Deciding on a walk, Midorima somehow ended walking from his house to the hospital. Naturally, his legs took him to the children ward where his members played with the children last time. Where he first met Natsuki. Midorima didn't do anything apart from standing outside the room, looking in from the window instead. He still remembered when he wanted to be a doctor but ended up playing basketball for a living instead.

"Aren't they beautiful?"

Midorima looked to his left a little and saw Natsuki standing next to him, watching the children as well with a smile on her face. Midorima didn't answer her and simply looked back to the children. Natsuki turned her head to face Midorima and smiled a little.

"You're a basketball player, aren't you? Hm...Midorima-san, right?" Natsuki smiled a little. "Are you here alone today? I thought you only had to play basketball to raise funds for us. I didn't know you had to volunteer here too."

"I don't have to," Midorima said, still not looking at Natsuki. "I went out for a walk but somehow ended here."

Natsuki stared at Midorima before letting out a laugh, making Midorima frown. "You're such an odd person," Natsuki smiled. "You came here to see the children, didn't you? Your friend said you wanted to be a doctor before. Although I don't know why you didn't choose that career in the end, I can tell that you will be a really good doctor."

"How can you tell?"

"From your eyes," Natsuki said. "You may look tough on the outside but I can tell from your eyes that you really care about those around you. You just don't like showing it. It's okay to let others know how you feel occasionally. It would be nice for your friends to know that you care about them just as much as they care for you."

Midorima stared at Natsuki and couldn't help but smile a little. "You're the first person who has ever said that to me. Well...in that way, at least. You're the first to not complain while having a conversation with me as well."

"Guess I'm just that impressive," Natsuki joked.

"Yagami-san."

Both Midorima and Natsuki looked to the left at the same time. A nurse was approaching them and she bowed to greet Midorima before looking at Natsuki. "Ah...it's that time again, isn't it?" Natsuki sighed softly, looking at Midorima. "Well, it was nice to meet you, Midorima-san. Good luck at your matches. No matter how you do, thank you for supporting the hospital."

Midorima watched as Natsuki left with the nurse. He didn't look away until Natsuki was fully out of his sight and that was when he noticed a child standing at the door to the playroom, staring at Midorima. "Natsuki-nee-chan is sick like us," the child said. "She's going to the doctor now."

"Sick?"

The child nodded in reply. "Natsuki-nee-chan's heart isn't healthy. She lives in the hospital too, just like us."

~.~

"It's rare that you asked to hang out, Aka-chin."

Murasakibara received a text that morning from Akashi to meet up. Naturally, Murasakibara chose the café that he regular at and arrived before Akashi did. As per usual, almost as soon as he sat down, Murasakibara was presented with a free cake. It was a cheesecake this time. He looked up but Kaoru looked away and hurried back to her other customers as soon as she put down the cake.

Akashi watched Murasakibara and glanced over to Kaoru who was caught staring at his tall friend. She blushed and looked away immediately. Akashi smirked a little, looking at Murasakibara. "Have you ever thought of having a relationship, Atsushi?"

Murasakibara stopped eating with the fork still in his mouth as he blinked, confused that Akashi would ask such a question. "Isn't that kind of question more of a Kise-chin thing?"

"Answer me, Atsushi."

"It's not something that crosses my mind often enough that it becomes an issue for me," Murasakibara shrugged. "Basketball is all care about at the moment really."

"And if there's someone who likes you? Will you change your mind then?"

Murasakibara frowned at Akashi. "Are you okay, Aka-chin? You're asking a lot of weird questions. Are you like this because of Ruka-chin? She's a regular at this café, you know."

"Let's not talk about Haruka."

Murasakibara nodded, taking another bite from his cheesecake. "Hm...Mine-chin is getting married. Do you want to be his best man? Who do you think Mine-chin will choose?"

"Whoever he chooses, we'll know when he tells us," Akashi said. "Enjoy your cake, Atsushi. I shall see you at the tournament."

~.~

"Ao only proposed a few days ago, isn't it too early to be trying on dresses now?" Haruka asked, sitting outside the waiting room.

Chinatsu had called her up suddenly, somehow knowing that Haruka had no schedule that day, and asked Haruka to come with while Chinatsu tried on some wedding dresses. "It's never too early," Chinatsu smiled. "I've always waited for this day," she said and pulled the curtain back, walking out in the first dress she chose. "Why are you sitting here? I told you to choose your dress."

"You look beautiful," Haruka said, smiling at Chinatsu. "But didn't you say you wanted strapless?"

"I saved the best dress for last. Come on," Chinatsu said, taking Haruka's hand and pulled her out of the chair, going over to the bridesmaid's dresses. "You have to choose a dress to. Ooh...this one will look really good on you. And this one as well. And this. That one looks nice too!"

"Chinatsu-san!" Haruka laughed a little, holding the dresses Chinatsu chose for her. "It's your wedding. It doesn't really matter what dress I wear on that day. You're the main character on that day so your dress is the most important."

Chinatsu gasped and glared at Haruka. "How dare you, Matsuoka Haruka? You're my maid-of-honour! I can't let you run around not wearing the best dress out there. And..." Chinatsu giggled, leaning in. "I don't want you embarrassing me now, do I?"

Both girls giggled as they went on to try the dresses. Even though Chinatsu said so, Haruka still felt that she shouldn't steal her friend's spotlight on the day so she only tried on one dress and decided on it while sitting outside, waiting for Chinatsu to come out in her wedding dress. Bored while waiting, Haruka got up and looked around the shop, browsing the wedding dresses.

"Can I help you, miss?" the shop assistant asked.

"Oh no...I was just looking. I'm the bridesmaid, not the bride. The bride's trying on her dress right now," Haruka explained and smiled.

"I know you," the girl gasped a little. "You're both celebrities, aren't you? You're Matsuoka Haruka-san and that's Hamasaki Chinatsu-san, right? Chinatsu-san is getting married? Who to?"

Haruka smiled politely and nodded in reply. "A basketball player," she answered. She continued looking at the wedding dresses and stopped in front of one. It was a strapless dress with a puffy train. Haruka reached out and touched it gently, smiling a little.

"Would you like to try that on?" the shop assistant asked.

"Oh no," Haruka shook her head. "I'm not the bride. I don't think that's allowed."

"It's fine," the girl smiled a little. "I'm sure the manager wouldn't mind a celebrity trying on just one wedding dress," she said. "Just...could Haruka-san please leave us an autograph?"

Haruka thought about it. An autograph for a wedding dress? Eventually, she nodded and smiled as the shop assistant took the dress down, taking Haruka to the changing room. While Haruka was in the changing room, Chinatsu came out in another wedding dress. She was expecting to see Haruka waiting for her but frowned and pouted when her friend was nowhere to be seen. "Haruka, where are you?"

"Oh...er...I'm trying on a dress," Haruka replied. She poked her head out and smiled at Chinatsu. "That looks gorgeous. It looks better than the other one."

"What are you trying on? I thought you already chose a dress?" Chinatsu asked, looking at herself in the mirror while Haruka popped her head back in.

"Er...just a dress."

This time, it was Chinatsu's turn to wait for Haruka. A few minutes later, the curtain was finally drawn back and Haruka stepped out. Chinatsu turned around and gasped, running up to Haruka (or attempted to in her dress) and hugged her friend tightly. "You look beautiful!" Chinatsu grinned. "No wonder people say that women are the most beautiful on their wedding day. You have to get this dress, Haruka!"

"Get this dress? I'm not getting married, Chinatsu-san! I don't even have a boyfriend," Haruka said, staring into the mirror. "I just wanted to know how it felt like to wear a wedding dress..."

"Akashi-kun really doesn't know what he's missing out on," Chinatsu sighed then smiled at Haruka. "I say get the dress. You can wear it when you do get the dress. If you refuse, I'll get it for you. It'll be an early wedding dress from Daiki and I."

Haruka shook her head and went back into the changing room. Chinatsu giggled and told the shop assistant that they would have the dress in addition with her own wedding dress and Haruka's bridesmaid's dress. "I have to go now, Chinatsu-san," Haruka said, coming out from the changing room. "The sister called me from the orphanage, I'm needed there now."

"Oh? Okay then!" Chinatsu smiled. "I'll see you soon, Haruka! Thanks for coming with me today!"

~Few Days Later~

"Huh..."

Haruka stared at the rack of wedding dresses and looked at her manager who had very cleverly hidden the fact that she was doing a wedding dress shoot by saying that it was a fashion shoot. "Someone told me that you wouldn't mind doing a wedding dress shoot," her manager said, looking up from his phone. "Come on, get ready. We have to get to your drama shooting after this. Your partner is ready for you now."

"Partner?" Haruka frowned as she went off to get her hair and make-up done before changing into the first wedding dress.

When she came out, Haruka moved over to the camera and stood in position. Her hair and make-up was being checked when she heard a loud familiar voice. "Rukacchi!" Kise shouted, waving to her while wearing a suit. "Uwah! Rukacchi looks so beautiful! How do you think I look in a suit? Do you think we look like a couple?"

"Just get in position, Kise-kun," Haruka ordered as her stylist and make-up artist retreated. Kise ran up to her and took her hand, smiling brightly and spun her around. "Kise-kun!"

"What do you think Akashicchi will think if he sees you in this dress?"

"Why must everything be brought back to Akashi?" Haruka asked. "He's not the only man in my life."

Kise smirked a little and calmed himself down, becoming serious as the shoot started. Haruka changed into at least four other wedding dresses before the shoot finally ended. When she was changed back into her own clothes, Kise presented her with a large bag and smiled brightly at her. "It's a gift for you from Aominecchi and Chinatsu-san," he said. "Aominecchi told me to give it to you."

Haruka took the bag from him and sat down, taking out the box inside the bag. "Why would Ao not give it to me himself?" she asked as she opened the box. Inside was the wedding dress she tried on a few days ago with Chinatsu. Haruka picked up the note inside and read it. Although a little angry that Chinatsu didn't listen to her, she was touched.

"Every girl deserves happiness. I hope that one day, you will be able to walk to your happiness in this dress," Kise read from the card. "Wow...Chinatsu-san is so deep," he mumbled. He looked at the wedding dress and his eyes widened. "Uwah! This is even more beautiful than all the dresses you wore just now! I'm so jealous of Akashicchi!"

Haruka closed the box and put it back into the bag. "Why Akashi? I'm not going to marry him, Kise-kun, please stop saying such things. I have to go now. Thanks for bringing this to me."

Kise watched as Haruka left and looked down at his phone, scrolling through the photos he had just sent out. Just as he was looking at the last photo, a text message was sent in and Kise smirked a little, checking the message. As expected, it was from Akashi, the recipient of the photos Kise sent out.

What is the meaning of this, Ryouta?

Kise laughed a little to himself. He scrolled back to the photos and smiled. There were pictures of Haruka in the wedding dresses taken secretly thanks to Kiyoko. "What do you think?" Kise said out loud to himself as he replied to Akashi. Less than a minute later, a reply came through.

Where did you get those pictures?

"We're at a photo shoot together. Rukacchi the bride and I the groom. Don't we look good together?" Feeling mischievous, Kise sent another picture to Akashi. This time, it was a picture of Haruka and Kise together with Kise wrapping his arms tightly Haruka. "Ah...Akashicchi is going to murder me..."

We need to talk, Ryouta.

"Oops..."

Now.

"Kise-san, your coach just called. He wants you back at practice now," Kiyoko informed him, saving Kise from replying to Akashi.

Kise threw his phone to her and Kiyoko barely caught it. "Keep that with you. Do not reply to any text messages from Akashicchi and if he calls, just ignore it," he ordered and Kiyoko nodded, putting his phone in her pocket. "Let's go then," he said, taking his basketball bag from Kiyoko and left the studio. "Ah...can I have my phone back now, actually? I need to check Ki-chan's blog. I'll give it to you later."