Witch's thoughts: sorry for the delay. actually, this is just a first part of this chapter. however, after coming back from the trip I immediately got sick and couldn't focus on anything, let alone fanfiction. right now, I'm still sick and on a leave, so you can imagine, how creative I am :/ this part is going to be contined soon. much sooner than the previous chapter, promise.

In the poll it turned out that much things were unclear. so, I made them even more unclear now ^^' but that's how I am :/ a really sadistic writer :) anyway, some people wanted me to take it slow - I liked that, because the story was turning out to be too much fun for me. let's see how you liked it :)

enjoy! and remember, comments are love!

"Satsuki. Satsuki. Naa, Satsuki!"

"I hear you Aomine-kun."

"So why you're ignoring me?! The hell happened?"

Momoi turned around on her heel, her long hair swirling with her and hitting her arm. She wasn't the one to get angry easily, but right now Aomine unconsciously stepped back a little.

"How can you ask?! After you said so many awful things about Ki-chan..!"

She pushed forward, stopping at Aomine's chest and punching him continuously. As astonished as he was by this sudden attack, he could clearly see that she had tears in her eyes. Satsuki had always been emotional, he thought with a sigh, firmly putting his large hand on her head.

"Nee, Satsuki. I have never touched him." Aomine said, his eyes indifferent and lazy, looking somewhere else. Before she could burst in anger and denial, he added. "without his agreement, that is."

Satsuki couldn't understand, he knew that. However, he tried to explain it to her nonetheless. It didn't turn out well, though. Never thought it would. But, he didn't exactly knew what was the deal with everyone. Kise apparently found herself new stress-reliever, someone to look up to, well the better for him. Teikou happened and ended, now they were separated and Aomine couldn't say he missed his, so to say, "relationship" with Kise. He didn't regret it either. It was just a good thing while in Teikou; going to separate schools terminated the deal, finished anything that was unspoken and so, not promised. Aomine was fully aware that Kise had hots for him, but he also knew that it was more of admiration that genuine, teenage lust. But it was fine. Both of them were fine. Apparently.

/

The morning was sunny and warm when Yukio opened his eyes. He couldn't sleep at night, so he went to the desk instead, working on plans for his team. Falling asleep in such uncomfortable position made his back hurt, but he dismissed it with just a grunt. His jaw hurt much more, but swelling was down and bruise was lightening gradually. That was good.

Stretching until he heard satisfying 'pop' of his joints, Yukio yawned. Of course he felt tired, that was a usual result of not sleeping at night. But at the same time, he felt somehow calmer and more organized. A night-long thinking did him a lot of good. Or at least he had time to put his mind at more ease.

Against himself, he couldn't help, but think mainly about Kise. Pondering about that, Yukio was astonished to notice that knowing Kise had any relationship with Aomine angered him insanely. Not to mention that character of the relationship was making him want to hit something or preferably, someone. Seeing in memory that tanned face irritated him beyond thought. Even more, when he imagined fair-skinned Kise with that smirking bastard. It urged him to smash something.

His parents were off to work already so he had whole house to himself for now. Nobody to ask him why he was not preparing for school and practice, why he was staying at home. He himself was wondering about that. Why not ignoring Kise's mail and go about as if nothing had happened? But he was curious, especially about what Kise meant by "me and you". He couldn't' deny that and he didn't plan to.

"Me and you". Those words meant so much and at the same time so little, that Yuki couldn't help but smirk. If it was for someone else, he would get mad just from ridiculousness of such phrase. In this situation however, it seemed fine; that was exactly how Kise was. And somehow it suited him. But it didn't meant anything.

Yukio was ready for Kise. He knew models, their society and stereotypes. Unfortunately, he knew. And he wasn't the one to be fooled easily. If Kise was a sleep-around type of person, he wouldn't fail to inform the model that he assumed wrongly. Yukio didn't like guys, didn't like these butterflies that spent every night with different person. He didn't know what Aomine had to do with all of this, but knowing that bastard, it wasn't anything good. And even if Kise seemed like a nice guy, it didn't mean that his life as a model was the same. But Yukio was ready.

If only his hands weren't trembling so much….

/

The morning started sunny, but soon after, clouds gathered and the sky became homogeneously gray. Cold wind started to blow, when Riko looked up and noticed soon-to-be storm.

"Hurry up guys!" she called to those running after her bike. "We have to get to school before it rains!"

/

The clouds gathered into even a thicker layer and it started to rain heavily. Water drops fell around, in few seconds wetting everything and everyone. People who were running around to find shelter didn't escape it quickly enough and now were dripping. But none of it concerned Ryouta.

Sitting in one alley and supporting his back on the wall, he bared his face to the rain. Feeling hits by tiny drops of water allowed him not to think about anything. His clothes were wet, his hair was dripping and he was starting to get cold, but he didn't care. Every time he tried to get up, his head was spinning and he felt nauseous. And to think that he felt so good after waking up today!

He was so foolish to think everything would work out by itself, once the truth was told. Nothing would work out now, ever. He was told to get the hell out of the sight, to disappear, to die. And felt just like that, as if he was dying, because everything he thought was good for him, suddenly turned around without warning. Now, alone and miserable, Ryouta was crying quietly, but his tears were mixing with raindrops. Only a sob that was occasionally coming out of his chest, squeezed in unfamiliar emotion of remorse, made it possible to say that the beautiful model was crying his eyes out. And why?

Ryouta hid his face in hands and then supported them on his bended knees. He was so tired, so exhausted… he wanted to sleep, to hide under a blanket and never go out, but right now he was far from home and cold, he was so cold… actually, where was he? He didn't know this neighborhood, the buildings were foreign and there was no one to ask. After he escaped after talking, he went around without noticing where he was, so it was safe to assume that he was lost. But who cares.

There were no cars on the street, no people in the sight. But it was okay. Ryouta didn't want anyone to see him like this. It was humiliating. Someone like him, a popular model and a guy who could talk to anyone, apparently couldn't handle straightening his own problems up. However, could this be called a problem? He didn't know. Actually, Ryouta was amazed by his own feelings, not letting him let the matter go. Why did he pressed senpai to talk with him today? If he just left it, let it be, lost interest in this, it would be alright. Wouldn't it? No, rather not. Knowing Kasamatsu senpai, once he wanted to explain something, he stopped at nothing. So, maybe it was all for the better. Ryouta would resign from the basketball club and live his life happily without a need to even see senpai. Because he couldn't imagine looking him in the eyes now.

Ryouta ignored soft clicking of high-heels on the pavement, lost in thought. His life was a disaster now, but he couldn't actually pinpoint why so. It was just his senpai… the captain, yes, but a person he barely knew… or did he really?

With a masochistic pleasure, he imagined senpai's face. Short dark hair, piercing steel gaze, decisiveness and charisma that saved them many times. And this sexy, hoarse voice, shouting at him to go away…

Ryouta shuddered, but he didn't know if from cold or from despair. That was it. Enough. He wouldn't so idiotically fall in love again. Enough is enough. He didn't plan on suffering like that time once more. No. Just no.

But could he helped it if it had already happened?

Another shudder moved his body, another sob escaped his lips. He was feeling more and more cold, which was bad if he wanted to go to school tomorrow. But he wasn't sure.

Absorbed in his own problems, Ryouta didn't hear that somebody was just around the corner and decided to turn just his way. Only when that someone stumbled on him, getting both of them down and into an especially large puddle, did he notice he wasn't alone. His arm hurt when he got knocked down, but looking to his right, ho could say the other person was looking just as bad.

It was a young woman, with long, dark hair, now clinging unpleasantly to her face. Her umbrella flied a little away, now moving in the rain and she was deprived from little shelter it gave. Her make-up was already ruined, but she took no notice of that, as she was holding her leg and moving the ankle with a painful hiss. One of her high-heels was lying just beside her. The heel was broken.

Ryouta blinked. She looked so miserable, sitting in the middle of the alley, dripping water from light clothes that were already heavy with water. One of her stockings was torn on the knee, she must have damaged it, when falling down. And she was talking to herself.

"Ow, ow, ow, what a bad luck. What a day! At first change of weather and now this… how will I go to work like that?! Oh my, what a bad luck…" she mumbled, trying to get the hair out of her face. Then, she must have noticed Ryouta, because she twitched in surprise, looking up.

"Oh my, are you alright? Did I knock you down? I'm so sorry!"

Ryouta wanted to laugh. She was sitting there, looking like a miserable puppy, but still concerned more about him than about her knee. Really.

"I'm fine." He dismissed the matter with elegant swing of his hand. Wanted to laugh, but the girl inhaled sharply.

"Oh my god!" she shouted "You have blood on your hand! Damn, you must have fallen down on something sharp!"

Before Ryouta could say, do something, she get up on her own, stumbling a little when standing on twisted ankle. Putting on her shoe after firmly tearing off broken heel, looked especially ridiculous, as she couldn't regain her balance with feet on different height. Unconsciously, he helped her with his uninjured hand.

"Thank you." She nodded, focusing on standing still, while getting her bag from the ground. It was all wet, just like they were. "Now, we should treat that hand of yours, kid."

"I'm alr…"

"No, you are not." She interrupted firmly. Strangely, shorter and more delicate compared to Ryouta, the woman emanated an aura that forced him to immediately listen to her. "come with me, I work nearby."

Together, one supporting the other, they went slowly into the alley. The forgotten umbrella stayed on the pavement, wobbling a little when raindrops were spluttering on it. Soft humming of the rain was the only sound in the air, as there was no one there.