~Second Quarter – Kuroko's Basketball~

第二季: 黑子的篮球

Through My Heart

Chapter 7: 第一次接吻 –First Kiss

"Haizaki-kun, thirty laps around the gym, then do fifty pushups, fifty sit ups, and fifty squats," Nanase Miho glared at the grey haired boy who immediately sweat dropped.

"Oh man...I forgot you were coming back today... Captain's late punishments were never as harsh as yours..." Haizaki grumbled as he lazily stepped into the gym.

"Hmm, you want seventy-five laps? Alright!" Miho smiled at the boy who shook his head and in disbelief and immediately started running.

Aomine scratched his head, "Man, I almost feel bad for him."

Midorima pushed up his glasses, "Being late for practice is intolerable. Miho's way of handling it is completely acceptable."

Akashi let out a small smile, "It's lively with her back..."

"Dai-chan! Hurry up and start your warm up exercises! Atsu-chan, stop eating this instance! Spit out your gum to avoid choking!" Miho glared at the two, who immediately did as they were told.

The practice went along smoothly and Miho tested the improvements of all the regulars again. Soon the practice ended.

Miho was about to head to practice in the gym again with Kuroko and Aomine, but Momoi pulled her aside.

"Oi, Miho, are we going?" Aomine looked over his shoulder.

The bluenette let out a sheepish smile, "Um...It seems like Sa-chan has something to discuss. Tell Te-chan I'll be little late."

Aomine raised an eyebrow at Momoi's creepy expression before nodding and walking off.

"Sa-chan, what's wrong?" Miho asked when Aomine finally was out of vicinity.

Momoi gave the girl a grin, "Micchan, you like Dai-chan, right?"

Hearing the question, Miho immediately pales and turned on her heel to walk away from Momoi's piercing eyes.

However, her attempt to escape was futile as Momoi grabbed a hold of Miho's arm and tugged her back, "You do! If you keep avoiding the question, then you do!"

"I don't know if I like him or not!" Miho blushed and let out a sigh.

It was true that she has been spending a lot of her free time with Aomine these days, but all they were really doing was just playing basketball. Despite everything, Aomine was a pretty good teacher.

"Huh. Micchan, you can't not know whether or not you like him!" Momoi pouted, unsatisfied at the answer.

"It's true though! It's fun being around him, but whether or not I like him..." Miho let out a small sigh.

Momoi huffed out a disbelieving sigh, "Geez! Midorin and Dai-chan like you, you know! Akashi-kun is also showing interest in you! He gave you that ring, right?"

Miho stared at the ring before raising an eyebrow and putting her hand on Momoi's head, "Sa-chan, do you have a fever?"

The pink haired manager was flustered by this, "Micchan! It's true!"

Miho shook her head, "Hahaha, Sei-chan and Shin-chan liking someone, can you even imagine that?"

The bluenette burst out in giggles at the thought.

Momoi thought for a while before letting out a sigh, "Y-Yeah...I guess that's true..."

With that, Miho gave the pink haired girl a smile, "It's fine! I haven't really been thinking about it at all. I've been seeing all of them as teammates up until now. I'll consider my feelings for Dai-chan when I need to. Alright, bye!"

Momoi only stood there, shocked at the girl's careless attitude, "Y-Yeah..."

.-.-.-.

"You're late!" Aomine messed up Miho's hair as she walked into the gymnasium.

The girl let out a sigh, "Sa-chan wanted to talk to me..."

"Ah, well, I guess it can't be helped then. Satsuki's a big nag, after all," Aomine grinned before passing Miho the ball, "C'mon! Let's practice!"

Seeing Aomine laugh and smile while practicing, Nanase felt her heart pounding a bit.

Could it be...? Does she really like Aomine?

.-.-.-.

"So, how's it going? Does it look like you'll find something? Akashi and Miho's so called 'your style of basketball,'" Aomine asked Kuroko as they walked home from practice.

Miho let out a sigh, "Dai-chan, don't talk about someone else when they are right beside you."

Aomine laughed, "Haha, sorry!"

To this, Kuroko just sighed, "...Nothing yet."

"I'm not surprised. Miho, are you sure you weren't just messing around?" Aomine questioned while suppressing his laughter.

The girl stared up into the sky, "To be honest, Sei-chan probably can see his ability better than I can. What I can say now from looking at you, is that you should probably focus on an assist ability like passing or stealing since you are not good with the more physical strengths like shooting."

"...That's what I've been thinking as well. Nanase-san, Aomine-kun, what kind of person is Akashi-kun?" Kuroko asked.

"Hm? Well, he and Miho are actually quite alike. He's smart, and always sees what's going on around him. Also, unlike Miho's worse-than-crappy basketball skills, his basketball ability is pretty above average. I've got no complaints about him being the point guard," Aomine explained.

"Dai-chan...I thought I told you it was rude to make fun of someone when they are right beside you...!" the bluenette grumbled again while Kuroko was thinking.

"So I'm not supposed to aim to become a point guard. Not that that worked in the third string either. It's even more unnecessary with Akashi-kun there," the small boy resting his chin on his fingers—deep in thought.

"Well, it's not like Akashi can do everything either. There's gotta be something he can't do," Aomine stated.

"What, for example?" Kuroko replied, looking at Aomine in earnest.

"Maybe, some kind of awesome pass that bends... Banana Pass! ...Or something like that..." Aomine suggested while making a twisting motion with his hand.

Both Kuroko and Miho sweat dropped, "I don't think anyone can do that..."

While walking, the three passed a bookstore.

Kuroko turned towards Aomine and Miho, "Sorry, but there's a novel that I wanted to get."

Aomine turned to Miho before back at the boy, "Alright. We'll head on first then."

"Yeah, good luck, Te-chan!" Miho smiled before waving and walking away with Aomine.

Kuroko nodded and entered the bookstore. He picked up his novel and also walked over to the sports area.

There were many basketball books: Basketball, Street Basketball, Basketball Techniques, Eleven Best Basketball Techniques, and many more.

Kuroko stared at them for a while before considering Miho, Akashi, and Aomine's words.

"You should probably focus on an assist ability like passing or stealing since you are not good with the more physical strengths like shooting."

"One is, that in order to create something new, you'll have to discard previous established concepts."

"While you may have a strength, this does not change the fact that you yourself, is still weak. You should use your ability not for yourself, but for the team."

"Maybe, some kind of awesome pass that bends..."

"Well, it was just a coincidence at first, I think. But I started thinking that if he could take advantage of his lack of presence, it would become a great weapon."

Remembering all that he has heard, Kuroko placed his hand on a specific book and stared at it.

The Art of Manipulating the Gaze...

"That's it...!"

.-.-.-.

"Aw, shit! It's pouring!" Aomine cursed as the rain suddenly crashed down from the sky.

Both he and Miho covered themselves with their bags.

"Ah, there's a playground there! Let's go hide in there for now and wait until the rain stops...!" Miho pointed to a small park.

There was a playground with a large slide that could be used as shelter for the time being.

With that, the two middle schoolers ran towards the playground and took cover.

Miho giggled once they both squeezed under the slide, "Wow, this brings back memories. It's like being in elementary school and playing hide and seek all over again!"

Aomine stared at the girl as she smiled and laughed. Even in this kind of situation, she would find a way to be so optimistic. He liked it. And her hair looked so blue and soft... She was so pretty...

Snapping himself out of his dirty thoughts, Aomine took a towel out of his sports bag and passed it to the girl, "Here, wipe yourself with this."

The girl stared at the towel skeptically.

Noticing her stare, Aomine smiled, "It's clean."

Miho laughed apologetically, "S-Sorry..."

"It's fine. I wouldn't want to use some other guy's sweaty towel either," the boy laughed.

The bluenette smiled along and wiped her hair with the towel, "Thank you."

"No problem," Aomine grinned and also wiped himself off with the towel.

"It looks like we'll be stuck out here for a while..." Miho observed and let out a sigh, "If only I brought an umbrella..."

The two were silent for a while before Aomine grinned, "Let's tell some embarrassing stories."

There was an evil glint in his eyes that Miho didn't like one bit. However, they were stuck out here in the rain and her heart was thumping non-stop in her chest. Despite everything, she was hiding under the small slide, alone with Aomine. The shelter was also small and their shoulders were touching.

"Well then, Dai-chan can go first!" Miho smiled and nudged him lightly.

Aomine made a face, "Hey! Ladies first!"

"No, you were the one who suggested this in the first place. Tell me an embarrassing story about yourself!" the bluenette insisted.

"Ugh...fine! In third grade, I scared Satsuki with a frog and as revenge, she made me a bento for lunch. That made me throw up on myself when I was doing a show-and-tell!" Aomine grumbled and turned his face away from the girl.

Miho laughed softly, "I better make sure that Sa-chan never enters my kitchen..."

"Yeah, that would be smart. Now your turn! Let's hear Miss. Mature and Calm's embarrassing story!" Aomine grinned.

Miho paled before thinking for a while. There really wasn't anything that embarrassing...

"Um...In elementary school, I missed three hours of classes because I couldn't find my room. Whenever I asked someone, I couldn't manage to follow his or her directions. In the end, my parents called the police because they thought I was missing. However, they found me in the boy's bathroom in the end..." the girl whispered the last part and Aomine burst out laughing.

"Hahaha! Oh yeah! Satsuki did tell me something about how you got lost on your way to practice during your second month in Teiko! Your sense of direction...hahaha! Priceless!" the boy clutched his stomach and continued laughing.

"D-Dai-chan! It's not that funny! Hallways are always confusing!"

"How'd you end up in the guys' bathroom?!"

"It was an accident! I was lost, worried, and confused!" the girl protested.

The endless bickering kept up for a while before Miho looked beyond the slide, "Oh, the rain is stopping."

"Hm...really?" Aomine peeked over the girl's shoulder.

At that moment, the girl turned around and her eyes widened. Aomine's face was just about an inch away.

Miho couldn't move. It was like something paralyzed her in place as the two bluenettes stared in each other's eyes.

"Shit..." Aomine lightly cursed as he felt his hand moving up towards the girl's head—his fingers curling into her soft, blue hair, pulling her forward.

He saw her eyes flash in shock before they closed and her delicate hands gripped his shoulders tightly.

He felt bad—so bad. He never wanted this to happen—it was just something that occurred on the spur of a moment. He knew that he didn't deserve her first kiss—he knew that she didn't deserve a first kiss like this. She was like an angel. She deserved candles and fireworks—not some dirty rocks on a playground.

However, he couldn't stop. It was like a drug, her lips. His other hand slips around her hip and pulled her cold, wet body against his chest. He could feel her quick heartbeat and her pulse racing.

She was just a nervous as he was.

However in that split moment, her eyes snapped open and she pushed roughly against his shoulders.

Even in the dark, Aomine could tell that her cheeks were flushed and her lips were red and swollen, "D-Dai-chan. I'm sorry. I-I've got to get going now."

With that, she ran back out into the rain leaving him there under the slide.

Aomine Daiki loved basketball the most out of everything in his life. However, seeing her run away with that scared and shocked expression on her face shattered everything inside him.

'Heartbroken', might be the right word for the situation.

And for the first time in his life, basketball wouldn't be able to replace the piece of his heart that was smashed into pieces during this cold, rainy day.

.-.-.-.

Miho stared at the ceiling lifelessly as she sat in the bathtub after arriving home. Her mind was a befuddled mess and she couldn't think straight about anything at all.

What had just happened?

It had started raining all of a sudden when she and Aomine were walking home from practice. They exchanged embarrassing stories under a slide in a playground and then—

They kissed.

The feeling was completely indescribable. The thrill, shock, excitement, shivers down her back, ecstasy—it felt...surreal.

Every girl often dreamed about what her first kiss would be like. However, Miho had never imagined it to be like this. It was under the heavy rain and under a slide in a kids' playground. Yet, there was a shiver of anticipation and excitement that ran through her every time their lips touched.

It was like time stopped into place and there was only the two of them in their own world.

Miho would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy it.

That is, until he appeared in her mind.

She couldn't quite understand why he would appear. Once she saw him, she felt a sense of guilt and wrongdoing wash over her. At first, she tried to ignore it. However, the feeling soon became unbearable.

Sadness, frustration, and shame—it was like she was being told that what she was doing was wrong.

Then she realized that it was wrong. She didn't reciprocate Aomine's feelings. It wasn't him that she loved—it was his passion, his basketball.

Even though that was the case, she still didn't understand why he appeared. For how long had the green haired boy been on her mind already? Was it since that day in the library, when he a sense of mutual understanding spread between them?

When did this feeling of attachment start growing? When did she start feeling guilty about approaching another guy when he was around?

When had these feelings developed...?

The blue haired girl buried herself under the warm water of the tub. She felt like she was suffocating. It hurt, this feeling.

.-.-.-.

"Haa..." Miho let out a sigh for the fifth time that lunch period.

Momoi immediately raised an eyebrow, "Hey Micchan, what's wrong? You've been sighing a lot since this morning.

To this, the bluenette just let out another sigh. She made sure to avoid Aomine at all costs this morning because she was unsure of what to do once she faced him. She was scared of what he was going to do.

The pink haired manager was definitely suspicious now. There was unquestionably something fishy going on. Aomine had been acting strange at the morning practice today as well.

"...Don't tell me..." Momoi started, staring at Miho intently, "Did something happen between Dai-chan and Micchan?!"

Miho immediately choked on the piece of sushi that she had been chewing.

Panicked, Momoi immediately passed her friend a glass of water, "M-Micchan! Are you okay? Swallow! Breathe!"

Miho drank the water and swallowed before letting out yet another sigh, "Ugh...I think I almost died there..."

"Micchan...are you okay...?" Momoi asked, sweat dropping.

"Yeah..."

"Well...judging by your reaction, something did indeed happen. Micchan, you can always talk to me, you know. You won't solve anything on your own," Momoi stared worriedly at the bluenette.

Letting out a sigh, Miho started telling her story of all the events that occurred yesterday.

After the whole story, Momoi was rendered speechless, "..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...W-Wha—Wait, he kissed you?!" Momoi hissed into her friend's ear.

Miho blushed softly, "Y-Yeah... I think so..."

"W-Whaaaa! Really?! For real?!" Momoi exclaimed, placing both of her hands on the table.

Miho glared at the pink haired girl, "Shush! Everyone's staring at us...!"

"I'm sorry...I'm just so shocked that Dai-chan kissed you... I always thought he was a big basketball idiot that cared about nothing else in the world..." Momoi shook her head in disbelief, "But you're saying that Midorin suddenly appeared?!"

"Ugh...quiet down, Sa-chan..."

Momoi nodded at this and her expression turned serious, "This is just my opinion...but I think Micchan should think things over a bit and just continue with her life until her feelings are more clear...! Love isn't something that should be rushed. Besides, you're only in your freshmen year of middle school!"

Miho thought about it for a while before nodding, "Yes...now that you say that, I think so as well. I still really don't understand anything and I think I might not be that ready...thank you so much, Sa-chan."

The pink haired girl smiled happily, "I'm glad I helped! It's the first time you ever asked anything of me!"

Miho laughed, "Yeah. Um...I'm going to go apologize to Dai-chan now. Even though it's going to be awkward, I want to resolve this as quickly as possible."

Momoi stared at the blue haired girl as she walked away. She truly was amazing...Taking the initiative to apologize even though she was nervous and scared... Momoi knew she could probably never do it.

.-.-.-.

"Aomine, you've had that grumpy look on your face for a while now. Would you care to tell us the problem? I can't have you messing up during practice," Akashi finally gave in to his frustration and asked the blue haired boy directly.

Aomine looked up, "I'm fine."

"Mine-chin doesn't seem fine to me~ Is it because of Nana-chin?" Murasakibara mused.

Aomine spat out the water that he was drinking at this, "Pftt! W-Why would you think that?!"

"So it is because of Miho. I thought as much," Akashi sighed.

Midorima stayed quiet during all the chatter about Miho and Aomine.

At that moment, the blue haired girl showed up at the table.

"Oh god...speak of the devil," Aomine thought and started to show extreme interest in his bento lunch.

"Miho, do you need anything?" Akashi asked the blue haired girl.

The later smiled gently, "May I speak to Dai-chan in private please?"

Everyone at the table just stared at the two before giving a nod.

Aomine got up and refused to meet Miho's eyes as the two strode out of the cafeteria.

After they were out of sight, Midorima stood up, "I'm leaving."

Akashi raised an eyebrow, "Midorima. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," the green haired boy bluntly stated before walking away.

"Is...that so...?" the vice captain of the basketball team narrowed his eyes.

This was pretty bad. It seems that more than one of the regulars were bothered by the existence of that girl. Even he, himself was slightly bothered at times. At first, he thought it was just Aomine. But now, it was clear that Midorima was also showing evident changes...

.-.-.-.

"Dai-chan, will you please listen to me for just a while?" Miho begged as she grabbed the sleeve of Aomine's uniform.

The blue haired boy let out a sigh, "Listen, Miho. I'm s—"

"I'm sorry!" Miho bowed before the ace could apologize, "About what happened yesterday...I'm really sorry. I wasn't thinking about the consequences and that at all...!"

Aomine stood there, stunned at the scene before him, "Damn it...Miho...I...why are you apologizing? I was the one that took the initiative. I know you don't feel the same way and I took advantage of the situation."

"It's not," Miho stated with a serious expression on her face, "Dai-chan...I want us to remain as friends... It's not that I don't feel the same way, but I feel that we should both think some things over. It's too early to rush into a relationship we might regret later on... Also, well, I want to preserve the friendship I have now with everyone. Practicing after school with Dai-chan and Te-chan makes me really happy all the time. I really...really don't want that to all disappear."

Aomine place his large hand on the girl's head, "...Heh, we really think alike in some things, huh. I was just thinking that I wanted to hear more of your embarrassing stories."

The blue haired girl laughed, "Alright...! I'm looking forward to it...!"

Unknowing to the two, a shadow walked away from the conversation silently.

A/N: Um. Um... Okay. I'd like to really apologize so much for this delay. But school has been getting to me and yeah... I know, it's the same excuse, but I really am busy!

Well anyways. That kiss... You guys probably don't know how bad I felt for Aomine in this chapter. Like he's still so pure right now and not a complete jerk yet! And then, bam! Yeah...

Well I decided to post this cause it was Thanksgiving weekend and I had an extra day off from school! Yay! So, take it as your award for reviewing.

I'd like to thank all of you that reviewed. Those comments really made my day! It's because of the reviews that I decided to write this, actually! So, thank you all so much! Please keep reviewing. If I get a lot of reviews, I'll try to post the next one by next week! Also, I'll try to post another chapter of Hoops this weekend as well, so stay tuned! We'll finally get the Aomine and Miho date in that one!

Okay, sorry for my rambling. Haven't gotten to talk to you guys for a while now, haha. Well, please review, review, review! I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Aurevoir!

Je vous aime tous!~

~Yuvi