Here it is. Sorry for the long wait.

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Chapter 11

Ruka knew that Takao is still staring at her and she's doing her best not to turn to him while Kyoko kept on squealing soundlessly beside her. She immediately regretted being here with the brunette.

*Flashback*

After Takao and Midorima left, Kyoko immediately came up on her desk. The brunette has a resolved look on her face and Ruka knew, without a doubt, what her friend would say.

"Please come with me to their practice." Kyoko said with a low bow. Ruka was ready to refuse, to reason her way out but the words got stuck on her throat upon seeing the brunette bow. "Please, Ruka-chan." Kyoko added.

*End of Flashback*

And that's how Ruka ended up sitting on the bleachers with Kyoko. No matter how strong her feelings for the green-haired male are, she has never, never, watched their practice before. She suddenly felt like a stalker even though it wasn't just the two of them watching. There are other students, too, boys and girls alike, scattered over the bleachers.

"Takao-kun looks so cute in the headband." Kyoko said almost dreamily beside her. Ruka turned to look at her and saw the pair of blush dusting on Kyoko's cheeks. She looks so… happy. The blonde sighed and looked over at the basketball players warming up on the floor.

She spotted Takao stretching and she must admit that he did look kinda, a little, somewhat—fine! He looked cute with the headband. His back is to them and Ruka is thankful. She wouldn't know what to do if he'd flash her a teasing smile in front of the other onlookers. And it's not like she came here to drool over Midorima (like Kyoko to Takao). She's sure she wouldn't hear the end of it from her dark-haired classmate.

Ruka sighed and her gaze drifted off to her beloved Midorima-kun who seems to be very preoccupied with his fingers. Or nails? It's hard to tell. She was surprised (and a bit excited) when she noticed that his fingers are not taped anymore. She was lost in imagining what it would be like to feel his hand on her without the tape when suddenly, a ball was flying to her direction. Ruka blinked and readied her hands in catching it. The ball was slow, like it was purposely tossed to her instead of being accidentally thrown to her (stray balls have the speed of light and will hit her even though she noticed it). She caught the ball and looked around to find Takao grinning at her.

Her face flushed red. He must've noticed the dreamy look on her face and threw her the ball just so he could tease her about it. He crooked a finger to her, indicating that she pass him the ball back. Ruka was about to stand and throw the ball with all her strength when she felt Kyoko fidgeting beside her. She paused and looked over at the girl.

"Do you want to give him the ball, Kyoko-chan?" She whispered. Kyoko looked at her with a grateful expression and Ruka handed the ball to her. Instead of just throwing it back to Takao, Kyoko stood up and went down the bleachers to give the ball personally. When she got back, she was beet red.

The practice started. They divided the basketball players in two teams, both Midorima and Takao in the same team. Midorima was shooting three after three while Takao assist him in every way possible. They really are a pair, their movements almost in sync.

After half an hour, the basketball team took a break. Ruka stood up and excused herself to the restroom.

"Yo!"

Ruka turned just as she stepped out of their gym and saw her dark-haired classmate sauntering towards her. She decided to use another restroom instead of the one inside the gymnasium for fear that she'll get in the way of the players.

"Takao-kun?" She questioned and glanced inside the gym. "Aren't you in the middle of practice?"

"They are mopping the floors since it's almost covered in sweat." He said and pulled the headband off his head. His hair flopped to his forehead and he shook them with one hand. "Where are you going?"

"Uh, restroom." Ruka wasn't sure why she suddenly felt awkward talking to him. Maybe because of his teammates and the other students in the bleachers watching them.

"Cool, I'll go with you."

"Man, there are lots of students in there." Takao muttered as they walk side by side, although in a formidable distance since the dark-haired insisted he's too sweaty.

"It bothers you?" Maihara asked with a glance and he flashed her a grin.

"A little. So, how did you end up watching our practice this afternoon? Can't get enough of your seatmate?" He teased. As expected, the blonde turned red.

"That's not it!" She denied hotly. Takao laughed. "It was Kyoko-chan who wanted to come…"

Nayana-san, huh…

"She's really serious about you…" Maihara mumbled, not quite meeting his eyes. He stopped walking and stared at her.

"I'm also really serious about basketball, Mai-chan." He answered truthfully. Maihara sighed heavily and walked past him.

"Let's hurry. Maybe they're done mopping and you'll be scolded."

They walk in a comfortable silence after that. They went to the restroom and Takao waited for her outside the Female Restroom. Ruka was vaguely wondering why her dark-haired classmate was even accompanying her. Maybe he needed fresh air to clear his mind? He surely looked like he was enjoying the wind on his face.

She barely made a noise when his head snapped to her, slate eyes sharp on her.

"Wow, how do you that? Don't tell me your Haw Eye works even with closed eyes?" The blonde asked incredulously. Takao laughed. When she stepped into his reach, he ruffled her hair playfully. Ruka backed away, slapping his hand with a deadpanned look.

"Ha. I wish my Hawk Eye works like that. It sounds so cool, like I can play basketball just as well with my eyes closed." He said with a grin and they walked side by side. "But nah, I noticed you because as a Point Guard, you need to be extremely focused and never let your guard down. You should know what everyone was doing in mere seconds."

"Ooh."

They're like Ninja or something, Ruka thought and then remembered their text conversation last night.

"Right, Takao-kun!"

"Hm?" He cocked his head to her direction, an open expression on his face.

"You texted me last night to make sure I wasn't angry, right?"

"I did?"

"Takao-kun!"

"Hahahahaha just kidding! Yeah, I did. What about it?"

"Why did you think I would be mad at you? Did you do something?" Ruka narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him. "I swear if you said something to Midorima-kun…"

"Oh, it wasn't like that. I just remembered that right before you run off (Ruka bristled at the words) yesterday, Otsubo-senpai asked you if you're my girlfriend. I just thought you'd be mad or embarrassed or something." He shrugged casually with a huge grin. "I was making sure."

Ruka was nibbling the head of her pen while reading her notes earlier from Mathematics. It was almost seven thirty. She and Kyoko went home about an hour ago because Kyoko got a text from her mom. Thank goodness. Ruka was sure her friend was gonna wait until Takao and Midorima went home. She just hoped this wouldn't be an everyday occurrence, being dragged by Kyoko to watch them practice every late afternoon.

The blonde sighed. She really, really wanted to help Kyoko with Takao but it's obvious that her dark-haired classmate is only interested in basketball. She just doesn't know how to tell Kyoko. She wondered if she should tell Takao about Kyoko's plan. It seemed like a betrayal to the brunette but Ruka's got a feeling that Kyoko would only get more hurt if she kept this up.

Her phone beeped.

Ruka set the pen down and peeked at the phone on her desk. She wasn't supposed to be on phone while studying.

It was Takao.

T: Ahhhh why do I always lose in rock-paper-scissors? Should I break Shin-chan's lucky item so that I could get lucky?

She deadpanned at the message.

T: Yo, Mai-chan.

T: Wait, should I call you Ru-chan, Ru-chan?

T: It sounds good. After all I call Shin-chan 'Shin-chan'. So I should call you Ru-chan.

T: Ru-chan.

T: I'm practicing hahaha

Ruka shook her head and typed back.

R: Why are you sending multiple messages?

R: And Ru-chan? Really? Are you my mother?

R: Shin-chan sounds so cute

R: I'm supposed to be studying.

R: Don't break Midorima-kun's lucky item. I'll break your bones tomorrow.

T: Whoa! Scary.

T: Your mom calls you Ru-chan? Am I not allowed to call you Ru-chan then?

T: But Ru-chan sounds better than Mai-chan. And it's your name.

R: My name is Ruka.

T: You're studying, huh?

T: Wait, do we have a quiz tomorrow?!

Ruka laughed. So he only studies when there's a quiz.

T: Ru-chan?

T: Rukaaaaa-chan

R: No, there's no quiz tomorrow Takao-kun.

T: Phew

T: Ah have to go, Shin-chan's here

T: Later

R: Get him home safely

Her phone quieted after that. Looks like they started pedaling. Ruka went back to reading her notes, a smile on her face. Several minutes later, her phone beeped again and she immediately opened the message. Her stomach churned and her face burned immediately at the sight of the attached photo Takao has sent her.

T: Done :) Shin-chan at his finest

The photo was Midorima looking a little bit startled, his emerald eyes a bit wider than their usual calm look and emphasizing his long lashes.

"What was that for, nanodayo?!" Midorima was trying not to act bothered and self-conscious after Takao snapped a photo of him with his phone.

"Nothing." Takao chirped, looking down on his phone happily. They're in front of the Midorima Residence.

"Takao." The green-haired male said in a heavy voice just as Takao's phone beeped. Despite himself, Midorima was wondering what they were talking about (it's not like they didn't see each other every day in school, nanodayo) that made his partner laugh and grin.

He's talking about his seatmate, Maihara Ruka, who, not until last week, became Takao's friend. He pitied the girl, nanodayo.

Midorima blinked when Takao suddenly burst out laughing, doubling over his stomach immediately and leaning against the handles of the bicycle. He certainly hoped it has nothing to do with the photo of him that Takao snapped. If his idiot for a partner is making fun of him, he'll kill him and scatter his body parts across the ocean.

"Takao." He said again, and the dark-haired stopped laughing but still grinning.

"Good night Shin-chan. See you tomorrow!"

And he pedaled away, leaving him alone in front of his house.

"Takao!"

Takao grinned, remembering Maihara's reply.

R: Ahhhhhhhh my heartttt TAKAO KAZUNARI-KUN you're my savior my guardian angellll ahhhhhhhhh THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU I'M FOREVER IN YOUR DEBTTTTT

R: HE'S SO CUTEEEEEEEE

R: HIS LASHES OMG I'M DYINGGGGG

R: TAKAO-KUUUUUUUNNNNNN

Reviews please :(