Here it is. Enjoy. More like a filler chapter, really.

Chapter 8

"Ruka-chan, good morning!" Kyoko, who's on her way outside, greeted Ruka as she entered the classroom. She greeted the brunette back and (with a huge smile upon seeing Midorima) shuffled towards her seat ever so slowly.

She was contemplating whether to greet him or not. Greeting him seemed innocent enough but still somewhat overfriendly. But wouldn't it be kind of rude to just straight ignore him?

"Good morning, Mai-chan!"

Ruka started at the sudden voice and her eyes landed on her dark-haired classmate who was grinning (shocking, really) widely at her.

"G-Good morning, Takao-kun. Why are you so happy?" She eyed him weirdly.

"Haha! I'm always this happy, right Shin-chan?" He winked subtlety at her before turning to the green-haired male. Ruka controlled the urge to smack him.

"Don't ask me nanodayo." The green-haired male replied, tipping his glasses.

The blonde smiled secretly before forwarding to her seat. She sat and glanced at her seatmate.

"Good morning, Midorima-kun."

Did I just say that?

Ruka was hyperventilating inwardly. She might have uttered it too quickly.

"Good morning." Midorima said after a beat and Takao let out a soft pfft! as Ruka struggled not to blush and scream and dance. All at the same time.

She decided that today is a beautiful day and grinned at the sky outside the window.

Takao was trying really hard not to snicker loudly at the slightly taken aback expression on his partner's face. He was really proud of his Mai-chan for pulling off such stunt. He never expected her to do such thing since she was really smitten with his green-haired partner and even talking about the guy for a whole minute is enough to leave her a blushing mess (and a violent one).

And clearly, Shin-chan wasn't expecting her greeting. The dark-haired wasn't sure if his basketball partner is now aware that his seatmate harbored strong feelings for him. It seemed impossible not to notice it, but then Takao himself didn't notice them until the notebook.

The notebook, huh?

He smiled to himself. That was last week but it seemed to be longer than that.

"E-Excuse me, Takao-kun…"

"Areh?" The dark-haired was busy observing the two behind him that he didn't notice Nayana came up to him. He glanced up and found her standing in front of his desk, her eyes downcast and her fingers playing with each other. He wondered what she needed from him. "Nayana-san, do you need something?"

"Umm…" The brunette girl bit her lower lip and Takao, curious, leaned in. Nayana swallowed and stepped back, still not meeting his eyes. "Can I… (gulp) can I talk to you for a moment?" She shyly raised her honey-colored eyes to his slate blue eyes and looked away immediately.

"Ah… sure."

Ruka grinned at the sight of her dark-haired classmate and Kyoko as the latter led him out of the classroom. She remembered their conversation after the brunette asked her if she and Takao were going out.

*Flashback*

"So you like him?" Ruka beamed at Kyoko, a huge smile on her face. She didn't see that coming! But now that she thought about it, it was pretty obvious. Kyoko always talk to Takao and smile a lot at him. Hmm, how come she never noticed that?

"Y-Yes… do you think it's weird?" The brunette asked shyly. Ruka shook her head.

"No. I can see why you liked him." She smiled, remembering her new friend. "He's funny and cool."

Kyoko nodded enthusiastically, eyes wide and sparkling, and a small blush on her face.

"He's really, really friendly! And have you seen him in games? He's so good..! The way he handles the ball and his Hawk Eye…" The brunette trailed off and sighed dramatically. The blonde giggled and Kyoko recovered from her short daydream, blushing furiously.

The two enjoyed their milkshakes in silence for several minutes and Ruka wondered if Takao noticed Kyoko's feelings for him.

"Um, Ruka-chan?"

"Hm?" The blonde stopped playing with the ice cubes at the bottom of her cup using her straw and looked up to the brunette. Once again, the latter looked pretty determined. "I promise, Takao-kun and I aren't dating." She said in case Kyoko's gonna ask again.

Kyoko chuckled nervously.

"That's not it…"

"Is something wrong, Kyoko-chan?"

"I…I'm planning to confess my feelings."

…Oh.

*End of Flashback*

That's probably why Kyoko was leading Takao out of the classroom. To confess. Ruka hoped it'll go well. As for her, she'd never have the guts to do such thing to her beloved Midorima.

She hopefully glanced at him from the corner of her eyes and saw him intently watching the door that Takao and Kyoko went through. He was almost glaring which shocked her.

Ruka looked away and tried to think why the tall basketball player would do such thing.

Well, Takao-kun is his partner so… if he's having a girlfriend, their practice would be cut short. And since the Inter High is coming up… well, it's really going to be a problem.

She imagined Takao together with Kyoko and a smile graced her lips. He managed to balance his studies and basketball so I believe having a girlfriend will be fine. And I'm sure Kyoko-chan will fully support him even if it means having little time together.

Ruka nodded at her thoughts.

"Right." She said to herself and the green-haired male turned to her, a disapproving scowl etched on his forehead. Ruka almost shrieked but caught herself. Midorima looked scary. "Midorima-kun..?" She called warily.

"Nothing, n'dayo." He answered almost grumpily and turned away.

The blonde remembered her first impression on Takao and Midorima, how they get along so well and the chemistry between them. She vaguely wondered if the green-haired male would be jealous if Takao would have Kyoko as a girlfriend. She blushed at the thought and shook her head immediately, mentally chastising herself for thinking such thoughts (although it made her wanna squeal out loud).

Takao sighed softly (very softly so that the nervous girl walking ahead of him wouldn't notice) for what seemed like the hundredth time. He wasn't stupid. He might act like it but he definitely wasn't. Not to sound bragging, but he's been in this situation before. Ever since he was chosen as a starter player, his status spiked up in the whole campus along with Midorima's. Girls like them (him and Midorima) because of their statuses.

The dark-haired jammed his hands in his pockets. Well maybe not every girl, he thought as he remembered Maihara and her devotion to his partner. Takao grinned.

And if not for his Hawk Eye, he would definitely have run to Nayana who has stopped walking without him noticing.

Nayana spun around to face him, face down with small blushes adorning her cheeks. Her hands were fisted and were on her chest, thumbs playing with each other. Takao retrieved his hands from his pockets and waited for the girl to speak up. They passed by a wall clock a short while ago and if his calculations were right, they at least have fifteen minutes before the bell signals for classes.

Seconds ticked by and still, no one spoke. Takao finally decided to open his mouth but then the brunette spoke.

"Um, Takao-kun… I… I think you know why I brought you here…" She finally started and looked up at him through her lashes, biting her lower lip before looking down again. The dark-haired male scratched his head and gave her a flattered but sorry smile.

"I'm flattered, really, Nayana-san." He said instead of answering her question. There's no reason to beat around the bush. "But…"

Ruka waited for Kyoko and Takao to come back so that she could celebrate with them but the moment they did, their sensei came in and she never got the time to read their facial expressions.

"How'd it go?"

It was Recess time and Ruka wasted no time in running after Kyoko the moment she walked out of their classroom. The blonde found her on the restroom.

"Kyoko-chan?" Ruka called when the brunette didn't respond with her back facing Ruka. What if..?

"Ruka… chan…" Kyoko said in between sobs and spun on her heel to fling herself on the blondie.

Ruka was surprised but managed to steady themselves to prevent falling down on the tiled floor. Understanding dawned on her and sadness immediately filled her. Kyoko cried harder on her shoulder.

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