The cold air slowly started to fade. Sooner or later, spring will come along with their spring break. The cherry blossom trees, that usually have no leaves during winter, started to bloom. But still, there's a faint of cold wind that caresses into their skin. A reminder that their first year as high schoolers was coming to an end.

"Tomo," Eri began, making her friend to immediately look over to her, "There's something I need to tell you."

"Hm? What is it?" Tomo asked sweetly. They were spending their time at the rooftop to have some time alone - as friends - and to keep away from the noisy people in the cafeteria.

"I think I fell in love with Akashi," she said with a straight face. Not even nervous confessing to her best friend.

Silence struck for about two... three... four... seconds andー

"KYYYAAAAAAA!" she shrieked, not even bothered if anyone heard her.

Eri quickly reacted to her deafening shriek as she placed her hands to cover her ears, "Lower down your voice now, will you?"

"Oops, s-sorry," her friend smiled sheepishly. "Anyway! You finally realized it, huh? Kyyaaa~ I'm so happy for you!" she tried to keep her voice low as she hugged Eri tightly. "My Ri-chan is growing up!"

"S-stop it!" Eri complained as she gets embarrassed.

"So," Tomo began, freeing her friend from her tight hug and letting her arms rest over the railings. She didn't take her eyes off Eri and her lips were not leaving any trace of a negative reaction. "When did you realize it?" she ended.

Eri blushed a little and looked at the scenery beyond the building. "Well, umm... During white day, I guess?" She chuckled remembering the times when she was happy, scared, mad and many more. There's a lot of emotion she felt that day. "A lot of things happened that day."

Eri kept talking about the date while Tomo was still gazing at her in silence. 'Ri-chan, that icy heart of yours has finally melted, isn't that great? You really changed a lot.' Tomo kept thinking to herself, not leaving the smile that etched on her face.

"Ah, that's right! When are going to confess to him? To Akashi-kun, I mean." Tomo interrupted her friend all of a sudden.

Eri blinked a couple of times as if it was like 'Did-I-hear-it-right'.

"Hm? Confess? There's no way that is going to happen." Eri dismissed the question quickly.

This time it was Tomo's turn to blink a few times. She became loud again.

"EEEEEEHHHHHHHH?! FOR REAAAAALLLLLLL!?"

"I told you to refrain from doing that!" Eri lectured her again.

"WHY!? THIS ONLY HAPPENS ONCE IN YOUR LIFETIME! WHY ARE YOU LETTING THIS CHANCE SLIP AWAY!?" She couldn't believe it. She couldn't believe that Eri is the kind of woman who gets satisfied when she realizes that she has feelings for someone.

She was taken aback at her friend's behavior. She's overreacting. That's what Eri thought.

"Look, I have no intention of telling him. Besides, realizing my own feelings is more than enough," she started as she gazed back at the scenery, "Akashi likes basketball more than anything else and also he has enough responsibilities on his own, being the next heir and all. So I guess, being in a relationship is not an option." she finished feeling complete. The wind caressed her face, continuing to her skirt and a few strands of their hair.

"Ri-chan..."

The truth is that Eri likes to read novels, like romantic novels, mystery novels and such. However, when it comes to her own love story, she is too oblivious about it. She is the type of person who always reads everything based on logic.

'But I won't give up so easily. I will not let you get satisfied with just one-sided feelings.'

The members of the basketball club were already training by the time the club activities originally started. Rakuzan's training regimen was always hard. Someone might even vomit if a beginner.

"Okay! Let's take a 10-minute break!" Akashi shouted between huffs. He was also exhausted from his own strict training. Someone could think that because he is also participating, he would go easy on his team, but it was the complete opposite! He was going all out, he was strict and absolute. He tried once to become kinder, but, Hayama and the rest of the team could not get used to it. They felt creepy about his kind behavior so he returned back to his usual self but only for the club activities.

During the break, all of the first string members proceed to the refreshment area, where Eri and the others prepared for them.

Eri distributed the face towels to them as she said: "Good job" to each individual.

When it was Akashi's turn to pick up the towel, instead of her saying her lines, it got snatched away by their captain.

"Good job, Takasugi."

She immediately responded as she looked up to the guy who just talked and met his blood red eyes.

*BADUMP*

"T-This is nothing compared to yours," she stuttered without looking at him. She even dared to hide her bright red face. She remembered the memories she cherished making feel even more embarrassed and her face to become even redder than it was.

She quickly proceeded to the empty bottles of the tumbler (and placed it back to the tray) → placed what? and she rushed out of the gym without saying a word.

"Hm?" Hayama titled his head confused, "What happened to her?"

"Did the two of you had some fight or something?" Mibuchi tried to guess. He was also confused by what he saw.

"No. We didn't fight anything in particular." Akashi answered plainly.

"Then, what happened to your date?" Nebuya pondered blatantly.

Akashi didn't answer to him for about two... three... four seconds maybe, because he was trying to recall the events of the date. He couldn't think of anything that made her mad, unless, it could be that scene that Eri might get bothered about it.

"Maa, maa, don't force Sei-chan about it," Mibuchi interrupted the deafening silence.

"No, it's fine, Mibuchi," he said reassuring his teammates, "I already did what we planned last time, however, unexpected things happened. Takasugi got into trouble so I..." he paused for a while and then laugh it off.

"Sei-chan?"

"No, it's nothing. We should go back to our practice. Our break is over."

Eri sighed in relief as soon as she got out from the gym.

"Ugh. Why I can't calm down whenever I see him?… Wait, why am I avoiding him, anyway?" she thought out loud to herself.

"You used to hate Akashi, so why the sudden change of attitude? You were not acting like that when I saw you that time," Mayuzumi suddenly spoke while leaning on the wall beside the gym's door.

The third years, including Mayuzumi, were already resigned for the basketball club activities so they could focus on their final exam, the entrance exam for the college they will choose and also for their future on whatever path they will choose in general.

"M-Mayuzumi-san!" Eri exclaimed a little bit startled when she heard his voice but she tried to remain calm. She didn't even feel his presence. Well, he was the new sixth phantom member, after all. "A lot of things happened," she started, "but Akashi is different right now. I mean, he reverted back to his old self, right? He used to be arrogant, sadist, self-centered and intimidating. In short, he used to be the kind of person I hated the most. But right, now... "

He smirked. He never expected her to say something like that. To talk like a woman in love.

"Do you love him?" he asked bluntly.

Eri blushed. "W-What? How could you say that?"

"Let's just say I was there the whole time when you and your friend were talking to one another," he calmly stated.

She unconsciously gasped, not even expecting these to happen. "So you were there the whole time?" she asked him in shock. He simply nodded in return.

'What should I do? Now that Mayuzumi-san already knows about it.'

Eri bit her lower lip, not being able to utter a single word after Mayuzumi's revelation. She was also trying her best not to blush madly right in front of him but she failed to do so which she couldn't longer hide. If Tomo could lower down her voice, probably Mayuzumi wouldn't overhear their conversation. He still might be in his own little world of fairy tails and romance. He was reading a light novel at that time, after all.

"If you're worried that I might spread your little secretー"

Eri cut him off as she stood up proudly. There was no trace of worry on her face. But what about mentally? Did she worry so much that Mayuzumi might spread the news?

"I... I don't think you can do that."

He raised his brow, "And why is that?"

"It's because I know that you don't like to interact with other people. We're much alike. What you heard is none of your business. Don't you think, Mayuzumi-san?" She smiled proudly at him, satisfied with her indirect attack.

He smirked "Hn. Well, I guess so. That will be my gratitude for giving me this good light novel." He held high enough for her to see the book he was talking about.

"No, it's…", she averted her gaze from the grey-haired man and now she was looking at the book she was currently holding for these few minutes of chat. "I just merely saw that thing in the bookstore. So I... Ummm... Thought of buying it." she lied.

Someone peered over the gym's door looking left and right to look for a certain girl. "Is Takasugi is here?" he asked until he noticed someone he was very familiar with, his senior, "Oh, Mayuzumi-senpai you're here. Are you perhaps visiting the club?"

Mayuzumi immediately turned around his heels to get away from the younger club member, "Not actually. And I have no intention to pay a visit either." He turned to the girl next to him, "By the way, Takasugi, if you don't tell him how you really feel, you might regret it in the end."

'Was that really Mayuzumi-san? I never expect him to say something like that.' Eri thought pleasantly surprised as he was lost from her vision.

"Takasugi," Eri looked at the newcomer, who jerked his head to the side, pointing out to the gym. "Coach and Captain are looking for you."

The gym had more people than usual, in addition to that, all members of the basketball club were present.

The Captain and Coach wanted to announce something important so, before dismissing the students, they gathered everyone in the gym. Even Higuchi, the one who had resigned as a manager a few days ago, was also present.

"You might already know what I am about to announce since Higuchi is here and all," the coach began. He tried to speak as loud as he could so all the members would pay attention to him. Good thing the Rakuzan were civilized students, for they immediately listened to their superior.

Coach Eiji nodded at Akashi, giving him the 'go' to start talking. "It's been a few days ever since Higuchi-san resigned the basketball club. The position for the manager remained unoccupied, however, we already have a candidate for that, who is still learning to become one, but we trust her abilities."

"Takasugi Eri, come at the front," Higuchi announced in a sophisticated manner. Eri followed him without saying anything, for she was expecting this to happen.

"Show off," one of the girls said on their lane, the one who hated her the most.

Higuchi shifted his gaze to Eri, "Don't disappoint us, Takasugi. We expect great things from you."

"Don't worry Higuchi-san. I assure you that I will do my best for the team. I won't let you down! Coach and Captain, thank you for your trust and the opportunity to help." she said in her most sincere way of talking as she bowed gracefully.

"Good to hear that."

"Well then, we will now pronounce Takasugi Eri as the manager of the basketball club. Let's be good to her!" Akashi said.

Eri inclined her head "It's a pleasure to be your new manager. From now on, please take care of me."

By the time when their coach dismissed them, the school was already dark and deserted as most of the students and staff were already home, preparing dinner.

But the basketball club had still to do many things before going home, like cleaning the gym and such. Even though Eri was already the official manager of the club, she still couldn't escape from the duties she was always taking care of. Well, those duties were still part of the manager' job, so no skipping.

"Do you think we will follow you just because you are now the manager?" Said the girl named Sayuri, as she threw the last used towels into a big basket at the locker room. She was the one who always got a problem with Eri, even if she hasn't done anything to her.

"If that's what you want. Then, it's fine by me," Eri stated calmly while busy gathering the waters from the floor. The boys were clumsy and there was a huge danger of them slipping on the wet floor from the waters they leave after they shower.

As soon as Sayuri heard her, her shoulder flinched and shuddered with anger. Her hands formed into tight fists. Just how many times did Eri humiliate her in front of her friends? Not that Eri cared about her, but Sayuri was so annoyed to the point of always looking for a fight, even when Eri had done anything to her.

"You..." Sayuri chose to close the gap between them with a few steps towards Eri, "YOU SON OF Aー" she shouted as she aggressively grabbed the manager's collar, making their bodies hit each other.

Eri didn't falter at all. In fact, she remained calm and composed. Fighting back would be a waste of time. If she was to lose her composure and fight back, she would only give to her opponent the pleasure she was seeking and a chance to bring her down.

Sayuri, seeing Eri's expressionless face, pushed her away aggressively disgusted. Eri stumbled on her feet but didn't fall.

"Why? Why it always has to be you? You're always disobeying Akashi-sama and everyone in the club and yet, they chose you to become the manager. And during the Winter Cup finals, you told Seirin to win instead of your team!?"

Eri let the girl unleashed her true feelings because this was the best for her.

"JUST WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT YOU? YOU'RE JUST A FREAK WHO ALWAYS READ BOOKS! YOU JUST DON'T TAKE THINGS SERIOUSLY! WE'VE BEEN SERVING THE TEAM LONGER THAN YOU AND YET, THEY CHOSE A HALF-HEARTED PERSON LIKE YOU! I JUST DON'T GET IT! I REALLY HATE YOU, TAKASUGI!" She breathed out heavily as she poured out her feelings towards Eri.

A couple of seconds passed before Eri responded. Her eyes were shut but she was still calm and unaffected by the other girl's words. "It's true that I'm a half-hearted person. I decided to join the club for a half-hearted reason as well. And the truth is, I really hated Akashi and his teams before." Everyone gasped. How could someone join a club while she hated the captain of that club? That didn't make any sense at all.

Eri opened her eyes while giving them a warm smile. A smile that they had never seen before, "But a lot of things happened since I joined the club. And I was also very surprised that Rakuzan lost for the very first time. However, I can see that everyone has changed and that's why I'm starting to like the team. So I'm grateful that I became their manager."

The girls looked at each other lost. Some tried to react but Eri wouldn't let them even think.

"And for your case," she continued, "fangirls will remain fangirls. But, if you choose to break that boundary, your relationship with the team will become more than that. You always look up to them. Why don't you treat them as equals? As a fellow student of Rakuzan?"

She was done. She didn't have to say nothing more. She saw that the girls were confused but at the same time remorseful for their actions and words. She left the mop and turned around. She left the locker room started to walk towards the gym to warn the rest of the club members that they should hurry or else they would get locked inside. Little did she know that the only ones inside the gym were only her and the girls behind her.

On her way there she stopped by the door and looked behind her.

"We should hurry cleaning up or else we would get locked up inside," she warned the girls behind her.

Sayuri's lips formed an evil grin. She looked at her followers and they walked out of the room. They stopped before Eri and they stare at her.

"Do I need to repeat myself?" Eri asked annoyed.

"No, we heard you loud and clear, you stuck up bitch!" Sayuri shouted and pushed Eri, once again, but with the help of her friends this time. Eri was caught unprepared, lost her balance and fell backward.

However, an unexpected thing happened. Eri bumped her head on the bench, leaving her unconscious on the floor. The girls laughed and waited for her to react but nothing happened. Eri was out cold.

"S-Sayuri, what did we do?! We killed her!" one of Sayuri's followers panicked.

"What the hell are you saying? We didn't kill her!" she retorted as she shifted her gaze to the unconscious girl on the floor. She paused for a while before finishing her words, "...right?"

Fear overcame them. They didn't know what to do and they didn't want to touch Eri either, so they did the most common action in cases like that. They ran as fast as they could. On their way out Sayuri turned the lights of the whole gym off, closed the main door, locked it and they walked away as calm as they could be, leaving Eri be devoured by the darkness and cold.

Finally done with the chap. I'm sorry if it takes too long. And also, I would like to thank DarkAzura09 for helping me correcting my grammars. I owe you a lot. So I hope you enjoy this chapter.