I am terribly sorry for not updating. This should've been posted last November but… please forgive me. And I'm not abandoning this story, just so you know.

Enjoy. Tell me your thoughts.

Chapter 9

Ruka knew that it wasn't Takao's fault that he rejected Kyoko but she really couldn't stop herself from getting somewhat angry at him. Even though it's so irrational.

And that's why she's avoiding him for the rest of the day. She purposely went back to their class with thirty seconds to spare before the bell rings for the end of their Recess so that he wouldn't have the chance to talk to her. At lunch, too, she ate with Kyoko and her friends outside since she wanted to comfort the girl and also, she figured that Takao wouldn't come anywhere near Kyoko. She also turned off her mobile in case he would text her. The lunch, though, was very awkward since Ruka's only friend was the brunette.

And now, they're on their last subject. The blonde was determined to get past the door unnoticed. She invited Kyoko to hang out after class but the latter declined, saying that she wanted to go straight home and rest. Ruka nodded her understanding and Kyoko promised a next time.

"O…kay," their sensei glanced at his wristwatch, "I guess it's almost time. Don't forget your assignment on Wednesday. See you."

The bell rung and students started shuffling around. As for Ruka, she has her things already packed and so is ready to exit. She stood up but then a hand curled itself on her wrist. Taken aback, she glanced down to…

"M-M-Midorima-kun?!"

She suddenly forgot her mission to exit the classroom as soon as possible. The tall basketball player, though, wasn't looking at her.

And then Takao was in front of her, grinning at his partner.

"Thank you, Shin-chan." He said with that 'sankyu' pronunciation again.

"Whatever, nanodayo." Midorima answered and stood up, picking up his bag and releasing her wrist. He tipped his glasses and glanced at them. "Fifteen minutes, remember, nanodayo."

"I know, I know." The dark-haired responded cheerfully.

And then he left to exit the classroom. Something that Ruka should've done thirty seconds ago if she wasn't distracted by her crush.

Ah, crap.

She tried to step around her dark-haired classmate but he was fast to block her again. Of course he's fast. Faster than her. Way faster. He proved that yesterday when he played against her. Gritting her teeth and refusing to meet his grayish-blue eyes, she tried sidestepping again.

Of course he didn't let her and they ended up dancing around each other.

"Takao-kun!" Ruka finally exclaimed, exasperated.

"Mai-chan!" Takao mimicked in the same manner. She glared at him.

"Let me…" She sidestepped him but he merely followed, blocking her again, "pass."

"Not until you stop avoiding me." He said seriously.

The blonde sighed wearily, her finger itching to mess her hair in annoyance or to beat the person in front of him.

"I even asked Shin-chan to help me just to talk to you." He sounded weary. Tired. And then his eyes glinted mischievously. "Which worked very well, by the way." He laughed.

"Ugh, shut up." Ruka grumbled, refusing to blush at the memory of her precious Midorima's hand on her wrist. Their very first physical interaction.

The thought made her giddy.

And then she remembered a certain dark-haired in front of her who was responsible for the said physical interaction. She glared at him.

"Oh, come on! Stop avoiding me already." Takao ran a hand through his dark hair and his right side fringes were momentarily swept back until he removed his hand and they stumbled back to his forehead.

"I'm not in the mood, really. I'll… talk to you some other time." She tried (and failed) to sidestepped again. "Takao-kun…"

"Is this because of Nayana-san?" He asked seriously. Ruka paused in trying to sidestep and sighed. Well, there's no going around him. She hesitated in answering. It seemed so pathetic now to be 'mad' at him. "Mai-chan." Takao poked her arm.

"Yeah, yeah. I guess I'm…" The blonde looked away, "…mad."

"For rejecting her?"

She nodded, still couldn't meet his eyes.

"Why?"

Seriously, he's asking that? She glared at him.

"What?" The dark-haired asked almost innocently with his eyes wide and head cocked to the side. Ruka stared at him for a long moment, wondering how thick-headed he could get. When he just stared right back at her, the blonde sighed once again and tried to explain why she's mad at him.

"Because she's my friend." She said the last word with gritted teeth. Takao just blinked at her.

"I don't understand."

Well this would be hard, the blonde thought and tried again.

"Kyoko-chan told me about her huge crush on you and she said that she really had those feelings for a long time now. And she was really happy and excited when she told me she's going to confess. And you just…"

"Rejected her?" Takao offered. Ruka rolled her eyes. "Mai-chan, I feel bad about hurting her. I really do. But rejecting her?" He shook his head. "Just because someone felt something for someone doesn't really mean the feeling's reciprocated you know."

"I know that. I just couldn't help but be mad at you. I mean Kyoko-chan is amazing—"

"I didn't know you two are very close." Takao interjected.

"-and she's really kind. Why couldn't you like her back?"

"I still don't understand why you're mad at me."

Ruka messed her short hair in frustration.

"Well, put it like this: What if Midorima-kun told you he liked someone and that he's going to confess his feelings and then he did and he was rejected? Wouldn't you feel mad at the girl who rejected him when you know Midorima-kun is really amazing and cute and—" Ruka paused when she noticed that her dark-haired classmate is already hunched over on his stomach. "Takao-kun." Ruka deadpanned at him.

Takao raised his face to her, cheeks puffed and hands on his mouth, trying to hold down his laughter. When he saw how serious she looked, he burst out laughing, throwing his head back and cackling loudly.

Ruka's mouth twitched in annoyance.

"Takao-kun!"

"So—HAHAHAHA—S…Sorry..! HAHAHA!" He wrapped his arms around his stomach and bent over, laughing.

It was a good minute later that Takao stopped laughing. He half sat on Midorima's desk and grinned lazily at his blonde friend who was obviously trying not to beat him up. His grin turned broad when she mimicked his stance, half-sitting on her own desk and facing him. Maihara folded her arms on her chest and tried to look haughty. He playfully nudged her knee with his own and watched in amusement as her face turned red at the contact.

"Quit pouting." He told her, still grinning. The flush on her face disappeared instantly.

"I'm. Not. Pouting!" The blonde glared and then huffed. "Glad you finally stopped laughing." She said sarcastically.

"My bad, my bad." He raised his hands in a sign of giving up and then grinned at her again. "And really, Shin-chan liking someone and confessing his feelings? Impossible. The only thing that could only probably hurt him is losing the game and losing his Oha-Asa lucky item." He said, cackling lightly.

Maihara sighed heavily at that.

"You're right. There's no way he would like someone… except probably you." And then… "I-I-I mean y-you and h-h-his teammates! Hehehe..." She laughed nervously and Takao wondered what's wrong with her.

"But don't worry! I'm sure if Shin-chan comes to know you better, he'll like you, too, and then maybe some time after, he'll ask you out!" Takao exclaimed and then started when the blonde placed her palm over his mouth. She whipped her head around, nervously watching if someone heard his loud exclamation. Satisfied that no one's attention was on them, she proceeded to glare at him. "Mm-hm!" His muffled version of 'sorry'.

Without moving away, Ruka looked up at him with big eyes, fluttering her lashes. The dark-haired tried to move away (she's scaring him!) but she held him still.

"You really think Midorima-kun will like me if he'll know me better?" She asked, wide-eyed. Takao gulped and nodded nervously. And then she beamed at him (her smile is too bright!) and moved away, releasing him. "Come on, Takao-kun! You'll be late with your practice. I'll walk you to the court."

And still smiling, she sauntered towards the door, a skip on her steps while humming softly.

Girls really are scary.

Ruka couldn't contain her giddiness. Of course she knew that her precious Midorima liking her back and asking her out is long time away but now she also knew that it's not impossible. Takao said it himself. And those two are really close. No one knew the green-haired male better than Takao.

Which made her very happy.