.

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It was nighttime when she arrived at the training facility in the middle of Kyoto. She inhaled the sweet scent of dwindling summer as she stepped out of her white limousine. Her feet were covered by white stockings and zori. On her hand was a brown floral pouch and she was wearing a bright yellow yukata with brown and white floral patterns. Around her tiny waist was an obi neatly tied and not too tight. Her thin pink lips smiled and displayed pearly white teeth.

"Ojousama, do you want to meet Akashi-sama now? I can send word to one of the staff and tell him you have arrived," the bodyguard in a crisp black suit said to the girl.

Her black bob hair swayed when she shook her head. "No need. It's already late. I'll see him tomorrow morning," she replied with a tone as sweet as candy. Anyway, Shimizu Fuyuko had all the time in the world.