CHAPTER 15

*Alarm clock ringing*

The sun is almost at its peak when Eri's alarm clock ring. She groaned and reached out her hand to turn off the continuous ringing of the clock without getting lazy or something.

"Damn it. I didn't get enough sleep," she muttered to herself. Her eyes were surrounding a dark circle that make her look like a zombie. The reason why she is sleep deprive is because of the humiliation she experience yesterday. Yes, it is not like her but for the first time in her life that she have done like that, giving someone a homemade chocolate to a guy that ended up to be a big failure is like a humiliation to herself.

"And my head hurts," she continued "I will never give anyone a chocolate anymore. Valentine's Day will never exist anymore. Well... for me."

School...

"Ah... Ri-chan good mo-", Tomo didn't finished her greetings with her friend and it ended up to shriek "R-R-Ri-chan?! What's with that face of yours?!"

"And who do you think whose fault it is?" she replied in a lazy tone while placing her bag on her desk.

"Heh... Don't tell that you didn't get enough sleep because of what happened yesterday," her eyes were slanted, teasing her.

"Shut up," she replied in not-in-the mood tone. She place her arms over the desk and buried her face, wanting to get some sleep.

Tomo titled her head to the right "That is so not like you, Ri-chan. Normally, when something happened like that you act like there's nothing happen."

"Yeah, probably. And this never happens to me," Tomo just stared at her worriedly and smiled at her.

The sound of the classroom door was heard, a sign that someone came in, revealing the teacher for their first subject "Ok class go get your textbook and opened it from page 213. I hope you were done with your homework."

"Looks like I don't have time to sleep here," Eri thought.

After afternoon classes, everyone prepare their things to go to their designated club.

Eri quickly stood up and ready to leave but when she was about to take a single step she was stopped by her friend "Hey Eri, are you alright?"

"Yeah I'm fine. Why you ask?" she said plainly.

"Well, you don't look fine to me," she worriedly said "You look pale. Maybe you should go home or go to the infirmary first."

"You don't have to worry Tomo. It's just a headache I can endure it until club activity."

"But..."

"I have to go. Jah~," Tomo doesn't have time to react because she already left in their room.

*sighed*

The basketball club members had already started their usual training menu when Eri arrived at the gymnasium. When she was near the bench, holding a few towels for the team, she greeted them "Chissu."

Hayama, drinking a sports drink, spurted it out when he saw Eri's appearance "WAAAHH! A... A... A... Z-ZOMBIE!?" Seeing her face consisting of her eyes had a dark circles around it, her skin tone were pale and her hair was kinda messy that's why Hayama mistakenly thought of her as a zombie.

"Zombie... huh?" she said in her neutral tone, not even feeling mad at Hayama. If she had a better state right now, she would probably hit Hayama to death.

The blonde haired guy was confused at Eri's reaction, she didn't expect to act like this to him "Are...? Are you not going to yell at me or something? That's unusual. ," Hayama laughed, probably he was teasing her "Don't tell me you're sick," as he place his hand on her forehead.

Eri hit his hand lightly, to get rid of it "No I'm not", and he pass through Hayama to place the towels on the bench.

"Hmmm... but you look pale, though," Mibuchi cut in with their conversation, as he took a towel from the bench and refreshment in the container. He is actually finished running lapse around the gym same as the other regulars except Akashi, who is busy training with other member.

"This is nothing."

"I can tell that you don't get enough sleep or maybe you didn't get sleep last night", Mibuchi said with his mocking tone. Her shoulder twitched, feeling tense right now. She didn't responded and Mibuchi said to her "Bulls eye."

"Oh?!" Hayama reacted in high spirit as if he thought of something that is right "I have an idea! And the reason is..." he paused, giving them a little tension "BECAUSE OF YESTERDAY!."

"W-what did you say!?"

"Oh...?! That may be right!" Nebuya commented.

"Getting embarrass in front of others? Ohhhhh... I know how it feels."

"URUSAI! VALENTINE'S DAY?! WHAT THE HECK IS THAT VALENTINES FOR?! CAN YOU GET MERIT OUT OF GIVING CHOCOLATE TO SOMEONE? WOULD THAT GIVE YOU SATISFACTION? IT WOULD ONLY WASTE YOUR TIME MAKING THAT DAMN CHOCOLATE," while Eri was in rage the members where in daze even the captain. They even stop what they were doing and they thought 'Aaahhhh she snapped.'

"VALENTINE'S ARE FOR PATHETIC! LOSERS! I HATE VALENTINES! I HATE CHOCOLATES!" she is now panting after she finished talking fast in a comedic way. She stomped her feet and snatched away the container in the hands of the quenched players "Give me that! I'm going to get another refreshment."

She place it one by one in the cooler and within a few steps she suddenly fell down on the floor: a total face-plant.

The basketball club members didn't react when she tripped and a few minutes past...

"It seems like she fainted," some member said.

"EEEEEHHHHHHH?!," they all reacted except the serious characters.

"Oi Eri, are you still alive?" Hayama quickly run to her aid.

"What's going on there?" the coach asked.

"Coach, Takasugi-san fainted," the member simply said.

"This is bad. Can someone bring her to the infirmary?"

"I'll do it, coach, "Akashi volunteered with his usual tone as he carried the unconscious girl in a bridal style and it looks like he is not having a hard time carrying her "Mibuchi, I'll leave the rest to you."

Akashi keep staring an unconscious girl for more than an hour. Basketball practice was over, even if he is keeping an eye on Eri it doesn't mean that he is slacking off in their practice. He is visiting her from time to time like when there is a short break, he is coming over to the infirmary to check if she was okay.

The nurse says that she is fine, she just need some rest that's why she is lying in the bed for more than an hour. The other regular visited her and they found out that she is still in her slumber. Hayama commented that she is quite "cute when sleeping but when she was wide awake she is a tsundere."

Another hour past (just how many hours is she planning to sleep?) when they decided to go home. They get tired of watching her, Hayama took her a picture with his mobile phone before leaving. He said that it is his memento. Nebuya keep complaining that he is hungry because of their hellish practice. Mibuchi just stood up getting pissed off by Nebuya's complaining. And of course, Akashi just stayed there until she woke up.

Eri moaned and moved to the other side, which is now she was facing the red-haired guy. Seeing the girl in front of him sleeping soundly, he can't be helped but to stare at her face. Within a few seconds, her eyes suddenly move, slowly opening.

Her vision was still blurry. She can't even recognize the guy in front of her. Until she was greeted by that person "You're finally awake," he said with his usual tone but there's a hint that he is relieved that finally Eri woke up from her slumber.

"Akashi," she muttered and suddenly she gasped and quickly sat as she looked around the room "Why am I here in the... infirmary?" she asked calmly "Did I possibly caused some trouble? "She hopefully asked.

The red-head guy shook his head "Not at all. You only fainted when you were about to refill some refreshment. And the nurse said that you only need some rest that's why she let you sleep here until you woke up."

"I see," that's the only thing that Eri could say to him.

Something struck into her mind, realize something. She place her right hand on her chin "If I fainted during club hour then that means...," as she take a peek to a guy who is calmly sitting on the chair.

Silence filled around the room and Eri doesn't even know how to talk to him because she felt awkward right now.

"I'm sorry," the guy said which Eri was shocked from his sudden action.

"Why are you apologizing at me?"

"Because I'm the reason why you felt so awkward in front of me and everyone," he straightforwardly confess as he stood up from his seat "I guess I should forget what happened yesterday. I will also tell it to everyone."

Her eyes widened when she heard those words from Akashi. That is what the least thing that she wanted to hear from him. She quickly stood up from the bed and grabbed Akashi's arms "No! Don't say that! Don't apologize!" her grip was tightened but it doesn't feel any pain for Akashi.

This is the first time that he saw Eri like that, another discovery for him. He was even shocked from her action.

She looked down before talking once again "I'd rather feel more embarrass... if you don't... accept it," she said it slowly- saying it in low tone of voice- not even sure if she is going to say it on him.

After being shocked, Akashi finally gain his composure and smiled warmly "Glad to hear that."

Hearing those words, she decided to look up on him and realize that they were so much close to each other. Their faces were few inches far apart.

Eri blushed and quickly let go of his arm "I'm sorry," she inhaled and exhaled quietly to regain her composure "Oh right Akashi-kun. Have you seen Tomo? We were supposed to meet after school."

"She was here a few hours ago. When she heard that you fainted, she rushed herself to get here and checked if you're fine."

"I see."

"She is really a good friend of yours," he commented.

"Huh? Not really," she plainly said. She place her slim hand into the bridge of her nose and massage it gently. It's like remembering her friend, makes her feel dizzy "She always annoys me to the point that it is beyond my expectation".

Akashi chuckled at her expression and commented "Yahari," Eri glanced at him, confused "Hayama is right. You are a tsundere."

"HAH?!"

"You are not honest with your feelings which reminds me of Midorima. You're really like him."

"Where did those words came from?"

Akashi shrugged and ignored her question "Oya. It's already this late. We should go home Takasugi or else we would be lock up here."

The next day, when the day that Eri show herself in her fine state, Tomo cannot helped herself but to rush over her friend and give her a big hug. She even jumped over her before she could enter her room.

The dark haired girl didn't have a chance to prepare herself; almost stumbled on her feet when Tomo jumped over her and give her a hug.

"Ri-chan! I'm so glad you're fine. You had me worried," the brunette girl cried out while hugging her friend tightly: suffocating her.

"You're overreacting. I only fainted," she retorted her friend plainly- like her usual tone.

"YOU IDIOT!" Tomo shrieked that caught an attention.

"I-idiot!?" that's all she can say. It is unexpected to her.

"Do you know how much I'm worried when I heard you fainted during your club activity!?"

"Will you just calm down?! Everyone's eyes were on us," Eri whispered so that no one could heard her and since the dark haired girl didn't get a chance to get inside the room; they were still outside the room, making a commotion.

"How should I calm down if my friend is in danger!?"

She sighed "You're making a big deal out of it," she decided to shrug it off and walked past to her as if nothing happened.

"Wait, Ri-chan! I'm not done talking with you!" she twirled around so that she can saw Eri even if it is her back feature.

"My, my. So this is the commotion is all about? I didn't think that you can make this kind of thing, Eri-chan," hearing that voice, she immediately notice the owner of that voice even though she didn't see this guy's face because she is facing their classroom's door.

"Mibuchi-senpai and Hayama," she called while looking at him over her shoulder with her calm demeanor.

"M-mibuchi-senpai, Hayama-senpai!?" Tomo also called the said senpai- with the opposite demeanor of Eri.

"Oi! Why are you addressing me without honorifics? You should respect your senpai!," the blonde guy complained with a vein popped in his head.

"Because you are not worth to be respected," she bravely replied.

"OI!"

Then she decided to ignore Hayama and turned back her attention to the certain tall guy "That's not what you think, Mibuchi-senpai. We were just talking."

"Hm? Is that so?" he said with a smirk on his face and decided to shrug off the topic, "Well I'm glad that you're fine now. Everyone were worried on you."

She was stunned on what Mibuchi had said to her; she didn't believe what he said to her. Eri is only a helper of the basketball team and yet they got worried of her because she fainted?

"That's not true," then she finally twirled around her body so that she could face him properly- even his attitude sometimes ticks her off- she still don't want to disrespect her upperclassmen.

"I am just a mere helper of the club. How anyone could became worried at me?" she asked bluntly with a straight face, not even wavering.

Mibuchi smiled sincerely in return "Have you forgotten? We told you before that even if you're only the helper, you're still part of the team. Sooner or later, you will become our manager, only if you pass the test but I'm sure that you will pass it without difficulties. So don't get surprise about it why they get worry on you."

Eri cannot think of a comeback to that, that's why she turned her heels around and excuse herself to get inside the classroom. The remaining student were slightly dumbfounded when Eri took her leave.

Tomo couldn't helped but to giggle at her friend's sudden action "She is just embarrass," then she looked up at the tall man near her "I'm sorry senpai for her sudden action."

"Don't worry about it. We all know that she is a tsundere."

The door suddenly opened and revealed the dark haired girl, who just went inside the room a while ago, claiming that she is not a 'tsundere'. Her eyes gleaming with anger and giving them a dark aura in a comedic action. And then she closed the door with a loud thud.

"Oi Reo-nee, have you forgotten our objective why we went all the way here?" Hayama whispered.

"Ah that's right! Isshiki-san, could you pass this message to Eri-chan though there's a probability that we will meet each other later on but at least we inform her,"Mibuchi clasped his hand together as if he was making a favor to a girl in front of him.

Tomo gave him a sweet smile and nodded "I don't mind, what is it, senpai?."

"Tell her that we were planning to go to the hot spring lodge this weekend and we were inviting her to come with us."

"Okay," she saluted, "I will tell her right now!" she retorted vigorously and with that, the school bell rang- a sign of the school session is about to begin and sooner or later the teacher will be coming in their respective class.

"I'm counting on you, Isshiki-san. ~jah," the shoulder length dark haired guy waved his hand on her before leaving.

"Bye-bye Mibuchi-senpai! Hayama-senpai!" Tomo also waving her hand vigorously until they were gone into her sight.

"Oi Isshiki Tomochika, why are you still outside the room? The school hours is about to begin. Go back inside," the middle age woman- probably in her mid-30's- interrupted Tomo from her very own scene.

"KIH?! I'm sorry sensei!" as she dashed herself inside the room.

It is lunch time when Tomo decided to place her table in front of Eri to eat lunch with her: wide grin etched on her face. It is their daily routine during lunch break. Each of them bring their bentou for their lunch. However, instead she was happy to see her friend like that, she thought that she look like a fool- with all those wide grin of her.

She raised her brow "What's with that stupid face of yours?"

"Hidoi!" she pouted, "I was only happy because finally Mibuchi-senpai talked to me," she said while opening her bentou box and revealed what's inside of it. You can also smell its aroma that it will make you dig in no time.

"Ah really?" she retorted nonchalantly.

"Mou... you should be happy to your friend," the brunette girl sighed to Eri's reaction "Ah Ri-chan, Mibuchi-senpai has message on you," she continued.

"What is it?" Eri replied without looking at her because she was busy unwrapping her homemade bentou box. Since her father rarely goes home, she always making her bentou to bring in school for her lunch so that she will not bother herself to wait in a long queue in the cafeteria.

"They were planning to go to the hot spring lodge this weekend and you are invited."

"Are we having a training camp?" she asked and place her hand on her chin, thinking something, "But it's impossible to have a training camp right now because it's still winter. Training camp usually hold during summer," then Eri set her grey eyes to girl in front of her, "Do you have some specific details?."

Tomo only shook her head. She has no information about it because Mibuchi didn't gave her some specific details which Eri already now about it and she doesn't blame Tomo for this.

"Alright, I'll just ask Mibuchi-senpai later. But before that let's finish our lunch before the afternoon class will start," Eri said and Tomo giggled in return and said 'Itadakimasu' before eating her bentou.

Just another typical day for Eri during her club activity: providing towels and refreshments to each member of the club. But now her task was different, she was assigned to do the laundry, where she will clean all the towels they had use. She don't have a chance to ask Mibuchi about going to the hot spring lodge this coming weekend because she is going to spend her day to the laundry room.

Eri wipe her forehead and heaved a heavy sigh for finishing the second set of her laundry. Even it's cold today, she feel hot right now. She didn't expect that she is going to clean tons of dirty towels; she believe that every second day of the week someone is assign to do the laundry. It looks like she was outwitted by a certain person.

Hearing a loud noise coming from the door, Eri averted her eyes to look for the person came inside the laundry room. There, she saw a bunch of girls carrying another basket full of dirty towels: with a smirk in each faces.

"Hi there, Takasugi-san," the girl greeted her, she is the girl that she confronted once during the training camp "Are you having fun with those laundries? Well, we will be giving another set of laundries to be clean."

"Yeah just place it somewhere," she retorted calmly not even bothered giving her an additional work, where she could almost finish her work right now.

Hearing Eri's response, the girl's shoulder shuddered not because she was cold but because she was enraged by Eri's reaction. How could she be calm like that when she was giving another load of work? Though it was on purpose.

It is on purpose why Eri has a lot to do with the laundry. They skipped their work when it was their time to do the cleaning so that the next person who was assign for this job will do what they left behind.

Eri already know who behind this thing but she decided to shut her mouth and say nothing.

She place down the basket she was carrying and place her hands on her waist "That is your punishment for skipping work yesterday."

"Yeah, how dare you to make an act. You even made Akashi-sama carry you all the way to infirmary. You should be ashamed of yourself," another girl cut in into their conversation.

"Hmm... you call that skipping work?," she elaborated calmly to all the things that they said to her, "Be ashamed of myself, huh," after saying those words, a dark aura was emitting all over her body, making the few girls tense, "Say another word or I'll make you suffer," she said in her deep and scary voice, making all the girls fled except to the only girl who was left behind.

"Tch. You're going to pay for this," with that she fled and followed her friends.

Eri sighed in relief. Finally, she was free from those girls, who has nothing else to do but to bully someone during their free time.

"Show off," she muttered.

After spending many hours doing the laundry, Eri finally finish her task but it looks like the basketball team were not done with their practice. She even look at the club room to check if they were still inside- only to see their belongings- the room was kind of messy. Well, it was boy's room after all so she took this chance to clean this mess since there's someone who was assigned to do some errand inside the gym.

This is not to be brag about but, Eri is great at doing household chores: cooking and cleaning. Well, this is expected of her because most of the time she is with herself alone in their residence.

There's only few things scattered all over the room, since mostly of the Rakuzan high are well-mannered. It will take no time to finish cleaning this room.

After she was done sweeping the floor, she yawned- tired from her heavy works today.

"Maybe I should take a nap for a while," she talk to herself as she glance at the wall clock, "I guess, everyone will take their time in their practice."

And without further ado, she spent her leisure time: napping in the club room.

A whistle was echoed around the gymnasium that caught everyone's attention. It is also a sign that their practice was over for today.

The members gathered in one place: listening to the coach's announcement, if there's one.

"I don't have anything to say in all of you. Everyone of you did their best in practice," coach Shirogane said while looking at everyone, "I don't want to repeat what I always said to you. You have a day off this Saturday so you can do whatever you want. You must do some stretching before leaving, got it? That's all. Dismiss."

"Aaahhh finally!" Hayama cried out as if he was free from being tortured, "Oi Reo-nee, Ei-chan let's go back to the club room."

"Hai hai," Mibuchi said as he stood up from the floor; he was done his stretching, after all.

"I'm hungry~," Nebuya stated.

"There's nothing new about it," the tall dark haired guy commented.

The basketball club's clubroom is quite afar from the gym that's why it took a few minutes to reach there. There is actually a designated building for all the rooms of the club.

Once the 'Uncrowned Kings' reached their destination, there was a chaos happening in front of the clubroom. Some member of the basketball club were outside the room: gawking and blushing.

"What's happening here?" Mibuchi asked as soon as they reach the clubroom.

"Ah Mibuchi-san ummm...," the guy that Mibuchi asked cannot answer him directly as he pointed out the girl who was in her slumber.

"Eri-chan?!"

"Eri?!" after hearing a certain girl's name, Hayama reacted as if he doesn't see her in a long time "Where? Where?"

"I wonder why you feel so enthusiastic when it comes at her?" the dark skinned guy asked out of nowhere.

"Because it's fun to tease her."

Mibuchi sighed at Hayama's answer "That's so like you."

"Hehe. This is another chance for me to take a picture of her sleeping face," while Hayama was busy taking picture of Eri, Akashi finally arrived, he is also curious what's happening around the clubroom.

"Sei-chan, you're finally here," Mibuchi sounded relieved.

"Mibuchi, what's going on here?" Akashi asked while scanning the area. But before Mibuchi could answer his question, he already notice the progress in their clubroom, as well as the 'sleeping beauty' in the room.

"That's how it is," then he shifted his gaze to the other member "You may go now, leave it to us."

"hai," they bowed before leaving the place.

"Well then, I'll be going first," Nebuya stated as soon as he get his bag and place it over his shoulder with his other hand was inside his pocket, "Ja ne~."

"Uh. Ki o tsukete, (take care) Nebuya, "the red head said with a smile on his face.

"Kotarou will you stop doing that? You're going to wake her up," Mibuchi wanted to stop Hayama for taking pictures of Eri's sleeping face but he thought that it is futile; Hayama will probably not going to listen to him.

While Hayama was busy snapping a lot of picture, he didn't notice that the dark haired girl was regaining her consciousness. When her sense of sight was clear as day, she saw a man standing in front of her- particularly holding his phone.

Seeing the blonde's face clearly, Eri gasped loudly as she sat up straightly on her seat "W-what do you think you are doing, Hayama?!"

The blonde guy only made a peace sign in response as he snapped out again for not calling him 'senpai' by Eri "And you are addressing again without honorifics!," he said in a comedic way.

The two youngsters were glaring at each other- a lightning was striking in each other's eyes. Mibuchi sighed at the scene while Akashi chuckled.

"Mou... will the two of you stop arguing at each other," he place his hands on his hips and glared at the certain blonde guy "And Kotarou you should treat Eri-chan nicely, she's still a woman. Women must treat nicely."

"I'm not like you Reo-nee. Eri is fun to tease, you know?" Hayama retorted with big smile etched on his face.

"Hmph," she stood up and spun around her heels "This is getting out of nowhere. I'm leaving."

Eri passed through Akashi and thanked her for cleaning their clubroom. It wasn't really necessarily for her to clean it, it was the boy's duty to do it.

She blushed lightly "I... I just did it out of a whim. S-so you don't need to thank me, captain," she stuttered. But before she could get out of the room, there's something she remembered- the reason why she stayed up late in school.

"Ah, Mibuchi-senpai. I have something to confirm with you," she peered at him while Mibuchi was waiting for her next words "... about what you said to Tomo earlier."

The black haired guy raised his thin brow, confused "Tomo?" it took a mere seconds before he realized what Eri was talking about. He isn't really familiar with that girl's name, all he knew was her family's name "Ooohhh... you mean Isshiki-san," Eri nodded in return.

"About your plan this weekend, Is that supposed to be a training camp?"

"Ah now that you mention it, I didn't told Isshiki-san the specific details that's why you're still here."

She raised her brow "Huh?! I wasn't really waiting for you. I just happened to fall asleep in the clubroom," she defended herself. Yes, it's true that she waited Mibuchi so that she could ask him personally about it but Eri doesn't want anyone to found out about it.

"Hehe. You don't have to be shy," Hayama teased.

Akashi interrupted the two so that it will not take too much time otherwise, they will be lock up in the school "Hayama, you should stop teasing Takasugi. It is unpleasant to her if you keep treating her like that."

"But Akashiii...," Hayama pouted.

Akashi only chuckled at his behavior. And Mibuchi started to tell about their plan this weekend "I'm sorry Eri-chan, you're mistaken. It is not supposed to be a training camp. Since we have a day off this Saturday we were planning to go at the hot spring lodge so that we could relax even once in a while."

"If you have we day off, then staying at your house will also make you relax right? Then why should take all the way to hot spring lodge?" she asked innocently.

The three guys sweat dropped 'This girl, How did she enjoy her life?' they all thought.

Eri blinked when she saw their reaction but Akashi just remained his unreadable expression.

"But going to the hot spring lodge once in a while is fun, you know," Mibuchi reasoned out so that he could convince Eri.

"I'm sorry I can't go with you, guys. I have something else to do."

"Like what?" Hayama asked. Hoping that he will get an appropriate answer at the dark haired girl.

"I'm going to study and read books, of course," she said in her straight face.

Mibuchi and Hayama almost fell in to their place. Is Eri is telling the truth? Well, what we expect on her? Eri's life is only revolving in books and studies sometimes basketball, too.

"Is studying and reading are all you can do?!" the blonde guy snapped once again. He knew that Eri was a bookworm but she should still enjoy her life with her friends.

A vein popped on her head "And what about you? Is basketball all you can do?!"

"Why you-."

Mibuchi sighed "Eri-chan, studying is fine but you should at least enjoy your life, like going out with your friends. Are you really okay with just spending your free time with your books?"

"I'm used to it," she lowered her gaze, hesitant if she will going to say it to them "And I already forgotten how to enjoy life. I was too engrossed with the books ever since my mother died."

Akashi smiled as he stretched his arm out of her "Then we're going to show you how to enjoy life once again."